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A review by natashaleighton_
Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
An atmospheric, contemporary reimagining of J.M Barrie’s Peter Pan that presents a decidedly less light-hearted, darker take on Neverland and it’s lore which definitely (in my opinion) added a whole new depth to Peter and Wendy’s story as we explore life AFTER Neverland.
Five years ago Wendy and her brothers’ John and Michael disappeared from their small town in Oregon, But only Wendy came back…
With no memories of her time missing, Wendy has spent years coming to terms with the loss of her brothers. But on the night of her eighteenth birthday, local children start disappearing—with similarities to her and her brothers’ own disappearance that has everyone worried.
And things only get more complicated when a strange boy called Peter Pan arrives, desperate for Wendy to help him track down his shadow before more kids go missing.
Having read a really slow paced Peter Pan retelling at the end of last year (and which put me into a bit of a reading slump), I was a little hesitant to delve into this. But I’m soo glad I finally did as it was a really enjoyable and intriguing take on Peter Pan.
The contemporary setting definitely helped to revitalise the source material and I was glad to finally find a reimagining where Peter isn’t some soulless caricature. Here he has nuance and a host of complex feelings that we explore through every interaction with Wendy.
Wendy, likewise, is also an endearingly complex character grappling with her childhood trauma, and the guilt surrounding her brothers’ disappearance. With no memories whatsoever Wendy has struggled for years to move on— without closure she (and her parents’) are trapped in a cycle of hope and grief that never seems to end. Her journey was genuinely heartbreaking and darker than most of the YA Fantasy/ coming of age books I usually read, but the message (of loss, grief and learning to move on) was really well done.
The pacing was a little slow, but the sheer amount of emotion conveyed (through Peter, Wendy and the people closest to her) more than makes up for it.
This is the second book by Aiden Thomas that I’ve ever read (the first being The Sunbearer Trials which I LOVED) and I they may have just earned auto-buy status—I’m definitely excited to check out Cemetery Boys now!
And a massive thank you to Bethan over at Macmillan for the wonderful finished copy.
Five years ago Wendy and her brothers’ John and Michael disappeared from their small town in Oregon, But only Wendy came back…
With no memories of her time missing, Wendy has spent years coming to terms with the loss of her brothers. But on the night of her eighteenth birthday, local children start disappearing—with similarities to her and her brothers’ own disappearance that has everyone worried.
And things only get more complicated when a strange boy called Peter Pan arrives, desperate for Wendy to help him track down his shadow before more kids go missing.
Having read a really slow paced Peter Pan retelling at the end of last year (and which put me into a bit of a reading slump), I was a little hesitant to delve into this. But I’m soo glad I finally did as it was a really enjoyable and intriguing take on Peter Pan.
The contemporary setting definitely helped to revitalise the source material and I was glad to finally find a reimagining where Peter isn’t some soulless caricature. Here he has nuance and a host of complex feelings that we explore through every interaction with Wendy.
Wendy, likewise, is also an endearingly complex character grappling with her childhood trauma, and the guilt surrounding her brothers’ disappearance. With no memories whatsoever Wendy has struggled for years to move on— without closure she (and her parents’) are trapped in a cycle of hope and grief that never seems to end. Her journey was genuinely heartbreaking and darker than most of the YA Fantasy/ coming of age books I usually read, but the message (of loss, grief and learning to move on) was really well done.
The pacing was a little slow, but the sheer amount of emotion conveyed (through Peter, Wendy and the people closest to her) more than makes up for it.
This is the second book by Aiden Thomas that I’ve ever read (the first being The Sunbearer Trials which I LOVED) and I they may have just earned auto-buy status—I’m definitely excited to check out Cemetery Boys now!
And a massive thank you to Bethan over at Macmillan for the wonderful finished copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol