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mccutiereads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
“Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.” - J.M. Barrie
This was a very interesting take on the original Peter Pan tale! Dark, but different than most modern retellings. Stay with me now - I’ll explain!
SUMMARY
We follow Holly, daughter of Jane (yes that Jane) and grand daughter of Wendy (YES that Wendy), as she copes with the aftermath of an ancient family tragedy. Holly has longed to escape the infamous Darling name and its legacy. From the extravagant balls to the ever looming prescience of Peter Pan (and yes, I do mean that Peter Pan).
While the world may delight in the tale of the charming young boy who never grows up, Holly Darling knows the sinister truth. And she is willing to do anything to keep her son from finding it. She has done unspeakable and questionable things in the name of protecting her child, all while going to the ends of the earth to hide away her comatose, and magical, daughter. When another tragedy strikes the Darling house, Holly takes matters into her own hands and sets out to track down the only person who might have an answer: Peter Pan.
REVIEW
This book was not at all what I thought it was going to be. And that’s not a bad thing. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t know how to feel about our star Holly Darling. After losing a husband, son, and daughter (basically) all while trying to hide from the Darling curse, she protected herself and her surviving son from everything. Including Peter Pan. And she went to CONSIDERABLE lengths to protect Jack. Now, seeing as I am not a mom I don’t know how well I can weigh in on what a mother would do in her shoes… but I did feel strongly that she was taking things a bit too far 🤐
But, strangely enough, I was singing a different tune about three quarters of the way through the book. Could Holly have saved herself, and son, heartbreak and pain by being honest from the beginning? Absolutely. But I finally understood that motherly instinct to care and protect. To nurture and keep your loved ones from harm. Hell, I do that to my friends AND family.
I’m going to go ahead and say that there was no “right” way for Holly to raise her son and cope with her losses. Because, after reading this book and sitting with the themes of motherhood, sacrifice, loss of innocence, and fear of growing up I realized that despite all the parenting books and guides out there there is no right way to 1) mother and 2) live your life. We will all go about it the best way we can. And we will ultimately fail, because we’re human.
Anywho, I promise this review has a point. I wouldn’t say this book is about Peter Pan. It’s about MUCH more than that. And I’m glad. So go read this book!!!
Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, Rape, Death, Drug use, Medical content, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship
ggreen1379's review
2.5
Graphic: Rape, Medical content, Child death, Grief, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Drug use, Murder, and Child abuse
Moderate: Abandonment, Kidnapping, Car accident, and Blood
saramoser's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
After reading a lot of reviews, I was so worried I would not like this book. But the book is exactly how it’s described-a dark and twisted Peter Pan, while I think the author could’ve done more to give back stories and further some character development, I still was stuck wanting to find out what’s next. I was deep into the book by the first chapter, and was wanting to do nothing but read the book and find out what happens by the end.
I would suggest for someone who wants the dark and twisted (not just dark) side of Peter Pan.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Grief, Kidnapping, and Murder
trippalli's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Rape, Grief, Confinement, Addiction, and Abandonment
Moderate: Car accident, Gaslighting, Child death, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Death
prof_pelon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Rape, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Medical trauma, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Grief, Death, Child death, Medical content, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, and Addiction
Moderate: Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Sexual violence, Chronic illness, Grief, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Violence, Pedophilia, Drug use, Stalking, Child death, Car accident, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Incest, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
blouviere4's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Abandonment, Car accident, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, and Suicidal thoughts
mackennac's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Child death, Car accident, Death, and Abandonment
elwan_enchanted's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Child death, Medical trauma, Medical content, Abandonment, Blood, Murder, Addiction, Car accident, Chronic illness, Drug use, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, and Rape
haleysversion's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Chronic illness, Addiction, Blood, Death of parent, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Rape
bookfan1414's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Abandonment, Kidnapping, and Rape