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Madness Solver in Wonderland
Teenage Madnes Hatter wants more to life than what his island hometown has to offer—and he definitely doesn’t want a boring future in hat-making, like his parents. But he sure doesn’t expect a well-dressed cat named Cheshire to suddenly pop into his life and make everything worse—giving him the power of the Madness Solver and making him the guardian and peacekeeper between Wonderland and Earth.
What the heck? When he said he wanted more to life, this wasn’t what he meant! Now, he’s the only one who can see Wonderland creatures as they walk the streets, and when there’s trouble, it’s his job to solve it. His friends, Alice and Harrey, think he’s going crazy.
But when a problem arises with the portals linking Wonderland to Earth, an old mystery is brought to light—the case of the death of the previous Madness Solver. Will Madnes meet the same fate, with the guardian power sapping away at his life? Wonderland’s ruler, the Red King, has cast a dangerous spell, and an ancient evil is rising. Madnes may not have long to save his friends and both worlds before it's too late...
What the heck? When he said he wanted more to life, this wasn’t what he meant! Now, he’s the only one who can see Wonderland creatures as they walk the streets, and when there’s trouble, it’s his job to solve it. His friends, Alice and Harrey, think he’s going crazy.
But when a problem arises with the portals linking Wonderland to Earth, an old mystery is brought to light—the case of the death of the previous Madness Solver. Will Madnes meet the same fate, with the guardian power sapping away at his life? Wonderland’s ruler, the Red King, has cast a dangerous spell, and an ancient evil is rising. Madnes may not have long to save his friends and both worlds before it's too late...
- GenresFantasyMiddle Grade
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2021
2 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 15, 2021
Madness Solver in Wonderland is technically a duology BUT it’s still very much one full story, just split into two bite-sized books thus I’ll be reviewing both books in one because, like I said, it’s basically one story. So let’s get to it!
PLOT
The story follows teenage Madnes Hatter, who lives in a heavily steampunkified version of Earth (WHICH I LOVED) with his parents in their hat-making shop. He’s not particular satisfied with his life in his boring island town. But when he’s approached by a talking cat in fine apparel and can suddenly see all sorts of bizarre things around him, and, oh yeah, is told he’s the new peacekeeper of both Earth and an entire world he didn’t even know existed, he begins to miss his boring ol’ normal life.
The “Madness Solver” power is a high responsibility, only bestowed to those worthy. It gives the person the ability to see Wonderlanders who have transported to Earth via portals, when the average eye cannot perceive such things. But it’s more than that. The Madness Solver is the guardian of both worlds, solving problems and keeping the peace whenever the worlds collide.
Madnes can’t imagine why Cheshire would give him this ability, but it seems he has no choice in the matter. Before he’s barely able to get accustomed to his new role, or accept the fact that there is a whole other world out there full of strange things and even stranger people, he uncovers a plot that threatens both Earth and Wonderland. And to make things worse, the Madness Solver power is slowly sucking away his life.
This whole story is just a wild ride, let me tell ya! When you’ve got chapters titled “Ninja Banana Problem” or “Let’s Go To The Drop!” you know you are in for one crazy treat.
Book #1 mostly focuses on Madnes getting accustomed to his new role as Madness Solver and uncovering a sinister plot, while being thrust into all sorts of mishaps and danger along the way. While book #2 is more of a classic quest-type of tale. Both of which were quite fun! Sometimes I did feel like all the events were pretty random and maybe didn’t always connect as closely as they could have. But, YA KNOW, this is a Wonderland book. Obviously there is going to be some crazy randomness! And it was all delightful to read about. Book #2 especially felt like a bunch of fun short stories as the characters traversed different parts of the world and encountered all sorts of wacky people and problems. It felt like some of the middle-grade books I used to read, and I very much enjoyed myself!
THE CHARACTERS
This is where this story shone. I fell head-over-heels in love with this madcap crew!
