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daedae886's review against another edition
5.0
Peter Darling is by far one of my favourite reads of the year. This book proves that no matter how much we grow up there will be that part of us that never does. It also proves love is love.
palomabird1's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
ebb_and_flow's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
sbequette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
I didn't really start to enjoy this book until I was about halfway through and Peter was starting to wake up from the novelty of Neverland. I wish we could have had more of the book with a more aware Peter and possibly more indepth character thoughts. The book ended up resolving some of my concerns about idealistic a cis body or making Neverland into the only place queer people can be happy, even if it was in a "happily ever after" kind of way. It was cute, wasn't prepared for the Peter Pan/Captain Hook smut.
noirverse's review against another edition
3.0
Edit: Knocking this down to three stars because as I was thinking of this book lately, I have to admit that I was bothered by
Peter Pan as a trans man is brilliant.
Spoiler
the idea that a trans man must return to his original body to "grow up" from Neverland. Had Peter kept his ideal body from Neverland, this book would've easily been a full five stars.Peter Pan as a trans man is brilliant.
infinitenatones's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
roannasylver's review against another edition
5.0
"He breathed out and settled in the feeling of being himself, of being something whole."
* * *
First of all, I had a hell of a time picking an opening excerpt. I always try to head a review with my favorite line, and if you look at my updates, you'll see I highlighted almost 100. (Please, feel free to go through them! There's spoilers, but I just want to rooftop-shout about these words.) The writing is that exquisite, and the book so filled with beautiful phrases, it's much more difficult to say what segment I didn't love. Story aside for a moment, I'm a little in awe of Chant's ability to state incredibly complex, profound, heart-deep concepts in wonderfully clear ways, either through lovely poetics or deceptively simple language. Sometimes both at the same time. It's a rare book/writer where you just love the words, and want more, almost regardless of what they're actually writing about. I'm fairly certain I'd read anything, if it were written like this.
The story and characters itself...
I honestly don't think I can do a detailed analysis here. A quirk of my brain is that I tend to go nonverbal or nearly-so during extremely emotional moments. The more important something is to me, the less I can easily express it.
That's tripping me up nastily here. That's how you know it's powerful.
It's good. It's very good. It's very important. They are important. This story is important.
The fact that this is all I can say should in fact say it all.
I am glad this book is in the world, and I am glad I am still in the world to read it. It was needed. I truly wish I could get into the relationship/identity/emotional crux more, but... you just have to read it for yourself. I couldn't do it justice anyway.
On a less-raw note I CAN discuss because it's less home-hitting - the wonderful re-imagining of the very nature of Neverland itself! I didn't see it coming for a moment, and had no idea when starting this book that it would contain such an amazing new angle. I started for the romance, not the plot twist, but Chant's interpretation of Neverland, its rules and un-rules, its power and lure and solace and danger, and the refreshingly alien fae - I haven't so much enjoyed being knocked on my ass in a long time.
I won't tell you what I'm babbling about, because that would rob you of the experience. Just read. You'll know when you get there.
I can't think much more (it's the emotional-brainfog again; this book is so important it's actually hard to tell you WHY), so I'll finish by just Strongly Recommending that you read this book. I usually don't feel the need to re-read, but I do here. Something in this book will change you, for the better. If nothing else, I can say that.
* * *
First of all, I had a hell of a time picking an opening excerpt. I always try to head a review with my favorite line, and if you look at my updates, you'll see I highlighted almost 100. (Please, feel free to go through them! There's spoilers, but I just want to rooftop-shout about these words.) The writing is that exquisite, and the book so filled with beautiful phrases, it's much more difficult to say what segment I didn't love. Story aside for a moment, I'm a little in awe of Chant's ability to state incredibly complex, profound, heart-deep concepts in wonderfully clear ways, either through lovely poetics or deceptively simple language. Sometimes both at the same time. It's a rare book/writer where you just love the words, and want more, almost regardless of what they're actually writing about. I'm fairly certain I'd read anything, if it were written like this.
The story and characters itself...
I honestly don't think I can do a detailed analysis here. A quirk of my brain is that I tend to go nonverbal or nearly-so during extremely emotional moments. The more important something is to me, the less I can easily express it.
That's tripping me up nastily here. That's how you know it's powerful.
It's good. It's very good. It's very important. They are important. This story is important.
The fact that this is all I can say should in fact say it all.
I am glad this book is in the world, and I am glad I am still in the world to read it. It was needed. I truly wish I could get into the relationship/identity/emotional crux more, but... you just have to read it for yourself. I couldn't do it justice anyway.
On a less-raw note I CAN discuss because it's less home-hitting - the wonderful re-imagining of the very nature of Neverland itself! I didn't see it coming for a moment, and had no idea when starting this book that it would contain such an amazing new angle. I started for the romance, not the plot twist, but Chant's interpretation of Neverland, its rules and un-rules, its power and lure and solace and danger, and the refreshingly alien fae - I haven't so much enjoyed being knocked on my ass in a long time.
I won't tell you what I'm babbling about, because that would rob you of the experience. Just read. You'll know when you get there.
I can't think much more (it's the emotional-brainfog again; this book is so important it's actually hard to tell you WHY), so I'll finish by just Strongly Recommending that you read this book. I usually don't feel the need to re-read, but I do here. Something in this book will change you, for the better. If nothing else, I can say that.
dunder_mifflin's review against another edition
5.0
I didn’t want this book to end; I loved it all so much. I relate to Peter so deeply and wholly. His and James’ happy ending is beautiful and wonderful.
“He had let his family make him believe that the only way he would ever be a boy was to be born again in a different shape, leaving everything of his body and history behind.”
Peter learned it wasn’t the case, and so did I. (Though I only had myself to blame, not my family.) Damn. This book really hit me hard.
“He had let his family make him believe that the only way he would ever be a boy was to be born again in a different shape, leaving everything of his body and history behind.”
Peter learned it wasn’t the case, and so did I. (Though I only had myself to blame, not my family.) Damn. This book really hit me hard.
yaelaed's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character