Far From Neverland

Far From #1

by River Hale, Rylee Hale

Peter Pan left Neverland and grew up. Now I want him back.

It’s been fourteen years since he left, since Neverland’s star died out, since a blanket of frost fell over the island. Despite the Jolly Roger being anchored in a layer of ice, I’m not yet willing to give up this perfect, Peter Panless Neverland.

Well, it’s not completely perfect. A threat looms here, a shadow devouring the island. I don’t want Pan back, but he’s the only one who can stop it. However, when I find him, there are two problems.

One, Peter Pan has no memory of who he really is.

Two, I can’t seem to resist him.

Making him remember isn’t going to be easy, and not just because I hate him like sin, just like all the sinful thoughts he inspires. I can’t allow him to distract me. The fate of Neverland hangs in the balance.

The old Peter Pan has died, and a new one’s risen from his ashes. He’s a star—Neverland’s sun—and I don’t care if I get burned.


The books in the Far From series are contemporary fantasy, dark romance retellings that all take place mostly far from the locations of the original tales. They are complete standalones and contain trigger warnings and always a HEA. Specific content warnings can be found on the author’s website.

Genres: Fantasy, M M Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Retellings, Dark Romance, LGBT

Kindle Edition

First published January 10, 2023

About the author

River Hale is a pseudonym, created because her mother once told her that she'll read everything she ever writes. She's a writer with a tea addiction and a love for everything dark, twisted, haunted, and beautiful. She's written and published more appropriate books that her mother is allowed to read under her real name, but she'll always have a special place in her heart for dark romance.

Reviews

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The consensus of bookclub, was that this wasn't a good book 😂😂😂.

The plot was just straight up not that good??? but realistically, how much can you really expect from a peter pan retelling??
I was able to just turn my brain off, and just went along for the ride.

I feel this author knows how to write smut that is enjoyable, like Hook using his hook with the butt plug, yes fucking please?
But also... the plot and most of everything else in this book? no fucking thank you.

Things that made me feel weird, and then I just yeeted my feelings aside and kept going.
-Hook having a crush on his enemy, who was a child purely because he's older and hot now? sure.
-Hook hate-fucking pan one day to being obsessively soft and gooey (while trying to have a hard facade) the next day? sure but in italics.
-Pan drinking a fucking pistachio milk and mint flavored coffee? 🤢🤢🤢 What the shit is that combination? That is psychopath behavior, I got fucking IBS just thinking about all those flavors together. 🤢🤢🤢
like, we get it peter... you like green 🙄🙄🙄🙄.
-Hook stealing wallets that actually have cash in them? in 2024?? IN THIS ECONOMY? Who's got cash??


Honestly, I gave the book 3 stars for that one scene where hook fucks Pans mouf and then LEAVES THE ROOM.

Oooooooft, BDE hook, my man.
He really said Girl bye and left.

I think I'll read book 2 for the railing, let's be real.





OG review:
RTC- When my book club girlies catch up and finish it hehehe.

ALSO AVOIDING GR LIKE THE MOTHERFUCKING PLAGUE RN BECAUSE I WILL VERBALLY ASSAULT/DELETE ANYONE WHO RUINS OR SPOILS THE SUNSHINE COURT 😤😤😤😤

[Kati *☆･ﾟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4**** stars

Peter Pan is mine, always has been.
Mine to capture.
Mine to bend.
Mine to break.

First I want to say: I enjoyed this a lot! Especially considering this is a debut novel. I particularly enjoyed how the author managed to make the story feel magical at the beginning and later in the book when the story takes place in Neverland.

He says it’s me who always loved the game, the fight, the adrenaline. If he believes it’s one-sided, he’s fooling himself.

How the romance between Hook and Peter came to be and progressed later made actually not much sense to me but I just rolled with it. I liked their chemistry and their encounters always had something intense about them. —even when they didn’t have sex. I really liked these characters throughout the book even though I didn’t quite recognize the originals in them.


But… speaking of sex (and I actually can’t believe I’m saying that)… I find that maybe there was a bit too much in it here. Or rather the focus was too much on the physical —Peter’s and Hook’s focus was too much on each other rather than their quest to save Neverland and hate each other’s guts.

I read books in the past that were more eroticas than anything but somehow their story and characters felt more fleshed out than here despite it being full of sex. So it can work, but imo it quite didn’t here.

But I very much liked the general storyline of the island of Neverland dying slowly bit by bit of a deep dark shadow since Peter Pan left fourteen years ago and Hook, not wanting to loose his home, goes to the real world to bring Peter back to Neverland —while Peter forgot all about Neverland. And Hook.

It wasn’t as dark of a romance as I expected but I wouldn’t call this a light read either. I must admit there were a few moments that made me cringe and roll my eyes. Hard. Like the thing with the cake and basically every time Hook became a big ol’ softie.

Otherwise Hook was a pretty hot piece of scary pirate —curly black hair a little shorter than before, tattoos, smokes and black jeans and a leather jacket as long as he was in the real world.

Wendy may not have been the type to fall for the bad boy, but apparently I am.

I wouldn’t call this a Peter Pan retelling. More like a sequel to past events that turns out differently to what anyone would’ve expected. *lol —and a pretty steamy sequel at that.


AND I REALLY REALLY LOVED THE ENDING. Full of love and so sweet and playful. ♡

[Julia (bookish.jka) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I won’t deny everything else because I need him to hate me. We can’t be anything but what we are. We’re a bad moon rising."

Far From Neverland is the first book I've read by Rylee Hale - I believe it's the first book she's written under this dark romance pseudonym - but it certainly won't be the last time I read a Rylee book. I LOVED THIS!

So, Far From Neverland is essentially a Peter Pan reimagining, but make it MM, dark romance, enemies to lovers, opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, "mine" and SO MUCH STEAM! If your picture of Pan and Hook is the cute cartoon kid and the bearded, curly haired old man in a red coat - think again!

In Rylee's delicious tale, Peter grew up and lost his memories of Neverland, Hook didn't age but scrubs up darn well, Neverland is dying and Peter needs to remember. Against his better judgment, Hook has to find Peter and bring him home.

The Lost Boys are no longer lost, Wendy got engaged and when Hook comes visiting Peter in England wearing jeans and leather, oh my, HOT DAMN.

This is dark and dirty in parts, but the story is divine, we get our hard won HEA and Rylee weaves her own brand of MM magic fairy dust along the way.

“You are my happy thought, James Hook. Now and forever.”

You need to read this one.

5 stars all the way! 💫💫💫💫💫

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

HATE SEX IS THE BEST SEX. FIGHT ME ON IT. I WILL GO DOWN WITH THIS PIRATE SHIP.

Holy-frickin'-shit did I love this book. Not only do I love how much Rylee Hale stuck to the original story as much as possible but I LOVE THAT PETER IS A LIL PRAISE KINK BRAT! That TRACKS! It fits his character so well and UGH, JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL it made the story (and the spice *fans self*) so good.

Forget everything you know about fairytale retellings (and also the Disney cartoon versions of these characters cause that is NOT what we have here, people. NO SIREE.), then proceed to stop everything you're doing and read this immediately.

The only, teeny-tiny criticism that I may provide is that the final fight scene felt very quick? Almost a little bit too easy? But ya know what, that's not what I came here for and it was still done well so *throws inconsequential critique out the window*

Thank you, Rylee Hale, for this magnificent love-to-hate-you-but-also-I-love-you lust-filled masterpiece.

[Ariana Nash]

Please be good, please be good, please be good...

[♥ a r o a ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 ⭐ Approved!

I delayed my review because of pondering the right rating for this one 🌟 I have to be honest with myself and I devoured this book in a jiffy. Hence, my three stars 😚 Relee Hale's writing style has been a plus on this matter. I'm not used to read books which uses the present tense and this author makes use of it whith solvency ♥️

◾ Far From Neverland is a MM Peter Pan's retelling where Captain Hook and Peter Pan fall in love, so we have the enemies-to-lovers trope mixed with dark romance. The title doesn't trick anyone since the plot is developed in California, so the characters are far from Neverland.

