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Fortune Favors the Fae #6
Never Darling
Connor Darling has the perfect life. Beautiful husband, million dollar company, and the most adorable tow-headed kid any man could ask for.
When the worst thing imaginable happens, it all crumbles through his fingers. He’s left revisiting the scene of his real-life nightmare over and over, not sure if he’s coming back to try to fix things or figure out where he went wrong. Or if maybe, this is where he belongs now.
Mattias Hall has come home, because the worst has already happened. His grandfather, the man who raised him, has died, and left his grandmother alone to run the family inn. So Mattias gave up his flashy New York chef life for one he’s perhaps better suited small town innkeeper.
When Connor Darling returns year after year, neither is sure what the other is looking for, but in Cider Landing, anything is possible. Maybe they’ll both find just what they needed in each other, and in the magic of the woods outside of town.
Never Darling is a part of the multi-author series, Fortune Favors the Fae. From spicy to sweet, zany romps to epic adventures, there’s something for everyone in this mystical series. Discover destiny and true love and follow the coin on its fickle journey to the next world and a new magical adventure.
When the worst thing imaginable happens, it all crumbles through his fingers. He’s left revisiting the scene of his real-life nightmare over and over, not sure if he’s coming back to try to fix things or figure out where he went wrong. Or if maybe, this is where he belongs now.
Mattias Hall has come home, because the worst has already happened. His grandfather, the man who raised him, has died, and left his grandmother alone to run the family inn. So Mattias gave up his flashy New York chef life for one he’s perhaps better suited small town innkeeper.
When Connor Darling returns year after year, neither is sure what the other is looking for, but in Cider Landing, anything is possible. Maybe they’ll both find just what they needed in each other, and in the magic of the woods outside of town.
Never Darling is a part of the multi-author series, Fortune Favors the Fae. From spicy to sweet, zany romps to epic adventures, there’s something for everyone in this mystical series. Discover destiny and true love and follow the coin on its fickle journey to the next world and a new magical adventure.
233 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 4, 2024
106 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
July 6, 2024
I enjoyed this story as a retelling of Peter Pan-adjacent, but this is not a fae story and the coin seemed shoehorned in. It really feels like the story was already written and the author stuck the coin in so that they could participate in the series. That, or they decided to write the coin in such a way that it'll easily lift out when the copyright reverts or whatever. In every other book I've read in this series, you would not have the story without the coin. In this one, the coin has ZERO impact on the story.
This book is also much darker than the previous ones, so that was kind of a surprise.
I still liked it, but I didn't like it as a part of this series.
This book is also much darker than the previous ones, so that was kind of a surprise.
I still liked it, but I didn't like it as a part of this series.
July 4, 2024
"Never Darling" was a pretty cute, heart-warming (and unexpectedly angsty!) novel.
Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes are an absolutely wonderful writing duo, and I always look forward to their works together. They always manage to write such an amazing mixture of romances, from epic fantasy to PNR romances and stories like this one that feel like an old time fairy tale, but with a modern twist.
I found "Never Darling" very original, storytelling wise, packed with a few surprises and shocking twists I never saw coming; and I really adored both leads. Connor was a sweetheart: he deserves everything that's good in the universe; and Mattias was a delight. I loved him so much!
I also loved all the other side characters, from Jessie to Mattias's grandmother, and I loved the small-town, magical vibe of the inn and the town.
And of course, the writing was, as usual, absolutely magnificent.
Unfortunately, I wasn't totally sold on the book as a whole. I won't spoil, but if you've read the blurb, something pretty tragic and horrible happens early on, and while I was expecting something to happen, I WAS NOT expecting what happened to happen. The story took a pretty dark turn early on, and that, plus the year leaps between the different chapter sections (one of the things I despise the most in romances is time leaps *grr), made me feel quite a bit upset for most of the book.
So yeah; while I do love angst and drama in my romances, I think I probably wasn't in the mood for it this time (or maybe, I just wasn't expecting it: I definitely should have looked at the trigger warnings a lot harder than I did, so this is entirely my fault!)
The last few chapters have a definite happier mood, and I enjoyed the last section so much more: maybe because I knew a HEA was on its way.
So yes, all in all, although I can't say I loved this novel wholeheartedly, I still enjoyed reading it, and I was definitely hooked from the start. The atmosphere was magical and old timey, and its two leads wholly adorable. And the ending? So damn sweet.
TWs/CWs: just in case
Thank you Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes are an absolutely wonderful writing duo, and I always look forward to their works together. They always manage to write such an amazing mixture of romances, from epic fantasy to PNR romances and stories like this one that feel like an old time fairy tale, but with a modern twist.
I found "Never Darling" very original, storytelling wise, packed with a few surprises and shocking twists I never saw coming; and I really adored both leads. Connor was a sweetheart: he deserves everything that's good in the universe; and Mattias was a delight. I loved him so much!
I also loved all the other side characters, from Jessie to Mattias's grandmother, and I loved the small-town, magical vibe of the inn and the town.
And of course, the writing was, as usual, absolutely magnificent.
Unfortunately, I wasn't totally sold on the book as a whole. I won't spoil, but if you've read the blurb, something pretty tragic and horrible happens early on, and while I was expecting something to happen, I WAS NOT expecting what happened to happen. The story took a pretty dark turn early on, and that, plus the year leaps between the different chapter sections (one of the things I despise the most in romances is time leaps *grr), made me feel quite a bit upset for most of the book.
So yeah; while I do love angst and drama in my romances, I think I probably wasn't in the mood for it this time (or maybe, I just wasn't expecting it: I definitely should have looked at the trigger warnings a lot harder than I did, so this is entirely my fault!)
The last few chapters have a definite happier mood, and I enjoyed the last section so much more: maybe because I knew a HEA was on its way.
So yes, all in all, although I can't say I loved this novel wholeheartedly, I still enjoyed reading it, and I was definitely hooked from the start. The atmosphere was magical and old timey, and its two leads wholly adorable. And the ending? So damn sweet.
TWs/CWs: just in case
Thank you Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes for the ARC. This is my honest review.
January 13, 2026
What a sweet new take on Peter Pan! Just a super cute small town, a little angst with Jessie going missing, and then a lovely romance. Just a fan overall.
July 3, 2024
I've read quite a few books now by these two authors and they never disappoint. You know how sometimes when a book is co-written you can tell that two people wrote it? Well that doesn't happen with these two, nor did it occur in this story. The flow and the pacing of this book was marvelous!! I was worried at the beginning because quite a few things happened early on, so I was worried the rest of the book would drag on or be used as filler. That's not what happened though, which was a huge relief!
Mattias is a chef who used to work in fancy restaurants in the city, but after his grandpa's passing, he returns home to help his grandma run the Inn. One day during check in, he meets a married couple and their adorable child, and that day changes their lives forever.
Connor thought that going to a small town with a cozy inn would be a great opportunity to spend some quality family time with his husband and their child. When someone misgenders Jessie, and Trevor doesn't correct them, it causes a turn of events that no one was prepared for. And from there is where the story fully begins.
I wasn't expecting this book to go the way it did, but that's okay because I love to be surprised. This book definitely surprised me! Jessie's character is simply adorable, they are so cute and their obsession with frogs is endearing, along with their love for chocolate. Which I definitely understand, haha. I don't want to give away any major plot details, so I'll just say that what happened to Jessie's character was really unique. I've never read anything remotely similar to this, I love when an author/s create something new, and that's what happened here.
I enjoyed how Connor and Mattias took their time getting to know one another slowly over the course of a couple years. They communicated with each other and they let one another know that they had to take things slow, which I enjoyed. This is a low-steam story with loads of love that shines brightly throughout the story. I really enjoyed reading this book and I'm sad that it's over. I do want to say that I absolutely loved that Jessie's character was nonbinary, and the way their character was written was fabulous! I loved the way they explained themselves and told others how they identify. The representation was beautiful!!
Please do yourself a favor and read this book, it's so good!! You won't regret it!
Mattias is a chef who used to work in fancy restaurants in the city, but after his grandpa's passing, he returns home to help his grandma run the Inn. One day during check in, he meets a married couple and their adorable child, and that day changes their lives forever.
Connor thought that going to a small town with a cozy inn would be a great opportunity to spend some quality family time with his husband and their child. When someone misgenders Jessie, and Trevor doesn't correct them, it causes a turn of events that no one was prepared for. And from there is where the story fully begins.
I wasn't expecting this book to go the way it did, but that's okay because I love to be surprised. This book definitely surprised me! Jessie's character is simply adorable, they are so cute and their obsession with frogs is endearing, along with their love for chocolate. Which I definitely understand, haha. I don't want to give away any major plot details, so I'll just say that what happened to Jessie's character was really unique. I've never read anything remotely similar to this, I love when an author/s create something new, and that's what happened here.
I enjoyed how Connor and Mattias took their time getting to know one another slowly over the course of a couple years. They communicated with each other and they let one another know that they had to take things slow, which I enjoyed. This is a low-steam story with loads of love that shines brightly throughout the story. I really enjoyed reading this book and I'm sad that it's over. I do want to say that I absolutely loved that Jessie's character was nonbinary, and the way their character was written was fabulous! I loved the way they explained themselves and told others how they identify. The representation was beautiful!!
Please do yourself a favor and read this book, it's so good!! You won't regret it!
July 22, 2024
It was cute. The coin didn't play much of a part, but I like the story well enough to ignore that. It was very clever to incorporate the idea of children taken by the fae into a story in a series about the fae, from the perspective of the parent whose child was taken. It made for an interesting and different sort of story
August 24, 2024
Tissues... boxes of tissues will be needed to get through this story! This author NEVER disappoints, but they sure can rip your heart out and slowly put it back together. Remember to grab the tissues before you start...
June 12, 2025
4.25 stars
Now I need to go read Never Landing...
Now I need to go read Never Landing...
July 6, 2024
some terrific elements and ones that didn’t reach potential
Rating: 3.5🌈
Never Darling by Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes is the sixth book in the terrific multi-author fantasy series and I found that it was a great read about 50 to 75 percent overall. That other percent? Well, the authors as well as their own push to bring in more voices in formatting and concepts were overwhelmed by their complexity. So much so that I felt much of the narrative potential and fascinating character development got lost. That includes the entire fantasy aspect of the book. There just wasn’t enough time or story space to develop it sufficiently.
To start with, it’s a heartbreaking story. And Burns and Fawkes almost scored a perfect formula with how they handled the challenges of moving the narrative forward. They started with the ground zero of the event and introduced the characters so we immediately knew them and loved the location.
Then the heartbreaking event. A child goes missing.
Then each chapter follows the return of one of the grieving fathers back each year to the small town where his child went missing and the Inn where they stayed. He returns there to the Inn and slowly to the chef who co-owns it. The chef is having his own issues being back in his hometown. He’s there with his loving aging grandmother and both are grieving the loss of his grandfather. It’s an alternating pov that’s powerful and realistic.
