A Dream So Dark
Readers rate it 3.8 (8 on Hardcover)
304 pages · Released Sep 24, 2019 · Imprint
Content report card
A Dream So Dark parent’s guide: what’s inside
Substance use
What it offers
Educational value
A note for parents
This dark fantasy sequel features significant violence, horror imagery, and mature emotional themes including trauma and loss, making it better suited for older teens than middle-grade readers. The story centers on a Black female protagonist confronting psychological and physical dangers in a twisted Wonderland while processing grief and fear. Despite the heavy content, the narrative emphasizes resilience, self-confrontation, and the importance of community, with diverse and LGBTQ+ representation. This is a sophisticated YA novel that rewards thoughtful readers ready for complex, sometimes disturbing material.
Analyzed by AI · 1 month ago
Read it with your kids?
Rate it and suggest an age to help other parents.
From the publisher
"The fantasy series I've been waiting for my whole life." —Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Hate U Give In L.L. McKinney's A Dream So Dark, the thrilling sequel to A Blade So Black, Alice goes deeper into a dark version of Wonderland. Still reeling from her recent battle (and grounded until she... "The fantasy series I've been waiting for my whole life." —Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Hate U Give In L.L. McKinney's A Dream So Dark, the thrilling sequel to A Blade So Black, Alice goes deeper into a dark version of Wonderland. Still reeling from her recent battle (and grounded until she graduates high school), Alice must cross the Veil to rescue her friends and stop the Black Knight once and for all. But the further she ventures into Wonderland, the more topsy-turvy everything becomes. It’s not until she’s at her wit's end that she realizes—Wonderland is trying to save her. There’s a new player on the board; someone capable of using Nightmare creatures to not only influence the living but raise the dead. Dreams have never been so dark in Wonderland, and if there is any hope, Alice must confront the worst in herself—and in the people she loves—and face the very nature of fear. An Imprint Book "The Alice I never knew I needed. The Alice I was missing. McKinney conjures a Wonderland for those of us who weren’t given the looking glass." —Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times-bestselling author of The Belles
Shelved under
- Young Adult Fiction
- Strong Character Development
- Unloveable Characters
- Diverse Characters
- funny
- emotional
- Adventurous
- Fantasy
- Young Adult
- Adventure
- LGBTQ
- Magic
Books in The Nightmare-Verse
Full series in order →
Share this guide
ISBN 9781250153913 · Imprint