Splintered (Splintered, #1) in The Wide Web of Friends in YA Books

May 22, 2012 Rachel (aka Ms4Tune) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: series-read, fantasy, young-adult, romance, a-hardback, favourites, bought, 2013

(January Choice for the 24 books of 2013 Challenge)

I'm gonna keep this short and sweet. This is just how I wanted Wonderland to be. Loved the characters, the world was well developed and the descriptions were gorgeous. Loved Morpheus, so dark, beautiful and twisted.

MORE PLEASE Ms A G HOWARD! :)

(note to other readers: I went into this with no expectations I had read a few reviews but they were so varied in opinion they cancelled one another out - so give this a try if you like the dark and beaut ...more

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Apr 27, 2013 Yassie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-ebooks, 2013-reads

"Mysterious. Rebellious. Troubled. All those qualities women find irresistible." ~ Morpheus

Three things made me read this one, the cover, ratings and the plot. The story started okay, we were introduced to Al's life in the mortal world and her connections with Alice etc. but the moment she fell through that rabbit's hole I though, okay this is it! But she basically just did or undid everything Alice had done before and it wasn't as exciting as I had hoped it would be, after all I've watched many "Mysterious. Rebellious. Troubled. All those qualities women find irresistible." ~ Morpheus

Three things made me read this one, the cover, ratings and the plot. The story started okay, we were introduced to Al's life in the mortal world and her connections with Alice etc. but the moment she fell through that rabbit's hole I though, okay this is it! But she basically just did or undid everything Alice had done before and it wasn't as exciting as I had hoped it would be, after all I've watched many versions of Alice in Wonderland and I guess the strangeness of Wonderland was something expected that I didn't find it fascinating anymore that is until...Morpheus!!

OMG I cannot describe my fascination with him. Maybe it's his connection to Al? the lost memories, his eccentricities? His personality, the secrets he's hiding? His real intentions? I don't know what but it feels like Wonderland came to be because of him!

He's like a master storyteller, every happening all comes back to him, his mere presence rocks the balance between Al embracing her true self and her wish to go home. Of course a love triangle is expected and here I find his existence even more fascinating! If this is an ordinary YA adventure, I'd like Al to be with Jeb, their moments are sweet, it's realistic, I like them to be. BUT when Al is with Morpheus the atmosphere is on another level! I can't point out what it is exactly! Maybe because she can be with her true self with him? It feels like when they're together it feels so right. It makes you forget she lives on the human world. It makes you believe in forever~ Not the mushy forever type, it's more of eternal, magical, everlasting! I know I don't make sense, this book doesn't make sense! But that's how it makes sense! Confuse yet? Haha!

I particularly love the last third of the book! Wonderland is a place of nightmare full of weird logic and dream like experiences and this book did justice! Even the characters are insane! Starting from the major revelation of Al's identity and her destiny, the story became a kaleidoscope of mystery, secrets, like a maze full of twist and turns but never finding an exit. You think you've known everything then again thrown back to zero the next.

And can we just get back to Morpheus? O.M.G. he's indescribable! Some people started taking sides on which ship to sail with, but the moment I saw him I knew...planks of wood or titanic, I'm sailing with this moth~!! He's a dream, THE dream, ugh! It's so frustrating how I cannot describe him, even more because I can't post spoilers, but gosh if you ever read this book, you'll know~!

So for my conclusion for this review: we all know what kind of place Wonderland is, whichever interpretation you've seen or read, so it follows that events that happens in that world is something that cannot be in the normal world. And this shows every time Al switches back and forth between Jeb and mortality vs Morph and insanity, most people might find it annoying but, if you read this with an open mind you'll find it fascinating~ Think, what would you do if you were Al? It's definitely something to reflect on~!

And have I said how I loved the ending yet? Gosh, I know, it ended on the mortal side BUT remember she wears the key and I for one, don't really care who or what she chooses to be or with, personally but the thought that she's hiding a secret like that just makes me sigh and wonder what will happen next? Good thing it's going to have a book2!!!!!! xD ...more

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Oct 05, 2013 Krystal rated it it was amazing

Shelves: magic

OMG OMG...ok....ok.. Where to start ooooh I know this book was freaking fabulous. I love love it, who know Alice in Wonderland could be so twisted. Howard did a great job twisting Alice in wonderland into this amazing action pack book. All the characters was great. Alyssa, Jeb, and Morpheus are my favorite characters. There is a little bit of a love triangle. I can't decide who I like the best Jeb or Morpheus. Jeb is Alyssa knight in shinning armor. He is always there when Alyssa needs him. Morp ...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Blue Dawn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

