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Hooked: A True Faerie Tale
What if everything you knew about fairy tales was wrong?
What if evil wasn't just a word, but a person? A boy who comes for children in the night, who steals them away and turns them into something else? A boy... named Peter Pan?
For Eve, life has always been about survival. Bullied at high school, living in a home with no father and a mother who barely knows she exists.
But when the new boy comes to school, things start to change. He's popular, he's good-looking, he's smart. He likes her.
And he's a vampire.
Now, Eve has to discover the mystery behind the new guy's existence. A mystery that has roots in her past, and will determine her future. A mystery that will determine whether she lives, dies... or suffers a fate worse than death
What if evil wasn't just a word, but a person? A boy who comes for children in the night, who steals them away and turns them into something else? A boy... named Peter Pan?
For Eve, life has always been about survival. Bullied at high school, living in a home with no father and a mother who barely knows she exists.
But when the new boy comes to school, things start to change. He's popular, he's good-looking, he's smart. He likes her.
And he's a vampire.
Now, Eve has to discover the mystery behind the new guy's existence. A mystery that has roots in her past, and will determine her future. A mystery that will determine whether she lives, dies... or suffers a fate worse than death
303 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2012
47 people are currently reading
449 people want to read
About the author
Michaelbrent Collings
92 books660 followersOne of the most versatile writers around, Michaelbrent Collings is an internationally bestselling novelist, produced screenwriter, and multiple Bram Stoker Award finalist. While he is best known for horror (and is one of the most successful indie horror authors in the United States), he has also written bestselling thriller, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, humor, young adult, and middle grade works, and Western Romance.
In addition to being a bestselling novelist, Michaelbrent has also received critical acclaim: he is the only person who has ever been a finalist for a Bram Stoker Award, a Dragon Award, a RONE Award, and a Whitney award: and he and his work have been reviewed and/or featured on everything from Publishers Weekly to Scream Magazine to NPR. He is also a frequent guest at comic cons and on writing podcasts like Six Figure Authors, The Creative Penn, and Writing Excuses.
Find more about him at his website, WrittenInsomnia.com, or sign up for his mailing list (and get a free book!) at http://writteninsomnia.com/michaelbre....
In addition to being a bestselling novelist, Michaelbrent has also received critical acclaim: he is the only person who has ever been a finalist for a Bram Stoker Award, a Dragon Award, a RONE Award, and a Whitney award: and he and his work have been reviewed and/or featured on everything from Publishers Weekly to Scream Magazine to NPR. He is also a frequent guest at comic cons and on writing podcasts like Six Figure Authors, The Creative Penn, and Writing Excuses.
Find more about him at his website, WrittenInsomnia.com, or sign up for his mailing list (and get a free book!) at http://writteninsomnia.com/michaelbre....
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
February 1, 2023
This is a true fairie tale. And like all true fairie tales, it is bloody, violent…and there is no guarantee that good will win in the end.
Michaelbrent Collings writes some of the darkest stories I have ever read and creating some of the most violent villains that I have ever ‘met’. I love that the stories are so original and unique, and I challenge you to figure out what is coming before it happens. I sure can’t. I am sure my review is not going to do Lost Girl justice, but I will do my best.
The stars are Eve, Peter Pan, Wendy and Hook, but don’t let the fairy tale fool you. Not all characters are as you expect them to be. Be careful who you trust. Be cautious who you let into your life. Who can you trust? It’s hard to say, because even her mother and grand mother have secrets they do not share.
I have read several books in the past few weeks where a character has asthma. That adds an extra level of danger. For Eve, it has gotten worse and she feels something is coming, something evil. How can she prepare for it if she has no idea who will bring it and what it will be? I never could have anticipated any of it, if I hadn’t read the blurb…vampires! Oooo, I love vampires. Don’t care if they are blood thirsty cannibals or soft and friendly.The big question is…who is the good guy and who is the bad guy? The Lost Boys are truly lost in this unconventional coming of age story.
Brutal, violent, savage:
Gaping holes. Hearts cut from their bodies. No blood. No blood no blood no blood because there was NO BLOOD MOMMY NO BLOOD AT ALL.
Eve has no father, an alcoholic mother and a grandmother with alzheimers who always wants Eve to read her favorite book, Peter Pan, to her. She is on her own. She abuses herself, just to feel alive. She is bullied and abused at school, but she continues to attend. She wants the education, regardless of no support, no friends, and teachers turning a blind eye. Dreams, or should we say, nightmares, haunt her sleep.
My heart breaks for her, but I had a feeling…somehow…she would find someone, something good would come out of her life. Well, it doesn’t work out like I thought. I was constantly surprised, if that is the correct word. Nothing is at it seems. No one is as they seem. The complexity of the novel kept me riveted, rapidly ‘flipping pages’, wanting to get to the end, but not. I wanted more…
Lost Girl by Michaelbrent Collings was published in 2012, but I feel there is more to be told. Give me more!!!!!! How about it M?????? Are the characters talking to you yet??????