The story is grounded in love, loss, small town community, cooking, and shared memories. This is where the story shines in its layered characters and beautifully depicted scenes of home and family.
The character of Connor Darling, married wealthy businessman when we first meet him, along with his equally wealthy, successful husband Trevor and 5 year old Jesse, is one who is fully stressed, aware of the strains in his marriage, and that Jesse’s awakening of being gender fluid is something that Trevor is having issues with. We understand this family and hurt for each of them.
Same goes for Mattias Hall, a NYC chef who has returned home to the Inn where he was raised by his loving grandparents because his grandfather has died and his grandmother needs him. Pain, loss, stress and family are all factors here.
Each man is an alternate pov until the shocking happens. And Jesse goes missing. I think all the readers can empathize with the situation. It’s realistic and emotionally compelling.
But then the authors chose to add an additional element and throw in another pov. For me this is where everything starts to go off the rails. Because the format where a year goes by and we see what grief and mourning has done to Connor and his husband. Or to Mattias and his grandmother. How they changed from year to year, that’s broken up when this strange third pov comes into play. I understand why the authors decided to do this but think it undermines the power of the dynamics and emotional story they are building. Plus this element isn’t well developed and just further muddled the plot lines.
Basically Burns and Fawkes have a fantasy and contemporary narrative running side by side and never fully integrate them into each other’s stories. They tried but the lack of development and exploration into the fantasy side or world was just too lacking to make sense. Especially that ending.
That was incredibly nonsensical. Old people disappeared and no one is going to notice? Nothing makes sense or given credibility, magically.
The magical traveling Fae coin is given short shrift here. It’s hardly even worth it as a token element more an afterthought. There’s a note at the end that there another book that continues on in this universe. It includes Peter, a lost child and yes, you’re right in what you are thinking. He appears here as a minor character, to pick up the coin and make sure that he has an introduction into the next book.
Honestly it feels to me as though the coin was inserted into a story that was about ready to be released. And a new series by set to go. One doesn’t seem to relate to the other.
Never Darling is a book that has the potential to be a fantastic story or two, one contemporary and one fantasy. But as it is, it doesn’t do the fantasy side any favors and only the contemporary romance is the main reason for reading the book.
Strange title because it really doesn’t fit in with the story. But looks to connect with the new series/book from the same authors with the title Never Landings. Ah me.
These covers are fantastic , some of my favorites in years.
Rating: 3.5🌈
Never Darling by Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes is the sixth book in the terrific multi-author fantasy series and I found that it was a great read about 50 to 75 percent overall. That other percent? Well, the authors as well as their own push to bring in more voices in formatting and concepts were overwhelmed by their complexity. So much so that I felt much of the narrative potential and fascinating character development got lost. That includes the entire fantasy aspect of the book. There just wasn’t enough time or story space to develop it sufficiently.
To start with, it’s a heartbreaking story. And Burns and Fawkes almost scored a perfect formula with how they handled the challenges of moving the narrative forward. They started with the ground zero of the event and introduced the characters so we immediately knew them and loved the location.
Then the heartbreaking event. A child goes missing.
Then each chapter follows the return of one of the grieving fathers back each year to the small town where his child went missing and the Inn where they stayed. He returns there to the Inn and slowly to the chef who co-owns it. The chef is having his own issues being back in his hometown. He’s there with his loving aging grandmother and both are grieving the loss of his grandfather. It’s an alternating pov that’s powerful and realistic.
The story is grounded in love, loss, small town community, cooking, and shared memories. This is where the story shines in its layered characters and beautifully depicted scenes of home and family.
The character of Connor Darling, married wealthy businessman when we first meet him, along with his equally wealthy, successful husband Trevor and 5 year old Jesse, is one who is fully stressed, aware of the strains in his marriage, and that Jesse’s awakening of being gender fluid is something that Trevor is having issues with. We understand this family and hurt for each of them.
Same goes for Mattias Hall, a NYC chef who has returned home to the Inn where he was raised by his loving grandparents because his grandfather has died and his grandmother needs him. Pain, loss, stress and family are all factors here.
Each man is an alternate pov until the shocking happens. And Jesse goes missing. I think all the readers can empathize with the situation. It’s realistic and emotionally compelling.
But then the authors chose to add an additional element and throw in another pov. For me this is where everything starts to go off the rails. Because the format where a year goes by and we see what grief and mourning has done to Connor and his husband. Or to Mattias and his grandmother. How they changed from year to year, that’s broken up when this strange third pov comes into play. I understand why the authors decided to do this but think it undermines the power of the dynamics and emotional story they are building. Plus this element isn’t well developed and just further muddled the plot lines.
Basically Burns and Fawkes have a fantasy and contemporary narrative running side by side and never fully integrate them into each other’s stories. They tried but the lack of development and exploration into the fantasy side or world was just too lacking to make sense. Especially that ending.
That was incredibly nonsensical. Old people disappeared and no one is going to notice? Nothing makes sense or given credibility, magically.
The magical traveling Fae coin is given short shrift here. It’s hardly even worth it as a token element more an afterthought. There’s a note at the end that there another book that continues on in this universe. It includes Peter, a lost child and yes, you’re right in what you are thinking. He appears here as a minor character, to pick up the coin and make sure that he has an introduction into the next book.