Madnes Hatter is, of course, our main character, and I grew so fond of the Madness Solver. Madnes started out as a dissatisfied teen and grew into such a brave, selfless young man. Seeing his journey and growth made my heart swell. I’M SO PROUD OF MY BOY. What I loved about Madnes is that he really did feel like such a teenage boy. He’s awkward, he has a temper, he doesn’t know what’s happening 97% of the time, he can be so, so reckless, but his heart is always in the right place. Honestly I think he was my favorite character, which is saying something when you’ve got a crew of a talking cat, a DRAGON, an epic monster hunter, the adorkable comic relief character, and so many others. But I always found myself loving the scenes in Madnes’ point-of-view the most. He grew so very much, and I just loved him!
BUT YES. There were so many others to love as well! We’ve got…
- Harrey: Madnes’ best friend who is always there for a good joke and likes to invent strange machines, from a robot frog to a flying bicycle. Even if his inventions…don’t always work properly.
- Alice: Who was the calm voice amidst the chaos, and had SUCH a fascinating story.
- Cheshire: By the books, must-always-look-his-finest Cheshire was fantastic! Poor cat had quite a time trying to keep this motley crew in order. XD
- Cosmic: Madnes’ monster hunting uncle with his duster coat and wide-brim hat and belt full of knives was THE. BEST. I would have loved a story about him alone. (And the bits where he and Cheshire had to work together were GREAT. Gruff and tough Cosmic and prim and proper Cheshire together had my rolling.)
- Pelur the dragon: Another favorite! Not only was he a purple dragon but a SHAPESHIFTING one, able to go from human to dragon at will. Poor Pelur was a little bit…slow to the intake but such a dear. Plus he’s a DRAGON. So yeah. I instantly loved him.
- Ash and Drisel: These poor orphans were really fun additions to the gang as well. And that thing that happened to their friend just GAH.
AND OZ. I won’t say much because #spoilers. But Oz was basically the emo character, and I always fall for those snarky, standoffish fictional boys. I can’t help myself. Oz and Madnes’ story was probably my favorite bit of the whole thing. Again, I don’t need to say much but but but *FLAILS*. Let’s just say they gave me feels!
This tale definitely had a found family feel to it (WHICH IS MY FAVE OF EVER) as all these unlikely characters banded together to save the worlds. I just loved the diversity of them all, and how they each had different abilities. Stories with a large cast of characters that can each bring something unique to the table are some of my favorites. And these characters definitely each had unique qualities! What other story will throw together a talking cat, a monster hunter, a shapeshifting dragon, a bunch of teenagers with special powers, and brave orphan children and toss them into a mystery and epic quest? REALLY NOW. And it was great how they all grew and learned to rely on one another. Like, seriously, can I be part of the Madness Solver Crew???
Even the side characters were so, so engaging! I loved the Baa people and Man in Moon and the odd circus performers. There was such a wide diversity of characters and fantasy races. The imagination here was mindblowing!
OTHER THOUGHTS
Aside from the absolutely delightful characters, the biggest thing that struck me was the WORLDBUILDING. E.E. Rawls positively excels with worldbuilding. Every. single. page. introduced yet another strange and wondrous part of the world. From ninja bananas (yes, really!) to dragon knights to a world beneath the ocean to a village of people with crow wings to sheep people to floating islands to magical circus performances. Seriously, it felt endless! And, of course, there was plenty of steampunk goodness, especially at the beginning, with the steam cars and goggles and airships
It’s one of those stories that fills you with wonder. You just never really knew where you’d end up next or what sort of characters you’d encounter. Which I think is the joy of Wonderland stories. The possibilities are endless. This take on Wonderland felt both true to the original and yet so fresh and new.
As mentioned before, some events did feel a little random. And it wasn’t as emotional as I personally like my books. Lol. Sometimes things moved too fast. I often wished it delved a bit deeper into the emotions of the characters and that the events were a little more streamlined. I would have also really liked to have gotten more of the villain and his motivations. BUT, with that said, this was just a fun book. Lighthearted and quick and full of such fun characters and crazy mishaps. It had a bit of a middle-grade flair to me. Nothing too, too deep and complex, but filled to the brim with zany characters and humorous situations and an utterly wondrous world.
CONTENT CAUTIONS
Very clean! As I said, this has a very middle-grade tone to the narrative. Though there is certainly plenty of dangers and perilous events, nothing ever gets graphic. At one point a male character almost catches sight of a female bathing, but it’s all very quick and I don’t think he actually saw anything. He was horrified after the fact as well. It all stayed very innocent.
