Splintered by A G Howard Series: Splintered #1
Publisher: Amulet Books (2013)
eBook (377 pages)
Via: Library
Rating:
Also by this author: Unhinged, Ensnared
Also in this series: Unhinged, Ensnared
Reading Challenges: Read 2014
Synopsis
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.
Find the book: Goodreads, Amazon, Book Depository
This cover is beautiful! I love it!
Anyway, I decided to get this book from the library after listening to Cait @ Paper Fury talk about Morpheus all the time. I had to know who he was. So there, I am hopelessly peer-pressured into reading books.
I found this book on the digital library website for the state of Montana. (Yes, that is one digital library with only one copy of the title for the entire state. Somehow, we survive.) I was drawn to the cover because I am hopelessly influenced by cover art. So, I borrowed it.
I was not entirely sure on the book at first. It is based on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and I have to admit that I’m not that big a fan of the Lewis Carroll book. This book, however, was great. To me, it didn’t make the story seem tedious the way I sometimes feel when I read Alice. The book kept me engaged and I wanted to know what happened next. Then I finished the book and now I really don’t know what to do. The digital library doesn’t have Unhinged as a kindle book and I don’t want to read off of a computer screen as it hurts my eyes. Maybe I’ll have to use some of my Christmas money…
Anyway, on to Splintered. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. Like I mentioned, I wasn’t sure I was going to like the book but I really did. I stayed up later than usual to finish it. And then had a hard time getting out of bed in the morning. That’s the kind of stuff that happens when I really get into a book, especially if I didn’t think I would.
Alyssa is a great narrator. She kept me interested. Sure, at times I wanted to tell her she should just figure it out! But, then again, I just like to talk to the characters sometimes. Apparently I think I know better than them. Still, it happens.
Morpheus and Jeb. I don’t even know where to begin… or end. Neither is really a “good guy.” They are both more than just a bit controlling. At the same time, they are both great characters. They are well developed with a lot of depth. I have no idea what Alyssa is going to do. (This is why I need to read Unhinged ASAP!)
Go read this book. Really. It is great. Oh, and one of those keys to open the mirrors, that would be really useful. So if you happen to find one, I’ll happily take it off your hands. 🙂
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