Ensnared

Splintered #3

by A.G. Howard

After surviving a disastrous battle at prom, Alyssa has embraced her madness and gained perspective. She's determined to rescue her two worlds and the people and netherlings she loves. Even if it means challenging Queen Red to a final battle of wills and wiles . . . and even if the only way to Wonderland, now that the rabbit hole is closed, is through the looking-glass world--a parallel dimension filled with mutated and violent netherling outcasts. In the final installment of the wildly popular Splintered trilogy, Alyssa and her dad journey into the heart of magic and mayhem in search of her mom and to set right all that's gone wrong. Together with Jeb and Morpheus, they must salvage Wonderland from the decay and destruction that has ensnared it. But if they succeed and come out alive, can everyone truly have their happily ever after?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Retellings, Magic, Paranormal, Audiobook

420 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 6, 2015

About the author

#1 New York Times and International bestselling Author of gothic / fantasy & paranormal tales, mystical & romantic with a side of horror. A.G.'s dark Alice in Wonderland inspired Splintered series has been published in over a dozen languages.

Young adult, Adult, and literary romance. Repped by Jenny Bent.

How A.G. Howard rates books on GoodReads:

"I only rate or review books I enjoyed reading, and won't give any rating below 4 stars. Please don't consider every high rating a personal endorsement / recommendation from me. My ratings here are subjective to me as an individual.

I don't rate books solely on style. Every writer's voice is individual and unique; I've come to respect this truth during my own personal journey. As long as a story takes me to another place and is well edited, I'm going to give it a good rating. And if, for some reason, a book doesn't entertain me or I don't finish it, I won't leave a rating or review at all.

If you're considering a book I've reviewed/rated, be sure to read other reviews/ratings alongside mine to help you decide if it's a read you might enjoy personally.

Happy book hunting!"

Reviews

[A.G. Howard]

Finished writing it! *blots sweat from brow*

Fair warning: Alyssa is a bit mad in this one. But she needs to be to get things done. Also, some VERY creepy critters and strange landscapes. And the boys? *LE SIGHS* the boys... <3

****COVER UPDATE****

Okay, so the cover is live, and here are my thoughts on it:



Yes, there's a reason Jeb has a sexy harlequin vibe. But I'm not telling... <3

****Excerpt and teasers****

I've posted an excerpt and teaser pictures on the Ensnared pinterest board here: http://www.pinterest.com/splinteredbo...


****ARC NEWS****

8-19-14

I finally got the official word from my publisher regarding ARCs. Info is here on my blog:
http://authoraghoward.blogspot.com/20...


**** Official ARC Update #2 ****

8-28-14

The Ensnared egalleys (available on NetGalley sometime this fall) will only be sample chapters of the book, not the entire ARC. Sorry! I just found this out today.


****Sample Chapters on NetGalley****

9-23-14

First three chaps now available on NetGalley:

https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/sho...


****Release Update****

Ensnared will be hitting shelves one week earlier! It's now scheduled to launch January 6, 2015. :)

****NOVELLA UPDATE!****

2-19-15

I got the green light from my publisher to tell everyone there's a post-Ensnared novella on the horizon!

Details here: https://www.facebook.com/authoraghowa...

Also, if you've finished reading Ensnared and would like to see my thoughts on the ending as the author, here's a post on my blog: http://authoraghoward.blogspot.com/20...

[Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess I should write something about this book, given that I started reading it 5 months ago.

The thing is that, while I started reading it 5 months ago, I got to 95% or so and never bothered to finish it.

I guess that says something about the book.

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread 2022 4.5 Stars

************

Now that the battle was fought on the human side, Alyssa must travel to AnyElsewhere. This is the place she ended up banishing Jeb and Morpheus and she did some other things but you can read about that in the book. Alyssa's father also goes with her after he remembers his part in the story line. And more craziness ensues.

Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!
How I wonder what you're at!
Up above the world you fly,
Like a tea tray in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!
How I wonder what you're at!



When Alyssa and her father find Morpheus and Jeb - things are weird. Jeb is mad of course, when is he not, and things are just too weird. A lot of it has to do with Jeb's painting, that's all I'm saying.

Alyssa has to right her wrongs, fight Red some more and make sure she is the rightful queen. She must save both the human world and now Wonderland from the destruction she caused at Prom.

I enjoyed this book very much. I wasn't expecting that ending at all, but I have read an ending like that before. I was actually very pleased and sad at the way it ended. That sounds funny doesn't it, but that's just the way it is in this crazy world A. G. Howard created. And this book seems to be a little more complex than the other two but they are all good. Oh and Jeb didn't get on my nerves as much in this book, thank goodness!



but who got the happily ever after . . . .

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List

[Natalie Monroe · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Please look at me. I missed you. I was so worried about you."

"Really? Which one of us are you talking to?"

If you recall, I'd caved and read the epilogue for Ensnared first, which led to me punching the wall in anger and spent the rest of the afternoon ranting my poor sister's ear off.

Well, I'm here to tell you I read the rest of it. Aaaand I'm still infuriated.



I just have more leverage.

Ensnared puts forth the conundrum of Al being torn between her human and Netherling sides, more specifically, two hot, perfect guys.

Let's take a look-see at our contestants, shall we?

First up, Jeb

"I'll decide how much she needs to know and when to tell her."

Yes, this dreamy human hunk likes to speak caveman and treat our fretting heroine like a glass figurine. He's such a supporter of women's rights, he decides to win Al's heart by asking her father, instead of her personally, for her hand.

"He was planning to ask you to marry him. Did you know that? He asked me for your hand."

Because he recognizes the ancient law of male ownership over women, he doesn't ask for Daddy's blessing, but his permission.

He is also a master of emotional manipulation. Sensing Al's guilt in kissing Hot Guy #2 and accidentally sending him to Wonderland last book, he strong-arms Al into making a life-magic vow that gives him first dibs on everything. Marriage, virginity, children, oral sex... you name it. If she breaks it, she'll lose her magic and possibly doom Wonderland for all eternity.

Hear that, girls? He wants to be your first or no deal. Don't everybody rush him at once.



In the other corner, we have Morpheus.

"The way he shoves me into the face of danger, forces me to look beyond my fears and reach for my full potential."

This winged Netherling is manipulative, strategic (though Jeb could give him a run for his money!) and smells like tobacco, probably encouraging impressible young tweens everywhere to smoke in hopes it'll land them their dream girl/boy.

No matter what, he'll always put Wonderland first. Unless it comes to his queen, Al, who also happens to be the only one able to save Wonderland! What a coincidink!



Who can forget the lady of the hour, Al!

"In the darkness, beneath the covers, I hug myself tight, surrounded by Jeb's scent and Morpheus's homespun lingerie."

Descendent of the Red Queen, Al is half-human, half-Netherling and gifted with tremendous magic. In her quest to save Wonderland, she will openly toy with both boys' affections, scold herself for being selfish, then keep on doing it anyway!

They are literally two halves of her heart and for some inexplicable reason, she needs men to realize her potential. Jeb championing her human side, Morpheus the Netherling. Because sixteen years of being a human is not enough to sustain the former.



Here are your contestants and here are your Possible endings:

Ending A: Al ends up with Morpheus, Jeb having died in a hole somewhere. Morpheus educates her in the ways of madness, and Al uses her sixteen years of humanity to retain herself.

Ending B: Morpheus dies, and his magic fuses with Jeb, like in Elsewhere (Morpheus couldn't use magic there and channeled it into Jeb, like a vessel). Al helps him control his darker side or he puts on his big-boy pants and does it himself, relying on sixteen years of experience. They smooch and rule side by side in Wonderland.