There’s a bit of a Christian message woven throughout, though nothing too heavy-handed. And I really appreciated the themes of darkness vs. light, sacrifice, and redemption.
Overall though, it’s just a fun, lighthearted story that I think would be great for the 12+ age group.
CONCLUSION
From the delightful motley crew to Madnes’ growth to the crazy shenanigans to the absolutely wondrous and wild worldbuilding, this story brought me so many smiles! I already miss the Madness Solver gang, and do hope Rawls will continue their adventures one day! Though we got to explore so much of this Wonderland, I feel like there is still plenty to see, and I am here for it.
Plus, ya know, STEAMPUNK WONDERLAND STORY. What more could you ask for?
Also? THE COVERSSS. I have been drooling over them since I first laid eyes on them. JUST. I CAN’T.
If you’re looking for a zany read full of unique, dynamic characters, lots of laughs, a touch of heart, and PLENTY of fun, Madness Solver in Wonderland is for you!
PLOT
The story follows teenage Madnes Hatter, who lives in a heavily steampunkified version of Earth (WHICH I LOVED) with his parents in their hat-making shop. He’s not particular satisfied with his life in his boring island town. But when he’s approached by a talking cat in fine apparel and can suddenly see all sorts of bizarre things around him, and, oh yeah, is told he’s the new peacekeeper of both Earth and an entire world he didn’t even know existed, he begins to miss his boring ol’ normal life.
The “Madness Solver” power is a high responsibility, only bestowed to those worthy. It gives the person the ability to see Wonderlanders who have transported to Earth via portals, when the average eye cannot perceive such things. But it’s more than that. The Madness Solver is the guardian of both worlds, solving problems and keeping the peace whenever the worlds collide.
Madnes can’t imagine why Cheshire would give him this ability, but it seems he has no choice in the matter. Before he’s barely able to get accustomed to his new role, or accept the fact that there is a whole other world out there full of strange things and even stranger people, he uncovers a plot that threatens both Earth and Wonderland. And to make things worse, the Madness Solver power is slowly sucking away his life.
This whole story is just a wild ride, let me tell ya! When you’ve got chapters titled “Ninja Banana Problem” or “Let’s Go To The Drop!” you know you are in for one crazy treat.
Book #1 mostly focuses on Madnes getting accustomed to his new role as Madness Solver and uncovering a sinister plot, while being thrust into all sorts of mishaps and danger along the way. While book #2 is more of a classic quest-type of tale. Both of which were quite fun! Sometimes I did feel like all the events were pretty random and maybe didn’t always connect as closely as they could have. But, YA KNOW, this is a Wonderland book. Obviously there is going to be some crazy randomness! And it was all delightful to read about. Book #2 especially felt like a bunch of fun short stories as the characters traversed different parts of the world and encountered all sorts of wacky people and problems. It felt like some of the middle-grade books I used to read, and I very much enjoyed myself!
THE CHARACTERS
This is where this story shone. I fell head-over-heels in love with this madcap crew!
Madnes Hatter is, of course, our main character, and I grew so fond of the Madness Solver. Madnes started out as a dissatisfied teen and grew into such a brave, selfless young man. Seeing his journey and growth made my heart swell. I’M SO PROUD OF MY BOY. What I loved about Madnes is that he really did feel like such a teenage boy. He’s awkward, he has a temper, he doesn’t know what’s happening 97% of the time, he can be so, so reckless, but his heart is always in the right place. Honestly I think he was my favorite character, which is saying something when you’ve got a crew of a talking cat, a DRAGON, an epic monster hunter, the adorkable comic relief character, and so many others. But I always found myself loving the scenes in Madnes’ point-of-view the most. He grew so very much, and I just loved him!
BUT YES. There were so many others to love as well! We’ve got…
- Harrey: Madnes’ best friend who is always there for a good joke and likes to invent strange machines, from a robot frog to a flying bicycle. Even if his inventions…don’t always work properly.
- Alice: Who was the calm voice amidst the chaos, and had SUCH a fascinating story.
