BOOK REVIEW: SPLINTERED by A.G. HOWARD

SPLINTERED

by

A. G. HOWARD

Published by Amulet Books

Acquired: For review from publisher via NetGalley

Pages:  Kindle Edition 384 pages

RATING:  4.75 MANIPULATING MORPHEUS STARS!

GOODREADS DESCRIPTION:

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.

MARISSA'S REVIEW:

Now this is my kind of Alice in Wonderland!!  (And I love the cover too !!)

AG's darker take on what could have happened makes for a very enjoyable and entertaining read.  In my opinion it does not sully the original writing of Carroll's original - which sometimes can happen when modern or varied versions of classics are endeavored by authors (though of course I am sure there are those out there that will certainly disagree!) . You see, within Splintered are references to the original book - intentional, as the book is used by our leading characters as a bible to survive the Wonderland.

Alyssa has certainly had her fair share of crazy and the little two-bit la-dee-da's of high school don't help. Nor does the fact the one of them is dating her childhood friend/love/now estranged friend/still love Jeb!! (If that made sense!).  Alyssa is by no means the "normal" protag by description....she's a skater girl with clip in dreads and a crazy mum in a psych ward gal that must (in her eyes) break the curse bestowed upon her family so she doesn't end up in the loony bin alongside her mother.

Jeb is Alyssa's white knight - complete with piercings and tattoo's!  He's known her since they were young, he's been her best friend and he's the target of her passion.  But of course he's dating the schools biggest two-bit la-dee-da ! And she doesn't like Alyssa at all.  Jeb struggles to connect with Alyssa like they used to (and vice versa).  His passion is his art - though his preferred subject to draw may just cause a problem with Tae - his girlfriend. 

Morpheus....moth and man! Gee what a combination!!  But that's pretty tame compared with the other helpings of creatures found down the rabbit hole!  He's known Alyssa since she was a child and has followed her every move till now.  Get her down the rabbit hole and he has a chance of making her Queen and seducing her to stay as a Netherling and love him.  In a quote from Alyssa - "But something about the netherling is sensual and exhilarating, more evocative than anything in my world has ever been".

Only problem is ...... Alyssa loves Jeb and just one day she will admit it to him, they'll move to London together and live happily ever after......is this the right fairytale for that ending?  You'll just have to read it to find out.

This is certainly not a tale of romance and a girl torn between two guys.....it's the story of Alyssa and the history her family (the women) have in another realm.  It's the story of one girl trying her hardest to save her mother and not lose her mind in the process.

Think you know the characters of Wonderland pretty well? Journey down the rabbit hole for an adventure of epic proportions and meet the other side. 

ENJOY!

MARISSA