Review: Splintered by A.G. Howard

Splintered

By: A.G. Howard

Pub. Date: January 1, 2013

Publisher: Amulet Books

Pages: 384

Source: Netgalley

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.

Oh. My. God. Splintered is amazing, original, entertaining, fun, and I never knew what to expect. There is mystery and romance, great writing, and awesome characters. I don't think I could have enjoyed a story anymore then I did this one.

Alyssa gets made fun of in school. Why? Because her great-great grandmother was Alice, the little girl who went to Wonderland. Not only is that in her family, but the females all go crazy. It starts by hearing bugs and flowers talk, and eventually leads to suicide. Alyssa doesn't want to turn out like her mother, who is currently in a mental institution. To stop the hospital from giving her mother electric shock therapy, and using the help of a big moth, Alyssa goes on an adventure to Wonderland to right the wrongs of Alice and freeing her family from the curse. Along for the ride is Jeb, Alyssa's best friend. They reach Wonderland and basically goes on the same journey that Alice went on while cleaning up Wonderland of her mistakes.   

What made this story so amazing was how A.G. Howard took a story that everyone knows and created this whole new world. Adding some new characters, but also keeping all the ones we already knew and creating this original and modern story.

I really enjoyed the character of Morpheus, the hookah smoking caterpillar we know from the original story. At some points he was sweet and considerate, other times he was selfish and untruthful. I loved trying to figure him out!

I also loved Jeb. He was so protective of Alyssa and willing to give up his life to protect her. I was rooting for the two of them the entire time!

I fully enjoyed Splintered  and I highly recommend it! I can not wait until I have a finished copy of this book in my hands.