- Cheshire: By the books, must-always-look-his-finest Cheshire was fantastic! Poor cat had quite a time trying to keep this motley crew in order. XD
- Cosmic: Madnes’ monster hunting uncle with his duster coat and wide-brim hat and belt full of knives was THE. BEST. I would have loved a story about him alone. (And the bits where he and Cheshire had to work together were GREAT. Gruff and tough Cosmic and prim and proper Cheshire together had my rolling.)
- Pelur the dragon: Another favorite! Not only was he a purple dragon but a SHAPESHIFTING one, able to go from human to dragon at will. Poor Pelur was a little bit…slow to the intake but such a dear. Plus he’s a DRAGON. So yeah. I instantly loved him.
- Ash and Drisel: These poor orphans were really fun additions to the gang as well. And that thing that happened to their friend just GAH.
AND OZ. I won’t say much because #spoilers. But Oz was basically the emo character, and I always fall for those snarky, standoffish fictional boys. I can’t help myself. Oz and Madnes’ story was probably my favorite bit of the whole thing. Again, I don’t need to say much but but but *FLAILS*. Let’s just say they gave me feels!
This tale definitely had a found family feel to it (WHICH IS MY FAVE OF EVER) as all these unlikely characters banded together to save the worlds. I just loved the diversity of them all, and how they each had different abilities. Stories with a large cast of characters that can each bring something unique to the table are some of my favorites. And these characters definitely each had unique qualities! What other story will throw together a talking cat, a monster hunter, a shapeshifting dragon, a bunch of teenagers with special powers, and brave orphan children and toss them into a mystery and epic quest? REALLY NOW. And it was great how they all grew and learned to rely on one another. Like, seriously, can I be part of the Madness Solver Crew???
Even the side characters were so, so engaging! I loved the Baa people and Man in Moon and the odd circus performers. There was such a wide diversity of characters and fantasy races. The imagination here was mindblowing!
OTHER THOUGHTS
Aside from the absolutely delightful characters, the biggest thing that struck me was the WORLDBUILDING. E.E. Rawls positively excels with worldbuilding. Every. single. page. introduced yet another strange and wondrous part of the world. From ninja bananas (yes, really!) to dragon knights to a world beneath the ocean to a village of people with crow wings to sheep people to floating islands to magical circus performances. Seriously, it felt endless! And, of course, there was plenty of steampunk goodness, especially at the beginning, with the steam cars and goggles and airships
It’s one of those stories that fills you with wonder. You just never really knew where you’d end up next or what sort of characters you’d encounter. Which I think is the joy of Wonderland stories. The possibilities are endless. This take on Wonderland felt both true to the original and yet so fresh and new.
As mentioned before, some events did feel a little random. And it wasn’t as emotional as I personally like my books. Lol. Sometimes things moved too fast. I often wished it delved a bit deeper into the emotions of the characters and that the events were a little more streamlined. I would have also really liked to have gotten more of the villain and his motivations. BUT, with that said, this was just a fun book. Lighthearted and quick and full of such fun characters and crazy mishaps. It had a bit of a middle-grade flair to me. Nothing too, too deep and complex, but filled to the brim with zany characters and humorous situations and an utterly wondrous world.
CONTENT CAUTIONS
Very clean! As I said, this has a very middle-grade tone to the narrative. Though there is certainly plenty of dangers and perilous events, nothing ever gets graphic. At one point a male character almost catches sight of a female bathing, but it’s all very quick and I don’t think he actually saw anything. He was horrified after the fact as well. It all stayed very innocent.
There’s a bit of a Christian message woven throughout, though nothing too heavy-handed. And I really appreciated the themes of darkness vs. light, sacrifice, and redemption.
Overall though, it’s just a fun, lighthearted story that I think would be great for the 12+ age group.
CONCLUSION
From the delightful motley crew to Madnes’ growth to the crazy shenanigans to the absolutely wondrous and wild worldbuilding, this story brought me so many smiles! I already miss the Madness Solver gang, and do hope Rawls will continue their adventures one day! Though we got to explore so much of this Wonderland, I feel like there is still plenty to see, and I am here for it.
Plus, ya know, STEAMPUNK WONDERLAND STORY. What more could you ask for?
Also? THE COVERSSS. I have been drooling over them since I first laid eyes on them. JUST. I CAN’T.
