Splintered (Splintered, #1) Summary & Key Insights

A.G. Howard's Splintered introduces Alyssa, a young woman cursed – or perhaps blessed – with the ability to communicate with insects and a deep-seated fear of butterflies. She lives a sheltered life in an asylum, ostensibly for her “condition,” but secretly under the watchful eye of her domineering grandmother. Alyssa's reality shatters when she learns of her family's dark history, intricately tied to the world of Wonderland, specifically the Jabberwocky.

Alyssa's grandmother reveals a truth both terrifying and liberating: Alyssa is a descendant of the Red Queen, and she possesses a power that could potentially destabilize the delicate balance between Wonderland and the human world. Her true destiny lies in Wonderland, a place that exists both as a fantastical realm and a reflection of her own fractured psyche. Reluctantly, Alyssa is drawn into this surreal world, guided by a mysterious Morpheus, a dark and brooding figure who may be an ally or an enemy.

Within Wonderland, Alyssa encounters familiar characters warped and twisted beyond recognition. The Mad Hatter is a charming but manipulative pawnbroker, the March Hare is a violent gangster, and the White Rabbit is a time-bending bureaucrat. The Queen of Hearts, Alyssa's ancestor, is a powerful and terrifying sovereign determined to maintain her iron-fisted rule, while the White Queen, seemingly benevolent, harbors secrets of her own. These Wonderland inhabitants are not merely whimsical characters, but complex individuals reflecting the various facets of Alyssa's own personality and struggles.

Throughout her journey, Alyssa must confront her own internal demons, embodied by the grotesque and terrifying Jabberwocky, who is both a literal monster and a symbol of her repressed trauma and fears. She struggles to control her growing powers, learning to command her insect allies and navigate the treacherous political landscape of Wonderland. Her relationship with Morpheus is central to her development, blurring the lines between love, manipulation, and obsession. Their connection is both a source of strength and a potential point of vulnerability.

The main plot revolves around Alyssa's acceptance of her heritage and her role in the precarious balance of power in Wonderland. She must choose between her own desires and the responsibility thrust upon her, ultimately deciding whether to embrace her lineage as the Red Queen's descendant or forge a new path. The overarching themes explored are family legacy, self-discovery, confronting inner demons, the nature of power, and the blurred lines between sanity and madness, all presented within a darkly reimagined version of Lewis Carroll's classic tale.