Ending C: Al punts both boys on their ass and rules Wonderland on her own. (Personally, I'm rooting for this one)

Ending D: Al sacrifices herself for Wonderland. Jeb and Morpheus finally give in to their latent homosexual desire for each other and become the first same-sex reigning couple in Wonderland.

"'How does [Morpheus] know your measurements, huh?'

I frown and drop my arm. 'I could ask the same thing about your boxers. You can't even sew a button onto a shirt.'"

Guess which ending Ensnared went with?

"So, after everyone dies, you'll go to Wonderland and be perpetually sixteen?"

After they defeat Red, both boys accept they have to be constants in Al's life. She lives out her human life with Jeb, prepping with Morpheus by night, and after he kicks the bucket, she rejoins Hot Guy #2 in Wonderland. Youth magically restored, Al is crowned queen and lives happily ever after with Morpheus. How's that for a have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too situation?





Al gets fucking everything—youth, power, both men—and doesn't have to lift a damn finger. Jeb and Morpheus are the ones who had to make hard choices, to compromise, to give up shit.

The book attempts to fool us into thinking Al has to abandon her family and it's all so sad and self-sacrificing. Fuck that. She's a freaking magic queen! She can glamor a disguise and see them whenever she wants. If she's feeling particularly selfish, which isn't hard, she can spirit them to Wonderland and everyone can have Sunday dinner together like one, big happy family.



I awarded it an extra star for the writing world-building, which is glorious.

"One creature is a pale, cone-headed humanoid whose cranium pops open sporadically so she can argue with a smaller version of herself. Next, the smaller version's cranium opens to reveal an even littler likeness. The tiniest one is a male with a large nose. He bonks his female counterparts with a rolling pin before hiding away again."

Shame the characters suck.

My review of Splintered
My review of Unhinged
My review of Untamed

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING: Since this is the final book of a trilogy this review will have slight spoilers for book one and two.

Synopsis

Alyssa is on a mission to not only save Morpheus and Jeb from the twisted looking glass world of AnyElsewhere, but she also needs to save all of Wonderland and her mother. The only way to save everyone will be to embrace the netherling madness within her and defeat Queen Red once and for all. With the help of her father, Alyssa ventures through the looking glass to set things right. But even if she can save everyone and fix the damage done by Queen Red, will she ever truly be able to live happily ever after being torn between the two different sides of herself?

Thoughts

Returning to this series for the final book is bittersweet. It was like curling up with an old favorite, even though I had never read it before. But it was the end, so it was like saying goodbye to a best friend. There’s just something about Anita’s darker take on Wonderland that draws me in and doesn’t let me go. I’m not usually one to get a book hangover, but with this series every book made it difficult to move on. And now we’ve come to the final book.



Even though I hate seeing this series come to an end, I am in love with how this series wraps up. While Alyssa is still torn between her human and netherling sides, she’s definitely more willing to give into her Wonderland side to get things done. She is one kickass heroine. My love for Morpheus once again knows no bounds, manipulative bastard that he is, and even Jeb has some redeeming qualities. I’m not usually one for love triangles, but this one…



While the love triangle does play an integral part in the story, there is SO much more. AnyElsewhere is a whole different kind of twisted than Wonderland. There are plenty of more fantastical creatures to be seen, adventures to be had, and outcomes to be manipulated.

I picked up Splintered way back in 2013 when I was in search for a stand alone, but I’m so glad that we were given a deeper look into the mad and wonderfully twisted worlds of Wonderland and AnyElsewhere. I can’t recall ever giving all the books in a series 5 stars, but this one was a perfect fit for me. I foresee myself revisiting many times in the future and look forward to, hopefully, many more books from Anita.



Me before the book published: It's going to be a trilogy?!



I cannot contain my excitment!



B-But I have to wait till 2015?

[Booknut 101 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review to come! A truly amazing finish to the series :)

Update: 28/9/14 - Ensnared Chapter Snippet

'"Worst case, you're driven to madness. Are you willing to risk losing so much?"

"I've already lost everything and I've already gone mad." I meet his bulbous gaze. "Need a demonstration?"'

A whole new Alyssa is ready to take on Red & she's not backing down.

Fans of A.G. Howard's brilliant Splintered series - get ready to fall in love with the new, darker and far edgier Alyssa that has come out to play!

The first three chapters included in the teaser draw readers straight back into the world of Splintered, as Alyssa and her father find themselves having to work together. A most unlikely team, to be true!

Prepare yourself for intriguing memories, talking beetles, dolls, and butterfly rides, as Ensnared's magic takes flight in this sneak-peek that is sure to leave you wanting more.

This teaser is most definitely a promising start to what is sure to be a true gem of a book!

'The first pixie was right. I'm the epitome of Alice. A nightmare Alice. An Alice gone mad, who thirsts for blood. When I find Queen Red, she'll beg me to stop at her head.'

Pre-read Review:

Ensnared = more Morpheus + more Jeb = more agony over who to choose. The solution?

[Teresa Mary Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Reviews Here: Readers Live A Thousand Lives

I was wary going into Ensnared. I have absolutely loved this series but Ensnared got some very very mixed reviews, so I didn’t know what side of the fence I was going to fall on. That’s probably part of the reason I didn’t read it immediately; I think I needed to distance myself from all of the talk. I’m glad I waited to read this one because I ended up enjoying it a lot. Ensnared wasn’t my favorite of the series but I did think it was a great read and a solid conclusion.

I really love Alyssa as a heroine. I love how strong she is and that she is so determined. She has finally come to terms with both sides of herself and acknowledges that she can love both of those sides and embrace them. She isn’t one to sit on the sidelines. She is always right in the middle of the action and is usually the strongest player in the game.

Then there is Jeb and Morpheus and I’ve always said this is one of my very favorite love triangles. I genuinely like both guys even when they each have their moments. It’s no secret I’m 100% Team Morpheus because I prefer him, but I don’t and can’t hate Jeb. It’s clear that they both love Alyssa and it’s clear that she loves them both. It really is an agonizing choice and neither choice is wrong. Jeb brings out her humanity and compassion while Morpheus pushes and challenges her to be the best she can. My heart was breaking right alongside Alyssa in this one. I will forever contend though that Morpheus understood Alyssa in a way nobody else could and respected her and knew she was strong.

Once again I loved the world A.G. Howard has created. Anyelsewhere is creepy and demented and crazy. And of course I adore this version of Wonderland. The world building is just fantastic.

All in all, I really enjoyed Ensnared and I’m happy with the way everything wrapped up. This series remains one of my favorites and I look forward to revisiting it again one day.

[Lauren Skyeyes]

I just finished "Unhinged" and I can't wait for "Unsnared"! I also can't wait to see the cover for this one. (TEAM MORPHEUS)

[Natalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm still not anywhere near to writing a proper review for this book. It's been 5 months now and I'm still a mess of emotions. I swear, I've developed a split personality disorder with the ending we got. Someone compared this feeling to a vortex in their review, and I couldn't agree more. I feel like I'll be forever swimming in this vortex.

On some days I'd feel *almost* okay about stuff, thanks to a few people who basically glued me back together again. I won't say the names, but you know who you are. Thank you all for your eternal patience. (@Nessy, I know you are reading this, and if you are wondering, yes, you are one of those people. I mean, you dedicated your whole review to me, so I had to let you know. :P)

If I squint out of the corner of my eye, the ending almost makes sense to the story. Almost. If you don't think too much about how it all really went on and the implications. Yes, if I try hard enough, I can find excuses and reasons for almost anything. I invented a whole lot of explanations why I supposedly understand this, and maybe I'll write them down here some day, so you guys see how a tired mind can justify anything, just to stop hurting, just so I could move on to happier thoughts.

But every once in a while I would see someone's update, or read a review that resonated too deeply with my own feelings, and I would understand how flimsy the peace I made with the ending is. I don't know what it would take to get over all this. Read Untamed, maybe?

***

I have trouble dealing with the resolution of this series.
But I'm sure most people will like how it ended, so don't let my personal feelings discourage you. It was poignant and beautiful and funny and painful at the same time.

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why? Tell me, why do authors do that?
The conclusion could have been splendid, the author could have done something extra-ordinary, but no, what did she do instead?
Focused on Alyssa's boy-problem.

Why my rating is so low (minor spoilers ahead)
1. The lack of character-development. Because yes, even in the final book there should be one, I think. What I got instead was Alyssa struggling with her feelings for the boys because her heart "tugged her in both ways", what I got instead was Jeb and his "everything is my fault" attitude that I have already read about in both the first and the second book, what I got instead were poorly executed secondary characters, like Alyssa's dad.
Alyssa was not only not a queen, she was a hesitating weakling, in every possible sense, totally indecisive and whiny.
The only character who developed, at least a bit, was Morpheus, but I had expected that to be honest. In this one he was the only round and well-executed character who appeared to be in his place, unlike the others.

2. Lack of plot, or plot being too slow for the final book. Again, the reason was the author's focus on the love-triangle and Alyssa's indecisiveness. Thanks to that she did nothing in this book. There were endless, "emotional" dialogues between her and one of the boys, there was her anxiety and fear about hurting either of them, but no freaking plot.
In she end all the work was done by Morpheus, Alyssa reminded me on a paperdoll she had compared herself with.
I had expected at least some kind of battle, but not a poorly described resolution where Alyssa did next to nothing and let the boys figure it out. The first 70% of the book there was Alyssa claiming how she would defeat Red and what happened? As aforementioned - nothing.

3. World-building? AnyElsewhere was something I wanted to be described. Instead, thanks to Alyssa letting everyone dictate her what to do and barely leaving one of the places at all I got next to nothing about the world. And it's a pity because I am sure if the author had chosen a different focus the book would have been amazing. In this one there was too little world-building. Some short descriptions here and there, one or two sentences in between Alyssa's whining and then a bit in the end. Oh, and just so you know, there was next to no Wonderland in this book too. Whole parts, which I think should have been discussed were just left out because the love triangle was more important. Right?



4. The love-triangle. Basically, the author decided to go the easy way. The resolution was so...shallow. And despite the fact that I should be pleased, the way everything was executed left nothing but a sour aftertaste.

There was no depth in this book. None. Sorry, I am not sorry at all.
Alyssa was a horrible MC, a typical damsel in distress, not that I have a problem with them, sometimes such characters are very interesting, but in her case it was annoying.
The resolution was...too simple, too easy, too short.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first fifty or so pages of Ensnared, the conclusion to A.G. Howard’s Splintered trilogy, are a solid adventure story as Alyssa and her father search for an entrance to Wonderland and the adjoining dark realm of AnyElsewhere, where evil Queen Red dragged Morpheus, Allison, and Jeb at the end of Unhinged.

We’re learning all kinds of stuff about Alyssa’s dad, who had no memories of life before Pleasance, TX, until recently, and whose whole identity was assigned by Allison years ago. His name is really David Skeffington (arguably the most English name ever), not Thomas Gardner, and he’s not only English, but part of a knightly bloodline sworn to protect the gates between the worlds.

This is a lot of information to digest, but it’s so exciting that I scarcely cared. The parents in YA books are overwhelmingly useless , and I LOVE how Howard has made not just one of the MC’s parents empowered and central to the plot, but both.

When they reach AnyElsewhere they meet up with Morpheus to save Wonderland—

And then Jeb happened. *sad trombone*

Content Advisory
Violence: Lots of surreal violence—human vs. humanoid, human vs. monster, two souls fighting each other for control of a single body. A lot of this also goes under Nightmare Fuel.

Sex: A LOT of goofy make-out scenes. The Morpheus/Alyssa ones were bearable. The Jeb/Al ones, on the other hand, were devoid of spark and frankly abhorrent. Also they were in their undergarments one time for no reason. This shows how desperate Howard was to sell us Jeb-as-love-interest—Jeb in his boxers is meh, Morpheus in a full three-piece suit can start a forest fire just by blinking. Not recommended for the under 14 crowd. The Y in YA stands for young, people.

As always, Morpheus makes innuendos. They’re about as raunchy as those of Hawkeye Pierce on M*A*S*H, a phrase which here means “not all that raunchy.” Also, he hears Alyssa complaining about her ugly asylum issue undergarments, sews her some pretty silk lingerie, and leaves it on her pillow. It’s sweet that he paid so much attention to her wants, and I applaud his craftiness—nothing manlier than a guy who’s not afraid to sew, cook, or do other “chick” things—but dude, you’re not even dating yet. That’s kind of creepy.

At one point everyone’s outer clothes get destroyed and Jeb has to paint them on. A dumb excuse for showing skin and Jeb being “useful.”

Language: Morpheus’ favorite word, after “luv,” is still “bloody.”

Substance Abuse: I got nothin’.

Nightmare Fuel: 80% of the book is this. Jeb created an evil doppelganger who has gaping holes in his body and wants to kill everyone. Morpheus almost gets dismembered and eaten by gorilla-kingfisher mutants. There are land-dwelling flying piranhas that eat people and animals alive. A guy gets his eyes gauged out and tongue chopped off (not shown). Both Red and Hart possess Alyssa’s body like demons at one point. Since the Queen of Hearts is a character here, decapitation is a constant threat for all. And I’m sure I’m forgetting stuff.

Yeah, don’t read this book late at night.

The Problem of Jeb
Howard’s world-building is a beautiful, earnest tribute to Carroll while being innovative and rich in its own right. She cleverly references her source material and other works. Alyssa and her parents can be (and usually are) pig-headed idiots, but our heroine is somewhat developed, and the parents defy expectations. Morpheus is a magnificent anti-hero on par with Erik the Opera Ghost, Howl Jenkins, Jareth the Goblin King, Eugenides, Han Solo and his son Ben.

But Jeb…Jeb is a black hole where a character should be. He’s a splicing of Anakin Skywalker and Frank Burns, and just as charming as that implies.





Remove the make-out scenes and Jeb spends two books tagging along and getting captured. Nothing that a younger sibling or younger sibling-like character couldn’t do. He could be Toby from Labyrinth or Wentworth from The Wee Free Men. Jeb does some nice things in this last book, but they’re way out of character (as my friend Nicki pointed out in her review) and far too late. His back-story is sad, but he’s so obnoxious that I don’t care. He will never be one-quarter the man that Morpheus is.

But not only does Howard apparently want us to like Jeb, she forces Alyssa’s parents to love Jeb, even though he has done nothing to earn their love, and hate and mistrust Morpheus, even though he has done nothing but help them for years, putting up with all manner of abuse in the meanwhile. Alyssa, at least, is seventeen and has an excuse to be stupid.

This love triangle could even work if Jeb were a consistent character and contrasted in a meaningful way with Morpheus. Let’s look at The Phantom of the Opera. Christine Daeë, our heroine, is about the same age as Alyssa and just as confused. She has two suitors: one is Erik Destler(?), the dangerous magician who (in the Lloyd-Webber version at least) loves her for her talent as well as her beauty, and empathizes with her because she’s almost as isolated as he is. The other is Raoul de Chagny, the wealthy and sanguine youth who likes Christine’s pretty face, has been comfortable and popular his whole life, is kind of shallow, and is just the sort of boy that parents approve of.