If you’re looking for a zany read full of unique, dynamic characters, lots of laughs, a touch of heart, and PLENTY of fun, Madness Solver in Wonderland is for you!
November 3, 2022
3.5 stars // read November 2022
Beware of the ninja bananas.
A fun, refreshingly original MG fantasy set in a whimsical Alice in Wonderland world. There were some great elements, but the story just wasn’t for me. However, if this sounds like something you’d enjoy, I’d 100% recommend it.
Beware of the ninja bananas.
A fun, refreshingly original MG fantasy set in a whimsical Alice in Wonderland world. There were some great elements, but the story just wasn’t for me. However, if this sounds like something you’d enjoy, I’d 100% recommend it.
July 20, 2021
4/5 stars
I received an ARC of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Madnes Hatter is bored with the uninteresting life he is living on his island hometown. He never expected a talking cat to show up and wreak havoc on his life! The cat informs Madnes that he is the new Madness Solver, a person entrusted to keep both Earth and Wonderland peaceful. Madnes is suddenly forced to handle problems between the worlds, learn to use his newfound powers, and hide all of this from his friends. But the power comes with a price: it slowly is sucking away his life. And then a bigger problem surfaces—the Red King is using a dangerous spell that poses a threat to both of the worlds.
This was such a pleasant and fun read! I’m not sure what the intended age group is, but I would highly recommend it for middle-grade readers! The shenanigans of Madnes and his friends and the craziness of Wonderland would definitely appeal to younger readers! I also think YA readers would enjoy this! This unique take on Wonderland and the way it crosses over with Earth is so cool! I also really liked the author’s writing style—it strikes me as rather clever and witty. This is a fun tale of adventure and friendship with interesting world-building and enjoyable characters! It is also a clean read which is why I have no problem suggesting it to younger readers. Fans of Alice in Wonderland and readers looking for a short and amusing read should give this book a shot!
I received an ARC of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Madnes Hatter is bored with the uninteresting life he is living on his island hometown. He never expected a talking cat to show up and wreak havoc on his life! The cat informs Madnes that he is the new Madness Solver, a person entrusted to keep both Earth and Wonderland peaceful. Madnes is suddenly forced to handle problems between the worlds, learn to use his newfound powers, and hide all of this from his friends. But the power comes with a price: it slowly is sucking away his life. And then a bigger problem surfaces—the Red King is using a dangerous spell that poses a threat to both of the worlds.
This was such a pleasant and fun read! I’m not sure what the intended age group is, but I would highly recommend it for middle-grade readers! The shenanigans of Madnes and his friends and the craziness of Wonderland would definitely appeal to younger readers! I also think YA readers would enjoy this! This unique take on Wonderland and the way it crosses over with Earth is so cool! I also really liked the author’s writing style—it strikes me as rather clever and witty. This is a fun tale of adventure and friendship with interesting world-building and enjoyable characters! It is also a clean read which is why I have no problem suggesting it to younger readers. Fans of Alice in Wonderland and readers looking for a short and amusing read should give this book a shot!
June 16, 2021
This is a review for the entire duology, Madness Solver in Wonderland / Madness Solver in Wonderland 2
Rawls is back with her characteristic whimsical style, this time taking us from Earth into Wonderland (and back and forth between the two) on an exciting romp with Madnes Hatter and his friends.
Things I loved about Madness Solver in Wonderland:
THE CHARACTERS
Madnes Hatter - It would be nearly impossible not to love Madnes himself. While I was expecting (from my limited interactions with Wonderland) a rather strange, eccentric, and extremely quirky (if not downright insane) character, Madnes is actually none of these things. He is instead unswervingly loyal and steadfast and a true friend. He is courageous. He is decisive. And although he often doubts himself and isn’t extremely thrilled about his new job as the Madness Solver, he never hesitates to do what needs to be done and doesn’t stand around wasting time. I loved watching Madnes grow up throughout this story and really become who he was meant to be.
Alice - One of Madnes’ best friends, Alice definitely intrigued me from moment one. I was guessing early on that she knew more than she was saying, since she kept making cryptic comments and then passing them off with a smile and a little skip as if she was just that sort of person who makes more-than-insightful observations… but I had a feeling she was more than she seemed. She is a gentle soul, and one of the main places where Madnes can get actual encouragement early on in the story when he is still reeling from all the things that have suddenly become a part of his everyday existence.
