Revenge, obsession, darkness… A potent poison for any villain, especially one as infamous as Captain James Hook.
The tides of fate have returned James to Neverland’s shores. Peter Pan will pay the ultimate price for what he’s done. But with vengeance at his fingertips, James is thwarted by the one thing he did not see coming—love.
Now he is faced with an impossible pursue his lifelong vendetta against Pan, or embrace the possibility of redemption in the arms of a woman he’s not sure he can trust. Torn between the ghosts of his past and the promise of a new future, James struggles to balance his heart's desire for revenge and the woman who sees beyond the villainous facade to the man he once was. But is the cost of vengeance to be more than he bargained for?
In the epic conclusion to A Descent Into Darkness, get the true story of a man who would ultimately be branded a villain. Will love be James’ salvation, or his ultimate undoing? Will he succumb to the darkness consuming his humanity?
T. S. Kinley is a passion project created by two sisters with a shared obsession and vision. We came together with the dream of creating something beautiful, imaginative, and yes… SEXY.
Once upon a Time… it all began with sisterly gossip about erotica and romance novels. Our conversations quickly became fantasies about our own desires to author such work. We would muse how someday in a utopian future, our fantasy would become reality. Ultimately we decided rather than wait for the future to find us, we would create utopia ourselves. Using our love of books, natural gift of creativity, and some savvy study on publishing itself, the concept for our very first book was born.
We started off as a Cosmetologist and an RN, and quickly developed into a dynamic writing team with a style that lends a unique perspective to our books. Second To The Right; book one of The Neverland Chronicles is a reverse harem erotic continuation on the beloved classic telling of Peter Pan.
What an absolutely devastating whirlwind of an adventure. James working his way up the ranks on Edward Teach's ship and found himself a woman who captured his young heart. James and Katherine go through so much with forbidden love and forced proximity. This is not a fairytale love story but the rawness will have you gripping onto what will happen next. The ending was absolutely beautiful.
Revenge, obsession, and darkness— A Penchant for Poison is the perfect ending to Captain Hook's origin story. This epic conclusion to T.S. Kinley’s A Descent Into Darkness duet had me on an emotional rollercoaster, with tears in my eyes as I turned the last page.
From start to finish, this book is an exquisite blend of heartbreak, love, and unexpected twists. James Hook's struggle between his burning desire for vengeance and the fragile hope of redemption in love creates a powerful dynamic that had me hooked (pun intended). As he navigates the shadows of his past and a chance at a new future, I found myself rooting for him every step of the way, even when it seemed like the darkness might consume him.
Kat’s character stole my heart in this book. We got to see more of her character and she is so strong and resilient. She truly deserves all the good things the world has to offer.
James’s transformation into Captain James Hook is nothing short of thrilling, giving me chills and goosebumps as he picks up the mantle that destiny has cruelly bestowed upon him. Kinley delivers the nostalgia of Neverland we all remember but adds an adult, dark twist that makes it feel fresh and exhilarating. This isn't the fairytale you know; it's far more devastating, dark, and deliciously twisted.
Filled with spice, pirates, and treasure, A Penchant for Poison is a dark romance with all the elements to make your heart race and break simultaneously. If you’re looking for an origin story that reimagines a classic villain with depth, emotion, and a touch of darkness, this is the book for you. Absolutely loved every moment!
Maybe in the heart of every reader — especially one who grew up enchanted by Neverland — there’s a longing to revisit that place where nothing is quite as innocent as it seems. In A Penchant for Poison, T.S. Kinley brings us back to the shores of Neverland, but this time through the dark, brooding eyes of a man destined to become Captain Hook.
What I loved most about this book is how it delves deep into James’s soul — his obsession with vengeance, the poison of his desire for revenge, and the way a fragile, unexpected love threatens to undo him. The balance between his all-consuming hatred for Peter Pan and the tentative hope he finds with Katherine is heartbreakingly well-written. Kinley doesn’t shy away from the darkness: there are duels, curses, and a potent dose of alchemy and magic that pulled me into his stormy world.
James’s internal struggle feels real — torn between the ghosts of his past and a future that might offer redemption
And Katherine… she’s not just a love interest. She sees past his villainous facade, and her strength and vulnerability make their relationship beautifully complicated. Many readers praise how her character “stole their heart.” Goodreads
The pacing is quick, but the emotional stakes are high. The ending is both devastating and satisfying — you witness James fully becoming the Hook you know, and yet you also feel the weight of what he’s sacrificed.
This isn’t a fairytale romance — it’s a dark origin story, rich with pain, obsession, and love that could destroy or save. If you love villain POVs, morally grey characters, and pirate adventures with a twist of magic, this is a duet you should absolutely dive into.
I have yet to read a book from T.S. Kinley, that wasn't a piece of incredible work. This book did not disappoint. No one writes a Neverland book as good as they do. Hook has always been my favorite fairytale character, my favorite villain. This book is part 2 in his origin story, so make sure you go read A Descent Into Darkness first. I loved their take on his story. If you've read her Neverland Chronicles series, then you know how his story ends, but that didn't ruin it. I felt like i was transported to Neverland and was watching the characters. Thats how good the author is, how their description is so easy to picture in your head as you read. You find out about how he became Captain of his ship and how he earns his new title as "Hook". And how sometimes love isn't simple because there may be another person out their who is your fate but that doesn't diminish the feelings you thought you had. It just means when you finally find that person you will know it with every fiber in your body. No doubts and I feel like that's how the authors saw it as well. Love is complicated. You never know what's on the next page of your story. I truly do not want to leave Neverland, to leave the picture in my head clear as day of the magical place with mermaids, fairies, lagoons and of course...Pirates. I highly recommend this book and all the authors books, The Neverland Chronicles. To the author, thank you for helping me escape my reality for a little bit. If I had pixie dust my happy thought would be how much I loved your book and I would fly so high. I hope to read more from you soon.
Two powerful gut hitting quotes that I will take with me from this book are these:
I once said to Katherine, “Life is difficult and often shrouded in shadows. We must seek our darkness, revel in it, or we’ll never know where to shine the light.” If I had only known how much wisdom rested in those words.
- Captain James Hook Present Day
In the end, love is either a blessing or a teacher. It enters our lives like a fierce and exhilarating tempest, leaving behind a landscape forever altered. True love makes you a better person, mends your broken pieces, and ultimately makes you whole again.
- Captain James Hook Present Day
I loved how this one wrapped up the duet nicely. While some of this book did seem repetitive, it was nicely written. I do wish it had been done a little more fleshed out since I felt we were stuck a lot in one spot. More referencing the revenge. We got stuck in the ships cabin plotting a ton for this book, which took it in circles for me. but then rushed to Kat easily finding pan but not James being able to unless pan found him. This was odd to me but past all that not bad overall. Book 1 was definitely more fleshed out than this one but you'll enjoy this one too.
Penchant for Poison, the second book of this series dives deep into the darkly alluring origin of Captain Hook. And yes, there is spice!! 🥵 This isn't your childhood fairytale… it's a bold, emotionally charged twist on Neverland that had me hooked (pun intended) from the very start.
The narration was absolutely fantastic. The narrators did an incredible job bringing the story to life, each voice infused with emotion and tension that pulled me right into the world. Their performances made it easy to feel every beat of the drama, desire, and danger.
What caught me off guard, however, was the portrayal of Peter Pan. Seeing him take on a more antagonistic role was... jarring. Maybe it’s my inner child rebelling, but it took a while to accept this darker reimagining of a character I grew up rooting for. Still, once I adjusted, I found myself fully invested in Hook’s journey. His pain, his heartbreak, his passion, and ultimately, his redemption.
The story wraps up in a way that’s both satisfying and true to the emotionally complex world it builds. If you’re open to a fresh (and steamy) take on a classic tale, Penchant for Poison delivers.
“You don’t think I know what you like? That your darkness doesn’t speak to my own? You cannot hide from me…”
Book 2 in the Neverland Chronicles Saga, showcasing the epic conclusion of Captain Hook’s origin story, and a spinoff and prequel to the Neverland Chronicles. This story has all the adventure and pirate battles, curses and vendettas, a hunky Smee with lost boys turned pirates, melancholy pixies and magic gemstones, love gained and lost, and a destiny that blindsides them all. There is spice and it can get relatively dark, so please be sure to check trigger warnings as your mental health matters.
This part of the story continues with James and his pursuit of his revenge on the one who abandoned him, Peter Pan. His journey takes him back to Neverland where he seeks to annihilate his adversary so that he may live out the rest of his days with the woman he loves. In his endeavors he comes across other discarded lost boys, including a rather dashing Smee (think Viking-esq). When he offers the opportunity to avenge their losses, the boys cannot join his crew fast enough. In his obsession with taking out Pan, he pushes his mate away one hateful, one jabbing chide at a time. Seeking to find her own path and heal from all the trauma she has endured at the hands of both James and Blackbeard, she goes out on her own… but destiny has other plans and it is not all sunshine and rainbows.
The Neverland Chronicles are one of the main reasons I got back into reading. The series is beautifully and masterfully written with perfectly delectable characters that grip your heart string and take you on an adventure that will have you on the edge of your seat. The twists and turns will have you gasping and the spicy scenes will leave you blushing. The spice is not overly done and is about 30-40% of the story (which is how I prefer my stories). TS Kiley can do no wrong in my opinion and I am forever obsessed!!!
“We thrive on the edge of fear. It’s a potent aphrodisiac, wouldn’t you say?”
I enjoy the concept of this book. James & Edward are written well as "villians" neither have any redeeming qualities, which I enjoyed for a change. It's rare to get a Villian book where they don't receive redemption but the author's really managed to make them villians till the end.
I think my biggest issue with this book and series so far is the pacing, it seems to be a bit all over the place and where the story ended is a bit strange. I feel like there definitely could've been a bit more to the story rather than just the epilogue or if the other 4 books in the same world continue this story the epilogue could've probably been left out.
It's an interesting retelling for sure and I'll probably read the other books in the same world but I would be hesitant before recommending this to others.
I was so excited to start this book! I’ve read all of the other Neverland books by TS Kinley and have loved them all. This was definitely another good one!
The storyline for Captain Hook is obviously a dark one since he is a villain, but this just bumped it up a notch. I really have loved the take these books have on his storyline and why he is the way he is. Seeing a new side to the feud between Hook and Peter Pan is something I’ll never get tired of!
This book is definitely dark and has a list of trigger warnings at the beginning. Take them all to heart before starting! There is also some spicy content, but it’s not a main focus in this book at all. I definitely recommend it if you are up for reading a dark fairytale retelling!
3.5 ⭐️ 3/5 🌶 Dark Spice (Villain Book) Slightly less triggers than the first book but still proceed accordingly.
Before he fully becomes Hook, James tells Kat "Can’t you see I am not the hero in this story? If I was, then I’d walk away, knowing you deserved better. But you’ve fallen for the villain."
And in this book, while there are other evils, he really is the main villain of the story, even for himself.
The resolution of the cliffhanger felt a bit rushed to me, we always knew that James would become Hook and that he was alone in the Neverland Chronicles but we got there very quickly as soon as they reached Neverland.
It's a good backstory for one of literatures best Villains, but I'm thankful for the Epilogue and his growth in the future
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The conclusion to James' saga gave me everything I hoped with the action, suspense, lust and betrayals. I was so hyped for that crucial battle scene with Peter Pan which altered the future for James and created the pirate we know and love as Hook. And an honourable mention goes to Mr. Smee, I liked how we got a mini backstory for him and how/why he came to Neverland and ultimately secured himself the coveted role as First Mate on the Jolly Roger. I loved how parts of the original story have been woven in to create this tale from the past and that it ties in nearly at the end linking it to the Neverland Chronicles trilogy of the present.
the neverland chronicles consists of three books and a novella that focus on gwen darling, her lost boys & a certain captain🔥! (yes this is a spicy RH!)
enter descent into darkness and a penchant for poison! this duology is captain hook’s prequel story before he ever met his darling girl😉
captain hook’s books truly are villain books. a lot of the story line is very dark and make you question why you even fell in love with hook in the neverland chronicles. especially penchant for poison. it had me rethinking why I even liked james in the first place🥴 but the ending tied everything together. certain things HAD to happen in james story to make him the man he is in the future which I can appreciate.
I highly recommend the neverland chronicles books if you love peter pan retellings! I had such a fun time reading all of the books!
What an adventure! Captian Hook looking to seek his revenge on Peter Pan, the scenes of how he became Captian Hook was so interesting! I was sad in a few parts of this book but overall this brought me so much joy and excitement!
Spice 🌶🌶🌶 The tentacle scene was GREAT!
my favorite quotes from this book was featured in the tentacle scene and Epilogue!
The ending of this book was so unexpected and this book kept me on the edge wanting more and more after every chapter!
I wanted to love this book because her other books are some of my favorites. I could not get through it at all. The endless battle between Hook and Pan is repetitive and exhausting. I just got bored. There’s no adventure at all. Almost didn’t finish it. Finally wrapped it up with a disappointing ending although she warned us that Hook is the bad guy and he doesn’t deserve a happy ending. Least favorite of her books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
While the smut is delicious, I felt like this book fell short T-T it ties in the lore well enough that I’m hooked (hehe, see what I did there). However, the ending just… idk
I came to stronglyyyy dislike both James and Katherine, which might be the point? As a standalone series, it’s alright. I can’t help but feel it would be much more impactful had I read it with the other neverland chronicles (which I won’t be doing)
The first book in this duo was so promising. It had a great story and great character development. Then this one came out and was so disappointing. It felt very rushed, sloppy, and entirely too predictable. I wish the author would have taken more time to write a better conclusion, and a better arc for Hook. The reason I gave 3 stars is because Katherine's POV and character arc was better and her story helped the flow of everything.
Of all the twists and turns, this book has my favorites. It reveals the true beauty that is the making of Captain James Hook. Laughter, shock, and tears of heartbreak were cried during the reading of this book, and I would do it all again. Thank you T.S. Kinley for such a wonderful tale and an amazing series.
I swear T.S Kinley can do no wrong with her Peter Pan/Hook stories. They keep my attention all the way through!
The way chapter 18 RIPPED out my heart though. I was cheering on the relationship between James and Katherine since book one and was so sad to see the outcome.
If anyone is looking for amazing, smutty Peter Pan/Hook books, look no further 🩷
What an amazing read. As usual I was not disappointed. The author captures every moment. I love their writing style. Hook really never catches a break. It does go to show you though that sometimes the one who is named to always be pictured as the villain is never always the villain. I loved this read.
I had the pleasure of reading this as an ARC and I am not disappointed at all! If you ever wondered what made Hook a topnotch Villain then you need to read his origin story starting with A Descent into Darkness and finish it with A Penchant for Poison. You get it all pirate shenanigans, kinky love, divine destiny, betrayal and insight!
If you haven't had the chance to read anything by T.S. Kinley and love Peter Pan start at the beginning with The Neverland Chronicles!
The prequel and origin story of Captain James Hook, my most favorite villain. I love TS Kinley's work, and this book is no different. I only wish we could know what ultimately happened to Katherine. But perhaps one day we will find out as they are not done writing the Neverland Sagas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Enjoyed the book just not my favorite in the saga. I just didn't like where Katherine's character arc. She was all for helping James then she wasn't. It didn't build quite right for me with that change in her feelings. But overall, I enjoyed James' story.
It was alright, quick and easy read to get through. I enjoyed getting to learn about Hook's backstory and see how he became the man he is (in this world).
Also Kat is a b***h - like she is the reason he lost his hand and she has a sook?
Such a unique take on a spicy dark Peter Pan retelling told from the perspective of Captain Hook! Twists, turns and tentacle toys! Super quick read and a real page turner! A must for anyone who loves spicy pirates!
I wanted so much more from this book. I felt like the only emotion I felt was at the very end when Katherine realizes that she will always be second to Hook’s revenge on Pan. I just felt like there could have been so much more depth to it. Solid 3 star read.
Though the dark and intimate parts of the story are detailed, the plot and storyline are captivating to follow and it ties in nicely with its part 1 as well as the stories before it.
I really enjoyed this, it picked up right where book one left off in Captain hook’s story. He makes it back to neverland in this one and we get to see some of the early dynamics between him and Peter. Hook is hellbent on revenge at the cost of just about anything, he gains new allies, we meet smee, and watch the dynamics change with Katherine in a very big way I was not expecting. I’m not sure if there will be more to this story but I would definitely read it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.