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Lost Girl (Formerly Peter & Wendy: A Tale Of The Lost) by Michaelbrent Colliings.
Michaelbrent Collings writes some of the darkest stories I have ever read and creating some of the most violent villains that I have ever ‘met’. I love that the stories are so original and unique, and I challenge you to figure out what is coming before it happens. I sure can’t. I am sure my review is not going to do Lost Girl justice, but I will do my best.
The stars are Eve, Peter Pan, Wendy and Hook, but don’t let the fairy tale fool you. Not all characters are as you expect them to be. Be careful who you trust. Be cautious who you let into your life. Who can you trust? It’s hard to say, because even her mother and grand mother have secrets they do not share.
I have read several books in the past few weeks where a character has asthma. That adds an extra level of danger. For Eve, it has gotten worse and she feels something is coming, something evil. How can she prepare for it if she has no idea who will bring it and what it will be? I never could have anticipated any of it, if I hadn’t read the blurb…vampires! Oooo, I love vampires. Don’t care if they are blood thirsty cannibals or soft and friendly.The big question is…who is the good guy and who is the bad guy? The Lost Boys are truly lost in this unconventional coming of age story.
Brutal, violent, savage:
Gaping holes. Hearts cut from their bodies. No blood. No blood no blood no blood because there was NO BLOOD MOMMY NO BLOOD AT ALL.
Eve has no father, an alcoholic mother and a grandmother with alzheimers who always wants Eve to read her favorite book, Peter Pan, to her. She is on her own. She abuses herself, just to feel alive. She is bullied and abused at school, but she continues to attend. She wants the education, regardless of no support, no friends, and teachers turning a blind eye. Dreams, or should we say, nightmares, haunt her sleep.
My heart breaks for her, but I had a feeling…somehow…she would find someone, something good would come out of her life. Well, it doesn’t work out like I thought. I was constantly surprised, if that is the correct word. Nothing is at it seems. No one is as they seem. The complexity of the novel kept me riveted, rapidly ‘flipping pages’, wanting to get to the end, but not. I wanted more…
Lost Girl by Michaelbrent Collings was published in 2012, but I feel there is more to be told. Give me more!!!!!! How about it M?????? Are the characters talking to you yet??????
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Lost Girl (Formerly Peter & Wendy: A Tale Of The Lost) by Michaelbrent Colliings.
December 11, 2022
A surprising take on Peter Pan that you won’t expect! So we’ll written as usual, the characters will draw you in so quickly. Savor this one.
February 11, 2014
I'm going to start off by saying that I've never been a fan of Peter Pan. The author just took Peter Pan to a whole new level and blew my mind. I am almost at a loss for words...almost.
The author sucked me into his tale from the prologue and I couldn't stop reading until the very last page. He definitely has a way with words. I could see every single scene he described clear as a movie playing out in my head. Every moment of fear or panic, made my heart start beating wildly. There were even times that I realized I actually forgot to breathe!
The main character Eve has a pretty rough life. Her mother is an alcoholic, she has no father, and the only other family she has is her grandmother who is hospitalized due to Alzheimer's. As if that isn't bad enough she is a target and punching bag for bullies at her school. But she's strong willed. She just wants to survive high school and get out. Honestly, I think she is pretty bad ass. She can't believe it when the hot new guy, Rocky, is nice to her. She finds it even more unbelievable that he blows off the most popular girl because he wants her. They start out on what seems like a pretty sweet romance. On top of all of this, there are murders happening in her city and the investigator suspects Eve. The author did an awesome job at fluidly piecing everything together so that the story flowed flawlessly. Not once did I feel like there was too much going on.
So take everything you know about Peter Pan, the Lost Boys, Captain Hook, and Wendy and just throw it out of the window. I much prefer this version of the story. Peter isn't the fun loving forever boy that we know him as. He is a vampire who has his sights set in Eve. But, he isn't the only one. It seems that Hook also has some interest in her as well. Tick, tock. Tick tock. Time is running out, for only one of them can come out on top. Who will Eve choose? Who will you be rooting for in the end?
I'm not sure if the author is planning on a 2nd book to follow up this story. I do hope so though. I think this book is a hidden gem from a very talented author. I enjoyed his writing immensely. This is my first book by him, and I will definitely be picking up more of his works.
The author sucked me into his tale from the prologue and I couldn't stop reading until the very last page. He definitely has a way with words. I could see every single scene he described clear as a movie playing out in my head. Every moment of fear or panic, made my heart start beating wildly. There were even times that I realized I actually forgot to breathe!
The main character Eve has a pretty rough life. Her mother is an alcoholic, she has no father, and the only other family she has is her grandmother who is hospitalized due to Alzheimer's. As if that isn't bad enough she is a target and punching bag for bullies at her school. But she's strong willed. She just wants to survive high school and get out. Honestly, I think she is pretty bad ass. She can't believe it when the hot new guy, Rocky, is nice to her. She finds it even more unbelievable that he blows off the most popular girl because he wants her. They start out on what seems like a pretty sweet romance. On top of all of this, there are murders happening in her city and the investigator suspects Eve. The author did an awesome job at fluidly piecing everything together so that the story flowed flawlessly. Not once did I feel like there was too much going on.
