Splintered (Splintered, #1) in The Not-So Austen Bookclub

Aug 22, 2012 Miss Clark rated it it was ok

Shelves: modern-presentday, fairytale-fantasy-sci-fi-mythology, the-bog, retelling

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 1.5 stars

I just read today that we should only read books that stab or wound us. This statement has merit. I would argue that books that make you smile and laugh are equally important. Humor and fun have their place too. The very best of what I have read combines the wound and the mirth, a true reflection of life.

Sadly, this book is neither. It is inventive and colourful and macabre and overly sexualized. It left such a bad taste when it finally finished. And this is entirely subjective.

I appre 1.5 stars

I just read today that we should only read books that stab or wound us. This statement has merit. I would argue that books that make you smile and laugh are equally important. Humor and fun have their place too. The very best of what I have read combines the wound and the mirth, a true reflection of life.

Sadly, this book is neither. It is inventive and colourful and macabre and overly sexualized. It left such a bad taste when it finally finished. And this is entirely subjective.

I appreciated Howard's take on the events of
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass, and could clearly see the influence of Burton in her descriptions of clothing, settings and characters. But it flip-flopped between a very childish dialogue and sentence structure to heavy make-out sessions and "seductive" scenes. The tone seemed wonky and left me off-kilter. The constant reinforcement of Morpheus's affection for Alyssa forged when they were children together and its seemingly sudden lust for her was disconcerting.

He spoke of you often. His childhood with was sacred to him. So few of us here ever experience that kind of innocence.

THIS. A throwaway comment at the end of the book, but it was something that should have been at the heart of the relationship between Alyssa and Morpheus. Instead, somewhere between playing with her in the garden as child and tormenting her in her dreams since, he has come to be deeply, passionately in love with her. Sorry. What happened? And when?

Between Al not knowing how she really feels about Morpheus and her long-time crush on neighbor boy Jeb who gets dragged to the Netherworld with her (complete with first kiss and tonguing, an erotic tabletop dance which gives the impression that if it had lasted another paragraph would have led to some sex right then and there, etc.), there is a lot of talk about who she has the hots for and who she wants to kiss and "the heat" rushing through her or the "seductive" quality of Morpheus. *le sigh* No thank you.

I thought the idea of it having been Red that returned to our world quite brilliant. Poor Alice was trapped in a cage in Wonderland for 75 years! A much darker and violent take on Carroll's masterpiece. Totally different relationships and personalities for most of the cast. Yet, overall, all I felt from this book was emptiness. There was nothing here to delight. To share wonder. To move me to feel. ...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Kristen rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-or-galley

Read my interview with A.G. Howard
Meet artist Nathalia Suellen behind the Splintered cover

This review and more on my blog My Friends Are Fiction

The Story:
You can tell A.G. Howard did her research on Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (also see she loves the classic). Her portrayal of Wonderland is gruesome yet captivating. She pulls enough from the original to create a stunning Wonderland that has some of the feel of the original (but darker). The best part of Wonderland are Read my interview with A.G. Howard
Meet artist Nathalia Suellen behind the Splintered cover

This review and more on my blog My Friends Are Fiction

The Story:
You can tell A.G. Howard did her research on Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (also see she loves the classic). Her portrayal of Wonderland is gruesome yet captivating. She pulls enough from the original to create a stunning Wonderland that has some of the feel of the original (but darker). The best part of Wonderland are its characters and puzzles, Howard is able to keep those aspects while adding such macabre twists it veers on disturbing. Its twisted like a Tim Burton movie yet has some of the 80's feel of Labyrinth (1986 movie starring Davie Bowie...if you've not seen it you must).Its a strong story with lots to keep you interested in where its going. Another great part of the story to me was I wasn't sure where Howard was going to take us or how she was going to get there.

