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Legends of Neverland #5
Seeking Revenge: A Villainous Goldilocks Retelling
Villains aren’t given second chances; they take them.
Jillian learned the hard way that gold talks and mercy gets you killed. Left behind when her family was sold into slavery, she survived the streets with nothing but quick fists and even quicker lies. Now a bounty hunter cloaked in deception, Jillian lives disguised as a teenage boy to infiltrate the criminal underworld that destroyed her life.
She doesn’t care who she has to catch, con, or kill—every coin earned is a step closer to revenge, and a step closer to tracking down the ones who tore her family apart.
Her newest job leads her straight to the den of the most notorious crime ring in Berkway. Headed by 3 ruthless bandits, the crime ring is brutal, untouchable, and sitting on more secrets than gold. Going undercover and extracting her target was supposed to be simple, but when one of the bandits discovers Jillian’s secret, her safety is threatened, lies become tangled, and Lochlan’s growing interest threatens to unravel everything she’s fought to keep hidden.
Jillian’s mission demands blood, but her heart is begging her to remember she still has one.
In a world where trust is a trap and vengeance is survival, love is a deadly weakness Jillian cannot afford.
Seeking Revenge is the fifth book in the Legends of Neverland series and it is recommended to read the other books in chronological order prior to this one. If you enjoy adventure, villains, and damsels who distress others, start Seeking Revenge today!
Jillian learned the hard way that gold talks and mercy gets you killed. Left behind when her family was sold into slavery, she survived the streets with nothing but quick fists and even quicker lies. Now a bounty hunter cloaked in deception, Jillian lives disguised as a teenage boy to infiltrate the criminal underworld that destroyed her life.
She doesn’t care who she has to catch, con, or kill—every coin earned is a step closer to revenge, and a step closer to tracking down the ones who tore her family apart.
Her newest job leads her straight to the den of the most notorious crime ring in Berkway. Headed by 3 ruthless bandits, the crime ring is brutal, untouchable, and sitting on more secrets than gold. Going undercover and extracting her target was supposed to be simple, but when one of the bandits discovers Jillian’s secret, her safety is threatened, lies become tangled, and Lochlan’s growing interest threatens to unravel everything she’s fought to keep hidden.
Jillian’s mission demands blood, but her heart is begging her to remember she still has one.
In a world where trust is a trap and vengeance is survival, love is a deadly weakness Jillian cannot afford.
Seeking Revenge is the fifth book in the Legends of Neverland series and it is recommended to read the other books in chronological order prior to this one. If you enjoy adventure, villains, and damsels who distress others, start Seeking Revenge today!
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 2, 2026
About the author
Mary Mecham
26 books923 followersMary Mecham writes high stakes, high swoon, no spice romantasy and fairy tale retellings packed full of adventure and romances. Her greatest joy is writing snarky banter and morally grey characters.
She is a born and raised Texan with a love of theater and books overshadowed only by her passion for disability advocacy. Her favorite food is chips and queso, her favorite holiday is April Fool's Day, and her favorite trope is enemies to lovers.
When she isn't writing, Mary enjoys spending time with her family and trying out new experiences, from fire breathing and axe throwing to trapeze flying and power paragliding.
She currently lives in Texas with her husband and three children.
You can get a FREE e-copy of her Rumpelstiltskin retelling, A Curse of Gold and Beauty, when you sign up for her newsletter at MaryMecham.com
She is a born and raised Texan with a love of theater and books overshadowed only by her passion for disability advocacy. Her favorite food is chips and queso, her favorite holiday is April Fool's Day, and her favorite trope is enemies to lovers.
When she isn't writing, Mary enjoys spending time with her family and trying out new experiences, from fire breathing and axe throwing to trapeze flying and power paragliding.
She currently lives in Texas with her husband and three children.
You can get a FREE e-copy of her Rumpelstiltskin retelling, A Curse of Gold and Beauty, when you sign up for her newsletter at MaryMecham.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
May 22, 2026
Ahhhhhh!!!! I’m SO HAPPY to have received an ARC copy for this book. Literally made my entire day and I knew I had to start reading immediately.
It was so good. Definitely one of my favorites from Legends of Neverland so far! Every time I pick a book up from this author I know I’m promised a good, no spice, swoony, epic, adventurous tale that will keep me enraptured and entertained the entire time!
The characters were good, I really liked them, especially Lachlan and Gil. They were pretty great. I did like the side characters though as well, and loved seeing how their arcs all unfolded!
The plot was a bit slow at first but it never bored me, there were too many interesting things happening. It felt cozy yet suspenseful at the same time!
There was just enough action and romance to keep me happily engaged and giggling.
I loveeeee the romance it was so innocent and sweet.
Content:
Mentions of drugs, blood, violence, no-spice kisses only and swoony romance, characters share a bed but there is nothing inappropriate that happens, mentions of slavery and slaves on page
It was so good. Definitely one of my favorites from Legends of Neverland so far! Every time I pick a book up from this author I know I’m promised a good, no spice, swoony, epic, adventurous tale that will keep me enraptured and entertained the entire time!
The characters were good, I really liked them, especially Lachlan and Gil. They were pretty great. I did like the side characters though as well, and loved seeing how their arcs all unfolded!
The plot was a bit slow at first but it never bored me, there were too many interesting things happening. It felt cozy yet suspenseful at the same time!
There was just enough action and romance to keep me happily engaged and giggling.
I loveeeee the romance it was so innocent and sweet.
Content:
Mentions of drugs, blood, violence, no-spice kisses only and swoony romance, characters share a bed but there is nothing inappropriate that happens, mentions of slavery and slaves on page
June 3, 2026
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Now Playing ♡ Alessandra Mele - Queen of Kings
1:29 ──●── 3:59
Pre read: I can't wait! The cover 🥰 I have to wait like a year 😭 I'm so excited ahhhh!!!!!
I really enjoyed this but it had a lot of cliches that Mary Mecham’s other books didn't have so that was a little disappointing but I still loved it regardless. I'm so excited for the next book in this series to release!
She, queen of the kings, runnin' so fast, beatin' the wind. Nothin' in this world can stop the spread of her wings. She, queen of the kings, broken her cage, threw out the keys
The Characters
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jillian ~ I really liked her.
Lochlan ~ he was ok
Peter Pan ~ ok so I kinda loved him but he was also horrible at times so idk. Also he has the biggest crush on princess Tess and he's so protective of her!
Roderick Vane ~ I didn't like him.
Tinkerbell ~ I still loved her obviously.
James ~ same as Tinkerbell I still adored him.
Tess ~ she was still so sweet! On of my favorites
She, queen of the kings, runnin' so fast, beatin' the wind. Nothin' in this world can stop the spread of her wings. She, queen of the kings, broken her cage, threw out the keys
What To Expect
🧶Hidden Identity
🧶Wound Tending
🧶Stabby FMC
🧶MMC Who Knits
🧶 She Wears His Clothes
🧶One Bed (And It's Just Right!)
She will be the warrior of the North and Southern Seas
Quotes
~~~~~~~
“I’d let myself fantasize about romance, I’d always assumed there would be flowers and poetry and walks around lakes, and all of that seemed like a foreign world and not at all like myself. But skulking around in underground tunnels, dressed in boys’ clothing and hiding with a fellow outlaw as the Nightsworn searched for Syndicate members? That was a kiss perfect for me. Lochlan was perfect for me”
“May I kiss you?” Lochlan breathed. My heart was going to pound right out of my chest. He wanted to kiss me. He wanted to kiss me right now, and I wasn’t sure what to do. I had nothing to offer him. I wasn’t feminine, I had been masquerading as a boy for the past fifteen years, I had no idea how to kiss correctly… and yet I didn’t care about any of that. “Yes,” I whispered, terrified and thrilled at the same time.”