Neverland is dying because of a strange disease under the guise of a shadow which is enveloping it and vanishing everyone and everything that lives in this fantasy world 👿 Capitain Hook is desperated because of being unabled to do something, so he takes the decision of looking for Peter and defeat the evil shadow once and for all. Once Hook is in California, where Peter lives and works at a college music department, he gets used to the new technologies and the new world in general whilst he fights against new and strange feelings that Peter arouses him.

◾ Positives:
✔️ Good pace of the story 📈 : this book is a fast read and this is a virtue which avoids a possible DNF. As I previously said, this is due to the skilled hands of the writer, 
✔️ Hook is The Bad Boy Image 🖤 : confident, brave, dominant and assertive. 😈  All these traits make him irresistible. Plus, his relationship with Pan is pure fire with bits of BDSM practices which involve the famous "hook" ❤️‍🔥 
✔️Peter Pan is a marshmallow and his greenish addiction is cute 💚  Besides, he is a confident gay, yass! 🏳️‍🌈 Relee Hale makes use of him to speak about imortant matter like love and loneliness. Both issues play an important role in Peter's life, mainly the latter, considering that he doesn't remember his past in Neverland and his previous relationship with the Lost Boys is blurry, aside Wendy 🌺💜 Love topic comes with Hook and goes through diferent levels from hate to love💖 They struggle to finally get their HEA 🥰

◾ Negatives:
❌ The final outcome 👻 :

*SPOILER*

Neverland's issues joined to the Peter's shadow have not sense for me. Ok, the shadow is like Mr. Hyde and it wants to destroy Neverland but it has not sense that the shadow makes Peter remember his past, because this fact will complicate its own goal, wont it? Such a nonsense! 👎

❌ First encounter : I love their relationship, but Hook damages Peter so bad the first time they see each other, hence their sexual attachement 💦 seems to be a little bit unnatural and the same with their love feelings ♥️ I would delayed these key aspects far away in the time, even more if we keep in mind their past like enemies in Neverland where Peter cut out Hook's hand and gave it to a crocodile 🐊 💔

After all, this book has been a good read!🤭 I'll be expecting more of this author in the future ♥️

[Rielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beyond disappointed.

The only reason I didn’t rate this book 1 star is because this author can write a good sex scene. Sadly, that was the only good thing she wrote in this book.

I really tried to give it a chance, but it just reads like bad fan fiction. The characterization is so off. They speak and act like teenagers. They don’t feel even close to real and certainly not like the characters they’re meant to portray. It was actually distracting how out of character the inner dialogue felt throughout. I had to skim a lot of that to get through this.

This is NOT enemies to lovers at all. It’s basically instalove. It’s instalove that changes an MC’s personality and somehow makes him worse than the “angry” guy he originally was. I think I would have liked this book so much more if it had actually felt like the MCs were enemies and a real progression through the changing emotions was shown. I feel like this author could do it too. There are several well-written scenes and I could see the potential there.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars- while I didn't really love this book, I also didn't actively dislike it. It had some scenes I did enjoy. At least the book club discussion was really fun.

[Renae Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.***

Far From Neverland is an entertaining enemies-to-lovers romance between Peter Pan and Captain Hook. I was so intrigued by the premise of this reimagining and couldn't wait to see how a Pan and Hook dynamic would be explored.

I was not disappointed. This author was able to weave together a great balance of classic lore references and characterization while introducing many new elements and aspects to Hook and Pan.

I thought what made this story work so well was the initial time and distance placed between the two characters. They had not seen each other for decades and you can sense a longing between the two, even though Pan had no memory and Hook thought it was simply his hatred. Their connection was so engrained that even a simple case of amnesia and separate worlds could not keep either character apart.

Overall Far from Neverland is a creative and engrossing story between two "enemies," who have insane chemistry. I loved watching them dance around their feelings alongside their witty banter, which provided a great balance to the action and suspense woven throughout.

[Astra · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first found this book I had to read it. So I read it. And it was alright. The writing was pretty decent. And the story was cool. I just wasn’t feeling it all the way. (3.5)

[haletostilinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great overall debut novel from Rylee Hale.

