Review: Unhinged (Splintered #2) by A.G Howard

Author: A.G Howard
Series: Splintered trilogy
Genre: YA, Fantasy/Retelling
Release Date: January 7, 2014

Format: ARC

My Rating: 5 stars

Summary From Goodreads: 

Alyssa Gardner has been down the rabbit hole and faced the bandersnatch. She saved the life of Jeb, the guy she loves, and escaped the machinations of the disturbingly seductive Morpheus and the vindictive Queen Red. Now all she has to do is graduate high school and make it through prom so she can attend the prestigious art school in London she's always dreamed of.
That would be easier without her mother, freshly released from an asylum, acting overly protective and suspicious. And it would be much simpler if the mysterious Morpheus didn’t show up for school one day to tempt her with another dangerous quest in the dark, challenging Wonderland—where she (partly) belongs. 

As prom and graduation creep closer, Alyssa juggles Morpheus’s unsettling presence in her real world with trying to tell Jeb the truth about a past he’s forgotten. Glimpses of Wonderland start to bleed through her art and into her world in very disturbing ways, and Morpheus warns that Queen Red won’t be far behind.

If Alyssa stays in the human realm, she could endanger Jeb, her parents, and everyone she loves. But if she steps through the rabbit hole again, she'll face a deadly battle that could cost more than just her head. 

My Thoughts

I was extremely impressed with Splintered, especially since I'm a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland, but I somehow managed to love Unhinged even more. I would try and write a good, coherent review for this, but I can't because *flails* all the amazingness and feels. I'm not even kidding you. This is a book I could reread over and over again and never tire of it. Sorry for all the blubbering, I just can't help myself. 

What I loved:
EVERYTHING.
To be more descriptive though-just kidding, I can't because it was all perfect. But really, I loved the creepiness of the novel. Although there were less scenes that actually occurred in Wonderland in comparison to Splintered, I could just feel the utter creep factor when they did.
 

The plot: I seriously could never have imagined some of the characters playing such a large roles. I didn't even know who some of the characters were because they were only mentioned once or twice in Splintered. I loved how I never knew what to expect when reading this. It had me guessing until the very end and completely hooked.
 

The love triangle: I actually really like love triangles as long as they're done right and AG Howard creates one heck of a love triangle. I will forever be team Jeb, but Morpheus (surprisingly) holds part of my heart too. However, while I do like Morpheus (and feel bad for him sometimes. And by that I mean I want to give him a great big hug, which I don't think he would enjoy), I feel as if Jeb and Alyssa make a better couple. I hardcore ship them. I'm Team Jeb all the way (sorry Morpheus shippers).

What I didn't like:
The end-Not just because it means I have to wait for the third book, but also because of that cliffhanger! Okay, so pretty much because I have to wait another year.
Morpheus-I know I said that I liked him, but I can't tell if he's bad or good! He doesn't have to be one or the other, but it just makes me feel bad for him at the time being. He's such a badass "do whatever I want character" that I can't tell if he genuinely likes Alyssa or is just using her to save Wonderland.
These are simple minor things that didn't bother me very much, because I obviously loved everything about it.
Now I am forced to wait not so very patiently for the third book.

(Also, have you guys seen the cover for Ensnared? How do you feel about it? I only have one word: Jeb❤)

Everyone needs to read this series because all of the fangirl, swoony, creepy amazingness. I seriously cannot convey my love for these books enough.

                                                                                                                                                                   

                        

                                       

About A.G Howard 

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A.G. Howard was inspired to write SPLINTERED while working at a school library. She always wondered what would've happened had the subtle creepiness of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland taken center stage, and she hopes her darker and funkier tribute to Carroll will inspire readers to seek out the stories that won her heart as a child. When she's not writing, A.G.'s pastimes are reading, rollerblading, gardening, and family vacations which often include impromptu side trips to 18th century graveyards or condemned schoolhouses to appease her overactive muse.