A pretty common theme I've found in my life is the regret I encounter over the time it takes me to pick up a series I end up falling in love with. I have avoided the Splintered series because I wasn't a fan of the cover art and thought to myself "Ugh another Alice in Wonderland themed YA book, no thanks" and to the me that thought that I now yell, "SHUT UP YOU MORON". The moment I finally picked up Splintered, I fell immediately in love with the characters and the plot. This book sucked me in and wrapped in me up in a vibrant blanket filled with whimsy and surprise. So well written, Anita Grace has completely convinced me this is the truth behind Lewis' classic tale and every thing I learned prior is absolutely wrong. The picture she has painted in this story is one so in depth, it very may well have happened in real life with all of us fools none the wiser. I find myself looking at bugs and asking them why they don't share their secrets with me.
Alyssa Victoria Gardner is a descendant of the well know Alice Liddell, Carol Lewis' inspiration for the classic Alice in Wonderland. Well Alyssa's life is not full of magic and happiness as one would expect, the females in her lineage since Alice are plagued by a madness that has completely crippled their lives and the lives of those around them. Once the women hit puberty their lives change abruptly, sending them into fits of madness like the episode that sent poor Alyssa's mother into asylum when she was just a child. Alyssa's heart breaks to see her mother, Alison, in the ward mostly because she knows it's a glimpse into her own sad future. Even knowing the madness that awaits her, Alyssa is still a teenage girl and therefore falls in love with her best friend Jeb. Though Jeb has been known to sketch Alyssa in his dark fairy portraits, he is currently dating Taelor, the very girl that made life a living hell for Alyssa when they were children by informing everyone of her mother's madness and their relation to Alice Liddell. The last visit she has with her mother leaves Alyssa rattled, her father informs her they will begin treating Alison with electroconvulsive therapy and she knows she has to do something. Realizing perhaps it's not so much madness that lands them their fates when she sees that her and Alison hear the same whispers from a grasshopper,Alyssa dives (literally) head first into the rabbit hole. Accidentally dragging Jeb along for the ride as well, they begin to solve the riddles of Wonderland and their own hearts. Until, of course, they come face to face with Morpheus, the caterpillar from the original story (way cuter than ever told before I might add), Alyssa's childhood friend from infancy. When her memories come rushing back to her Alyssa is faced with a harrowing choice, chose the mortal boy she loves and risk losing her mother and remaining cursed, or pick the deceitful beautiful boy of her dreams and abandon everything she has ever known.
Filled with so many twisting and winding corridors, Splintered is sure to please. This is a definite case of don't judge a book by it's cover. Even though we've faced so many Alice themed YA books before, this has really changed the game. Playing hand in hand so very well with the original this series is an awesome addition to any library. Love triangles with two gorgeous dudes is always a good thing, but throw in some punk apparel and glistening moth wings and it's a home run. I knew I would kick myself for waiting so long when I bought the second book a day after reading half of the first.
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