Book Shelf: Alice in Zombieland (White Rabbit Chronicles #1) by Gena Showalter

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

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Brimming with tantalizing romance, delicious humour and edge of your seat action, Alice in Zombieland proves once and for all that Gena Showalter is a literacy master! With a fresh new take on zombies, this book is sure to have you begging for more. I promise you’ve never seen zombie’s like this before!

It wouldn’t be fair to start this review without noting that I am a HUGE Gena Showalter fan. Her books never fail to captivate me, and Alice in Zombieland is no exception what so ever! From the moment I turned the first page, this book had my attention. Wars could have broken out and I wouldn’t have noticed. Gena’s effortless writing and amazing ability to create intricate storylines is at it’s best in Alice in Zombieland, and her fresh take on a paranormal creature we’ve all seen a hundred times is masterful. I guarantee you; there isn’t a book out there with this take on zombies and I loved that! Add in the oh, so awesome inspiration of and reference to Alice in Wonderland that dances throughout the book and this fresh look at zombies is an absolute delight!

As far as heroines go, Alice Bell just plain out rocks! Despite the pain she feels due to her recent family tragedy, Ali, as she likes to be known, is a perfect example of a strong female lead. The resourcefulness, stubbornness and intelligence she demonstrates throughout the book make her fantastic to follow. She’s quick thinking and not afraid to say what she feels. Her sharp tongue and attitude, especially where Cole is concerned, make her a joy to read about and you can’t help but love her. Honestly, this is my kind of girl; one who knows the dangers but fights anyway simply because it’s what she knows is right and what she has to do. Written with the kind of spark and flair that make a great heroine, Ali is going to be one hell of a character to follow throughout the rest of the series!

Now, you will have to excuse me while I wipe the drool off my chin before I talk about a little guy named Cole Holland. Not that he’s anyone special, not that he’s anyone worth noting. He’s only one of the sexiest guys I’ve seen in YA fiction lately! And with his violet eyes, tattoos, and nipple ring (yes, nipple ring) he’s not exactly traditional, but my goodness does this boy know how to make a girl swoon. I can certainly see why he has Ali turning to mush. Gena Showalter certainly knows how to write tough, fierce, and gorgeous male leads with all the sensitivity, kindness and wit that us female readers love. Cole is P-E-R-F-E-C-T. Really, I’m ready to start the Cole Holland fan club. With his dark good looks and protective nature, Cole is the perfect match for Ali.

It’s so evident from the very beginning that Ali and Cole are going to have something. It’s undeniable. The moment they see each other, they’re gone, but not in the way you’d expect. The best part about the romance Showalter so masterfully weaves between Ali and Cole is the chemistry. It’s a gradual thing that intensifies over time, but the sexual tension the two of them share is no less electrifying. It sizzles through the pages and enhances every shared moment between them. From heated kisses to hilarious dialogue, these two have it in spades and will are guaranteed to have you smiling, laughing and shaking your head. All in the best way, of course.

One of the best parts about this book, and really any Gena Showalter book in general, are the characters. Showalter has a fantastic ability of creating vibrant characters, different in personality, but all perfect to the storyline. Every single one of the characters in Alice in Zombieland was captivating in their personalities, sense of humour and the way in which they interacted with one another. From the chemistry shared between our two lovebirds to the fabulous friendships and relationships shown between the other characters, every one of them complimented each other so brilliantly. Apart from Ali and Cole, the other characters stole my heart also. From the cold Mackenzie, who I think isn’t what she seems to the awesome, I-wish-she-was-my-best-friend Kat and her on again/of again boyfriend Frosty; they all had my heart. I admit, I had a feeling about what Kat’s secret was for quite a while, but that didn’t lessen the sadness when we did find out for ourselves.

And yet, you know the worst part about this book; the only thing that makes me want to hide under a rock and bawl? The fact that, since this book doesn’t officially hit stores until October, I have to wait over a year for the next instalment of The While Rabbit Chronicles! Now that just isn’t flair. Considering all the brilliancy that is Alice in Zombieland, I want to be able to dive into the next book A.S.A.P, but alas that’s just not possible *sigh*

Featuring a fast paced and addictive storyline, this is one book you don’t want to miss. Gena Showalter manages to create a fantastic zombie tale with no apocalypse needed and take zombies straight into the modern world. With an exhilarating and revealing ending and with all the hints thrown about, I’m sure Gena Showalter has plenty of twists and turns up her sleeve yet to be dished out. Alice in Zombieland sets the stage for what looks to be a fantastic, engaging new series and I for one cannot wait to discover what’s in store for Alice next!


Rating:
Source: Sent for review by HarlequinTEEN Australia. (Thanks Polina--you rock!)
Format: Paperback ARC
AU Release Date: October 2012
Pre-order it: Booktopia // The Nile // The Book Depository
Recommendation: If you love thrilling, romantic stories with kick ass characters, this is a must read--I guarantee you love it!
Cover: Ah-mazing! Honestly, it's beautiful!
Will I read sequel/continue with series: MOOOOOOORE! Yes, please more.