Helpful Score: 2
This book is basically a retelling of the familiar Peter Pan tale. Andrea Jones takes the old play with it's sketched out characters and forms a beautiful and colorful painting of fully formed characters. You really get to know them in a more intimate way than ever before. These characters and the truth of Neverland bring you in and hold you with it's own magic. I had a hard time putting this book down.
If you were like me, I never fell in love with the original Peter Pan story, but did enjoy it's possibilities. I always had questions about the characters and all the questions I might have had were finally answered with a few surprises thrown in. How could Captain Hook, with his intelligent and ruthless ways fall prey time and again to a boy's whim? If Peter has become more faerie than boy, then why isn't he more like the faerie in attitude? These and many other questions I've always had are indeed answered with satisfaction. I also loved the surprises which just engaged me even further into the story.
This was such fun to read. It is also part of a series with "Other Oceans" listed as the next book. I seriously can't wait to go back to the adult version of Neverland. And if you haven't guess yet if I recommend this book... oh, that would be a resounding YES!
If you were like me, I never fell in love with the original Peter Pan story, but did enjoy it's possibilities. I always had questions about the characters and all the questions I might have had were finally answered with a few surprises thrown in. How could Captain Hook, with his intelligent and ruthless ways fall prey time and again to a boy's whim? If Peter has become more faerie than boy, then why isn't he more like the faerie in attitude? These and many other questions I've always had are indeed answered with satisfaction. I also loved the surprises which just engaged me even further into the story.
This was such fun to read. It is also part of a series with "Other Oceans" listed as the next book. I seriously can't wait to go back to the adult version of Neverland. And if you haven't guess yet if I recommend this book... oh, that would be a resounding YES!
Oh, I love this book! Its perfect for all of us who prefer the villain to the so-called hero. Even as a child I remember thinking Captain Hook was sexy and Peter Pan a bit of a twat and not really understanding why or what that meant. Captain Hook is sooo darkly sensual and sexy in this novel.
So many people kept reviewing this book as a grown-up version of Neverland and left off on the details. I had an inkling what would happen but Im much more pleased with the end product then what I assumed the author would do. She refrained from portraying Hook as misunderstood or actually quite a nice guy. The man is dangerous and that is part of his sigh-worthy draw! Hes also seriously romantic! Pan is no angel either and he reminds me of a cross between the wild children from the The Lord of the Flies and every teeny-bopper-Twilight-inspired protagonist. Hes quite wonderfully repulsive. And Wendy is so naïve, but yearning for something she doesnt fully understand yet. She eventually embraces her dual feminine nature as both nurturer and destroyer and it is fun (through her wry observations) seeing her come to terms with how growing up equates freedom.
Moreover, I loved the distinctions between Peter Pan, an eternal youth limited by his stagnant nature, and Hook, a master of lifes darker shades of gray. In introducing Wendy to the concept of shade, Hook forever changes her and forces her to look beyond the juvenile concept of black and white being the only two ultimatums. Yes, we need more romantic heroes who actually live a morally thought-provoking life! Im so sick of these vampire, demon, >insert favorite paranormal creature< characters or spys/pirates who are merely misunderstood, perfectly good creatures who hide behind gruff, evil exteriors while they secretly feed the homeless and save orphans. I love moral ambiguity and seeing how that especially plays out in romance. Growing up means becoming shaded, not all black or all white. So I applaud Andrea Jones for writing the kind of dangerous romance Im dying for more authors to portray. Its heartbreaking true romance shaded with just the right tint of menace and darkness.
So many people kept reviewing this book as a grown-up version of Neverland and left off on the details. I had an inkling what would happen but Im much more pleased with the end product then what I assumed the author would do. She refrained from portraying Hook as misunderstood or actually quite a nice guy. The man is dangerous and that is part of his sigh-worthy draw! Hes also seriously romantic! Pan is no angel either and he reminds me of a cross between the wild children from the The Lord of the Flies and every teeny-bopper-Twilight-inspired protagonist. Hes quite wonderfully repulsive. And Wendy is so naïve, but yearning for something she doesnt fully understand yet. She eventually embraces her dual feminine nature as both nurturer and destroyer and it is fun (through her wry observations) seeing her come to terms with how growing up equates freedom.
Moreover, I loved the distinctions between Peter Pan, an eternal youth limited by his stagnant nature, and Hook, a master of lifes darker shades of gray. In introducing Wendy to the concept of shade, Hook forever changes her and forces her to look beyond the juvenile concept of black and white being the only two ultimatums. Yes, we need more romantic heroes who actually live a morally thought-provoking life! Im so sick of these vampire, demon, >insert favorite paranormal creature< characters or spys/pirates who are merely misunderstood, perfectly good creatures who hide behind gruff, evil exteriors while they secretly feed the homeless and save orphans. I love moral ambiguity and seeing how that especially plays out in romance. Growing up means becoming shaded, not all black or all white. So I applaud Andrea Jones for writing the kind of dangerous romance Im dying for more authors to portray. Its heartbreaking true romance shaded with just the right tint of menace and darkness.