Cosmic - Madnes’ uncle is just about the coolest character in the story. A bounty hunter with a heart of gold, this guy is every cool uncle combined into one… but there’s no hint of bad influence about this guy. He is there to help Madnes learn how to use his power in ways that won’t burn up his life-force, and he is there to protect Madnes in any way he can.
Oz - Madnes’ cousin and childhood friend (though I wasn’t sure at the end exactly how they were actually related…) I can’t say too much about Oz because all the spoilers but he is one of those characters that you kind of start out hating, but you are also drawn to them and hope they make better decisions at some point. He’s the quintessential moody, misunderstood bad boy character and while I don’t fall for them every time, when they’re well-done, I enjoy that type.
Cheshire - The talking cat who is of course a Wonderland staple. It is his job to help Madnes learn the ropes of his newfound power and job. This is not THE Cheshire, it’s more of a title handed down, you see. He may seem a little stuffy and particular, but he’s good at what he does and he truly does care about Madnes and Wonderland and Earth and keeping everything balanced.
Found Family Trope - There are also some orphans who show up and get sort of adopted into the group. At times
THE SETTING
Both Wonderland and Earth have very steampunk vibes in this story, and that was really fun to see. For example, Madnes’ best friend Harrey is an inventor of strange and interesting contraptions (that do not always work). From a spying mechanical frog to a bike/hang-glider, Harrey is the guy you want to have around if you need something mechanical…. but only if you don’t need said mechanical contraption to actually work too badly! Wonderland itself has airships and various other steampunk features as well, but it also contains magic and wizards and portals and dragon-knights. That is, knights that can take on dragon form… which is just cool. But then, the setting also felt very regular fantasy at times, with an underwater kingdom, a misty, murky, dangerous forest that will try to entrap you and make you part of itself if you stay longer than 24 hours, and a king trying to cast a spell to combine Earth and Wonderland and expand his kingdom and his reign.
THE PLOT
This is one of those stories where you kind of never know what’s going to happen next. While these two books are very much a single story (book one ends on a definite cliff-hanger… but the author released both books simultaneously, so you don’t have to wait or wonder what’s going to happen next), the two books contain very different kinds of plot. Book one is very much the coming-of-age sort of story. Book two is where all the action is, but is arranged almost in a series of vignettes as the group breaks up (SPLIT THE PARTY!) and comes back together and then goes off in small groups again trying to find and destroy all seven crystals. Each of these smaller stories introduces us to more of Wonderland, and some new characters, and deepens the overarching plot. At times the plot of book 2 felt a little more meandering, like a set of short stories stitched together, but it was enjoyable and the last few chapters definitely bring everything back together for the epic conclusion!
Things I didn’t love:
I probably would have preferred that this be all one book, honestly. The interruption in the middle pulled me straight out of the story and I found that it was a little difficult to get back into the wonder of it all when I had to track down book 2.
I feel horrible saying this, but I never really got to love Harrey, Madnes’ best friend and “sidekick.” His inventions were entertaining, and the fact that they didn’t always work well was amusing, but I never felt like his character really got fleshed out. This could be because he ended up with the other more secondary characters in book 2, so we don’t get to see him interacting with Madnes and Alice, but I just never felt like I got to know him well.
Overall
I enjoyed this story and give it a solid 4 dragon eggs. The story was an engaging read, full of Rawl’s characteristic style and her absolutely adorable characters and her fabulous world-building. This is a fantastic romp of a middle grade tale with danger, excitement, mystery, magic, dragons, and threads of a beautiful Christian message running throughout. I highly recommend for anyone who absolutely adores everything Wonderland related!
But even if you’re someone like me, who has never really understood the attraction of Alice in Wonderland (I mean, I’ve read it, I’ve seen the movies, I even read the sequel… but I never fell in love with it… sorry!) this story is super fun and will keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what’s going to happen next. On the whole, this is the most fun I’ve ever had exploring Wonderland.
Rawls is back with her characteristic whimsical style, this time taking us from Earth into Wonderland (and back and forth between the two) on an exciting romp with Madnes Hatter and his friends.
