A.G. Howard – Adventures in Reading

TTT: Top Ten Books I’m Looking Forward To In 2015

December 2, 2014June 28, 2015 by Alexia, posted in A.G. Howard, Anne Blankman, Corey Ann Haydu, Danielle Paige, Francesca Zappia, Jessi Kirby, Jessica Verdi, Laurie Faria Stolarz, Rosamund Hodge, TopTen Books I'm Looking Forward To In 2015, Trish Doller

This feature is hosted by the ladies of The Broke and the Bookish

This list was one of the easiest & hardest lists I’ve ever had to compile. I definitely went over ten books with this list, and probably could have gone up to 20 if I hadn’t stopped myself.

Proceed to the list I’ve created for today!

Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge

-Yes, yes, YES. I am so excited about this book. I ended up really enjoying Cruel Beauty and was super excited to hear about this book as well. Glad I have an e-ARC-

Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke (Prisoner of Night & Fog #2) by Anne Blankman

-I loved, LOVED Prisoner of Night and Fog so when I got an e-ARC of the sequel I was so excited and happy. I cannot wait to go back into this world that Blankman created-

Return to the Dark House (Welcome to the Dark House #2) by Laurie Faria Stolarz

-This book ended up surprising me in a really great way, so I’m excited to see where the author takes the story in book 2-

Ensnared (Splintered #3) by A.G. Howard

-Cannot wait for this book. I’ve loved the first two books of this trilogy and given how book 2 ended, I cannot wait to see what happens next!-

The Devil You Know by Trish Doller

-I am forever grateful to my Secret Sister who managed to nab an ARC of this book for me. Not only do I have it in my possession, it’s personalized by Doller for me. I have enjoyed Doller’s previous books and am excited to see what this book holds-

A Court of Thorns and Roses by S. J. Maas

-Um, just LOOK at that cover. Absolutely stunning. I haven’t read Maas’ previous books, but I definitely want to at some point in 2015. I am so excited about this book. I can only hope the inside matches the gorgeousness of the cover-

Things We Know By Heart by Jessi Kirby

-GIMMIE! Oh wait, I have an e-ARC of this one. I love books that have organ donation as a plot. It’s a personal thing as I have serious heart problems and may need a heart transplant someday-

Made You Up by Francesca Zappia

-I got drawn in by the cover first, and then I read the synopsis. I love books that feature mental illness. I hope it depicts it accurately or I’ll be disappointed-

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

-Gorgeous cover alert! I am so excited about this book and I think I’m going to love this book. Cannot wait to get my hands on it-

Making Pretty by Corey Ann Haydu

-Whatever this woman writes, I’ll be excited to read it. Plus, that cover is really cool-

What You Left Behind by Jessica Verdi

-Yet another author whose book I’ll always read. This book sounds EXACTLY like something I’ll love. I cannot wait to get my hands on this one-

The Wicked Will Rise (Dorothy Must Die #2) by Danielle Paige

-I loved Dorothy Must Die and I am so excited to get my hands on this sequel. I can only hope it is as awesome as the first book was-

The Orphan Queen (The Orphan Queen #1) by Jodi Meadows
-This book looks amazing. I read the sample I got from Edelweiss and was obsessed with it. Now I need the full version. Plus, look at that cover, guys?-

So what books are you really looking forward to in 2015? If you did a TTT, leave me the links so I can go check out your list.

Waiting on Wednesday #6 Ensnared (Splintered #3) by A. G. Howard

September 3, 2014June 28, 2015 by Alexia, posted in A.G. Howard, Ensnared, Splintered, Unhinged, Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine. It’s a way to showcase books we are eagerly awaiting.

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 sadistic netherling outcasts.

In the final installment of the 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 even if everyone succeeds and comes out alive, can they all truly have their happily ever after?

Book Information

Book Title: Ensnared (Splintered #3)

Author: A.G. Howard

Publish Date: January 13th, 2015

Publisher: Amulet Books

Genre: YA Fantasy

Series: Book 3 in Splintered series

Splintered Review (Splintered #1)

Unhinged Review (Splintered #2)

Book Link: Goodreads

Pre Order Link: Amazon

My Reaction

I am so excited for this book! I absolutely adored both Splintered and Unhinged and I cannot wait to get my hands on Ensnared. Plus the covers are all absolutely gorgeous. I’m definitely a sucker for gorgeous covers. I cannot wait to be back into this world with Alyssa, her mom and dad, Jeb and Morpheus (swoon!) Is it January yet?

Top Ten Books I’ve Read So Far This Year

June 10, 2014June 28, 2015 by Alexia, posted in A.G. Howard, Anne Blankman, Brandy Colbert, Courtney C. Stevens, Emery Lord, Huntley Fitzpatrick, Jessica Verdi, Kasie West, Kimberly Derting, Top Ten Books I've Read So Far This Year, Trish Doller, TTT

This feature is hosted by the ladies of The Broke and the Bookish

This was a fun list. I didn’t have any problems coming up with the Top Ten Books I’ve Read So Far This Year. My list is overwhelmingly filled with contemporaries, which really shouldn’t surprise anyone.

Unhinged (Splintered #2) by A.G. Howard

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

Pointe by Brandy Colbert

The Summer I Wasn’t Me by Jessica Verdi

Prisoner of Night and Fog (Prisoner of Night and Fog #1) by Anne Blankman

The Taking (The Taking #1) by Kimberly Derting

Where The Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

My Life Next Door (My Life Next Door #1) by Huntley Fitzpatrick

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

So let me know if you’ve read any of these or if you want to. Also, if you did a TTT this week, be sure to leave the link to your post in the comments.

YA books Made Into Movies

February 21, 2014 by Alexia, posted in A.G. Howard, Discussion Post, Divergent, Ensnared, Harry Potter, Splintered, Suzanne Young, The Program, The Treatment, Trilogy, Twilight, Unhinged, Veronica Roth, YA Books Made Into Movies

So I came up with this discussion idea after the ladies of Epic Reads discussed it on their weekly show called Tea Time this past Wednesday. I love, LOVE books as evidenced by me having a book blog and talking incessantly about books. I am also a major movie buff. There has been an influx of YA books being turned into movies over the past 5-10 years. Some of them have been amazing and some of them have sucked the big one.

I cannot mention YA books & movies without mentioning the 8 Harry Potter movies. Some of them were better than others and one of them I actually enjoyed more than the book (No I didn’t love all seven books the same) There was another one where I adored the book but the movie adaptation of it was terrible. Which depressed the crap outta me.

Twilight, now I read the books once and now looking back, I am embarrassed that I read them. Totally cannot believe that I enjoyed them. However I went to go see Twilight when it came out in theaters and basically hated it. Kristen Stewart just cannot act to save her life. So I got New Moon on Netflix later on and could only make it through about 45 minutes before I had to turn it off. I have yet to see Eclipse or Part 1 & 2 of Breaking Dawn. The idea of a werewolf imprinting on a baby just… BARF!

Now The Hunger Games was a pretty decent movie adaptation. Yes there were changes that people had to accept. However it’s successor Catching Fire basically knocked it out of the park in terms of adapting the book to the movie. They had kept so many of the lines from the book and that thrilled me. The casting for Catching Fire was fantastic (RIP PSH) I even ended up loving Sam Claflin as Finnick though I was initially nervous about as he was my favorite male character in Catching Fire. Jena Malone was PERFECTION as Johanna Mason. They could not have cast that one better.

I have not read Vampire Academy but I saw the premiere for the film and I could not understand the hype. If the books are anything like the previews for the movie, I think I’ll pass. Yikes. It just looks totally cringe-worthy.

Now I am excited about Divergent even though I am still not 100% sold on Theo James as Four (Yes I know I’m crazy) I love that they were able to get some big names into the film (Kate Winslet & Ashley Judd) I really hope that the movie is as good as the previews made it look. I think I’ll be really upset if it ends up not being good.

Now onto the books that I would hate to see made into a movie. The Splintered series by A.G.Howard. I have absolutely adored the first two books but I would be terrified that the movies would be trash. They would have to get just the right director to do it (I would say Tim Burton but he’s already directed Alice in Wonderland and I don’t think he’d do this one.) The special effects would be dynamite, that much I am sure of. So movie people, if you are, by some miracle, reading this, please don’t make Splintered & Unhinged & Ensnared into movies.

