Queen of Hearts

Oakes (Wendy Darling) gives the Queen of Hearts an origin story in this deliciously dark tale, first in a series and originally self-published in 2014. Dinah, princess of Wonderland and the future queen, is eager for the day that she will reign—ideally beside the boy she loves, Wardley Ghane—even if her cruel father seems to barely tolerate her existence. When the king reveals the existence of a previously unknown daughter, Dinah is devastated and realizes that winning her father’s approval will be harder than ever. After receiving a mysterious message, Dinah and Wardley travel to the treacherous Black Towers; soon after, a shocking turn of events during Execution Day forces Dinah to flee for her life. Fans of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland will enjoy the twists Oakes gives to familiar characters, including Dinah’s rabbitlike guardian, Harris; her father’s creepy adviser, Cheshire; her mentally ill brother, Charles, who feverishly creates beautiful hats; and the Heart Cards, her father’s security detail. Heart-stopping action makes the pages fly, and Dinah’s struggle to stay true to herself amid impossible expectations resonates. Ages 13–up. Agent: Jennifer Unter, Unter Agency. (May)