Overall Rating and Opinion of Splintered

Discuss the May 2014 book of the month Splintered by A. G. Howard.
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How do you rate Splintered?

1 star - poor, recommend against reading it
1
1%
2 stars - fair, okay
10
14%
3 stars - good, recommend it
40
58%
4 stars - excellent, amazing
18
26%
 
Total votes: 69

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PluviophileReader
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Re: Overall Rating and Opinion of Splintered

Post by PluviophileReader »

GKCfan wrote:Does anybody think that the plot seemed unnecessarily dragged out for the purpose of future novels in the series?
Yes, I did find that there were some chapters that were overwhelmed with excessive details and secrets/betrayals where other chapters were a lot quieter and drawn out. I don't know if it's in an effort for future novels or rather that the author didn't spread out the novels specifics very well, which messed with its flow.
The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
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subzerowon
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Post by subzerowon »

I believe its for more of a foreshadowing effect.
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David Dawson
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Post by David Dawson »

Yeah, I'm a little bit sceptical of the trilogy potential (not having read on). It seems like the (as I said above, excellent) idea could become a little stretched out over 3 books.
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Norma_Rudolph
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Post by Norma_Rudolph »

I enjoyed Splintered more than I thought I would. I thought that the goth characters and the darkness would put me off, but I actually had to like them in a twisted sort of way. It was a very creative play on Wonderland and I could see it as a successful movie. I liked the twists that the plot took in the end and love triangle actually works because in essence she not only has to choose between two men, she also has to choose between two worlds.
I probably will not read the other two books in the trilogy but I still gave it 3 out of 4 stars.
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Post by SoftCoyote »

Alice in Wonderland adaptations always intrigue me, and though I had never actually read the original Lewis Carrol story before this book there was always something about the oddity of the stories I was drawn too. I'm not really sure what it was, maybe it was the magical world which seemed completely random. And even after reading the original stories they still seem random, even more so.

Splintered scared me at first. Though I'm intrigued by Alice in Wonderland adaptations, I had been starting to become rather bored since most of them pulled the same sort of randomness out of the story. However, I was pleasantly surprised with Splintered(When Alyssa FINALLY went down the rabbit hole) because it seemed as if the author breathed a sense of mysticism into the story. Not just randomness and a bit of magic. The dark tone of the book, though not new to these adaptations seemed even more twisted than most I've come across.

I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style of the author. His descriptions of the characters allowed me to properly envision the creepiness she was trying to portray. Though I now want to read the second book, I'm kind of scared. This book was just so well written that there's no telling how well the next book will be. And I must agree, the first portion of the book before the rabbit hole was relatively boring.
If this book were to be turned into a movie, I would be extremely disappointed if the director did not create the world of this particular Wonderland correctly. There are just some books you don't mess with the description.
On that note, I feel it's a must to mention the cover of the book. It is absolutely stunning! The illustrator of the book did a fantastic job! To be quite honest, it was Morpheus on the cover of Unhinged that led me to read Splintered.
My rating: 4/4
Colette Marie
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Post by Colette Marie »

This book was intriguing and also a little creepy. I did enjoy reading this book and it really does stand out as it is not your typical 'Alice in Wonderland' sort of book. I would definitely read the second book of this series :)
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Post by Little House »

PluviophileReader wrote:
GKCfan wrote:Does anybody think that the plot seemed unnecessarily dragged out for the purpose of future novels in the series?
Yes, I did find that there were some chapters that were overwhelmed with excessive details and secrets/betrayals where other chapters were a lot quieter and drawn out. I don't know if it's in an effort for future novels or rather that the author didn't spread out the novels specifics very well, which messed with its flow.
I didn't think that the plot dragged in order to make room for future novels, it just dragged in places. In fact, I think that this book makes a very good stand alone story. I am tired of the cliff-hanging trilogy books and this was a refreshing change. I felt like, while the author left room for more story, everything in this book was wrapped up nicely at the end.

Overall, I liked this book. It adventurous without being dark. I will be recommending this book to others.
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Post by David Dawson »

Little House wrote:It adventurous without being dark.
I thought it was probably at its best when it was at its darkest.
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Tianarenee3
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Post by Tianarenee3 »

does anyone know the name of the sequel(s)?
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Post by PluviophileReader »

Unhinged is the name of the second book.
The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
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David Dawson
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Post by David Dawson »

Tianarenee3 wrote:does anyone know the name of the sequel(s)?
The final book in the trilogy is called Ensnared, but I believe it isn't out yet(?)

-- 12 May 2014, 21:02 --
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Tianarenee3
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Post by Tianarenee3 »

Thanks David and PluviophileReader !
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Post by Teigynlux »

This book is the first of three in the series. I have read one and two and the third one is due early 2015. Let me just start off by saying that ever since I read this book it immediately became my number one favourite of all time! It ensnares you from the beginning and entwines your mind in a dark twisted wonderland till you get to the ending and completely fall for for the whole story line shaking with excitement for more.
The story starts off by describing The main character Alyssa and her interesting past and growing up unfurling a new ability and quickly snowballs into how her mother is in an insane asylum and how she got there. Only Alyssa finds out a horrible fate could befall her mother Allison and sets out on a dark, twisted, enlightening, and dangerous adventure into the real wonderland... The one Alice never told you about. Her best friend Jeb follows her in and together they race against time and magical sometimes scary creatures and people, to get to the truth about wonderland and it's connection to the descendants of little Alice Liddell.
On the way there is many sharp corners, mind benders, and thrills that will captivate your imagination as you can't help but root for both Alyssa and Jeb as they work with a resident of wonderland whom your sure to love as much if not more then in the original book and how he's developed since the long ago adventure Alice had going down the rabbit hole. The queens in wonderland are amazingly detailed with fantastic story lines. As well as a few new characters who are sure to add to the mound of tantalizing greed for more you build up with the feeling like you yourself would want to go to wonderland and follow the backwards, beautiful, and nonsensical world that A G Howard has created from her brilliant mind.
The story ends with great satisfaction with room for a sequel (and due to popular demand of course she was given the green light for two additional books!) and blends it with flying colours making you want more and more.
The fashion style and architecture described in the book are so crazy imaginative, beautiful and eccentric. The vocabulary used is a good level while not making you pick up a thesaurus every other chapter. The scenes are described with such clarity you yourself could shut your own eyes and be there.
All in all YES I would recommend this book and have with enthusiasm to the delight of hearing that every one I have recommended the book to has bought it and LOVES it! BUY the book. READ the book. You will love the fresh new way that A G Howard has described WONDERLAND.

-- 13 May 2014, 00:32 --

I must also add that I never heard about this book prior to reading it. I was passing through a store and the BEAUTIFUL intriguing cover made me stop in my tracks and read the jacket. The art work is just amazing and made me want to know the story about the girl on the cover... Little did I know it was a new twist on the story we all came to love as we were children and later grew up with quoting as adults having no love lost. She has my standing ovation.
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subzerowon
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Post by subzerowon »

ensnared wont be out till next year
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Post by David Dawson »

Teigynlux wrote: -- 13 May 2014, 00:32 --

I must also add that I never heard about this book prior to reading it. I was passing through a store and the BEAUTIFUL intriguing cover made me stop in my tracks and read the jacket. The art work is just amazing and made me want to know the story about the girl on the cover... Little did I know it was a new twist on the story we all came to love as we were children and later grew up with quoting as adults having no love lost. She has my standing ovation.
Agreed about the artwork, really captures the gothic sensibility of the book.
Latest Review: "The Mystery Factor" by Michael Brightman
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