Grimlock ♥ Ultra Magnus

It's not super unique, and there are a couple of typos, but that's not where the strength lies.   There's a little bit more nuance - on the cost of war and how it affects people, as well as what something can cost you and what madness truly is - than some retellings I've read.   And that's what fascinates me about this. 

I came to care about the Mad Hatter's son, Abner, and what happened to him.  Same with the Chesire cat.   I've seen the children of characters done, and I've seen magic used in the way that this author uses magic.   Sometimes, though, it's the details that matter: in this case, the twists on the war, what it does, and the characters themselves. 

I may get the sequel as soon as I get home.   I had time to finish this in a lovely little cafe this morning with real french croissants, as my mom read her newspaper, and it was fantastic.