Queen of Hearts (Queen of Hearts Saga #1) by Colleen Oakes

This is not the traditional Wonderland story.  Alice is not in the story.  This is the story of Dinah, the King's daughter.  Her mother died long ago and now she's coming of age and will be declared Queen.  Then her father asks her to attend dinner with him and he makes a big announcement.  He has another daughter from an alliance during wartime...

Harper Teen sent me an ARC of this book to read for review (thank you).  It has just been published, so you can grab a copy now.

There is a Mad Hatter.  It's her little brother.  He's been insane since birth and he loves to make hats.  He's hidden in the castle and has two servants dedicated to him.  Dinah loves him even if he doesn't always know who she is.  Her father despises him.

The new daughter is everything she's not.  She's beautiful, blonde, smiles at everyone and she charms anyone she talks to.  She wants to be friends with Dinah, but Dinah doesn't trust her.  Unfortunately, she trusts someone she shouldn't...

She has a love interest but he's not of her class.  She's tired of learning about the history of Wonderland and attending senseless events.  When she gets a clue that she should talk to someone being held in the Dark Towers, she's determined to get there.  When she does find the woman she doesn't learn much.  Then her father makes her watch the torturer execute her.  She's very upset and her half-sister faints.

She learns her father has a plot to frame her as a traitor.  Can she escape?  Can anyone help her?  After all, she was never taught to survive in the woods.  She'll have to learn now.

This is a dark story that fascinated me.  Secret passages, tunnels,  hornhooves, betrayal, revenge and more are part of this story.  This is the first in series and it was exciting and interesting.  I'm anxious to see where Dinah goes from here.  She knows who her enemies are...