So take everything you know about Peter Pan, the Lost Boys, Captain Hook, and Wendy and just throw it out of the window. I much prefer this version of the story. Peter isn't the fun loving forever boy that we know him as. He is a vampire who has his sights set in Eve. But, he isn't the only one. It seems that Hook also has some interest in her as well. Tick, tock. Tick tock. Time is running out, for only one of them can come out on top. Who will Eve choose? Who will you be rooting for in the end?
I'm not sure if the author is planning on a 2nd book to follow up this story. I do hope so though. I think this book is a hidden gem from a very talented author. I enjoyed his writing immensely. This is my first book by him, and I will definitely be picking up more of his works.
June 24, 2020
I've read a few Peter Pan retellings, and this has by far have to be one of my favorites. There's lots to like about this book - a bleak urban world of alcoholic mothers, abusive school mates, and Goth-girl cutter Wendy. There are vampires (yea!) and a sick little love triangle with Peter, Wendy, and Hook! Really, this was very well done, recommended.
April 11, 2021
Collings an exceptionally creative wordsmith and Lost Girl proves the point. This book kept me guessing and consistently surprised me with additional (formerly top secret) information on Hook, Pan and the lost boys! I love it and highly recommend it.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ebook from the author and this is my honest and unsolicited opinion.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ebook from the author and this is my honest and unsolicited opinion.
January 13, 2013
Author Michaelbrent Collings is the consummate storyteller. This is what makes the man a genius. He knows how to write, tell a tale and keep readers engaged, something that is not easily done. But Michael makes it look astoundingly easy and herein lies his genius. I was skeptical when he asked if I would like to review Hooked. I am not a YA reader and not a paranormal romance fan, but after reading Apparition and Mr. Gray, I knew I loved the way Michael creates his characters and the profundity of his writing.
Hooked is a story with depth. Parts of it were difficult to read because of the emotional content. Eve is a high school girl bullied by a group of 'mean girls'. Her life a mess, alcoholic mother, absent father, grandmother living in an institution suffering from dementia. Then there is the hot new guy who only sees her. Of course this ramps up the bullying but Rocky comes to her aide time and time again.
There is also Jacob, a recluse who lives in her building but hardly ever comes out. And he has this weird apparatus which Eve refers to "his Erector set of pins and braces" instead of an actual arm. But he is sweet and kind and plays the violin.
This is a brilliant reworking of Peter Pan, and I daresay, I prefer this version. Emotional, sad, horrific, and thought provoking, this one was difficult to put down and now, one of my favourite tales.
Hooked is a story with depth. Parts of it were difficult to read because of the emotional content. Eve is a high school girl bullied by a group of 'mean girls'. Her life a mess, alcoholic mother, absent father, grandmother living in an institution suffering from dementia. Then there is the hot new guy who only sees her. Of course this ramps up the bullying but Rocky comes to her aide time and time again.
There is also Jacob, a recluse who lives in her building but hardly ever comes out. And he has this weird apparatus which Eve refers to "his Erector set of pins and braces" instead of an actual arm. But he is sweet and kind and plays the violin.
This is a brilliant reworking of Peter Pan, and I daresay, I prefer this version. Emotional, sad, horrific, and thought provoking, this one was difficult to put down and now, one of my favourite tales.
December 2, 2013
I met Michaelbrent Collings at the Salt Lake ComicCon this past fall. I'd never heard of him before then. But I'm a sucker for a signed book and he sold me on two, Hooked being one of them. He told me this book was his "response" to the Twilight idiocy. Then his mother, who was there promoting with him (I'm also a sucker for a mama's boy, as I have two of my own), asked me if I liked Peter Pan, and if I would be interested in Hook's side of the story. I was sold.
In the end I LOVED this book. I would give it 5 stars but for a few flaws I can't get over in the writing (MC isn't real good at describing fight scenes). But the flaws are small enough compared to the story that I will forgive. A sequel to this story would be incredible! I'm crossing my fingers there is one or will be one because I want more.
In the end I LOVED this book. I would give it 5 stars but for a few flaws I can't get over in the writing (MC isn't real good at describing fight scenes). But the flaws are small enough compared to the story that I will forgive. A sequel to this story would be incredible! I'm crossing my fingers there is one or will be one because I want more.
May 25, 2020
I was really exited about this story, the idea sounded great: Peter Pan a vampire, Captain Hook the good guy and Wendy a self-cutting Goth girl bullied by really mean girls and her own mother. But do yourself a favour and forget all this, just take the story in without trying to resemble everything to Peter Pan.
Unfortunately, the story nearly got killed by describing ever tidbit. There's a fine line between vividly describing a situation and rambling about unimportant things... and this was on the rambling side for me. I had to skim over large passages to sieve out the story and get things moving. It got better at 50% or I was more invested in it.
But it really pulled the whole Peter Pan and Wendy story into a new direction and I loved it. I would have liked the ending to be a little bit clearer (can vampires drown?).
Unfortunately, the story nearly got killed by describing ever tidbit. There's a fine line between vividly describing a situation and rambling about unimportant things... and this was on the rambling side for me. I had to skim over large passages to sieve out the story and get things moving. It got better at 50% or I was more invested in it.
But it really pulled the whole Peter Pan and Wendy story into a new direction and I loved it. I would have liked the ending to be a little bit clearer (can vampires drown?).
July 16, 2014
4.5/5.0
Forget everything you thought you knew about Peter Pan - fans of vampires, dark fairy tales and urban fantasy rejoice!
Read full review in the 2014 June/July Double Issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Forget everything you thought you knew about Peter Pan - fans of vampires, dark fairy tales and urban fantasy rejoice!
Read full review in the 2014 June/July Double Issue of InD’tale Magazine.
August 5, 2021
This was a super fun premise: Peter Pan as an eternally young, thrill-seeking, psychopathic vampire. And it has a great twist: Hook is the good guy, hunting down all those murderous Lost Boys.
Unfortunately, it was so weighted down with the worst of YA tropes, it just couldn't fly.
Unfortunately, it was so weighted down with the worst of YA tropes, it just couldn't fly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2022
Not sure what to say about this book. It was "ok." It was darker than I usually enjoy, without much lightness or humor to balance it out. The heroine(all the characters really) didn't feel very fleshed out and seemed very two dimensional, which seriously hindered my getting into the story. The story itself was all over the place, the school, the mean kids, Eve herself, her mom, their history, the gramma, nothing was really explained beyond a surface description of what was happening. Eve ruins everything. How? In what way? They're poor. Why? Does the mom work? Who is stocking the fridge with fresh apples? Literally everyone hates her. Why? Just because she's "goth," with her "goth necklaces?" (Seriously would someone who liked that jewelry actually call it that?) Even the teachers hate her? I don't see a teacher being complicit in the mean girls almost killing her and trashing her dissection in front of the whole class without saying something. Unless they were buying drugs from their parents? If so, that should have been explained. So who was Wendy? Eve's aunt? The original Wendy? If Hook got his piece of arm and put it back on, would it reattach? They're saying Peter is Dracula? So they just have to bite you and you become a vampire? Why? Is it like poison? Does she have to drink blood now? Did Peter and the Lost Boys drink blood? It never really showed that. Did he have to bite her a certain number of times? Why do all the girls go crazy? Hormones? cough *sexist* cough. Is Eve still going to go crazy or is she different?
Also, having grown up with chronic asthma, I questioned where the author was getting his information about attacks and how they feel/work. If she was having an attack to the point of passing out, I don't think she'd just wake up and be fine. She'd need to go to the emergency room or she would die. That said, everyone experiences asthma different so just because her experiences were different than mine didn't make them less valid. I guess. It kind of felt like the author heard that "teen girls are insecure in their bodies" and latched onto that without really understanding how it works. For how ashamed and embarassed she was about her scars, I would have thought a LOT more time would have been given to the repercussions of the pictures all over the school. Instead she's just upset for a bit that day then gets over it and goes back to school? No one teases her or says anything to her? She just see's them and runs, the end?
Some inconsistencies detracted from the story, it made me wonder if they were intentional or not. (ie was Peter messing with her and putting her in different spots/cleaning her up and she didn't notice or did the author forget?)
I like the idea of evil Peter, but feel like it needed a LOT more fleshing out to really make me want to read more. Could have benefited from some flashbacks showing more of Peter and the Lost Boy's history, maybe some more family lore on the Darlene side, a little more explanation about the music thing. Could everyone hear it or only Eve? Many, many questions, but don't really want to read anymore to find the answers.
Also, having grown up with chronic asthma, I questioned where the author was getting his information about attacks and how they feel/work. If she was having an attack to the point of passing out, I don't think she'd just wake up and be fine. She'd need to go to the emergency room or she would die. That said, everyone experiences asthma different so just because her experiences were different than mine didn't make them less valid. I guess. It kind of felt like the author heard that "teen girls are insecure in their bodies" and latched onto that without really understanding how it works. For how ashamed and embarassed she was about her scars, I would have thought a LOT more time would have been given to the repercussions of the pictures all over the school. Instead she's just upset for a bit that day then gets over it and goes back to school? No one teases her or says anything to her? She just see's them and runs, the end?
Some inconsistencies detracted from the story, it made me wonder if they were intentional or not. (ie was Peter messing with her and putting her in different spots/cleaning her up and she didn't notice or did the author forget?)
I like the idea of evil Peter, but feel like it needed a LOT more fleshing out to really make me want to read more. Could have benefited from some flashbacks showing more of Peter and the Lost Boy's history, maybe some more family lore on the Darlene side, a little more explanation about the music thing. Could everyone hear it or only Eve? Many, many questions, but don't really want to read anymore to find the answers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2021
LOST GIRL by Michaelbrent Collings is the Peter Pan/vampire crossover we didn't know we needed.