Honestly it feels to me as though the coin was inserted into a story that was about ready to be released. And a new series by set to go. One doesn’t seem to relate to the other.
Never Darling is a book that has the potential to be a fantastic story or two, one contemporary and one fantasy. But as it is, it doesn’t do the fantasy side any favors and only the contemporary romance is the main reason for reading the book.
Strange title because it really doesn’t fit in with the story. But looks to connect with the new series/book from the same authors with the title Never Landings. Ah me.
These covers are fantastic , some of my favorites in years.
July 3, 2024
Never Darling is a very entertaining book, this story is part of a multi-author series Fortune Favors the Fae. This book is about Mattias and Connor and his told in 4 parts. Mattias is a successful chef in NY but after the passing of his grandfather he is back to City Landing to help his grandma to run the Cider Inn.
Connor Darling and his family are visiting Cider Landing and they are staying in the Cider Inn, they little hotel Mattias and his grandmother are running, the story is about how Connor and Mattias endured so many things over the years they know each other, Connor was struck by a sudden and mysterious disappearance of someone he loves the most, and never moved on and Mattias is always there for him, I love the characters and the world building of this story. Mattias and Connor forged a bond that later became a loving relationship that helps Conner with his grief.
This was a very emotional and enjoyable story, I love that Connor and Mattias found their HEA! This was definitely a great read!
Connor Darling and his family are visiting Cider Landing and they are staying in the Cider Inn, they little hotel Mattias and his grandmother are running, the story is about how Connor and Mattias endured so many things over the years they know each other, Connor was struck by a sudden and mysterious disappearance of someone he loves the most, and never moved on and Mattias is always there for him, I love the characters and the world building of this story. Mattias and Connor forged a bond that later became a loving relationship that helps Conner with his grief.
This was a very emotional and enjoyable story, I love that Connor and Mattias found their HEA! This was definitely a great read!
June 27, 2024
Never Darling is part the multi author series Fortune Favors the Fae. Each book can be read as a standalone but why not enjoy the whole series. This story is about Mattias and Connor. This starts with the Darling family visiting the inn family Mattias runs with his grandmother. I don't want to say to much because I don't want to include any spoilers. Just know that this story is very different from the other stories in the series. I loved this take on the theme. Burns and Fawkes do an amazing job of character and world building. I loved everything about this book. I would definitely recommend it and the rest of the series.
July 18, 2024
I found this book quite confusing. It took me way too long to figure out the coin situation. I like the idea of everything and I thought it was very imaginative and cute but somehow it didn’t work for me in this book.
March 2, 2026
Once I finished Never Landing and got hints about this story, I knew I would need to read it. Mattias seeing Connor and knowing him and his perfect family could never include him was pretty sad to read.
I was so curious how the authors would work these two into a story together and man oh man. I didn't expect it to be so heartbreaking.
I can understand why Connor kept coming back, year after year. Knowing his child was so close he could feel them, and so he needed to stay as long as he could. Just in case.
Seeing Mattias and Connor interact whenever Connor is in town was beautiful. I enjoyed seeing Mattias just wanting to help in any small ways, to help ease the burden of just... daily life while Connor is still adjusting to life without his husband or kid now in the picture.
This happens over a span of several years and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing their interactions and how they each become a safe place for the other. How their conversations and chats get longer and longer.
It ends with a firm HEA and I was so glad I grabbed it!
I was so curious how the authors would work these two into a story together and man oh man. I didn't expect it to be so heartbreaking.
I can understand why Connor kept coming back, year after year. Knowing his child was so close he could feel them, and so he needed to stay as long as he could. Just in case.
Seeing Mattias and Connor interact whenever Connor is in town was beautiful. I enjoyed seeing Mattias just wanting to help in any small ways, to help ease the burden of just... daily life while Connor is still adjusting to life without his husband or kid now in the picture.
This happens over a span of several years and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing their interactions and how they each become a safe place for the other. How their conversations and chats get longer and longer.
It ends with a firm HEA and I was so glad I grabbed it!
September 9, 2024
I'm sad to say this did not work for me at all. The characters annoyed me starting with the insta-love of a married man, to asking your partner to move in and then use a room in an inn, that earns money from renting out that room, to a first date that involved going to see a shrink.
It also didn´t really fit in with the other books in the series so far in that the coin played a very, very minor role and didn´t act/work anything like in the other books.
It also didn´t really fit in with the other books in the series so far in that the coin played a very, very minor role and didn´t act/work anything like in the other books.
August 28, 2024
Not that great
Loved the other books but this one missed the mark. The coin really didn't even play a roll in this book and I expected it to be of some importance.
Loved the other books but this one missed the mark. The coin really didn't even play a roll in this book and I expected it to be of some importance.
July 10, 2024
I've read these authors before and have really enjoyed their works. This one didn't hit for me though. The premise of the story is good. A big city chef comes home to help with the small town inn that his grandparents take care of after the death of this grandfather, and a couple that's becoming distant take a vacation to a small town and ends up at the ex-chef's inn, and to top it all off the couple's child goes missing. What didn't really work for me was the execution. Mattias was attracted to Connor from the moment he stepped into the hotel with his husband. Connor is trying to make things work with his husband and wanted to take a family trip but doesn't seem to really notice Mattias at the time. Once his child, Jesse, goes missing there's a lot of time that passes. Connor returns each year to the inn in the hopes that one day he'll find his child. I didn't really understand the attraction between these Mattias and Connor. They don't seem to have much to talk about and they only see each other once a year. Sure after the second year or so they somewhat text, but Connor is still married for a decent amount of time. I know this was meant to be a super slow burn but I never felt that I got a great read for these characters. The best thing actually were the side characters. Jesse is pulled into a world where there are other children around and we get to meet a few of them here. Peter is one of those who happens to leave and become a part of the town this inn is at. I wanted to learn more about his story, which is fortunate since it seems like he's getting the next book.
