Unhinged

Unhinged continues the story of Alyssa Gardner, a descendant of Alice Liddell from Lewis Carroll's classic tale. After the events of Splintered, Alyssa attempts to live a normal life while struggling with her connection to Wonderland and her complicated relationships with both Jeb and Morpheus. Dark forces from Wonderland begin to intrude into Alyssa's reality, threatening her family and her sanity. She must confront her heritage and make choices that will affect both worlds, all while navigating her senior year of high school and her growing magical abilities. The story expands on the mythology established in Splintered, revealing more about the nature of Wonderland and its inhabitants. Alyssa's journey forces her to question everything she knows about herself, her family's past, and the true intentions of those closest to her. This second installment in the series explores themes of identity, destiny, and the price of power. The narrative challenges traditional ideas about good and evil while examining how the choices we make shape who we become.

Readers see this sequel as darker and more complex than Splintered, with deeper character development and increased romantic tension. The Victorian/steampunk elements and detailed world-building receive frequent mention in positive reviews. Liked: - Expanded mythology and backstory - Emotional depth of Morpheus's character - Gothic atmosphere and vivid descriptions - Plot twists and pacing Disliked: - Love triangle dynamics frustrate many readers - Some find Alyssa's indecision between suitors repetitive - Several note the story moves slowly in the middle sections - A portion of readers feel it suffers from "middle book syndrome" Ratings: Goodreads: 4.15/5 (32,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (560+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.4/5 (150+ ratings) "The darkness and psychological elements make this better than book one," notes one top Goodreads review. Multiple Amazon reviewers cite the "rich world-building" while criticizing the "drawn-out romantic conflict."

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🦋 A.G. Howard was inspired to write Unhinged after watching Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland film and wondering what would happen if a modern teen discovered her family had ties to Wonderland 🎭 The book is the second installment in the Splintered trilogy, which puts a gothic, darker spin on Lewis Carroll's classic Alice in Wonderland tale 🎨 The cover art features intricate moth wing designs, which play a significant role in the story's symbolism and plot 🌹 A.G. Howard wrote much of the series while working as a school library clerk, often jotting down ideas between helping students ✨ The author incorporated elements of steampunk fashion and Victorian gothic aesthetic into her reimagining of Wonderland, creating what she calls "punk fairytale" style