Splintered by A.G. Howard totally won Sunday’s poll of what-do-I-read-next. So I read it. I’m agreeable like that.
I borrowed this from the library (yes! This isn’t an ARC review! Weird, eh?). Splintered hit shelves in January, 2013.
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.
I am in such post-book-shock right now. Good luck getting a sensible review out of me. Because all I’m can coherently garble is: VORPAL SWORD OFF WITH HER HEAD MOTH MORPHEUS MORPHEUS RED ROSES.
I did warn you.
This book is the most brilliant piece of magical genius. Ever. I don’t say things like that lightly. I don’t. And I have so many problems with this book (it’s unnatural, actually, just how many complaints I have), but it’s getting 5-stars because FREAKISH MOTH WINGS it is brilliance. I haven’t read a book with this much original imagination in forever.
Okay, enough gushing. Let’s get down to the grit.
This is an Alice in Wonderland retelling. Which I assume you’d figure out from the blurb and title and stuff. So! I love that. I do, I do. I have a serious passion for Alice in Wonderland (and Tim Burton’s movie of it is my absolute favourite). But I honestly didn’t like how, in the beginning of the book, we were “debunking Alice myths”. Alice got so many things “wrong” when she was in Wonderland. We get a lot of it “set straight”. That really bugged me. I LOVE Lewis Carroll’s story. And since this is a tribute to him, I feel annoyed at the “Alice-was-wrong” references.
It also has a love-triangle. And it is the best love-triangle I have ever read. Woah! Yes, I did just say that! But for once I felt like the author actually created TWO guys you could root for! She developed both of them. I totally have no idea who Alyssa will end up with eventually. I know who I’m routing for. 100 billion percent.
Starts with M ends with creepily morbid and awesome.
Since we’re talking about the luuuurve side, let’s have a brief chat about the characters, okay? I love the characters. (Chat done. Okay, joking. I’ll expand.) Actually, I can’t say “characters”, because I want to exclude Jeb from that statement. AHEM. Carrying on! I really love Alyssa. She narrates in first person. She’s really spunky and artistic. She has style and attitude and is funny. Great! A multi-dimensional, wonderful narrator! Love her!
Then we have the dudes: Jeb (her childhood friend) and Morpheus (a creepy moth-like creature). It’s definitely not good boy vs. bad boy. It’s bad boy vs worse boy. Gosh! They’re both as bad as each other!
Jeb is controlling. He’s controlling to the point where: he has another girlfriend (Taelor, I hope she trips on a banana peel), but he’s still controlling Alyssa’s life like her big-brother/wannabe-boyfriend. Morpheus is slinky and manipulative. But the difference, I feel, is that everyone knows Morpheus is manipulating. Jeb hides his controlling under the umbrella of “I-want-what’s-best for you”. He drives me crazy! Even if Morpheus is almost a villain: I go for him. It’s not even a hard decision. MORPHEUS.
Pity Alyssa doesn’t have my clarity of choice here.
The Wonderland-interpretations were unique and AMAZING. Seriously, the imagination behind this book is gob-smacking. Everything was brilliant and well though out. The plot twists left my jaw swinging. Honestly, I don’t get surprised in books very much. This knocked. my. socks. off.
Writing? For me, it was hard to swallow. The description is intense and detailed. If you miss a single bit, you’ll get confused later on. I appreciate the intensity, but for me (just personally) I did struggle. It took me a lot longer to read. Also, the font? It’s tiny. There’s a note in the back saying they recreated the font Lewis Carroll used blah-blah…Please. Make it normal sized font, next time?
I have never needed a sequel as bad as I need Unhinged. Unhinged is book #2 and I AM DESPERATE FOR IT. Two seconds after I finished reading Splintered (I took a moment to tweet my awe of Morpheus), I was googling it with serious considerations to buy. I’m broke. But if I had money, trust me, I would have bought this THAT FAST. I neeeed it.
I’m a sucker for all things Wonderland. But that aside, this is one of the best things I’ve ever read. Morpheus. It’s morbid and poignant and utterly creepy.
I really need to read this book! I've heard such amazing things about it 🙂 great review!
You do. Everyone does. I emphatically ship this book with all the readers.
I wasn't quite sure if I should read this book. It's on my TBR list, but I was still quite hesitant. I love fairytale retellings, but for some reason I didn't think I would like this one. I suppose I'll give it a shot, though. 🙂
Really? I sometimes get nervous reading retellings…particularly if I LOVE the original (like this one for instance). Buuuut, it's awesome. Even though I'm not a fan of them shouting, "Alice was wrong!" the whole time.
