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. Read all the books in the New York Times bestselling Splintered series: Splintered (Book 1), Unhinged (Book 2), Ensnared (Book 3), and Untamed (The Companion Novel). Get books 1 through 3 in the Splintered boxed set, available now!Praise for Splintered:STARRED REVIEW "Fans of dark fantasy, as well as of Carroll’s Alice in all her revisionings (especially Tim Burton’s), will find a lot to love in this compelling and imaginative novel." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"Alyssa is one of the most unique protagonists I've come across in a while. Splintered is dark, twisted, entirely riveting, and a truly romantic tale." —USA Today "Brilliant, because it is ambitious, inventive, and often surprising — a contemporary reworking of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,’’ with a deep bow toward Tim Burton’s 2010 film version." —The Boston Globe "It’s a deft, complex metamorphosis of this children’s fantasy made more enticing by competing romantic interests, a psychedelic setting, and more mad violence than its original." —Booklist " Protagonist Alyssa...is an original. Howard's visual imagination is superior. The story's creepiness is intriguing as horror, and its hypnotic tone and setting, at the intersection of madness and creativity, should sweep readers down the rabbit hole." —Publishers Weekly "While readers will delight in such recognizable scenes as Alyssa drinking from a bottle to shrink, the richly detailed scenes that stray from the original will entice the imagination. These adventures are indeed wonderful." —BookPage "Attention to costume and setting render this a visually rich read..." —Kirkus Reviews "Wonderland is filled with much that is not as wonderful as might be expected, and yet, it is in Wonderland that Alyssa accepts her true nature. The cover with its swirling tendrils and insects surrounding Alyssa will surely attract teen readers who will not disappointed with this magical, edgy tale." —Reading Today Online "Creepy, descriptive read with a generous dollop of romance." —School Library JournalAward: YALSA’s 2014 Teens’ Top Ten
I thought Morpheus was a fairly good character. When he wasn't trying to get in Alyssa's pants, he was busy using her to further his own selfish goals. We do see a softer side of him that added depth to his scheming and seducing. He is both a guide and an obstacle on the journey.
Alyssa saving Jeb was her most redeeming moment. Looking back to the beginning of the book and comparing that Alyssa to the one at the end is where you'll find the most growth. Her sacrifice is the most unselfish thing she does.
I really like the world that Howard created. Taking something already as unique as Wonderland and making it even more so is fascinating to me. The lesser characters, the descriptions of the world and her tasks themselves really helped to keep me interested. The way she explained Lewis Carroll's role in the story was equally as good. Howard is a great world builder.
The subplot with Alyssa's mother left a lot to be desired. The author sets her up with this big plot element and then...we find out it was all an act to protect her. I wasn't convinced at all. The way the mother was written...there's no way it was all an act. As soon as she knows Alyssa is safe, she just stops and the workers at the asylum are convinced they just gave her bad medication this entire time. For the past 10 years? That seems to wrap up everything up too nicely.
Alyssa also had her own problems. I didn't feel any real growth from her until the very end. Most of the time she complained endlessly while someone walked her through the steps on accomplishing a task. Once completed, she felt so wise and was praised as such.
The way the ending worked out for Alyssa, her mother, and Morpheus was just a little too perfect for my taste. Alyssa made zero effort to save anyone, so good thing they saved themselves...for her.
Summary Splintered really is a stunning debut, but not without flaws. While the general plot is good, in some places it was poorly executed. Flimsy characters wrap up this novel, preventing any real character growth. For a first novel, this book is well done. The world is impressive, along with the new versions of classic characters. It is enjoyable the majority of the time, but a few pet peeves may prevent that. I am curious about the next book in this series, Unhinged.
