It’s national “Mad Hatter Day”! This is the perfect day for me!!! Why? I
guess the best way to explain it is to show you what is on my computer screen
every time I log on …
That’s my life in a quote … a little crazy! But that’s the way I like it. J
In honor of this amazing day, I want to introduce one of my
favorite books to you … SPLINTERED!
This
stunning debut novel delves into the mad, magical, delicious, much-loved world
of Wonderland. When I first heard about
this book, I was instantly taken by the idea of this story. It has wonderful connections to the Alice Story we’ve known for years … taking us into the life of Alice’s very own
great-great-great granddaughter – Alyssa.
However, I must admit, I almost passed this novel by. I was attending the Vegas Valley Book
Festival when A.G. Howard was there. I
picked up Splintered a few times thinking, “This is a book I would LOVE to read!” The problem was … I had already spent TONS of
money and this was one I decided to cut.
My daughter saw me contemplating the purchase and after seeing me put
the book back down, secretly bought it for me, had the author sign it, and gave
it to me for Christmas. I am sooooo
happy she did!
One of the things I loved about this book was A.G, Howard’s
incredible talent for “world-building”.
She takes the original Alice story and twists and turns it inside
out. This is NOT Lewis Carroll’s
Wonderland. This is a Wonderland that is
darker, more seductive and more terrifying … but gorgeous and magical at the
same time. Everything Alyssa thought she
knew was wrong or false. I loved how we
got a completely new “this-is-what-really-happened” story. It’s brilliant!
If you were to ask me which character I liked best, I couldn’t
tell you. Each one was a “stand-out” on its
own.
Alyssa - here's how I pictured her:
Alyssa at first appears … ummm … different. She can hear the whispers of insects and
flowers and is afraid of becoming what every women in her family has become …
cursed with madness. However, as you get
to know her better, you warm up to her.
She’s independent, she’s sympathetic, she’s delightful, and above all –
she’s brave.
Then there’s Jeb:
Jeb is the "best-friend" who is
not the stereotypical boy-next-door. He
is definitely swoon worthy. He is
protective, a loyal friend, sensitive, and honest. He is ruled by his emotions and sometimes
that wasn’t a good thing. Overall, “Team
Jeb” has tons to brag about.
But we can’t forget about Team Morpheus! When I read about Morpheus, this is the picture that came to my mind.
Morpheus is a Wonderland native who (we see
hints) is madly in love with Alyssa and trying to win her over. He is seduction and mystery, expertly wrapped
into a dark, enticing package. He’s all
black wings, cockney accent, and a fetish for well-made hats. In my opinion, Morpheus is sly, sexy, mischievous,
and has his own way of caring. He’s the
guy we’re not supposed to like … so naturally … we like him more.
All the other characters and creatures we meet along the way
are based on the original Alice books but are definitely more twisted.
Splintered is a "can’t-put-down" book! I found myself cheering for Alyssa as she
went through her “tests” on her road to self-discovery. I gasped along with her as family secrets
were revealed. I found myself walking
beside her as I was sucked into the world of Wonderland, wanting to jump in and
help her at times. But what I especially
appreciated was that Alyssa went through everything she went through out of
love for her mother and father, and in the process, learned who she really was.
The bottom line: you won’t regret reading this Splintered. Its pages are full of heart-pounding
adventure, and an unforgettable romance … not to mention a story you'll be
thinking about for a long, long time.
Stay “mad” everyone!
After all … we’re all a little like that!
Here’s a closer look at what Splintered is all about:
