Meh. I think I have fallen out of love with the YA genre. This was my first introduction to Marissa Meyer, and while she's not a bad writer, I took so many issues with this book. 
 1. There are THREE storylines for the main character, and one of them is completely unnecessary. Catherine has a passion for baking. It is the central focus in the first half of the book. However, she can either 1) Marry the King of Hearts, 2) Run away with Jest or 3) Open her own bakery, the least plausible and most frivolous of all the storylines, especially since she's the daughter of nobility. 
 2. Catherine's naivete. Her parents want her to marry the King, yet she still asks if she can open a bakery and then is surprised when they don't want her too... 
 3) Marissa had so many passions in this book, but her world building and characterization bordered on kitsch. There's a warthog named The Duke of Tuskany. <---- Too far. you've gone too far. I realize the Alice and Wonderland theme lends itself to interesting characters, and a good many are met in subtle and appealing ways, but every now and then, a piece of wit is made so obtrusively obvious, it makes you gag a little. Similarly with the food and the baking. Desserts are described in such detail, it's beautiful, but too much for this book. It made the story feel like it lacked focus. 
 4) The first half of the book, I liked Catherine. She had a solid head on her shoulders. She was grounded and not glamoured by her position. But then, about half way through the book, when you realize Mary Ann is really just a servant and having to listen to this spoiled brat drone ON and ON about how she won't marry the King, you realize she's a bit entitled and ungrateful. I didn't like Catherine by the end. She was selfish and stupid. 
 5) Some of the characters, like the hatter, weave back and forth between protagonists and antagonists. He likes Catherine at first and then all of the sudden, they're discussing their relationship like he's hated her from the beginning? It's jarring and feels inconsistent. 
 6) Catherine eats all the time and can only think about food all the time, but not in an endearing way. You get the feeling that she's still beautiful and small, but her mother goads her about her weight. It's like Ms. Meyer wanted a story where she could eat whatever she wanted and still be the most beautiful woman in the room. It felt indulgent, unrealistic, and overbearing. 
 7) I liked the ending. It was perfect. If only this book had focused a bit more and refined itself a little, it had the makings of something great. Instead, it was a good YA novel.