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azurascarlet 's review for:
Alias Hook
by Lisa Jensen
Considering the numbered ratings and the ratings themselves, I shouldn't have read this according to my own rules. But I did. And I enjoyed it so much.
It probably drew me to itself because I was watching Once Upon A Time and I am officially in love with Captain Hook there. This Captain Hook is very much different from the original version as well as from Killian Jones of OUAT.
Hook in this book is a tortured man, ripped of his pride and his own sense of life by the never ending life in Neverland. Over and over, he dies just to revive and partake another game for Peter Pan's sake. Just like all things in Neverland, he exists for the sake of the boy's entertainment. But the one thing that he seeks in this world of wishes is always denied to him -- release.
We are told the story from Hook's point of view. The initial chapters go back and forth between Hook's life he sailed away from and his new role as the island's eternal villain.
I think the language is the thing that makes or breaks this book for a reader. It is a beautifully written book. But the language does not allow the reader to just flow with it. You stop and read and re read a paragraph just to make sense of the sentence. If you are a slow reader and enjoy purple prose, this is a great book. But considering this book wasn't slow plot-wise except initially during the buildup and when the author is trying to set up the world, I don't think the language was the strong point.
I couldn't wait to read further but I was always pulled back by the paragraphs explaining actions and settings. They were written in simple enough words but too hard sentence structure for a speed reader to comprehend quickly. But considering I liked the book and may even read it again, I think the second time will be better because I won't be rushing to finish the book.
Coming back to the story, I liked how this one played out. I never liked Peter Pan and especially don't like him now after seeing two villainous versions of him. The Hook in this book fascinates me because he is exactly the kind of man I like in books. Man redeeming themselves and being tortured in general. I know its weird but I specially liked Hook. And part of the reason this book is good for me is because of the lead characterisation. Hook carried this book throughout. We see Stella and I honestly see myself swooning over their romance if this book was written from her perspective and written more through her feelings for him. I won't complain because I have seen that story told many times and I appreciate the switch in the narrative this time.
I got to see a character who is made out to be a villain and keeps fighting with his own fears throughout the book. The Hook we see is exposed and laid bared before us. We see his all vulnerabilities and fears right from the start. We see what makes him, him. He isn't portrayed as a "masculine" version of the romantic hero we see everywhere. I honestly expected Stella to save him every time. He doesn't pretend to be what he is not, he is scared and angry but not a liar. He is brave despite what others see him as and I loved how easy it was to love a character so exposed like that when we know him through and through.
I liked Stella and her story but honestly the book isn't about her, its about Hook. Stella brings his deep feelings to surface, brings about the change that has eluded him in Neverland. They make a worthy pair.
Maybe I should create a tag called "memory-wipe" here on Goodreads because I do enjoy those kind of stories a lot. They are tragic and nostalgic and give me a feeling of longing and I should hate them because I hate sad stuff but I don't. I love them too much.
It probably drew me to itself because I was watching Once Upon A Time and I am officially in love with Captain Hook there. This Captain Hook is very much different from the original version as well as from Killian Jones of OUAT.
Hook in this book is a tortured man, ripped of his pride and his own sense of life by the never ending life in Neverland. Over and over, he dies just to revive and partake another game for Peter Pan's sake. Just like all things in Neverland, he exists for the sake of the boy's entertainment. But the one thing that he seeks in this world of wishes is always denied to him -- release.
We are told the story from Hook's point of view. The initial chapters go back and forth between Hook's life he sailed away from and his new role as the island's eternal villain.
I think the language is the thing that makes or breaks this book for a reader. It is a beautifully written book. But the language does not allow the reader to just flow with it. You stop and read and re read a paragraph just to make sense of the sentence. If you are a slow reader and enjoy purple prose, this is a great book. But considering this book wasn't slow plot-wise except initially during the buildup and when the author is trying to set up the world, I don't think the language was the strong point.
I couldn't wait to read further but I was always pulled back by the paragraphs explaining actions and settings. They were written in simple enough words but too hard sentence structure for a speed reader to comprehend quickly. But considering I liked the book and may even read it again, I think the second time will be better because I won't be rushing to finish the book.
Coming back to the story, I liked how this one played out. I never liked Peter Pan and especially don't like him now after seeing two villainous versions of him. The Hook in this book fascinates me because he is exactly the kind of man I like in books. Man redeeming themselves and being tortured in general. I know its weird but I specially liked Hook. And part of the reason this book is good for me is because of the lead characterisation. Hook carried this book throughout. We see Stella and I honestly see myself swooning over their romance if this book was written from her perspective and written more through her feelings for him. I won't complain because I have seen that story told many times and I appreciate the switch in the narrative this time.
I got to see a character who is made out to be a villain and keeps fighting with his own fears throughout the book. The Hook we see is exposed and laid bared before us. We see his all vulnerabilities and fears right from the start. We see what makes him, him. He isn't portrayed as a "masculine" version of the romantic hero we see everywhere. I honestly expected Stella to save him every time. He doesn't pretend to be what he is not, he is scared and angry but not a liar. He is brave despite what others see him as and I loved how easy it was to love a character so exposed like that when we know him through and through.
I liked Stella and her story but honestly the book isn't about her, its about Hook. Stella brings his deep feelings to surface, brings about the change that has eluded him in Neverland. They make a worthy pair.
Maybe I should create a tag called "memory-wipe" here on Goodreads because I do enjoy those kind of stories a lot. They are tragic and nostalgic and give me a feeling of longing and I should hate them because I hate sad stuff but I don't. I love them too much.