Between the two main characters, we get a lot more of Connor's personality. I can understand his motives, and why he could be drawn to this idea of stability with Mattias. I had more trouble with Mattias. He says that he wanted to be a chef to come back and expand the inn, but he lived in New York until he was kind of forced to return to his small town home. Then didn't try to make friends with anyone and was like...everyone I know is old. He doesn't really make an effort to put himself out there unless forced to. I'm not sure I'd even really call it a slow burn since there's only one slightly spicy scene but most descriptions are a bit vague or implied.
As far as fitting in with the series, the coin is mentioned at the end...but I'm not sure it's really what brought these two together. And the implementation felt a bit clunky. The story overall was alright but it didn't grab me the way others of these authors have. I really liked the idea behind it and wanted to like it so much more than I did.
Between the two main characters, we get a lot more of Connor's personality. I can understand his motives, and why he could be drawn to this idea of stability with Mattias. I had more trouble with Mattias. He says that he wanted to be a chef to come back and expand the inn, but he lived in New York until he was kind of forced to return to his small town home. Then didn't try to make friends with anyone and was like...everyone I know is old. He doesn't really make an effort to put himself out there unless forced to. I'm not sure I'd even really call it a slow burn since there's only one slightly spicy scene but most descriptions are a bit vague or implied.
As far as fitting in with the series, the coin is mentioned at the end...but I'm not sure it's really what brought these two together. And the implementation felt a bit clunky. The story overall was alright but it didn't grab me the way others of these authors have. I really liked the idea behind it and wanted to like it so much more than I did.
July 7, 2024
Take what you know about Peter Pan and...throw it all out the window. Sure we'll meet a Peter, and the Darlings, and one of the MC's gets likened to a Saint Bernard near the end, and there's a magical being ala Tink but that's where the similarities end.
That said... we meet the Darling family and you immediately start liking Connor and Jessie and disliking Trevor who seems very distant and judgemental. Then the worst happens, Jessie goes missing on a family outing and while the Darling dads try to return to their lives as best as they can with their child missing, as it so often goes their already fragile relationship crumbles.
Meanwhile over the course of the book time passes, and Mattias and Connor strike up a friendship as well as Jessamine, Mattia's grandmother, she takes to Connor like he's her own flesh and blood. It's wonderful to see the trio become such good friends, and found family.
A slow burn relationship happens between the guys, and it's a very sweet sort of thing between them, and they're definitely well suited to one another.
They learn about the previous mentioned magical being, and the secret of Cider Landing. Trust me you won't see it coming. I very much enjoyed Never Darling, and kept wondering when the mention of the mysterious fae coin would come into play. It takes a good part of the book to be mentioned honestly. It's a very brief mention.
I received an ARC copy of Never Darling and this is my honest review.
That said... we meet the Darling family and you immediately start liking Connor and Jessie and disliking Trevor who seems very distant and judgemental. Then the worst happens, Jessie goes missing on a family outing and while the Darling dads try to return to their lives as best as they can with their child missing, as it so often goes their already fragile relationship crumbles.
Meanwhile over the course of the book time passes, and Mattias and Connor strike up a friendship as well as Jessamine, Mattia's grandmother, she takes to Connor like he's her own flesh and blood. It's wonderful to see the trio become such good friends, and found family.
A slow burn relationship happens between the guys, and it's a very sweet sort of thing between them, and they're definitely well suited to one another.
They learn about the previous mentioned magical being, and the secret of Cider Landing. Trust me you won't see it coming. I very much enjoyed Never Darling, and kept wondering when the mention of the mysterious fae coin would come into play. It takes a good part of the book to be mentioned honestly. It's a very brief mention.
I received an ARC copy of Never Darling and this is my honest review.
July 18, 2024
Another reviewer commented that this book contained a contemporary story and a fantasy story that weren't woven together well enough, but I would go even further and just say that this is a contemporary story with a few fantasy elements in it that truly don't work, and the bits that are fantasy and involve the fae are horrifyingly creepy with an ending that made zero sense.
Honestly, this book felt like it was shoehorned into the series, as it really isn't a fae story, and the magical coin that is meant to tie the series together played almost no role at all. Now, not every author played with the fae coin as much as they could, but it read like this writing team truly dropped it in the story just because they had to. And rather than teasing about the next couple in this series like all the other authors in the series have done up to now, they are definitely setting up for their own coming series instead.
Anyhow, all the good parts of this story are the contemporary parts, and what I actually wanted to read was an ending where Connor and Mattias grew as people, fell more in love, and recovered from Jessie's loss and learned to deal with Jessamine's aging through therapy. All of the bits with Aurora and the stolen children could have been erased, and I would have been much happier with the book. I have no plans to read the next book in their coming series about Peter and Everett.
Honestly, this book felt like it was shoehorned into the series, as it really isn't a fae story, and the magical coin that is meant to tie the series together played almost no role at all. Now, not every author played with the fae coin as much as they could, but it read like this writing team truly dropped it in the story just because they had to. And rather than teasing about the next couple in this series like all the other authors in the series have done up to now, they are definitely setting up for their own coming series instead.
