Review: The Collectors' Society (#1, The Collectors' Society) by Heather Lyons - Vilma Iris | Lifestyle Blogger

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Review: The Collectors’ Society (#1, The Collectors’ Society) by Heather Lyons

My Thoughts

One of the most inventive stories I’ve ever read. Brimming with sexiness and romance, magic and lore, it’s a modern-day fairytale adventure that is not to be missed.

5stars

Synopsis

the-collectors-society-front-coverFrom the author of the Fate series and The Deep End of the Sea comes a fantastical romantic adventure that has Alice tumbling down the strangest rabbit hole yet.

After years in Wonderland, Alice has returned to England as an adult, desperate to reclaim sanity and control over her life. An enigmatic gentleman with an intriguing job offer too tempting to resist changes her plans for a calm existence, though. Soon, she’s whisked to New York and initiated into the Collectors’ Society, a secret organization whose members confirm that famous stories are anything but straightforward and that what she knows about the world is only a fraction of the truth.

It’s there she discovers villains are afoot–ones who want to shelve the lives of countless beings. Assigned to work with the mysterious and alluring Finn, Alice and the rest of the Collectors’ Society race against a doomsday clock in order to prevent further destruction . . . but will they make it before all their endings are erased?

My Review

Heather Lyons’ talented imagination pours onto the page in a magical mix of realism and lore as she takes us on an unforgettable adventure through time and ultimately through Wonderland. I’ve never read a story such as this before—one that is both wonderfully dreamlike and emperically real. Lyons manages to immerse us in a world where the well-read pages of our favorite classic novels constitute history… where the words and the characters and the worlds we escape into come alive in brilliant color. It was a fascinating and riveting reading experience. And while the ingenious elements devised contribute to the fantastical feel of the story, the interactions between the characters are relatable, contemporary and entirely swoon-worthy. I’ve loved every book Heather has released, but she has truly outdone herself with The Collectors’ Society.

“Are you ready for your next adventure, Ms. Reeve? Are you ready to once more slip through a looking glass?”

After many years in Wonderland, Alice struggles to find peace and sanity in the real-world. The intoxicating, all-consuming effects of Wonderland have not been completely extricated… the aching, vivid memories whispering to her at any given moment. When a stranger approaches with an alluring, yet mysterious job offer, she finds her path redirecting once again, bringing her closer to the world she’d been failing to forget. In the blink of an eye, she’s in New York City amidst a secret group named The Collectors’ Society, in a time she couldn’t begin to imagine. She learns that her beloved Wonderland is in peril and only she can find the path back to that magical place she called home for so many years.

“It is hard to walk away again when so much is in chaos.”

Alice is befuddled by truths about herself, her world, her future, as her eyes open to a reality difficult to process. Lyons keeps us in intriguing suspense, as secrets swirl both among Society members, as well as in Alice’s past. Alice is very much a mystery herself, and we see her struggle to make sense of her past, her present and her potential future. Her curiosity beckons her to question everything as she falls through a different kid of rabbit hole altogether.

Alice meets a group of fascinating, new people, with stories to tell of their own, and that includes her attractive and gorgeous partner, Finn. Every time she’s around him, she’s drawn to his resolve and intelligence. But there’s more to Finn that meets the eye, and in typical Alice fashion, she is determined to learn more about this enigmatic boy. Time starts ticking, however, as danger looms. Alice and crew must find the villain responsible for destroying the lives of so many, and they must do it quick as worlds hang in the balance.

“One would think I’ve learned my lesson, that I know better than to foolishly go forth into the unknown.”

I loved seeing Alice in action. As an adult, she’s a fierce fighter—intelligent, inquisitive and independent. She’s the kind of heroine I love to read about, with heart and vigor, but with a relatable sense of vulnerability. Heather Lyons does an amazing job creating that wonderfully exhilarative feeling of falling in love, as the chemistry between our two protagonists sizzles on the page.

“Sometimes, you feel like you’re floating, lost in space. I was lost, without purpose when I left Wonderland… But then I came to the Collectors’ Society. I met you. My feet found solid ground. A fixed star shines in my sky.”

I don’t want to spoil any moment of this unforgettable adventure, you will have to devour it yourself to see how masterfully layered and penned it is. I loved the way she mixed literary references amidst contemporary dialogue, how she evolved the characters we thought we knew into people with expanded dimension. It felt like a hybrid novel (a trend I think we’ll see more of in the coming year) with elements steeped in multiple genres: fantasy, romance, suspense and adventure. For those of you that are skeptical about jumping into a book that seems different, I urge you to give it a try. You’ll find the romance we all love, but with so much more wrapped around the love story, which is decidedly new adult. Alice is all grown up and I assure you, you will fall in love with Finn! I’m so excited about this novel and its continuation, and I can’t wait to read more! I am still on such a high from reading it.Absolutely one of my favorite reading experiences of the year! 5+ stars!

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Note: This novel is the first in a series, but concludes a portion of the story’s plot. No cliffhanger.

About Heather Lyons

HEATHERHeather Lyons has always had a thing for words—She’s been writing stories since she was a kid. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. Heather is a rabid music fan, as evidenced by her (mostly) music-centric blog, and she’s married to an even larger music snob. They’re happily raising three kids who are mini music fiends who love to read and be read to.

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