*book was archived or unable to be read due to formatting errors. Because of this, I unfortunately can not read or review the story*

The Queen of Nod is once again mix of all kind on fantasy adventure stories. Besides Alice in wonderland and all the other stories I probably do not know, were two links that especially stood out for me – Westlife’s second season and Neil Gaiman’s American Gods.

The fantasy in this story is remarkable and even if it gets too dark sometimes, it’s still enjoyable till the end.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book better than its predecessor and it was just as action packed. I really enjoy how the author incorporates content from various myths, legends, and fables. This book focuses on Alice (as in a much darker Alice in Wonderland) and her attempt to restore balance to the Land of Nod as Corvax tries to destroy it. A myriad of new characters are introduced including a possible new love interest. The only thing I disliked was that I found it difficult to keep track of what was happening and where when Alice was tossed from world to world, or in her head.
Zee's senses of humour kills me. I found myself literally laughing out loud on multiple occasions. Please make sure he sticks around.
Like the last one, this book ended on a cliffhanger and I'm really curious to see what direction the author decides to go in with the next installment. Looking forward to it.

My thanks to Curiosity Quills Press for an eARC via NetGalley of this second book in The Balance series.

I will not say too much about the plot so as not to spoil anything about how ‘The Child of Nod’ concludes. Suffice to say that after a period of respite, Alice’s adventures continue with a fresh threat that brings new allies and adversaries as well as some returning characters. Revenants (posh zombies) join the ranks of encountered creatures.

It’s a complex, imaginative world. I will admit that I did on occasion feel a bit overwhelmed by the leaps from world to world. It’s rich in description and has a high level of violence and gore in places. I would certainly class it as horror/fantasy.

C.W. Snyder recently advised his readers on Twitter to put on their ‘Dali glasses’ and this seems sound advice as both novels have a surrealistic dream-like narrative. Of course, the Land of Nod is associated with the mythical land of sleep as well as being the Biblical East of Eden.

The worlds of ‘The Balance’ contain many references to myth, legend, literature, and popular culture. It is a rich playground for Snyder’s imagination and creativity. I look forward to reading future books in the series. The cover art by Eugene Teplitsky is stunning.

Well done to Curiosity Quills Press for publishing a writer such as Snyder, who embraces the weird and quirky and yet provides a story and characters that remain relatable. (Not just weird for weirdness’ sake).

Alice is now Queen of Nod and her queendom falls under attack from birds that can say one word to a person and turn them to a bloodthirsty killing machine. You race along with Alice to find a way to stop this new evil with wonderful new characters and new worlds to explore. This is a fun fast paced ride that keeps you holding on waiting to see what turns are next.

I have always enjoyed Alice in Wonderland. The problem is that my love for the book usually means that I end up not enjoying books that rearrange or change the story. Good news is that this was not the case with this book! I loved the book and Alice along with all the other characters I met along the journey. I kept moving from page to page wanting to know what would happen next as I was that into the story's plot. It was well written.

Queen of The Nod waa a fascinating tale about Alice facing a new evil foe attacking Nod. Along her journey to find a cure she meets good and evil creatures. The book was well written and had interesting characters. I enjoyed this wonderful fantasy.

CW Snyder packs creativity and energy into a fantasy story that grips and holds on. Page leads to page.

Snyder handles the fantasy deftly, balancing characters who stir interest and a full-fledged world.