Preview
  • A Blade So Black

  • A Blade So Black, Book 1
  • By: L.L. McKinney
  • Narrated by: Jeanette Illidge
  • Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (613 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

A Blade So Black

By: L.L. McKinney
Narrated by: Jeanette Illidge
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.24

Buy for $20.24

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

"With memorable characters and page-turning thrills, A Blade So Black is the fantasy book I've been waiting for my whole life. Alice is Black Girl Magic personified." (Angie Thomas, number one New York Times best-selling author of The Hate U Give)

For fans of Marissa Meyer, L.L. McKinney's A Blade So Black delivers an irresistible urban fantasy retelling of Alice in Wonderland...but it's not the Wonderland you remember.

The first time the Nightmares came, it nearly cost Alice her life. Now, she's trained to battle monstrous creatures in the dark dream realm known as Wonderland with magic weapons and hardcore fighting skills. Yet even warriors have a curfew.

Life in real-world Atlanta isn't always so simple, as Alice juggles an overprotective mom, a high-maintenance best friend, and a slipping GPA. Keeping the Nightmares at bay is turning into a full-time job. But when Alice's handsome and mysterious mentor is poisoned, she has to find the antidote by venturing deeper into Wonderland than she’s ever gone before. And she'll need to use everything she's learned in both worlds to keep from losing her head...

Debut author L. L. McKinney delivers an action-packed twist on an old classic, full of romance and otherworldly intrigue.

And don't miss the thrilling sequel, A Dream So Dark!

An Imprint Book

"Mixing elements of Alice in Wonderland and Buffy the Vampire Slayer...Delectable." (Entertainment Weekly)

©2018 Leatrice McKinney (P)2018 Macmillan Audio
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

"With memorable characters and page-turning thrills, A Blade So Black is the fantasy book I've been waiting for my whole life. Alice is Black Girl Magic personified." (Angie Thomas, number-one New York Times best-selling author of The Hate U Give)

"I loved the 'our world' framing and the 'other world' adventure so deeply. They were at such odds, but the overall effect was just chefkiss.gif perfect." (E. K. Johnston, number-one New York Times best-selling author of Star Wars: Ahsoka and A Thousand Nights)

"Wholly original and absolutely thrilling - A Blade So Black kicks so much (looking gl)ass." (Heidi Heilig, author of The Girl from Everywhere)

What listeners say about A Blade So Black

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    367
  • 4 Stars
    152
  • 3 Stars
    59
  • 2 Stars
    24
  • 1 Stars
    11
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    397
  • 4 Stars
    106
  • 3 Stars
    33
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    312
  • 4 Stars
    134
  • 3 Stars
    63
  • 2 Stars
    26
  • 1 Stars
    11

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this book

I really really enjoyed this book. This twist on the Alice in Wonderland story is so well done and well written. I cannot wait for the sequel.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent fantasy adventure!

I loved the story & characters but struggled some staying connected through the early time jumps. Looking forward to the sequel!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Read!

This was an awesome story and would make a fantastic movie! Hard to put down once the pace picks up.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Strong new take on Wonderland

I enjoyed this read - an interesting new chapter in a classic setting. I mostly read sci fi and try to change up classic with contemporary, new authors. This author created a strong lead character in a darker Wonderland that I found both refreshing and relevant.

The plot had a few twists, but also some familiar patterns like the young adult love triangle. The imagery in this darker Wonderland was vivid and engrossing - it reminded me of Stranger Things or Lovecraft Country. The narration was excellent and certainly added to the story.

Overall I’d recommend this book for casual and committed sci fi fans alike.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great and unexpected

Highly enjoyable!

This might be me but there was way too much heroine guilt. Not sure if it's a thing but it seems apologetic that she is a badass. Not so cool. Still a nice story. Looking forward to the next.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very interesting take on a classic

A Blade So Black was a fun read, and a great spin on the classic. You can definitely see the influences that the author was inspired by throughout the novel like Buffy, The Vampire Slayer and Sailor Moon. Great debut.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

lots of promise

The whole thing had promise, but the story fell flat. imagery fell flat. I'm not sure what happened at the end. 🥴

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping and emotional!

This is a wonderfully narrated retelling of ALICE IN WONDERLAND. This story is fresh and classic at once, blending real world hurt and fears with fantastical beasties. Highly recommended!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome

Loved It!! Great introduction to this genre. I'm hooked. Can't wait to read more.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love

I re ally enjoyed this book. The narration was absolutely fabulous! will be waiting o book 2

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!