A.G. Howard’s Goth-infused, fantasy novel “Splintered’’ is in many ways a brilliant debut, in others a disturbing one. Brilliant, because it is ambitious, inventive, and often surprising — a contemporary reworking of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,’’ with a deep bow toward Tim Burton’s 2010 film version. Disturbing, because it’s so filled with predictable TV-style images, poor writing, clichés, and homilies. “Look inside yourself. Because finding who you were meant to be? What you were put into this world to do? That’s what fills the emptiness.’’
Even before it was published, “Splintered’’ generated buzz and established a fan base. A movie version, unsurprisingly, is in the works, as is a possible book sequel. The question is: Will “Splintered’’ find success despite its many flaws, or because of them?
Comments
As one of AG Howard's critique partners, I WISH I could say that Splintered had a movie deal in the hopper, but that's just not the case at present time. Hopefully one day we can celebrate this beautiful book being turned into a movie, but until then you might want to reword your review so as not to cause confusion.
-Bethany Crandell
I immensely enjoyed Splintered. I agree that Howard upheld the magic of Wonderland while coating the world in a grim shroud of Tim Burton-like appeal. I would be interested to see a cinematic spin on this one, but I haven't heard word or read anything in Publisher's Marketplace. Do you have details?