Book: Locked in Wonderland by H.L Night
Reviewed by ErikaWasReading
Rating: 4/5
How far down the rabbit hole would you go for someone you care about?
Lysander Carroll is caught in the whirlwind of a new relationship with Warren White, but the honeymoon phase comes to a screeching halt when Warren is kidnapped. The police don’t seem to care, and the only clue Lysander has is the word Wonderland on the side of the van.
From the outside, Wonderland seems like a playground for the wealthy elite, but as Lysander falls through the looking glass, he must confront that nothing is as it seems. Complicating everything is Nico Ravenscar, the handsome stranger who seems to be helping him navigate Wonderland’s twisted rules, but can he be trusted?
This Alice in Wonderland-inspired dark romance is a fast-paced, wild ride. I loved all the references and how HL Night twisted them to work on a pleasure island ruled by a mafia-esque family. Like, the Cheshire Cat becoming Tom Cheshire, a Wonderland resident who trades in information and is only helpful when it suits his needs.
In addition to sharing Alice’s natural curiosity, Lysander also believes that the world is logical and operates straightforwardly. He fumbles into situation after situation because he can’t wrap his head around the idea that no one is playing fair and everyone is out to get him. While this does lead to some “oh no, don’t do that” moments, I liked that Lysander holds onto who he is throughout the story.
Nico is the perfect morally grey, possessive AF, I-will-burn-the-world-down-for-him hero, dark romance love interest. He is open with Lysander that he is not a good guy and is stepping in not because he is a hero, but because he wants Lysander.
The novel is spicy and leans a bit toward erotica, but given the nature of Wonderland, sex plays an important role in the overall storyline.
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I received an advance copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews at no charge. This is my honest, voluntary review