Alice the Absent

Splintered #0.5

by A.G. Howard

Long before Alyssa Gardner found her way into the rabbit hole to have the adventure of a lifetime and find the love of an eternity, her great-great-great grandmother, Alice, stumbled in. The child’s frolics and adventures left footprints across the pages of Wonderland’s history books—footprints that disappeared abruptly without a trace.

Follow Morpheus on the day of his transformative awakening, as he forges a new identity and fresh alliances while seeking to make sense of Alice’s mysterious absence in a fairyland ruled by absurdity, madness, and magic.

This limited edition collector’s prequel / origin story from A.G. Howard's dark, magical spin on Wonderland provides a bird’s eye view of a fan-favorite character. See how and why Morpheus became the sharp-tongued, hat-wearing, hookah-smoking, master manipulator pulling all the strings in Splintered, Unhinged, and Ensnared.

Genres: Fantasy, Retellings, Young Adult, Fiction, Novella, Fairy Tale Retellings, Fairy Tales

30 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

#1 New York Times and International bestselling Author of gothic / fantasy & paranormal tales, mystical & romantic with a side of horror. A.G.'s dark Alice in Wonderland inspired Splintered series has been published in over a dozen languages.

Young adult, Adult, and literary romance. Repped by Jenny Bent.

How A.G. Howard rates books on GoodReads:

"I only rate or review books I enjoyed reading, and won't give any rating below 4 stars. Please don't consider every high rating a personal endorsement / recommendation from me. My ratings here are subjective to me as an individual.

I don't rate books solely on style. Every writer's voice is individual and unique; I've come to respect this truth during my own personal journey. As long as a story takes me to another place and is well edited, I'm going to give it a good rating. And if, for some reason, a book doesn't entertain me or I don't finish it, I won't leave a rating or review at all.

If you're considering a book I've reviewed/rated, be sure to read other reviews/ratings alongside mine to help you decide if it's a read you might enjoy personally.

Happy book hunting!"

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star Rating: —> 5 Stars

No question! What a lovely novella!<3

[Amber J (Thereadingwitch) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a cute and fun mini-story, and I enjoyed being pulled back into this world, but nothing really happened in the story. So I just can't give it a 5 star.

[Crystal♛ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can never get enough of my beautiful moth boy.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderland is and will probably always be my favorite fictional world (at least, I think it's fictional. Whoever can bring me there however is always welcome to send me an invite!) and Splintered will always be one of my favorite retellings taking place in this world, especially because the Wonderland Howard created is so incredibly beautiful, dark, dangerous, unique and insane. This story has been on my shelf (in the paperback of Stain) for quite a while already and I finally read it!

It's a really nice story that doesn't particularly add something really important to the already existing world, but that does contain everything a Wonderland story needs to have. It has some really intense emotions while Morpheus is waking up from his transition into the moth we get to know him as. We meet a few really nice and familiar faces again (well, technically for the first time, since this is a prequel). And we once more get to travel to the wonderful world of Wonderland and we're meeting some more unique creatures and we get to see some more of the unique magic.

Not an absolute must read to understand or appreciate the series, but an absolute must read if you do love Morpheus and Howard's Wonderland as much as I do.

[Nite0wl29 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been dying to get my hands on Morpheus’ backstory, so you can only imagine how excited I was when AG Howard announced its arrival on Amazon today. As expected, she didn’t disappoint, and I’m glad to have gotten the chance to see this side of Morpheus before he met Alyssa. To see his character evolve from a lust-and-power-driven fey to the loving, doting Morpheus we see in Untamed. This short story has only made me appreciate his character growth even more. 🖤

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun little extra backstory on Morpheus. I wish there was more, but I still enjoyed this trip back to Wonderland.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very short. But it didn't lack in any details or interesting building of what is happening.

I absolutely adored this very short book! It was such a good introduction in the first book of the Splintered series which I am now very, very excited for to start. I immediately grabbed the book and am determined to finish it soon. The short story really made me hyped up and gave me a good idea about how the authors writing style was. It is right up my alley.

[Mariela :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me di cuenta que se me ha olvidado bastante de la historia.

[Agustina Zanelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

AAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


Me encantó leer esta historia corta, conocer el origen de Morfeo como hombre-polilla, toda su transformación y lo que ello implica. Me encontré con cosas que la verdad no me había puesto a pensar antes. Y por supuesto que fue un reencuentro con su encanto tan descarado... lo amo demasiado.

También vemos nuevas criaturas y escenas del País de las Maravillas, siempre tan llenas de creatividad e ingenio como nos tiene acostumbrados la autora. Además de personajes que ya conocemos.

Descubrí con esta historia que soy muy celosa de Morfeo jajaja y me dejó con muchas ganas de más y más de él *indirecta*

Amé esta historia corta, la disfruté de principio a fin ♥

[Milagros Guevara Bernabé · Rating 2 out of 5]

La historia arranca cuando Morfeo despierta después de pasar 75 años siendo una oruga (sí, una ORUGA 🐛) y emerge como un hombre-polilla absurdamente guapo, atractivo, seductor y —tranquilos— con su ingenio e inteligencia intactos. Porque claro, perder décadas de existencia no le iba a quitar lo hot ni lo brillante.

Al principio anda volando desnudo por Wonderland 🪽🍑 hasta que consigue una cota de malla para cubrir sus vergüenzas y su ego. En plena adaptación a su nuevo cuerpo (mucho tocarse, mucho admirarse), rescata a un hada que estaba a punto de convertirse en snack de unos sapos de lenguas filosas 🐸👅. Ella, agradecida, hace lo más sensato posible: le jura servidumbre eterna.

Morfeo, siendo Morfeo, piensa: “Excelente, mano de obra gratis”. 😌
Y así, abusando alegremente de la confianza, decreta que ella y todas las hadas deben construirle un castillo. Porque si vas a renacer, que sea con mansión incluida.

Una vez listo su palacio aesthetic —lleno de decoraciones naturales del bosque 🌿✨— y con un guardarropa completo fabricado por los mismos insectos que le hicieron la armadura (fast fashion versión Wonderland), Morfeo se siente listo para recibir visitas.

Entra en escena la Reina Marfil 👑❄️.
Cenan. Conversan. Se acuestan. Y luego Morfeo suelta la bomba: no hay amor, no hay promesas, solo fue un revolcón. ¿La razón? Ahora que tiene cuerpo humano quiere “práctica en las artes amatorias”. 💀🔥
Marfil se pone celosa, dolida… pero lo acepta. Porque apparently el mínimo emocional no existe en Wonderland.

Después viene el momento existencial: Morfeo pregunta por Alicia y descubre que, mientras él estaba en modo crisálida, pasaron 75 años. O sea, Alicia probablemente es ahora una anciana 👵🐇.
¿Drama? Un poco.
¿Solución Morfeo? Meterse en sus sueños y traerla de vuelta al País de las Maravillas. Porque si algo no sale bien, siempre puedes invadir el subconsciente ajeno.

El libro termina con Morfeo partiendo en busca de Alicia, dejando claro que esto es solo el comienzo. Este relato funciona como introducción a Splintered (Libro 1), aunque esa historia será contada desde la perspectiva de la bisnieta de Alicia.

🧠✨ Veredicto final:
La historia es interesante y entretenida, pero se siente más como un prólogo glorificado. Además, el inglés es exageradamente florido y complejo 🌪️📚: honestamente, sin Google Translate no habría entendido la mitad. Mucha prosa bonita, mucho ego narrativo… pero como entrada al universo Splintered, cumple su función.

