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midnacine's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was an interesting take on Peter Pan. I'm not super familiar with the classic tale (I've probably seen Hook with Robin Williams more than the Disney animation), but I was able to catch many of the references to the original characters and plot points. However, I'm not gonna lie. While this book was spicy and full of intrigue and adventure, there were a few things that were just off.
I had an issue with the pacing in the first quarter, as though it were too slow and too fast all at once. And throughout the time we experience Neverland, some descriptions of settings are confusing enough to make me struggle imagining the scenes. Along with that, many characters outside of the lost children felt distant and underdeveloped.
But please don't let any of my criticisms deter you from picking up this book! The story beautifully balances maintaining the whimsy of the fairy tale while bringing a dark sense of originality and real-world consequences. Instead of being idolized, Peter is shown to be morally grey and irresponsible. Wendy is stubborn and defiant, wanting so much more for herself than what society has in mind. And Hook... well, you'll just have to read to find out ;)
I had an issue with the pacing in the first quarter, as though it were too slow and too fast all at once. And throughout the time we experience Neverland, some descriptions of settings are confusing enough to make me struggle imagining the scenes. Along with that, many characters outside of the lost children felt distant and underdeveloped.
But please don't let any of my criticisms deter you from picking up this book! The story beautifully balances maintaining the whimsy of the fairy tale while bringing a dark sense of originality and real-world consequences. Instead of being idolized, Peter is shown to be morally grey and irresponsible. Wendy is stubborn and defiant, wanting so much more for herself than what society has in mind. And Hook... well, you'll just have to read to find out ;)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Misogyny, and Classism
Minor: Murder
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