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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The concept of this mashup is fantastic. It opened with a fairly strong start - but unfortunately as soon as Holmes appeared on page it was clear I was not going to be able to get through this book. I gave it a little longer still... but one too many extreme mischaracterizations and I just got angry. Truly bummed, I had been pretty excited to read this, but life's too short to spend it reading bad fandom!Holmes.
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Tachyon Publications for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I had such high hopes for this book but sadly it didn’t live us to those for me. The idea of merging Sherlock and Peter Pan into a single storyline was fascinating but it really just didn’t sit terribly well. Sherlock ended up being a total throwaway character who was completely unnecessary for the book. I liked seeing Mary as a strong woman but the dichotomy between her “wild Australian child” past and her dutiful housewife personas was just way too different and didn’t blend well. My biggest pet peeve though was the structure of the book- it’s essentially just a bunch of little side stories woven together using one really boring and uneventful main plot. If you stripped out all of the side stories of the individual characters’ backstories you’d be left with essentially nothing.
I had such high hopes for this book but sadly it didn’t live us to those for me. The idea of merging Sherlock and Peter Pan into a single storyline was fascinating but it really just didn’t sit terribly well. Sherlock ended up being a total throwaway character who was completely unnecessary for the book. I liked seeing Mary as a strong woman but the dichotomy between her “wild Australian child” past and her dutiful housewife personas was just way too different and didn’t blend well. My biggest pet peeve though was the structure of the book- it’s essentially just a bunch of little side stories woven together using one really boring and uneventful main plot. If you stripped out all of the side stories of the individual characters’ backstories you’d be left with essentially nothing.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is very fun! An interesting take on two popular stories of the time. I am a huge Sherlock Holmes fan and was curious as to how he would reckon with the ✨magic✨ of it all. Turns out, not so great.
One thing this book did very well was reframe these stories around a highly capable women in a way that didn’t feel anachronistic - Mary had accomplished so much, and was never content to become the stereotypical housewife we catch glimpses of in the original story.
Also, I love every story where Peter is portrayed as the villain he is. It’s a hill I’ll die on.
Thank you to NetGalley, Pat Murphy, and Tachyon Publications for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
One thing this book did very well was reframe these stories around a highly capable women in a way that didn’t feel anachronistic - Mary had accomplished so much, and was never content to become the stereotypical housewife we catch glimpses of in the original story.
Also, I love every story where Peter is portrayed as the villain he is. It’s a hill I’ll die on.
Thank you to NetGalley, Pat Murphy, and Tachyon Publications for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
✨A Clever and Thought-Provoking Twist on Neverland✨
The Adventures of Mary Darling is an utterly captivating read—one that had me turning pages with a level of engagement I can’t quite explain. The story unfolds in a fragmented, non-linear fashion, with time jumps and shifting perspectives, which, rather than feeling disorienting, made the narrative all the more immersive. It felt like piecing together a beautifully intricate puzzle.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its characters. We are introduced to a rich and varied cast, each with their own deeply detailed and authentic backstories. These characters felt real in a way that many retellings fail to achieve. Their struggles, dreams, and choices were not just embellishments to the plot but the very essence of the story itself.
What I found particularly compelling was the depiction of the Lost Boys. This book strips away the whimsical, sanitized version of Neverland and presents a far more realistic view of their existence—one that aligns much more with how I’ve always interpreted the original Peter Pan. I’ve never quite understood why it’s considered a children’s book, given its grim undertones, and The Adventures of Mary Darling leans into that darker reality in a way that is both intelligent and necessary.
Beyond Neverland, the book also delves into the complexities of Victorian society, weaving in sharp social commentary that elevates it far beyond a simple retelling. It’s a clever, well-researched work that doesn’t just entertain but also invites reflection on historical and societal issues.
If I had to choose between this and the original for my future child to read, I’d pick this one without hesitation. It respects the intelligence of its readers, offers a more honest portrayal of Neverland, and ultimately, tells a story that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished the last page.
Highly recommended.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!
The Adventures of Mary Darling is an utterly captivating read—one that had me turning pages with a level of engagement I can’t quite explain. The story unfolds in a fragmented, non-linear fashion, with time jumps and shifting perspectives, which, rather than feeling disorienting, made the narrative all the more immersive. It felt like piecing together a beautifully intricate puzzle.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its characters. We are introduced to a rich and varied cast, each with their own deeply detailed and authentic backstories. These characters felt real in a way that many retellings fail to achieve. Their struggles, dreams, and choices were not just embellishments to the plot but the very essence of the story itself.