A reimagining of Peter Pan, with it being MM and the romance is between enemies Peter Pan and Captain Hook.

Only, Peter finally left Neverland in the modern age, 14 years prior, after Tink died, and he made himself forget Neverland in his grief, which makes sense for a 12 year old to do.

Now he's 26, a full blown adult, and he's changed, as growing up does to everyone.

And Captain James Hook thinks he's happy with Pan in Neverland, that he's had a great 14 years Pan-free. But really, he's not been so happy, he just thought he was.

Obviously, as much as Hook hates Pan, he also loves the fight, the constant battle between them, and he was without that for 14 years.

And now that Peter is an adult...there's more between them than just hate as well.

Because there's a dark presence in Neverland now, and over the years it's been slowly swallowing Neverland in darkness, killing all the people and magical creatures there.

Hook, as much as he hates it, has to go to the regular world and get Pan, not to try to kill or anything, but to bring him back to Neverland and get him to save it.

Only, he's not expecting to be so attracted to him. To want him so much.

We're in the modern world, which means 14 years prior was when Wendy and her brothers came to Neverland, not in the 1800's. Although Pan and Hook have been dueling for centuries, ever since the 1700's when Hook came to Neverland.

In this modern world where Peter doesn't remember anything, he's best friends with Wendy instead of there being anything romantic - in this version, Peter is gay - and the lost boys came back with Peter as well, and now Nibs is with Wendy.

As Hook keeps showing up at Peter's place to try to get him to remember, the sexual tension and attraction between them comes to a boiling point, and even as they 'hate' each other, they can't help but be drawn to each other.

Eventually Peter does remember, but the threat from Neverland has followed them to the regular world, and is causing problems for Pan and Hook there.

It's no doubt that Peter and Hook have to go back to Neverland soon. Only, now they've started having sex...and are becoming more to each other, and they're scared that going back to Neverland might change things back to the way they were before...when neither wants that. They're falling for each other, hard.

Of course I absolutely love the "one is a bad bad guy, but around him he melts" trope here. Hook is still pretty much an asshole to others and wants to gut others who do him wrong, but with Peter...he melts, of course, and will do anything for him. He even apologizes to Wendy - for reasons I won't get into here, you'll just have to read why ;) - when he's never apologized to anyone before. Because it's for Peter, so Peter won't look so disappointed and devastated by potential betrayal.

I very much enjoyed their chemistry and this fresh MM take on Peter Pan. I very much enjoy Peter Pan, who never wants to grow up....to actually grow up and move out of that phase. It's so interesting to see.

And to see enemies fall in love, of course ;).

This definitely gets thumbs up from me. A definite great first outing for this new author - or at least, new under this pen name - and definitely worth a read.

It'd be fun to continue to get future MM retellings of fairytales, would it not? I vote yes for future MM retellings haha.

For now, pick this Peter Pan retelling where he and Hook fall in love up. Definitely worth a read!

[Clara's Book Lab · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Was this marketed as enemies to lovers? Because it is NOT that, in fact it is more like instalove. They literally started grinding each other on the second day after seeing one another… like what?

They turned sappy and soggy towards each other so quickly and became a mere outline of their characters after just few interactions. I needed more longing, more angst, more hatred, more fire 🔥🔥

While I was a bit disappointed by the book, I did learn a few things about my preferences; so, at least it wasn’t a total waste of time 🤷🏻‍♀️

Here we go:

- Instalove/lust dries me up like a leaf blower.
- Obessive posessiveness after only a few days?? No, calm your tits down.
- Nickname starting with Little gives me the ick.
- I can roll my eyes 23 times without them rolling off my skull 🙄

But it was not all doom and gloom, I found a trick to enjoying this book. If you dissociate from the characters and storyline and just read it for the sake of smut, it is actually pretty great! I can see that the author is a talented writer, especially when it comes to spice, so the plot is what’s letting me down. If I started this book with a lower expectation of the plot, I would probably enjoy it more.

So, my advise is to just shut down your brain and lose yourself in its steamy scenes because this book is basically built around a sex fantasy that everyone who has seen Hook from Once Upon a Time probably has. Do with that what you will 🤭💕

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️

Special thanks to my twin sis Ivana
for making this buddy (re)read even better 💖

“I’m not that same boy you knew back in Neverland, Hook.” Silence. Heartbeats. The air crackles. After staring at him a moment longer, I release a breath. “Thank the gods for that.”

Hook needs to bring Peter Pan back to a dying Neverland. But Peter’s all grown up now…and sparks fly between old enemies.

A fun, hot and captivating fairy tale retelling, with a nice dark twist to it.
Was it a dark romance? Not really. Or I’ve just read way worse than some light dub-con, some mild kinks, and some enemies who turn out to be not so enemies.

“Give me all your hate, Little Star, and I’ll give you mine.”

This was perfectly spicy and a little touch of angsty. Hook and Peter Pan had great animosity turned to chemistry, and I just can’t resist a villain that goes a little mushy for the hero. And Rylee Hale’s bad boy version of Hook was next-level hot.

The ending could’ve used maybe a bit more pizzazz, maybe a bit more of angst and feels, but was still a sweet and satisfying HEA.

“You are my happy thought, James Hook. Now and forever.”

CW and tropes (spoilers):
- Enemies to lovers
- Fairy tale retelling
- Assault, violence
- Grief & trauma
- MC with tattoos
- Choking/hand necklace
- Knife (hook) play
- Blood play
- Pain play
- Light BDSM
- Dub-con ? (Peter does come off as totally on board with everything)
- Mild edging
- Light praise kink
- Frotting & Rimming
- Butt plug play 🔥
- Coming untouched
- Strict top/bottom

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars ... Super lightweight story but that's prob'ly what you'd expect. 🤷‍♂️ It was fun and a quick read ... a 175 page story fluffed out to 300+ pages. Keep your expectations reasonable and you won't be disappointed.

[Megan [At The Cottage]]

MM Romance

DNF I’m not coming back to this.





*On Hold



I’m going to come back to this one. I started this when I was in a weird book funk and it’s been a week and I just cannot get back into this book which is ridiculous because I like it! It’s a debut and it’s awesome.

If anyone likes Peter Pan and loves enemies to lovers, this is Pan and Hook’s story. Peter Pan leaves Neverland 14 years ago after a tragedy and because he’s in the real world he grows up. He’s now 26? and a teacher just living his life. Hook stayed in Neverland but without Pan Neverland is dying and despite loving to lord over everyone and not deal with Pan, he refuses to see it die so he goes to find and bring back Pan. Pan has no idea who Hook is when he shows up though and Hook must help him remember before it’s too late. However, now that Pan is older, Hook is drawn to him in a way that doesn’t make sense because they are enemies. Hook is so obsessed and possessive of Pan that this became delicious😋

[Ben Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

“You forgot me once before, but this time, I’ll sear myself onto your fucking soul. You’ll never be able to fucking forget again.”

Peter Pan left Neverland fourteen years ago. Something happened to make him leave and force himself to forget his time on the island. But his past hasn't forgot him. Neverland is dying and Pan's the key to its survival. As much as Hook hates Peter Pan, he doesn't want his home destroyed. So he uses some of the last bits of fairy dust to travel to the human world and track down his nemesis.

But Peter's an adult now with a life and job, and no recollection of Hook or Neverland. Hook has to get Peter to remember his magic otherwise he'll be stuck in this world and Neverland will be doomed.

__
Far From Neverland is a very spicy hate to love romance. It has fantasy elements as it is Peter Pan retelling, but most of the book takes place in our world. I enjoyed the romance between Hook and Peter, there's a big emphasis on the hate but also a nice progression of their relationship as the story goes.

I do think I would of enjoyed it more if it was trimmed a little as there were parts that started to feel repetitive.

I'm not a big Peter Pan fan, I haven't watched it since I was a kid and can't remember much outside of general knowledge, so some of the nods to the original probably flew over my head. But that didn't affect my enjoyment of this!

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐ rounded up

Tropes:
- enemies to lovers
- fairy tale retelling

Peter Pan left Neverland fourteen years ago, and Captain Hook has never been happier. Except Neverland is dying, and despite how much he despises him, Peter Pan is the only one who can fix it.

When Hook tracks Peter down in sunny California, he expects to find Peter as he knew him and plans to treat him like the mischievous little brat he was, but Peter is grown up and has no memories of Hook or Neverland. The more time Hook spends tormenting and trying to get Peter to remember Neverland in the hopes of getting him to come back, the more he finds himself liking Peter.

Underneath all the hate and mistrust he feels, Hook finds himself attracted to the handsome young man and their chemistry is magnetic. The pair cannot deny the feelings between each other, even once Peter's memories return and his hatred for Hook sparks anew.

Can Hook have Peter and save Neverland too, or will going back home make them enemies of each other again?

Far From Neverland was an interesting twist on the Peter Pan x Captain Hook story, and for a debut novel I'm not mad at it. I did find myself having a bit of trouble engaging with the characters and the writing style in the beginning, but once the story picked up it started to flow better and I was into it.

Plus I love a good enemies to lovers romance, and was sucked into Captain Hook falling for Peter first and that he ended up being a pretty solid guy.

*I received an arc of Far From Neverland to read for free, all thoughts & opinions are my own!

[Layla]

DNF at 70% and skimmed to the end

I kept waiting for something amazing to happen but nothing ever came tbh.

The UST was good, the steam was good but it was all very wham bam thank you ma'am.
No build up between enemies to lovers. Very abrupt. Several plot holes especially with Hook navigating the Real world

I know it's a debut and that's why I won't rate because the book needs some work to tighten up the plot.

[☆Kylie☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a solid 3 stars read for me. I never was a fan of Peter Pan, but this is well written, the story is cute, I just can't give this book a better rate because this promised me an enemies to lovers but it felt lacking in that department, the enemies part was small and not that much enemy like if that makes sense

[kaye taz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.7 ⭐️
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
format: ebook

i had no idea what to expect when i opened this book and i was pleasantly surprised.

i really liked the combination of contemporary and fantasy in this. you have neverland and all the characters and landmarks we love from that story, but you also get to see peter and hook living in the modern world—which was honestly so fun for me.

they were sweet and hot and obsessed and i really could not put this book down. river hale just knows how to write some toxically codependent boys and i am always here for it.

the only thing that lost me a little bit was the conflict. i don’t think we really delved deep enough into the backstories of either character, and i also think things were resolved a little too quickly. but otherwise, i had so much fun with this story.

[Michelle #michellebookishmeltdowns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely UNREAL! 🥵🥵🥵 Excuse me … Hook? Ummmm when did you get so freaking absolutely delicious?! 🫠

I absolutely LOVED this Peter Pan retelling. Probably one of my fav versions thus far. Who doesn’t love a sexy talking villain? 😈

The push and pull, the angst, the tension, the confusion, and alllll the smut 🔥🔥🔥

Beautiful writing, amazing story, had me “hooked” right from the start. Exquisite MM smut that is to DIE for and a different take on the story that was refreshing and captivating.

I will recommend this everywhere.

All the stars! 5 ⭐️ 8-9/10 💦 on the Wet-o-meter

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This didn’t work for me and I couldn’t get into it, if I hadn’t been reading it with friends I would have dnf’d pretty early.

The writing was just really meh for me, character development felt non-existent. Pan likes green beverages. Hook is bad because he wears a leather jacket. Enemies to lovers it was not. Definitely more insta-lust and then sappy love next minute. The Little Star nickname did not turn me on and I never got into the vibe of Hook lusting after Pan after knowing him for hundreds of years as a 12yr old. World building and plot was just plain bad.

[Lars · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was sooo fun and sweet. Their chemistry was chefs kiss 😘

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Look, I'll be frank, this wasn't super well written but I was having fun with the toxic possessiveness of it all and it did keep me hanging to see how it was resolved. I really did want to discover who Peter Pan would be as an adult, and I think what the author does here fits with my recollections of the story, though I haven't ever read the book, nor seen the movie in a very long. Pan to me always seemed to have a dark and mischievous side to him though and I think that came through well, combined with a very adult loneliness.