Someone mentioned it at a writing conference, and I had been itching to read it since. My self-control for vampire stories isn't great, so I waited to read it when I had a little more time to binge it if I needed to. Well, I definitely needed that time.
While my spawn were play-jousting with pool noodles, I decided to steal a few minutes to crack open the first chapter before bed. It was Easter, and the husband had wondered what I wanted to do for the evening. I was torn between a quiet night of reading (if LOST GIRL met my expectations), writing, or video gaming. By the end of the first page, my answer was decided for me. I was reading.
After the first chapter, I excruciatingly tore myself away from the pages to put our spawn to bed. Snuggled in with a drink and a blanket in my favorite reading chair, I resumed LOST GIRL and promptly read until 1:30 a.m. when I finished it. There was no stopping me--the book had captivated me.
🖤Content Review with spoilers🖤
LOST GIRL is a good twist on the YA bad boy vampire. It avoids the whole uncomfortable age difference by making Peter Pan the antagonist, and it showcases healthy relationships with the love triangle (Rocky making decisions for her and forcing her to be happy vs Jacob letting her make her own decisions and choose when she's happy). I was really proud of how it was handled.
I really enjoyed how vampire lore was inserted in Peter Pan lore. A vampire fanatic myself, I caught the little Easter Eggs and thoroughly enjoyed the association that Peter Pan was Dracula. It was beautifully done.
My only beef was that Eve is supposed to be goth, but she only lives the aesthetic. There wasn't any mention of the music. But I was willing to forgive it because her formal dance dress rocks and I want to wear it. I need more books with alt girls in my life!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars. I really wish there was a sequel, as the book set itself up to have one if Collings had decided to write one, but there isn't. So my heart will yearn for the sequel and I'll just console myself with continuously reading LOST GIRL.
Someone mentioned it at a writing conference, and I had been itching to read it since. My self-control for vampire stories isn't great, so I waited to read it when I had a little more time to binge it if I needed to. Well, I definitely needed that time.
While my spawn were play-jousting with pool noodles, I decided to steal a few minutes to crack open the first chapter before bed. It was Easter, and the husband had wondered what I wanted to do for the evening. I was torn between a quiet night of reading (if LOST GIRL met my expectations), writing, or video gaming. By the end of the first page, my answer was decided for me. I was reading.
After the first chapter, I excruciatingly tore myself away from the pages to put our spawn to bed. Snuggled in with a drink and a blanket in my favorite reading chair, I resumed LOST GIRL and promptly read until 1:30 a.m. when I finished it. There was no stopping me--the book had captivated me.
🖤Content Review with spoilers🖤
LOST GIRL is a good twist on the YA bad boy vampire. It avoids the whole uncomfortable age difference by making Peter Pan the antagonist, and it showcases healthy relationships with the love triangle (Rocky making decisions for her and forcing her to be happy vs Jacob letting her make her own decisions and choose when she's happy). I was really proud of how it was handled.
I really enjoyed how vampire lore was inserted in Peter Pan lore. A vampire fanatic myself, I caught the little Easter Eggs and thoroughly enjoyed the association that Peter Pan was Dracula. It was beautifully done.
My only beef was that Eve is supposed to be goth, but she only lives the aesthetic. There wasn't any mention of the music. But I was willing to forgive it because her formal dance dress rocks and I want to wear it. I need more books with alt girls in my life!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars. I really wish there was a sequel, as the book set itself up to have one if Collings had decided to write one, but there isn't. So my heart will yearn for the sequel and I'll just console myself with continuously reading LOST GIRL.
May 19, 2020
Lost Girl is the 2nd book I have read by Michaelbrent Collings. The first one was a good but a little on the sci-fy side. This one is fabulous! Eve is a high school student who is bullied at school. She has an alcoholic mother, a Grandmother who has been in an institution for years due to some type of dementia and no father. She does not know anything about her family history. She does not know that she is a direct decedent of Wendy from the Peter Pan story. Her Grandmother has told her that he will come for her but she does not understand what this means or that Peter Pan is a vampire.
Well written, the characters are well defined. This is a wonderful take on Peter Pan!
Well written, the characters are well defined. This is a wonderful take on Peter Pan!
June 13, 2022
What if the story we all know was meant to lull us into a false sense of security. What if Peter was not the delightful carefree little sprite we all know. What if he is of a darker spirit...one that has caused nightmares and a childlike fear of the dark, of things that go bump in the night. What if hes hovering outside a young girls window, watching, waiting for the right moment to snatch her away to the dark side. Will he succeed? Well, you have to read me to find out...
Wonderfully smart retelling of a childhood favorite.
Wonderfully smart retelling of a childhood favorite.
September 10, 2021
I'm totally in love with Michaelbrent Collins and his books. This is his take on Peter Pan and it is very dark. Eve is the daughter of an alcoholic mother and is relentlessly bullied in school. When a new boy, Rocky, befriends her she begins to believe she might have something to live for. Then there's Jacob, whose beautiful violin music lifts her soul and makes her begin to believe in herself. I don't want to give away the plot but if you like unusual fairy tales you'll like this one.
June 13, 2020
Awesome
I love this book. In love the author in have been captivated this book since I opened it last night after supper. I did not even realize that it was for young adults until I was 67% through it. A really engrossing tale that comes together in the end with a couple of twist you won't see coming! I loved it and so will you
I love this book. In love the author in have been captivated this book since I opened it last night after supper. I did not even realize that it was for young adults until I was 67% through it. A really engrossing tale that comes together in the end with a couple of twist you won't see coming! I loved it and so will you
January 4, 2021
I don't read horror, but...
When I heard about this twist on an old fairy tale, I was intrigued. I've wanted to read it for awhile and when the price dropped I had no excuse not to. No regrets! The story line was great and the character development was amazing. Well done Mb!!
When I heard about this twist on an old fairy tale, I was intrigued. I've wanted to read it for awhile and when the price dropped I had no excuse not to. No regrets! The story line was great and the character development was amazing. Well done Mb!!
July 5, 2022
Lost Girl
Amazing read ! I don't normally read vampire genre , but , Michaelbrent has delivered a fantastic , dark , supernatural retelling of Peter Pan . Everything I have read from this amazing author has been outstanding. I can't stop reading his books . PLEASE write a second Lost Girl book !
Amazing read ! I don't normally read vampire genre , but , Michaelbrent has delivered a fantastic , dark , supernatural retelling of Peter Pan . Everything I have read from this amazing author has been outstanding. I can't stop reading his books . PLEASE write a second Lost Girl book !
January 23, 2020
Spoiler Alert....I guess.
I was surprised at how well he captured me into a young girl whose life was so tragic.
And how each character was brought into the story. I never suspected Eve was Wendy
that Rocky was Peter Pan and Jacob was Hook. Totally a great twist to Peter Pan.
I was surprised at how well he captured me into a young girl whose life was so tragic.
And how each character was brought into the story. I never suspected Eve was Wendy
that Rocky was Peter Pan and Jacob was Hook. Totally a great twist to Peter Pan.
January 17, 2022
Never Disappointed
I love twisted takes on fairytale and this one definitely got my attention. It was fast paced while still maintaining and aire of mystery. One of my favorites from this author.
I love twisted takes on fairytale and this one definitely got my attention. It was fast paced while still maintaining and aire of mystery. One of my favorites from this author.
July 31, 2020
Great story
An interesting and devious take on the story of Peter Pan. I was entranced and had to keep reading. The characters were mysterious and likable. Excellent.
An interesting and devious take on the story of Peter Pan. I was entranced and had to keep reading. The characters were mysterious and likable. Excellent.
May 31, 2022
This book had me at: What if Peter Pan was the bad guy? Really enjoyed this darker twist on the classic story.
August 9, 2022
Fantastic!
October 13, 2024
Other than one or two relatively cool scenes it was simply too mysterious for me. Felt like little to nothing was explained well. Not bad but not good either.
November 17, 2013
I am a HUGE fan of Michaelbrent Collings' work and thus, this review is likely to be a trifle prejudiced in his favor due to the literary enjoyment I've had from his books over the years. His novels DARKBOUND and, to a lesser extent, APPARITION have some heavy-duty Creepy Mojo going on and rate highly in the "Keep You Awake at Night Department." And THE HAUNTED is one of the best horror novels I've read in a long time. On the other hand, HOOKED is quite a change of pace for Collings and, while I liked it very much, it wasn't at all what I expected.
I'll leave the plot details to other reviewers. Suffice it to say that Collings has placed a unique twist on the Peter Pan mythos, combining it with vampire folklore and making the Captain Hook character the hero. It's an interesting take and the new mythology is fascinating. But, in the end, it's all just trappings because, where Collings REALLY excels is with his creation of characters. Collings is so damned good that he could have written a story about Dorothy from Oz being a pedophile and, as bizarre as that concept might be, the book would still have been one hell of a read.
Putting Hook, Peter Pan, the vampires and everything else aside, HOOKED is a touching story of teenaged isolation, adolescent misery and eventual self-realization and the quest for self respect. It's a rephrasing of those awkward years, filled with overly intense emotions, that most of us went through in our teens. Collings evokes it so well that the a reader's own uncomfortable recollections of that time in his or her own life will be stirred, however briefly, from their decades-old slumber in the reader's memory.
Collings manages to capture--and I have no idea how he does it--that strange feeling of "unfairness" that permeated so much of some of our adolescent and teenaged years. The times when we were mistakenly blamed or punished by an adult authority figure for something we did not do, the instances where we were forced to concede something that we knew was correct in the face of an adult's error merely because we were the student and they were the teacher, those long periods where we felt displaced from reality by a feeling of alienation from our peers and, certainly, from our parents and teachers--Collings manages to capture them all, along with the accompanying angst and heightened emotional sensitivity that we all felt during that time.
Is this a Young Adult book? While I'm sure the Y.A. demographic will enjoy it and relate to it, I'm not sure it would do sufficient justice to the book to cast it solely in that light. Rather, I think of it as more of a retrospective into that young adult period in out lives when everything was uncertain and far too intense.
