Allison and the Torrid Tea Party (Harem of Hearts #2)

This. Book. Is. Everything. In fact, this whole series is EVERYTHING. I can always rely on CM Stunich to completely immerse me in the worlds she has created inside her books. Underland is a unique beast all on its own. There’s no telling what will go down in this mad world, which makes the books that much sweeter!

The crazy quotes from these characters have me laughing while also trying to understand exactly what is going on in their minds. What’s so great about Allison and the Torrid Tea Party is that Allison is starting to have an idea of what these characters mean when they spout nonsense! She is coming into her own in this world! Without revealing too much of what does down in the next installment in Allison’s world, I will just say that CM Stunich absolutely outdid herself with every single aspect. It was SO worth the wait. And just wait til the Torrid Tea Party itself…trippy as all get out but totally my favorite part!

Allison’s got nine members of her harem, and each one of them stands out on their own in this book. I especially enjoyed getting more insight into the King of Hearts, though there is still much more to be revealed as to his motives. I started the book hating him, but by the end of it, I wanted more Brennin Red! And Chesh!!! My beloved Chesh. He is my absolute FAVORITE. I about died laughing at the majority of his lines. He is a total cat, but also so deliciously dark and yummy. Rab is so delicious. He’s still a bit of an enigma, but a hot one!

Allison has grown so much thanks to all of her crazy adventures she’s had to go through. I love seeing the world of Underland through her eyes. She ranks up there as one of my favorite CM Stunich heroines, next to Brynn and Lilith. I am so excited to see what is in store for her and her men in the next book that will conclude this trilogy. It’s sure to be one curiously mad ending!

This series has been my first introduction to reverse harem and let me just say, I need me one of these! This book has been my doorway to a whole new genre to read.
I have read a lot of classic reimaginings – Alice in Wonderland being one of my favorites by and large. Theres just so much you can do with this world and the characters. However, this imagining is fantastic! Its been a long time since I have picked up a book and couldnt put it down! Although the classic is meant as a childrens book, the tale is certainly on the darker, twisted side of the psyche. So many reimaginings try to make it child-like in essence. I feel like this story has brought us to the essence of what makes Wonderland a place of madness.
The relationships grow with the expected slow burn and each new man is introduced gradually so you can get to know and love them (and want them). Im right in love with Dee and Tee, North and Lar, Rab, even March. The twist on the Tweedle characters is wonderful and refreshing as well as horrifically sad. I am a little disappointed by the imaginings of the Hatter. I mean, a vampire! How cliche. That being said, I rather like the character himself.
The Wonderland characters in general are well thought out with distinct personalities, passions, and pasts. Tee and Dee talk in riddles in an almost compulsory way. At first it seems like it’s only the two that do but as you move through the world and meet more characters, you see that the men that Allison is surrounded with all talk in riddles at some point. If you want to talk analytically, it speaks to how unhinged they are deep down. How traumatized the Riving of their world has left them. I love the hybrids – how theyre not simply classic shifters, man to animal. They have rabbit ears, horns, tails, wings. Making some of the characters shifters of the animals we love (or hate to love) is a great new twist to the beasts we have read about. And let me tell you yes!
The world itself is certainly a darker version of the Wonderland we all love. Theres definitely a Tim Burton feel to it that I so crave. I love the darkness, the mystery, and the Anti-Alice.
The plot is an interesting one. In none of the reimagined Wonderland stories Ive read does it really talk about the other kingdoms. Since there is a King/Queen of Hearts and a deck of cards, one would assume that there are three other kingdoms somewhere in Wonderland. What of them? This book only mentions them in passing. Im hoping we see more about them in the sequels.
Of course, there are the sex scenes, the constant nakedness of the men in this world, and the down right ranchiness in the air. Yes, not gonna lie, I love it. Rabs tattoos, the twins wings, the Cheshire Cat yummy. Im basically a drooling mess for these fictional characters. What I wouldnt give to be surrounded by these men.
However, I have some complaints:
I cant stand the main character. Shes whiny, wretched, repetitive, and all around unlikable. I do appreciate her background. Her history should give her depth and make me sympathize with her but I find her obnoxious and hard to care about. I dont necessarily think her actions and determination to get home are unwarranted, nor do I think that Id act any differently (ya know, if this could possibly be real— come on universe, let me fall down a rabbit hole into Underland), but I cant stand her attitude. Shes also the Alice of prophecy (and, like weve come to expect, denies this about herself), and is foretold to have nine husbands. However, by the end of this book, she still needs to accept seven more men and quite frankly, I dont think she actually has the mental or emotional capacity to love that many men. Especially those of Underland, with their tormented pasts and emotional baggage. She is so wishy washy on her emotions. In many ways, she gives ridiculously mixed signals to those around her. Also, her constant reminding us that shes well read, a hormonal teenager, etc. Yes, we understand. A couple times in the book as a reminder is one thing. A dozen times per chapter is overdoing it. We get it already. Stop making excuses for yourself and deal with your emotions!
My second issue, and this might actually be a large part in why I cant stand Allison, is the constant cursing. Yes, I get it, we all curse. Im not at all against it in writing or in general. However, it is constant in this book and it not only makes me want to slap Allison or shake her until I can rattle a wider vocabulary out of her, but it takes away from the story. I get so annoyed at the continual cursing that I tend to skip over some sections. And in a book where I want to keep reading, this is obviously a struggle for me. I honestly think Id have liked Allison a whole lot better, despite my previous paragraph, if her vocabulary was a little more eloquent. I mean, she tells us every other page that she is a nerdy reader and reads A LOT. One would think shed have picked up a little more language than the constant use of the same profanity to express her discomfort, wonder, and horror.
Id have given this story 5 stars if it wasnt for these last two points. If I didnt enjoy the overall plot, want to bed these men myself, and thirsted for more Underland treachery, Id have given this book 3 stars.