“Of course it had to be the one good-looking man I knew, who thought of me as an annoying little brother.”
“Just forget that I’m anything other than a young teenage boy.” He gave me a baleful look. “I can’t do that.” I skipped a breath. “You have to.” “Maybe I don’t want to.”
“Sorry, this is probably the least romantic bed in the world,” Lochlan mumbled. “I disagree,” I said, snuggling in closer to rest on Lochlan’s shoulder. He wrapped his other arm around me and I closed my eyes. “I think this bed is just right.”
Got raven hair, it's dark as night Icy eyes, outta sight, outta sight. Her heart, in spite, is warm and bright. Her smile awakes the Northern Light
Content
~~~~~~~
❤️🔥Romance| a couple kissing scenes with minimal details, blushing, touching (PG level),
🤬Language| none,
🗡️Violence| hitting, fighting, punching,
🏳️🌈LGBTQ| Peter dresses like a girl as a disguise,
✝️Religion/Spirituality| none
🍷Alcohol/Drugs| mentions of drugs, drugging people, multiple characters are drug dealers
⚠️Other| human trafficking (none graphic), slavery, pregnancy, robbery, forced vomiting (sticking fingers in the back of throat to gag yourself), medical treatment, wound tending, blood, death of parent, divorce,
Now Playing ♡ Alessandra Mele - Queen of Kings
1:29 ──●── 3:59
Pre read: I can't wait! The cover 🥰 I have to wait like a year 😭 I'm so excited ahhhh!!!!!
I really enjoyed this but it had a lot of cliches that Mary Mecham’s other books didn't have so that was a little disappointing but I still loved it regardless. I'm so excited for the next book in this series to release!
She, queen of the kings, runnin' so fast, beatin' the wind. Nothin' in this world can stop the spread of her wings. She, queen of the kings, broken her cage, threw out the keys
The Characters
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jillian ~ I really liked her.
Lochlan ~ he was ok
Peter Pan ~ ok so I kinda loved him but he was also horrible at times so idk. Also he has the biggest crush on princess Tess and he's so protective of her!
Roderick Vane ~ I didn't like him.
Tinkerbell ~ I still loved her obviously.
James ~ same as Tinkerbell I still adored him.
Tess ~ she was still so sweet! On of my favorites
She, queen of the kings, runnin' so fast, beatin' the wind. Nothin' in this world can stop the spread of her wings. She, queen of the kings, broken her cage, threw out the keys
What To Expect
🧶Hidden Identity
🧶Wound Tending
🧶Stabby FMC
🧶MMC Who Knits
🧶 She Wears His Clothes
🧶One Bed (And It's Just Right!)
She will be the warrior of the North and Southern Seas
Quotes
~~~~~~~
“I’d let myself fantasize about romance, I’d always assumed there would be flowers and poetry and walks around lakes, and all of that seemed like a foreign world and not at all like myself. But skulking around in underground tunnels, dressed in boys’ clothing and hiding with a fellow outlaw as the Nightsworn searched for Syndicate members? That was a kiss perfect for me. Lochlan was perfect for me”
“May I kiss you?” Lochlan breathed. My heart was going to pound right out of my chest. He wanted to kiss me. He wanted to kiss me right now, and I wasn’t sure what to do. I had nothing to offer him. I wasn’t feminine, I had been masquerading as a boy for the past fifteen years, I had no idea how to kiss correctly… and yet I didn’t care about any of that. “Yes,” I whispered, terrified and thrilled at the same time.”
“Of course it had to be the one good-looking man I knew, who thought of me as an annoying little brother.”
“Just forget that I’m anything other than a young teenage boy.” He gave me a baleful look. “I can’t do that.” I skipped a breath. “You have to.” “Maybe I don’t want to.”
“Sorry, this is probably the least romantic bed in the world,” Lochlan mumbled. “I disagree,” I said, snuggling in closer to rest on Lochlan’s shoulder. He wrapped his other arm around me and I closed my eyes. “I think this bed is just right.”
Got raven hair, it's dark as night Icy eyes, outta sight, outta sight. Her heart, in spite, is warm and bright. Her smile awakes the Northern Light
Content
~~~~~~~
❤️🔥Romance| a couple kissing scenes with minimal details, blushing, touching (PG level),
🤬Language| none,
🗡️Violence| hitting, fighting, punching,
🏳️🌈LGBTQ| Peter dresses like a girl as a disguise,
✝️Religion/Spirituality| none
🍷Alcohol/Drugs| mentions of drugs, drugging people, multiple characters are drug dealers
⚠️Other| human trafficking (none graphic), slavery, pregnancy, robbery, forced vomiting (sticking fingers in the back of throat to gag yourself), medical treatment, wound tending, blood, death of parent, divorce,
May 26, 2026
Overview:
Language 🤐: None
Romance ❤️🔥: Kissing only LV 2 (longer kiss lightly descriptive)
Violence ⚔️: Our FMC is a bounty hunter and gets some bounties. I’d say fantasy violence, PG-13 at the worst but honestly didn’t feel like any of the fighting was overly descriptive there is on page death light description of blood
⚠️Kidnapping, Slave, Human trafficking, Abuse, drugs, harassment honestly all of this pretty lightly descriptive in my opinion⚠️
Tropes/Micro tropes
- Single POV
- Hidden Identities
- Slow Burn
- Wound Tending
- Stabby FMC
- MMC can knit
- Wears His clothes
- One Bed
My Thoughts:
Oh man Mary does it again! I absolutely love this series like so so much and am already stoked for the next one especially with the blurb at the end for it! 🤩 Let me not get ahead of myself though!
Let’s talk about Gil (Jillian) I was so intrigued by her character in Escaping Pirates that I knew I’d love her coming into this book. She is such a clever and cunning character! She has been through so much and learned to never trust anyone. She is seeking to find her family who was taken from her and is willing to do whatever it takes to be able to free them and reunite with them. We learn of her tactics in the previous book but get to see even more how clever and cunning she is here.
You can definitely read this as a stand alone but I think you will miss the depth this story has to offer without the background of the others.
Lochlan is the perfect MMC for Jillian. There are so many interesting things that go on in this story that had me guessing what would come next! Mary always has a way of surprising me with the twist she puts in and how well it all works out in the end.
And only Mary can leave me feeling unsure if I should now be cheering Peter Pan on or not, I’m so interested in what comes next and the overarching story of this series!
I highly highly recommend this story and series! If you love fairytale retellings that are unique and have such a fun way of giving nods to the stories they are based off of Mary Mecham’s stories are ones you do not want to miss!
Thanks so much to the Author for the ARC ebook copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
Language 🤐: None
Romance ❤️🔥: Kissing only LV 2 (longer kiss lightly descriptive)
Violence ⚔️: Our FMC is a bounty hunter and gets some bounties. I’d say fantasy violence, PG-13 at the worst but honestly didn’t feel like any of the fighting was overly descriptive there is on page death light description of blood
⚠️Kidnapping, Slave, Human trafficking, Abuse, drugs, harassment honestly all of this pretty lightly descriptive in my opinion⚠️
Tropes/Micro tropes
- Single POV
- Hidden Identities
- Slow Burn
- Wound Tending
- Stabby FMC
- MMC can knit
- Wears His clothes
- One Bed
My Thoughts:
Oh man Mary does it again! I absolutely love this series like so so much and am already stoked for the next one especially with the blurb at the end for it! 🤩 Let me not get ahead of myself though!
Let’s talk about Gil (Jillian) I was so intrigued by her character in Escaping Pirates that I knew I’d love her coming into this book. She is such a clever and cunning character! She has been through so much and learned to never trust anyone. She is seeking to find her family who was taken from her and is willing to do whatever it takes to be able to free them and reunite with them. We learn of her tactics in the previous book but get to see even more how clever and cunning she is here.
You can definitely read this as a stand alone but I think you will miss the depth this story has to offer without the background of the others.
Lochlan is the perfect MMC for Jillian. There are so many interesting things that go on in this story that had me guessing what would come next! Mary always has a way of surprising me with the twist she puts in and how well it all works out in the end.
And only Mary can leave me feeling unsure if I should now be cheering Peter Pan on or not, I’m so interested in what comes next and the overarching story of this series!
I highly highly recommend this story and series! If you love fairytale retellings that are unique and have such a fun way of giving nods to the stories they are based off of Mary Mecham’s stories are ones you do not want to miss!
Thanks so much to the Author for the ARC ebook copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
June 2, 2026
This is an incredible read. I’m a huge fan of several of the characters in here and cannot wait to read their happy ending. Mary has been building up Easter eggs for a certain character and I just know what will happen and I’m excited. The FMC was really fun and snarky while the MMC was a nifty knitter. I love seeing guys with crafts in books. It was a fun plot with twists I didn’t see coming. 10/10 vibes and I’d totally read it again
Want to Read
July 26, 2025This book looks so good! I can’t wait for it to come out!
June 4, 2026
Another excellent story in the extended Neverland world! I was glad to read about Gil/Jillian after the events of Escaping Pirates. This girl is a feisty one and keeps everyone guessing about what she might do. She certainly could use a protector in her life that takes care of her - not because she can't take care of herself, but she needs love and care. Lochlan is great for that. He is tender and caring yet strong.
The romance in this book wasn't as strong as previous books by the author. It was sweet, though, and I was glad to read a very happy ending. The book was full of action and subterfuge that kept me reading more!
I would definitely recommend reading the other Legends of Neverland books before this one as there are references to previous characters and events. While not absolutely necessary to enjoy this book, the background info helps with keeping characters and such straight.
Can't wait to read the next book!
I recieved an ARC of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
The romance in this book wasn't as strong as previous books by the author. It was sweet, though, and I was glad to read a very happy ending. The book was full of action and subterfuge that kept me reading more!
I would definitely recommend reading the other Legends of Neverland books before this one as there are references to previous characters and events. While not absolutely necessary to enjoy this book, the background info helps with keeping characters and such straight.
Can't wait to read the next book!
I recieved an ARC of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
June 4, 2026
Can this be read as a stand alone? Yes, mostly. BUT it is a good idea to read the other books in the Legends of Neverland series to give you an idea of certain things going on.
I had not read Becoming Hook prior to reading Seeking Revenge and I wish I had.
Seeking Revenge holds some spoilers for Becoming Hook, but can be read as a standalone.
Gil is pulled into the world of truly wicked villains. She herself is far from innocent. As a bounty hunter she bends the times to get the job done.
Bear 1 is the definition of evil.
Bear 2 is there for a job.
Bear 3 ehh he falls somewhere in the middle of good and evil with very selfish tendencies.
Hidden identity. Secrets. Deceit.
No spice. No LGBT. Tender moments. Sweet kisses. Mulan moments (you have to read it 😉)
I would hand this series to my 12 year old and have zero qualms about the content.
You do not want to miss this next installment in Legends of Neverland!
I had not read Becoming Hook prior to reading Seeking Revenge and I wish I had.
Seeking Revenge holds some spoilers for Becoming Hook, but can be read as a standalone.
Gil is pulled into the world of truly wicked villains. She herself is far from innocent. As a bounty hunter she bends the times to get the job done.
Bear 1 is the definition of evil.
Bear 2 is there for a job.
Bear 3 ehh he falls somewhere in the middle of good and evil with very selfish tendencies.
Hidden identity. Secrets. Deceit.
No spice. No LGBT. Tender moments. Sweet kisses. Mulan moments (you have to read it 😉)
I would hand this series to my 12 year old and have zero qualms about the content.
You do not want to miss this next installment in Legends of Neverland!
June 2, 2026
You know a book is good when you can’t put it down and end up reading until 3am. And I’m never disappointed by the banter in one of Mary’s stories. I love the subtle references to the original fairytale, all while creating a new story. I also love the Tinkerbell and Hook cameo, with their own life updates. I also adore Jillian and Lochlan’s relationship. If you like bounty hunters, secret identities and protective MMCs, you should definitely check out this book!
My favorite quote from this book:
““I disagree,” Lochlan said, leaning back down. “If I wanted to play it safe, I’d never have asked to kiss you.” “Then I’m glad you didn’t play it safe.””
I received an ARC of this book from the Author. All opinions are my own.
My favorite quote from this book:
““I disagree,” Lochlan said, leaning back down. “If I wanted to play it safe, I’d never have asked to kiss you.” “Then I’m glad you didn’t play it safe.””
I received an ARC of this book from the Author. All opinions are my own.
June 4, 2026
fun book, lots of risk and espionage!
i greatly enjoyed this book. i rarely get to read both fantasy AND governmental conspiracy in one book, so this was a fun change.
a few points that confused me: i have no idea how this was supposed to be goldilocks. at one point she says “it’s just right”, and she does live with three men, but the treacherous Peter Pan is in no way a Mama bear. Also, i had no idea who she was going to end up with until i skipped ahead and saw (spoiler alert but not really!) lochlans name. i hadn’t even considered he was in the running. in hindsight, there were vague hints, but nothing beyond “handsome smiles” and “gentle words”. In general, the romance side of the story felt a little forced.
*WARNING: THIS ONE REALLY IS A SPOILER ALERT!* i also felt the resolution to the finding-her-family plotline was unsatisfactory and a little ridiculous. while stories like this rarely end up so pessimistic, in real life there’s no way her sister wouldn’t have died in a brothel. however, some people enjoy the escape from our own weary timeline so i can see why the esteemed author made that choice. i also found it unrealistic that the death of jillian’s mother wouldn’t have come up at all if it was so very crushing to hear.
over all: this book was fun and fast paced! a few plot holes (all of which have been listed above in EXCRUCIATING detail, the rest of the book is really good i promise) but i will definitely read again.
i greatly enjoyed this book. i rarely get to read both fantasy AND governmental conspiracy in one book, so this was a fun change.
a few points that confused me: i have no idea how this was supposed to be goldilocks. at one point she says “it’s just right”, and she does live with three men, but the treacherous Peter Pan is in no way a Mama bear. Also, i had no idea who she was going to end up with until i skipped ahead and saw (spoiler alert but not really!) lochlans name. i hadn’t even considered he was in the running. in hindsight, there were vague hints, but nothing beyond “handsome smiles” and “gentle words”. In general, the romance side of the story felt a little forced.
*WARNING: THIS ONE REALLY IS A SPOILER ALERT!* i also felt the resolution to the finding-her-family plotline was unsatisfactory and a little ridiculous. while stories like this rarely end up so pessimistic, in real life there’s no way her sister wouldn’t have died in a brothel. however, some people enjoy the escape from our own weary timeline so i can see why the esteemed author made that choice. i also found it unrealistic that the death of jillian’s mother wouldn’t have come up at all if it was so very crushing to hear.
over all: this book was fun and fast paced! a few plot holes (all of which have been listed above in EXCRUCIATING detail, the rest of the book is really good i promise) but i will definitely read again.