I highly recommend this one.
I'll leave the plot details to other reviewers. Suffice it to say that Collings has placed a unique twist on the Peter Pan mythos, combining it with vampire folklore and making the Captain Hook character the hero. It's an interesting take and the new mythology is fascinating. But, in the end, it's all just trappings because, where Collings REALLY excels is with his creation of characters. Collings is so damned good that he could have written a story about Dorothy from Oz being a pedophile and, as bizarre as that concept might be, the book would still have been one hell of a read.
Putting Hook, Peter Pan, the vampires and everything else aside, HOOKED is a touching story of teenaged isolation, adolescent misery and eventual self-realization and the quest for self respect. It's a rephrasing of those awkward years, filled with overly intense emotions, that most of us went through in our teens. Collings evokes it so well that the a reader's own uncomfortable recollections of that time in his or her own life will be stirred, however briefly, from their decades-old slumber in the reader's memory.
Collings manages to capture--and I have no idea how he does it--that strange feeling of "unfairness" that permeated so much of some of our adolescent and teenaged years. The times when we were mistakenly blamed or punished by an adult authority figure for something we did not do, the instances where we were forced to concede something that we knew was correct in the face of an adult's error merely because we were the student and they were the teacher, those long periods where we felt displaced from reality by a feeling of alienation from our peers and, certainly, from our parents and teachers--Collings manages to capture them all, along with the accompanying angst and heightened emotional sensitivity that we all felt during that time.
Is this a Young Adult book? While I'm sure the Y.A. demographic will enjoy it and relate to it, I'm not sure it would do sufficient justice to the book to cast it solely in that light. Rather, I think of it as more of a retrospective into that young adult period in out lives when everything was uncertain and far too intense.
I highly recommend this one.
December 16, 2012
I went into this book knowing it had vampires... and that was about it. I must admit that I was (Don't say hooked, Kel. Don't you say it!) enthralled by the idea that beloved stories can get twisted and turned around to suit the purposes of someone who may not have our best interests at heart. There's something so creepy and devious about that. It made me sit up and take notice (and possibly cackle in glee).
I feel like that whole opening paragraph is vague in an annoying and possibly confusing way but I don't like spoilers. So... yeah.
Eve is the quintessential outcast. She's bullied and beaten up at school, and she has the type of home life that you wouldn't wish on anyone. When Rocky appears and suddenly starts taking an interest in her, a big part of her doesn't quite believe it. Then she hears Jacob's music for the first time and she feels true happiness at the beauty of it. She goes from a girl who had no one to a girl who has two people who intrigue her in a heartbeat.
Naturally, things get sticky at that point and the bad things really start happening.
Dark, twisted, and very enjoyable, I'm hoping that we get a follow-up book after the revelations at the end. *attempts to find a way to say that I really like this book without using the phrase "hook, line, and sinker"* Dang it! I liked it. Okay? I liked it a lot.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
I feel like that whole opening paragraph is vague in an annoying and possibly confusing way but I don't like spoilers. So... yeah.
Eve is the quintessential outcast. She's bullied and beaten up at school, and she has the type of home life that you wouldn't wish on anyone. When Rocky appears and suddenly starts taking an interest in her, a big part of her doesn't quite believe it. Then she hears Jacob's music for the first time and she feels true happiness at the beauty of it. She goes from a girl who had no one to a girl who has two people who intrigue her in a heartbeat.
Naturally, things get sticky at that point and the bad things really start happening.
Dark, twisted, and very enjoyable, I'm hoping that we get a follow-up book after the revelations at the end. *attempts to find a way to say that I really like this book without using the phrase "hook, line, and sinker"* Dang it! I liked it. Okay? I liked it a lot.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
March 17, 2014
I was EXTERMLY excited to review this book, after all it combines some of my all time favorite genres Young Adult and Paranormal(esp. Fae). How could this not be the perfect book for me?
Young Eve is the lonely goth girl at school, the parent to her mother at home, and the unknow reader to her grandmother. This is her life and she follows it's course, until FATE brings two boys into her path. One boy is everything she is not, the other one sparks her soul when she needs most.
For most of the boy I was in some confusion over who was going to be who in the book and which one would win in the end. I do feel that a good part of the book is spend in fillers where I would have liked to see more background or action. Though the scene come to life I do find them to be not as vivid as I like in a book. Oddly with that said there was something kept me reading. I felt Eve and wanted to see her though. Eve's character came though in a way that both Rocky and Jacob lacked.I did not fact her to me just another "goth" girl but instead a young woman who is on the edge of something bigger, discovering her real self. It took most( I would guess about 75% of the book) to have me connect to the boys characters which part of the reason for the 3 stars. Oh a side note, hmm can someone please buy me Rocky's car, that thing was just perfect. At the end there was some surprises revealed that left me wanting to read a squeal if one where to come out.
Young Eve is the lonely goth girl at school, the parent to her mother at home, and the unknow reader to her grandmother. This is her life and she follows it's course, until FATE brings two boys into her path. One boy is everything she is not, the other one sparks her soul when she needs most.
