Review: Splintered

Summary (from Goodreads): 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.

Review: A wonderful recreation and new twist on the old classics. Dark, fast-paced, and beautiful, Howard has gifted readers with a stellar story. Alyssa is one of a kind and the journey she takes to find the truth of herself and save her family in Wonderland is truly unique. The re-imagined characters from Carroll's novels are so vivid and different that they entertain when the mystery is long gone. The ending, I felt, could use a little work. Much like an abrupt plane landing, Splintered flew high and dazzled, only to leave me disoriented and blinking to find my thoughts. Still quite enjoyable and would recommend to those who love adventure and fantasy.

Thank you Amulet Books for providing Bookstar, Studio City with a lovely ARC

Formats: e-book, hardcover

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