Splintered by A.G. Howard
Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication Date: January 1, 2013
Goodreads ♥ Amazon
Review:
I knew from the first page that I was going to absolutely
adore this book. I am a sucker for Alice
in Wonderland retellings. Splintered while it stays true to the Lewis Carroll
version in many ways incorporates a lot of new and original ideas that kept me interested
and guessing throughout the novel. Every time a familiar character entered the
story I was excited to see how Howard would turn the character on its head and
make it her own. It made for a darker even more interesting Wonderland.
Alyssa was a great heroine. Ever since the 5th
grade she has heard bugs and flowers speaking to her. Fearing she will become
like her mother who is living in a mental institution. Alyssa tells no one
about the voices and makes art collages of the bugs who will not stop speaking
to her. I liked Alyssa’s determination and strength throughout the novel. She
was willing to do anything to help her mother. And when her friend Jeb is
dragged in to Wonderland she fights to keep him safe and protect him.
While Jeb and Alyssa were great in their own ways my favorite character was definitely the caterpillar! In the Carroll story Caterpillar was just a bug sitting on a mushroom smoking hookah. In Splintered Caterpillar has become a butterfly and is a sexy, somewhat shady man named Morpheus. He was easily my favorite character in the story. I liked all of his ulterior motives and plans and I never once doubted his loyalty to Alyssa although there may have been some….okay many reasons to.
Believe it or not I liked the romance (love triangle) in
this book. Usually I am not a big fan of love triangles but Howard does a great
job of making you love both Jeb and Morpheus. It was also a little reminiscent
of a Julie Kagawa Iron Fey love triangle. While there may be two boys it was
pretty obvious who Alyssa was going to choose (even if I wanted it to be
different).
I also liked that this novel tackled a big issue, mental
illness, which isn’t talked about enough even in “issue” YA contemporary
novels. I liked how Howard incorporated what happens to a family when a parent
has a mental illness and the effect it can have on the child, other parent, and
those around her. Howard also incorporated abusive homes, and the loss of a
parent while still keeping the novel rather light.
It is the mark of a good storyteller when a novel sticks
with you and you can’t wait to read it again so you can return to that world.
Splintered has done this to me! I can not wait to get my hands on a finished
copy so that I can return to Wonderland right along with Alyssa (and see
Morpheus again of course ^.~)
Thank you Netgalley
and Amulet Books for allowing me to read an advanced readers copy of
Splintered.
Agree! I am usually not one for love triangles, but this one worked and really it is pretty obvious who Alyssa will choose! I too am a Morpheus fan! I just love his dark charm. Great review!
ReplyDeleteTeresa @ Readers Live A Thousand Lives
I'm happy that you liked the love-triangle! While I'm not a huge fan of them, I've already found some that worked out for me - I hope that this is one of them. And you don't know what you are doing to me with this awesome, positive review! I've been waiting and waiting for such a long time now for this book! I NEED it. It will be the perfect book for me, because I love fairytales and retellings :) I devour them. So, I'm bouncing and fangirling now. Can't wait to get it in my hands.
ReplyDeleteMel@thedailyprophecy.
I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book! O and I am not sure if you knew or not, but there is a second one coming out in Jan 2014 it is going to be called unhinged! I love Jeb's character he is so adorable to me! and MORPHEUS! OMG SWOON (:! I could not put this one down! Thank you for sharing your review!
ReplyDeleteYour review is pretty much my thoughts on Splintered. I went into it a lot nervous. Alice in Wonderland is such a classic, and so beloved, that it makes me nervous (for myself AND the author) to dive into one. But the promise of a dark and creepy Wonderland snared me and there was just no way I was going to pass up the chance. And I am so glad that I read it. Devoured it, more like. And my nervousness wore off almost immediately. Splintered truly is a fantastic story. The characters are so well drawn, and distinguishable from each other. Their voices are so strong. I loved each and every character. Even the ones that I hated. I loved Jeb. I did. But I must admit that I am with you about Morpheus. Yes, he was a jerk with ulterior motives, BUT you could tell how very much he loved Alyssa, too. I loved the dynamic between those two. I am very much caught between him and Jeb as the one she ends up with. I think Jeb has the upper hand, but only slightly. And only because of the fierce loyalty he shows towards Alyssa. All in all, this story was beautiful and I cannot wait to read Unhinged. I just wish we didn't have to wait until January 2014. :(
ReplyDeleteI love Alice in Wonderland and so want to read this book!
ReplyDelete