I wouldn't consider this a dark romance, just a kind of angry one. The only real element between them that would have been dark is revealed to not be true anyway, and the rest of it is really a mutually enjoyable rivalry. Though I suppose now that I think of it, Peter did cut Hook's hand off and feed it to a crocodile, it doesn't seem like he's harbouring much resentment over that? They both seem to, um, enjoy the hook, if you know what I mean.

Hook has a bit of a personality transplant partway through which was unfortunate, though I liked the resulting apologies to Wendy. I actually quite liked the epilogue, it made sense for their couple and managed to be cute without being cheesy.

This would really benefit from some editing work. There were a few grammatical crimes committed such as "mine and Wendy's spot" - you wouldn't say "mine spot", would you?

It was however a compelling enough way to pass a few hours and I'd recommend it to fans of Pan, or people with hook kinks?

[Margo]

¿Es un mal libro? No ¿Es un buen libro? Tampoco. Simplemente es un libro spicy medio raro en el que Peter Pan y el Captain Hook no se deciden sobre qué clase de pelea de espadas quieren tener

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 3 stars ✰

“Without it, Neverland has no light, no sun. Your magic is what sets Neverland’s star alight. In a way, you are Neverland’s star.”



I'm sorry, I tried so hard to get into Far From Neverland, but I just couldn't. I really did try, but it was not at all what I was expecting. Fourteen years ago, Peter Pan, along with his Lost Boys, returned to live in the human world, with no memory of ever living in the magical world of Neverland. Since his departure, Neverland has slowly been falling into the darkness of shadows, losing the charm and spark that once graced it. In order to restore the light to Neverland, Captain Hook puts aside his hatred for his sworn enemy and sets out to find Peter Pan and bring him home.

It would have made for a really appetizing enemies to lovers romance, but I'm sorry, it was just so horribly cheesy. Hook and Pan went from sworn enemies to lustful and horny, faster than you could say Neverland. The majority of the book was devoted to both of them questioning what they're doing, how can they feel this way, yet don't hesitate to claw at each other, the minute they meet. 😫

“If Death were to decide it wanted to take my immortal life right now, I would sell my soul for one more minute of this. I’d go to hell for just a few more seconds of heaven.”

Sounds so romantic? I wish I could say that it was - instead, it was a quick breezy read that was more spice than substance - almost like it was intended as a Peter Pan fanfic and nothing more. Another pet peeve of mine is when authors use so many different takes of descriptive adjectives for the sake of sounding creative - 'green' and 'verdant' being ones that grated on me the most. The writing style wasn't very refined, and spotting a few typos here and there didn't help my reading experience either. 💔💔

When I read a MM Romance, I want to connect with the characters. I want to feel their emotions with their thoughts and actions. But, I just couldn't with this - try as I might, it didn't resonate with me. And I hate that I'm hating on this debut novel, because it was a unique idea with the potential to be something memorable. Sadly, it just failed to hit the mark with me. 😞

[Gaby · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was weird?

Like it felt a bit lazy for a retelling like the author just went and used the basic knowledge of Peter Pan and said, but what about if he's gay?

Just so y'all know, this is not enemies to lovers it's more like weird Insta-lust and bad pet names to lovers.

It was really not that bad but it did make me close my kobo a lot while reading it.

[QueerBookshelf || Ines ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ »Far From Neverland« by Rylee Hale ✨

Neverland is dying because of a darkness called the shadow, which is constantly growing and consuming everything. And Neverland gets darker and colder. The only thing that can safe it all is Neverland´s star. Too bad he left 14 years ago and never came back.

Even though he doesn't want to do it, Captain Hook decides to bring the star back. Unfortunately, said star Peter Pan is all grown up now and can't remember ever shining for Neverland.  Can Captain Hook bring back Peter Pan's light and memories?