The Characters:
Character interactions are done so well they feel real at times, and almost feels like you are eavesdropping on a private conversation. Dialog flows seamlessly for the most part and each character has an 'unique' voice. Unfortunately, sometimes Alyssa's best friend (and love interest), Jeb, doesn't seem like a friend I'd want. I wish he would stand up for her more and not meddle in some of her life decisions. But I won't reveal more as not to spoil the story. Regardless, he does seem real with his flaws. You get a sense he acts first and thinks later. I think Morpheus is my favorite character just because I constantly want to know more about him and look forward to the segments he's in. I would love to read an entire story based on him in Wonderland. As for our main character, Alyssa I immediately was pulled to her through her odd life view to her even odder hobby,

I've been collecting bugs since I was ten; it's the only way I can stop their whispers. Sticking a pin through the gut of an insect shuts it up pretty quick.

Blue Dasher Dragonfly macroI have an interest towards insects myself...I don't pin them but I do photograph them. A little show and tell moment: here's one of the pictures I took of a blue dasher dragonfly (feels very Splintered to me) in my backyard. Since I spent hours up close and personal with our bug friends I could really imagine how it would feel to hear them speak. This was one of my favorite aspects of the book and Alyssa.

Final Thoughts:
Splintered gave me what I wanted, a re-working or addition to the original Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Howard mastered creating a unique, fun yet gruesome Wonderland. The story moves at a great pace and the characters are mostly like-able (Jeb you could have been better). Sometimes the dialog was a tad repetitive (certain words were repeated often enough I noticed). The story was left open enough for a sequel and I would love to read some additional stories with Morpheus center-stage.
...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Lizzie rated it it was amazing

Honestly I dont know where to begin with this review. It was soooo much better than expected. Splintered had me all over the place, I actually felt I was in the story watching everything happen around me. Wonderland is a very mystical, dark and wonderful world where you want to be trapped in and never leave. All I can really say is WOW!! At first I really didnt like Alyssa because I didnt like the way she handle her whole I can talk to bugs and flowers but i dont want to so Im going to kill them Honestly I dont know where to begin with this review. It was soooo much better than expected. Splintered had me all over the place, I actually felt I was in the story watching everything happen around me. Wonderland is a very mystical, dark and wonderful world where you want to be trapped in and never leave. All I can really say is WOW!! At first I really didnt like Alyssa because I didnt like the way she handle her whole I can talk to bugs and flowers but i dont want to so Im going to kill them and make art so it goes away thing nor the way she would refer to her mom by her first name and instead of showing some compassion for her she would say she didnt want to end up like her(crazy) and be stuck in a mental institution. However, that is just me being a little sensitive towards mother/daughter relationships and I get that she had reasons for her feelings and deep down she still loves her mom. I love her dad though, he truly loved his wife and daughter no matter how they acted or what was going on in thier life. When I started liking Alyssa was when she realize her mom was acting that way for a reason: to protect her daughter. During the course of the book she does understand and learns to appreciate her mothers sacrifices and becomes a strong heroine. Jeb was amazing aswell, everything a guy should be but MORPHEUS...well let's just say that even though he had his own little hidden agenda I was totally falling for him and even after finishing the book I ended up loving him!!! Jeb and Morpheus are worthy opponents, but I want Morpheus to be victorious ;) I don't know if its his actions or the mystery surrounding him or simply his personality that makes me smile when I think of him (I'll probably be in the minority here, ohh well lol) Don't get me wrong, Jeb had my heart skipping a couple of beats, no wonder Alyssa is crushing on him. But this is probably the reason why I'm loving Morpheus:
RAISING ONE HAND, HE TILTS HIS HAT TO THAT SEXY SLANT."YOU WANT ME. ADMIT IT."
EVEN IF HE'S PARTLY RIGHT, I'LL NEVER TELL HIM. "WHY WOULD I WANT YOU?"
HE LIFTS THREE FINGERS TO COUNTDOWN. "MYSTERIOUS. REBELLIOUS. TROUBLES. ALL THOSE QUALITIES WOMEN FIND IRRESISTIBLE."
And Im one of those LOL. Overall the book was great, highly recommend to anybody that wants to escape this world and go to a place you never though could be real!! It feels like there might be a second book which I will eagerly anticipate! Happy reading guys!!! :) ...more

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