The second book in Beddor's Looking Glass Wars trilogy picks up fairly closely to the end of the first book. 3 lunar cycles (I'm guessing this means months) later and Queen Alyss is doing her best to reassure the people that White Imagination is once again dominate.

There is a little bit of a mislead throughout the book as well, in who's actually the source of evil and motives. King Arch, briefly mentioned and shown in the first book, is a central character this time around (with all his sexist views) and Jack of Diamonds, unfortunately, makes a return appearance. His parents aren't the brightest ever. Redd is more cunning then in the first book, using subterfuge as a way to win out. I admired her, despite her evilness, because she didn't just whine about what she lost (like Jack) or spout impossible ideas (like Arch), but had a solid plan which would have worked.

Hatter Madigan, this poor guy, is put through the ringer. He did take his leave, as he said he would at the end of Book 1, and didn't plan on coming back. We learn more about the civilian he loved, Weaver and what secrets she carried. Which all relates back to Molly (I'm sure you can guess how) and has a surprising turn of events. Doesn't last long however. Molly is also put through the ringer--unsure of herself, prideful of her abilities but shamed by her birth, young and basically self-trained, Arch takes advantage of that weakness.

In the end I enjoyed this book moreso then the first. I enjoyed learning more about the other lands surrounding Wonderland (even if Borderland is...what it is) and despite the ending leaving itself very open to a sequel, I can't be too upset over that. The conflicts of THIS book were resolved and the ending opened the door to a new conflict. ( )

I've listened to this and the first one, The Looking Glass Wars and it is such a delight to hear the narrator and all the different voices. He is brilliant! (And the writing is fantastic1)Funny, exciting, romantic, it has it all. ( )

Good book. I think the first one was better, it was more like a 3.5 star book and this was is more like a 2.5 star book :) Characters not compelling, The idea is good the writing is fairly cookie cutter...
Few really dark and dodgy situations if you have a young YA reader. I read it before my boys so I had them skip a section or two like when the guys has all the skeletons eat the humans. That would have upset my boys even the older ones. ( )

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These books are pretty silly, sometimes intentionally, and sometimes not. They are a fun read though, and I'm a sucker for this kind of thing. ( )