Today was unusually warm for January, so I took my books for a walk... like the good book hoarder owner I am. I decided last year that I was going to make an effort to further along my photography. Or at the very least, my book photography. My goal was to start a Booked J photo journal and cross-post the pictures here and to Instagram and what not.
Being home this weekend, and seeing how strangely nice the weather was, I decided to wander over to the local fairgrounds and take pictures of some books once more. I started doing this in November (you probably notice some of the backdrops from my The Dark Artifices shoot) and I have to say, it's become a favourite photography spot aside from the city.
The muse for this particular series/installment is my beloved Splintered trilogy (and the collection of short stories set in the world) by A.G. Howard. I've always wanted to take more pictures of these but I've found them hard to photograph due to the shine of each jacket. But, with weather on my side, and my desire to celebrate Howard's upcoming (unrelated) release of Stain, I just had to take my babies out for a spin.
Untamed (Splintered Companion) by A.G. Howard | Rating: ★★★★★
As a note, a finished copy of this novel was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.
Nearly a year since readers said their farewells to A.G. Howard’s vivid, beautiful and grotesque take on Wonderland and all the delightful (and yes, at times frightening) characters found in between two realms, Splintered is back. Or at least, to some capacity it’s back–regardless, we as fans and readers are given the chance at one last trip down the rabbit hole through our newest addition to the family: Untamed.
Untamed, if you were wondering, serves as a beautiful tie-in to our already loved world and the characters we grew to admire in the span of a few years. It fills in some blanks on some plots and will leave readers dazed.
That’s right, our favorite character’s back and showcased in three different novellas as a companion to the main series. I have to admit this was my number one most anticipated read for 2015 and I feel so incredibly honored to have the chance to review it for you.
(In truth, readers, my review may not be up to standard. I’m going to–of course–leave my review spoiler free but I should also warn you that I may stray a bit in a slightly incoherent cold manner. So bare with me!)
Well, okay, technically it doesn't arrive until December. But luckily for me I was sent a finished copy of the brilliant A.G. Howard's latest creation. Untamed is a collection of short stories set in the Splintered universe aka the perfect companion! For those who know me, know that Splintered is amongst my favorite book series and I've been anticipating Untamed's release for months.
After the ending of the original trilogy, A.G. Howard announced the return to her deliciously dark Wonderland with three fantastic novellas! As readers we were all stoked to learn that although the series has ended, we get one last look at some of our characters and saying goodbye seems much less bleak than it did last year.
Reliving the experience of Wonderland one more time. Our first novella, The Boy in the Web, gives us a look into the heart of Alyssa's mother as she looks back on her time n Wonderland and the decisions she had to make while rescuing the boy who would be her husband. Then there's The Moth in the Mirror which brings us Morpheus as he explores Jeb's lost memories, set after the events of Splintered. And lastly, perhaps most importantly, in Six Impossible Things we see our beloved Alyssa Gardner's life after Ensnared; giving us a view of her most precious moments.
All in all, I feel truly and incredibly speechless in the privilege of receiving this gem. Truly the highlight of November for me and I cannot wait to dive in.
Who else is ready?!
Ensnared by A.G Howard | Rating: ★★★★★I am wind.
I am fury.
I am pandemonium.
In this vivid conclusion to one of my favorite series, Ensnared captures the brilliance of the two previous books and wraps up the dark fantasy in a way that is sure to satisfy fans of the trilogy. I, for one, don’t have much to complain about except the fact that Splintered is done.
Can you believe it’s nearly over? No more Alyssa? No more Morpheus? No more Jeb? No more of this deliciously dark Wonderland? What?! I really hate to say goodbye! Alas… all good things must come to an end. And never has there been a more fitting end than Ensnared.
By the epilogue, we have our conclusion, we have our answers and we have a memorable ending to an incredibly unique and underrated trilogy. It will tug on your heartstrings, it will make your heart race and leave you twirling in the midst of dark and intriguing plots. Ensnared certainly goes out with a bang.
A.G Howard, once again, blows me away with her hypnotic and slightly creepy take on Wonderland. Not many authors can pull off revisions to a classic work and make it her own, but she has an undeniable style to her writing and characters that makes it so very possible. You can see these images come to life instantly and find yourself unable to put it down.
Unhinged by A.G Howard | Rating: ★★★★★“All I have to do is set the power free. Escape the chains of humanity, let madness be my guide. If I forget everything but Wonderland, I can become beautiful pandemonium.”
As most know by now Splintered was the book of 2013 for me and became one of my favorite novels featured in the young adult genre. Ever. Being somebody who grew up obsessed with any and all things Wonderland, I was very much so drawn to the first in this series due to its take on the world many of us know so well.
A.G Howard’s dark take on this tale is something incredibly fascinating and unique, it draws you in from the start and once you’re drawn in, you’re here to stay. At the very top of this novel the words “Wonderland Was Just the Beginning" greet you — and truer words have never been spoken. What we came to see in Splintered was just the start to the story.
Our story begins a year after the events of the first novel — Alyssa is trying to live a normal life after having been taken on an adventure to a world she’d once thought was purely fictional. She still has the memories, the powers, her art (in a varying form) and everything that makes her Alyssa. This time around, she is fortunate to have her mother back home — her mother and father together, at last! — and she is still together with the lovely Jeb.
Splintered by A.G Howard | Rating: ★★★★★“Tearing down the rest of the world won’t make you happy. Look inside yourself. Because finding who you were meant to be? What you were put into this world to do? That’s what fills the emptiness. It’s the only things that can.”
It’s important to note that growing up, I was obsessed with any and all things Wonderland. Half of the years I’ve celebrated Halloween, I dressed up as a character from the stories or movies. Hell, my best friend and I even refer to ourselves as various characters from Wonderland.
But, as the years go on — I become less and less interested in adaptions or new takes on the world many of us have grown up with. Needless to say, I was a little bit skeptical of this story in the beginning stages of hearing about it/purchasing it.
Fortunately for myself, I gave it a chance. It certainly didn’t let me down.
My favorite part about the story is how likeable the characters are, even if they aren’t meant to be. They are developed much better than I’d originally thought them to be, and the twists on familiar characters is something to definitely look out for. A.G Howard pens characterizations really, really beautifully and the dark edge she puts in some of them is very fascinating.