While most readers/viewers wanted Christine to pick Erik, it makes sense that she would cling to Raoul. She’s just a kid and he’s safe. Erik is much better suited for her, but he means adulthood in all its aspects—power, responsibility, sexuality, moral ambiguity, and ultimately death. Raoul, being made of sunshine and cinnamon and frolicking puppies, represents a postponement of all that. Granted, Erik kind of shot himself in the foot. He had a real knack for impulsively strangling folks and dropping chandeliers and getting angry mobs after him.

Christine herself represents feminine energy, resurrection, redemption, and the promise of new life.

In Splintered, we have our embodiment of Scary Adult Things in Morpheus, who, like Erik, is a literary descendant of Hades. We have our Creative Potential/Fertility/Death and Resurrection/Redemptrix figure in Alyssa, who like Christine, is a modernized Persephone. And Jeb has no place in the archetype because he’s not like Raoul. He’s not wholesome, cheery or sweet, and the last thing on his mind is guarding Alyssa’s innocence.

So there’s no reason for him to be here. He should either have a)replaced with a wholesome boy, b) been demoted to kid brother/platonic friend, or c) written out altogether.

The Ivory Gate
In the Aeneid, Virgil claims that there are two exits from the Underworld:

There are two gates of Sleep, one said to be
Of horn, whereby the true shades pass with ease,
The other all white ivory agleam
Without a flaw, and yet false dreams are sent
Through this one by the ghosts to the upper world.
Anchises now, his last instructions given,
Took [Aeneas] and [the] Sibyl there and let them go
By the Ivory Gate.

~ The Aeneid , Book VI, verses 1212 – 1218 (Robert Fitzgerald translation)



This passage stood out to me when I read the poem for English class. Further research brought up many different interpretations. Some scholars argue that it only refers to what time of day Aeneas reemerged. Others speculate that it’s an early example of metafiction—or it signifies that everything Aeneas does from Book VII onward is somehow…false. Like he and the Sibyl reemerged in a parallel universe, a dream very like reality but not exactly right. It would explain why the poem becomes 50% more surreal after this point, events moving with dreamlike speed and personalities changing like nightmares.

One of my teachers theorized that Virgil didn’t really believe Aeneas was a hero, and that this passage was the first clue. If he were really a good guy, my teacher argued, he would have been able to pass by the Horn Gate. As it is, he and the Sibyl had to reenter the living world as lies, as fictions of themselves. The teacher felt that the end of the poem, where Aeneas abandons his principles and stabs an enemy begging for mercy, proved that this Aeneas is not the same Aeneas who entered the Land of the Dead.

Long before Alice fell down a hole and found a strange world below, Persephone did. I discussed earlier how Morpheus and Alyssa are a variation on Hades and Persephone—he rules an underground realm and can be invisible/a moth when he wishes, she enters his domain and lives to tell about it and also has a connection with plants. Jeb, according to this scheme, is the mortal Pirithous, who in his hubris thought he could carry off Persephone. (Persephone was a lot smarter than Alyssa and paid him no mind).

But the mythical stuff goes further than that. The first 50 or so pages of this very book are all about gates between the real world and various topsy-turvy-lands…the sort of places one could only access by, say, an ivory gate. And there is even a character named Ivory here. Also, like Aeneas, Alyssa is granted a vision of her descendants. It motivated Aeneas to find Lavinia and bring Silvius into the world, but Alyssa is happy to put her Child of Destiny with Morpheus on hold until she’s produced an unnecessary family with Jeb. Morpheus is both Hades and Lavinia (a zany combination of mythological figures if ever there was one), Alyssa is Persephone/Aeneas, and that makes Jeb not just Pirithous but Dido. Let him GO, Al.

Earlier I was complaining that Jeb really drags this series down, and would need to either not exist at all or be a very different character in order not to. But even his continued, obnoxious, unchanged existence I could tolerate if only it had ended differently.

Because Alyssa rashly makes an unbreakable magic vow to Jeb that he will be her first husband, and she will return to Texas as soon as possible to grow old at his side. Everything her real country needs from her—such as her being Queen and bringing them an heir with both human and Netherling powers—can wait fifty or sixty years. How very selfless of her.



From here on out, the characters sally forth from the Ivory Gate, for this is not where the story’s supposed to go. To be a hero, Alyssa would have to grow up and put aside childish things. Jeb, for all his forced sexual energy, is a childish thing as far as Al’s concerned. She’s known him as long as she can remember, and now she’s being called to rule a world that he can’t even survive long in. She has to release him. Either that or make the wrong choice, go back with him and her parents and forget Morpheus and Wonderland.

This is not an attack on Howard. Plenty of wonderful authors have done this—Jane Austen, L.M. Montgomery, J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan among them. Austen forced the character Henry Crawford to commit an over-the-top act of immorality just when he was starting to redeem himself, her logic being that she didn’t want Mansfield Park to be a repeat of Pride and Prejudice (Jane’s sister Cassandra was displeased with this development). Montgomery destroyed the character of Dean Priest because he was based on her husband, and she wanted to pair the autobiographical Emily Starr off with Teddy Kent, a.k.a. “the one who got away.” Rowling started out intending to redeem Draco Malfoy, even making him a valued friend to Harry and Hermione’s love interest, but scrapped this because children needed to learn that people can’t change and forgiveness is for losers or something. Riordan set up a love triangle between Luke Castellan, Annabeth Chase, and Percy Jackson, which he solved by forcing Annabeth to friendzone Luke while he died in her arms. Boo.

Let me clarify: the way the story should go ≠ the way I personally want it to go. I didn’t want Frodo and the Elves to leave Middle-earth at the end of The Return of the King , and I certainly didn’t want Beth to die in Little Women . But every good story has loss…

This is a Gift, It Comes with a Price
*hat tip to Florence + the Machine*



When Alyssa saw her future son in Unhinged, I immediately thought of the scene in the film version of The Return of the King where Arwen sees her future son and decides to stay in Middle-earth. Staying meant that she’d never see her family again this side of the far green country. Aragorn would age and die, but she would not. Her children would also age and die, and she would linger as some kind of shade, only dying after many long years.



Some might argue that Alyssa makes the same choice as Arwen, but Alyssa actually makes the opposite choice. Arwen’s was a sacrifice. She got to stay with her beloved Aragorn, but at the cost of her immortality and her entire people. She gave up the familiar and comforting to stay in a changing world hemorrhaging of magic, and help her husband and friends keep it in order. She became deeply acquainted with grief.



Alyssa, on the other hand, gets to have a perfect human life with Jeb (*gags*), then as soon as he dies she hops back down the Rabbit Hole, becomes sixteen years old again, and becomes Morpheus’ merry queen forever more. This was dumb in The Hero and the Crown , too, but at least Aerin made sacrifices and felt obligated to marry Tor for the sake of Damar. Also Tor wasn't a jerk.

A quickie list of Other Fantasy Characters Who Sacrificed Things Because That’s How Fantasy Works:

• In addition to Arwen, nearly every major character in LOTR gives things up. Frodo loses a finger, goes home traumatized, and eventually has to leave Middle-earth. Galadriel and Gandalf refuse the One Ring, lose the power in their own rings, and sail away with Frodo after becoming obsolete. Elrond gives up not just his ring and his kingdom, but his daughter. Faramir cedes the throne of Gondor to Aragorn. Everyone is willing to die so Frodo and Sam can accomplish their mission, which those two know they will not return from.

• Luke Skywalker defeats the Empire and redeems his father, only for his father to promptly die on him. By then he has also lost both his mentors, the aunt and uncle who raised him, and his hand.

• Another member of the One-Handed Hero Club is Eugenides of Eddis, who sacrificed his right hand, his health and his family to wed his beloved Irene and unite his home peninsula against invaders.

• Yet another member of the OHHC is Lirael of the Clayr, who defeats an existential threat to the universe but loses her hand and her guardian angel doggy.

• Alanna of Trebond saves her kingdom from an evil usurper, but loses her twin brother, one of her boyfriends, and her guardian angel kitty.

Interestingly, the two young men in Ensnared sacrifice a great deal. Morpheus has always relied on his magic. For the bulk of this book, he is stripped of his powers and has to rely on the person he hates most for survival. Jeb’s willingness to surrender is way out of character, but credit where credit is due. He also knows what his wife will do when he dies and marries her anyway.

But Alyssa gets everything on her own terms. She wanted both, both boys, both lives, and she got them. She’s not a hero like Arwen, Frodo, Luke, etc. She didn’t learn a blessed thing. This beautifully-written series could have closed with a powerful message about coming of age. Instead it goes out with the whimper of teenage wish fulfillment. What a missed opportunity.

[shady boots · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well. Umm....

Okay, let's-- .... Hmm. This is gonna be the lengthiest review I've written in a loooooong time.

Man, you guys should see me right now. The top of my head is probably churning out smoke at this very moment due to me trying so hard to find the right words to say. Because in all honesty, I just do not know how I really feel about how this series wrapped up.

I guess judging from the rating you guys can already tell that I wasn't as happy as I'd hoped to be with it, considering I gave both of the previous books 5 glowing stars. I was so excited for this book, and I really really wanted something epic, something life-changing, something that messed with my feels, even. But the story just got a little more convoluted and hard to follow for me, the third act was waaay too anti-climactic, and the love triangle became a bit too much to handle.

It's hard for me to figure out if Alyssa is selfish in that she wants both guys for herself, or she's selfless because she wants to make both of them happy. Perhaps it's a combination of the two, I dunno. But I just couldn't help myself from cringing every time Alyssa had intimate moments with one of them, only to have another one with the other a few chapters later. It just felt wrong.

I'm just never comfortable with love triangles where the girl actually loves both of the guys. Usually there's always one guy that's clearly going to be the obvious choice. I'd thought that that was going to be the case; that Jeb was the good guy and Morph was the asshole. But each guy ended up having pros and cons of their own, and they eventually even got me being all indecisive. I didn't fall in love with either of them, of course, but I also couldn't figure out which guy I liked better than the other. I'm pretty sure the author intended this, though; to make the choice really really difficult.

So was I surprised when there ended up being no choosing and Alyssa got to be with both of them in the end? No. I kind of knew that was going to be the outcome, deep down. It just personally unsettled me, the whole thing. I don't know what it is exactly, but I felt uncomfortable during the entire last chapter and epilogue. Really uncomfortable.

That's not to say I didn't enjoy the book. I did like that, in this series, both Alyssa's parents got their own stories fleshed out. While Unhinged gave us info about her mother, Ensnared explores the history of her father even more, and they each have a part to play in the story, which is a really great thing in YA, because parents are usually just cardboard cut-outs in the background, or some force of authority that the main character hates. I liked their overall inclusion. And of course, to write an Alice retelling you have to have an insane amount of imagination in your noggin, and I must say that A.G. Howard has just that, and then some. The imagery and overall aesthetic of this entire world she's created was wonderfully twisted and out of the box, as an Alice adaptation should be.

Still, that doesn't change the fact that this series does focus on the love interests a little too much, and Alyssa's indecisiveness on who she should pick, because each guy held a part of her heart. The romance seemed to have too much weight to it, to the point where it was pretty much 80% of the story. I needed more than that. I wanted to be more connected to Alyssa, as a character, but all she concerned herself with was which guy to choose a lot of the time. It got me to once again question if all she cared about was her love life or if she really and truly cared for the well-being of Wonderland. I can't tell if she's selfish or selfless.

So.... yeah, I can't think of anything else to say. Sure, I'm disappointed that the series didn't end the way I wished it did, but welp. No, actually, scratch that; I didn't really wish that the series would end in any particular way. I guess I was just hoping that it wouldn't have been the finale I ended up getting. Regardless, I'm sure the ending will be pleasing to a lot of the fans who have their panties catch fire over Jeb and Morpheus. But to me, that's the whole problem, that the author decided to try pleasing everyone.

I dunno, you guys. :/ I'm still stumped. Maybe some of you can share your opinions too, help me get a better grasp on this? I just feel all weird finishing this. I can't explain it.

[Nereyda (Nick & Nereyda's Infinite Booklist) · Rating 1 out of 5]

*SPOILERS WILL BE HIDDEN* I was… pissed when I finished listening to the audiobook of this last week. I vented and ranted to a few of my friends hoping that would make me feel better, but even now, every time I think of this book I get in a bad mood. I really liked books one and two and I was so excited, and nervous for the final book. Final books are always scary. Final books involving a trilogy? Terrifying! Knowing that there is a good chance your Team might not win at the end? Devastating! I know what you must be thinking. I’ve always been Team Jeb, so if I hated the ending then Morpheus must have won. But no, that’s not it at all! I kind of wish it were as simple as that…

I was annoyed by this story as a whole, not just the ending. We have the love triangle, which of course means that some back and forth between the MC and the two guys competing for her heart is expected. I was not a fan of the way this was pulled off in this case. I understand being indecisive. I understand being attracted to both Jeb and Morpheus. Hell, I understand that she might have feelings for both guys (although I don’t believe that you can truly love two people. Feelings, yes. Love, no) But we have the same back and forth with Alyssa and Jeb and Morpheus that we had in the last book. She loves Jeb, yada yada. But she has a past with Morpheus, yada yada. She wants to be with Jeb, yada yada. But she also wants to be with Morpheus, yada yada. But how can she betray Wonderland? How can she betray the prophecy that will save Wonderland?

The world, like always, is pretty freaking awesome! It’s so vivid and imaginative and I really would love to see pictures or sketches or something of just exactly what the author had in mind. We aren’t in Wonderland anymore, so things are a bit different and darker than they were the last time around. Jeb is… different (not bad different). Morpheus is still pretty much the same ol’ guy that he’s been in the last books. I really can’t say much more without giving out big spoilers, but the world is still as fantastic as it was in the previous books. Too bad it was boggled down by Alyssa’s dilemma: Jeb or Morpheus? The human world or Wonderland?

*MAJOR SPOILERS AND RANTING AHEAD! DON’T CLICK UNLESS YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END/WHO SHE ENDS UP WITH* I’m really not a fan (at all!) of how a love triangle in books is basically a free pass for the MC to mess around with two guys feelings. I’m especially not a fan when the MC kisses one guy while she’s with the other guy, but it’s supposed to be okay because it’s a love triangle. Or it’s supposed to be okay because she has history with the other guy. Alyssa got on my nerves so bad in this book! When she and Jeb find a way to forgive each other and work things out, she agrees to marry him and spend the rest of her life with him. But later on, while she is still engaged to Jeb, she lets Morpheus kiss her (more than just a simple or quick kiss). WTF! She doesn’t even try to push him away or anything. And when she tells him that she is marrying Jeb, he still doesn’t care (or her because she lets him). Alyssa ends up telling both guys that she loves them both and wants to be with both of them. And they are okay with it! You know, because they love her so much. Who would ever be okay with this in real life (except swingers)??? Their solution? Alyssa spends her human life with Jeb. They get married, have kids, grow old together and live a long and happy life. When he dies, she goes back to Wonderland. Morpheus of course, gives her ‘time to grieve’ before turning her back to her 17-year-old self and they live the rest of their immortal lives in Wonderland and end up saving it with their prophecy child. Sorry, but that is such a fucking cop-out! I’m not anti-love triangle, but I do want them to be executed right (they rarely are). If you’re gonna write a love triangle, you have to expect that one side of your readers won’t be happy with who the MC ends up with. Please don’t try to please both sides by somehow trying to find a bullshit loop-hole that technically allows both sides to be happy. It’s insulting to us readers and is basically the equivalent of giving a baby a pacifier. Honestly, I would have preferred if Alyssa would have just decided she loved Morpheus more and ended up staying with him. I would have been sad for Jeb, but oh well. Sometimes your Team just doesn’t win at the end. So yeah, that’s not even close to all the rants I had with this book, but I’ll just leave it at that. If you’re Team Morpheus, who will probably still like this book, because she ends up with him at the end. If you’re Team Jeb, you might like it because she technically picked him to spend her (human) life. Or you could just be annoyed like me by the cop-out ending…

