Heartless

by H.G. Parry

At the age of seven, in a London workhouse, newly-orphaned James meets ten-year-old Peter. Mysterious, mercurial, thoughtless to the point of cruelty, Peter nonetheless takes a liking to James. The two forge a strange friendship, bound together by their shared love of stories--stories of a magical island called Neverland, where they adventure as the pirate James Hook and the child-king Peter Pan. But one fateful night, Peter vanishes from his bed, and in the morning James is found lying alone and broken in the courtyard outside. Only James saw Peter fly from the workhouse roof in pursuit of a star, and nobody but James believes that the star was a fairy. Over twenty years later, on the deck of a whaling ship in the frozen wastes of the Arctic, First Mate James Hook sees the same star again. James's obsession with finding his childhood friend will lead him to mutiny and murder, beyond the edges of the world, and finally to an island that shouldn't exist. But neither Neverland nor Peter are what they appear. A new story is about to begin, and not all stories have happy endings.

Genres: Fantasy, Retellings, Novella, Adult, Audiobook, Adventure, Historical Fantasy

141 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2024

About the author

H.G. Parry lives in a book-infested flat in Wellington, New Zealand, which she shares with her sister and two overactive rabbits. She holds a PhD in English Literature from Victoria University of Wellington, and teaches English, Film, and Media Studies. Her short fiction has appeared in Intergalactic Medicine Show, Daily Science Fiction, and small press anthologies. The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is her debut novel.

Reviews

[Sean Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know what's funny? For a person who's absolutely bonkers for stories, I've never been much of a Peter Pan fan, even though it's in many ways the epitome of a story. And, yet, here comes H.G. Parry, making me actually care about these characters before absolutely shattering my heart in her clever Pan reimagining.

I'd say I'm Hooked on this book, but I'm still Tinkering with the phrasing, which I know will get Panned.

(I'm done, I promise.)

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting take on the Peter Pan story! This novella follows James and Peter in a London orphanage and the tales of Neverland and Captain Hook that James would spin at night. But something happens that sends James on a path to find Peter again and discover the real Neverland. It's a tragically whimsical story about childhood, processing trauma, and growing up.

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you told me a Peter Pan variant would make me weep, I wouldn't have believed you. Have the tissues ready because this is a captivating and sometimes heart-breaking story that follows Peter Pan and James Hook from the workhouse to Neverland and beyond.

Neverland is created by James, who tells Peter adventure stories during the cold nights at a miserable, London workhouse. One night, James follows Peter onto the roof and tries to follow as Peter flies away. James spends months as he recovers from injuries incurred from his fall. He meets Gwendolyn Darling while recovering and the two become close. As adults, James and Gwendolyn work as crew on ships, but James is always looking for a way to get to Peter. When the opportunity arises, he becomes fixated on his goal which brings many around him into danger.

This is a short story that feels epic because of how far the characters travel and the timeline. The story starts with James is a child and ends when he's in his late 30s.

What a gem!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for retellings, but I honestly worried a little going in that Peter Pan had already been pretty well mined for material. Especially if Parry planned to go anywhere dark with this; just in the last 5 years or so, it seems like I've encountered an awful lot of short stories taking the more unsettling elements of Peter Pan (which, to be fair, don't require much plumbing of depths to get to) and gone *exceedingly*, disturbing places with them.

But Parry's brilliance is criminally under-recognized, she's written two 5-star-for-me books (for which my entirely subjective criterium is something like "changed who I am or how I look at the world"), she wrote my favorite book that I read in 2023 (The Magician's Daughter), and I've yet to read anything that came from her brain that I didn't really, really enjoy the hell out of. Plus her fiction almost always includes some element of commentary on stories and what they mean to people and how stories and people shape each other, for which I have a major soft spot.

So I figured that if she were doing something with Peter Pan, I'd want to read it even if I were feeling kind of over Peter Pan at the moment. And I am so glad I did. It's weird, and it's different, and yes it's got pathos but where other "Peter Pan but darker" renderings often revel in a monstrous take on Peter and fairies, Parry has more compassion for her characters, and that nuance allows characters be be a bit tragic rather than twisted. Nobody is awful just for shock value, which makes such a difference. And yes, there are thoughts about what stories are to us (and what we do to stories, as well).