I NEED THIS RIGHT NOW!!!! I have heard so much about it and the dark twists in this are what draw me in the most. I love a retelling with brilliant imaginations, but like you, I would probably struggle with the writing as well. I appreciate detailed imageries, but sometimes I got so lost in those descriptions, I need read it multiple times to be able to catch up. Anyways, I'm happy you approve of this book too, can't wait to read it myself 🙂
OH MYGOSH. YES YOU DO. I'd read things multiple times…if I had time. Gaaah! That's half the problem, for me! I do. not. have. time. Sometimes I found myself rereading a page, but I don't mind for sake of the pure BRILLIANCE.
Aw, I'm glad you enjoyed this! My favorite part was the debunking of Alice myths as well, and of course, the bug-whispering was just really cool. I'm curious what you 'll think of the sequel, since I hear Morpheus (obviously) plays a bigger role.Wendy @ The Midnight Garden
Ooh, thanks for coming by Wendy! 🙂 I admit the son-of-a-bug references made me laugh each time. There were some awesome quirks. I'm dyyyying for the sequel!! Morpheus.
😀 Great review, Cait. As a fellow Carroll-addict, I need to get around to buying this book (though I'm not sure how the title is Alice-like). Moths…I literally burst out laughing when I scrolled down to that Jennifer Lawrence gif. Seriously! xDAlex 🙂
The title makes more sense after you've read the book. Trust me. 😉 (Yeeeah, trust the girl who is voting for the psycho bad boy.) Jennifer Lawrence has the BEST GIFs. Oh gosh. I never fail to crack up. 😉
I SHARE THE LOVE!!! Right around the time Unhinged was published, I thought, MAN I need to read Splintered, EVERYONE loves it. So I did. HOLY WONDERLAND.I LOVE MORPHEUS TOOOO!!! AND I read Unhinged and *flails* *flails* *flails*MORPHEUS MORPHEUS MORPHEUSThese stories are absolutely brilliant! I even had Wonderland-inspired dreams while I was reading them–one was cool and the other was CREEPY AS ALL GET OUT. So totally Wonderland;)Love the review!
OH GLORIOUS WONDERLAND HOW I LOVE THEE. *flails with you* I was SO inspired after reading them too! Oh gosh! I had two million book ideas and I was flailing around thinking about bugs and moths and freaky mushrooms. I NEEEED UNHINGED.
I should see if I can find this book. I loved Alice in Wonderland, might be fun to read a re-telling. And if it left you wanting book two RIGHT after book one then I know I will like it. I love books that do that
Alice in Wonderland is probably my favourite of all time classics (apart from Peter Pan, I think). And yesss. I rarely am so desperate for a book as I am for Unhinged.
JEB JEB JEB. I've read until Unhinged, and I am still rooting for JEB. I just couldn't take Morpheus' manipulative nature. And he's creepy. Awesome review, Cait! I also gave this a 5!
NO. MORPHEUS. XD Okay, okay, I'll concede, because I can totally see why you'd go for Jeb. 😉 GOSH. That's why it's such a difficult triangle!
We share a love for Alice in Wonderland! If anyone asked me the one book I wish I had written, that would be it. I'd love to write a retelling someday!This sounds awesome. I like that even though it has flaws you still gave it 5 stars. Now I'm rushing off to my library to try and find it!!
Yup, I'm with you on this one! I was just reading this and thinking, "Dang, I wish this was my idea." It's just that beyond brilliant. In all honesty, I couldn't have given it 5-stars. Not with all the issues I had with it. I'm concerned it's bewitched me mind and soul.
I liked the first book and thought it did a great job as a retelling. I wasn't a huge fan of either love interest, though..Thanks so much for stopping by! Jen @ YA Romantics
Aw, such a shame. 😉 But I plead Alice-induced-insanity to be so fond of Morpheus.
Yes! This book is wonderful! I loved the world building and twists and, for me who reads a lot of epic/high fantasy and is used to long, detailed descriptions, the writing was beautiful! Everything about this book was perfect for me! I wish I had Unhinged right now…You know, I think I might be the only person who doesn't LOVE Morpheus. Sure, I really liked his character. He was funny and mysterious, but I don't LOVE him. I don't feel that I don't know enough about him yet to really make up my mind and I just don't trust him. It's interesting you mention the font issue… I bought & read the hardcover and don't remember having issues with it (though it is possible the AUS publishers changed the font…) and it was printed in purple/dark blue ink which I thought was awesome…
You don't like Morpheus?!! WHO ARE YOU?!!! XD (Aw, I'm just kidding. That's totally okay. I understand the Jeb-ish attraction, too.) That's weird about the font in your books. Mm. I just borrowed mine from the library and the note in the back said everything about the Lewis Carroll replicated font. *shrugs* Maybe if I buy Unhinged from TBD it'll be a normal font…?
