Splintered by A.G. Howard

Splintered by A.G.Howard

I learned about this month somewhere around the middle of last year and was very disappointed to find out that it didn't come out until January. That being said, it took me until February to finally purchase the book and until May to finally read it. But, once I started it, it took me a mere two days to finish it (and only that because I fell asleep while reading). 

Alyssa Gardner has been hiding a secret for years. Desperate to avoid landing in a mental hospital like her mother, she hides the fact that she can hear bugs and plants talk. The women in her family have been afflicted with this curse all the way back to Alice Liddell, the inspiration for Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

However, as her mother's mental health begins a rapid downward spiral, Alyssa learns that there is far more to her family's history than Carroll's story lets on. Not only is Wonderland a real place visited by the first Alice, it is a dark and twisted world filled with mortal danger and disturbing mystical creatures. Alyssa must enter Wonderland and fix the problems Alice left behind in order to save her family before it's too late. Along the way, Alyssa must also choose between Jeb, her best friend and secret crush, and Morpheus, her gorgeous and suspicious guide through Wonderland. 

This story was a captivating mix of intrigue and romance. Howard twisted the elements of Carroll's original story, making for a much darker version of Wonderland. At the same time, I ended up enthralled by the complicated relationship between Jeb and Alyssa. The two ended up saving one another, creating an entrancing romance neither saw coming. 

In the end, I also couldn't hate the darker character of Morpheus. Although he always has his own motives for what he does, I believe he cares for Alyssa in his own twisted way. His character is responsible for much of the growth we see in Alyssa throughout the story.  I thoroughly recommend this book for lovers of fantasy. romance, and twists on old classics.

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

I recently finished this book as part of YALSA's 2013 Hub Reading Challenge and found it utterly page-turning. 

The story centers around Jasper "Jazz" Dent, a charming and likable teenager with a spine-tingling past. Just four short years ago, Jazz's father, Billy Dent, was identified as the most notorious and terrifying serial killer in the world and sent to prison to serve multiple consecutive life sentences. His murders number in the triple digits. Jazz went to live with his senile grandmother and has been trying to keep his insane life together and deal with memories of the life with his father that plague his waking and sleeping hours. It seems Billy took "Bring Your Child to Work Day" to a new level while raising his son as an heir apparent.

While Jazz fights his inner demons and struggles against becoming his father, a gruesome murder appears in his hometown of Lobo's Nod. While the town's sheriff doesn't believe Jazz was involved, he feels a relentless drive to convince the local police that he is not the same man his father is and that the murder is the work of a new serial killer. 

The whole book is a relentless drive of intrigue as Jazz works to figure out who the killer is before more bodies pile up. I found myself eager to follow the clues along with Jazz and was constantly on the edge of my seat trying to figure out where the clues would lead. The best part was that I had a little trouble guessing who it was going to be. I loved not being able to figure out the ending at the beginning of the story.

Growing up with his father, Jazz is able to see the murders the way a killer would. It was fascinating and a bit disturbing what memories Jazz dredges up in an attempt to glean some inside knowledge of the killer. The scenes from his father's crimes, as well as the new murder scenes were a bit graphic for my taste. I also found them a bit specific for a young adult book, but I know they will captivate young readers. This movie was thoroughly suspenseful and well-written. The sequel, Game, is already out. I am both terrified and excited to read it.