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