The Recommended Reading Order
A.G. Howard's Splintered series is a gothic, lushly detailed young adult retelling of Lewis Carroll's classic Alice in Wonderland. The story follows Alyssa Gardner, a descendant of the original Alice Liddell, who can hear the whispers of bugs and flowers. To break the curse that has plagued her family's women for generations, Alyssa must journey into a dark, dangerous version of Wonderland. While the series consists of three main novels and several companion novellas, there are two primary ways to read it: the Trilogy-First Order (highly recommended to avoid spoilers) and the Chronological Order.
The Trilogy-First Order (Recommended)
If you want to experience the mystery, romance, and plot twists exactly as the author intended, you should read the core trilogy first before diving into the companion stories. The companion novellas provide valuable backstories and epilogues, but reading them out of order can spoil key character arcs and plot developments in the main novels.
- Splintered (Book 1) – Published in 2013
- Unhinged (Book 2) – Published in 2014
- Ensnared (Book 3) – Published in 2015
- Untamed (Companion Collection) – Published in 2015
- Alice the Absent (Prequel Novella) – Published in 2020
The Chronological Order
For readers who want to follow the timeline of events linearly, this order places the historical backgrounds, character origin stories, and mid-trilogy perspectives directly where they occur chronologically. Be warned: starting here may spoil some of the mysterious elements of the first book.
- Alice the Absent (Book 0.5) – Focuses on Morpheus's awakening and his search for Alice Liddell before Alyssa's era.
- Splintered (Book 1) – The beginning of Alyssa's journey.
- The Boy in the Web (Prequel story, found in Untamed) – Details Alyssa's mother, Alison, and how she rescued Alyssa's father from Wonderland.
- The Moth in the Mirror (Book 1.5, also found in Untamed) – Follows Morpheus as he enters Jeb's memories to understand his rival between the events of Splintered and Unhinged.
- Unhinged (Book 2) – Alyssa struggles to balance her human life with her role as Wonderland's queen.
- Ensnared (Book 3) – The final, climactic battle for the crown and control of Wonderland.
- Six Impossible Things (Epilogue story, found in Untamed) – An extended epilogue and 'director's cut' showing what happens to Alyssa, Jeb, and Morpheus after the trilogy concludes.
Breaking Down the Splintered Books
Splintered (2013)
Alyssa Gardner is desperate to keep her mother from being committed to a mental institution. Her mother speaks of bizarre, nonsensical things, and Alyssa herself can hear the thoughts of insects and plants. Soon, Alyssa realizes that the nonsense stories of Lewis Carroll are based on a real, terrifying realm. She must find her way into Wonderland to fix Alice's mistakes and save her family. Accompanied by her childhood friend and crush, Jeb, Alyssa confronts the enigmatic Morpheus, a childhood guide who is more than he seems.
Unhinged (2014)
Alyssa has returned to the mortal world, trying to live a normal life with Jeb. However, Morpheus returns to warn her that the chaotic Red Queen is planning an invasion of the human world. Alyssa must choose between protecting her human sanity and stepping back into the maddening world of Wonderland to claim her destiny.
Ensnared (2015)
Alyssa must rescue the two men she loves, Jeb and Morpheus, who are trapped in Anyika, the dark heart of Wonderland. In this concluding volume of the main trilogy, Alyssa must embrace both her human and netherling halves to save her loved ones and choose her ultimate path.
Untamed (2015)
This essential companion collection includes three distinct stories that expand the lore of the series: The Moth in the Mirror, The Boy in the Web, and Six Impossible Things. Six Impossible Things is particularly beloved by fans because it functions as an extended epilogue, detailing the future of Alyssa and her relationships after the dramatic choices of Ensnared.
Alice the Absent (2020)
Originally released as a paperback exclusive bonus story in A.G. Howard's standalone novel Stain before being released as an e-book, this prequel explores Morpheus's perspective and his attempts to locate Alice Liddell after she vanishes from Wonderland. It serves as a great companion piece for fans who want to spend more time in Morpheus's head.
Practical Reader Advice
When starting the series, the best entry point is undoubtedly the novel Splintered. Do not start with Alice the Absent, despite it being chronologically first, as it is designed for readers who already have a familiarity with and affinity for Morpheus's character. The companion collection Untamed should be read strictly after Ensnared, because Six Impossible Things will completely spoil the ending of the trilogy. While the novellas are not strictly mandatory to understand the plot of the main trilogy, they are highly recommended for a complete emotional resolution, especially regarding the series' central love triangle.