Parry's work often makes me cry but in a way that I end up being so grateful for. It's never what I expect but somehow always what I want. I desperately hope more people discover this author's work, and this novella is a gem, so I hope you'll give it a try.

[Jessica]

Wow. I'm normally indifferent to Peter Pan stories, but this was gorgeous and so, so heartbreaking!

*I am not rating any books eligible for the World Fantasy Award*

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 5 out of 5]

1/31/24 - It’s Publication Day, folks!! Go read this!

I adored this. It was a little slow going at first, but then it picked up very quickly and didn’t relent until the end. This is a very imaginative retelling of Peter Pan, but it’s not the tame Disney version. Oh, no. It’s like unto the original fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen, where the little mermaid gets her human legs, but every step she takes feels like broken glass piercing her feet. This tale is not for little kids. Captain Hook has a lot more backstory, and you almost feel sorry for him a few times.

I highly recommend this—just don’t expect raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Christina Pilkington · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars

When newly orphaned James meets another orphan Peter at a London workhouse, they form a strange friendship, despite Peter’s tendency to be cruel and mean to the other children. What draws them together is stories. Peter asks James to tell him stories every evening, so at first James sticks to the stories his mother used to tell him. But gradually, he makes up his own stories about how he is a pirate in the world of Neverland and Peter is a king.

But one day Peter flys out of the workhouse window in pursuit of a star. When James tries to follow, he falls to the ground, almost killing himself. After months of recovery and meeting a new friend, James decides to search for Peter. How far will James go to find Peter? Who is Peter really?

I’ve not read Peter Pan before, but I’ve seen many adaptations. And I thought H.G. Parry did an excellent job retelling this story! It makes me want to read the original even more now.

I’ve also heard that the book is much darker in tone than any of the Peter Pan movies. If that is so, then Parry also captures the darkness of this tale. Both James and Peter are deeply flawed characters. Heartless is a character study that looks at the transition between childhood and adulthood, the complexity of friendships, and in a more quiet but impactful way explores colonialism and greed.

If you’re a fan of Peter Pan, if you enjoy reading about complex, messy characters, and if you are a retelling addict like me, I’d recommend picking up Heartless!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for the digital arc. All opinions are my own.

[PlotTrysts · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible retelling of Peter Pan from Captain James Hook's perspective. James and Peter meet as boys in the workhouse, where James spends their nights telling stories: the ones he learned from his mother and ones he makes up about Neverland. James can't forget Peter even 20 years after they're separated.

H.G. Parry is one of my favorite authors, and this novella is a perfect example of why that is. She takes the traditional Peter Pan themes of storytelling, loyalty, and (of course) growing up and makes them into a powerful fable, both recognizable and strange. Her writing is just a dream!

If you've been nervous about starting her books because of their length, this novella is the perfect place to start. It is fabulously strange and poignant.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m endlessly intrigued by the ways HG Parry cleverly subverts and reinvents bits of history and literature with which we are familiar, and I especially loved this exceptional reimagining of the story of Peter Pan.

Reinventing fairy tales and children’s literature sympathetically from the villain’s perspective isn’t anything new, but this account of Peter Pan and the creation of Neverland from the perspective of James Hook feels not only fresh but incredibly poignant.

There have been a LOT of attempts to reimagine or expand upon Barrie’s original over the years, and other than the film Hook, this is the only one that has worked. I loved the origin story Parry creates for Hook here, and I love the ways she pays tribute to the original text while cultivating an entirely new perspective on the story and its characters.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Nicole | bridge four books · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians by H.G. Parry remains one of my favorite books, so I knew I couldn't pass up the author's take on Peter Pan with her new novella, Heartless.

Parry gives readers a perfectly dark yet poignant and heartfelt reimagining of Peter Pan from the perspective of James Hook while exploring the darkness of obsession, the complications of friendship and love, the passing of time, and the unavoidable march toward death. Heartless is essentially an origin story for Captain Hook and Neverland itself. I found it incredibly clever and unique, and Parry's prose shines.

My only complaint is that I wish it was a bit longer. Rather than the time jump, I would have loved to see James at sea for at least some of the 20 years before he reached Neverland.

I think fans of Peter Pan and retellings alike will enjoy this. You don't need to have read the original to appreciate the story, as most people have some knowledge of Peter Pan's story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review to come! ⚓️

(FINAL REVIEW): This was a wonderful reimagining of the relationship between Captain Hook and Peter Pan. Taking place in, most likely, Industrial London, the short story follows James as he tries to find his friend Peter after he disappears one night. 🔍

James is an interesting take on the notorious villain, Captain Hook. Here, he has a life as a hired sailor and a love that stands the rest of time as well as patience on her end. His loss of Peter drives him to make decisions that he might not have made had Peter actually taken the chance to take James with him to Neverland. His ending is pretty sad after the events of the short story, and you can see how sometimes it’s best to not wish for things as a child. ✨

Peter is what I expected for a never-aging boy: spoiled and stubborn. Parry does a wonderful job of showing not only Peter’s backstory and trauma through abandonment, but also how the fairies he’s grown up with and raised by have affected his perspective of the world. Really, he becomes a rather tragic figure in this reminding and I honestly like that portrayal of this iconic character.🧚

Overall, I thought this was a lovely short story/retelling of these two characters and would definitely recommend to those who love retellings and/Peter Pan inspired stories. 🐊

Thank you again to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for accepting my request to read in exchange for an honest review, and to the author, H. G. Parry, for creating such a wonderful Captain Hook tale. ❤️

Overall: 4/5 ⭐️

[Leah Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love H.G. Parry and I loved this Peter Pan retelling! It’s wild to me how obviously sinister the idea of Peter is and how little I thought about it as a child enjoying Barrie’s classic. This isn’t the first James Hook genesis I’ve read, but the brilliant way it all tied together, and the focus on the power of story, will make it one of my favorites.

[Jordan (Forever Lost in Literature) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this. Everything I wanted.

[Olivia Mitas · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25* I really liked this but it could’ve been a full length novel

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning, emotive, surprising, imagining of Neverland's beginnings. Parry asks, what if James and Peter knew each other as children? The result is a bittersweet tale about the terror of growing up, the power of stories - of sharing them, of mingling them with others - to make that terror a little bit more bearable, and the horrible feeling of being left behind by the one you love most/the only one who loves you. Parry's tale is perfectly suited to its novella length.

Highly recommend.

Note: I received an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

[Amelia Halgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook

This is another version of Peter Pan where he is, in a way, a villain. But this is also a unique imagining of Neverland’s creation. This is a great story, but if the idea of Neverland as a sort of nightmare bothers you, then this won’t be for you.

[Lauren Frantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Peter Pan Retelling I’ve Ever Encountered!

If you are a fan of Peter Pan retellings (especially if you like the character of Captain Hook) and haven’t read this book yet, GO READ IT RIGHT NOW. I think it’s safe to say now that it is officially in my top three favorite Peter Pan book retellings…maybe even my favorite…which is saying something because I am slightly obsessed and have read the majority of the ones out there. The absolute tragedy of both Peter and Hook presented in it is SO heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. Neither is made out to be a true villain; rather, they are both deeply broken people who end up in a sort of hell of their own making. It’s a story about love and loss and friendship. It’s a story about death and life and growing up. About seeing the beauty even through the pain and how the power of stories can change the course of our lives. It’s about how fear can cause us to block out everything else—even the good in life—and sometimes cause us to inadvertently hurt those around us in our immaturity. It’s about forgiveness and hope for future generations even if your own story is ending. It’s about the selflessness required to be the adult in a situation, even if it makes you look like the villain. It’s just… SO. GOOD. It’ll probably make you cry but the ending isn’t one totally without hope or happiness. It’s…bittersweet and PERFECT. I think Barrie would approve.

[Cherie • bookshelvesandtealeaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this take on Peter Pan!

Some of the details were heartbreaking, like Peter’s origin and Gwendolen’s fate and the details laid out for the Peter Pan story we actually know.

This one tugs on your heartstrings, too. James and Gwendolen are both such loveable characters, it’s very easy to get swept away in their story.

