Quick Take

In the 5th and final volume, looking glasses shatter as our worlds collide and characters from Wonderland increasingly cross over to aid or block Hatter in his single-minded quest to find Alyss and bring her home. Redd's Black Imagination has ruled Wonderland for 13 years without fear of reprisal and now the specter of Alyss' return to claim the throne has unleashed a storm of paranoiac rage. Hatter Madigan is at the center of this crusade as he must simultaneously battle the enemies of wonder as well as his own beliefs and loyalties. All paths through time and space, through blood and steel, from his world to our world, have led Hatter Madigan to this moment -- a life or death confrontation with the only warrior in the Looking Glass Wars universe capable of defeating him and destroying the love of wonder.

Reader's Review

Book Review Summary: Hatter M, Volume 5: Love of Wonder

Introduction

"Hatter M, Volume 5: Love of Wonder" by Frank Beddor is the final installment in the Hatter M graphic novel series. In this volume, the worlds of Wonderland and our reality collide as characters from Wonderland increasingly cross over to aid or block Hatter Madigan in his quest to find Alyss and bring her home. The story is set in the Looking Glass Wars universe and follows Hatter Madigan as he battles enemies of wonder and confronts the only warrior capable of defeating him. This article will provide a comprehensive review of the book, including the author's background, readers' opinions, and reasons for both recommending and not recommending this book.

About Frank Beddor

Frank Beddor, the author of "Hatter M, Volume 5: Love of Wonder," is a literary sleuth and world creator known for his New York Times bestselling young adult trilogy, "The Looking Glass Wars." In this series, he tells the parallel adventures of Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan's search for the lost princess. Beddor's writing style is engaging, and his ability to create a unique and captivating world has captured readers' imaginations. He lives in Los Angeles and continues to explore the realm of Wonderland through his storytelling.

Analysis of Views

Super Exciting Cohesive Ending: Readers praised the book for its super exciting and cohesive ending that tied into the first novel of the series. They found it satisfying and felt compelled to reread the books.
Interesting Story and Art: Many readers appreciated the storyline and found it interesting enough to purchase the rest of Beddor's novels. They also raved about the artwork, particularly the illustrations by Makkonen, which they found visually stunning and engaging.
Engaging Character Development: The characters in the story, particularly Hatter Madigan, were praised for their engaging and surprising nature. Readers found Hatter Madigan's journey to be captivating and enjoyed the development of his character throughout the series.
Unique Take on Alice in Wonderland: Some readers appreciated the unique take on Alice in Wonderland presented in the graphic novel series. They found it refreshing and different from other interpretations of this classic tale.
Challenges with Contrast in Imagery: A few readers mentioned challenges with differentiating between images due to the contrast in imagery. However, they acknowledged that this was intentional to emphasize the lack of light in the world.
Mixed Feelings towards Later Volumes: A few readers expressed mixed feelings towards the later volumes in the series, feeling that they lost their appeal. They found that the premise started well but became murky with only minor advancements to the plot. Some felt that characters were two-dimensional and that deus ex machina was invoked to move the plot forward.
Disappointing Ending: One reader mentioned a disappointing ending that felt rushed. They felt that a more enjoyable and detailed last battle and finale could have been achieved by waiting for an additional volume.
Lack of Professionalism: Another reader expressed disappointment with a citation error in the introduction to part two of the story. They felt that it was unprofessional and lazy for the authors to list a biblical quote as "anonymous."
Enjoyment Despite Challenges: Some readers who had initially struggled with the series found themselves enjoying it more as they continued reading. They appreciated the artwork, themes, and character development, despite some challenges with understanding certain aspects of the storyline.

Reasons for Recommendation

Engaging Storyline: Readers found the storyline engaging and compelling, particularly in how it ties into the first novel of the series. They appreciated how it brought life to imagined beings and creations that were difficult to conceive from text alone.
Visually Stunning Artwork: The artwork in the graphic novel series was praised for its beauty and visual appeal. Readers found it visually stunning and appreciated how it enhanced their reading experience.
Engaging Characters: The characters in the story were praised for their engaging nature, particularly Hatter Madigan. Readers found him to be an interesting and surprising character, which added depth to their reading experience.
Unique Take on Alice in Wonderland: For those who enjoyed Alice in Wonderland, this graphic novel series offers a unique take on the classic tale. It provides a fresh perspective and adds new dimensions to characters and settings from Wonderland.

Reasons for Not Recommendation

Lost Appeal: Some readers felt that the series lost its appeal as it progressed, with characters becoming two-dimensional and plot advancements becoming murky. They felt that deus ex machina was invoked to move the plot forward, which detracted from their overall enjoyment of the story.
Challenges with Contrast in Imagery: A few readers mentioned challenges with differentiating between images due to contrast issues in the artwork. While they acknowledged that this was intentional, it still impacted their reading experience negatively.
Mixed Feelings Towards Later Volumes: Some readers expressed mixed feelings towards later volumes in the series, feeling that they lacked depth and cohesiveness compared to earlier volumes. They felt that certain aspects of the story were abbreviated or rushed, which detracted from their overall enjoyment of the series.

Conclusion

"Hatter M, Volume 5: Love of Wonder" by Frank Beddor is a graphic novel series that continues the adventures of Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan in his quest to find Alyss and bring her home. The final volume offers an exciting conclusion that ties into the first novel of the series, providing readers with a satisfying reading experience. While some readers found it engaging and visually stunning, others expressed mixed feelings towards later volumes in the series or encountered challenges with understanding certain aspects of the storyline due to contrast issues in imagery. Overall, fans of Beddor's work and those who enjoy unique takes on Alice in Wonderland may find this graphic novel series enjoyable, but potential readers should be aware of potential challenges with later volumes or contrast issues in imagery.