Sixteen-year-old Alice Liddell survived the darkly whimsical Wonderland and its first three trials. Now every playing card has been used, and her next game moves into chessboards and a final battle versus the mighty Jabberwock. In The Looking-Glass Illusion, author Sara Ella’s next adventure follows fast after The Wonderland Trials for this conclusion to the Curious Realities duology. Alice and Team Heart explore new riddles and the magic of Wonderland along with themes of haunting memories. Some resolutions may bound in more rapidly than some readers expect. Yet the whimsy of the series shines with Alice’s journey and the new voice of Chess Shire.

Best for: Fans of dystopian stories and modern versions of classic fantasy.

Discern: Deceptions and authority abuse by leaders and trusted adults, some violence to teenage heroes in the context of competition.