Two things didn’t quite work for me, though. Being only 140 pages, this whole plot felt SO rushed. I would have liked to have spent more time with James and George at sea, get to know the ways they’ve changed over the years. The other thing sort of leads on from that - I did not get the sense AT ALL that 20 years had passed. Not only to we miss any on-page development or true passing of time, but James’s dialogue felt just as juvenile at 34 as it had at 14. There was no sense of him having aged or gained any experience despite spending 20 years at sea.

Despite this, it was an easy, enjoyable read.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional retelling of Peter Pan, and the desire to throw away everything for the memory of a friendship that meant the world. Parry's gorgeous prose and insightful words lend a new magic to Neverland, and perhaps make you see the world simultaneously through the lens of the child Peter and the adult James [Hook]. Perfectly executed in novella form. Bittersweet (I cried) and moving.



Genre: historical fantasy
England, 19th century, and Neverland

When James ends up in a workhouse at the age of seven, he doesn’t expect to make friends with Peter, the boy who whispers to him in the dark and asks James to tell him stories. For the years of their boyhood together, James spins tales of a place called Neverland, weaving himself and Peter into the stories as Peter Pan and James Hook. Aging out of the children’s wing of the workhouse, Peter, insisting he doesn’t want to grow up, jumps from a ledge and flies away. James wonders if he can do the same, but falls crashing to the ground instead of flying after his best friend. James recovers and works to rebuild his life, meeting Gwen Darling, a young girl looking for adventure herself. They create new lives for themselves on board a ship, even as James can’t let go of his friendship with Peter. But twenty years later, James sees the second star to the right, and he can’t help but wonder if Peter is still out there.

This is a perfect book for Worldbuilding Wednesday. Peter Pan and Neverland live in the collective imagination - for those of my generation it's primarily through the movie Hook - and every new version of it spins a new tale. In this version, the act of telling stories builds the world of Neverland. James’s imagination springs forth the strange geographies that only a child can imagine, and inhabits the land with people from the penny dreadfuls. The crux of the conflict late in the novella hinges on the limits of a child’s imagination.

Heartless is an emotional novella. It’s an interpretation of Peter Pan, rather than retelling, and the elements that Parry borrows work so well to balance what it means to stay young, to grow up, and to chase dreams at any age. Make sure this book is on your radar. It is a tight and well-structured novella - sometimes she goes spare on plot points, but that adds to the dreamlike quality of the book; that feeling like when you wake from a dream with only the faintest grasp of what happened. Heartless is bittersweet and emotional, with gorgeous prose and thoughtful reflection.

Thank you to @subpress and NetGalley for an eARC for review. Heartless is out 1/31/24.

[Nic, Queen of the ARCs · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something distinctly magical about an H. G. Parry book. Maybe it's her prose (exquisite, luminous, fluid) or her scholar's ability to create works that unravel classic English literature (what I wouldn't give to be in one of Parry's literature classes!). Suffice it to say, I've been a huge fan of her works since her debut, The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heap, a riff on Dickens' works that's so deliciously nerdy. I adored A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians and its sequel, and I've had The Magician's Daughter on my TBR for ages.

So, suffice it to say, I was THRILLED to get my hands on an early copy of Heartless, a Peter Pan retelling that asks the question: what if Captain James Hook and Peter Pan were childhood friends?

Functioning as both a quasi-origin story for Barrie's original works and an interrogation of the source material, Heartless has all the classic hallmarks of a Parry book. It's brainy, heartfelt, and witty, and practically tailor-made for those English majors who had to leave English behind for the working world, but never forgot the classroom (hey! Kinda like Nerverland!!). I adored her take on Captain Hook and Wendy (Gwendolyn in her version) Darling. I adored the anti-colonial undertones of Neverland and Parry's rumination on how the act of storytelling fundamentally changes reality. It is a short book, more novella than novel, so I'm going to refrain from saying anymore.

