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The Peter Chronicles #9
Once Upon a Time
Although possible to read as a stand-alone story, Once Upon a Time is part of The Peter Chronicles. To get the most from this book you are best reading it after you have enjoyed The 9 Months Trilogy and Happy Ever After.
*** This book contains scenes which some readers may find distressing ***
Before you can have your Happy Ever After you need your own Once Upon a Time and this is Peter Jenkins'. The traumatic childhood - and teenage years - of a man who became a monster in his desperate search to find True Love.
*** Also contains a bonus short story "House" ***
*** This book contains scenes which some readers may find distressing ***
Before you can have your Happy Ever After you need your own Once Upon a Time and this is Peter Jenkins'. The traumatic childhood - and teenage years - of a man who became a monster in his desperate search to find True Love.
*** Also contains a bonus short story "House" ***
- GenresSerial Killer
138 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2013
95 people want to read
About the author
Matt Shaw
526 books2,178 followersBiography
MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.
Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.
Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.
MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.
Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.
Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 22, 2016
If i'm honest, i can only review this as "okay".
First of all, let me start off by saying I have not read the 9 month books which might affect my review, although I have read all the other Peter books.
I have two issues really; firstly child abuse is not a good subject, and even brushing over the details the subject is still pretty unpleasant. Extreme horror or not, this is a subject that is not welcome unless it is handled extremely carefully. Secondly, i'm not too sure how believable I found some of the content. Killing a bird? wearing dresses? the abuse from his "mother"? REALLY? I didn't think it was necessary to put Peter through all this to justify his actions in later books. Nature or Nurture for being bad? this suggests nurture although if you look at Josef Fritzl I don't remember reading that he went through all this abuse to become the person who did the things he did. All I'm saying is that the actions could not really be explained. Maybe once I have read 9 months I will have a different opinion.
First of all, let me start off by saying I have not read the 9 month books which might affect my review, although I have read all the other Peter books.
I have two issues really; firstly child abuse is not a good subject, and even brushing over the details the subject is still pretty unpleasant. Extreme horror or not, this is a subject that is not welcome unless it is handled extremely carefully. Secondly, i'm not too sure how believable I found some of the content. Killing a bird? wearing dresses? the abuse from his "mother"? REALLY? I didn't think it was necessary to put Peter through all this to justify his actions in later books. Nature or Nurture for being bad? this suggests nurture although if you look at Josef Fritzl I don't remember reading that he went through all this abuse to become the person who did the things he did. All I'm saying is that the actions could not really be explained. Maybe once I have read 9 months I will have a different opinion.
November 27, 2013
This is the story of Peter's (from The Peter Chronicles) early years. It charts his life from early on until he is fifteen. Seen through both Peter and his mother's eyes, the story tells of his upbringing and home life.
This was a great way to peek into the early life of a monster. The story really goes a long way to making the reader understand how and why Peter turned out to be the monster he became. Some parts were quite difficult to read, especially as I am a mum myself, but they had to be told in order to get a true sense of the horrors Peter grew up enduring. Again the pace belted along, and the characters felt a bit like old friends (If you can call a psychopath an old friend!) and we all like to get a bit of background on our friends don't we? Another great addition to The Peter Chronicles.
This was a great way to peek into the early life of a monster. The story really goes a long way to making the reader understand how and why Peter turned out to be the monster he became. Some parts were quite difficult to read, especially as I am a mum myself, but they had to be told in order to get a true sense of the horrors Peter grew up enduring. Again the pace belted along, and the characters felt a bit like old friends (If you can call a psychopath an old friend!) and we all like to get a bit of background on our friends don't we? Another great addition to The Peter Chronicles.
February 22, 2015
I'm sad. Partly because this book in itself was heartbreaking (poor Peter) and partly because its over. I've actually finished the final book in the Peter chronicles and it's over. I'm gonna miss him and his adorable ways, why didn't someone just love him goddamit?! The bonus story at the end was a lovely touch though, I really enjoyed it. Overall it's been the best series I've ever read and no doubt I'll read it all again soon. I'm off to eat my Birdseye microwave meal and cry.
April 10, 2014
I totally loved this book, it was a disturbing read, and its no wonder Peter turned out so fucked up, i highly recommend this book. I'm going to have to re-read the whole happy ever after/peter series again but in the right order lol. The bonus story: The House was a brill short story, if only it was longer.... Very enjoyable book, hats off to Matt Shaw.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews