"The Linseyverse": REVIEW: Ensnared by A.G. Howard

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

REVIEW: Ensnared by A.G. Howard

Ensnared marks the finale to A. G. Howard's Splintered trilogy, a lush, dark winding urban fantasy foray into Alice in Wonderland. Alyssa must again battle Red and other foes when she travels to AnyElsewhere in order to save her dueling loves, Jeb and Morpheus, following the disastrous outcome of events in Unhinged. However, such a task is but the tip of the iceberg as Alyssa must also devise a plan to save Wonderland from utter destruction, repair her love life and truly accept her role as the Red Queen.

I won't bore you with a long winded summary. Check out the Ensnared summary on Goodreads for more details. What I will elaborate upon is how much I adore this series. Those closest to me know there are no two classic tales closer to my heart that The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland. I love all pop culture references, book, film, and television adaptations, and I am an avid collector. That being said, Howard has captured what a modern retelling of Wonderland should be. Alyssa is a admirable female protagonist whose journey will compel readers of any age with her personality, snark, strength and even occasional vulnerability.

As a prolific reader and lover of writing in general, I cannot gush enough regarding Howard's vivid world-building. The intrinsic themes of creativity and imagination, which are imperative behind any incarnation of Wonderland, is finessed in such a way through Howard's words that reader's are literally 'ensnared' by these beautifully crafted, often haunted, and utterly unique descriptions. The adventurous plot, memorable characters, and truly swoon worthy love interests make for a delicious read. While typically a speed reader, I took my time to savor each bit.

I am so sad to see this series come to an end; however, a bonus for series fans is Untamed, a collection of three novellas set in the Splintered world and revolving around all of our favorite characters will be published in late 2015. I can't wait! In true fashion, Amulet Books has done an amazing job with the cover art. Check it out!