An absolute must-read -- my only complaint is that it ends so soon! I could've easily spent 200 more pages in the world Parry crafted.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Subterranean Press, and H. G. Parry for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Oliva Sunny-Days · Rating 4 out of 5]

James is a newly-orphaned seven year old when he moves into a London workhouse. While grieving the loss of his mother, James is befriended by Peter, a curious, social, at times cruel ten year old. Peter tends to lose interest in people easily and become distracted by anything new. But there’s one thing that holds Peter’s interest – the stories James tells each night. Once James runs out of stories he learned from his mother, he creates new ones about a place called Neverland, with pirates, fairies, and endless adventures. The stories continue to grow until one night when James watches Peter disappear out the window following a bright light. James cries out to go too, but his jump out the window meets gravity instead of magic.

Now a grown man, James has never forgotten his friend Peter and what he saw that night. James takes to the seas to live out some of his childhood stories. While out on a whaling excursion, James sees that same light he saw all those years ago, and he will stop at nothing to follow it. But what he finds is not the land of mischief and adventure he dreamed up as a child but something more dark and sinister.

I’m a sucker for a fairy tale re-telling, and for Peter Pan-related stories in particular. This was more of a Neverland/Captain Hook origin story, with Peter being a very important but secondary character. The villain we all know is given some humanity. The Peter that we know is shown not as a fun-loving boy so much as a selfish, immature brat. The way that James tries to help and Peter’s subsequent response is heart-breaking. This short story is a must for any Neverland fan, but don’t expect the carefree world that J.M. Barrie created.

[Miriam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Every night in their miserable Victorian work house for orphans, James entertains Peter with his imaginative fairytales and stories about the made-up Neverland. Until one night, when Peter flies off with a fairy and leaves James behind to grow up. When adult James - now with adult responsibilities - spies a fairy, he can't help following it in the hopes of finding his friend once more.

Obviously Peter Pan retellings are a dime a dozen (thanks, copyright expiration!) and there's no point in reading yet another one if you are already sick of the genre. I happen to think there's more to scrape from this particular barrel, so I was excited to see what Parry, who has put out some seriously excellent fantasy in the last couple of years, would cook up.

Unfortunately, Heartless falls flat for me. While I love the idea of Peter Pan and a young Captain Hook becoming friends in their miserable orphan youth, everything from there is a serious downhill slog. The story becomes so forced as Parry throws various hallmarks of the original (Smee! Crocodile! Hook's fucking hair! etc.) at the text in the most inorganic, forced way.

I hate it when the hand of the author is obvious, and Parry is very very obvious as she tries to bend what has become a very different story to match the Peter Pan ending. And that's just dull to read.

I wish Parry had let her story and characters grow organically and felt free enough to deviate from the source material when it suited the needs of the story.

[Rachel Feeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

So that was delightfully horrifying. I’m only a casual Peter Pan fan (familiar with Disney and Once Upon a Time), and I loved seeing the hallmarks of Neverland reimagined in this novella. We get to see young James growing up alongside his aloof and mercurial fellow orphan Peter, how an imaginary world grew from whimsy and bedtime stories, and the following obsession and tragedies that haunted James much later in life. I love how each detail comes together in a satisfying way and the often macabre results of faerie magic, which feel in keeping with the faerie tales of the historical setting.

I would’ve loved to have more to the story, particularly during the large time skip in the middle, but for this being a novella, I see how those extra adventures aren’t needed.

Although quite different from HG Parry's last book, Heartless is an enchanting read in its own way, and I can't wait to see what stories will come next.

Note: As of January 2024, it appears that print copies are only available in premium editions through Subterranean Press. I love their editions, but hopefully other formats will be available in future to make it more accessible.

**Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC**

[Cassi Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book for review from Subterranean Press via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
• The brief: This fantasy novella is inspired by J.M. Barrie’s classic, Peter Pan. Orphans James and Peter spend years together at a London workhouse before Peter escapes. Decades later, James may finally be able to follow his odd friend to a strange and distant land. It might have been better if he had never had that chance.
• If you enjoy modern yet faithful interpretations of classics that incorporate beautiful prose and a strong plot, I urge you to give this one a chance!

