Audiobook Review: Ensnared by A.G. Howard

Series: Splintered #3
Unabridged
Narrator: Rebecca Gibel
26 hrs. 56 min.
Publisher: Blackstone Audio Inc.
Published: 1/6/15
Source: Audiobook Jukebox for review

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 violent netherling outcasts. 

In the final installment of the wildly popular 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 if they succeed and come out alive, can everyone truly have their happily ever after?

My thoughts:
I enjoyed the first 2 books in this trilogy and HAD to know what happened. This is the last book! It was a moral imperative for me to find out what will happen to our trio. I also have to state that this is one of two YA books that have done a successful love triangle. It made sense in this series and it concluded in a perfect way.

 The beginning of the audio starts off where we last left our heroine. We get to know more about her dad and find out he is more than a one dimensional character. We also get to know more about how Aly has changed and how much stronger she has become. While Aly and her dad prepare for what needs to be done to set things right and really getting to know each other for the first time it does make the story drag a bit. AnyElsewhere was interesting so the story picks up from there.

I have to admit that I wasn't totally on Team Jeb's side. He wanted her to totally deny her netherling side and only embrace her human side. I always hated that. Morpheous wanted her to embrace both sides, so I liked him better for that, but yes, he did play the trickster god which will frustrate out heroine. In this book both of them were jerks at the beginning but do come together in the end. They even find it within themselves to place ego aside and work together. Yes, it is at this point I wanted both for Aly.

The conclusion to the story had me quite worried. Various scenarios played in my head and I didn't care for most of them. However, this ending was perfect. I loved the epilogue and it felt bitter sweet. I don't often enjoy ending books to a series or trilogy, but I really enjoyed this one. I loved listening to it on audio and I'm thinking about going back and starting with book 1 on audio. Rebecca Gibel voiced all the characters perfectly. I wasn't expecting to enjoy Jeb and Morpheous's voices but it really fit. Her accents of the various characters really helped bring this final installment to life. I highly recommend this book on audio.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. I recommend it to those that love retellings, Alice in Wonderland, and something creative. I do plan of visiting Wonderland again in the future, this time all on audio.