My other YA movie don’t is The Program & The Treatment by Suzanne Young. Again, I absolutely LOVED this duology but please movie people bypass this duology. I am absolutely terrified to think what would happen to this series if a director got their hands on it. First off, the books are long so lots would be cut which I would not be happy about. Secondly, I’d be worried about the casting of the key players (James, Sloane & Realm) among others. Amazing books that need to just stay books.

So what books would you hate to see be turned into movies?

Review: Unhinged (Splintered #2) by A.G. Howard

February 17, 2014June 28, 2015 by Alexia, posted in 5 Stars, A.G. Howard, Alyssa, Amulet Books, book 2, Fantasy, Jeb, Morpheus, personal purchase, retelling, series, Splintered, Unhinged, YA

Book Title: Unhinged (Splintered #2)

Author: A.G.Howard

Release Date: January 7th, 2014

Publisher: Amulet Books

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Series: Book 2 in Splintered series (My review of Splintered is here)

Book Link: Goodreads

Purchase Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Alyssa Gardner has been down the rabbit hole and faced the bandersnatch. She saved the life of Jeb, the guy she loves, and escaped the machinations of the disturbingly seductive Morpheus and the vindictive Queen Red. Now all she has to do is graduate high school and make it through prom so she can attend the prestigious art school in London she’s always dreamed of.

That would be easier without her mother, freshly released from an asylum, acting overly protective and suspicious. And it would be much simpler if the mysterious Morpheus didn’t show up for school one day to tempt her with another dangerous quest in the dark, challenging Wonderland—where she (partly) belongs.

As prom and graduation creep closer, Alyssa juggles Morpheus’s unsettling presence in her real world with trying to tell Jeb the truth about a past he’s forgotten. Glimpses of Wonderland start to bleed through her art and into her world in very disturbing ways, and Morpheus warns that Queen Red won’t be far behind.

If Alyssa stays in the human realm, she could endanger Jeb, her parents, and everyone she loves. But if she steps through the rabbit hole again, she’ll face a deadly battle that could cost more than just her head.

Disclaimer: This book was a personal purchase.

Review:

Second book are notoriously weaker than the first books in a series. It’s similar to what is referred to as the “sophomore slump” in high school.In these second books,character development is weaker and the writing isn’t as pretty as it was in the first book. I found none of that to be the case in Unhinged. In fact I went as far as to say that Unhinged was better than Splintered and I honestly didn’t believe that was possible.

While Splintered had the “newness” of a series which resulted in a lot of character building, getting to know a lot of different characters and scene setting, Unhinged had the expansion on the characters. We got to know a lot more about not only those who live in Wonderland but also about those who lived in the human realm with Alyssa.

The writing was, once again, absolutely stunning. I mean, wow it was vivid and descriptive. It made me feel like I was actually in the book. Very few books are able to achieve that level of vivid imagery. Making the reader feel like they are in the book is a special talent that not every author has. A.G. Howard definitely does.

I felt sort of like Alyssa throughout the book. It felt like Morpheus and Jeb were playing tug-of-war with Alyssa and by extension, me. Morpheus was exasperating and sometimes I wanted to chain him up and leave him there. But sometimes I wanted him to be all mine.I think Morpheus has more secrets than we know right now and I can only hope that the final book will give us answers about him.

Oh Jeb,I did like him in this book, even though his art appeared to be more important to him than Alyssa was. I almost wonder if Alyssa feels like she has to be in love with him since they’ve been friends forever. Do I think she cares for him? Absolutely but I’m not buying a ticket to Love-Land quite yet. Jeb clearly would do anything for her. I definitely think that he is in love with her, but like I said, I’m not sure it’s mutual…yet.

I refuse to spoil this book for those of you who haven’t read it but holy family history Batman. I definitely loved all the bits with Alyssa’s family. Particularly her mom now that she’s out of the asylum. Alyssa’s mom can definitely provide Alyssa with answers to her many questions. Problem is, will Alyssa believe that her mom is strong enough to handle it?

There is definitely more than meets the eye with this book. This book caries within in many secrets. Secrets that may strengthen Alyssa and her family or weaken it. We just don’t know yet. This book was amazing and I cannot believe that we have to wait until 2015 for the conclusion to this series. I honestly don’t know how I am going to manage the wait. If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would.

Splintered (Splintered #1) by A.G. Howard

December 30, 2013June 28, 2015 by Alexia, posted in 5 Stars, A.G. Howard, Alice in Wonderland, book 1, Christmas present, Fantasy, gift, retelling, series, Splintered, YA

Book Title: Splintered (Splintered #1)

Author: A.G. Howard

Release Date: January 1st, 2013

Publisher: Amulet Books

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Series: Book 1 in Splintered series

Book Link: Goodreads

Purchase Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository

Synopsis from Goodreads:

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.

Disclaimer: This book was given to me as a Christmas present.

Review:

As a child I never really liked the Lewis Carroll version of Alice in Wonderland. Nor did I like the Disney version. However, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland was dark, mysterious and intriguing. I went back to the Lewis Carroll version and to the Disney version as an adult and this time, I loved the magic that was in it.

Imagine, if you will, that Lewis Carroll and Tim Burton made a baby. That baby is Splintered. A.G. Howard managed to keep the magic of the story that Lewis Carroll first told children and mixed it in with the dark and zany qualities of Tim Burton’s version.

Yet, despite the similarities to both Lewis Carroll’s version and Tim Burton’s version, A.G. Howard still manages to write an amazing story with her own imagination. I am normally a pretty fast reader, but this took my speed reading abilities to new heights. I had to know what was going to happen and when. So I had a really hard time putting the book down at any point.

The writing was absolutely gorgeous and if writing could be swoon-worthy, this writing would be.A.G. Howard managed to create a beautiful and mysterious Wonderland through her writing. The text was in purple which I thought was awesome, It still was readable but it brought in yet another magical element to the story. I cannot gush about the cover enough. I have a serious cover crush right now. The pictures absolutely do not do this book cover justice.

I loved that this book was so character driven. From Alyssa to her dad, to her mom and then of course to Jeb & Morpheus.Most of the people I’ve spoken to are Team Morpheus. I wish I could say definitively which team I am on but I can’t. Because I love both Jeb and Morpheus. Jeb for his loyalty and devotion to Alyssa and Morpheus because he’s quite funny despite being somewhat deceptive.

I just can’t get over how much I loved this book. It was amazing and I need to read Unhinged, right now.I am so anxious to find out what the future holds for Alyssa and her family as well as Jeb & Morpheus.It should shock no one that I am giving this book 5 stars.

Stacking the Shelves #24

December 29, 2013June 28, 2015 by Alexia, posted in A.G. Howard, Christmas, flash giveaway, Harry Potter boxed set, Harry Potter mug, J.K.Rowling, Splintered, Stacking the Shelves, swag

This feature is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews

Hey everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas spent with loved ones. I had a great Christmas this year. I ended up getting only one book from my wishlist this year but that’s okay.Today is actually my birthday so I’ll be celebrating with my family later on this afternoon. Hoping for more books or at least gift cards so I can go book shopping.

I did get Splintered from my grandmother and I finished it in a day. My review for that one will be posted tomorrow. My grandmother also got me a Harry Potter mug that I wanted. So YAY for a new coffee mug. The surprises kept coming when it turned out to be my mom who bought me the complete Harry Potter boxed set! Eeeeek,now those will definitely be staying IN the packaging.

There was a flash giveaway on Twitter a couple of days before Christmas and that package arrived Friday night. There was a ton of swag in there so I was really excited. I wanted to get a really cool artsy pic together to show all the swag items but that didn’t happen.

But anyway, on to the fun stuff. The goodies.

Bought

–

Received For Review

–

Gifted

Splintered (Splintered #1) by A.G. Howard

Harry Potter by J.K.Rowling (Boxed Set)

Harry Potter Mauraders Map Mug

Won

Swag from Britta
Includes 2 tote bags
Two temporary tattoos
One CD
Pins
Keychains
Bookmarks
All sorts of other things as well.

So I definitely want to know if you have read Splintered and maybe even some of the highlights of your Christmas (if you celebrated it of course) Definitely leave me links to your Stacking the Shelves posts/vlogs so I can make sure to stop by.

Top Picks of 2013

December 27, 2013June 28, 2015 by Alexia, posted in A.G. Howard, books, Corey Ann Haydu, Emily Murdoch, Jessica Verdi, lists, Suzanne Young, Tahereh Mafi, top pics of 2013

So I know I already took part in this for another blog, but I also wanted to make a best of post for my own blog. So look at my choices for books that were published & that I read this year. In the comment section, let me know what you think of my choices.