I requested this title because I’d read Parry’s previous work, The Magician's Daughter. I am so glad I did! Heartless has deep and compelling characterization, an engaging plot, strong world building, and layered symbolism. You don’t have to be an ardent Peter Pan lover to appreciate this work. I’m not, and yet I was fully absorbed the entire time. It is nearly impossible to give you a more detailed plot summary than the published synopsis without spoilers. What I can say is that this book… it’s my new head-cannon. Don’t skip it – you will certainly regret it.

[Madison ✨ (mad.lyreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible novella retelling of Peter Pan. I read this in one day and I absolutely adored it.

Heartless begins with James, a young boy in an orphanage in London who meets and befriends another orphan named Peter. James becomes enamored with his friendship with Peter, and he tells him stories every night about a land called Neverland, where Peter Pan and Captain Hook reside. Then, one day, Peter leaves the orphanage, leaving James alone to face the world.

This book does an incredible job of filling an entire story into only ~140 pages, and it truly develops its characters. I felt so strongly for James, and it is one of the only books I have ever highlighted in my kindle. I finished this book and instantly wanted to yell on top of the rooftops about how someone else needs to read this so I have someone to share my feelings with. This is an emotional story, and it is so reflective. Parry does an amazing job of incorporating the original story with her own creative path, and I cannot speak highly enough of it.

Thank you to Subterranean Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Nicole Magolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only wish I had read this alone and curled up in my reading chair, so I could openly weep. Instead I had to finish my lunch break and go back to my customer service job as if I hadn't just been utterly torn apart.

Peter Pan has long been a favourite of mine and I'll eat up any retelling that promises to do something interesting with the original tale -- or, in a case such as this, is written by a favourite author. H.G. Parry is a brilliant writer, as she proves again in this novella. As she tells the story of James, a young Captain Hook, she paints a world that dances between grimy and magical with just the right echoes of the original J.M. Barrie story.

Heartless is haunting, charming, frightening, and lovely. It's painful and inevitable in the way a good prequel is. It's a magical and tragical love letter to Peter Pan. Any fan will eat this up, and I highly recommend you do.

I can't wait to read it again.

[Sherry Chiger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Peter Pan deconstruction/origin story, "Heartless" is quirky, surprisingly moving, and clever. You needn't have read the original Peter Pan book/play to "get" this—personally I was familiar only with the Disney novelization I'd read when I was a kid—though it is a bit of a thrill when we first meet Gwendolyn Darling, for instance, or wonder at orphan Peter's clockwork heart. The tone is deceptively comforting, the sort you'd expect from a fairy tale for grownups, and the plotting is perfectly paced. And as was equally apparent in her previous book "The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep," author H.G. Parry is an adroit reader as well as a gifted writer.

Thank you, Subterranean Press and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, H. G. Parry, and Subterranean Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Heartless in exchange for an honest review. I received an advanced reader copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I always enjoy a good retelling of a classic fairytale. Heartless is beautifully done. It tells the story of how James Hook and Peter Pan meet as children and develop into their given characters. It explains how Neverland was created by the stories told by James to Peter. We get to meet Gwendolyn Darling and learn how James has a connection to the Darling family we all know. The villian's tale is not always black and white. There is a lot of heartbreak along the way. This is a very short book, but there is an enormous amount of emotions within it.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Heartless” by H. G. Parry is a book telling a dark prequel to Peter Pan.

When James and Peter were little and lived in a London workhouse, James would tell Peter fantastical stories at night to help them escape reality. When Peter is taken one night, James begins a journey of years to find him again. When he does, he learns that the stories that children tell hold a special terror for grownups.

This worked so well for me. James’ obsession and ultimate acceptance as Hook is a gripping slide into madness and grief. The book is short in length, but not lacking in prose or structure. It’s a very good read.

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up.
An epic and a short story in one. As someone who has always detested the Peter Pan character, this oddly gave me a reason to have a pinch of compassion for it. The fairies can continue to f off, though.
Gwendolyn Darling is a total boss and sacrificial lamb rolled into one, I never thought the crocodile would be the source of tears.
The epitome of manifesting without true understanding before it's too late, poor James Hook is a grand example of a tormented, misunderstood soul who feeds the lore behind Neverland and Peter's own happiness.
I'll be looking into reading more H.G. Parry in the future!