Synopsis :

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.
When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

The Character :

Alyssa is a teenager with a complicated past which she alone knows, she likes the lively colors and skateboard. Even her only friends, her neighbor Jenara and Jeb don’t know all her secrets. All other pupils laughs at her because of her ancestor and takes her for a madwoman. In spite of the fact that she hears the thoughts of insects and flowers, I find that it’s a strong girl who manages to take out there rather good in spite of all the events. Her mother is locked into a psychiatric hospital and she hears the thoughts of flowers … It’s something. She is in love with Jeb for a long time but don’t want to tell him her feelings. It is also her best friend, the one to whom she confides almost everything.

Jenara is the best friend, eccentric. She works with her and knows about the love of Alyssa for his brother Jeb. She tries to urge her to reveal her) feelings. We do not see her in this volume a lot and I hope that it will change in the 2nd.

Jeb is the handsome boy of the story, finally one of the two because as you will have understood it, there is a love triangle. Then yes I am not big one fan of triangles unless when they are brought well and when I can understand the reaction of the girl. And there it didn’t absolutely bother me. Jeb is thoughtful to Alyssa, he had a difficult childhood with a complicated father and Alyssa was there to help him. He has a girlfriend, Taelor who is execrable to Alyssa and whom I don’t like at all. Jeb is very protective and when he embarks accidentally with Alyssa in Wonderland, he doesn’t hesitate to protect her, we discover him even jealous.

Finally the most amazing for the end, Morphéus, the moth, the one that Alyssa knows since its childhood and which helps her to enter Wonderland and to reach her goals. He has hidden motives it’s obvious but his love for Alyssa is visible. He has madman’s charisma and I had no problem to imagine him with the descriptions of the author. We do not know if we can trust him or not, if he lies to us or not, if he is a kind person or not. We know only a single thing, he wants to help Alyssa but in what purpose? What are his motives? And well you will know it by reading this book, well all right you will know it only at the end but at least you will be served.

My review

My twin sister of the blog “Mes petits crimes et délits” offered me this book for my birthday and I must read it for the Random reads challenge organize by “Les lectures de Sab”.
In this book we revisit Alice in Wonderland which is one of my favorite tales. I adore Lewis Carroll’s universe, a little crazy and so that this book gets closer to it A.G Howard made some great job.

I liked a lot and I can only recommend it to you, the characters are charming or infuriating according to the situations, the story is built well and reminded you the original even if there are changes. These changes are much more crazy than the original and it’s probably the reason I liked. I would like very much seeing a film or tv adaptation only to see the world as the author created it. I would never manage to describe you as well sets and dresses. That has a small magic side for me and I adore.

And then look at the cover, it is just magnificent and that of the 2nd volume is also successful. I look forward to having it in my hands.

More :

There is a novel released in October, 2013 entitled The Moth in the mirror which I am probably going to read very soon.
The second book went out in January, 2014 and is called Unhinged, I shall also read it.

Note :