Friday, July 11, 2014

Review: Splintered by A.G. Howard


Splintered by A.G. Howard
Book One of the Splintered series
Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication Date: January 1, 2013
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Hardcover copy won from a giveaway

Summary (from Goodreads):

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.

What I Liked:

First: I have never read Alice in Wonderland - not the original, or any retelling. I know very, very little about that book. I know the references (like the Cheshire Cat's smile, or we're all mad here, etc.), but I have not read the book. Or watched any movies, or whatever. So... my background knowledge, going into this book, was very scant. This may or may not skew my opinion of this book, who knows.

I really enjoyed this book. I think the author's been following me on Twitter even before I started following her. I've been tracking this series even before it came out - I remembered seeing Splintered in the BAM closest to me in December 2012, about a week before release, but I didn't buy a copy (I knew of the book, but wasn't really interested in the Alice retelling). So I'm quite familiar with this book. I know all about this series, the fandom, the dreaded love triangle.

Which is inevitably one of the biggest reasons why I waited so long to read this series (just months before it all ends, better for me and my impatience). I wasn't too interested in the series, the fandom is powerful and very overwhelming, and that freaking LOVE TRIANGLE. Just the thought of it had me going in the other direction. And the hype... it was too much. Nevertheless, I have endured (and really enjoyed) the first book!

Alyssa (haha yay, a book whose heroine shares my name!) goes down the rabbit hole in order to undo a curse placed on the women in her family, thanks to Alice (her great-great grandmother, or something like that), who messed up things in Wonderland. But Alyssa doesn't mean for her friend/crush Jeb to follow her to Wonderland. now they're stuck there until they can get help to break the curse and get out. And helps comes in the form of the Caterpillar, Morpheus, who is actually a moth. Cool.

Like I said before, the fact that I haven't read the original Alice in Wonderland story could affect my opinion of this book - but I thought this book was incredible, in terms of its uniqueness and originality. Alyssa's weird obsession with dead bugs, and the reason behind it. Her "insane" mother, who really isn't insane at all. Alyssa's strange childhood, her focus on hiding her underlying madness. The first chapter is mind-blowing, in my opinion. At first, I wasn't really sure of the point of everything with the dead bugs, but it's really cool and disturbing and cool!

That being said, one of the best and most captivating things about this book is the imagery. The depth of the descriptions of anything and everything in this book is incredible. The moths, the daisies, the creatures, even things like clothes - everything was really well-defined and well-described. I was swept away by the descriptiveness of the scenery, the characters, the little details.

I haven't read the original book, but it seems like this book is actually pretty original, independent of it being a  retelling of Alice in Wonderland. Meaning, Howard takes things from the original story and adapts them. In this book, Alice in Wonderland is a work of fiction - it exists as a book in Alyssa's world, just as it does in our world. But Wonderland is like a parallel world or something - it exists, and Alyssa has been there before (though she does not remember). So, Splintered isn't quite a retelling, honestly, though it's marked as one. It's more like an embellishment, or a continuation. In my opinion.

I liked Alyssa. She's got this edginess to her, one that I wasn't expected. I suppose it's linked to her progressing "madness" and her refusal to accept it and be like her mother. Alyssa is tough and yet not invincible. She knows her shortcomings, but she also has a good feel for her strengths. I'm not a huge fan of some of the things she did in the beginning of the book (and boy, do they come back to haunt her), nor do I approve of the fact that she ALLOWED her father and Jeb to make the decision about London for her... but, overall, I really liked her, and by the end, I found that I was really rooting for her.

I like Jeb. He's a bit controlling and overly protective - I hated when he just up and decided that they needed to leave Wonderland initially, or that Alyssa needed to do xyz. However, I think, for the most part, that I like him. He has a good heart - I can see why Howard would have him as the Knight (elfin knight, something like that). I get the feeling that he is the dominant love interest... no matter how tantalizing Morpheus is.