For most of the boy I was in some confusion over who was going to be who in the book and which one would win in the end. I do feel that a good part of the book is spend in fillers where I would have liked to see more background or action. Though the scene come to life I do find them to be not as vivid as I like in a book. Oddly with that said there was something kept me reading. I felt Eve and wanted to see her though. Eve's character came though in a way that both Rocky and Jacob lacked.I did not fact her to me just another "goth" girl but instead a young woman who is on the edge of something bigger, discovering her real self. It took most( I would guess about 75% of the book) to have me connect to the boys characters which part of the reason for the 3 stars. Oh a side note, hmm can someone please buy me Rocky's car, that thing was just perfect. At the end there was some surprises revealed that left me wanting to read a squeal if one where to come out.
April 20, 2013
Eve’s life has been anything but easy and now with constant nightmares it seems down is the only way she if heading. Bullies, a drunken mother, a missing father, they are only a few things to deal with and now she is being stalked but some amazingly gorgeous guy with bright blue eyes; not to mention the slightly disfigured, yet handsome still stranger who can play her heart to peace with an old tune on a violin. As if all of this wasn’t strange enough Eve might just be seeing a small glimpse of hope.
Rocky already knows he is gorgeous; he is also keeping a huge secret, one that could destroy the girl he is determined to have.
Jacob is broken from years of lost hope, chasing monsters in the night, and watching dreams be crushed. Now, he finds some hope, only glimpses, but all held within Eve and a battle royal to come.
This is the point I would usually discuss the characters play against each other but this book holds a secret, that I am determined not to give away. I will say that the author has earned my undying respect and has walked well outside the box of imagination. Please, read this book. I promise you will not regret it, and you might even find that you fall in love with someone you always thought to be bad.
Reviewed by Dani for Cocktails and Books
Rocky already knows he is gorgeous; he is also keeping a huge secret, one that could destroy the girl he is determined to have.
Jacob is broken from years of lost hope, chasing monsters in the night, and watching dreams be crushed. Now, he finds some hope, only glimpses, but all held within Eve and a battle royal to come.
This is the point I would usually discuss the characters play against each other but this book holds a secret, that I am determined not to give away. I will say that the author has earned my undying respect and has walked well outside the box of imagination. Please, read this book. I promise you will not regret it, and you might even find that you fall in love with someone you always thought to be bad.
Reviewed by Dani for Cocktails and Books
February 23, 2013
This two star rating looks so mean and I feel like a huge jerk :/ It's not that the book was bad, but it just wasn't for me I guess. I did really like some of the descriptions used though! There were some really interesting similes and metaphors used to describe feelings and events that were just so great! Also there was a lot of blood and stuff which is always cool!
I just felt myself not caring about the characters because I felt like they were I guess characters that I have seen/read about loads of times before. To be honest I couldn't even finish the book because when I got to the part where there was a Mexican cop who would sporadically through in a Spanish word in his sentences I was turned off. Also for some reason there were a lot of italicized words and it bothered me. I don't want to leave a mean review though! If this sounds rude I am not trying to be D: I mean look at all the high reviews, people love this book! I think maybe this book was meant for someone younger than me, I am going to give it to my cousin to read. :)
I just felt myself not caring about the characters because I felt like they were I guess characters that I have seen/read about loads of times before. To be honest I couldn't even finish the book because when I got to the part where there was a Mexican cop who would sporadically through in a Spanish word in his sentences I was turned off. Also for some reason there were a lot of italicized words and it bothered me. I don't want to leave a mean review though! If this sounds rude I am not trying to be D: I mean look at all the high reviews, people love this book! I think maybe this book was meant for someone younger than me, I am going to give it to my cousin to read. :)
March 22, 2016
MichaelBrent Collings does it again. In this young adult twist on Peter Pan, Collings brings his own brand of macabre story telling to an old classic. He states in the forward that Hooked is a true fairy tale. When one studies the history of such stories, one learns that they are laced with brutality, intrigue, and horror. Hooked takes this approach.
This novel follows the life of a disturbed young woman who lives in a difficult family situation. She has the habit of wearing dark makeup and cutting, which makes her an outcast among her peers. In the depths of her chronic depression, she meets a beautiful young man who shows her wonders, the likes of which she could never imagine. But a predator is on the prowl and she finds herself right in the middle of a generations-old battle.
If you have never read MichaelBrent Collings, Hooked is a great starting point. This novel is well written with three-dimensional characters and an intriguing plot that keeps you guessing the whole way through. Don't miss it.
This novel follows the life of a disturbed young woman who lives in a difficult family situation. She has the habit of wearing dark makeup and cutting, which makes her an outcast among her peers. In the depths of her chronic depression, she meets a beautiful young man who shows her wonders, the likes of which she could never imagine. But a predator is on the prowl and she finds herself right in the middle of a generations-old battle.
If you have never read MichaelBrent Collings, Hooked is a great starting point. This novel is well written with three-dimensional characters and an intriguing plot that keeps you guessing the whole way through. Don't miss it.
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