Untamed by A.G. Howard

Title: Untamed
Author: A.G. Howard
Page count: 288
Date published: Dec 2015
Publisher: Amulet Books
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

Summary (from Goodreads):

A post-Ensnared collection of three stories—available in both print and e-versions.

Alyssa Gardner went down the rabbit hole and took control of her destiny. She survived the battle for Wonderland and the battle for her heart. In this collection of three novellas, join Alyssa and her family as they look back at their memories of Wonderland. 

In Six Impossible Things, Alyssa recalls the most precious moments of her life after Ensnared, and the role magic plays in preserving the happiness of those she loves. Alyssa’s mother reminisces about her own time in Wonderland and rescuing the man who would become her husband in The Boy in the Web. And Morpheus delves into Jeb’s memories of the events of Splintered in The Moth in the Mirror, available in print for the first time.

This collection expands upon Ensnared's epilogue, and includes some deleted scenes to provide a “director’s cut” glimpse into the past and futures of our favorite Splintered characters.

Oh, this was a gem. It's like opening the highly-anticipated present on Christmas Day. You scream, giggle, and shake like you're having a seizure because you're just that excited. I know when I finished Ensnared that I would never get enough of the characters (especially Morpheus), and I was sooo thrilled when I heard that A.G. Howard was making a collection of novellas after the events of the third book. These novellas are centered around Alyssa's life after she leaves Wonderland to live a normal human life with Jeb before spending eternity in Wonderland as its queen and as Morpheus' wife. 

I enjoyed all three novellas in Untamed although I have a few qualms which I will mention later. The first novella, The Boy in the Web, follows Alison, Alyssa's mother, as she delves back into the memories of Thomas, her husband. The reader learns more about Thomas' past and how he meets Alison for the first time. Morpheus comes into play as well: Alison was his "friend" so to speak, until she betrays him to save Thomas. We learn a lot about Alison pre-Splintered and her and Thomas' relationship. Alison comes out of Thomas's memories feeling broken but realizes that she did everything that she could to save the man she loved and her daughter. The novella leaves off on a sweet note with Alison and Thomas deciding that they will start new memories together as husband and wife. 

In The Moth and the Mirror, Morpheus journeys to the memory train to find out Jeb's weaknesses by watching his memories. This part of the story is a little redundant since most of them are scenes that we've already witnessed in the other books. It was nice to view them again, though, and it gives the reader an idea behind Morpheus's mindset throughout the rest of the books. 

Now, what we've ALL been waiting for:

In Six Impossible Things, the reader follows Alyssa as she lives her life in the mortal world with Jeb and then her life with Morpheus in Wonderland. They marry, have children, and grow old together. They create a legacy together and love each other until Jeb passes away. This novella is bittersweet. I originally hated Jeb in Splintered and didn't care too much for him in Unhinged but I found a common ground in Ensnared. And while I adore Morpheus and wished that Alyssa had chosen him and only him, I can give Jeb the benefit of the doubt and allow him this novella without grumbling. It was sweet to see their children grow up and have children of their own. None of them knew about Wonderland; Alyssa and Jeb kept it a secret. However, Alyssa leaves hidden clues about Wonderland that will ignite the Wonderland curiosity. If they ever go looking for Wonderland, they will find Alyssa there; immortal and beautiful forever. The ending made me tear up as Jeb does finally die. Their last conversation was sweet and heartbreaking. Even if I didn't initially want them to be together, I have to respect their relationship and the love that they shared. Because even if their love is different from the love Alyssa shares with Morpheus, it was real. 

After Jeb's death, it is time for Alyssa to return to Wonderland. Even as she is racked with grief from the loss of her human love, there is an excitement that resonates within her. Her Wonderland side. She is old and wrinkled when she comes to Wonderland and at Morpheus' side. She is self-conscious and afraid that he will not love her anymore. But even as she grew older in her mortal life with Jeb, Morpheus would visit her in her dreams every night. He watched her grow older until she was gray and wrinkled. He loves her just as much as he did when she left Wonderland. They marry, Alyssa turns back into her youth, and they fly away to a burning love session that makes me want to fall into a puddle. Alyssa and Morpheus have their first child (the one who is prophesied in Unhinged? Ensnared?) Alyssa gives birth after showing her netherling child memories of her fun in Wonderland so that he might want to come out. This part of the novella is the best, of course. Anything that has to do with Morpheus is the best. Besides, seeing Morpheus as a dad was just toooooo cute! I love that new fatherly love that I got to see. It was a side that I hadn't got to experience before this and I'm so glad that I got to! I love their life together and know that they will fall helplessly in love with their eternity together. 

Untamed was charming, heartbreaking, funny, sweet, and down-right lovely. I enjoyed every moment of it. I want there to be more to the story; I just love Wonderland and its characters so much. If A.G. Howard ever decides to revisit Wonderland, Alyssa, Morpheus, and their children, I'm soooo in.

Until next time,