Ohhh, do I like Morpheus. I'm totally team Morpheus, but not in the way that you think. I've already resolved myself to the fact that Jeb holds Alyssa's heart, and vice versa. However, I LOVE Morpheus. He is tricky and devilish, selfish and deceptive. As a character, I LOVE HIM. As a love interest, sure, he's hot, he's lovable, he's naughty, but I have a feeling that Howard is leaning towards Jeb, and so I'm not getting to attached to the hope that Morpheus and Alyssa will get a happy ending. And honestly, that's okay. I like Jeb, and I don't care THAT MUCH. That's what not reading a series immediately will do for you - you won't be as invested in the love triangle. This is why I binge-read love-triangle-related book series (the ones that I actually want to read, like this one).

This book isn't too long and it never felt that way. I didn't have a problem reading this book (gorgeous writing style, yo!), and I was constantly wondering what would happen next. Lucky for me, I won this book AND the next book in a fabulous giveaway, so I'll have my review of book two up on the 18th - exactly one week from today!

What I Did Not Like:

Like I usually say about series with this particular feature... love triangle. Ew. I hate love triangles. And this one is shaping up to be a vicious one, I can tell. This book introduces the characters, and honestly, I don't feel strongly about neither Jeb nor Morpheus. I mean, I have a feeling that Jeb and Alyssa will end up together. I just can't see it happening for Morpheus. Poor guy, because he is my favorite. He is so complex and awesome, I love him! But as a love interest? Meh. But seriously, enough with the love triangles. 

I mentioned this above, but Jeb. In the beginning, I had my doubts about him. How dare he act like he should have a say in whether or not Alyssa should go to London?! Her dad, maybe, but not a friend. And he's dating a bully, a girl who tormented Alyssa throughout school. Who turns a blind eye to that?! Who just acts like that's okay, that his girlfriend and best friend don't get along at all, that his girlfriend terrorizes his best friend, and that's okay? Oh, but no, the girlfriend has family issues, we have to make excuses for her. But in the meantime, you should try to get along with her, Alyssa!

Seriously, Jeb? Really? Because, you know, Alyssa doesn't have family issues? At first, Jeb doesn't know the extent of the issues (the curse and whatnot). He knows that Alison (Alyssa's mother) is in an asylum-type living care. But making excuses for his girlfriend is ridiculous - not to mention the poor ones that he made. But ehh, whatever.

Would I Recommend It:

Despite the love triangle (my biggest sticking point), yes, I would recommend this book, especially to those who have been considering reading this series (like me), but were hesitant. If you already have a copy of this book, then go for it! The second book is already out, and the third book is almost upon us. You have nothing to lose! Also, Anita (the author) is a sweetheart. Furthermore, this series has some seriously gorgeous covers.

Rating:

4 stars. A solid, beautifully written debut that left me wanting the next book (and the third book, despite the fact that I had not yet read the second book)! Where will Howard go with this series... there is only one way to find out!


Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

18 comments:

  1. Great review! I read Splintered about a year ago and completely loved it but even when I required a copy of the sequel a few months ago I couldn't make myself pick it up because I know that the love triangle is going to drive me crazy... but I've read some reviews of Unhinged and they all say that it's amazing! Glad you liked Splintered and I hope you also like the sequel :)

    And I'm Team Jeb... but I do also love Morpheus ;)

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    1. I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT THE LOVE TRIANGLE D: I've scheduled my review of Unhinged for next Friday (the 18th), and so I shall have the book read by then. The pressure! I'm sure Unhinged is excellent! We should both read it, Zareena, and find out ;D

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  2. Great review sweetie. <3 I'm glad you enjoyed this book :) I did when I read it. But it's been so long. And now I know that I would dislike it :( Sobs. As book two was a two star for me, I think.. it was just very annoying to me :\ As I did not like Morpheus, lol. I did love Jeb. But then someone said bad things about him and now I'm unsure about that too. Sigh. I just don't care that much for this series (A) but I hope you will :D And ohh. I DO love those covers. So damn beautiful. <3 Thank you for sharing sweetie :)

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    1. Thank you so much! I'm glad that you read Splintered... you should definitely consider finishing the series! I know we both dislike love triangles, but perhaps we shouldn't get too invested, and then things will be easier :D The covers are magnificent! I want hardcovers of all of them, they are so gorgeous ^_^

      You're welcome - and thank you!

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  3. YAY!! So happy to hear that you loved this book!!
    I'm a HUGE fan of the series and as a lover of all things Alice in Wonderland my appreciation comes in a different way than yours. I love Anita's writing and the way she describes everything so visually!
    I'm mostly Team Jeb because Morpheus is a bit too manipulative for my taste, but mostly in this case I'm Team Alyssa, I'll be going with whatever her choice will be best for her!
    Unhinged was a bit torturous in the triangle part, but there's quite a few unexpected revelations a whole lot of Wonderland creepiness, so I hope you'll enjoy it too!!

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    1. I HAD NO IDEA THAT YOU READ THIS SERIES!?!?!?!! You should have Pili-pushed these books, I would have added them to the list! But then, I probably wouldn't have read them sooner, since I'm reading one Pili-pushed book per month. Slow me. And "Team Alyssa" is a good way to look at things! I'm hating the sound of the love triangle, but you hate them too, yet still love the series, so... hmm...

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    2. Yeah, love triangles and me you know... but somehow Anita makes this one work for me and I still LOVE the series!! I'll be making Ensnared cupcakes hopefully soon (Oct or so, I think!!).

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    3. ENSNARED CUPCAKES! :D That's the first thing I saw in your comment and it distracted me ;) I hope we both enjoy Ensnared!

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  4. OOoh nice! I have yet to read this and ironically I won copies of books 1 & 2 earlier this year as well! Just haven't gotten to them yet! The love triangle is a bit of a stickler, I don't always like them either. I don't loathe them with a fiery passion of a thousand suns! They are sometimes just annoying, but I have read some that at least do it right!

    And while I haven't started them yet, there's always a chance Morpheus could become the central love interest! There was one series (won't mention here for spoiler reasons) that totally did this to us! We thought in book 1 she would be with this guy, by the next book we were in doubts!

    But anyway, great review! Really need to read this one myself too--along with several hundred other books!

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    1. Right?! Me too! I won signed hardcover copies of these books (and from a bloggy friend too), so I felt bad for months, for not having read these books sooner. And you're so right about the love triangle - it could go that way! HOPEFULLY!!

      Thank you so much, Jessica!

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  5. I haven't read the original or the movies either but I liked this one too. Hope you like the rest of the series!

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    1. So you're in the same boat as meee! I hope so too, Nereyda - I hope you enjoy them as well!

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  6. I wanted to read this series forever! Just the cover makes me want to read it :) I'm glad you loved it.

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    1. You should! And OMG, originally, I wanted to read this book (and the subsequent ones) JUST FOR THE COVERS :D Thank you, Liza!

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  7. You've not even seen the movie? (The animated one, not that travesty from a few years ago with Johnny Depp. Just no.) I have this and have been meaning to read it for ages, but just haven't picked it up! I'm excited to hear that you liked it, especially since there's that love triangle. I looove great imagery so I'm going to have to get this read soon--especially since I won't have to wait for the other books; :) Tee hee. Great review Alyssa! :D

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    1. None! Nothing! I know, my life is pitiful. The love triangle might kill me (or might make me kill the series metaphorically speaking, who knows lol). I love the author's writing style! Her descriptiveness is amazing. Get to reading, Rachel! ;)

      Thank you!

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  8. ...love triangle. *grrr* Yep, I was already pretty sure I wouldn't be trying this series, but that list of what you didn't like has cemented it. Yep, twas not meant to be. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us! :)

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    1. Right?! They are killer, I hate them. I hope you read something amazing instead, Kel!

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