Splintered: Splintered Book One
My Review: 4.5 of 5 Stars
Sometimes a book IS as good as its cover! This re-imagining of Alice in Wonderland grabs the reader from the first with the main character, Alyssa, skewering chatty bugs for her art. The pace slows a bit from there, but picks up again quite well when Alyssa and her crush, Jebediah, go down the rabbit hole. The story is sensual, dark, dangerous, disturbing, moody and mysterious; characteristics guaranteed to capture the imaginations and interests of most teens as well as adults. I was certainly ensnared in this web of fantasy. Highly recommended for fans of Young Adult literature and fantasy. Also, if you are a fan of Alice in Wonderland, as I am, this series is a must read!
Quotes:
“morbid mosaics” (p.2)
“I should be terrified. I should be committed. But something about the netherling is sensual and exhilerating, more evocative than anything in my world has ever been” (p.88).
“The more I remember of Morpheus and this place, the more I forget myself…or the self I though I was” (p. 168).
“I cover my mouth to keep from screaming or laughing hysterically. It could go either way at this point. I’m beginning to enjoy the madness” (p.212).
My review: 4.5 of 5 stars
The madness continues with surprising betrayals, uneasy alliances, and stunning visual descriptions that spark the imagination. Occasionally, the dialogue is a little bit corny, and the characters lean toward emo, but I still devoured every delicious morsel and am looking forward to book 3.
Quotes:
“How can being half of something be better than being whole?” (p.81)
“Slammed lockers swish like paper fans; chatter and laughter are as small and insignificant as the squeaks of a mouse. I’m removed from everything. All except my anger…” (p. 113)
“I am mad, and I embrace it. Madness is part of my heritage.” (p. 384)
[simpleazon-image align=”left” asin=”1419712292″ locale=”us” height=”500″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51mBK4lEfML.jpg” width=”331″]Ensnared: Splintered Book Three[/simpleazon-link]
My review: 4 of 5 stars
The wonder and vivid imaginings continue as does the whirlwind adventure. This last installment focuses more on romantic tension than the first two, but that is to be expected with all things coming to a climax here. Sometimes I found the rules of magic bent so much as to be confusing and hard to follow, but some of my difficulty could be attributed to having passed a year between books. Besides, Wonderland is nothing if not nonsensical. As a lover of all things Alice, I’m a fan. Nothing beats the original, but The Splintered Trilogy is still a whimsical romantic dark fantasy worth reading.
Quotes:
“Mercy has no place on any battlefield…magical or otherwise” (p. 24).
“Power is impotent unless it’s cultivated with risks” (p. 42).
“When you turn your back on everything that you once thought was real, you will find illumination” (p. 135).
“Part of accepting power is acknowledging how intoxicating it can be” (p. 162).
“The lack of magic is what leads humans to fantasize in the first place” (p. 207).