Splintered
Book Description
Madness lurks just beneath the surface of the enchanting Wonderland, and for Alyssa Gardner, reality collides with nightmares as she descends into this twisted realm. Haunted by her family's dark legacy and her own fragmented identity, she must navigate a landscape teeming with bizarre creatures and spine-chilling secrets. Each step further into this dangerous adventure pulls her deeper into a battle against an ancient curse, threatening to consume everything she loves. Loyalties are tested, and sacrifice becomes a haunting echo in the shadows. Can Alyssa unravel the mystery before time runs out, or will her own mind betray her?
Quick Summary
"Splintered" by A.G. Howard is a dark, imaginative retelling of Lewis Carroll’s "Alice in Wonderland," centering on Alyssa Gardner, a descendant of Alice Liddell. Inheriting her family's apparent madness, Alyssa struggles with disturbing voices and strange visions, fearing she’ll succumb to the same curse that haunts her mother. When her mother’s condition worsens, Alyssa discovers Wonderland is real—and far more sinister than the stories suggested. Determined to break the family curse, she must navigate Wonderland’s perils, confronting bizarre and dangerous creatures while wrestling with her complex feelings for her best friend, Jeb, and the enigmatic Morpheus. As Wonderland’s secrets are revealed, Alyssa faces personal and literal monsters, risking everything to reclaim her family’s sanity and her own sense of self.
Summary of Key Ideas
Table of Contents
Legacy and the Burden of Madness
Alyssa Gardner has always been haunted by eerie whispers from insects and flowers—a symptom that plagued her ancestors, including her mother, Alison. When Alison’s mental state deteriorates and she is institutionalized, Alyssa fears she too will lose her grasp on reality. As family secrets unravel, Alyssa uncovers evidence linking the madness to the legacy of Alice Liddell, her ancestor who inspired "Alice in Wonderland." Determined to save her mother and herself, Alyssa discovers Wonderland actually exists, and the family’s curse is rooted in this mysterious land’s twisted magic.
Identity and Self-Discovery
Entering Wonderland with her protective but skeptical best friend Jeb, Alyssa quickly learns that the world is darker and more dangerous than the whimsical stories she grew up with. The landscape is filled with grotesque and bewildering creatures, and nothing is quite what it seems. The pair must decipher sinister riddles and survive perplexing trials, encountering allies and foes who force Alyssa to question everything—especially her own identity and the nature of madness.
Twisted Fairy Tale Worlds
Morpheus, a charismatic and seductive figure from Alyssa’s childhood dreams, appears as a crucial guide through Wonderland’s madness. He embodies temptation and the lure of embracing one’s otherness, compelling Alyssa to confront her shadow selves. Torn between her loyalty to Jeb and her inexplicable connection with Morpheus, she is caught between two worlds and two sides of herself. The tangled relationships push Alyssa to realize that embracing her strangeness may be her salvation rather than her doom.
Love, Loyalty, and Sacrifice
As Alyssa delves deeper into Wonderland’s mysteries, she uncovers the truth behind the family curse and the role her choices will play in ridding her lineage of its madness. The cost of breaking the curse requires immense sacrifice; Alyssa must navigate betrayals, craft clever solutions to Wonderland’s illogical challenges, and ultimately decide whom to trust. Through her journey, she discovers the courage to accept her identity, harness her innate power, and rewrite the destiny prescribed by her bloodline.
Facing Inner and Outer Demons
"Splintered" is as much about internal battles as external adventures. Alyssa’s confrontation with Wonderland’s darkness mirrors her fight against the madness threatening her sense of self. The novel explores themes of self-acceptance, the burden of legacy, and the strength found in love and sacrifice. By embracing both her humanity and the Wonderland within her, Alyssa emerges transformed—redefining not just Wonderland, but her own future.