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lifeinsilver's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Kidnapping, Death, Child death, Grief, and Violence
macabrebookwitch's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was so perfect. It made me cry and I was constantly trying to figure out if they were happy or sad tears. My favorite end to a book is a melancholy one and this did not disappoint. Perfect for Peter Pan fans now getting a little bit older- FMC is 18.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Child death, Death, and Blood
escarlataaaaaa's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Mental illness, Death, Child death, and Murder
Minor: Car accident
mooswandern's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, and Death
hayley07's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, and Alcohol
chase_mcl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book was AMAZING!!! Best book of the year by far. Peter pan was always one of my favorite movies as a child and now reading the Aiden Thomas was able to mix the fun playful and at times sexy side of Peter Pan, with a darker more sinister story line. The Waterfall Scene **Chefs Kiss** and the final scene was so emotional it had me crying in public and its not easy to do both the high highs and the low lows in a book but Thomas did it beautifully. This book is really a master class on modern fantasy/mystery for a ya reader. 10 outta 10, 5 stars, BRILLIANT!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Grief
Moderate: Death, Child death, and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism
readingthroughinfinity's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Thank to Libro FM and the publisher for providing me with an advance audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Buddy read with Helen.
I absolutely adored Cemetery Boys so I had high hopes for this Peter Pan retelling, but sadly they weren't met. The story follows Wendy, as she tries to discover more about Peter, a mysterious boy who appears one night, while also looking into the disappearance of her brothers five years before.
The main reason this didn't work for me was that the plot felt weak and not many critical moments happened between the inciting event and final few chapters. There was lots of travelling back and forth between the woods and Wendy's home, but little was actually achieved from these trips. The twist at the end was the novel's saving grace, but the characters felt under-developed and the writing seemed unlike Aiden Thomas's usual well-crafted style.
Content warnings for PTSD, kidnapping, grief, anxiety, death of family members.
Buddy read with Helen.
I absolutely adored Cemetery Boys so I had high hopes for this Peter Pan retelling, but sadly they weren't met. The story follows Wendy, as she tries to discover more about Peter, a mysterious boy who appears one night, while also looking into the disappearance of her brothers five years before.
The main reason this didn't work for me was that the plot felt weak and not many critical moments happened between the inciting event and final few chapters. There was lots of travelling back and forth between the woods and Wendy's home, but little was actually achieved from these trips. The twist at the end was the novel's saving grace, but the characters felt under-developed and the writing seemed unlike Aiden Thomas's usual well-crafted style.
Content warnings for PTSD, kidnapping, grief, anxiety, death of family members.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Grief, Violence, and Child death
purrson's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I was surprised at how quickly I got sucked into this book, as I’m not a fan of Peter Pan stories—I came to this after loving Cemetery Boys. A lot of this book is about trauma, and choosing to move forward and choosing your own survival. The small town setting feels a bit static, but Thomas really captured that feeling of the last gasp of childhood well, as well as the excited energy adolescent love can bring. The MC’s trauma, grief, anxiety, and loss, is all handled with care, and it pays off. I definitely rooted for the love interests here, even though the choices made make sense for the story, I love where the epilogue leaves things.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Confinement and Animal cruelty
allygator's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was such a unique Peter Pan adaptation. Aiden Thomas is a genius for making such a classic story into a YA horror/mystery -- it works so well. I couldn't put this down, it was so engaging and fast-paced and I was so invested in how the story was going to end. I loved the characters, and I was so tense trying to figure out what was happening to them. I was so nervous to pick this up after loving Cemetery Boys so much, but I was not disappointed. This has definitely cemented Thomas as an auto-buy author for me, and I can't wait to read what he puts out next.
I loved how well this book touched on trauma and PTSD, it felt very authentic and it made Wendy a much more compelling character than she was in the original story. I wasn't sure how much I would love her romance with Peter, but it wasn't overwhelming in the story and I honestly kind of enjoyed it. The trauma within Wendy's parents was really well-written and had me crying at some points.When Peter speaks to Mrs. Darling in John and Michael's voices when she sleep talks??? I had a whole crisis.
I also really enjoyed Jordan's character, though I wish she had more page time. In general, this was a lot less diverse than Thomas' debut, but it didn't really detract from the story for me. The ending had me shaking it was so good, it was so bold and scary because it definitely could happen in today's world.
All in all, this was such a good retelling; I highly recommend picking it up.
I loved how well this book touched on trauma and PTSD, it felt very authentic and it made Wendy a much more compelling character than she was in the original story. I wasn't sure how much I would love her romance with Peter, but it wasn't overwhelming in the story and I honestly kind of enjoyed it. The trauma within Wendy's parents was really well-written and had me crying at some points.
I also really enjoyed Jordan's character, though I wish she had more page time. In general, this was a lot less diverse than Thomas' debut, but it didn't really detract from the story for me. The ending had me shaking it was so good, it was so bold and scary because it definitely could happen in today's world.
All in all, this was such a good retelling; I highly recommend picking it up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, Child death, Death, Grief, Murder, Blood, and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Car accident, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Cursing, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit
_fallinglight_'s review
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Well 3 stars bc I struggled too much to finish this book it was exceedingly slow burn so it only contributed to make me feel detached to the story. I had to coax myself every day to pick up the book but when I did I was very into the mystery. I have to say that maybe I felt this way bc I've never read anything about Peter Pan or seen any movies so I barely knew the basics. Nevertheless, I grew fond of Wendy and wanted to know how the whole mystery was resolved. The simplicity of this retelling is sweet and if it had been a few pages shorter I feel it would have delivered so much better. The scenes with Peter and Wendy were really cute and amusing but they felt kinda weird as well bc the little kids were being terrorized while they were having fun, it was an odd feeling. Like I understand they couldn't be tracking them 24/7 but it was still weird for me lol I also just didn't feel the romance part between Wendy and Peter, so that's why I appreciated Peter and Wendy's farewell that wasn't ridiculously melodramatic, it was heartfelt without being corny. I know this book has its dark themes but the softness in how it's written takes precedence, but I don't like how Wendy's neglectful and contemptuous parents faults were brushed aside and it wasn't explored why they treated their only living daughter like that. I also didn't like how Jordan felt devoid of personality and was more like a support blanket. I usually dislike characters written that way and take more issue with it when they're POC. But maybe I'm just being sensitive idk. But again on what I did like, I liked the explanation of Peter's purpose. It was sad and painful but makes sense. (Or maybe this is canon, idk??) Overall, it's not the most thrilling story but beautiful moments in text and the mystery make it a strenuous but still worthwhile and delightful read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, and Child death
Minor: Murder