Tropes:
🖤 Dark MM Romance
💚 Peter Pan Retelling ✨
💜 Enemies to Lovers
💙 Hurt/ Comfort
🖤 Grumpy/ Sunshine
💚 Hook Play 🪝
💜 Praise 🙌
💙 Hand Necklaces 🔥
🖤 Morally Grey Characters
💚 Possessive MC
💜 Pain and Pleasure
💙 HEA
 
This book has it all ... fantasy, fairytale, thrill, suspense, romance, actual sword fights 😉⚔️, Lily the moped, Captain Crazy and Little Star, dirty minds, cold blue flamed and warm forest-green eyes, adrenaline, passion, spice, intensity, olive oil, belief, magic, love ... you name it! 🔥🥰🖤
 
Peter and Hook – I loved their dynamic, the tension, the banter, the heat ... Hook is dark, brooding, demanding and Peter takes everything Hook gives him like the good boy he is! Aye, Captain! They fit so perfectly - It feels like they were meant to be together! 🔥❤️‍🔥🥰

And OMG! This book is hot af!! 🔥😮‍💨🙌 All the things you can do with a hook 😏 - this shower scene lives rent free in my head now! 💦💭🪝🖤🥵
 
Oh, and Wendy! She is amazing! Peter´s and her conversations are so fun, but you can also feel the love between them and that they deeply care for each other. And when Hook brought her the cake! I melted!  🫠🥰🍰

I also really liked that you can see that there is more to Pan and Hook than just Good and Evil - that there are many more layers to their characters!! ❤️
 
I laughed, cried, was touched, I cheered for Hook and Peter and now I am sad it´s over!
I absolutely enjoyed and loved their story 🥰 and I highly recommend this book!🪝❤️
 
Favorite quotes 🥰🖤:
»Peter Pan is mine, always has been. Mine to capture. Mine to bend. Mine to break.«
»Give me all your hate, Little Star, and I’ll give you mine.«
»The pirate. The scoundrel. The thief. My pirate. My scoundrel. My thief.«
»You are my happy thought, James Hook. Now and forever.«

[Phoebe Wilkes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Look here, guys, we need to talk.

First of all. What the fvck is this story and why the hell does it have such a high score?
The cover is quite nice and I also liked the synopsis, but, what dark romance with enemies to lovers are we talking about?

This is like a weird mixture between the little I remember about Peter Pan movies, a badly / repetitive ao3 fan fiction and some porn scenes (btw, I´m not telling you, but I´ve not got to the middle of this novel and I already found out at least about 3 different kinks someone has).
The plot starts promising, with Neverland being slowly destroyed... but that goes down the drain pretty soon, as Hook dives into the real world only to find Peter Pan (who can supposedly save Neverland) and... do what exactly? The villain breaks into Peter´s house and they get horny?

Yeah, I think that´s pretty much the summary of the entire thing.
I don´t know why they´re enemies cause there´s no depth in any character (dialogues are so plain and narration´s repetitive). I don´t know why Peter, Wendy and the rest came back to the real world and neither why these people (Hook and Peter) later are so desperate to get back to Neverland. And mostly, I absolutely don´t get how you just find a guy with a weapon (not that kind of weapon) breaking into your appartment, hurting you and you not only don´t call the police nor take messures for it not to happen again, but you get horny.

Why. WHY?

I DNF this at 40% because I couldn´t put up with it anymore. I felt it had no plot, just the author trying to get together a couple of characters with no real reason or logic.

[Tosha · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Open your f__king eyes,” I growl.
“What the f__k did I tell you about that?” My voice doesn’t sound as angry as I intend.
“Your pleasure belongs to me, Pan, and I want to f__king see it in your eyes. If I don’t, I swear I’ll stop.”

I think I’m in love with James Hook! Not that he’d notice me with Peter Pan there!

All joking aside I’m a bit shockith after finishing this book. This was one of my most anticipated books for 2023. I had so many expectations, so much I wanted to see happen in this book. And although I knew I’d like it, there’s always that fear a book will not live up to the unrealistic expectations you put on it. Not the case here! Both Hook and Pan were perfect, the world build was amazing and beautiful and although a retelling of a beloved story it was still able to surprise me. Perfect amount of hate/love, angst, passion and story.

I can only wish that the author has more gems hiding up their sleeve because I need more books just like this.