Don’t let my rating/review scare you off. You could very well still end up loving this book, doesn’t really matter if you are Team Jeb or Team Morpheus. I just couldn’t get over my disappointment of the story or Alyssa to find it in me to care…

Audiobook Comments: It’s a shame that I hated the book because Rebecca Gibel is truly fantastic! I’ve listened to the previous books on audio (also narrated by her) and knew this was the only way for me to end the series. I can’t imagine anyone else narrating these books at the level of perfection that Gibel reached. Every single minor character has its own unique voice. I love when I can already tell which character is talking, just by the different tone the narrator uses. I love her Jeb voice, she nailed Morpheus’s voice and the Wonderland creatures were truly creepy. A fabulous performance!

***
Read full review & more of my reviews at Mostly YA Book Obsessed


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Ensnared by nereyda1003

***
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[Hailey (Hailey in Bookland) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75*
I had pretty high expectations for this book but honestly I was a tad bit disappointed. Video review to come.

[Melissa Baez · Rating 2 out of 5]

♥{Ever So Mela}♥{Bloglovin}♥{Facebook}♥{Google+}♥

Splintered Review
Unhinged Review

Do you hear that sound? That gut wrenching shattering noise?

Well, that would be the sound of my heart breaking. The sound of my love for this series withering. The sound of death and unfulfilled dreams. The sound of darkness and gloom. Shadows and sorrow. Misery and grief.

I would have so made it as an actor.

Ok, lets get real.


This was not what I wanted. This was not how it was supposed to end. Hell NO!

"You can not read a book about Wonderland and fall for the mundane."

A very smart friend said that and I cannot agree more. This has basically been my rant for the entire series and I will keep ranting about it every time these books are mentioned.


Funny thing is, I mentally prepared myself to go into this unbiased. I didn't want to choose sides because that is-more often than not- the start of my hatred for a series. The Grisha Trilogy. So here I go in, thinking "I can do this. I can get over Morpheus". At least that was what I keep telling myself. But you know that little voice inside your head? The one that tells you to shut the hell up when you start spouting shit?
Well, that little sucker was on full blast.

Morpheus appears and all shit spouting ended! I can't help it. He is the reason we all read this. He's the character who makes the series. And then he starts to make us swoon and all I could think was ways the author could kill off Jeb.

But back to that in a sec.

As for the plot, I'm not the biggest fan. Even though the triangle is important for the story, for Wonderland depends on it, THAT IS NO REASON FOR THIS TO BE CENTERED ON IT! The triangle overshadows everything that resembles a plot. As for the hints of plot we do get in the story, it's excruciatingly slow. Turtle paced, slow motion slow. As for the scenery, it's not that bad. I mean, it's no Wonderland but at least it isn't the mortal realm again.

Then we have...
The characters:
First let's us start off with the bane of my existence, aka
JEB and his everlasting woe is me, spending the majority of the story being a standoff-ish ass.

He is the most whiny self-centered prick in all existence. THE WORLD DOES NO REVOLVE AROUND YOU JEB!

He should have done us all a favor and jumped off a cliff. Or run into a sword. Or skateboarded into a bus. Or jump into shark infested water, or better piranhas. Or... You get my drift.
This guy is condescending, and sexist with his inability to see Alyssa as a strong female who can take care of herself. She's a Queen, you irrelevant waste of human space!

I feel he cripples the magnificence she could be if she were to choose to be full netherling.


Then there's ALYSSA and her inability to make a Goddamned choice!

You remember that strong female lead in the first book that happened to make a disappearance in the second one?
Well, let me just tell you, she's still in the missing person's ad. NOWHERE TO BE FOUND

Then there's all her talking a big game and what does she do? Jack shit!. I found her weak and indecisive. I mean, she's supposed to be The Queen of Wonderland and she just came across as some lovesick teenager. And yes, you don't have to tell me, I know she's in her teens but all she thought about was Jeb this and Morpheus that and gave little thought to Wonderland. It really made me question her a character. And no excuse, I wasn't that dimwitted as a teen. Maybe only a smudge.


And finally we have glory and deprecation, sunlight and shadows. The reason we all come back. MORPHEUS

First off


I wholeheartedly feel he's what brings uniqueness to Wonderland and therefore, this series. He's that special oomph a lot of books need and never find. He's complex and layered. And I feel he always stays true to this character. He's still manipulative and cunning but that is what draws me. Like moths to a flame<<< See what I did there? ;)
Secondly, I don't think I've swoon so hard like this since Warner. And man did I swoon with Warner. But Morpheus? He is another level on his own. The things he said? Seriously he had me pausing and kissing the pages. Yes I kiss my pages, they need love ya know?

So my main problem-yes, besides the sheer existence of Jeb- was that ending. I felt cheated. Robbed. It was rushed, ALL THREE PAGES OF IT.

I remember praying, because yes I even pray for good endings, that we would be graced with an epilogue. You know, a pretty little bow that ties everything neatly together. You know what they say...

Dude knows what he's talking about :P
I can't even bring myself to say I'm surprised. This is exactly what a friend and I were talking about when we read Unhinged. But... I don't know...Sometimes it sucks to be right.

So in the end, it's not as horrible as I might paint it. Maybe if I hadn't gone and picked teams I would have left fascinated. But where's the fun in that?

I expected to be blown away but not even a gust of wind came my way :(

[Yassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As long as Ivory's vision is fulfilled, I won't care about anything else! lol Well duh, what's the point of saving Wonderland if the vision won't come true?!!! T^T

[Angela]

Feeling conflicted because of the cover...

[A.M. Supinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m blessed to have read an early draft of ENSNARED. There’s no better gift, so thank you to the moon and back, Tooth Fairy!

Anita wrote an escapist's dream series. The SPLINTERED series is fantasy—wildly beautiful fantasy—but don’t assume that the books lack depth because they’re madly twisted. The characters make tragic, crazy, and sometimes even wise choices. The flaws make the characters, in my opinion, just as much as the triumphs.
But Anita's ability to stay true to her story is what leaves her mark upon readers.
I won't spoil the story or let slip the deets on whether #JebJunkies or #MothMinions will rejoice, but I will tell you this: Alyssa's choices in ENSNARED showcase how much her character has grown throughout the series…
This final novel doesn’t have a perfectly-tied bow atop a classic fairy-tale ending; fitting inside a pristinely wrapped box just wouldn’t suit Al, as we all know. Instead, she took her fate in her own hands, and I think most fans will delight in where she ended the story.
I know I did.

Oh, and Mothy is as hawt as ever

[Hannah (The Curiouser & Curiouser) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Updated: 3/21/2015

Rating: 5 (bloody brilliant) stars.



Bloody brilliant, I’ll say.

Now, I realize this book has become a hot topic in a hate/love war. I get it. I do. And after reading the book, I understand the angst, anger, and everything in-between.

But let me say this, because I realize that I won’t be able to write this review without possibly seriously offending some people and/or making them question my morals in life: I just don’t really care.



Feel free to disagree with me. (I’m being completely serious.) That’s totally fine, but I’m just giving ya’ll the heads up: this is a very, very positive review.

I’m going to write this spoiler free, BTW. Just so you know and aren’t scared of being COMPLETELY RUINED TO THE ENDING OF THIS TRILOGY.