Things I loved about Madness Solver in Wonderland:
THE CHARACTERS
Madnes Hatter - It would be nearly impossible not to love Madnes himself. While I was expecting (from my limited interactions with Wonderland) a rather strange, eccentric, and extremely quirky (if not downright insane) character, Madnes is actually none of these things. He is instead unswervingly loyal and steadfast and a true friend. He is courageous. He is decisive. And although he often doubts himself and isn’t extremely thrilled about his new job as the Madness Solver, he never hesitates to do what needs to be done and doesn’t stand around wasting time. I loved watching Madnes grow up throughout this story and really become who he was meant to be.
Alice - One of Madnes’ best friends, Alice definitely intrigued me from moment one. I was guessing early on that she knew more than she was saying, since she kept making cryptic comments and then passing them off with a smile and a little skip as if she was just that sort of person who makes more-than-insightful observations… but I had a feeling she was more than she seemed. She is a gentle soul, and one of the main places where Madnes can get actual encouragement early on in the story when he is still reeling from all the things that have suddenly become a part of his everyday existence.
Cosmic - Madnes’ uncle is just about the coolest character in the story. A bounty hunter with a heart of gold, this guy is every cool uncle combined into one… but there’s no hint of bad influence about this guy. He is there to help Madnes learn how to use his power in ways that won’t burn up his life-force, and he is there to protect Madnes in any way he can.
Oz - Madnes’ cousin and childhood friend (though I wasn’t sure at the end exactly how they were actually related…) I can’t say too much about Oz because all the spoilers but he is one of those characters that you kind of start out hating, but you are also drawn to them and hope they make better decisions at some point. He’s the quintessential moody, misunderstood bad boy character and while I don’t fall for them every time, when they’re well-done, I enjoy that type.
Cheshire - The talking cat who is of course a Wonderland staple. It is his job to help Madnes learn the ropes of his newfound power and job. This is not THE Cheshire, it’s more of a title handed down, you see. He may seem a little stuffy and particular, but he’s good at what he does and he truly does care about Madnes and Wonderland and Earth and keeping everything balanced.
Found Family Trope - There are also some orphans who show up and get sort of adopted into the group. At times
THE SETTING
Both Wonderland and Earth have very steampunk vibes in this story, and that was really fun to see. For example, Madnes’ best friend Harrey is an inventor of strange and interesting contraptions (that do not always work). From a spying mechanical frog to a bike/hang-glider, Harrey is the guy you want to have around if you need something mechanical…. but only if you don’t need said mechanical contraption to actually work too badly! Wonderland itself has airships and various other steampunk features as well, but it also contains magic and wizards and portals and dragon-knights. That is, knights that can take on dragon form… which is just cool. But then, the setting also felt very regular fantasy at times, with an underwater kingdom, a misty, murky, dangerous forest that will try to entrap you and make you part of itself if you stay longer than 24 hours, and a king trying to cast a spell to combine Earth and Wonderland and expand his kingdom and his reign.
THE PLOT
This is one of those stories where you kind of never know what’s going to happen next. While these two books are very much a single story (book one ends on a definite cliff-hanger… but the author released both books simultaneously, so you don’t have to wait or wonder what’s going to happen next), the two books contain very different kinds of plot. Book one is very much the coming-of-age sort of story. Book two is where all the action is, but is arranged almost in a series of vignettes as the group breaks up (SPLIT THE PARTY!) and comes back together and then goes off in small groups again trying to find and destroy all seven crystals. Each of these smaller stories introduces us to more of Wonderland, and some new characters, and deepens the overarching plot. At times the plot of book 2 felt a little more meandering, like a set of short stories stitched together, but it was enjoyable and the last few chapters definitely bring everything back together for the epic conclusion!
Things I didn’t love:
I probably would have preferred that this be all one book, honestly. The interruption in the middle pulled me straight out of the story and I found that it was a little difficult to get back into the wonder of it all when I had to track down book 2.
I feel horrible saying this, but I never really got to love Harrey, Madnes’ best friend and “sidekick.” His inventions were entertaining, and the fact that they didn’t always work well was amusing, but I never felt like his character really got fleshed out. This could be because he ended up with the other more secondary characters in book 2, so we don’t get to see him interacting with Madnes and Alice, but I just never felt like I got to know him well.
