Splintered by A.G. Howard

Buy the book at 

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

Author's 

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Book summary: 

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.

       It's really tricky to read retellings, at least for me. Somehow they tend to disappoint and I usually avoid them, but after hearing all the great things about this book I simply had to read it. Luckily it didn't disappoint.

       We all know the story about Alice (is it just me or this story is mostly used for retellings) but somehow the author managed to create really interesting story about this one. We're in present and reading about this girl whose great, great mother was the famous Alice in Wonderland. Even today after all these years people know her last name and tend to make reference to the fairy tale. Only there is another thing her mother is in asylum cause she couldn't take all the voices anymore. Now Alyssa has the same problem cause the voices are talking to her too. She must find a way to break a curse and for that she must go to Wonderland, the land she dreamed so much about.

       If I had to describe this story I'd say it was enjoyable, readable and full of action. Just how it should be. Of course I wasn't happy about some things, but nothing that I couldn't go over with. Now I'm happy that I gave this book a try. Luckily it didn't play any tricks with one of my favourite fairy tale.

Rating: 4 stars.

Until the next time,