Moonlit Reads: {Review} Splintered by A.G. Howard

Splintered
Author: A.G. Howard
Release Date: January 1, 2013
by, Amulet Books
Source: *a copy was provided by the author for review purposes*
Format: hardcover copy
Pages: 384

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. {Goodreads}

~Review:
Where do I even start? This book blew me away! I absolutely love retellings especially when they are done as great as this one. Right off the bat I was hooked. From the crazy, exotic and beautiful cover, the Wonderland embellishments on the pages, the story in itself and the writing this book was flipping fantastic! Everything in this book was amazing and I fell hard for this book. There is a certain list I have which is named "books-I-need-in-order-to-breath" and in it are all the books I can not live without. They are the books that have blown my mind and captured my heart. They are the ones I will move from house to house till I die and read over and over. My friends, this is one of those books. I knew it was going to belong there from the beginning. I knew it was going to be great and I had such HIGH expectations. You guys know what happens usually happens when you high expectations....it flops. It isn't that great and actually is worse just because of the expectations but this one is so great it actually EXCEEDED my expectations...and that bar was set really high.

You really don't know true genius till you have read this book. The characters and story Howard twisted was phenomenal! I loved seeing Wonderland in a whole new way. I really can't put into words how much I enjoyed this book. It was beautifully crafted and told through such a strong character you can't help but love. I love Alyssa. She was strong, crazy and a really great character to follow around. Jeb was one of the best guys in all my time of reading. He was strong, fierce, protective and all together uhm...HOT! He is definitely in my top 10. Then there is Morpheus...the most mysterious, hot and incredibly irritating character you will ever love to hate. He really throws your emotions into wack. You love him SO much and then you hate him more. You never knew what to think with him. Was he tricking her? Was that love you just saw? Does he care? Is he playing? What the heck are you doing!!!!? Gosh he was SOOO irritating. I wanted to slap him so many times and then the next page I was begging for a kiss. I was hoping for something that I wasn't sure he would give. I totally loved hating him. I always loved Jeb more...until I didn't. Then I did...then I didn't. This one was hard but at the same time it was never trully a love triangle because of Morpheus' tricky moods.

Then there was the end...holy shit that end. Truly genius and nerve racking! I was crying, yelling and jumping up and down. Morpheus is not the only one who messes with your emotions and mind. The whole book in itself does it. The descriptions and world based retelling Howard created was truly genius. There is no other word but genius to refer to Howard's writing and story telling. I felt as if I was really there in wonderland! Gosh! I really don't know how to stress for my love of this book. It leaves an imprint on your heart and mind that has you thinking about it way after finishing it. Amazing! This book was magical! Splintered is captivating and intoxicating. Wonderful and frightening. It was everything I love in a book and SO much more....I am in love. Head over heals in love!!! Everyone needs to read it...everyone! Like me you will not want to put this book down until it is finished. I recommend this book to everyone...don't borrow. Buy...you want this beauty on your shelf..trust me ;D

~Rating: