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The Lost Girl #3
Caging Darling
Shackled by a fae bargain. A prisoner in her own body.
Wendy Darling has been forced to choose Peter for so long, it’s starting to feel like her decision. Between her Mating Mark, now exclusively tied to Peter, and their bargain, she’s no longer sure where the real Wendy ends and the magic begins.
But Peter isn’t the only fae she’s ever made a bargain with. Time is ticking on her agreement with the Nomad—deliver Tink into his possession. But the shadows of Neverland whisper secrets, and once Wendy learns the truth, it might just rip her in two.
Will Captain Nolan Astor come for her? Or did his love die with the Mating Mark Wendy severed?
This is the third installment in The Lost Girl Series, a dark fantasy Peter Pan retelling with winged fae, shadow magic, enemies-to-lovers romance, fated mates, pirates, and a chilling mystery haunting Neverland.
Wendy Darling has been forced to choose Peter for so long, it’s starting to feel like her decision. Between her Mating Mark, now exclusively tied to Peter, and their bargain, she’s no longer sure where the real Wendy ends and the magic begins.
But Peter isn’t the only fae she’s ever made a bargain with. Time is ticking on her agreement with the Nomad—deliver Tink into his possession. But the shadows of Neverland whisper secrets, and once Wendy learns the truth, it might just rip her in two.
Will Captain Nolan Astor come for her? Or did his love die with the Mating Mark Wendy severed?
This is the third installment in The Lost Girl Series, a dark fantasy Peter Pan retelling with winged fae, shadow magic, enemies-to-lovers romance, fated mates, pirates, and a chilling mystery haunting Neverland.
451 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 11, 2025
136 people are currently reading
1047 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
April 7, 2025
ARC Reader
This book is my favorite of the three in the series so far. The author writes the struggles of her characters so well that it is difficult to truly hate the villains and loving the heros is wonderfully complicated. I found myself feeling challenged over this series to rethink some of the ways I view myself and others in the world. My soul needed to read this story. I read the first two books in the series in a weekend and even months later I find myself drawn back into thinking about the characters. This third installment is wonderful and made me immediately go order everything else this author has written.
Thank you!
This book is my favorite of the three in the series so far. The author writes the struggles of her characters so well that it is difficult to truly hate the villains and loving the heros is wonderfully complicated. I found myself feeling challenged over this series to rethink some of the ways I view myself and others in the world. My soul needed to read this story. I read the first two books in the series in a weekend and even months later I find myself drawn back into thinking about the characters. This third installment is wonderful and made me immediately go order everything else this author has written.
Thank you!
April 12, 2025
My goodness, this series... where to begin?
First of all, I absolutely love this series! Despite how dark this story is, there's something about this world Taylor has created that I'm so deeply drawn to. The tension, the angst, the deep, all-consuming love...
And there's such a relatable aspect to it as well. The fact that Wendy feels so weak and easily manipulated. That at his core, Peter just wants to be loved. That Astor hates being controlled and resists it at all costs.
There are certainly dark themes in this series, though I would say I found this book the most tragic so far. But it's so beautifully, heartbreakingly tragic... that's one reason I love this series so much -- the writing style is so perfect, poetic in a way, and you feel each character's pain with them. Each one is hurting and it's easy to empathize with each. I found myself crying several times reading this.
I'm going to be devastated for a bit. Each of these books leaves me with a bit of a hangover and a struggle to snap back into the real world. Not that I'm complaining. It certainly speaks to Taylor's writing skills!
And just when I think I know what's coming, there's another twist...
Eagerly awaiting the fourth book, while I linger a little longer here in this one...
⚠️ No cursing
🫑 kissing, closed-door, implied
Multiple dark themes, so be sure to check trigger warnings
Thank you so much, Taylor, for the chance to ARC read again for you!
First of all, I absolutely love this series! Despite how dark this story is, there's something about this world Taylor has created that I'm so deeply drawn to. The tension, the angst, the deep, all-consuming love...
And there's such a relatable aspect to it as well. The fact that Wendy feels so weak and easily manipulated. That at his core, Peter just wants to be loved. That Astor hates being controlled and resists it at all costs.
There are certainly dark themes in this series, though I would say I found this book the most tragic so far. But it's so beautifully, heartbreakingly tragic... that's one reason I love this series so much -- the writing style is so perfect, poetic in a way, and you feel each character's pain with them. Each one is hurting and it's easy to empathize with each. I found myself crying several times reading this.
I'm going to be devastated for a bit. Each of these books leaves me with a bit of a hangover and a struggle to snap back into the real world. Not that I'm complaining. It certainly speaks to Taylor's writing skills!
And just when I think I know what's coming, there's another twist...
Eagerly awaiting the fourth book, while I linger a little longer here in this one...
⚠️ No cursing
🫑 kissing, closed-door, implied
Multiple dark themes, so be sure to check trigger warnings
Thank you so much, Taylor, for the chance to ARC read again for you!
January 10, 2026
Oof- this one was tough. I just wanted so bad for them to catch a break, but nooooooo. So so good. Read it so fast!
This is a dark fairy tale, well done but contains some themes that might be triggering to sensitive readers. No ope. Door scenes or swearing
This is a dark fairy tale, well done but contains some themes that might be triggering to sensitive readers. No ope. Door scenes or swearing
April 13, 2025
Kakva, pre svega, EMOTIVNA vožnja. Svojevremeno me Sally Rooney ovako iscedila sa Normal People. I samo što sam pomislila da neće od mene dobiti 5⭐️, saznajem da će biti i četvrti deo.
Oh well, T.A. Lawrence, take me wherever you want, girl. Već si me odvela u najdublje ponore najmračnijih emocija, šta je još jedna knjiga.
Oh well, T.A. Lawrence, take me wherever you want, girl. Već si me odvela u najdublje ponore najmračnijih emocija, šta je još jedna knjiga.
April 15, 2025
4.5⭐️
At this point, I shouldn't be surprised that the author is going to leave us hanging and plays with our emotions😅But here we are...me not seeing the ending coming and feeling emotionally drained by the end of the book. I knew there would be something drastic happen at the end. I just didn't expect this. I had literal moments I gasped in this book. T.A. Lawrence better write quickly because it is awful having to wait until the next book.
At this point, I shouldn't be surprised that the author is going to leave us hanging and plays with our emotions😅But here we are...me not seeing the ending coming and feeling emotionally drained by the end of the book. I knew there would be something drastic happen at the end. I just didn't expect this. I had literal moments I gasped in this book. T.A. Lawrence better write quickly because it is awful having to wait until the next book.
November 12, 2025
"I’m not asking you to choose me. I love you too much for that. I adore you too thoroughly to ask you to live out the rest of your life with the man who ruined it. No, I won’t ask you, I won’t beg you to do that.”
“But?” I ask.
He looks up at me, his eyes soft for the first time. “But if it came from you. If it was what you, Wendy Darling, wanted, I would steal you away and never let you go.”
I didn’t know a book could make my heart PHYSICALLY ache from the first page to the last.
A few typos, a handful of times I had to reread sentences to understand what was trying to be said. This author isn’t huge but I think she should be. She is a craftsman with words and storytelling (just needs a more thorough editor). I will die telling everyone I know to read this series. It was perfect. The pacing couldn’t have gone better. The miscommunication because of the bargain. The timely dropping of important information that causes the characters (and me) to die inwardly. The reunion and the reveal of the tapestry (IYKYK). Wendy's continuous journey of finding herself, her value, and her voice. It couldn’t have been written better or differently.
Astor has our hearts forever.
“But?” I ask.
He looks up at me, his eyes soft for the first time. “But if it came from you. If it was what you, Wendy Darling, wanted, I would steal you away and never let you go.”
I didn’t know a book could make my heart PHYSICALLY ache from the first page to the last.
A few typos, a handful of times I had to reread sentences to understand what was trying to be said. This author isn’t huge but I think she should be. She is a craftsman with words and storytelling (just needs a more thorough editor). I will die telling everyone I know to read this series. It was perfect. The pacing couldn’t have gone better. The miscommunication because of the bargain. The timely dropping of important information that causes the characters (and me) to die inwardly. The reunion and the reveal of the tapestry (IYKYK). Wendy's continuous journey of finding herself, her value, and her voice. It couldn’t have been written better or differently.
Astor has our hearts forever.
April 16, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 I love the way this author writes. The FMC has always been an obedient girl, trained to be like that, and usually an FMC like that is so unrelatable to me, but not Wendy. With Wendy you can understand why she’s this way, you can see and understand her story and watch as she burns underneath for more. You understand her so well when she says things like: “I just want to be wanted, I just want a win.” She’s not weak she’s tired, she’s been beaten down by everyone and never been given the opportunity to take what she wants.
Love this whole storyline, curious to see how it continues as I did think this was going to be the last book.
All closed door scenes, I was confused at one point about what happened, I think with this book it makes sense to have closed door.
Love this whole storyline, curious to see how it continues as I did think this was going to be the last book.
All closed door scenes, I was confused at one point about what happened, I think with this book it makes sense to have closed door.
April 4, 2025
Received an ARC for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I…I don’t even know where to begin. My heart is SHATTERED. This story is so well written, I feel for the characters so deeply through their trials. As soon as you feel like you got it figured out, another unexpected twist pops up and changes everything. There are dark themes and I highly recommend checking content warnings prior to reading. Your mental health is important ♥️
🫑closed door romance
🧚♂️Peter Pan, dark fantasy retelling
☠️pirates, winged fae, shadow magic
♥️fated mates
🤍3rd book of The Lost Girl Series (Losing Wendy & Freeing Hook available on KU)
🤍Cliffhanger ending(without driving you crazy)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I…I don’t even know where to begin. My heart is SHATTERED. This story is so well written, I feel for the characters so deeply through their trials. As soon as you feel like you got it figured out, another unexpected twist pops up and changes everything. There are dark themes and I highly recommend checking content warnings prior to reading. Your mental health is important ♥️
🫑closed door romance
🧚♂️Peter Pan, dark fantasy retelling
☠️pirates, winged fae, shadow magic
♥️fated mates
🤍3rd book of The Lost Girl Series (Losing Wendy & Freeing Hook available on KU)
🤍Cliffhanger ending(without driving you crazy)
April 13, 2025
I’ve been looking forward to the next installment of The Lost Girl series for months!!
I have really enjoyed this series so far, and I cannot wait to see what happens in the fourth book. With that said, as good as this book was, it was so sad for the vast majority of it. It’s literally so heartbreaking seeing how little Wendy valued herself, how cruel Peter was, and how how hopeless several situations looked.
I won’t spoil anything, but things get…kind of better by the end? The end is still kind of vague, but it generated so much interest for me in figuring out what happens in the next book!
I have really enjoyed this series so far, and I cannot wait to see what happens in the fourth book. With that said, as good as this book was, it was so sad for the vast majority of it. It’s literally so heartbreaking seeing how little Wendy valued herself, how cruel Peter was, and how how hopeless several situations looked.
I won’t spoil anything, but things get…kind of better by the end? The end is still kind of vague, but it generated so much interest for me in figuring out what happens in the next book!
May 10, 2025
I love this series so much and can’t wait for the next book to come out 😋
5/5 ⭐️’s
5/5 ⭐️’s
April 17, 2025
I’m in an abusive relationship with these books.
There is something that keeps me coming back to these books. I’m a sucker for a happy ending, but you won’t find that here. What you will find instead is a roller coaster of anger, sadness, and confusion. Then right as you become infuriated, the author will breadcrumb you with warm feelings of love and hope. Unique spins on the regular fantasy we have all become accustomed to coupled with twists you can’t see coming . Is it love? Is it hate? I can’t say for sure. What I can tell you is that by the end I can’t put it down, and I’m always left wanting more. It’s basically a trauma bond.
There is something that keeps me coming back to these books. I’m a sucker for a happy ending, but you won’t find that here. What you will find instead is a roller coaster of anger, sadness, and confusion. Then right as you become infuriated, the author will breadcrumb you with warm feelings of love and hope. Unique spins on the regular fantasy we have all become accustomed to coupled with twists you can’t see coming . Is it love? Is it hate? I can’t say for sure. What I can tell you is that by the end I can’t put it down, and I’m always left wanting more. It’s basically a trauma bond.
April 7, 2025
“I’m getting out of here, and I’ll chase him to the ends of the earth if I have to. Even if it’s to beat on his chest and scream at him for leaving me to rot. Even if it’s to break down and weep into his arms.”
Love cannot even encompass my feelings for this book. It was amazing, it was thrilling, addicting, heartbreaking, and so much more. I devoured this book, I read the whole thing in two sittings; I just could not get enough. The last book almost broke me, so I was incredibly excited when I opened up my email and saw that I had received an ARC for this one. Before I get into my actual review, I just want to say that if you have been loving this series like I have, this book is going to blow you away. It is hands down the best so far, and I cannot accurately express how much I love it. I just aaaarrrrgggghhhh, it was perfection.
A little recap in case you somehow forgot the end of the last book. Wendy told Peter that she was going to leave him, he took this extremely well and called in his bargain, forcing her to “chose him”. Now, Wendy is trapped both physically in Neverland and mentally by having to choose Peter, no matter how much she longs for Astor.
This book starts with a time jump, which I actually liked; we got to bypass a lot of the setup and jump right into the plot, though there are, of course, flashbacks that explain what happened in the time in-between. I don’t want to give too much away, so just know that this book was everything I ever could have wanted and so much more. The plot twists, the character developments, the writing, everything was pure gold. I think my favorite part of this book (besides Astor, cause let’s be honest, he’s the best part of everything 😘) was Wendy’s character arc. She really came into herself in this book, she was strong and even when she thought she wouldn’t be able to survive, she did. I love her and seeing her become this person was amazing, and I can’t wait to see her develop further in the next one.
In conclusion, I am dying and the only cure is the rest of this series- not that I’m being overdramatic or anything 😉. Seriously though, you are going to love this book, so go and read it as soon as you can so we can fangirl and cry together.
“If it was what you, Wendy Darling, wanted, I would steal you away and never let you go.”
(note: Much like the last two books, this one contains dark and sensitive themes such as SA, suicide, self-harm, murder, violence, and more)
Love cannot even encompass my feelings for this book. It was amazing, it was thrilling, addicting, heartbreaking, and so much more. I devoured this book, I read the whole thing in two sittings; I just could not get enough. The last book almost broke me, so I was incredibly excited when I opened up my email and saw that I had received an ARC for this one. Before I get into my actual review, I just want to say that if you have been loving this series like I have, this book is going to blow you away. It is hands down the best so far, and I cannot accurately express how much I love it. I just aaaarrrrgggghhhh, it was perfection.
A little recap in case you somehow forgot the end of the last book. Wendy told Peter that she was going to leave him, he took this extremely well and called in his bargain, forcing her to “chose him”. Now, Wendy is trapped both physically in Neverland and mentally by having to choose Peter, no matter how much she longs for Astor.
This book starts with a time jump, which I actually liked; we got to bypass a lot of the setup and jump right into the plot, though there are, of course, flashbacks that explain what happened in the time in-between. I don’t want to give too much away, so just know that this book was everything I ever could have wanted and so much more. The plot twists, the character developments, the writing, everything was pure gold. I think my favorite part of this book (besides Astor, cause let’s be honest, he’s the best part of everything 😘) was Wendy’s character arc. She really came into herself in this book, she was strong and even when she thought she wouldn’t be able to survive, she did. I love her and seeing her become this person was amazing, and I can’t wait to see her develop further in the next one.
In conclusion, I am dying and the only cure is the rest of this series- not that I’m being overdramatic or anything 😉. Seriously though, you are going to love this book, so go and read it as soon as you can so we can fangirl and cry together.
“If it was what you, Wendy Darling, wanted, I would steal you away and never let you go.”
(note: Much like the last two books, this one contains dark and sensitive themes such as SA, suicide, self-harm, murder, violence, and more)
April 2, 2025
5⭐️ Loved it! A must own book.
Read this if you like a twisty love triangle with all the angst and longing set in the magical world of Neverland.
📖What’s inside:
Hurt/comfort romance ❤️🩹
Love triangle (but the best one ever)
⚠️Trigger warnings
Fated mates
On-page intimacy 🟢
Disability rep ♿️
🪽Winged fae
Shadow magic
Secrets and lies 🤫
✨Vibes: The Minority Report meets Peter Pan
💭Thoughts: you’ll want to devour this book in 24 hours like I did, but don’t. Savor it as much as you can! After the ending of book 2, I was DYING to jump into book 3 so badly that when the author opened up ARC applications, I JUMPED on the chance (and I’ve never requested an ARC before so this is my first one) that being said, I’m not just promoting this book for the sake of reviewing an ARC. I absolutely LOVE this series. In fact, book 2 was on my top ten books of 2024 list. But let’s talk about book 3. Caging Darling is a heart wrencher!!! The LONGING. The ANGST. The HURT! Ohhh your heart will be broken and mended and shattered and restored and then broken all over again!!! It’s a tragic tale, but I’m really trusting the author for that promised HEA because man! These characters have to go through A LOT to get there. I’m blown away by the thoroughly thought out inner struggle that is Wendy’s POV. Her inner dialogue is so believable amidst her suffering, you can’t help but FEEL for her. And it feels real because you’re reading it all from her perspective so it’s like YOU are Wendy. The things she has to deal with and work through….UNG! This book will have you putting it down to take a breath, just to pick it back up because you need to know what happens. The plot is thick, dark and twisty, but SOOOOO good! The romance?!! Omg, you have not read a romance so well tragically twisted than this one. And while there is no spice whatsoever, you’ll find that it’s not needed because the romance is so swoony, you’ll have heart palpitations with the kissing alone. I can’t recommend this series enough, but bear in mind that it is dark. There are themes of murder, self harm, emotional abuse, substance abuse…I mean the list goes on. So be warned, this book is not for the faint of heart. But if you can stomach reading about the dark truths of real life addressed in a fantasy setting, then you’ll be in for a mind blowing ride if you pick up this series. This book will be one that stays with you long after you’ve read the last page.
Read this if you like a twisty love triangle with all the angst and longing set in the magical world of Neverland.
📖What’s inside:
Hurt/comfort romance ❤️🩹
Love triangle (but the best one ever)
⚠️Trigger warnings
Fated mates
On-page intimacy 🟢
Disability rep ♿️
🪽Winged fae
Shadow magic
Secrets and lies 🤫
✨Vibes: The Minority Report meets Peter Pan
💭Thoughts: you’ll want to devour this book in 24 hours like I did, but don’t. Savor it as much as you can! After the ending of book 2, I was DYING to jump into book 3 so badly that when the author opened up ARC applications, I JUMPED on the chance (and I’ve never requested an ARC before so this is my first one) that being said, I’m not just promoting this book for the sake of reviewing an ARC. I absolutely LOVE this series. In fact, book 2 was on my top ten books of 2024 list. But let’s talk about book 3. Caging Darling is a heart wrencher!!! The LONGING. The ANGST. The HURT! Ohhh your heart will be broken and mended and shattered and restored and then broken all over again!!! It’s a tragic tale, but I’m really trusting the author for that promised HEA because man! These characters have to go through A LOT to get there. I’m blown away by the thoroughly thought out inner struggle that is Wendy’s POV. Her inner dialogue is so believable amidst her suffering, you can’t help but FEEL for her. And it feels real because you’re reading it all from her perspective so it’s like YOU are Wendy. The things she has to deal with and work through….UNG! This book will have you putting it down to take a breath, just to pick it back up because you need to know what happens. The plot is thick, dark and twisty, but SOOOOO good! The romance?!! Omg, you have not read a romance so well tragically twisted than this one. And while there is no spice whatsoever, you’ll find that it’s not needed because the romance is so swoony, you’ll have heart palpitations with the kissing alone. I can’t recommend this series enough, but bear in mind that it is dark. There are themes of murder, self harm, emotional abuse, substance abuse…I mean the list goes on. So be warned, this book is not for the faint of heart. But if you can stomach reading about the dark truths of real life addressed in a fantasy setting, then you’ll be in for a mind blowing ride if you pick up this series. This book will be one that stays with you long after you’ve read the last page.
April 5, 2025
This book will take you on such an incredible array of emotions as you slip into the wonderfully tragic journey of Wendy Darling’s ongoing struggle to find ownership over her own life.
The way that T.A. Lawerence can blend such horrific, painful, and despising moments with moments of hope, joy, and excitement is truly astounding to experience as a reader. I’ve never been so invested in wanting to learn more about all the characters within a series, the way she weaves their stories together so intricately as if she’s weaving a tapestry of her own.
Her ability to build out the individual characters creates this connection between the cast in more ways than one can ever imagine. You can experience Wendy’s own shock and horror as she realizes the true intent/desires of those around her with the shocking revelations T.A. Lawrence creates, challenging your allegiance as you learn more about each individual.
After reading the first two books in the series, I knew to anticipate a level of suspense, but I was completely unprepared for the level of shock I encountered when reading Caging Darling. Although I thought I could draw my own conclusions around what surprises this book would hold, I can truly say my jaw was on the floor for majority of it. The world she has created within this series is so deeply complex and rich, you can’t help but get lost in the pages.
It’s almost like chasing your own fairy dust high. Finishing Caging Darling has made me hungry for the next book in the series, feverish to understand what’s next in store for Wendy Darling, and hopeful (although a bit weary) to see her finally get a taste of the freedom she’s been so desperately chasing.
The way that T.A. Lawerence can blend such horrific, painful, and despising moments with moments of hope, joy, and excitement is truly astounding to experience as a reader. I’ve never been so invested in wanting to learn more about all the characters within a series, the way she weaves their stories together so intricately as if she’s weaving a tapestry of her own.
Her ability to build out the individual characters creates this connection between the cast in more ways than one can ever imagine. You can experience Wendy’s own shock and horror as she realizes the true intent/desires of those around her with the shocking revelations T.A. Lawrence creates, challenging your allegiance as you learn more about each individual.
After reading the first two books in the series, I knew to anticipate a level of suspense, but I was completely unprepared for the level of shock I encountered when reading Caging Darling. Although I thought I could draw my own conclusions around what surprises this book would hold, I can truly say my jaw was on the floor for majority of it. The world she has created within this series is so deeply complex and rich, you can’t help but get lost in the pages.
It’s almost like chasing your own fairy dust high. Finishing Caging Darling has made me hungry for the next book in the series, feverish to understand what’s next in store for Wendy Darling, and hopeful (although a bit weary) to see her finally get a taste of the freedom she’s been so desperately chasing.
May 27, 2025
*Chef's kiss*
I have no words, I loved this book so much! I have laughed, I have cried. Give me more pleeease!
I have no words, I loved this book so much! I have laughed, I have cried. Give me more pleeease!
June 4, 2025
I need the next one!!!!
August 23, 2025
I did like the end of the book but the first half was a bit slow. Curious towards book 4 that is yet to be released.
October 16, 2025
I read this one the fastest of the 3 so far- it was still gripping and full of surprising plot twists I was not expecting. As we get deeper into this story, it feels heavier and darker. If you want a dark romantacy, this series is for you.
December 3, 2025
slow too start
but still one of my favorite serie
can't wait to read book 4
ASTOR MY LOVE
but still one of my favorite serie
can't wait to read book 4
ASTOR MY LOVE
August 9, 2025
I think this one has killed me. Every single page. I have no idea how I’m supposed to wait until October now. I’m literally sobbing as I write this. I can barely see through my tears. But that epilogue has led me to question whether we’re going to receive Astor’s point of view in the following book, too.
THOUGHTS (SPOILERS AHEAD):
“Something twists in my stomach at the delight that sparks in Peter’s eyes at her obvious attraction.”
he continually says that wendy is ‘his’ and he would not let wendy leave him. he would not have let wendy choose astor in the previous book. he would not let her choose anyone other than him — the terms of his bargain literally say that she has to choose peter ALWAYS. and yet he is still entertaining other women’s advances in front of her? in front of his wife? i have a theory on this. i feel like this is another way of him maintaining control over her. it’s kind of like this is him showing wendy how trapped she is again. he’s entertaining other women in front of her, which is something she can’t do. i don’t think i’m doing a very good job at explaining it but essentially, what i’m trying to say is it feels like this is his way of showing her that she is replaceable, even though she cannot replace him.
“It’s been a year and eleven months of choosing Peter, a year and eleven months since he called in his bargain.”
i have some thoughts on that. so it’s been nearly two years since the end of the last book, but i’m remembering the bargain wendy made with the nomad and didn’t he say that she needed to fulfill her end of it within 2 years? so she has a month left of that? also, this is so sad. he stole 15 years of her childhood when he was constantly visiting her at night in her room. then he stole around 7 months (i think) when she first came to neverland, in which he spent the entire time manipulating her and crafting her into the ‘perfect’ partner for him. she had six months of freedom from peter and now she’s spent the past year and 11 months in his captivity once more. he’s taken close to two decades of her life.
“But there’s so little control I have left.
This—abstaining from wine—this, I still have. This, Peter allows.”
this is horrific. this isn’t even a surprise. this has been hinted at since book one — peter continues to exert his control over wendy. i think the worst part is how good she feels about being able to abstain from alcohol. she feels good about it because it is the only thing in her life that she is allowed some modicum of control over. everything else has been stripped away by peter.
“Because if he killed you, he couldn’t keep you.”
is she talking about lord estrias, or is she talking about peter? i think both. i think the reason why her inner monologue about the lord has been so negative is because of the likeness that she sees between him and her own husband, who has forced her into his captivity forever.
“There was a time when I would have fought the pleasure that snakes through my skin when he puts his hands on me. A time when I would have fortified my mind against his allure.
But the Mating Mark is strong, the bargain even stronger.”
so, i have another theory on this. i’m not entirely convinced that the mating mark has ANY sway in this. and while i don’t doubt that the bargain is a massive part of the reason why she can’t fight back against him, i would argue that it’s also partly a result of the faerie dust that he doses her with. i think it was said that he gives it to her twice a day in the epilogue of the last book? we know that the faerie dust makes wendy compliant and we know that she isn’t in the right frame of mind when she has it either, so i think that this is the reason why peter gives it to her. it’s another way to bend her to his will. he’s employing every technique he can to keep her — not because he loves her, but because he wants to own her.
“There’s just an empty nothingness, the knowledge that John is dead, and the faint craving for faerie dust on the back of my tongue that will compete for my attention with increasing intensity until Peter gives me my next dose.”
this is another line that solidifies my earlier theory. because she’s so hooked on the faerie dust, she can’t stop thinking about it. and because it’s always peter who administers the dust to her, she ends up thinking about peter, too. this is a method that he employs to maintain his control.
“The urge to swipe my hand across Michael’s toys like a petulant child who knows she’s about to lose at a board game washes over me, but I’m too tired to act on it.”
this is another line that shows us how unstable wendy is. i actually think it’s also important to note that the last time she was physically violent with michael on-page (because we don’t know if it’s happened since the end of book 2, though i’m doubtful of it) was after peter manipulated her into killing victor’s father. other than that, we have never seen her act in such a way. and i think it’s also painfully important to note the way she states that this time, she is too tired to act on her violent urges. this, i’m willing to assume, is a direct result of the faerie dust that peter constantly doses her with. when he gave her the faerie dust after she murdered victor’s father, it also made her too tired to continue fighting michael. i don’t think it’s a coincidence that this violence always seems to be incited in her when she’s around peter — while we have seen instances of her temper while she was with astor, she has never been physically violent with anyone that she cares for before unless she is in peter’s presence — and then i think it’s even more sickening because it is always peter who uses this unnatural method with the dust to get her to hone her urges. he is both the indirect cause and the (unhealthy) cure at once and i feel like this is another reason why her internal monologue doesn’t fully despise him; in a warped sense, she views this as him helping her, even though it’s destroying her and i’d be willing to wager that she wouldn’t NEED helping, were it not for peter in the first place. but this isn’t physically stated because wendy’s internal monologue is as skewered as her thought process. at the moment, while we have these lines that remind us of peter’s control and his abuse, we do not recieve direct lines stating it because WENDY does not yet see it that way, which is a thought process that he has crafted in her.
“I just do my best to drown out his memory altogether.”
i think that this is also really important. john’s death occurred (or, at least, was discovered by wendy) after peter claimed his bargain with her. she has worked to drown out the memory of her brother, rather than trying to cling to the memories she once had of him. this is a complete switch from the wendy in the first book, who was writing down all of her memories in a journal because she didn’t want to lose them. she also clung to the memories of her parent’s death and spoke of them constantly in the first book, and this is something that is not quite happening in this book in regards to john. i feel like this line is an indirect call-back to the first book in the series because it shows us just how thoroughly peter has destroyed her. rather than a character development (which we saw was beginning to happen in the second book, where she started getting brave enough to shape her own life), since returning to captivity with peter, she has gone through a character REGRESSION. this is something that i believe the author has been hinting at since the first book because i’m pretty sure i have it somewhere in my notes for that one that being with peter would cause a regression for her character arc while being with astor would cause a development. i don’t think that this line is a coincidence.
“My hands find Michael’s dusty hair, and I scratch his scalp, right behind his ears.”
this is interesting. i feel like with this one, i might potentially be looking too much into it, but i feel like this is kind of akin to petting an animal? and what was wendy constantly referred to in the previous book (both by peter and the guy who tried to sell her)? a pet. there was a line in her internal monologue which expressed her repulsion for being treated like a pet so i find it interesting that she is now doing that to her brother. i want to say that this is another instance of the author showing us her character deterioration; she is treating michael the same way that she has been treated over the past year because it’s something that has become normalised to her. this one might not hold as much merit as my previous thoughts, but i still wanted to add it in here because i feel like it’s interesting wording and it’s not a line that the author needed to put in there either.
“You have to wean her off of it.”
i find it interesting that this is coming from victor. we know that john was like the voice of reason in the previous books before his tragic death and the author was setting up a similarity between victor and john in the previous book. there are dozens of parallels between the two and if i went into all of them, i could write for hours. but the point i’m trying to make here is that it is the man who often shares the same sentiments as john who is saying this line, which is kind of leading me to question whether victor is taking over john’s role in the narrative and if this is something that was being set up in the second book.
“It would irritate me—that he’s trying to take my last bit of relief away from me—if I thought there was any chance of Peter heeding him.”
the idea irritates her because of how strong her addiction is. she admitted in the previous book that she thought it was actually a good idea later when charlie and astor took her off of the faerie dust because that’s when she was going through her DEVELOPMENT as a character. now that she’s deteriorated, she no longer sees it as something beneficial. i think this was the author’s way of telling us to consider that anything wendy considers as ‘good’ in the opposite sense and vice versa.
“Peter would never shove me to the ground just to see if I’d get back up. He’d never push me, just so I’d hurt enough to fight back.”
again, this is in conflict with her thoughts from the previous book, where she actually thought that it was a GOOD idea when astor did that. peter has manipulated her into believing that he’s a good person for this when he’s actually the opposite. he encourages her to sit idle and defenceless for two reasons; the first is so that she is entirely dependent on him to defend her, and the second is so that she is both incapable and unwilling to fight back against HIM. everything that wendy has said thus far in this book is a contradiction to the things she has said in the previous book and i think that this is a tactic employed to show the differences in her thought process when she is growing as a character and when she is degenerating as a character. and i feel like that’s also a really important thing to add. wendy isn’t just regressing — she’s getting WORSE than she was in the first book. she is now completely and utterly destroyed.
“‘She’s not strong enough, or you’re worried about how strong she’d be without it?’ asks Victor.”
i think that this is a really important line. i feel like victor is currently being used as a mouthpiece so that we can still get a glimpse of the real peter. wendy’s thought process is skewered as a result of peter’s manipulation, so we have characters like simon to remind us of the extent of this manipulation.
“Victor scoffs. ‘Well, someone has to be, don’t they?’”
this is really important for me. peter constantly talks about how wendy is ‘his’ and how much he wants to own her. even in the line preceding this, he tells victor that he’s too invested in what’s ‘his’. however, he wants wendy in the same way that a child wants a toy; he only wants her while he’s bored. in victor saying this line, it leaves the reader to infer that peter wants to own wendy, but he does not want to care for her or help her. he only wants the knowledge that he possesses her.
“I don’t want to go. But there’s something about the vulnerability in Victor’s request, something about the fact that he looks as if he really does want to spend time with me, even though I’m no fun to be around and I stink of a girl who’s lost all purpose in life, that has me wanting to say yes.”
i think this is another way of setting up victor as almost replacing the role that john played in the previous books.
“‘I’ll take her out, don’t you worry,’ says Peter from behind me.”
this is similar to what he did in the first book, after she killed victor’s father. he is isolating her. in the first book, it was more subtle. now, he doesn’t bother to mask his intentions. i have a theory surrounding this, too. in the first book, he was trying to make himself appear more desirable to wendy because he wanted her to choose him. he put on a facade of a ‘kind’ man so his manipulation was more subtle. but now that wendy is completely broken, he doesn’t bother to hide his true intent because she doesn’t have the energy to realise or care what he’s doing now. he has succeeded in breaking her down until she has now fit the mould of what he wants her to be for him.
“But Astor is too strong.”
i have a theory on this. we’ve established that wendy herself is too broken to fight back. she has no choice but to choose him. so in her fantasies, astor steals her away (even though he’s already established he will always give her a choice so we know that this is a bit out of character for him anyway )because if she is being taken against her will, then she’s not breaking the bargain because she’s not choosing to leave peter. she subconsciously WANTS astor to take her away from peter because she doesn’t want to stay with peter; she’s being forced to.
“Stolen, taken, happy.”
this backs up my earlier theory. while she was with the pirates, she was happier, and she longs for that happiness once more so in her fantasies, she is being stolen away once more because it reminds her of happier times and she wants to experience being happy again, an emotion that peter has robbed from her. in the first book, he uses the faerie dust to ‘take her pain away,’ but it’s become increasingly clear that the only thing the faerie dust does is temporarily numbs her pain. it is taking away her happiness. he is taking away her happiness. and even if the faerie dust does work as a temporary solution to the pain she feels, it still seems to return with an intensity because it is peter who makes her feel the pain that he claimed he was going to ‘take away’ from her.
“I hate myself for it, but I like being possessed.”
this is important to me because i don’t believe that she really means it. i do believe that she THINKS she enjoys being possessed, but that’s only because peter has manipulated her into believing it.
“I think there’s a part of me that recognizes Peter will have them one day, and for now, I’d like to keep them for myself.”
this is another line that signifies the control he has over her. wendy is clinging to the few things that she still owns for herself because she’s aware that soon, she won’t have anything. peter is breaking her apart, piece by piece, and he isn’t allowing her any freedom because he knows that if he doesn’t keep her isolated and dependent on him, she won’t be as compliant. he already owns her because of the bargain, but he wants her to WANT to be possessed by him so he continues to manipulate her to ensure her malleability.
“‘Loved ones don’t like it when you try to leave them, Victor,’ I say. ‘They don’t like it when you don’t love them back.’”
this is really important because we know that TINK wasn’t like that with john; after he pulled away from her, she was hurt but she never forced him to kiss her. she let him go because she did genuinely care for him. but wendy’s view on love is skewered because of the way that peter treats her. and i think it’s also important to note that this is the reason why she doesn’t believe that astor cares for her — because he let her go when she asked and peter won’t let her go.
“I hadn’t realized at the time what a luxury that had been. The power to keep him trapped. Close by. Where I could visit him whenever I wanted.”
i feel like this is important because it shows us how warped her view on love has become. because this is what PETER is doing to her. we know that deep down she doesn’t like it, that it’s destroying her from the inside, that she longs to be free more than anything . . . but because peter keeps her trapped where he can always see her, she has this distorted perception that what he’s doing is right. this line shows us how deeply manipulated she is.
“The wraith draws back, his inky shadows floating just above the onyx sand. I keep thinking the wind will blow him away, but it doesn’t. He stays put, staring at me.”
this is suspicious . . . why is he not acting like the wraiths usually act? why is he being nice? why is he engaging in conversation with her? why is he not trying to prey on her insecurities and push her to the brink of suicide like the wraiths have previously done? this wraith is acting different. this one is acting like the actual captain astor.
“Am I not enough for you?”
he pisses me off so much. i don’t know if i believe that he’s genuinely upset, either. this is an addiction that HE gave her and now he’s guilting her for being drawn to the dust when he’s the one who got her hooked on it. i feel like he’s trying to use guilt against her so that she’ll want to please him. everything is a manipulation with him.
“As if my chains aren’t eternal. Could be broken by something as trivial as contempt.”
this serves as a reminder that any ‘affection’ wendy offers peter is coerced. she doesn’t have a choice in the matter because of the bargain.
“I try to ignore the stinging in my belly, how Peter’s kind gesture feels stolen. Feels like it should have belonged to Astor.”
even without the pull of the mating mark tying her to astor, her love for him still overpowers the magic that binds her to peter.
“I’m reminded of the time Charlie tried to do the same, but Astor cut her off. ‘Wendy can speak for herself,’ he’d said.
Something deflates, then sours in my stomach.”
I WROTE ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS LINE WHEN I READ THE PREVIOUS BOOK AND NOW MY EARLIER THOUGHTS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED
“Because Peter actually has the capability of believing the palatable lies he kneads for himself.”
you mean like when he lies to himself about how much you love him . . . ?
THOUGHTS (SPOILERS AHEAD):
“Something twists in my stomach at the delight that sparks in Peter’s eyes at her obvious attraction.”
he continually says that wendy is ‘his’ and he would not let wendy leave him. he would not have let wendy choose astor in the previous book. he would not let her choose anyone other than him — the terms of his bargain literally say that she has to choose peter ALWAYS. and yet he is still entertaining other women’s advances in front of her? in front of his wife? i have a theory on this. i feel like this is another way of him maintaining control over her. it’s kind of like this is him showing wendy how trapped she is again. he’s entertaining other women in front of her, which is something she can’t do. i don’t think i’m doing a very good job at explaining it but essentially, what i’m trying to say is it feels like this is his way of showing her that she is replaceable, even though she cannot replace him.
“It’s been a year and eleven months of choosing Peter, a year and eleven months since he called in his bargain.”
i have some thoughts on that. so it’s been nearly two years since the end of the last book, but i’m remembering the bargain wendy made with the nomad and didn’t he say that she needed to fulfill her end of it within 2 years? so she has a month left of that? also, this is so sad. he stole 15 years of her childhood when he was constantly visiting her at night in her room. then he stole around 7 months (i think) when she first came to neverland, in which he spent the entire time manipulating her and crafting her into the ‘perfect’ partner for him. she had six months of freedom from peter and now she’s spent the past year and 11 months in his captivity once more. he’s taken close to two decades of her life.
“But there’s so little control I have left.
This—abstaining from wine—this, I still have. This, Peter allows.”
this is horrific. this isn’t even a surprise. this has been hinted at since book one — peter continues to exert his control over wendy. i think the worst part is how good she feels about being able to abstain from alcohol. she feels good about it because it is the only thing in her life that she is allowed some modicum of control over. everything else has been stripped away by peter.
“Because if he killed you, he couldn’t keep you.”
is she talking about lord estrias, or is she talking about peter? i think both. i think the reason why her inner monologue about the lord has been so negative is because of the likeness that she sees between him and her own husband, who has forced her into his captivity forever.
“There was a time when I would have fought the pleasure that snakes through my skin when he puts his hands on me. A time when I would have fortified my mind against his allure.
But the Mating Mark is strong, the bargain even stronger.”
so, i have another theory on this. i’m not entirely convinced that the mating mark has ANY sway in this. and while i don’t doubt that the bargain is a massive part of the reason why she can’t fight back against him, i would argue that it’s also partly a result of the faerie dust that he doses her with. i think it was said that he gives it to her twice a day in the epilogue of the last book? we know that the faerie dust makes wendy compliant and we know that she isn’t in the right frame of mind when she has it either, so i think that this is the reason why peter gives it to her. it’s another way to bend her to his will. he’s employing every technique he can to keep her — not because he loves her, but because he wants to own her.
“There’s just an empty nothingness, the knowledge that John is dead, and the faint craving for faerie dust on the back of my tongue that will compete for my attention with increasing intensity until Peter gives me my next dose.”
this is another line that solidifies my earlier theory. because she’s so hooked on the faerie dust, she can’t stop thinking about it. and because it’s always peter who administers the dust to her, she ends up thinking about peter, too. this is a method that he employs to maintain his control.
“The urge to swipe my hand across Michael’s toys like a petulant child who knows she’s about to lose at a board game washes over me, but I’m too tired to act on it.”
this is another line that shows us how unstable wendy is. i actually think it’s also important to note that the last time she was physically violent with michael on-page (because we don’t know if it’s happened since the end of book 2, though i’m doubtful of it) was after peter manipulated her into killing victor’s father. other than that, we have never seen her act in such a way. and i think it’s also painfully important to note the way she states that this time, she is too tired to act on her violent urges. this, i’m willing to assume, is a direct result of the faerie dust that peter constantly doses her with. when he gave her the faerie dust after she murdered victor’s father, it also made her too tired to continue fighting michael. i don’t think it’s a coincidence that this violence always seems to be incited in her when she’s around peter — while we have seen instances of her temper while she was with astor, she has never been physically violent with anyone that she cares for before unless she is in peter’s presence — and then i think it’s even more sickening because it is always peter who uses this unnatural method with the dust to get her to hone her urges. he is both the indirect cause and the (unhealthy) cure at once and i feel like this is another reason why her internal monologue doesn’t fully despise him; in a warped sense, she views this as him helping her, even though it’s destroying her and i’d be willing to wager that she wouldn’t NEED helping, were it not for peter in the first place. but this isn’t physically stated because wendy’s internal monologue is as skewered as her thought process. at the moment, while we have these lines that remind us of peter’s control and his abuse, we do not recieve direct lines stating it because WENDY does not yet see it that way, which is a thought process that he has crafted in her.
“I just do my best to drown out his memory altogether.”
i think that this is also really important. john’s death occurred (or, at least, was discovered by wendy) after peter claimed his bargain with her. she has worked to drown out the memory of her brother, rather than trying to cling to the memories she once had of him. this is a complete switch from the wendy in the first book, who was writing down all of her memories in a journal because she didn’t want to lose them. she also clung to the memories of her parent’s death and spoke of them constantly in the first book, and this is something that is not quite happening in this book in regards to john. i feel like this line is an indirect call-back to the first book in the series because it shows us just how thoroughly peter has destroyed her. rather than a character development (which we saw was beginning to happen in the second book, where she started getting brave enough to shape her own life), since returning to captivity with peter, she has gone through a character REGRESSION. this is something that i believe the author has been hinting at since the first book because i’m pretty sure i have it somewhere in my notes for that one that being with peter would cause a regression for her character arc while being with astor would cause a development. i don’t think that this line is a coincidence.
“My hands find Michael’s dusty hair, and I scratch his scalp, right behind his ears.”
this is interesting. i feel like with this one, i might potentially be looking too much into it, but i feel like this is kind of akin to petting an animal? and what was wendy constantly referred to in the previous book (both by peter and the guy who tried to sell her)? a pet. there was a line in her internal monologue which expressed her repulsion for being treated like a pet so i find it interesting that she is now doing that to her brother. i want to say that this is another instance of the author showing us her character deterioration; she is treating michael the same way that she has been treated over the past year because it’s something that has become normalised to her. this one might not hold as much merit as my previous thoughts, but i still wanted to add it in here because i feel like it’s interesting wording and it’s not a line that the author needed to put in there either.
“You have to wean her off of it.”
i find it interesting that this is coming from victor. we know that john was like the voice of reason in the previous books before his tragic death and the author was setting up a similarity between victor and john in the previous book. there are dozens of parallels between the two and if i went into all of them, i could write for hours. but the point i’m trying to make here is that it is the man who often shares the same sentiments as john who is saying this line, which is kind of leading me to question whether victor is taking over john’s role in the narrative and if this is something that was being set up in the second book.
“It would irritate me—that he’s trying to take my last bit of relief away from me—if I thought there was any chance of Peter heeding him.”
the idea irritates her because of how strong her addiction is. she admitted in the previous book that she thought it was actually a good idea later when charlie and astor took her off of the faerie dust because that’s when she was going through her DEVELOPMENT as a character. now that she’s deteriorated, she no longer sees it as something beneficial. i think this was the author’s way of telling us to consider that anything wendy considers as ‘good’ in the opposite sense and vice versa.
“Peter would never shove me to the ground just to see if I’d get back up. He’d never push me, just so I’d hurt enough to fight back.”
again, this is in conflict with her thoughts from the previous book, where she actually thought that it was a GOOD idea when astor did that. peter has manipulated her into believing that he’s a good person for this when he’s actually the opposite. he encourages her to sit idle and defenceless for two reasons; the first is so that she is entirely dependent on him to defend her, and the second is so that she is both incapable and unwilling to fight back against HIM. everything that wendy has said thus far in this book is a contradiction to the things she has said in the previous book and i think that this is a tactic employed to show the differences in her thought process when she is growing as a character and when she is degenerating as a character. and i feel like that’s also a really important thing to add. wendy isn’t just regressing — she’s getting WORSE than she was in the first book. she is now completely and utterly destroyed.
“‘She’s not strong enough, or you’re worried about how strong she’d be without it?’ asks Victor.”
i think that this is a really important line. i feel like victor is currently being used as a mouthpiece so that we can still get a glimpse of the real peter. wendy’s thought process is skewered as a result of peter’s manipulation, so we have characters like simon to remind us of the extent of this manipulation.
“Victor scoffs. ‘Well, someone has to be, don’t they?’”
this is really important for me. peter constantly talks about how wendy is ‘his’ and how much he wants to own her. even in the line preceding this, he tells victor that he’s too invested in what’s ‘his’. however, he wants wendy in the same way that a child wants a toy; he only wants her while he’s bored. in victor saying this line, it leaves the reader to infer that peter wants to own wendy, but he does not want to care for her or help her. he only wants the knowledge that he possesses her.
“I don’t want to go. But there’s something about the vulnerability in Victor’s request, something about the fact that he looks as if he really does want to spend time with me, even though I’m no fun to be around and I stink of a girl who’s lost all purpose in life, that has me wanting to say yes.”
i think this is another way of setting up victor as almost replacing the role that john played in the previous books.
“‘I’ll take her out, don’t you worry,’ says Peter from behind me.”
this is similar to what he did in the first book, after she killed victor’s father. he is isolating her. in the first book, it was more subtle. now, he doesn’t bother to mask his intentions. i have a theory surrounding this, too. in the first book, he was trying to make himself appear more desirable to wendy because he wanted her to choose him. he put on a facade of a ‘kind’ man so his manipulation was more subtle. but now that wendy is completely broken, he doesn’t bother to hide his true intent because she doesn’t have the energy to realise or care what he’s doing now. he has succeeded in breaking her down until she has now fit the mould of what he wants her to be for him.
“But Astor is too strong.”
i have a theory on this. we’ve established that wendy herself is too broken to fight back. she has no choice but to choose him. so in her fantasies, astor steals her away (even though he’s already established he will always give her a choice so we know that this is a bit out of character for him anyway )because if she is being taken against her will, then she’s not breaking the bargain because she’s not choosing to leave peter. she subconsciously WANTS astor to take her away from peter because she doesn’t want to stay with peter; she’s being forced to.
“Stolen, taken, happy.”
this backs up my earlier theory. while she was with the pirates, she was happier, and she longs for that happiness once more so in her fantasies, she is being stolen away once more because it reminds her of happier times and she wants to experience being happy again, an emotion that peter has robbed from her. in the first book, he uses the faerie dust to ‘take her pain away,’ but it’s become increasingly clear that the only thing the faerie dust does is temporarily numbs her pain. it is taking away her happiness. he is taking away her happiness. and even if the faerie dust does work as a temporary solution to the pain she feels, it still seems to return with an intensity because it is peter who makes her feel the pain that he claimed he was going to ‘take away’ from her.
“I hate myself for it, but I like being possessed.”
this is important to me because i don’t believe that she really means it. i do believe that she THINKS she enjoys being possessed, but that’s only because peter has manipulated her into believing it.
“I think there’s a part of me that recognizes Peter will have them one day, and for now, I’d like to keep them for myself.”
this is another line that signifies the control he has over her. wendy is clinging to the few things that she still owns for herself because she’s aware that soon, she won’t have anything. peter is breaking her apart, piece by piece, and he isn’t allowing her any freedom because he knows that if he doesn’t keep her isolated and dependent on him, she won’t be as compliant. he already owns her because of the bargain, but he wants her to WANT to be possessed by him so he continues to manipulate her to ensure her malleability.
“‘Loved ones don’t like it when you try to leave them, Victor,’ I say. ‘They don’t like it when you don’t love them back.’”
this is really important because we know that TINK wasn’t like that with john; after he pulled away from her, she was hurt but she never forced him to kiss her. she let him go because she did genuinely care for him. but wendy’s view on love is skewered because of the way that peter treats her. and i think it’s also important to note that this is the reason why she doesn’t believe that astor cares for her — because he let her go when she asked and peter won’t let her go.
“I hadn’t realized at the time what a luxury that had been. The power to keep him trapped. Close by. Where I could visit him whenever I wanted.”
i feel like this is important because it shows us how warped her view on love has become. because this is what PETER is doing to her. we know that deep down she doesn’t like it, that it’s destroying her from the inside, that she longs to be free more than anything . . . but because peter keeps her trapped where he can always see her, she has this distorted perception that what he’s doing is right. this line shows us how deeply manipulated she is.
“The wraith draws back, his inky shadows floating just above the onyx sand. I keep thinking the wind will blow him away, but it doesn’t. He stays put, staring at me.”
this is suspicious . . . why is he not acting like the wraiths usually act? why is he being nice? why is he engaging in conversation with her? why is he not trying to prey on her insecurities and push her to the brink of suicide like the wraiths have previously done? this wraith is acting different. this one is acting like the actual captain astor.
“Am I not enough for you?”
he pisses me off so much. i don’t know if i believe that he’s genuinely upset, either. this is an addiction that HE gave her and now he’s guilting her for being drawn to the dust when he’s the one who got her hooked on it. i feel like he’s trying to use guilt against her so that she’ll want to please him. everything is a manipulation with him.
“As if my chains aren’t eternal. Could be broken by something as trivial as contempt.”
this serves as a reminder that any ‘affection’ wendy offers peter is coerced. she doesn’t have a choice in the matter because of the bargain.
“I try to ignore the stinging in my belly, how Peter’s kind gesture feels stolen. Feels like it should have belonged to Astor.”
even without the pull of the mating mark tying her to astor, her love for him still overpowers the magic that binds her to peter.
“I’m reminded of the time Charlie tried to do the same, but Astor cut her off. ‘Wendy can speak for herself,’ he’d said.
Something deflates, then sours in my stomach.”
I WROTE ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS LINE WHEN I READ THE PREVIOUS BOOK AND NOW MY EARLIER THOUGHTS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED
“Because Peter actually has the capability of believing the palatable lies he kneads for himself.”
you mean like when he lies to himself about how much you love him . . . ?
April 11, 2025
4.5/5⭐️
This is the 3rd book in the Lost Girl series, a dark, clean Peter Pan retelling. This books throws you right back into this world. You can feel the tension, the banter, the heartbreak. This story has you hopeful for love and then crying into your pillow. Warning: if you start this book/series, be prepared to not be able to put it down!
Cannot wait for the 4th one!
This is the 3rd book in the Lost Girl series, a dark, clean Peter Pan retelling. This books throws you right back into this world. You can feel the tension, the banter, the heartbreak. This story has you hopeful for love and then crying into your pillow. Warning: if you start this book/series, be prepared to not be able to put it down!
Cannot wait for the 4th one!
April 4, 2025
ARC
this was such a beautiful book. so unexpected but so good. wendy is such a strong character and astor plays the tortured lover perfectly.
spoiler: i actually can’t wait to learn more about the nomad and tinks relationship - i think it’s got potential to be beautiful.
thank you for the ARC!
this was such a beautiful book. so unexpected but so good. wendy is such a strong character and astor plays the tortured lover perfectly.
spoiler: i actually can’t wait to learn more about the nomad and tinks relationship - i think it’s got potential to be beautiful.
thank you for the ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2025
3.75 ⭐️ “It’s time for Wendy Darling to wake up.”
I want to like this series so much. I finally care about Wendy. But I still can’t fully buy the fated love story this book is selling. I complained at the end of the last one that the slow-burn romance had nowhere left to go, and that doesn’t get resolved here whatsoever. Why does Wendy forgive Astor so easily? He didn’t just lie. He tried to murder her. He starts to redeem himself in the latter half of the book, but Wendy had already decided she was in love with him. Her would-be killer. And now that Astor knows he could have had a good life with Iaso AND Wendy, helping them both achieve “their dreams” (i.e., make babies), NOW he is all in on his love for Wendy Darling. Am I supposed to root for him? Am I supposed to cheer when Wendy kisses him at last? I’m gonna need way more convincing than Wendy, the unreliable protagonist, seems to need.
Sure, Astor has some green flags. He’s big on consent and choice and independence. But he still was planning to KILL HER to resurrect his dead wife. That’s a deal-breaker, and requires a lot more than sad convos with a trauma ghost to overcome. I think the only reason readers can be expected to ship Astor and Wendy is because Astor isn’t Peter.
Because surprise, Peter sucks. Big time. We knew this, but in this episode, we get 99 more reasons to hate him. Peter takes Wendy’s choices away, denies her independence (thus, poor John), and lessens her in all the ways. He’s selfish. Even with the curse broken, he lacks compassion. Astor doesn’t do any of those things, of course, but that doesn’t change the fact that Wendy is still being fought over like a dog toy between two traumatized fae males with terrible judgment.
Tink shines and her deal with the Nomad is concerning. I needed 150% more time with Charlie.
The Fates drive me crazy. Is the message to resist fate? To give into it? To spit in her face?
Where is Victor, though? Because at this point, he’s still the best option of them all. Mind you, what happened to the Lost Boys?