(*clears throat*)

Sorry. As you can probably guess, this is what happened to me before I even got my hands on the book.

Which might have had something to do with how I’m handling the ending now, since I’ve just finished it. Had I not been spoiled, maybe I’d be reacting differently.

When I first learned of the ending (again, I strongly encourage you NOT to be spoiled, however tempting it may be) I didn’t really know what to think. I knew right then the ending was going to be one of the best things to ever happen or one of the worst and will completely ruin the series for me.

But, alas, I find I’m very happy with how it all ended.

  As if waiting for that signal, he releases my hands, cups my face, and whispers in my ear. “My precious Alyssa, share reality with me. Give me forever. We will wreak such beautiful havoc together.”

Am I still a little confused? Sure, a little. But also, I get why Alyssa made the decision that she did. I really do and my opinion of her has changed because of it. I don’t see her as being selfish, but I do understand why so many readers now see her that way.

The ending is very, very unique, and, honestly, one heck of a gutsy move. I can only think of one other book that had a very similar ending, and just as I did not have a problem with it then, I do not have a problem with it here.

What I think is this: the decisions Alyssa makes in this final novel weren’t made alone. Jeb and Morpheus were right there next to her and gave her their blessing. Not because they were tricked into it, not because they didn’t understand everything they were agreeing to. They saw their options, and all three of them of them understood and were okay with their choice.

I’m a huge Alice in Wonderland fan (read: obviously). If you didn’t know that about me, you really should. (Again, how is this not obvious?)

So I don’t say I’m happy with how this series ended lightly. Alice is one of my favorite childhood characters and if an author ever tries to do a retelling of it and fails, I have no mercy. None. I will rip that book apart with my teeth.

  “Jebediah has given up on you, but I never will. I can offer you the security you desire. If you’ll but be mine, your heart will forever be sheltered in my care. Yes, we will quarrel incessantly and fight for dominance. And yes, there will be ravishes of passion, but there will also be gentle lulls. That is who we are together. You’ll never need fear that your love is not reciprocated. For although you’ve made me feel things I am not equipped for . . . I cannot stop feeling them."

I love Morpheus. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. He’s one of my favorite male leads.

He’s just so wicked.

I was really prepared for the worst going into this book. Partly because I was spoiled and partly because I wasn’t as impressed with Unhinged as I was with Splintered. I saw this series as starting off amazingly great but then going downhill.

I am so pleasantly surprised.

  “You opened Pandora’s box within me. Set loose the imaginings and emotions of a mortal man. And there is no closing it ever again.” The jewels under his eyes twitch between dark purple and blue. “As much as I abhor being anything akin to human, Alyssa, I wouldn’t dare try to close it. Because that would mean losing you.”

I love that Alyssa is able to love both Morpheus and Jeb equally (as much as I abhor Jeb). There is no choosing between them. I love that Alyssa understands that there is no changing Morpheus, that to love him is to love even the downright cunning, most wicked parts of him. She does not make him gentle, docile. She makes him even more crazy and cunning. Just as he does to her.

I even love that Alyssa loves Jeb without ever wishing he were a little more like Morpheus – magical and unruly. She loved them both for the things that make them differently, but she’s able to love them equally, which is no small thing.



And that’s so glorious.

So bravo,, Ms. Howard. Bravo, indeed.

Find me here: https://obsessivereads.wordpress.com/

_______________________________________________________________________

My feels . . . THE FEELS AFTER THE ENDING OF UNHINGED!!



Jeb? Jeb who? You say he’s on the cover, and all the fangirls are going crazy?



Give me Morpheus, gosh darn it! The world of Splintered only makes sense if he’s there!! I only care about him being with Alyssa!



Check out my blog here, where I also fangirl over YA books: http://obsessivereads.wordpress.com/

[Amber J (Thereadingwitch) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Jeb is an anchor; he holds me grounded to my humanity and compassion. But Morpheus is the wind; he drags me kicking and screaming to the highest precipice, shoves me off, then watches me fly with netherling wings. When Jeb's at my side, the world is a canvas--unblemished and welcoming; when I'm with Morpheus, it's a wanton playground--wicked and addictive.”
― A.G. Howard, Ensnared


Jebediah art credit goes to Natalia Godik. Source @bookaholic_confession

I try to express only my most honest opinion in a spoiler free way. If you feel anything in my review is a spoiler and is not already hidden in spoiler brackets please let me know. Thank you.

Alyssa is on a mission to save her mom, Jeb, and Morpheus. After her dad gets his memories back the two of them head to the land of AnyElsewhere to first rescue Jeb and Morpheus and destroy the Red Queen once and for all before saving her mom and fixing Wonderland. But when she gets there she soon comes to realize that things will not be that simple. To much has changed and there is more that needs fixing then she thought. Also her heart is still torn between the two men and she knows eventually she will have to choose.

Alyssa art credit goes to Natalia Godik. Source @bookaholic_confession

I loved this book so, so, sooooo much. This is an amazing series. Outside of the companion book this is the end. It finished up everything nicely but I'm still so sad to see it end. It was an amazing story and the best Alice in Wonderland retelling I have read so far. I started out 100% shipping Jeb and Alyssa, but already at book two I was starting to also cheer for Morpheus. This book had me (as well as Alyssa) completely torn between the two. This book has everything. Lots of wonder, chaos, adventure, action, romance, and feels. If you haven't read this series, then I highly recommend it. I know that I be rereading this series and often.

Morpheus art credit goes to Natalia Godik. Source @bookaholic_confession

How I choose my rating:
1* Did not finish, or hated it but forced myself to finish.
2** Didn't really like it. Didn't hate it but not sure why I finished it other then for some closure.
3*** I liked it. I had some issues with it, but as a whole it was good. I probably won't reread again ever, but there is a chance I might finish the series. (If part of one) But if not it's not a huge loss.
4**** I really liked this book. Maybe not a work of genius, but highly entertaining. I might reread this again, and I will finish the series. (If part of one) I would recommend to those I know hold interest in this books content.
5***** I loved this book. I found little to no issues with it at all. I will definitely be rereading this and probably more than once. I will finish the series and reread it multiple times. (If part of one) I will recommend this book to EVERYONE!!!!

[aqsa · Rating 2 out of 5]

the only thing worth it in this series is Morpheus and the flaming sex on the sun scene and domestic Alysseus w/their baby boy the rest is garbage lol

[Jessi (Novel Heartbeat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a glorious end to an amazing series!! I really enjoyed it, but I’m very sad to see it go. I can’t believe I’ll never see Morph again :(

I was so thrilled to jump back into the world that Howard creates! I didn’t realize how much I’d missed it. It’s sooo twisted…I love it! There were certain scenes where I was just like …..creeeeeepyyy…… and ok, I was a little disturbed. Um, the talking punching bag of Jeb’s dad? Creepy! All of Jeb’s paintings were sooo cool, though! I love the idea of Red’s and Morpheus’s magic blending together to make Jeb’s.

MORPHEUS. OMG. How I love him!! As always, I was blown away by his depth of caring for Alyssa. There was absolutely nothing that he wouldn’t do for her! And most of all, he recognized her strength. As I mentioned in my review of Unhinged, he never doubted that she could handle herself. He didn’t save her all the time because he knew she could save herself. I loved that!!

“I finally have a secret of my own. Not so fun being on the other side of one, is it?”
The slow burn of amusement warms his features. He leans in and whispers, “On the contrary, My Queen. I cannot imagine anything more delicious than peeling away your defenses, layer by layer, baring your precious….secret.”