Overall
I enjoyed this story and give it a solid 4 dragon eggs. The story was an engaging read, full of Rawl’s characteristic style and her absolutely adorable characters and her fabulous world-building. This is a fantastic romp of a middle grade tale with danger, excitement, mystery, magic, dragons, and threads of a beautiful Christian message running throughout. I highly recommend for anyone who absolutely adores everything Wonderland related!
But even if you’re someone like me, who has never really understood the attraction of Alice in Wonderland (I mean, I’ve read it, I’ve seen the movies, I even read the sequel… but I never fell in love with it… sorry!) this story is super fun and will keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what’s going to happen next. On the whole, this is the most fun I’ve ever had exploring Wonderland.
June 13, 2021
I enjoyed this book. Madnes Hatter and his eccentric friends are a magical and fun set of characters to romp between worlds with, looking to solve problems and uncover mysteries.
Madnes's friends Harrey and Alice bring just the right balance of humor and intrigue to the personal life of the newest Madness Solver. Harrey, in fact, makes me laugh. He's both brilliant and goofy and a little oblivious.
And I think if you're a fan of J. K. Rowlings Harry Potter and friends, you'll enjoy Madness Solver in Wonderland. Madnes is one in a long line of Hatters (they make hats!) who has inherited the terrible and essential role of Madness Solver to keep the peace between Earth and Wonderland. Whenever trouble arises, he must solve the mysteries, fix the problems, and hope he doesn't have to use the madness solving power granted to him because, well, it's not all it's cracked up to be!
And to top it all off, his once-upon-a-time best friend Oz is causing all kinds of mischief that leaves Madnes in a lurch.
I'm halfway through book two in this duology, and I cannot recommend enough getting both books. The second Madness Solver book is just as good as the first and in some ways, the world building in it is even better. You get to see so much more of Wonderland and all its craziness!
So, if you're a fan of Alice in Wonderland-type madness and curiosity as well as fantasy like Harry Potter, you'll definitely enjoy these books and quirky characters. I recommend Madness Solver in Wonderland for readers of 6th grade and up.
These would actually be a really fun family read!
Madnes's friends Harrey and Alice bring just the right balance of humor and intrigue to the personal life of the newest Madness Solver. Harrey, in fact, makes me laugh. He's both brilliant and goofy and a little oblivious.
And I think if you're a fan of J. K. Rowlings Harry Potter and friends, you'll enjoy Madness Solver in Wonderland. Madnes is one in a long line of Hatters (they make hats!) who has inherited the terrible and essential role of Madness Solver to keep the peace between Earth and Wonderland. Whenever trouble arises, he must solve the mysteries, fix the problems, and hope he doesn't have to use the madness solving power granted to him because, well, it's not all it's cracked up to be!
And to top it all off, his once-upon-a-time best friend Oz is causing all kinds of mischief that leaves Madnes in a lurch.
I'm halfway through book two in this duology, and I cannot recommend enough getting both books. The second Madness Solver book is just as good as the first and in some ways, the world building in it is even better. You get to see so much more of Wonderland and all its craziness!
So, if you're a fan of Alice in Wonderland-type madness and curiosity as well as fantasy like Harry Potter, you'll definitely enjoy these books and quirky characters. I recommend Madness Solver in Wonderland for readers of 6th grade and up.
These would actually be a really fun family read!
May 26, 2021
Interesting
I found this story interesting and it pulled me into the story. I wasn't sure what was going on, like Madness. The storyline bounced along engagingly. Would have liked to see it not end on a cliffhanger (of sorts). Curious about Alice.
I found this story interesting and it pulled me into the story. I wasn't sure what was going on, like Madness. The storyline bounced along engagingly. Would have liked to see it not end on a cliffhanger (of sorts). Curious about Alice.
May 28, 2021
Love E.E. Rawls' characteristic, whimsical writing style // Madnes Hatter and his friends are delightful // fabulous jaunt into Wonderland that even a non-Wonderland fan could enjoy thoroughly // loved the steampunk-y/fantasy blend of elements in an alternate Earth setting // absolute CLIFFHANGER ending!
More in-depth review coming soon!
More in-depth review coming soon!
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