Good afternoon, Arrowheads! Are you in the mood for a modern day Alice in Wonderland type novel? If so, sit back and relax as I introduce you to and review Nicki Chapelway’s newest fantasy release, A Certain Sort of Madness!

The world of Amar is back with an all-new cast of characters in A Certain Sort of Madness. This time around, we begin in England and meet Alicia, a character similar in nature to Alice from Alice in Wonderland. Although I didn’t quite relate to Alicia’s story as much as that of Miss Chapelway’s A Week of Werewolves, Faeries, and Fancy Dresses, this story stands strong on its own merit. I’ll now review the highlights and lowlights of the novel:

Highlights:

Olivia

My favorite part of this book overall were Olivia’s (Alicia’s step-cousin) chapters. Olivia is the polar opposite of Alicia and has an over-the-top personality that offers comic relief in the midst of the dangerous circumstances the characters face in Amar.

Cast of Characters

I really liked Hector from the beginning, and how protective he becomes of a new friend the characters meet in another realm. Olivia was my favorite character, and I shipped her hard with a certain male character. Though I didn’t particularly like Eugene at first, he eventually grew on me.

World Building

It is apparent to the reader that Miss Chapelway has taken the time to create a believable and descriptive world in the Amar universe, complete with different species, realms, and towns.

Lowlights:

Pacing

The first few chapters started out slow for me. It wasn’t until I reached Olivia’s first chapter that I became invested in the story.

Lack of Connection to Alicia

The above bullet point is due to my lack of connection with the main character, Alicia. Though we have similar personalities, I felt she was too naive and trusting at times. However, I enjoyed the story of her connection to the Amar realm and feel that other readers could better connect to her.

Overall, I think the author has written a solid first installment to her second Amar series. I’m interested to see where she’ll take the series next! 🙂

Rating: 

Thank you to the author for providing me a free ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. A positive review was not required to receive the ebook.

Talk to Me, Arrowheads!

What is your favorite fantasy series? Let me know in the comments!

Be sure to check back regularly this month as I prepare for the release of my newest book, Speak Your Mind!

Aim high, stay strong, and always hit your mark.

-Allyson 😀