Check the Shelf Book Review: Ensnared

Ensnared by A.G. Howard |website | twitter |

Read by Rebecca Gibel

Publisher/Year: Blackstone Audiobooks | January 13, 2015

Time: 13 hours and 28 min

Pages: 416

Series: Splintered Trilogy Book 3

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retelling

Format: Audiobook

Source: The Publishers through Audiobook Jukebox (Thanks!)

Amazon | Goodreads

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  That did not sway my opinion in the least.

Warning:  There will be spoilers

Summary (From Goodreads)

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?

Shannan’s Summary

Alyssa has finely accepted who she is and made plans to fight back.  After collecting her father and a few memories, the set off to find Morpheus, Jeb, and her mother; hopefully all in one piece.  But finding them, and saving them may not be the same thing, or even as easy as Alyssa first thought.  And as maters of the heart put a strain on everyone one, Alyssa finds herself struggling to balance what is right for herself and what is right for those she loves.

First Off…

I was so excited to get this book.  I had listened to the first two books through my library, but knew it would  be awhile before they got the third on in, so when I saw this one available through Audio Jukebox, I couldn’t resist.

Thoughts:

This book.  When I go into most books, especially the last book fo a series, I think I have at least some idea of where it’s going.  This book was not at all what I expected, and I loved it.  Howard does a great job of building a new part of the world she already introduced to us, one that is deeper and more strange than you can imagine.

It’s in this world, that we find out what happened to Jeb and Morpheus after they were swallowed by the trees.  They are and aren’t themselves, and Alyssa has to wind her way through layers and layers of word games, misunderstandings, and emotional upheaval to find out the truth of what is happening.

We also find out more about Alyssa’s dad and who he really is and what his connection to wonderland really is.  Their relationship is put to the test as she navigates what to tell him and what to keep secret.

Going into the book, I knew what ending I wanted to have, and as far as relationships go, I got the ending I hoped for, but it was a whirlwind of a ride through the whole book. so much uncertainty of with all three characters on what they were feeling, how they would react, and at times, whether any of them would live to see the end of the book.  I think I had at least 3 heart attacks through the book whether a character was going to die.  I was definitely a nail biter of a ender. but one I was happy with, all said and done.

As for Gibel’s reading of the book, she yet again did a great job.  The voice a reader gives to the main characters makes such a huge impact on whether I like an audiobook, and Gibel did an excellent job with this whole series.  There were times through the book that I wondered if there were even other readers making voices, because she does such a good job of making distinct voices for each of the characters, by the end, you can’t imagine them sounding any other way.  If you’re an audiobook lover, this series is a great one to listen to.

In the End

I loved the trilogy, and I thought the ending was perfect.  This was a trilogy that didn’t disappoint at all.

10 Second Summary:

1. Strong ending- sometimes stories fizzle as they end, this one stays strong the whole way through
2. So many unexpected and surprising moments- I never knew what was going to happen next, which I loved the unpredictability of this book.
3. You’ll want to read fast and slow all at the same time- I couldn’t decide if I wanted to savor the last book of this series or speed through to know how it ends.  I wound up doing a little of both.

So going to get hardbacks for my shelves.  I think you should too.