It’s strange to find an author who has, as expressed thru this book, so much of the same kind of thought pattern as my own.
Except I’m not in my curse like my truck driving uncle, a man and warrior like my dad and husband. I come from muchness and need muchness. So to find that one guy out of a 100,000,000 who is…well it’s Hearts for sure. I don’t know how this book resonates so perfectly (except I’m not in my cursing like a felon or sailor or trucker or, sigh, soldiers in the war zone phase, it comes and goes…) but I crave these books. Which is not surprising as personal losses (like Allison’s) this past year a half have left me reading and hoping for rain which I love.
So to find a book that some might call madly insane but seems normal is as delicious as can be. I am Viking descended and a rebellious American from birth and all but the finally authority, like Allison, set me off in diametrically opposed rebellion. And oh do I love bad boys and found one in hearts, for tha reals.
If you like fantasy, love a perfectly fine plot that feels in sync with perfect timing and fascinating characters that leave one thinking of them, this is for you. Warning: graphic violence, torrid scenes of a sexual nature (which may be skipped with impunity & no loads of plot if you…desire) and general mayhap, insightful comments, characters, and jabberwockies, this series IS for you.

This book… Was worth the wait. It’s witty, it’s edgy, it’s FUNNY, it’s sad.

What do we have in this book?

~Riddles
~9 fantastic men in her harem
~Talking flowers with attitude
~References to other books (which were hilarious by the way)
~It’s mega long (part of the wait… it’s 520 pages in the printed book!)

What this book doesn’t have:
~An ending (Which is awesome because this means we GET. MORE. OF. ALLISON. AND. HER. MEN.
~*blank look*

So, there are a ton of fun things to read in this book. CM Stunich’s writing just gets better and better. What a wild ride this book took me on. And, I was sober. LOL

After waiting for what felt like forever, C M Stunich’s Allison and the Torrid Tea Party was released – and hearts was it worth the wait. I’d even go as far as to say that it was even better, and definitely significantly longer, than Adventures in Underland.

The story picks up right where book 1 left off, with Allison and the Savage Duke kidnapped by the Mad Hatter and his cronies. I loved Allison’s interactions with each of the characters in the book, reading about the prophecies and meeting all of the new additions to the story – especially Brennin! Also, that ending had me screaming – cliffhanger much! C M you’re so terrible to us (not really!)

Cannot wait to read Allison Breaks the Looking Glass soon!

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