Um, and let’s not even talk about him making Alyssa lingerie out of his prom outfit. *dies* I should probably find that disturbing, but it’s actually kinda sexy O_O

And then we have Jeb. Oh, little Jeb. It’s no secret that I am NOT a Jeb fan. And in the beginning, I kind of hated him. He was really digging that hole! It pissed me off that he believed for certain that Alyssa wouldn’t come for him, whereas Morpheus had faith in her. He was proud of her for finding a way. Then, the animosity that Jeb showed Alyssa, despite all that she’d gone through to get back to him, made me dislike him even more. However, toward the end I do have to admit that he earned my grudging respect. *heavy sigh* I suppose he was alright in the end. (But Morpheus is still better!)

I loved how everything was handled with the final showdown! I was pretty darn shocked when they revealed that “Jeb” had his eyes and tongue cut out. I was like Wait, what?! No way. They’ll fix it somehow. Then he got thrown into the acid fountain, and I knew there had to be something else going on. No way would Jeb die! (And wait, do I actually care about that?! What is happening?!) I totally didn’t even think about his double! I also thought it was awesome that Jeb repainted Wonderland!

The ending made me cry a little! HAPPY tears!! It was so beautiful, you guys! It’s so rare for a book to make me cry because it’s happy, not sad (um, someone dying). That gets bonus points from me! I thought it was perfect! Although, I can see where people could have a problem with it. Despite the fact that I loved it, I still have my reservations about it morally. It doesn’t quite sit well with me that Alyssa got the best of both worlds. It doesn’t work that way!! But this is fantasy and I do enjoy a HEA as much as the next girl does!

Favorite quote:

Glory and deprecation – sunlight and shadows – the scuttle of a scorpion and the melody of a nightingale. Sister One’s description of him never seemed more apt. The breath of the sea and the cannonade of a storm.

This review was originally posted on Novel Heartbeat. To see a breakdown of my assessment, please visit the full review on my blog.

[Anna Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a MUST READ series!

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars for Ensnared: Splintered Series, Book 3 (audiobook) by A. G. Howard read by Rebecca Gibel.

This is a fun series and the narration is great.

[Elena Salvatore · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing ending for an amazing series.


Now that Alyssa managed to shun all the neatherlings from the human world, she has to return to Wonderland for the final battle between her and Queen Red and more importantly for rescuing the people that she loved.
Before she does that however she has to find a way to get back since the rabbit hole vanished.
So she has to get help from the only person that knows his way around Wonderland better than anyone. Someone that managed to go through the human World to elsewhere to Wonderland without any help.

With the help of her father, Alyssa finds herself once again infront of Queen Red and this time she will make sure that she will win the battle once and for all.




The first thing that draw me to this series, was the book covers.

I mean... look at them.... they're gorgeous!

Still, I was apprehensive about picking them up since it wasn't really a popular series and the people who had read them, weren't really thrilled with it.
So I had this awkward dance with them contemplating about buying them and then I did.

They still were sitting on my shelf for a couple of years before I finally started reading them and Oh.My.God. Why hadn't I started them sooner?


• The Story combined the original books by Lewis Caroll with it's own unique plot that had just taken the perfect amount of the first ones and shaped them into a entire different story.

It had quite a bit of madness into it and had it's dark moments, but not enough to give you the creeps.



• The characters were well written. (Another "villain" that you just have to love more than the "nice guy".
*cough* Aleksander Morozova*cough*)

It isn't another remake of Alice Liddell going through the rabbit hole, but her great-great-granddaughter (or something).


•Wonderland and it's creatures weren't the fluffy, happy, mad, cute little animals who could talk.
Well... they were mad (who isn't ;))
but they were everything but fluffy, happy or cute.
They were more like gory, creepy little humanoid things.


I basically loved everything about this series and if you're looking for an amazing Alice in Wonderland retelling, look no further.

And if you have read or seen or heard of.... another Alice retelling... Please let me know! :D Thank you.

[Clarissa]

LOVE the colours on this, but ugh Jeb. Why, can't we just have another Morpheus cover... I'd be down for that *swoon*.
I'm currently in the middle of Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo and I got to talking with a friend of mine and I feel slightly more worried going into this book now. Even though they're two completely different characters (and I think it's safe to say the Darkling is more "obviously" evil than Morpheus is), the way that Alyssa views Morpheus is SO similar to how Alina saw the Darkling that it's impossible not to draw parallels.

After hearing the way that Ruin and Rising turns out *gags* I feel more worried than ever at the prospect of a Malina esque ending with Jeb and Alyssa being endgame. Again this relationship is just one of those situations where it's so much more than a simple disliking for one of the points of the love triangle (even though like with Mal, I detest Jeb aussi). You simply have to look at the way Alyssa is with the both of these guys and there's just no comparing who she could be and the life she could live if she ends up with Morpheus, or even just ends up on her own for crying out loud. To me Jeb parallels Mal to a tee, and that bothers me, it bothers me a lot.

Let's just say that after the way that R & R is turning out I'm starting to see parallels in this book as well. I dislike the childhood friends turned lovers trope and it just does nothing for me. I like mystery, darkness, and complexity in my characters. I like to question what truly encapsulates good and what defines evil and I don't like characters taking the easy way out (which is exactly what I feel happened to Alina with Mal in R & R).
.

Rant done, but at this point it looks like I'll just have to be a bit more hesitant by the time this book rolls around. I trust you A.G Howard... I trust you got my feels (hopefully) right?

[Stacee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be spoiled by Anita and I got to read the MS right after she was finished writing it. After final edits were done, I got to read it again. Let me tell you, this book was absolute perfection.

There are swoons and laughs and action and heartfail and so many creepy things that it's like a delicious roller coaster. There were scenes that I wanted to squeeze my laptop in joy and then pages later throw it across the room while screaming.

Alyssa, Jeb, Morpheus, and all of the other characters are just so fantastic. I want to climb into the rabbit hole and go to tea parties with them. Alyssa's journey and growth through the series has been fantastic, it's been such a delight being in her head.

As for the ending? There aren't even words. I'm a million percent positive that it couldn't have been done any differently or any better.

Thank you, Anita. Not only for spoiling me {which I love}, but for taking us on this amazingly mad ride.

[Kayla Silverss · Rating 5 out of 5]

CHARACTERS-
You saw the characters really develop in this book and I loved that! You could see the difference between the first book and the second.

ROMANCE-
Morpheus and Alyssa had great moments in this book and they were just so cute together and when they were talking about their son, it was everything.

PLOT-
The plot was very enjoyable but not as good as the first book.

ENDING-
I wasn't 100% satisfied with the ending but I did read Untamed, the epilogue where Alyssa is giving birth and it really made me emotional because you went on a journey with these characters.

Characters-10/10
Romance-10/10
Plot-9/10
Speed-10/10
Ending-9.5/10

[Paradose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so I guess I'm not the only one desperately waiting for this book. I can't wait.
I've read both Splintered and Unhinged more than a couple of times, and I can't believe the trilogy is drawing to an end.I'm torn between wanting to know where Alyssa is going to stay and with whom (WONDERLAND! MORPHEUS!!!!!) and wanting this series to never end.
It's a pity that we still have to wait until 2015. I actually have a countdown on my phone (219 days to go until the January the 6th 2015!).




Me waiting patiently eating from my cup.

The cover reveal. Oh my god. Starting in a few days. I am fangirling so bad I can barely breathe. I've already visited all blogs of the tour and created shortcuts.
I am SO ready for this. Bring it on.

Fine. The cover. It's Jeb, but it's friggin' beautiful...
Still Team Morph, though. The man of my life ;)

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible ending. Horrible events. Whiney characters, especially Jeb and Alyssa. And very unnecessary seductive scenes just to get readers attention. You know what really gets a reader's attention? An actual good plot which this series had the potential to have but did not live up to it by any chance.