Fated to the Wicked King was such a fun and unique take on an Alice in Wonderland retelling! I really enjoyed seeing familiar Wonderland-inspired elements reimagined into something darker and more romantic while still feeling like its own story.

The world building was one of my favorite parts. There was this whimsical yet dangerous atmosphere that gave me those classic Wonderland vibes while adding an entirely new fantasy spin. I loved discovering the different pieces of the world and seeing how everything connected as the story unfolded.

I’m also a sucker for a good second chance romance, and I really enjoyed that element here. The history, tension, and complicated emotions between the characters added another layer to the romance and made me want to keep reading to see where their relationship would go.

Overall, this was a creative, darker twist on a story we all know, with strong world building, romance, and just the right amount of Wonderland nostalgia. Definitely an enjoyable read!

4 ⭐️ 2 🌶️

⚔️ Enemies to lovers
💞 Second chance romance
🖤 Morally grey MMC
🌎 Portal fantasy

Fated to the Wicked King is a fun, dark fairytale romantasy with Alice in Wonderland vibes, Cinderella touches and plenty of second-chance tension.

Allie is thrown back into the orbit of the man who once broke her heart, except he’s now a ruthless king being slowly corrupted by his crown. Cue dangerous magic, messy history and a whole lot of “I can fix him” energy. 😂

Whimsical, slightly unhinged and easy to devour. 🖤✨

Allie, a scientist with a mysterious past, accidentally ends up allying herself with her ex, the wicked king of Wunder, in a desperate attempt to protect his subjects from his wrath. But all is not as it seems in his kingdom, and also, she just so happens to still be hopelessly attracted to him (against her better judgement), which proves to be a bit of a problem.

This is a reimagining of Alice Through the Looking Glass, and my goodness it was delightfully wacky and I had a wonderful time. The steampunk setting was such a neat touch too. I'd have liked a bit more worldbuilding as I sometimes found myself quite confused about where places were, how things worked, and why certain plot decisions were made, but I think that lack of clarity also added to the general weird and whimsical vibe it had going on, so it may have been intentional.

The romance was well-written and you could really feel the history between Allie and the wicked king all the way through the story. Although, I will say, Allie put up with many things that would have had me raging and/or running for the hills. A particular inappropriate chess match comes to mind!

Highly recommend if you're looking for a fun, wacky, quick read!

FATED TO THE WICKED KING BY S.L. BREAKER: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Although I think this might be a sequel, you can fully read this as a standalone. The mystery of their past, the already established dynamics, I loved it. And little did I know it was a retelling of Alice in Wonderland. The twists were so good.

“And somewhere in the Great Hall, a king who should have died tonight stood very much alive - because I had loved him once”

I’m obsessed with this series !!! All standalones and all from different authors and all absolutely amazing enemies to lovers stories !! This time we have Alice in Wonderland but with a twist. She saved the heart of the shadow daddy man who killed the Queen of Hearts and took the throne. And he is now looking for a bride! The bargain, the enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers, the forced proximity, their shared past … it was all too much. It was all too good. I found myself suddenly wanting more than what transpired through the pages. I wanted to know the details of their past. I wanted to know it all. And I wanted more of their present. Allie and the Wicked King. I marvel at them. I loved every second of this book. And when it was over … I would have wanted more of that too !!!

“You touch her, you die”

Everytime I think that I've read the best Alice in Wonderland retelling, authors surprise me. Fated to the Wicked King takes elements of Alice's story then bends it with science, creating a mix of magic and technology - almost steampunk but not quite! I adored Allie, her journey in this book is brilliant, her Wicked King is indeed Wicked, but he also does some very good things to her too! Steamy, full of twists and turns and just a really addictive read - I loved this book!

Fated to the Wicked King is the kind of fantasy romance that happily throws convention out the window. Its version of Wonderland is filled with clockwork touches, fairytale imagery, dangerous magic, and a darker atmosphere that makes the setting feel familiar without simply retelling anything we already know. The story has an unpredictable quality from beginning to end, and I enjoyed never being entirely certain where the next revelation would lead. There is plenty of adventure and suspense, but the emotional side of the story gives the book its real pull.

Allie remains one of the strongest parts of the novel. Stranded in a world she still doesn’t completely understand and desperate to recover the pieces of her identity, she approaches every problem with intelligence and determination. Her situation becomes even more complicated when she is forced back into the orbit of Rabb, the man she once loved and believed she understood. Seeing him transformed into a distant and seemingly ruthless ruler creates an intriguing conflict, especially because Allie cannot simply forget what existed between them.

The relationship between Allie and Rabb carries a tremendous amount of tension. Their past makes every encounter loaded with things left unsaid, unanswered questions, and conflicting emotions. Rabb’s behavior initially makes very little sense, and watching Allie struggle to reconcile the man she remembers with the king standing before her kept me invested in their story. Their romance is less about an easy reunion and more about uncovering what went wrong, which gives their eventual emotional moments considerably more impact.

I also had a lot of fun with the supporting cast. Chez brings exactly the sort of mischievous energy you would expect from a Cheshire Cat inspired character, while the Duchess steals attention whenever she appears. The cast helps keep the story from becoming too heavy, adding personality and humor to a plot that frequently heads into much darker territory. There is a nice balance between whimsical moments and genuine danger, and that contrast makes the world particularly enjoyable to explore.

The plot becomes increasingly intense as the secrets surrounding Rabb, Allie, and the state of Wünder begin to surface. There are several revelations that completely change the way earlier events can be viewed, and the final portion moves especially quickly. At times, I did find myself wishing certain aspects of the world and its mythology had been explained more thoroughly, since some developments arrive before I had completely wrapped my head around the rules behind them. Even so, the uncertainty also contributes to the book’s dreamlike quality.

Overall, this was an entertaining blend of romance, fairytale fantasy, mystery, and steampunk-inspired whimsy. The emotional stakes between Allie and Rabb kept me turning pages, while the unusual setting gave the story an identity of its own. It may occasionally leave you wanting a little more explanation, but there is so much imagination, tension, and heart packed into the journey that those rough edges were easy for me to overlook. By the conclusion, I was invested in these characters and more than ready to see what comes next in their strange, beautiful world.

If you love a good Alice and Wonderland retelling… if you love steampunk fairytale vibes… if you love a morally dark grey (almost black tbh) mmc… if you love a good “touch her and die”... this is the book for you. Ugh, the “your Majesty”s should be sickening but somehow they’re actually perfect and it’s disgusting (in the best way of course).

Thank you NetGalley and S.L. Breaker for the opportunity to delve back into the world of Allie and Rabb, it was a delight to follow them through the darkness and magic of Wunder.

I really enjoyed the fantasy and romance in this one. The wicked king trope was exactly the kind of drama I was expecting, and I liked the tension between the characters. There was plenty of intrigue and romance to keep things moving, and I found myself wanting to see how everything would work out.

I loved this unique story set in Wonderland. The character development and slow secrets was gripping, however having it all set in a semi-familiar world was perfect. The dark and gritty secrets that we learn along way are nail biting as the suspense is built. This was spectacular!