DNF Review: Splintered by A.G. Howard

Splintered by A.G. Howard
Published: January 1, 2013

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence.

Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

So this is my first DNF and I’m sure it won’t be my last as I read books throughout the year. I know this happens from time to time with books. But I tried so hard to read this book. I thought the concept was great and I liked the idea of all of this. I enjoyed the style of writing and all that, but I really couldn’t invest in the characters.

I think there’s tons of potential in this book though so maybe I’m not picking it up at the correct time. I also think the book had a very “Tim Burton” feel to it and I’m not sure I appreciated that close resemblance to his style of characters. Maybe it felt like the author ripped off Burton’s style in a way? I’m not 100% sure if that’s what bothered me.

I also found Alyssa as a really odd character I couldn’t find any connection with. I thought the insane mother and grandmother aspect was kind of awesome way to spin everything.

But please let me know if it’s worth it to keep going because I will try if I get enough people telling me to go for it.