Best debut novel(s)

OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu was in my opinion one of the best debut novels. It was written wonderfully and the characterization of OCD and it’s variables was quite accurate.Splintered was also one of the best debut novels. It was definitely a “dark” book but so, SO good.

Best start of series

The Program by Suzanne Young. I adored this book more than I ever expected to. It was beautifully written and the characters were amazing.

Best series finale/ Continuation.

So I haven’t read any series finales this year so I decided to pick the best 2^nd book in a series. For that, I go with Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi. It was amazing and left me desperate for the final book in the trilogy.

Best standalone

There are not enough words in my vocabulary to accurately describe my love for If You Find Me. It was beautifully written and the characters were wonderful and enjoyable. It had all of those feelings that are so important to the enjoyment of the book.

Best unexpected favorite

My Life After Now by Jessica Verdi. It was one of my favorite YA contemporaries of the year. I bought this one after a friend recommended it to me. I had no clue how much I would love it.

Best all around

The Program by Suzanne Young. I had heard some iffy things about it prior to purchasing it but I went ahead in purchased it anyway. It had romance, action and all the feels that a reader could ever want.

Most anticipated 2014 book

My most anticipated 2014 book is definitely Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi. I am dying to see what happens to all of the characters.

Cover Love

The cover of Splintered is absolutely gorgeous. I drooled over the cover for ages after I unwrapped it on Christmas morning. The pictures absolutely do not do it justice.

Top Ten Books I Want Santa To Bring Me

December 24, 2013June 28, 2015 by Alexia, posted in A.G. Howard, Cristin Terrill, Gillian Flynn, John Green, Kasie West, Kiera Cass, Leila Sales, Mindy McGinnis, Stephanie Kuehn, Trish Doller

This feature is hosted by The Broke and Bookish

So my mom & grandmother had been bugging me to make a list (yes at almost 28 I am still asked for lists) So I made them and emailed them. I got the same response from both of them “Um Lexi, isn’t there something other than books, that you want?” I seriously didn’t know how to answer that. To me, the answer would have been an emphatic “NO” but I know exactly how they get and how much they like to surprise me. So I put a few non book related things on there.

There have been a lot of books that have caught my eye over the past 8 months or whatever. Even more so than normal and I can thank my fellow bibliophiles for that.So these ten books are a compilation of books that either look amazing, or bloggers have raved about it or if it’s just something that I must have in my hands RIGHT NOW!

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

-The premise drew me in big time and this one has been taunting me from my Amazon wishlist for weeks-

Splintered (Splintered #1) by A.G. Howard

-Amazing cover. Plus the synopsis. Plus an amazing author who regularly interacts with her readers on social media-

Not A Drop To Drink by Mindy McGinnis

-I haven’t heard a whole lot about this one, but what I have heard, is all positive stuff-

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

-Kasie West is a goddess and I’ll read whatever she writes-

The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass

-I absolutely love the cover and that’s what’s drawn me in the most, although I have to say, the premise looks great-

This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

-I’ve heard so much about this book. Like how it was life changing. I need this book in my life-

Where The Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

-If I had to pick only one of these to be sitting under my tree, it would be this one. Hands down-

Charm & Strange by Stephanie Kuehn

-I’ve heard nothing but amazing things from this one. The premise sounds amazing-

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

-My grandmother read this one and LOVED it. It’s normally not a book she’d love so I’m excited-

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

-This book just sounds like something I’d be all over. I am really excited about this one-

I am sure a lot of you have already read most of these. Or maybe you haven’t gotten around to it yet. Anyhow, let me know if you’ve read any of these and what you think about them. Leave me the links to your TTT posts so I can come by and see what’s on your list.

Category: A.G. Howard

TTT: Top Ten Books I’m Looking Forward To In 2015

Waiting on Wednesday #6 Ensnared (Splintered #3) by A. G. Howard

Top Ten Books I’ve Read So Far This Year

YA books Made Into Movies

Review: Unhinged (Splintered #2) by A.G. Howard

Top Ten Books I read in 2013

Splintered (Splintered #1) by A.G. Howard

Stacking the Shelves #24

Top Picks of 2013

Top Ten Books I Want Santa To Bring Me