Saturday, January 3, 2015

Review: Splintered (Splintered #1) by A.G. Howard!

My first review of the New Year!  Woo!


This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

Description taken from Goodreads 


My Review 

Let me start of by saying that I love Morpheus.  Love him to death.  I want him!  Please, Ms. Howard, can I please have him?!  I will take good care of him, I promise!

*Cough Cough* Anyway, I really enjoyed Splintered.  It was probably one of my favorite reads of 2014.  I just loved this creepy world that was so familiar and yet so new at the same time. 

The world is so vivid and the way Howard describes everything really makes you think twice about Lewis Carroll’s version and which one is actually ‘real’.  It really messes with your head and I love it!  Howard unraveled the original story and wove her own little details to make her own story, making you almost believe that her details are what really happened in Wonderland.  Absolutely brilliant.

Alyssa is our main character and I really loved her.  She cares about her family and friends.  She’s determined.  I love her style as well, all thrift shoppy and what not. 

Jeb, unfortunately, kind of fell flat for me.  He’s a great guy, don’t get me wrong.  But sometimes the way he would treat Alyssa as if she’s a five year old was a major turn off for me and made me not really buy their budding relationship.  He’s definitely loyal though and cares about her deeply but I guess I just can't get with their romance and lack of chemistry.  He just seems like a big brother figure. 

Morpheus on the other hand is just so freaking…ugh!  I love him, so so much!  He’s all mysterious and sarcastic and arrogant and I love it!  I can’t even describe my love for him.  Ultimate book boyfriend here ladies!  And I am literally on my knees Ms. Howard, please can I have him? 

The whole storyline was fantastic.  All of the Liddell descendants are cursed and eventually go crazy.  Alyssa goes down the rabbit hole to reverse the curse by undoing the original Alice’s mistakes.  It’s all just brilliant.

Splintered doesn’t end on the biggest cliffhanger, which is good because I don’t have Unhinged and I won’t be able to until February.  But, I can’t wait to see what Howard has in store for Unhinged and then in Ensnared!

If you are an Alice in Wonderland fan, or a fan of retellings or fantasy then you need this book in your life ASAP.  Like yesterday, ASAP.


Inside                             Outside 
                      Characters  4.5/5        Cover      5/5
                      Plot              5/5
                      Feels            5/5
                      Writing       5/5
                      Overall       4.9/5


If you would like to purchase any of these books, please think about using my Book Depository affiliate link.  I'm currently unemployed and truly appreciate anything I can get.

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