May 28, 2026
☝️Never have I ever wanted to rate a book six stars this badly!!! Hold on a moment while I gather my jumbled thoughts to try and write the glowing review this book deserves…🌟
I’m not kidding when I say, every single Mary Mecham book I read is better than the last. I don’t know how she does it!!
Please go buy this book as soon as it comes out at the beginning of June!! It is worth every penny and if you enjoy this kind of book, you will not regret having it on your shelf to reread over and over again.
I will say that reading the previous books in this series will probably make the experience of SEEKING REVENGE even better, but it can be read as a standalone as I read it, it’s just not as much fun because things like Peter Pan leave you wishing you knew a little more.
Okay, first I’ll talk about the characters:
It’s very rare that I read a book with characters who don’t annoy me at some point in the story. Guess what? I was never annoyed by Gil or Lochlan. They were so cute together!! Jillian (Gil) was feisty and strong and Lochlan was so sweet and caring. 🥰
“Curse it all, I'd never stop falling for this bandit.”
Next, I’ll talk about the plot:
Wow. There were just the right amount of twists that I was never bored. I won’t spoil anything specific, but prepare for your expectations of people to be flipped upside down! 🙃
Now, THE ROMANCE:
The romance was absolutely clean and swoon-worthy without overtaking the high stakes plot. It was satisfying and everything it was promised to be. I literally loved the mmc and fmc SO MUCH!! 😍 it was perfect 👌 I love when spice isn’t the main focus of the romance because it makes it so much deeper and more meaningful. I was grinning when they even held hands because it actually meant something rather then spice being there just for shallow pleasure.
Lastly, I’M SO EXCITED FOR THE NEXT BOOK IN THIS SERIES!! You don’t understand how much I love the secret-spy-school setting in books. Especially with knowing the characters, it’s going to be spectacular; I know it 😁
I received an arc copy of this book from the author, Mary Mecham, in exchange for an honest review ✨📖 my oppinions are entirely my own.
I’m not kidding when I say, every single Mary Mecham book I read is better than the last. I don’t know how she does it!!
Please go buy this book as soon as it comes out at the beginning of June!! It is worth every penny and if you enjoy this kind of book, you will not regret having it on your shelf to reread over and over again.
I will say that reading the previous books in this series will probably make the experience of SEEKING REVENGE even better, but it can be read as a standalone as I read it, it’s just not as much fun because things like Peter Pan leave you wishing you knew a little more.
Okay, first I’ll talk about the characters:
It’s very rare that I read a book with characters who don’t annoy me at some point in the story. Guess what? I was never annoyed by Gil or Lochlan. They were so cute together!! Jillian (Gil) was feisty and strong and Lochlan was so sweet and caring. 🥰
“Curse it all, I'd never stop falling for this bandit.”
Next, I’ll talk about the plot:
Wow. There were just the right amount of twists that I was never bored. I won’t spoil anything specific, but prepare for your expectations of people to be flipped upside down! 🙃
Now, THE ROMANCE:
The romance was absolutely clean and swoon-worthy without overtaking the high stakes plot. It was satisfying and everything it was promised to be. I literally loved the mmc and fmc SO MUCH!! 😍 it was perfect 👌 I love when spice isn’t the main focus of the romance because it makes it so much deeper and more meaningful. I was grinning when they even held hands because it actually meant something rather then spice being there just for shallow pleasure.
Lastly, I’M SO EXCITED FOR THE NEXT BOOK IN THIS SERIES!! You don’t understand how much I love the secret-spy-school setting in books. Especially with knowing the characters, it’s going to be spectacular; I know it 😁
I received an arc copy of this book from the author, Mary Mecham, in exchange for an honest review ✨📖 my oppinions are entirely my own.
![Profile Image for Shades || skittle muffins [semi-hiatus].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1779827727i/184697264._UX200_CR0,33,200,200_.jpg)
June 3, 2026
As always, Mary Mecham did amazing. This was a great continuation of the Legends of Neverland.
Jillian was funny but smart. Her ruse was very entertaining, especially because of how cunning she was. She was the perfect con-man, er, woman. Her motives were good, too, and I always appreciate when a character is driven by family rather than romance.
Lochlan was good, too. He had the right amount of confusing back-and-forth to keep me hooked, but not enough for me to be annoyed. His softness towards Jillian was sweet, especially considering the rest of his life XD
I REALLY HOPE WE GET TO WATCH PETER AND TESS PLAY OUT!!! ESPECIALLY AFTER THIS ONE!!
The first chapter alone had me unable to book the book down, and I sped through reading it. The prose matches her other books, so there is nothing new (nor any complaints) there.
Being a M.M. book, there was no spice, gore, or cursing. There is some kissing and violence as she has in her other books, but nothing that crosses the line.
I can't wait to see what happens next in the series!
**I received this book as an ARC from the wonderful author, and all of the opinions are my own**
Jillian was funny but smart. Her ruse was very entertaining, especially because of how cunning she was. She was the perfect con-man, er, woman. Her motives were good, too, and I always appreciate when a character is driven by family rather than romance.
Lochlan was good, too. He had the right amount of confusing back-and-forth to keep me hooked, but not enough for me to be annoyed. His softness towards Jillian was sweet, especially considering the rest of his life XD
I REALLY HOPE WE GET TO WATCH PETER AND TESS PLAY OUT!!! ESPECIALLY AFTER THIS ONE!!
The first chapter alone had me unable to book the book down, and I sped through reading it. The prose matches her other books, so there is nothing new (nor any complaints) there.
Being a M.M. book, there was no spice, gore, or cursing. There is some kissing and violence as she has in her other books, but nothing that crosses the line.
I can't wait to see what happens next in the series!
**I received this book as an ARC from the wonderful author, and all of the opinions are my own**
Read
May 24, 2026This is my favorite book by this author! It has enough moving pieces to stay interesting, with just enough mystery to keep you guessing. Gil/Jillian is, in my opinion, the most intriguing main character this author has written; in part because we already saw her a bit in the last book, and in part because she is well fleshed out. Peter Pan was as intriguing as always, and remains one of my favorite side characters, I’m curious to see where his storyline will go.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 stars!
It seems that I enjoy each book in the Legends of Neverland series more and more as it continues.
After reading Seeking Revenge, I have come to the conclusion that Mary Mecham is one of those authors whose writing just gets better and better with every book she writes. This was masterful, and I loved every second of it! (Except for that one twist where I was briefly furious at a certain character.) As soon as I started getting comfortable in the story, BOOM! An emotionally devastating twist would hit, and I would be left completely reeling. This book put me through an absolute emotional roller coaster, and I was surprised at every turn.
Lochlan was such a sweetheart, and also turned out to be surprisingly cunning at the same time. Considering how he grew up, I’m a bit shocked he has the moral compass that he does. (Y’all will have to read the book for that detail because it’s a bit of a spoiler.) His tenderness and kindness toward Jillian, even before he knew she was a girl, was totally swoon-worthy. Also, as someone who is obsessed with crochet, I loved the fact that he enjoyed knitting. Honestly, he is now my favorite male lead in this series! He and Jillian were so stinkin’ sweet together, and as someone who loves a protective male lead, I was very satisfied.
Jillian… I don’t even know where to start with her. Her childhood was tragic, but she managed to survive it and is now searching for her family through some very *sheepish cough* unconventional methods. She's devious, but not in a mischievous way. It’s more that she’s willing to do whatever she has to in order to find her family, no matter the cost. Also, I totally sympathized with her claustrophobia.
These two were, in my opinion, the definition of well written morally grey characters. Even when they were making questionable decisions, I was still rooting for them the entire time.
(On more of a side note that is purely personal opinion, the romance, and especially the way the kisses were written, kind of reminded me of an Annette K. Larsen book. Not necessarily because of the amount of romance, but more because of the style and feel of the kiss scenes.)
Last note, I promise! It is major spoiler, so please don't read unless you've read the book, but I just thought this was genius and had to fangirl a little!
_______________________
Brief overview of the romance content...
- Jillian's shirt accidentally is ripped by Lochlan when he tries to treat a wound on her side and she is exposed as being a girl. (Nothing inappropriate happens)
- She thinks that she likes the feeling of his touch when he treats her side. This happens twice, and she is also very embarrassed.
- Jillian has a crush on Lochlan and thinks several times that he's attractive.
- Wanting to touch
- Some noticing
- Jillian wants Lochlan to notice her as a woman, not as a younger sibling figure.
- 3 paragraph lead up to a kiss
- A kiss lasting about 5-6 ish paragraphs. (More emotional than detailed, but it could be a bit too much for younger then 13 in my opinion)
- A kiss lasting 3 sentences
- Remembering a kiss felt like. (Not detailed)
- Jillian has to change in the same room as him twice. No peeking or thoughts of peeking of course!
- A kiss lasting 2 sentences
- They fall asleep together on a bed and there is some cuddling.
- An almost kiss
- A kiss lasting 1 sentence
Brief overview of other content...
Please note that this is a villainous retelling (as it says on the cover). So expect some violence, fighting, and some hard topics going in.
- Jillian has a panic attack while being lowered into a drainage pipe to save a young girl because of her claustrophobia. Also several instances of her feeling claustrophobic in certain situations.
- Pain and blood from a wound on her side, and she passes out from it.
- A big part of the plot has to do with slaves and slavery.
- Drugging. Done either by Jillian or others in different situations.
- Jillian can make herself throw up and does so a few times.
-
- Lochlan's father hits him twice.
- Jillian has to fight off two leering men who try to accost her. (We aren't told their intentions but you can infer from subtle hints that they meant to sexually hurt her. However, this could possibly go over a younger readers head. )
-
__________________________
Overall, because of the content in this book, I would personally feel comfortable recommending it for ages late 15 to 16 years and up. Thank you to Mary Mecham for the arc copy! I really, really enjoyed this book and am waiting on the edge of my seat for the next one to release!
It seems that I enjoy each book in the Legends of Neverland series more and more as it continues.
After reading Seeking Revenge, I have come to the conclusion that Mary Mecham is one of those authors whose writing just gets better and better with every book she writes. This was masterful, and I loved every second of it! (Except for that one twist where I was briefly furious at a certain character.) As soon as I started getting comfortable in the story, BOOM! An emotionally devastating twist would hit, and I would be left completely reeling. This book put me through an absolute emotional roller coaster, and I was surprised at every turn.
Lochlan was such a sweetheart, and also turned out to be surprisingly cunning at the same time. Considering how he grew up, I’m a bit shocked he has the moral compass that he does. (Y’all will have to read the book for that detail because it’s a bit of a spoiler.) His tenderness and kindness toward Jillian, even before he knew she was a girl, was totally swoon-worthy. Also, as someone who is obsessed with crochet, I loved the fact that he enjoyed knitting. Honestly, he is now my favorite male lead in this series! He and Jillian were so stinkin’ sweet together, and as someone who loves a protective male lead, I was very satisfied.
Jillian… I don’t even know where to start with her. Her childhood was tragic, but she managed to survive it and is now searching for her family through some very *sheepish cough* unconventional methods. She's devious, but not in a mischievous way. It’s more that she’s willing to do whatever she has to in order to find her family, no matter the cost. Also, I totally sympathized with her claustrophobia.
These two were, in my opinion, the definition of well written morally grey characters. Even when they were making questionable decisions, I was still rooting for them the entire time.
(On more of a side note that is purely personal opinion, the romance, and especially the way the kisses were written, kind of reminded me of an Annette K. Larsen book. Not necessarily because of the amount of romance, but more because of the style and feel of the kiss scenes.)
Last note, I promise! It is major spoiler, so please don't read unless you've read the book, but I just thought this was genius and had to fangirl a little!
_______________________
Brief overview of the romance content...
- Jillian's shirt accidentally is ripped by Lochlan when he tries to treat a wound on her side and she is exposed as being a girl. (Nothing inappropriate happens)
- She thinks that she likes the feeling of his touch when he treats her side. This happens twice, and she is also very embarrassed.
- Jillian has a crush on Lochlan and thinks several times that he's attractive.
- Wanting to touch
- Some noticing
- Jillian wants Lochlan to notice her as a woman, not as a younger sibling figure.
- 3 paragraph lead up to a kiss
- A kiss lasting about 5-6 ish paragraphs. (More emotional than detailed, but it could be a bit too much for younger then 13 in my opinion)
- A kiss lasting 3 sentences
- Remembering a kiss felt like. (Not detailed)
- Jillian has to change in the same room as him twice. No peeking or thoughts of peeking of course!
- A kiss lasting 2 sentences
- They fall asleep together on a bed and there is some cuddling.
- An almost kiss
- A kiss lasting 1 sentence
Brief overview of other content...
Please note that this is a villainous retelling (as it says on the cover). So expect some violence, fighting, and some hard topics going in.
- Jillian has a panic attack while being lowered into a drainage pipe to save a young girl because of her claustrophobia. Also several instances of her feeling claustrophobic in certain situations.
- Pain and blood from a wound on her side, and she passes out from it.
- A big part of the plot has to do with slaves and slavery.
- Drugging. Done either by Jillian or others in different situations.
- Jillian can make herself throw up and does so a few times.
-
- Lochlan's father hits him twice.
- Jillian has to fight off two leering men who try to accost her. (We aren't told their intentions but you can infer from subtle hints that they meant to sexually hurt her. However, this could possibly go over a younger readers head. )
-
__________________________
Overall, because of the content in this book, I would personally feel comfortable recommending it for ages late 15 to 16 years and up. Thank you to Mary Mecham for the arc copy! I really, really enjoyed this book and am waiting on the edge of my seat for the next one to release!
June 6, 2026
3.75 ⭐
ENG:
At times, I found it difficult to connect with the protagonist, but I slowly found a bridge between us. Often, we're so blinded by our goals or a bad memory that we forget what's right in front of us. We can get lost in the process.
Fortunately for Gil, she found herself again before it was too late. I liked the Easter eggs referencing the original fairy tale, as I didn't know how it would connect to the story of a bounty hunter. The same goes for the references to other stories in the saga within the canon.
However, there are three things that left me disappointed. First, the slow pace at the beginning of the plot. It only really picked up speed in the last few chapters. Second, it's the first time I didn't feel the villain was a real adversary for the protagonist and the secondary characters beyond what he did before the story began. Third, the romance was just okay. It didn't feel forced, but the chemistry wasn't really there. Finally, all the mentions of vomiting made me uncomfortable.
Spoiler section for each detail I liked:
In short, the book has solid writing. It opened up new possibilities in the world-building of Neverland without losing its meaning or becoming incoherent. I'm looking forward to the next installment because I love any retelling related to the 12 dancing princesses. That's why I'm always happy to see Peter Pan , because he adds spice to every story with his unpredictability and chaos. Thanks for the Arc!