Holy Crap I want to read this now! I've only read one book (trilogy) where I absolutely loved the love triangle in the book – the Unearthly trilogy. So for you to say this is the best love triangle you've ever read makes me extremely happy. I think I love Morpheus already 😀 ~ especially if that quote is his.Haha (: ~ I didn't realize the original font in Alice in Wonderland is so small. I would like if it were normal sized too.Maybe your library has the sequel?Awesome post!
DO IT DO IT. I haven't heard of the Unearthly trilogy. Oh gosh, I need to look it up then. I have not liked a love triangle since The Hunger Games…honestly, they feel forced and cliche most of the time (and the author never seems to develop both sides of the triangle very deeply). But this. Mind = blown. My library doesn't have the sequel *weeps copiously* I think it'll be buy or die.
HAHAHAHA that description of Morpheus is gold! "Creepy moth like creature" is perfect hahahaI definitely prefer Morpheus as well. Especially in Unhinged because there's a lot of character development and stuff.Is the font tiny? I have paperbacks for both Splintered and Unhinged, and I don't think I noticed the font being too small…
TEAM MORPHEUS UNITE! (In a creepy moth way….) I had a feeling Unhinged would be Morpheus-excelling because of the cover. NEED IT. Ohhhh, I so need it. Maybe my version was different? It's a bit strange, really.
YES. Yaaaaay! It does have it's issues but it's so good and creepy and weird that I don't care. At all. Whatsoever. Nope. Confession time: After reading Splintered the first time, I was all TEAM JEB. Second time, HAHA I was silly to resist. Just like Alyssa, WHY ARE YOU RESISTING? After Unhinged: Can I have both? Please? Preeeetty please? Read Unhinged as soon as you can, Morpheus is extra extra, uhm…you'll see.
YES. WHY CAN'T WE HAVE BOTH? This is a truly horrifying book in the way that it makes you pick (dang it). Oh stop. STOP tantalising me! I'm so desperate for it…so, so, so desperate. *drools on book depository again*
Great review! I still feel like the only person who didn't get this book. I just had a few two many issues with it and couldn't really root for either guy in the love triangle. I love your review though, plus I'm happy to find someone else who didn't like the 'Alice got it wrong' parts.
Aw, that's okay. I do that ALL the time with books! Seriously. I never got Legend by Marie Lu. I just…nope. And it has such a dedicated fandom and I keep thinking I should reread it and see if I just missed the joy ride?? Bookworms have such strange little brains. (Weird and proud.)
Wow, 5 stars? Looks promising. I haven't read any YA retelling of Alice in Wonderland. The first one that I have read was adult-erotica genre.
I'm not hugely generous with my 5-stars too. 😉 BUT IT IS BEYOND AWESOME. GO READ IT.
I'm glad you enjoyed this. I really liked it, too. I thought the author did a great job making Wonderland her own world while still giving props to the original material. But Jeb all the way. 🙂 Great review!
Oh gosh, YES, it was completely different to Alice in Wonderland the Original. It truly was. And the author's imagination is like limitless. I was just wowed at every turn and how it subtly wove in with the original story, but it was SO different. Wow. Just wow. MORPHEUS.
Ohmygosh this is so weird, I JUST borrowed this one from the library. I will definitely try to read this one as soon as possible. Great review, as always. I loved the gif at the end :)-Marianne @ Boricuan Bookworms
Sounds like an awesome book! I love anything Alice in Wonderland. 🙂 I've been wanting to see the movie again. But it make take some convincing to get it, because the rest of my family found it weird. Which it is, but it's weird in an intriguing creepy way, it was supposed to be weird like that. So it's okay. I'll have to keep an eye out for this book though
Hahaha your reviews are hilarious! Morpheus. I haven't read this one cause I'm not that big a fan of the fairytale (is it counted a fairytale or just a classic?). I've only ever read Alice in Zombieland cause it had a lickass heroine and a romance involved. One look at Splinterrd and I thought the cover was weird and all so I just dissed it haha. But hey, I'm so convinced to read it! I'm quite a fan of love triangles actually (not the Edwardbellajacob kind tho…ok maybe I'm a fan of MOST triangles) but I think due to the flak and criticsms authors get for love triangles nowadays that many of em are afraid to write about them. So yeshhhh gotta get this one. I love a little creepy one in awhile! Another great review, Cait!(Hope you get Unhinged soon!)
If you loved this book, and it sounds like you did, and if you're truly Team Morpheus, and it sounds like you are, then you absolutely have to get Unhinged ASAP. I think I loved the sequel even more, and there are some serious MOMENTS. I think this is the best Alice retelling I've read, and my sis who is the biggest AIW fan I've ever met, kinda agrees, so there's that. 🙂 We're both dying for the last book. 🙂