Anyhow, all the good parts of this story are the contemporary parts, and what I actually wanted to read was an ending where Connor and Mattias grew as people, fell more in love, and recovered from Jessie's loss and learned to deal with Jessamine's aging through therapy. All of the bits with Aurora and the stolen children could have been erased, and I would have been much happier with the book. I have no plans to read the next book in their coming series about Peter and Everett.
December 14, 2025
4.5 ⭐
This story is full of pathos and heart.
When the Darling family visit Cider Landing, their young child Jess disappears, lost in the woods that surround the town. Connor Darling is devastated, and his husband, Trevor, while not an awful person by a long shot, doesn't deal well with Connor's need to keep the search going well after everyone else is telling him to move on.
Matthias Hall returned to Cider Landing to help his grandmother when his grandfather died. He takes over the running of the inn and supports Connor in his quest for answers. However, he's got his own problems to deal with.
Together, Matthias and Connor make a great team, as they puzzle out the disappearances of the children in Cider Landing, because Jess wasn't the first, how to save an inn from financial ruin, and how they can bring their two worlds together in a seamless whole.
Underlying plot: Peter Pan and the Lost Boys and the Darling family. The coin makes a very brief appearance here and is a bit clumsily handled in the story, but the story is well written and fun, so not a big problem.
Genre: fae; magical item; missing kids (no exploitation!); small town romance; family; Fae spirit who is lonely; aging parent; new relationships
Orientation: gay (Connor, Matthias and others); Agender/non binary (Jess)
This story is full of pathos and heart.
When the Darling family visit Cider Landing, their young child Jess disappears, lost in the woods that surround the town. Connor Darling is devastated, and his husband, Trevor, while not an awful person by a long shot, doesn't deal well with Connor's need to keep the search going well after everyone else is telling him to move on.
Matthias Hall returned to Cider Landing to help his grandmother when his grandfather died. He takes over the running of the inn and supports Connor in his quest for answers. However, he's got his own problems to deal with.
Together, Matthias and Connor make a great team, as they puzzle out the disappearances of the children in Cider Landing, because Jess wasn't the first, how to save an inn from financial ruin, and how they can bring their two worlds together in a seamless whole.
Underlying plot: Peter Pan and the Lost Boys and the Darling family. The coin makes a very brief appearance here and is a bit clumsily handled in the story, but the story is well written and fun, so not a big problem.
Genre: fae; magical item; missing kids (no exploitation!); small town romance; family; Fae spirit who is lonely; aging parent; new relationships
Orientation: gay (Connor, Matthias and others); Agender/non binary (Jess)
July 8, 2024
Uhhhhh, well, let's see. I'm a fan of these authors and I feel like, on its own, this is a solid 4-star story INHO, well-written and engaging and emotional etc, so that's what I'm rating it. BUT... it's not what I was expecting nor hoping for within this series, and has a completely different flavor to it than the other few I've read. Granted, they're all standalones in the varied authors' unique styles and/or worlds, but this one was by far the least fairy-like of all of them in terms of the romance, and I think I would have enjoyed it more if I'd come into it looking for something like this, versus wanting and expecting a more magical experience directly related to the two MCs falling in love.
To be fair, the blurb doesn't promise anything that the book doesn't deliver, but also, I wouldn't have picked it up on the blurb alone. I definitely grabbed it because I've been having fun with the fairy/fantasy worlds, and wanted more of that (plus ofc I generally like this author-duo quite a bit), but if I'd been choosing something to read based on just the blurb - No. "It's not you, book; it's me."
I'm not sad I read it, but it's not even close to my preferred flavor of romance, so it definitely won't be a re-read for me 🤷♀️
To be fair, the blurb doesn't promise anything that the book doesn't deliver, but also, I wouldn't have picked it up on the blurb alone. I definitely grabbed it because I've been having fun with the fairy/fantasy worlds, and wanted more of that (plus ofc I generally like this author-duo quite a bit), but if I'd been choosing something to read based on just the blurb - No. "It's not you, book; it's me."
I'm not sad I read it, but it's not even close to my preferred flavor of romance, so it definitely won't be a re-read for me 🤷♀️
July 22, 2024
4.5 rounded up
I loved this story and I’m looking forward to the next Never story. The twist on Peter Pan is clever, but the story feels more like the beginning of a new series, rather than Fortune Favors the Fae as the coin is hardly in it, and then is more of a throwaway moment, which I found a little disappointing.
I love the small-town setting, and how Connor is drawn to Cider Landing, and the inn, and not only because of what’s happened there. I liked how he and Mattias connect, yet Connor’s relationship with his husband isn’t brushed aside, but crumbles in the wake of tragedy. I love how he’s a good guy who, instead of wallowing, does something positive with his money and time to make a difference.
Matthias’ relationship with his grandmother is caring and sweet. I like how, despite physical frailty, she’s still a force to be reckoned with. She and Matthias’ grandfather are far better parents than his own ever were. His mother is a self-centred horrible person. I love the scene where she and Connor meet. Brilliant.
I’m intrigued by Aurora, and liked that she is way more layered and has reasons for doing what she does. I’m looking forward to reading Peter and Everett’s story.
I loved this story and I’m looking forward to the next Never story. The twist on Peter Pan is clever, but the story feels more like the beginning of a new series, rather than Fortune Favors the Fae as the coin is hardly in it, and then is more of a throwaway moment, which I found a little disappointing.