What I found particularly compelling was the depiction of the Lost Boys. This book strips away the whimsical, sanitized version of Neverland and presents a far more realistic view of their existence—one that aligns much more with how I’ve always interpreted the original Peter Pan. I’ve never quite understood why it’s considered a children’s book, given its grim undertones, and The Adventures of Mary Darling leans into that darker reality in a way that is both intelligent and necessary.
Beyond Neverland, the book also delves into the complexities of Victorian society, weaving in sharp social commentary that elevates it far beyond a simple retelling. It’s a clever, well-researched work that doesn’t just entertain but also invites reflection on historical and societal issues.
If I had to choose between this and the original for my future child to read, I’d pick this one without hesitation. It respects the intelligence of its readers, offers a more honest portrayal of Neverland, and ultimately, tells a story that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished the last page.
Highly recommended.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!
The Peter Pan/Sherlock Holmes mash-up I didn't know I needed.
I'm a big fan of taking old stories - especially well-loved ones - and either putting women in, or re-telling the women's stories to give them more agency, or just flat-out actually making them a character rather than sexy (or maternal) lampshades. Here, Murphy gives life to Mary Darling: wife to George, mother to Wendy, John, and Michael - and previous inhabitant of Neverland, courtesy of Peter Pan. She grew up in Cooktown, Qld; is the niece of Dr John Watson; and is generally awesome.
The story is partly Mary's story, as she goes off to find her own children - recognising all the signs, as she does, of a Peter Pan abduction - and partly Watson's story, as he (along with Holmes) follow in Mary's wake to try and find Neverland. Along the way there are adventures, including other Victorian lady adventurers, and brothel-keepers, and several pirates. There's also flashbacks to Mary's childhood, as well as to the experiences of various members of the party: Sam, a South-Sea Islander friend from Mary's childhood; some of the pirates; the people who become known as Princess Tiger-Lily and her family; and George Darling himself.
Murphy has made Barrie's (and Conan Doyle's) much richer by restoring the women and people of colour who would really have existed in London, let alone the rest of the world, to the story. She's also written a zippy tale of adventure and family and identity that kept me completely enthralled.
Holmes does not come out of this story very well. Nor does Peter Pan. I was naturally reminded of AC Wise's Wendy, Darling, which is a very different book but likewise asks questions about exactly who, or what, Peter Pan could possibly be.
This was brilliant. Loved all of it.
I'm a big fan of taking old stories - especially well-loved ones - and either putting women in, or re-telling the women's stories to give them more agency, or just flat-out actually making them a character rather than sexy (or maternal) lampshades. Here, Murphy gives life to Mary Darling: wife to George, mother to Wendy, John, and Michael - and previous inhabitant of Neverland, courtesy of Peter Pan. She grew up in Cooktown, Qld; is the niece of Dr John Watson; and is generally awesome.
The story is partly Mary's story, as she goes off to find her own children - recognising all the signs, as she does, of a Peter Pan abduction - and partly Watson's story, as he (along with Holmes) follow in Mary's wake to try and find Neverland. Along the way there are adventures, including other Victorian lady adventurers, and brothel-keepers, and several pirates. There's also flashbacks to Mary's childhood, as well as to the experiences of various members of the party: Sam, a South-Sea Islander friend from Mary's childhood; some of the pirates; the people who become known as Princess Tiger-Lily and her family; and George Darling himself.
Murphy has made Barrie's (and Conan Doyle's) much richer by restoring the women and people of colour who would really have existed in London, let alone the rest of the world, to the story. She's also written a zippy tale of adventure and family and identity that kept me completely enthralled.
Holmes does not come out of this story very well. Nor does Peter Pan. I was naturally reminded of AC Wise's Wendy, Darling, which is a very different book but likewise asks questions about exactly who, or what, Peter Pan could possibly be.
This was brilliant. Loved all of it.
In theory, a Sherlock Holmes x Peter Pan crossover should be incredible. I should be excited to open the book/my ereader every time I continue reading it. I should love Mary Darling.
Unfortunately, I don't. This book feels unedited at points, and somehow repetitive without lines or plot points being repeated over and over. In general, just a slog to read through, which is why I dnf-ed it at 37%. I didn't care for the entire Sherlock Holmes-part of the novel up until that point, and the Mary/Marty-portion of it came very short so far.
@NetGalley and Tachyon Publications: Thank you guys for the ARC!
Unfortunately, I don't. This book feels unedited at points, and somehow repetitive without lines or plot points being repeated over and over. In general, just a slog to read through, which is why I dnf-ed it at 37%. I didn't care for the entire Sherlock Holmes-part of the novel up until that point, and the Mary/Marty-portion of it came very short so far.
@NetGalley and Tachyon Publications: Thank you guys for the ARC!
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes