There is no doubt that Maguire has a knack for language - his style in ''After Alice'' is one that tries hard not to mimic Carroll, but certainly evokes him - odd humour combined with clever prose mean that the reader is soon swept away on another adventure to Wonderland. Meanwhile, in a well drawn Victorian London, the reader also follows the adventures of those left behind - wondering just what has happened to those missing children. Joining them is none other than Charles Darwin - providing a fascinating counterpoint to the intriguing events that Maguire creates in Wonderland. It can't be denied that the ''Victorian Style'' language is perhaps overused - some pages are so flowery that some readers may well need a thesaurus to hand, so do bear in mind that this book is more aimed at adults who once enjoyed ''Alice in Wonderland'', than to children themeselves. Switching the focus between the Wonderland and the real world is a clever choice, and keeps the reader hooked, with both Wonderland and Victorian Oxford springing to life in glorious fashion. Ada herself is a clever lead character - similar to Alice but brighter and less infantile, she's a good guide for the reader and easy to root for.
Clever, evocative and entirely respectful of the original work, ''After Alice'' is a must read for anyone who loved the adventures of ''Alice in Wonderland'' Thanks to the publishers for the copy. For further reading, I would reccomend recommend [[Uprooted by Naomi Novik]]. It's a fascinating take on a familiar fairy tale, where, much like in ''After Alice'', modern sentiment blends with old fashioned story telling storytelling in order to create a cracking read. We can also recommend [[The Clay Dreaming by Ed Hillyer]].
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