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raven168 's review for:
Splintered
by A.G. Howard
I won this book from Abrams books, and I got it super fast. The first thing that crossed my mind when I saw it was how gorgeous the cover was. Lately I've noticed that a lot covers are dark (don't get me wrong, I love the whole goth thing that seems to be going on) but this one is so bright and colorful. If I had seen the book in a store I would have been immediately drawn to it.
This was definitely an interesting, if not warped, depiction of a classic story. Alyssa doesn't fall into the rabbit hole, she goes looking for it to try and break a curse she believes Alice had caused to plague the females in her family. With her mother locked up in a mental institute and about to be subjected to electroshock therapy she's more than determined to do what it takes to save her. Even accidentally bringing her friend and secret love with her. The whole book is awash in details that make the world beautiful and disturbing. Sometimes at the same time. The situations Alyssa and Jeb face in wonderland are creative and engaging. Wonderland itself if nothing like what the original story portrays. And even that is given an explanation as to why. Thru the whole story I did not like Morpheus. Though what bothered me more was Alyssa's reactions to him. Everything was like a game set up by him to fit his own needs, sacrificing anyone and anything to get what he wants. I can understand why at the beginning Alyssa would trust him, he was her childhood friend even if it was just in her dreams. But as he is now, he does nothing to deserve her trust. Instead always does things to betray it. Yet she seemingly can't help herself to still be attracted to him. Even though she says she loves Jeb and has since the day she met him. It really grates on me when the main female character is like that. I just want to scream at them 'what is your problem??' Though I suppose that just makes it a better story when the reader gets into it enough to care and be bothered by the characters' actions. Okay, yes, Morpheus has his moment or two where he puts Alyssa's life before his own because he says he loves her. But to me, all the wrong he had done to her and caused to happen to Jeb, almost outweighs that.
Though this story would probably have been good as a stand alone, the ending does leave it open for the next book. And I look forward to reading it. Even though I will probably throw it across the room if Alyssa keeps being stupid and gets closer to Morpheus while Jeb is RIGHT THERE next to her like he always has been.
This was definitely an interesting, if not warped, depiction of a classic story. Alyssa doesn't fall into the rabbit hole, she goes looking for it to try and break a curse she believes Alice had caused to plague the females in her family. With her mother locked up in a mental institute and about to be subjected to electroshock therapy she's more than determined to do what it takes to save her. Even accidentally bringing her friend and secret love with her. The whole book is awash in details that make the world beautiful and disturbing. Sometimes at the same time. The situations Alyssa and Jeb face in wonderland are creative and engaging. Wonderland itself if nothing like what the original story portrays. And even that is given an explanation as to why. Thru the whole story I did not like Morpheus. Though what bothered me more was Alyssa's reactions to him. Everything was like a game set up by him to fit his own needs, sacrificing anyone and anything to get what he wants. I can understand why at the beginning Alyssa would trust him, he was her childhood friend even if it was just in her dreams. But as he is now, he does nothing to deserve her trust. Instead always does things to betray it. Yet she seemingly can't help herself to still be attracted to him. Even though she says she loves Jeb and has since the day she met him. It really grates on me when the main female character is like that. I just want to scream at them 'what is your problem??' Though I suppose that just makes it a better story when the reader gets into it enough to care and be bothered by the characters' actions. Okay, yes, Morpheus has his moment or two where he puts Alyssa's life before his own because he says he loves her. But to me, all the wrong he had done to her and caused to happen to Jeb, almost outweighs that.
Though this story would probably have been good as a stand alone, the ending does leave it open for the next book. And I look forward to reading it. Even though I will probably throw it across the room if Alyssa keeps being stupid and gets closer to Morpheus while Jeb is RIGHT THERE next to her like he always has been.