Splintered

Splintered by A.G Howard

  "To Alyssa Gardner the flowers and the insects talk to her. She fears that her destiny is to end up in a psychiatric hospital, like her mother, because a vein of madness runs through her family since the time of her ancestor Alicia, the girl who inspired Lewis Carroll's Wonderland. But what if the whispers of the flowers are not hallucinations? What if Wonderland exists and is calling it? Alyssa will descend through the rabbit hole to a magical world, but also ruthless. During his incredible adventure, he will have to decide who to trust: in Jeb, his best friend, for whom he has always been attracted, or in the fascinating and seductive Morpheus, his guide in Wonderland and with whom he has been dreaming since she was a child."  

    Based on the literary classic Alice in Wonderland was one of the "big" books I read as a child. And even though the Disney adaptation at the time I do not like it at all, and still does not (only the animated one, specifically the twins' part and the story of the carpenter, the walrus and the oysters). aside the animated film, Lewis Carroll's book is a very important part of my childhood, and that's also why, as soon as I saw the cover of Whispers and read the synopsis I could not resist.    Before starting this book I read several reviews that put the book through the roof, so if my expectation was already high, it was even more so. That scared me a little, since I do not usually start reading a book with so many expectations, and that is if you do not fulfill the book you end up liking it less. Luckily it was not the case, as it met and exceeded my expectations. 

 Alyssa Gardner is the descendant of Alicia Liddell, the girl who inspired and helped Lewis Carroll to write the famous Alice in Wonderland. Of course, the jokes of their high school classmates are not few. But these are not far from Alyssa's worries, since her mother Alison (yes, in her family did not bother much when it comes to thinking about names) is locked in a psychiatric hospital because she says she can talk to insects and flowers. And also does strange things, one of them for example, eat in a cup of tea. 

   Therefore, Alyssa lives with her father, but everything will change when she also starts listening to insects and flowers talking. She fears becoming his mother and ending up locked up like her, so she does not tell her father anything and decides to tell Alison directly. Until finally decides to explore the happy Land of Wonders, but to his surprise, this is not as described by Alice in the story, if not much more dark and with creatures that are worthy of nightmares ... On your trip Alyssa She will not be alone, but her childhood friend, Jeb, will help her complete the different tests to break the curse that Alicia unleashed in her day, thus affecting all her offspring. 

•   Go Go. Being crazy is not so bad, " says tha shadow with two long ears, adding their own giggles to the chorus. we could let him eat us. open your mouth, i'll get inside. i've alwys wanted to see the inside of  stomach.

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 Alyssa seemed to me a strong and brave character, who would do anything for her family and friends. And throughout the book she manages to discover different parts of herself that she did not even know, darker parts that will often make her doubt her true personality.

On the other hand we have Jeb, who is a brave, sweet and affectionate boy, despite having a tough childhood. She loves Alyssa and that's why she does not hesitate to go where she goes.

And of course, I could not forget Morpheus, he is the one who will guide, in his own way, Alyssa and Jeb through the different challenges to end the curse. He is a selfish, cunning and sarcastic boy, he is the character that has caused me the most emotions, going from curiosity, anger, hatred, disappointment, sorrow, appreciation ... And although I love the characters in this story, I stand out and adore everything to Morpheus.

•   · I need to go to the tea party and wake up the guests. Jeb looks at me. -And, how are you going to do it? Giving that crazy hatter a magic kiss? Morpheus holds up his hat and tilts it. -Crackpot? Samuel Hatter's skills are exceptional. No one can make a custom hat like him. And what about a kiss awakening him? You're wrong, Prince Charming. Although, I assure you - Morpheus hits my temple with my thumb - that our dear child will bring us all a happy ending.    

   I fall in love with the way in which the author expresses the difference between the two worlds, the human world and the world of wonders, through the love triangle between Jeb, Alyssa and Morfeo. Jeb represents the sanity, kindness and affection of the human world, while Morpheus represents the madness and passion of the country of wonders.    The idea of ​​the book is very original, we must accept that although the world of wonders was already made by the great Lewis Carroll, A.G. Howard has had a great idea and has also known how to translate it as best as possible.    I have to confess that in principle Whispers seemed a bit normal, but it was the last hundred pages that made me change my mind and fall completely in love with this story. And is that in these last pages, there are several secrets unveiled that make the story of a 180 degree turn and that the reader can not stop reading. If you like Alice in Wonderland, do not even think about it, you have to read this book, since Howard does not use Carroll's name in vain.  

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