1/16/13

*Spoilers below*

This book completely at the end changed my mind about it. First off, the setting and world she built was A-MAZ-ING! Some of her paragraphs I simply had to reread aloud for how beautifully and visually written they were. Though the characters at the middle and the plotline felt so predictable. Jeb, bad boy who she has always had a secret crush on. Oh look he loves her back! Then her completing the tasks so she could go back home and cure the curse on her family. I was plann ...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Kristenj2009 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviews, dark, romance, fantasy, favourite-kick-ass-heroines, my-faves, best-books-ever, main-characters-that-travel, gorgeous-covers, superpowers

Magic, mayhem and madness.

Definitely one of my favourite books I have EVER read. Alyssa was astounding. Wonderland was amazing. The world was so real, I could practically taste it.

For those of you who haven't read the synopsis, Alyssa's family is descended from the original Alice who inspired Lewis Carroll's popular book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The problem is that ever since the day Alice told Lewis Carroll about her strange dream, the female line in her family has been cursed. Th Magic, mayhem and madness.

Definitely one of my favourite books I have EVER read. Alyssa was astounding. Wonderland was amazing. The world was so real, I could practically taste it.

For those of you who haven't read the synopsis, Alyssa's family is descended from the original Alice who inspired Lewis Carroll's popular book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The problem is that ever since the day Alice told Lewis Carroll about her strange dream, the female line in her family has been cursed. They all have the ability to hear the thoughts of plants and insects which gradually drove them insane. Our heroine, Alyssa Gardner, discovers her only chance to save herself and her slowly downward-spiralling mother, is to go down the rabbit hole and fix her Great-great-great-grandmother, Alice's mistakes. To do this, she must travel through a weird and dark world, vastly different from innocent little Alice's story. On a quest to undo the curse, she follows her dark netherling guide, Morpheus into adventures both magical and dangerous. The only hitch in the plan being that she maybe, kinda, sorta, accidentally, brought her long-time crush, Jeb, with her.

I've always been fascinated by characters with dark sides to them, and Alyssa brought that through. She is kind and sweet but also selfish and flawed. It was interesting to be able to see Wonderland from a Light character's eyes who slowly discovers her Dark side.

Morpheus was a wonderful enigma. I couldn't decide whether I hated him or loved him. Again, one of the most paradoxical characters I've met. I loved his sarcastic sense of humour and that slight hint of madness that drives all creatures in Wonderland, though most of them have more than just a hint.

Jeb, Jeb, Jeb. Sweet, protective and tough. The knight in shining armour and Alyssa's childhood best friend. Despite Morpheus's movie-star looks and charm, I've wanted her to end up with Jeb from the very beginning, although I do wish he could've put a bit more faith in her decisions.

Splintered is truly everything it's name implies. Although I believe the main reason for it's name was the splintering of her mother's (and the rest of her family's female bloodline's) mind, it also perfectly captures Alyssa's time in Wonderland and all the madness therein.

Splintered is without a doubt going on my top 5 favourite reads of the year. I have absolutely no complaints whatsoever except to warn you to prepare yourself. There are so many twists and turns you might feel a little dizzy but don't worry, Jeb will always be there to catch you and Morpheus is always watching ;-) ...more

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Nov 07, 2013 Silvia Meadows rated it it was amazing

Was I entertained? Yes.
Did I understand EVERYTHING that was going on? Nope.
Was it worth the read? Most definitely!

I mean, come on. It's Wonderland. I'm not supposed to understand everything. All I know is that A.G. Howard did a fantastic job at confusing me. I love, love, love her ability to be so creative and descriptive within this world. I mean, I was getting a hangover trying to keep up with all the color changes and scene changes and character changes. Dude.... I had to take breaks to figur ...more

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Aug 28, 2013 Tracy rated it really liked it

Shelves: dark-and-creepy, holy-sizzle-batman, unique, fast-paced, physical-books-i-own

What a crazy tale! I'm not usually a fan of Tim Burton (he can be a little too dark/twisted for my taste) but I think in this case, for a story like "Alice in Wonderland", Burton's influence is both brilliant and necessary. The author has done a fabulous job of creating a Wonderland that is beautiful yet creepy and dark at the same time. This is sooooo not your Disney's Wonderland.

I enjoyed getting to know the main characters. I loved the artsy aspect. I especially loved Morpheus, and I am NOT t ...more

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