Ensnared Review

Ensnared (Splintered #3)

By A. G. Howard

Published January 6th, 2015 by Amulet Books

384 pages

Kindle Edition

5 stars - AMAZING CONCLUSION!! 

*WARNING - SPOILERS FOR UNHINGED AND SPLINTERED.*

After surviving a disastrous battle at prom, Alyssa has embraced her madness and gained perspective. She's determined to rescue her two worlds and the people and netherlings she loves. Even if it means challenging Queen Red to a final battle of wills and wiles . . . and even if the only way to Wonderland, now that the rabbit hole is closed, is through the looking-glass world--a parallel dimension filled with mutated and violent netherling outcasts. In the final installment of the wildly popular Splintered trilogy, Alyssa and her dad journey into the heart of magic and mayhem in search of her mom and to set right all that's gone wrong. Together with Jeb and Morpheus, they must salvage Wonderland from the decay and destruction that has ensnared it. But if they succeed and come out alive, can everyone truly have their happily ever after?

Review:

Ensnared was such a stunning and beautiful conclusion to the Splintered series! I started Unhinged and finished it in two sittings and then immediately jumped into Ensnared. I just couldn't believe that cliff hanger at the end of Unhinged and this book picks up a few months later. 

Alyssa has decided to finally embrace her madness after her mother, Jeb, and Morpheus are taken away from her. She spends a few months where her mother once spent years. She practices her Wonderland abilities and forms a plan to get back what was taken from her. 

I loved that Alyssa was finally able to embrace her madness and figure out who she is and who she wants to be. She grew a lot throughout the first two books and this time she learns the rest about herself. She even learns more about the Red Queen and her father. But through it all Alyssa doesn't give up. I enjoyed watching Alyssa learn how to use her new abilities and figure out her relationships with the people around her. 

Jeb and Morpheus are both back and trapped in the same world...together. Jeb and Morpheus have such an interesting relationship and I enjoyed watching the two work things out. Jeb is not the same as he was when he was in the real world in more ways than one. His mindset is different and he is more upset and bitter with everything that has gone on in his life. While I understood where he was coming from and even felt bad for him, his attitude kind of got on my nerves at times. He was very upset with Alyssa and that's understandable but he didn't really want to hear her out either. In the end he does grow and come to realize who he really is and who Alyssa really is. He sees things from Wonderland's perspective and I love who he comes to be at the end. 

Morpheus is such an interesting and complex character as well. He doesn't really change too much in his actions or thoughts but at the same time he kind of does. He starts to become a little more human in a way. He is, at times, hard to figure out because you never know what he is going to do or what he really means. He is still apart of Wonderland and definitely crazy but we start to see his affections for Alyssa grow as well as his thoughts for others. I loved seeing him interact with Chessie and hearing his love for Wonderland. His relationship with Alyssa grows because she is finally able to admit that she does share affection for him. And let's not forget about that future that was seen between the two of them. :) 

Besides are familiar characters we learn a little more about the ones we didn't know too much about. Alyssa's mother and father for example. Her dad is so awesome and it is great to learn more about his past and the part that his family plays with Wonderland. Alyssa learns that she does have more family than just her immediate one. She also learns more about Red and it was interesting to see Red's reasons for her actions. 

Ensnared was such an intoxicating, compelling, and suspenseful read! I cried tears of sadness and joy and I could NOT put this book down! I finished it way to fast and was sad to see one of my favorite trilogies over. The ending is amazing and scary all at once. There is action and romance and awesomeness. :) I absolutely loved this trilogy and I can't wait to see if Howard writes any other intoxicating books. Check it out now!

Vanessa