Unhinged by A.G. Howard Ponderings

So, before I start this, I’m going to link my review of the first novel of this series, Splintered. I’m linking it because this is going to be another spoiler free review, and a lot of what I feel about this book is that it’s one of those middle things that is going to lead to a fantastic, amazing, epic third novel.

That isn’t to say that this has the middle book syndrome. When I say middle book, I mean like the delicious white stuff in the middle of an Oreo. It was a wonderful book! I’ve seen a lot of people who seem to dislike the fact that Alyssa’s character seemed to have taken two steps back. You know what, I’ll give them that… but I think that it was intentional and inspired – it’s going to make her changes in the third book all the more evident. Also, the fact that she’s taken a step back, is afraid, is indecisive… makes a lot of sense. She just came out of Wonderland, out of a traumatic situation, and everything she knows is changing, is threatening to be ripped away… not to mention the teenage drama that all teenagers deal with. 

Okay, let’s try to get a brief little intro/synopsis for this book though, spoiler free. 

A year after her travels in Wonderland, Alyssa has chosen to remain in the mortal world with her mortal boyfriend, Jeb. However, when she learns from her childhood friend, mentor and possible love interest Morpheus that Wonderland is in trouble… what will she do? Refusing to help only leads to a world that she thought she had escaped from coming into her human life in a big way…

 

There, nice, short and to the point. Gyah, this book is fantastic.

I do miss the characters of Wonderland, I will give people that. But I still loved seeing this side of the world… and seeing Morpheus in this world.

Oh. My. God. Morpheus, marry me now. 

A.G. Howard, you did such an amazing job. So much thought, depth, emotion and feeling was put into this character that I’m honestly latched on. He’s amazingly developed, layered, complex, evolving… and just astounding.

Honestly, the entire plot let up to a wonderfully frustrating cliffhanger that is going to kill me until 2015. I cannot wait for the third book. And aauuughhh, some of the little twists and snippets… oh, say GLIMPSES OF THE FUTURE *squeals* in here… amazing. Astounding. Need. More.

The novel has the same kind of language, beautifully crafted… and even though it does move a little slower than the first (what with being in the real world and not getting changed by zombie flowers and all), I think that it was perfect, astounding… amazing. Wonderful. What are you waiting for? Why aren’t you reading this? You already read Splintered because I demanded it of you, didn’t you? Because I told you how awesome it was? Well, read Unhinged!!! Do it! It’s wonderful. 

10/10! Honestly, this is one of my new favorite series, and will be the first books that I have discussions over when I start vlogging. Somehow… somehow I will obtain an ARC copy of Ensnared… >_> And then if the love triangle ends with Alyssa and Jeb, I will have a huge sob fest. xD The end.

OH! And can I PS on how freaking GORGEOUS this book is without its dust jacket. *Squeals* Over and out now for probably one of the most chaotic, fangirling and yet honest reviews without spoilers that I could give!

 

Until Next Time, keep reading and writing.

Author Amanda McCormick

Splintered by A.G. Howard Ponderings

So… Splintered by A.G. Howard. Oh, my Goodness. I really wasn’t expecting it going in, but I can honestly and truly say that out of the vast majority of books that I’ve read over my life, out of the thousands of stories that I’ve drank down… this is honestly on my top 3 list of favorite books. I was so completely delighted and shocked by it, amazed and enthralled with the story! It’s one of the best things that I’ve ever read, and I’m only just managing to tear myself away from reading the second novel Unhinged to write this so that I can sing the litany to the book gods in praise of this book.

I’m going to try to be as unspoilerish as possible with this review, but I really and truly think that each and everyone of you, dear readers, should pick this book up asap and drink it down like a mad cup of tea. 

So, first of all… the writing style is actually really captivating. The language and descriptions are beautiful, and it’s fast paced and easy to keep up with. The entire book is that way, the plot is fast paced, the characters wits and developments are fast paced. It’s wonderful. It’s beautifully written… it’s astounding.

So… to give you a nice little synopsis of the book, our main character Alyssa has been hearing the bugs and the flowers talk since puberty – she’s related to the Alice from Alice in Wonderland, and it’s a thing that all of the females in her family are a bit crazy. Her mother is on that list. However, which she finds out that there is more to the Alice story than meets the eye, she gets sucked into the REAL Wonderland, along with her best friend and longtime crush Jeb… lured by the wings of a moth. There, she finds out that the stories that Alice told were childsplay… and she’s thrown into a torrent in an attempt to break a curse and save her family.

>_> <_< Yeah. Amazing.

Okay. Now, allow me to say something a few times.

morpheus. Morpheus. MORPHEUS! Oh my freaking GOD Morpheus. My. Favorite. Freaking. Character.

Oh my God. I love him. He’s amazing. He’s astounding. He’s wonderful, he’s charming. He’s… mmm mmm mmmm! I won’t give anything away about who he is… but hoshit. I love him.

Alyssa and Jeb are great characters as well, along with the others that we meet throughout the book. The character development, and us seeing Alyssa embrace the madness of Wonderland throughout the pages? Astounding. Honestly. I can’t speak the praises of this book enough without giving anything else away. Just get it. Read it. Pick it up. Buy it. You won’t regret it!

10/10 stars. 100/10 stars. I love it! GO GET IT! What are you waiting for?

(Check out my review for the second novel, Unhinged HERE!)

 

Until next time, Keep reading (Splintered ^___^) and writing!

Author Amanda McCormick