Also, the author’s religious vibes are so weird to me. We open with a proclamation about the book being “closed-door” apparently like “all of” the author’s books (which is an odd thing to proclaim, since it makes this seem like a moral choice rather than a narrative one—and the latter would be sufficient, as there are zero interludes so far I’d even want to see described). The preface concedes that the book contains “sexual coercion,” which is putting it so freaking mildly. Then, as always, the plot is driven by the selling/owning of women’s and children’s bodies, and Wendy struggling to untangle her experiences with sex and love. As is usual in the series, the occurrence and meaning of sexual acts is centralized, so with three books filled with heavy rape/SA themes in a “romance,” the “reassurance” that the book is closed door seems to wildly miss the point. And, when it’s all said and done, to be invited to a Bible newsletter about the “blessed peace of Christ” at the end? What are we doing. I don’t care if an author loves Jesus. But if you’re gonna bookend your rapey fantasy with Jesus vibes, it’s gonna raise some questions. (Maybe THAT explains why Wendy is so quick to forgive everyone who betrays her?)
I wish I knew how many books were planned so I can decide whether to read one more to finish it off, or to call it quits here.
I want to like this series so much. I finally care about Wendy. But I still can’t fully buy the fated love story this book is selling. I complained at the end of the last one that the slow-burn romance had nowhere left to go, and that doesn’t get resolved here whatsoever. Why does Wendy forgive Astor so easily? He didn’t just lie. He tried to murder her. He starts to redeem himself in the latter half of the book, but Wendy had already decided she was in love with him. Her would-be killer. And now that Astor knows he could have had a good life with Iaso AND Wendy, helping them both achieve “their dreams” (i.e., make babies), NOW he is all in on his love for Wendy Darling. Am I supposed to root for him? Am I supposed to cheer when Wendy kisses him at last? I’m gonna need way more convincing than Wendy, the unreliable protagonist, seems to need.
Sure, Astor has some green flags. He’s big on consent and choice and independence. But he still was planning to KILL HER to resurrect his dead wife. That’s a deal-breaker, and requires a lot more than sad convos with a trauma ghost to overcome. I think the only reason readers can be expected to ship Astor and Wendy is because Astor isn’t Peter.
Because surprise, Peter sucks. Big time. We knew this, but in this episode, we get 99 more reasons to hate him. Peter takes Wendy’s choices away, denies her independence (thus, poor John), and lessens her in all the ways. He’s selfish. Even with the curse broken, he lacks compassion. Astor doesn’t do any of those things, of course, but that doesn’t change the fact that Wendy is still being fought over like a dog toy between two traumatized fae males with terrible judgment.
Tink shines and her deal with the Nomad is concerning. I needed 150% more time with Charlie.
The Fates drive me crazy. Is the message to resist fate? To give into it? To spit in her face?
Where is Victor, though? Because at this point, he’s still the best option of them all. Mind you, what happened to the Lost Boys?
Also, the author’s religious vibes are so weird to me. We open with a proclamation about the book being “closed-door” apparently like “all of” the author’s books (which is an odd thing to proclaim, since it makes this seem like a moral choice rather than a narrative one—and the latter would be sufficient, as there are zero interludes so far I’d even want to see described). The preface concedes that the book contains “sexual coercion,” which is putting it so freaking mildly. Then, as always, the plot is driven by the selling/owning of women’s and children’s bodies, and Wendy struggling to untangle her experiences with sex and love. As is usual in the series, the occurrence and meaning of sexual acts is centralized, so with three books filled with heavy rape/SA themes in a “romance,” the “reassurance” that the book is closed door seems to wildly miss the point. And, when it’s all said and done, to be invited to a Bible newsletter about the “blessed peace of Christ” at the end? What are we doing. I don’t care if an author loves Jesus. But if you’re gonna bookend your rapey fantasy with Jesus vibes, it’s gonna raise some questions. (Maybe THAT explains why Wendy is so quick to forgive everyone who betrays her?)
I wish I knew how many books were planned so I can decide whether to read one more to finish it off, or to call it quits here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2025
I fear I was foolish in thinking we would have this series wrapped up with a pretty bow, happiness and relief for all. I’m not mad it ended on a cliffhanger, I love these characters far too much to give them up just yet but maaaaaan, what a cliffhanger we left with? I won’t be one of these people asking for the next one right. Now. But you know….gimme. I appreciate that we didn’t gloss over the hard truth that is grief, especially a sibling? I’d be inconsolable and we faced this with Wendy. This was far more story line building than romance forward but that’s okay, we’re going to get our ending I think.
Here’s my fave quote that made me cry a little though
“Thank you for saving me, Darling,” he says. “I didn’t remember what happiness was until you.”
Oh Astor 😩❤️
Here’s my fave quote that made me cry a little though
“Thank you for saving me, Darling,” he says. “I didn’t remember what happiness was until you.”
Oh Astor 😩❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2025
I received a ARC for this book and I’m so thankful to have been a part of this release. Wow. Just wow…. again. That how I summed up my last review (Freeing Hook) and I can’t help but do the same here.
The third book in this series was so heartbreaking in so many ways but there was always that sense of hope. I couldn’t put the book down. I needed more. The development of all characters was beautiful and so sad in so many ways. I’m hoping to see them develop more in the next book. The way the MC continues to grow and be strong even with all the obstacles and past traumas is what makes some dark themes bearable to read and makes me want to know more. I’ve fallen in love with so many characters and loved seeing the love with some of the side characters and the MC. The suspense and mystery of some characters is driving me nuts but I’m sure all questions will be answered soon. So many times reading the book that I held my breath and was on the edge of my seat.
There are so many details in this big story but TA Lawrence does such a good job of making sure you’re not lost in how it all connects and comes together. There are dark themes in this book but I was already aware since book 1 and 2 have similar themes. I’m not sure how I’m going to get through waiting for the next book!
The third book in this series was so heartbreaking in so many ways but there was always that sense of hope. I couldn’t put the book down. I needed more. The development of all characters was beautiful and so sad in so many ways. I’m hoping to see them develop more in the next book. The way the MC continues to grow and be strong even with all the obstacles and past traumas is what makes some dark themes bearable to read and makes me want to know more. I’ve fallen in love with so many characters and loved seeing the love with some of the side characters and the MC. The suspense and mystery of some characters is driving me nuts but I’m sure all questions will be answered soon. So many times reading the book that I held my breath and was on the edge of my seat.
There are so many details in this big story but TA Lawrence does such a good job of making sure you’re not lost in how it all connects and comes together. There are dark themes in this book but I was already aware since book 1 and 2 have similar themes. I’m not sure how I’m going to get through waiting for the next book!
April 7, 2025
ARC Review:
Please read through the trigger warnings as this is a clean, but dark, fantasy. There are very heavy topics and situations that are not suited for all readers.
That being said, I cannot get enough of this series! Caging Darling is the third book in the series so if you have not already done, so please read book one and two before starting. This book, and the series as well, has taken so many twists and turns and I am here for all of it! Just when you think you have it figured out, here comes another surprise. It has been such a pleasure to read.. I have cried, I have cheered, I have experienced all of the emotional roller coaster with these characters.
TA Lawrence has done a phenomenal job writing these and I look so forward to the ending, which I believe will be another two books within the series. I’m hoping for a happy ending but honestly couldn’t get off this roller coaster ride even if I wanted to at this point. This book does end in a cliffhanger, but in a good way for the moment, if you have not done yourself the favor of reading these series, please start now. Another job well done!
Please read through the trigger warnings as this is a clean, but dark, fantasy. There are very heavy topics and situations that are not suited for all readers.
That being said, I cannot get enough of this series! Caging Darling is the third book in the series so if you have not already done, so please read book one and two before starting. This book, and the series as well, has taken so many twists and turns and I am here for all of it! Just when you think you have it figured out, here comes another surprise. It has been such a pleasure to read.. I have cried, I have cheered, I have experienced all of the emotional roller coaster with these characters.
TA Lawrence has done a phenomenal job writing these and I look so forward to the ending, which I believe will be another two books within the series. I’m hoping for a happy ending but honestly couldn’t get off this roller coaster ride even if I wanted to at this point. This book does end in a cliffhanger, but in a good way for the moment, if you have not done yourself the favor of reading these series, please start now. Another job well done!
September 3, 2025
I have read everything in this series and now I have to wait for more?!
Pure torture.
This book has it all (please read as Stefan from SNL):
Gaslighting, high stakes bargains, winds that whisper secrets, longing, pining, crying, hiding… forest hotties, city hotties, sailing hotties. It. Has. Everything.
Pure torture.
This book has it all (please read as Stefan from SNL):
Gaslighting, high stakes bargains, winds that whisper secrets, longing, pining, crying, hiding… forest hotties, city hotties, sailing hotties. It. Has. Everything.
April 11, 2025
Dang, I must like emotional pain because I keep coming back for more. 🫣😭 Caging Darling is a masterfully crafted story filled with angst, heartbreak, and hope!
Astor and Peter stole so much from Wendy, twisting fate to meet their needs without a thought to how it would cruelly impact her life, causing her mental and emotional damage. How Wendy has come out of it stronger, I don't know. Her resilience amazes me, and her character growth is like traveling a windy country road, twisting and turning, gathering speed down hills, dangerously careening around hairpin curves, before chugging up inclines, never quite giving up.
Caging Darling is told in a dual timeline, one a year after Freeing Hook, and the other, the month leading up to Wendy's bargain with the Nomad coming due. We get glimpses into past events, bringing dark secrets to light. Chances are taken, some succeed, while others fail. Will Wendy fulfill her bargain with the Nomad, which will save her life but possibly end her friend’s freedom?
I am counting down until Chasing Never releases in October!
Notable Quotes:
• “Darling, say you want me again, and I’ll make sure we have all the time in the world for me to be less than gentlemanly towards you.”
• “I’d happily die for you.”
• “Open your eyes, Darling. Look at me. I would claw through the realms, find a way to turn back time, if I thought it possible. If I thought I could go back and keep you from all the pain and suffering I caused. If I could give you the life you’ve always dreamt of, the love you’ve always craved.”
• "Peter, I have no wings. I was never made to fly.”
• “Because at the end of the day, when the heart is involved, we’ll hold onto what wounds us for an eternity, so long as we don’t have to face the pain of letting it go.”
• “I’ll think of you every moment of every day.”
• “And you know how I know I’ll be fine? Because I’ll know you’re free. And that you’re happy."
• “Thank you for saving me, Darling.”
• And standing in front of me, knees wobbling, is Darling, doing what she does best. Apologizing.
Themes:
• Lies
• Secrets
• Betrayals
• Hard Truths
• Sacrifices for Love
Content warning: This book contains suicidal thoughts, domestic violence, addiction, and sexual coercion. It also contains references to suicide, child trafficking, human trafficking, and child abuse.
Astor and Peter stole so much from Wendy, twisting fate to meet their needs without a thought to how it would cruelly impact her life, causing her mental and emotional damage. How Wendy has come out of it stronger, I don't know. Her resilience amazes me, and her character growth is like traveling a windy country road, twisting and turning, gathering speed down hills, dangerously careening around hairpin curves, before chugging up inclines, never quite giving up.
Caging Darling is told in a dual timeline, one a year after Freeing Hook, and the other, the month leading up to Wendy's bargain with the Nomad coming due. We get glimpses into past events, bringing dark secrets to light. Chances are taken, some succeed, while others fail. Will Wendy fulfill her bargain with the Nomad, which will save her life but possibly end her friend’s freedom?
I am counting down until Chasing Never releases in October!
Notable Quotes:
• “Darling, say you want me again, and I’ll make sure we have all the time in the world for me to be less than gentlemanly towards you.”
• “I’d happily die for you.”
• “Open your eyes, Darling. Look at me. I would claw through the realms, find a way to turn back time, if I thought it possible. If I thought I could go back and keep you from all the pain and suffering I caused. If I could give you the life you’ve always dreamt of, the love you’ve always craved.”
• "Peter, I have no wings. I was never made to fly.”
• “Because at the end of the day, when the heart is involved, we’ll hold onto what wounds us for an eternity, so long as we don’t have to face the pain of letting it go.”
• “I’ll think of you every moment of every day.”
• “And you know how I know I’ll be fine? Because I’ll know you’re free. And that you’re happy."
• “Thank you for saving me, Darling.”
• And standing in front of me, knees wobbling, is Darling, doing what she does best. Apologizing.
Themes:
• Lies
• Secrets
• Betrayals
• Hard Truths
• Sacrifices for Love
Content warning: This book contains suicidal thoughts, domestic violence, addiction, and sexual coercion. It also contains references to suicide, child trafficking, human trafficking, and child abuse.
July 29, 2025
For some reason, I thought this was a completed series, and now, with the ending of Book 3, it's killing me, a little bit, that the next book isn't due out for three months. I really hope there isn't a delay in the release of this book like there has been for some other series that I'm still waiting on...
Anyway -
The beginning of this book was awful. But, not, like, written badly as much as just, like, emotionally awful. Wendy is trapped in Neverland with Peter, after he called in his bargain at the end of the Book 2. She's forced to "choose him", after she had told him she wanted to leave, and continues to have to choose him even after we find out, definitively, that
Wendy tries to find ways around the bargain, and succeeds to some degree, but eventually gives in the inevitable after nearly 2 years of being trapped.
But Wendy has another bargain, with the Nomad, at that's when things in the story really begin to move forward.
When Peter and Wendy go to the Nomad's to try to settle the bargain - though - they arrive to find Astor and his crew now working for the Nomad.
Drama ensues.
My major complaint is that
Once again this story kept me turning pages, as twists abound, and Wendy is constantly kept off-kilter, never really knowing what's going on or who to trust.
I was glad when Twink
But that ending, again, leaves things in such a tenuous position...
I will anticipate the finale coming in October, and hope that it's been worth all the struggle, for Wendy's sake!
Anyway -
The beginning of this book was awful. But, not, like, written badly as much as just, like, emotionally awful. Wendy is trapped in Neverland with Peter, after he called in his bargain at the end of the Book 2. She's forced to "choose him", after she had told him she wanted to leave, and continues to have to choose him even after we find out, definitively, that
Wendy tries to find ways around the bargain, and succeeds to some degree, but eventually gives in the inevitable after nearly 2 years of being trapped.
But Wendy has another bargain, with the Nomad, at that's when things in the story really begin to move forward.
When Peter and Wendy go to the Nomad's to try to settle the bargain - though - they arrive to find Astor and his crew now working for the Nomad.
Drama ensues.
My major complaint is that
Once again this story kept me turning pages, as twists abound, and Wendy is constantly kept off-kilter, never really knowing what's going on or who to trust.
I was glad when Twink
But that ending, again, leaves things in such a tenuous position...
I will anticipate the finale coming in October, and hope that it's been worth all the struggle, for Wendy's sake!
September 8, 2025
Hang on, let me pick my jaw up off the floor.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (and honestly, that’s still not enough stars for me to rate this properly).
My mind is absolutely reeling after finishing Caging Darling. What the hell did I just read—in the best, most devastating, most brilliant way possible?? This is hands down one of the best stories I’ve picked up in a very long time. I am both speechless and overflowing with thoughts and emotions that I can’t contain.
T.A. Lawrence has created something so raw, so vivid, so utterly addictive that this series has me in a stranglehold, and I don’t even want to escape. Every page felt like it had claws in me—sometimes dragging me into the shadows, sometimes lifting me up with hope, but always leaving me breathless. ⚓️
💖 Captain Astor has my entire heart—no contest. He’s my favorite character, the one I cling to and root for the hardest. Wendy is beautifully endearing and delightfully frustrating in the best way FMCs can be. Peter? Let’s just say a brick or two wouldn’t go amiss. 🧱 Michael, on the other hand, must be protected at all costs. And then there are all the side characters—so many written with such aching depth that I want to scream, cry, strangle them, or hug them tight, sometimes all at once.
This book is full of jaw-dropping twists that had me devouring chapters at lightning speed ⚡️—and then suddenly I’d hit a moment so tender, so full of heart, that I had to slow down and breathe every single word in. It’s that rare mix of chaos and beauty, devastation and hope, that makes a story unforgettable.
And now… I NEED to know how it all ends. This series has my soul, and I’m begging for a happy ending like I need air. Please, please, please let them find the light. 🥺💔✨
I knew I’d regret diving in right now instead of waiting, because how am I supposed to survive until the next book?? Why isn’t October 17th next week instead of next month?! The wait is torture. 😭😭😭
This series is everything. It’s messy, magical, emotional, and absolutely perfect in its imperfection. I am obsessed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (and honestly, that’s still not enough stars for me to rate this properly).
My mind is absolutely reeling after finishing Caging Darling. What the hell did I just read—in the best, most devastating, most brilliant way possible?? This is hands down one of the best stories I’ve picked up in a very long time. I am both speechless and overflowing with thoughts and emotions that I can’t contain.
T.A. Lawrence has created something so raw, so vivid, so utterly addictive that this series has me in a stranglehold, and I don’t even want to escape. Every page felt like it had claws in me—sometimes dragging me into the shadows, sometimes lifting me up with hope, but always leaving me breathless. ⚓️
💖 Captain Astor has my entire heart—no contest. He’s my favorite character, the one I cling to and root for the hardest. Wendy is beautifully endearing and delightfully frustrating in the best way FMCs can be. Peter? Let’s just say a brick or two wouldn’t go amiss. 🧱 Michael, on the other hand, must be protected at all costs. And then there are all the side characters—so many written with such aching depth that I want to scream, cry, strangle them, or hug them tight, sometimes all at once.
This book is full of jaw-dropping twists that had me devouring chapters at lightning speed ⚡️—and then suddenly I’d hit a moment so tender, so full of heart, that I had to slow down and breathe every single word in. It’s that rare mix of chaos and beauty, devastation and hope, that makes a story unforgettable.
And now… I NEED to know how it all ends. This series has my soul, and I’m begging for a happy ending like I need air. Please, please, please let them find the light. 🥺💔✨
I knew I’d regret diving in right now instead of waiting, because how am I supposed to survive until the next book?? Why isn’t October 17th next week instead of next month?! The wait is torture. 😭😭😭
This series is everything. It’s messy, magical, emotional, and absolutely perfect in its imperfection. I am obsessed.
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