Review: Ensnared by A.G. Howard

Ensnared by A.G Howard
Publisher-Amulet Books
Released- Jan 6th 2015
Purchase- Amazon / B & N

After surviving a disastrous battle at prom, Alyssa has embraced her madness and gained perspective. She’s determined to rescue her two worlds and the people and netherlings she loves. Even if it means challenging Queen Red to a final battle of wills and wiles . . . and even if the only way to Wonderland, now that the rabbit hole is closed, is through the looking-glass world—-a parallel dimension filled with mutated and sadistic netherling outcasts.In the final installment of the Splintered trilogy, Alyssa and her dad journey into the heart of magic and mayhem in search of her mom and to set right all that’s gone wrong. Together with Jeb and Morpheus, they must salvage Wonderland from the decay and destruction that has ensnared it. But even if everyone succeeds and comes out alive, can they all truly have their happily ever after?

My Thoughts:
Ensnared, is the last book in what I believe is the very best Alice in Wonderland retelling I've ever read. To express into words how much I adored the Splintered trilogy is hard, only because I don't think I'll be able to give it the justice it truly deserves. What A. G. Howard envisioned for this world and how much imagination, creativity and spirit she poured left me completely mesmerized. I haven't been able to really get into a good book lately, but I devoured this like I was starving for my last breath.

Since this is the final book, I don't want to give to much away, but I'd like to take a minute and just appreciate this vividly wicked and warped world. I've mentioned it before, but I'll say it again, not since The Iron Fey series has a world captivated me and effected me this powerfully. All the netherling creatures and characters were so deliciously and deliriously maddening I couldn't wait to see what each would do and say next, and I honestly couldn't predict what would happen next. I loved all the twist and turns and how everything comes alive and raw through the eyes of each of these spellbinding characters.

Every single animated character in these books played their roles so incredibly well but Gossamer, Chessie and Rabid White earned a special place in my heart. As for Alyssa, Jeb and Morpheus? Just wow! These three beloved characters have owned every inch of this epic adventure. They've all come so far and I admire their personal growth and attitude throughout. These guys made me laugh out loud and made me swoon like a little girl. Seriously, the best chemistry and the best characters I've read in a really long time. I wont say to much about the romance, but I will say that I don't have a team. I have loved Jeb and Morpheus in two different ways but both equally have my heart. As for the ending? Well, I don't think I could have asked for a more fitting and perfect way to end such an epic story, but I think not everyone will feel this way, in fact, I think readers who didn't care for the epilogue in Clockwork Princess, may not care for the ending to this one as well. Just saying. But I loved, loved, loved!!

Bottom line, I absolutely had the best time reading this entire trilogy! It's has so much heart and soul captured against a backdrop of a warped, wicked and wonderfully weird world that I'd want to live in if I wasn't so scared;) Wildly entertaining and brilliant beyond belief. I can't wait to see what Howard comes up with next!!

Find the author:
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Teaser Tuesday, #47

 

Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays! Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read Open to a random page Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser Tuesday is for the following...

Splintered by A. G. Howard
Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication date: January 1, 2013






My Teasers from ebook pages: 9

Maybe he thinks by seeing my mom, by sitting where I might one day live, I'll somehow beat the odds.

Without the delusions, I might never have found my artistic medium.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks!

Review: Splintered by A.G. Howard

Splintered by A.G. Howard
Publisher: Amulet Books
Release Date: January 1, 2013
Pre order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

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.

My thoughts:
If you take Alice in Wonderland, Tim Burton, and The Labyrinth this is what you would have.  A fantastical adventure with whimsical characters (that are a bit creepy) and a very inventive story that will leave you wanting more.  Ms.Howard you are amazing.

Okay so take everything you thought you knew about Alice in Wonderland and put it aside.  Splintered takes everything about this classic tale and turns it upside down.  The story starts off with Alyssa, a girl who has a very interesting tie to Alice, she just so happens to be her ancestor.  Alyssa knows that the women in her family are cursed and that it all started with her ancestor Alice Liddell. When she starts hearing bugs and flowers talk like her mother she realizes that the curse has been passed down to her as well.  With her mother locked up in an asylum, Alyssa fears what will happen to them both if she doesn't find a cure.  To save her family Alyssa knows she must travel down the rabbit hole, but what she finds there is nothing like the story and what unravels is pure brilliance.

I have to give major props to the author for this amazing tale.  I can tell that a lot of research went into this and I absolutely loved how she wove the original story into her own.  Everything was there from the Queen of Hearts to the White Rabbit though they were in very different forms.  I am just in awe at Ms.Howard's creativity.  The whole spin she put in it really brought a new level to the classic and I thought the twists with the curse and a few of the characters was so much fun!  I never saw them coming!

Alyssa was a wonderful character that I fell in love with from the start.  Her journey was not an easy one and she totally held up her own.  I loved Jeb as well, but I can't cast Morpheus aside.  He is a very strong contender even if he is a bit shady, but for some reason I forgive him for his wrong doings.  He is a very unique character that stands out to me among so many others I have read as of lately.  All around the characters were amazing and the moments between Alyssa and Jeb made my heart melt while the ones between her and Morpheus made my heart pound.  I am very curious how all that will play out.

This story is beyond amazing and I am hoping with every piece of me that there will be a sequel.  I love this colorful world and I am not ready to leave it just yet.

"Off with her HEAD!"  *hehe* I have always wanted to say that =D

5 Snowflakes

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This book was provided by the publisher and Netgalley