I love the small-town setting, and how Connor is drawn to Cider Landing, and the inn, and not only because of what’s happened there. I liked how he and Mattias connect, yet Connor’s relationship with his husband isn’t brushed aside, but crumbles in the wake of tragedy. I love how he’s a good guy who, instead of wallowing, does something positive with his money and time to make a difference.
Matthias’ relationship with his grandmother is caring and sweet. I like how, despite physical frailty, she’s still a force to be reckoned with. She and Matthias’ grandfather are far better parents than his own ever were. His mother is a self-centred horrible person. I love the scene where she and Connor meet. Brilliant.
I’m intrigued by Aurora, and liked that she is way more layered and has reasons for doing what she does. I’m looking forward to reading Peter and Everett’s story.
February 23, 2025
So, funny story that everyone already knows, I’m fucking dumb. Through my no-sleep, “why tf do transformers keep blowing in our neighbourhood”—read: flash-bang explosions, losses of power, feral-demon-fuzzy things causing chaos inside from it all—delirium last night and today, I kept going, “oh, this is like Peter Pan, so cute, haha,” and I realized around 78% that I’m literally the stupidest thing on two legs, and I just need someone to take me out of my fucking misery. Please.
I’m an embarrassment to myself, clearly. No shame in sharing it either.🥴🤡
4.75/5. Just fucking read it. It’s fantastic. Every production company in existence right now could learn a thing or so-fucking-many from this book on how to retell/resell something flawlessly. I can’t wait to read the content for Peter and Everett. I hate that it took me this long to get to more of the books in this series because I’m fairly certain Sam Burns could write/co-write a technical manual for a piece of IKEA furniture and I’d read it. Fuck me, this was The Good Shit, folx.
I’m an embarrassment to myself, clearly. No shame in sharing it either.🥴🤡
4.75/5. Just fucking read it. It’s fantastic. Every production company in existence right now could learn a thing or so-fucking-many from this book on how to retell/resell something flawlessly. I can’t wait to read the content for Peter and Everett. I hate that it took me this long to get to more of the books in this series because I’m fairly certain Sam Burns could write/co-write a technical manual for a piece of IKEA furniture and I’d read it. Fuck me, this was The Good Shit, folx.
September 22, 2024
4/5 This book has a much more contemporary feel than the others I’ve read in this series so far, with the fae bits more understated. (It’s like Peter Pan if you were the ones staying home and dealing with the aftermath.) I liked the small-town vibes, the general acceptance (of the rainbow and fae mysteries), and the fact that there isn’t really a bad guy. There’s some mixed motivations, some mistakes and selfishness, but also people being good and kind and trying to help others.
Connor and Matthias are both great guys who value family, and I appreciated that Trevor wasn’t vilified. (It’s nice when different people wanting different things and dealing with life differently doesn’t automatically become a bad thing.) Jessie is adorable, and I love their love of frogs and cookies. I enjoyed all the book talk, the details like Houdini the heron, and the way the happy ending unfolded. This books leaves a lot of people happier than when it started, and that makes me happy.
Connor and Matthias are both great guys who value family, and I appreciated that Trevor wasn’t vilified. (It’s nice when different people wanting different things and dealing with life differently doesn’t automatically become a bad thing.) Jessie is adorable, and I love their love of frogs and cookies. I enjoyed all the book talk, the details like Houdini the heron, and the way the happy ending unfolded. This books leaves a lot of people happier than when it started, and that makes me happy.
November 4, 2024
This just wasn't for me. I'll list all the reasons why under the spoiler tag. Note: I really liked Burns' Foxes duet, so I was definitely disappointed in this, but it won't keep me from looking for other books by Burns.
I just didn't enjoy it.
I just didn't enjoy it.
July 20, 2025
This was a little twist on a fairy tale.
It began like any ordinary vacation—Conner and his family, staying at a quiet inn tucked deep in the woods. One moment they were together… and the next, Jesse was gone. Vanished without a trace.
Conner has carried the guilt ever since. Year after year, he returns to the place where it all unraveled, hoping for answers that never come. But each visit, he feels the woods pull him in a little deeper. And each year, he finds himself drawn more and more toward Mattias
There’s something hidden in the trees. Something ancient. Something waiting.
And Aurora… sweet, strange Aurora, with her sing-song voice . She only wants everyone to be happy. She only wants to play.
But nothing is ever quite what it seems in the woods.
Then Jesse remembers.
And finally—finally—they finds their way back to the inn and Frogs
It began like any ordinary vacation—Conner and his family, staying at a quiet inn tucked deep in the woods. One moment they were together… and the next, Jesse was gone. Vanished without a trace.
Conner has carried the guilt ever since. Year after year, he returns to the place where it all unraveled, hoping for answers that never come. But each visit, he feels the woods pull him in a little deeper. And each year, he finds himself drawn more and more toward Mattias
There’s something hidden in the trees. Something ancient. Something waiting.
And Aurora… sweet, strange Aurora, with her sing-song voice . She only wants everyone to be happy. She only wants to play.
But nothing is ever quite what it seems in the woods.
Then Jesse remembers.
And finally—finally—they finds their way back to the inn and Frogs
April 20, 2026
Dang! This one is a TEAR-JERKER!!!
Literally, there’s a small creek running down each of my cheeks as I finish this story…
So much beauty, so much pain, so much love… it’s endearing and overwhelming. It’s mind blowing in the way it encapsulates the theme of the series without embracing it, in the way it weaves ancient horror into modern life, in the way it redeems that horror through unfettered joy.
So yeah, quite unabashedly, tears are flowing down my face. I need only think about the MANY resolutions that were found as this book neared its end and they start to flow once more. Balance restored by Joy. What could ever begin to touch the beauty of something like that?
Literally, there’s a small creek running down each of my cheeks as I finish this story…
So much beauty, so much pain, so much love… it’s endearing and overwhelming. It’s mind blowing in the way it encapsulates the theme of the series without embracing it, in the way it weaves ancient horror into modern life, in the way it redeems that horror through unfettered joy.
So yeah, quite unabashedly, tears are flowing down my face. I need only think about the MANY resolutions that were found as this book neared its end and they start to flow once more. Balance restored by Joy. What could ever begin to touch the beauty of something like that?
April 28, 2026
This is not a light book despite the cover. This is quite heavy actually. The plot is excellent and very well done. It was painful and poignant and emotional and sad and joyous and all sorts of emotions.
I loved the characters. I like that Connor's husband isn't great but he's not bad, either. He's real.
The coin was obviously a complete afterthought. It served no purpose and was only mentioned in a few sentences. That really bothers me. I almost want to deduct a point for it. But the book was so good I’m not going to.
This author got what it’s like to lose a child spot on, the feelings, the difficulty moving on, even coping. People expecting you to just be over it after a fairly short period of time, afterwards you changing your life in negative ways and so forth. The one difference is that I know I need to move on, I just can’t. Rather, I did up to a point and now I’m stuck.
Connor’s reaction to finding out about Peter was very bizarre. There were a lot of reactions, or lack there of, I didn't get.
Greg Boudreaux's narration was perfect, of course.
I loved the characters. I like that Connor's husband isn't great but he's not bad, either. He's real.
The coin was obviously a complete afterthought. It served no purpose and was only mentioned in a few sentences. That really bothers me. I almost want to deduct a point for it. But the book was so good I’m not going to.
This author got what it’s like to lose a child spot on, the feelings, the difficulty moving on, even coping. People expecting you to just be over it after a fairly short period of time, afterwards you changing your life in negative ways and so forth. The one difference is that I know I need to move on, I just can’t. Rather, I did up to a point and now I’m stuck.
Connor’s reaction to finding out about Peter was very bizarre. There were a lot of reactions, or lack there of, I didn't get.
Greg Boudreaux's narration was perfect, of course.
July 4, 2024
So freaking good!
Gah! This book pulled me in so quickly and would not let me put it down until I finished. When I say that I read a lot, it is a gross understatement, yet I have never read a book featuring a stolen child storyline. This book was just phenomenal and made me feel so many different emotions, and I definitely was tearing up around the 75% point. I won’t give away any of the story, but just honestly recommend that you pick this one up today. I read it on KU but will be purchasing it for constant future rereads. The following was my favorite quote from the book:
Things didn’t always have to be enormous and grand and gilded in order to be perfect.
Gah! This book pulled me in so quickly and would not let me put it down until I finished. When I say that I read a lot, it is a gross understatement, yet I have never read a book featuring a stolen child storyline. This book was just phenomenal and made me feel so many different emotions, and I definitely was tearing up around the 75% point. I won’t give away any of the story, but just honestly recommend that you pick this one up today. I read it on KU but will be purchasing it for constant future rereads. The following was my favorite quote from the book:
Things didn’t always have to be enormous and grand and gilded in order to be perfect.
July 9, 2024
It took me far too long to realise this was a Peter Pan story. That's not the authors' faults, it's right there in the title! The story was excellent and rode that line of sweetness and darkness that Neverland has and that Burns and Fawkes are so darn good at. I really liked how the town had this history and lore, but also that people were open and accepting of Jessie and Everett and Peter (and omg I am looking forward to reading their story). There was so much care and warmth in this story, aside from the tragedy that brings Mattias home, and later he and Connor together. I loved the ending of this story too, because it really seemed to be happily ever after.
July 29, 2024
I wasn't sure about this one
I like Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes, so I decided to give this a try, even though I wasn't sure I'd like a story that has a lost kid and super slow burn.
So yes, this is a retelling of Peter Pan from a parent's perspective. It examines what happens to a couple that loses a kid. The protagonists are sympathetic, nice guys. It is not the parents' fault they lost their kid. All kids get frustrated with their parents and the world sometimes.
There is a happy ending, but this book is a lot about loss and moving through it to live and love and be happy again.
I enjoyed the story a lot more than I thought I would.
I like Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes, so I decided to give this a try, even though I wasn't sure I'd like a story that has a lost kid and super slow burn.
So yes, this is a retelling of Peter Pan from a parent's perspective. It examines what happens to a couple that loses a kid. The protagonists are sympathetic, nice guys. It is not the parents' fault they lost their kid. All kids get frustrated with their parents and the world sometimes.
There is a happy ending, but this book is a lot about loss and moving through it to live and love and be happy again.
I enjoyed the story a lot more than I thought I would.
August 8, 2024
It was a bit strange that this story was set almost entirely in the human world with fairies just kind of being there at the end. I think the concept for the story was interesting but the slow burn over 3-4 years was implausible. A lot happens in 3 years and you're just not going to remember someone who stopped by once! Meanwhile the background story with Everett and Peter actually seemed more interesting than the main story. I also just don't like stories with hot rich nice guys who just swoop in and solve all of a poor person's problems. Not my kind of fantasy. I think overall it a taste mismatch for me, and people with different taste than me will probably enjoy it.
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