Review: ARCHENEMY by Frank Beddor

TITLE: Archenemy
SERIES: The Looking Glass Wars
AUTHOR WEBSITE: www.LookingGlassWars.com
GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure, Steampunk
PUBLISHED: October 15, 2009 - Dial
MY RATING: 4


SYNOPSIS:


(Courtesy of GoodReads)

Imagine this...
The power of imagination has been lost! Now it's all about the artillery as AD52s, crystal shooters, spikejack tumblers, and orb cannons are unleashed in a war of weapons and brute force.

As Alyss searches wildly for the solution to the disaster that has engulfed her queendom, Arch declares himself King of Wonderland. The moment is desperate enough for Alyss to travel back to London for answers, where Arch's assassins are threatening Alice Liddell and her family. But after coming to the Liddells' assistance, Alyss discovers herself trapped in a conundrum of evaporating puddles. The shimmering portals that exist to transport her home through the Pool of Tears are disappearing!

What is happening in Wonderland? Deep within the Valley of Mushroom the Caterpillar Oracles issue this prophecy: "Action shall be taken to ensure the safety of the Heart Crystal. For Everqueen." But who is Everqueen?

REVIEW:


In this book there is a three-way war for Wonderland. The heart crystal has been zapped of its energy and therefore affecting imagination everywhere. Alyss, Redd, White and Black imaginationists alike, as well as those in the parallel universe on earth have been drained of imagination. Arch, King of Borderlands is the culprit and has taken over the queendom as King.

Imaginationless Alyss must fight to win back her rightful place as queen. Powerless Redd is on the run looking for a way to regain the power to the throne. It is a three way battle over Wonderland with many underlying storylines: the oracles, Alyss’ family in England, Homburg Molly, and the introduction of the Everqueen. It kept me guessing until the end and I couldn’t stop thinking about it afterward… see, I’m still thinking about it.

RATING:


All in all this book was a good read. It was more intense with war strategies and not a lot of character depth but by the third book, how much deeper can you go into characters we know so well? At least we get to see more deeply into some of the secondary characters, such as Homburg Molly (my fav) and the oracles. I’d rate this book, by itself, at a 4: Very Good: A very good choice to read.

NOTE ABOUT TRILOGY:


The last book in the Looking Glass Wars Trilogy is an epic war for Wonderland and for imagination. I enjoyed all three books. The world Beddor created is truly magnificient and thoroughly planned out. He’s created an entire line of weaponry, measurements, phrases and more for this trilogy. It is quite impressive. I would dare say that the last one was the most intricate.


More Books by Frank Beddor:


The Looking Glass Wars Series:

Book 2: SEEING REDD
Book 3: ARCHENEMY