Author: A. G. Howard
Series: Splintered, #2
Genres: Fairytale Retelling, Fantasy, Romance
Publication/Year: Harry N. Abrams • 2014
Page Numbers: 400 (Hardback)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
"Alyssa Gardner has been down the rabbit hole and faced the bandersnatch. She saved the life of Jeb, the guy she loves, and escaped the machinations of the disturbingly seductive Morpheus and the vindictive Queen Red. Now all she has to do is graduate high school and make it through prom so she can attend the prestigious art school in London she's always dreamed of.My Rating: ★★★★★
That would be easier without her mother, freshly released from an asylum, acting overly protective and suspicious. And it would be much simpler if the mysterious Morpheus didn’t show up for school one day to tempt her with another dangerous quest in the dark, challenging Wonderland—where she (partly) belongs.
As prom and graduation creep closer, Alyssa juggles Morpheus’s unsettling presence in her real world with trying to tell Jeb the truth about a past he’s forgotten. Glimpses of Wonderland start to bleed through her art and into her world in very disturbing ways, and Morpheus warns that Queen Red won’t be far behind.
If Alyssa stays in the human realm, she could endanger Jeb, her parents, and everyone she loves. But if she steps through the rabbit hole again, she'll face a deadly battle that could cost more than just her head."
Quote(s) I Like:
"It's too easy, when you have unharnessed power at your fingertips to forget you're not invincible. To make rash decisions that can affect your whole future." -Thomas Gardener
My Thoughts:
Wow is all I can say. An amazing sequel this is. A. G. Howard did it once more to me. Kept me hooked and in a trance. Absolutely amazing from start to finish. Alyssa is definitely getting bolder and embracing her netherling being. Jeb gets his memory back thankfully. Morpheus is still a damn jerk. Allison's lies were a shocker, but it was all to protect her husband and daughter...I kind of like her a bit more. Alyssa's dad has a past in both AnyElseWhere and Wonderland, wow. Red just pisses me off. Oh gosh, the ending. So good!
So Alyssa's blood has the magic to basically forsee the future -- thats shocking. Not only does she look like a fairy and is technically queen of Wonderland, she also has blood powers. That's crazy as hell, but it did come to use in the end.
Allison and Morpheus both are pissing me off with their lies and secrets. Morpheus trying to get Alyssa for himself no matter what he has to do and setting Jeb up. Allison lying about how she met Thomas (her husband) and holding information from Alyssa about Wonderland that could have helped in the long run. Man those two are like one in the same.
Sister Two is after Jeb because Allison stole Thomas from Wonderland -- why the hell does it even matter honestly. Sister Two has been a thorn in my butt since the first book. She really needs to go back to the cemetry with her sister and do her job with a smile on her face. I get she was upset, but years of a grudge and then taking it out on Alyssa and Jeb -- totally wrong.
Jeb finally has his memory back just in time for battle. I was worried he would never get it back. I love that not only will he stand up to Morpheus, but he will stand by Alyssa no matter what happens. His proposal was super sweet and even after seeing Alyssa and Morpheus kiss he still held on to her. That's love for sure.
The ending, omg...prom gets ruined. Morpheus, Jeb and Allison are in AnyElseWhere and now Alyssa is in the Asylum. That totally shocked me and I never saw that coming. But what killed me the most...that damn cliff hanger. Is she going to shrink her father and get his memory back? Will they both go to Wonderland? Will Red win? Who will Alyssa pick? What the hell is going to happen next?
Overall Conclusion:
I cannot wait for the third and final book! Completely hooked on this trilogy. Outstanding fairytale retelling! I'm hoping there's another novella prior to book three next year.
Have you read this book?