Sexy, excesivo y un poquito insoportable.
Just like Morfeo. 😏🦋

[Jelena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had fun finding out how Morpheus became his mischievous self. Was little surprised there was actually no Alice, but the title said everything. Looks like the author had fun writing this prequel, it's very creative.

[Scheylis ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Debo admitir que en gran parte andaba confundida y perdida, perooo veo el potencial de esta saga con su mundo y creo que me va a gustar mucho. 🙂‍↕️🫵

PD: Lo más seguro es que no esté apreciando esta mini historia como debe ser, y que si la vuelvo a releer más adelante, le suba la calificación.

[Jennifer Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the beginning of what I think is one of the best retelling stories!

[Jessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super short prequel, but excited to begin this series and maybe watch Morpheus character grow?

[Kelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

How Morpheus manifested and went to look for Alice the Absent. A wonderful Prequel, to what I hope, is an amazing adventure! NOW....let the ADVENTURE begin!! ;)

[Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tive que ler em english, pq quero começar a ler os livros (que já até comprei) e como ele é o primeiro livro, li em english msm. Li pelo kindle, usando o tradutor claro, e gostei muito do livro. No meio da leitura percebi que, não tenho certeza, mas acho que ele se passa no meio do primeiro livro e não antes. Mas de qualquer forma, consegui ler o livro e achei muito bom, já ouvia as pessoas falando do Morpheus como o melhor personagem e agora entendo o porquê. Estou empolgado para começar a ler a série, pois gostei muito do universo da história.

[Andrea Criscione · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but pleasant trip back to the Splintered Wonderland.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was amazing! Morpheus has always been one of my favorite characters, and I’m so glad I was able to read this!

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting start to this series. Not sure it was necessary to write it years after the trilogy was written, but I am trash for this series. So.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent prequel!

Fantastic story, characters, creatures and imaginative detail throughout these books. So glad A.G. wrote this prequel. I read it after the first book Splintered, as I didn’t realize it existed. But it helped explain Morpheus’ situation better and was in sync with the details of Splintered. I wish it was longer and there was more history written. Maybe a second prequel after this one since there is a big gap from this one to Splintered. Write about finding Alice and their reunion.

[Sabyyy98 · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING! I'M NOT SURE IF I WROTE ANY SPOILERS BUT BEWARE!

As a die hard fan or gorgeous moth man Morpheus I approve of this novella! It just shows how far he has came as a character. I also love that this book shows how Morpheus became the flirty, sharp-tongued Netherling that we all came to love in all the madness that is Wonderland<3

[Ola Matysiak · Rating 3 out of 5]

OMG, you either love it or hate it. I'm in between. It's so absurd that I was laughing hard while reading so I decided to give it 3 stars. Imo it doesn't add anything interesting to Morpheus' character and to the Wonderland. Just for the most hardcore fans.

[Lorie LovesBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but short, and it's not really even a story. It's just a little more added, I expected it to go longer detailing how he found out about the real Alice's ordeal and how he came up with his plan. Or at least showing a skewed version of the original Lewis Carroll story.

[Claire Ingram · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute novella of Morpheus start

3.5 stars
Interesting addition to Morpheus story as he first awakens as a moth . We see him interact with some old and. New characters in his usual swagger

[Brianna Dinofrio · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for Morpheus
Basically, that's all I need in order to rate this 5 stars. My qualms with the other books in the series don't really come up in this one because of the subject content.

For reference I gave the Splintered 4 stars, Unhinged 3, Ensnared 3, and Untamed 4.

[Caroline Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good short read! I loved every weird second of it! I love that I finally got a back story to Morpheus, Ivory, and Gossamer!

I thought this was going to be about Alice and have a little more to it but! I loved every second of this novella!

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved this but it was too short! I wanted more!

[Hadar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book explain some things that are obvious in the main books

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

let it be known that i'm not starting the series....yet ;) but this was pretty neat c:

[Lizzie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!! Loved seeing things from Morpheus' point of view before Allison and Jeb!