🐻🐻🐻
ESP:
Me fue a ratos difícil conectar con la protagonista, pero lentamente encontré un puente entre ella y yo. Muchas veces estamos tan cegados con nuestras metas o un mal recuerdo que olvidamos que tenemos al frente. Nos podemos perder en el proceso.
Para fortuna de Gil, se reencontró antes de que fuera muy tarde. Me gustaron los easter eggs sobre el cuento de hadas original, ya que no sabía cómo se vincularía con la historia de una cazarrecompensas. Lo mismo va para las referencias hacía las otras historias de la saga dentro del canon.
Solo que hay tres cosas que me dejaron sin sabor. Primero, el paso a desnivel al inicio de la trama. Recién agarró ritmo en los últimos capítulos. Segundo, es la primera vez que no sentí al villano como un oponente real para la protagonista y los personajes secundarios más allá de lo que hizo previo a la historia. Tercero, el romance estuvo meh. No lo sentí forzado, mas la química no estuvo realmente allí. Por último, tantas menciones de vómito me incomodaron.
Sección spoilers de cada detalle que me gustó:
En fin, el libro tiene una escritura sólida. Abrió nuevas posibilidades en la construcción de mundos de Neverland sin perder el sentido o ser incoherente. Espero la siguiente parte porque amo cualquier retelling que esté relacionado a las 12 princesas bailarinas. De allí, siempre contenta de ver a Peter Pan porque le pone sazón a cada historia con lo impredecible y caótico que es. ¡Gracias por el Arc!
ENG:
At times, I found it difficult to connect with the protagonist, but I slowly found a bridge between us. Often, we're so blinded by our goals or a bad memory that we forget what's right in front of us. We can get lost in the process.
Fortunately for Gil, she found herself again before it was too late. I liked the Easter eggs referencing the original fairy tale, as I didn't know how it would connect to the story of a bounty hunter. The same goes for the references to other stories in the saga within the canon.
However, there are three things that left me disappointed. First, the slow pace at the beginning of the plot. It only really picked up speed in the last few chapters. Second, it's the first time I didn't feel the villain was a real adversary for the protagonist and the secondary characters beyond what he did before the story began. Third, the romance was just okay. It didn't feel forced, but the chemistry wasn't really there. Finally, all the mentions of vomiting made me uncomfortable.
Spoiler section for each detail I liked:
In short, the book has solid writing. It opened up new possibilities in the world-building of Neverland without losing its meaning or becoming incoherent. I'm looking forward to the next installment because I love any retelling related to the 12 dancing princesses. That's why I'm always happy to see Peter Pan , because he adds spice to every story with his unpredictability and chaos. Thanks for the Arc!
🐻🐻🐻
ESP:
Me fue a ratos difícil conectar con la protagonista, pero lentamente encontré un puente entre ella y yo. Muchas veces estamos tan cegados con nuestras metas o un mal recuerdo que olvidamos que tenemos al frente. Nos podemos perder en el proceso.
Para fortuna de Gil, se reencontró antes de que fuera muy tarde. Me gustaron los easter eggs sobre el cuento de hadas original, ya que no sabía cómo se vincularía con la historia de una cazarrecompensas. Lo mismo va para las referencias hacía las otras historias de la saga dentro del canon.
Solo que hay tres cosas que me dejaron sin sabor. Primero, el paso a desnivel al inicio de la trama. Recién agarró ritmo en los últimos capítulos. Segundo, es la primera vez que no sentí al villano como un oponente real para la protagonista y los personajes secundarios más allá de lo que hizo previo a la historia. Tercero, el romance estuvo meh. No lo sentí forzado, mas la química no estuvo realmente allí. Por último, tantas menciones de vómito me incomodaron.
Sección spoilers de cada detalle que me gustó:
En fin, el libro tiene una escritura sólida. Abrió nuevas posibilidades en la construcción de mundos de Neverland sin perder el sentido o ser incoherente. Espero la siguiente parte porque amo cualquier retelling que esté relacionado a las 12 princesas bailarinas. De allí, siempre contenta de ver a Peter Pan porque le pone sazón a cada historia con lo impredecible y caótico que es. ¡Gracias por el Arc!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received a ARC copy of this book from the author and though a review wasn’t required, I wanted to offer my honest, voluntary impression of the book.
I have enjoyed Mary’s imaginative retelling of Peter Pan and Neverland through the initial introduction and through related books referencing Pan and Hook and characters they meet after leaving Neverland.
This book was hard at times to read because the depiction of human trafficking is still a reality which exists in this country and throughout the world! It’s sickening to read of how depraved people who were once human can descend to be lower than slime!
Other than that the journey a young girl takes to try and find her family who were captured by slavers but hid her before taken away will capture your attention and your heart!
A young six year old was hidden when her parents and older sister were captured and sold. She has survived on her own and eventually goes to work as a bounty hunter trying to find, take down those who captured her family and others while disguising herself as a young boy.
Her mission has proven successful and now she meets the one who was responsible and works to gain his trust before capturing him. She runs into complications because one of his companions is a boy she’s met before and the other is one who she finds an attraction to which she hasn’t allowed herself to ever feel before dressed and acting like a boy. Things get even more complicated when that boy turns out to be the son of this man who sold her family to slavers!
Trust, betrayal, crushing defeat, hope- all these feelings and emotions you will feel as Jillian struggles to try and understand feelings she’s never allowed herself to have and when this boy finds out her secret, her new feelings and desires to try and act and behave as a woman after pretending to be a boy since she was six!
Fragile trust, then betrayals and having devastating news about one of her family members makes her spiral but two other members are still out there and she is determined to find them no matter what!
Follow this exciting journey of discoveries as relationships she never knew are exposed as she continues on her journey to find those taken from her when she was so young!
I really enjoyed this heartwarming and heart wrenching tale of discovery culminating in revelations you don’t see coming!
I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend this book and this series to everyone who loves fairytales and especially those who loved Peter Pan and Neverland! I think you’ll enjoy these books as one villain does seem to want to change his life because of someone he meets!
I look forward to the next book Training Shadows where Peter and the girl he’s attracted to meet again but not under the conditions you’d think!
I have enjoyed Mary’s imaginative retelling of Peter Pan and Neverland through the initial introduction and through related books referencing Pan and Hook and characters they meet after leaving Neverland.
This book was hard at times to read because the depiction of human trafficking is still a reality which exists in this country and throughout the world! It’s sickening to read of how depraved people who were once human can descend to be lower than slime!
Other than that the journey a young girl takes to try and find her family who were captured by slavers but hid her before taken away will capture your attention and your heart!
A young six year old was hidden when her parents and older sister were captured and sold. She has survived on her own and eventually goes to work as a bounty hunter trying to find, take down those who captured her family and others while disguising herself as a young boy.
Her mission has proven successful and now she meets the one who was responsible and works to gain his trust before capturing him. She runs into complications because one of his companions is a boy she’s met before and the other is one who she finds an attraction to which she hasn’t allowed herself to ever feel before dressed and acting like a boy. Things get even more complicated when that boy turns out to be the son of this man who sold her family to slavers!
Trust, betrayal, crushing defeat, hope- all these feelings and emotions you will feel as Jillian struggles to try and understand feelings she’s never allowed herself to have and when this boy finds out her secret, her new feelings and desires to try and act and behave as a woman after pretending to be a boy since she was six!
Fragile trust, then betrayals and having devastating news about one of her family members makes her spiral but two other members are still out there and she is determined to find them no matter what!
Follow this exciting journey of discoveries as relationships she never knew are exposed as she continues on her journey to find those taken from her when she was so young!
I really enjoyed this heartwarming and heart wrenching tale of discovery culminating in revelations you don’t see coming!
I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend this book and this series to everyone who loves fairytales and especially those who loved Peter Pan and Neverland! I think you’ll enjoy these books as one villain does seem to want to change his life because of someone he meets!
I look forward to the next book Training Shadows where Peter and the girl he’s attracted to meet again but not under the conditions you’d think!
Review of advance copy
This is an amazing no spice romantasy book where the FMC is a fierce mysterious baddie and the MMC is a lovely walking contradiction!
I really enjoyed curling up with this book and a bowl of rice and binge-ing the while thing in a few hours!! I was waiting for the tension to come to a head in the satisfying way Mrs. Mecham always does it, and it did NOT disappoint. I was exclaiming out loud every now and then and dropping my phone onto the table in disbelief to the puzzlement of the other inhabitants of my house 😂
The plot twists had ME in a twist trying to figure out how I was so thoroughly duped. Of course, the romance side of it was a lovely reprieve from the tenser sides of the book, and the enemies-to-friends-to-lovers with a side of there was only one bed is really fun. I LOVE a good clean only one bed trope.
While you don't need to read the other books in the Legends of Neverland series, I do think it would be helpful to do so in order to have some context for what happens in the background of the story, particularly for analytical readers who are always trying to figure out the ending before the ending. Fair warning: you won't.
While I personally would have found Lochlan's chivalry stifling, it fits his complicated character really well and is honestly probably the best for showing Gil what it is to be cared about. In regards to their romance, the conclusion left me a bit unsettled, but that just means I have to stay on my toes for the sequel! I am also a sucker for groveling, and Lochlan doesn't do so NEARLY enough 🥲 But perhaps that is just a personal mean streak and Gil is more forgiving than I am.
I do think that there isn't enough of Goldilock's tale to warrant her a place in the book title, as there isn't much reference to the story besides a couple of blink and you miss it references in the scene where she finds a little cottage. (No info for you, spoilers!)
All in all, I really liked this book. It had me stressed and my head spinning, but in a good way!! Definitely would recommend, but I seriously recommend the rest of the series as well!!
Edited to add I am an ARC reader, happily enough! My opinions are my very own. Also, no AI EVER in my reviews 🤢
I really enjoyed curling up with this book and a bowl of rice and binge-ing the while thing in a few hours!! I was waiting for the tension to come to a head in the satisfying way Mrs. Mecham always does it, and it did NOT disappoint. I was exclaiming out loud every now and then and dropping my phone onto the table in disbelief to the puzzlement of the other inhabitants of my house 😂
The plot twists had ME in a twist trying to figure out how I was so thoroughly duped. Of course, the romance side of it was a lovely reprieve from the tenser sides of the book, and the enemies-to-friends-to-lovers with a side of there was only one bed is really fun. I LOVE a good clean only one bed trope.
While you don't need to read the other books in the Legends of Neverland series, I do think it would be helpful to do so in order to have some context for what happens in the background of the story, particularly for analytical readers who are always trying to figure out the ending before the ending. Fair warning: you won't.
While I personally would have found Lochlan's chivalry stifling, it fits his complicated character really well and is honestly probably the best for showing Gil what it is to be cared about. In regards to their romance, the conclusion left me a bit unsettled, but that just means I have to stay on my toes for the sequel! I am also a sucker for groveling, and Lochlan doesn't do so NEARLY enough 🥲 But perhaps that is just a personal mean streak and Gil is more forgiving than I am.
I do think that there isn't enough of Goldilock's tale to warrant her a place in the book title, as there isn't much reference to the story besides a couple of blink and you miss it references in the scene where she finds a little cottage. (No info for you, spoilers!)
All in all, I really liked this book. It had me stressed and my head spinning, but in a good way!! Definitely would recommend, but I seriously recommend the rest of the series as well!!
Edited to add I am an ARC reader, happily enough! My opinions are my very own. Also, no AI EVER in my reviews 🤢
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this advanced copy without the expectation of a review, and these are my honest thoughts.
Oh my goodness! Though it doesn't surprise me, Mary Mecham has done it again!
First of all, the FMC was so refreshing and unique. If you've never read a book by this author before, a lot of her FMCs (though certainly not all!) tend to be snarky and tough in their own ways, which I love. However, though these things are true of Jillian, she stands out because she spends the majority of the book pretending to be a boy to get away with things most people don't. It adds an interesting new layer, and if you loved Mulan, you will most likely LOVE this story!
I love the MMC as well. He's so interesting and has nontraditional hobbies and quirks that really help him stand out. The romance is cute, and it stays at the author's typical level of swoon (some kissing, no innuendo or spice). I can't say too much about him though because everything feels like a spoiler.
That being said... some twists I had a feeling were coming, but even the ones I thought I understood were all executed differently and at different points than I expected them to be. The book was one roller coaster after another, with incredibly high stakes. There were times that darker subject matters were addressed, such as seeing conditions of slaves in this fictional world, but there were lighter moments as well that helped prevent the whole book from feeling too gritty or heavy. (And the ending is fantastic, by the way.)
It's also fun to see Easter eggs/references to previous books and (I'm assuming) future books. There are clever little nods here and there, specific details that certainly leave me wondering about a few potential books later on in this series... and I am so unbelievably excited.
In summation... I need book six now, pronto, and now I have to wait, but this book is still completely worth it! If you like high stakes YA fairytale retellings without spice (and are okay with very loose retellings, which, in my opinion, is in some ways more fun), then you should absolutely check this whole series out!
Oh my goodness! Though it doesn't surprise me, Mary Mecham has done it again!
First of all, the FMC was so refreshing and unique. If you've never read a book by this author before, a lot of her FMCs (though certainly not all!) tend to be snarky and tough in their own ways, which I love. However, though these things are true of Jillian, she stands out because she spends the majority of the book pretending to be a boy to get away with things most people don't. It adds an interesting new layer, and if you loved Mulan, you will most likely LOVE this story!
I love the MMC as well. He's so interesting and has nontraditional hobbies and quirks that really help him stand out. The romance is cute, and it stays at the author's typical level of swoon (some kissing, no innuendo or spice). I can't say too much about him though because everything feels like a spoiler.
That being said... some twists I had a feeling were coming, but even the ones I thought I understood were all executed differently and at different points than I expected them to be. The book was one roller coaster after another, with incredibly high stakes. There were times that darker subject matters were addressed, such as seeing conditions of slaves in this fictional world, but there were lighter moments as well that helped prevent the whole book from feeling too gritty or heavy. (And the ending is fantastic, by the way.)
It's also fun to see Easter eggs/references to previous books and (I'm assuming) future books. There are clever little nods here and there, specific details that certainly leave me wondering about a few potential books later on in this series... and I am so unbelievably excited.
In summation... I need book six now, pronto, and now I have to wait, but this book is still completely worth it! If you like high stakes YA fairytale retellings without spice (and are okay with very loose retellings, which, in my opinion, is in some ways more fun), then you should absolutely check this whole series out!
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.75 stars.
Yeah, I know. I was surprised too. Let me be clear—I am absolutely reading every story being written by Mary for the bigger story that I (and I’m sure others too) are waiting for. This character that we’ve been following since the first book. Yes, Peter Pan. Now I could be wrong. Maybe he won’t get his own book. But I’ll be hopeful.
Anyway, while I liked the story, the elements of plot, there was something that I didn’t like I guess. I liked Gil a lot when she was introduced in the previous story. And she was fine in her own story but there was something missing or I guess defined less that what she described herself as or her reputation per se. I felt her character was missing some key traits.
Lochlann, I didn’t like unfortunately. I don’t know why exactly I didn’t like him at all. I thought I would getting more into the story but I didn’t. And it wasn’t only because of the *spoiler*.
It was their relationship mainly. I didn’t like the imbalance between them. Lochlann was always ahead of her in the manipulation game and I hated it. It wasn’t even that he was supposed to be like that. I mean in a way like Peter perhaps. The way he acted at the end was different so nonchalant as if *spoiler* wasn’t impactful. It was. Gil didn’t have to forgive or forget. I mean communication was so important.
There were also some things in the plot and about Gill that seemed a bit more than possible while simultaneously I wish she was…more. I loved that she had a photographic memory. I feel like most people make this trait without actually naming it and claiming it as some sort of magical badass power. If someone doesn’t have it doesn’t mean weakness. Most people don’t have it. It’s extremely rare from what I know. I could be wrong. But my point is made.
Anyway I don’t have time to write a full review right now but I want to say I did enjoy it. The setting up of future events is very intriguing and mysterious and I am excited for them!!
I received an ARC and this is my personal review!
Yeah, I know. I was surprised too. Let me be clear—I am absolutely reading every story being written by Mary for the bigger story that I (and I’m sure others too) are waiting for. This character that we’ve been following since the first book. Yes, Peter Pan. Now I could be wrong. Maybe he won’t get his own book. But I’ll be hopeful.
Anyway, while I liked the story, the elements of plot, there was something that I didn’t like I guess. I liked Gil a lot when she was introduced in the previous story. And she was fine in her own story but there was something missing or I guess defined less that what she described herself as or her reputation per se. I felt her character was missing some key traits.
Lochlann, I didn’t like unfortunately. I don’t know why exactly I didn’t like him at all. I thought I would getting more into the story but I didn’t. And it wasn’t only because of the *spoiler*.
It was their relationship mainly. I didn’t like the imbalance between them. Lochlann was always ahead of her in the manipulation game and I hated it. It wasn’t even that he was supposed to be like that. I mean in a way like Peter perhaps. The way he acted at the end was different so nonchalant as if *spoiler* wasn’t impactful. It was. Gil didn’t have to forgive or forget. I mean communication was so important.
There were also some things in the plot and about Gill that seemed a bit more than possible while simultaneously I wish she was…more. I loved that she had a photographic memory. I feel like most people make this trait without actually naming it and claiming it as some sort of magical badass power. If someone doesn’t have it doesn’t mean weakness. Most people don’t have it. It’s extremely rare from what I know. I could be wrong. But my point is made.
Anyway I don’t have time to write a full review right now but I want to say I did enjoy it. The setting up of future events is very intriguing and mysterious and I am excited for them!!
I received an ARC and this is my personal review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Where to begin? I've had the first book of this series sitting on my shelf for a couple years, waiting to be read, but knowing I was about to receive an advanced reader's copy of Seeking Revenge had me finally bump it to the top of my reading list. I've never been a huge fan of Neverland or Peter Pan, but I enjoyed the first book enough that I wanted to continue on. The second book delivered some fun twists and expanded the world of Neverland past the original tiny island. The third, even more so. Most of these books can be read independently, but this far into the series, I'd recommend at least reading Escaping Pirates before this one since there are side plots and characters that get carried forward here. With each book, the Neverland world and lore gets richer and deeper. And somehow, each book is even better than the one before, with Seeking Revenge being the most action-packed in the series yet. I absolutely did not want to put this book down and plowed through it in just a couple days. Full of intrigue and unexpected twists, Seeking Revenge keeps you invested every step of the way, waiting to see what will happen next. Like I said, I've never been a Peter Pan fan, but since he's been a background or side character in these books, I've found myself more and more interested to see where his story leads in this version of Neverland. I find myself rooting for a redemption arc for him, even for a reconciliation with Hook, but at the same time could never see Peter wanting to settle down to a normal life, so I'm sure any redemption would still fall far outside a normal path. Anyway, you can tell I'm emotionally invested in these characters now, lol. I'm very much looking forward to the next book to learn more about Tess as well, on top of meeting our new main character. The only word of warning I would have about Seeking Revenge is that I could see it possibly being triggering for some, as it contains incidents of human trafficking and illegal substance activity. These are my own honest thoughts and opinions.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ok, who knew I needed a villainous Goldilocks retelling in my life? Oh that's right, Mary Mecham did, of course!
Despite reading many of Mary's books, this is the first of the Legends of Neverland series I have read. I will say, I strongly advise reading them in order, because I did come across some spoilers for other books in the series, as well as backstory I probably didn't pick up on because I didn't read in order (don't worry, it's on the to-do list). So absolutely no shade to the author, as she explicitly states on her website they should be read in order; absolutely my own fault.
✨ Anyways, I absolutely LOVED this book! Gil (portrayed as Goldilocks) is a young woman disguised as a teenage boy working as a bounty hunter as she looks for her family from whom she was separated at the age of six. Try to unravel that whole situation!
🧶 On her quest to reunite with the family she isn't sure is even still alive, Gil teams up with an unlikely trio of criminals who are actively smuggling drugs (pixie dust). However, one of them is not what he seems. Lochlan is unusually kind for a supposed hardened criminal, knits scarves, hats, and other items to keep his hands busy, is endearingly colorblind, cooks, knows how to dance, and is super sweet to old ladies.
🗡️ This story has me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. Mary Mecham is the queen of the plot twists, and let me tell you, the twists be twisting! The romantic tension is fantastic, but as always, clean and spice-free.
I cannot wait to go back and read the rest of the series, and then reread this one to get a better picture. I highly recommend this author, this series, and this book!
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author in order to provide an honest review. The thoughts and opinions of this work are expressly my own.
Ok, who knew I needed a villainous Goldilocks retelling in my life? Oh that's right, Mary Mecham did, of course!
Despite reading many of Mary's books, this is the first of the Legends of Neverland series I have read. I will say, I strongly advise reading them in order, because I did come across some spoilers for other books in the series, as well as backstory I probably didn't pick up on because I didn't read in order (don't worry, it's on the to-do list). So absolutely no shade to the author, as she explicitly states on her website they should be read in order; absolutely my own fault.
✨ Anyways, I absolutely LOVED this book! Gil (portrayed as Goldilocks) is a young woman disguised as a teenage boy working as a bounty hunter as she looks for her family from whom she was separated at the age of six. Try to unravel that whole situation!
🧶 On her quest to reunite with the family she isn't sure is even still alive, Gil teams up with an unlikely trio of criminals who are actively smuggling drugs (pixie dust). However, one of them is not what he seems. Lochlan is unusually kind for a supposed hardened criminal, knits scarves, hats, and other items to keep his hands busy, is endearingly colorblind, cooks, knows how to dance, and is super sweet to old ladies.
🗡️ This story has me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. Mary Mecham is the queen of the plot twists, and let me tell you, the twists be twisting! The romantic tension is fantastic, but as always, clean and spice-free.
I cannot wait to go back and read the rest of the series, and then reread this one to get a better picture. I highly recommend this author, this series, and this book!
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author in order to provide an honest review. The thoughts and opinions of this work are expressly my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Seeking Revenge was such a fun read, and it completely pulled me into Jillian’s story from the very beginning.
I really loved the blend of fantasy, hidden identities, and revenge woven throughout the book. Jillian is such an interesting heroine because she’s undeniably morally gray, but it’s impossible not to understand why she makes the choices she does. Her determination and survival instincts made her incredibly compelling to follow, especially in a world where trust feels dangerous at every turn.
This book also had me cracking up more than once, which balanced surprisingly well with the tension and higher stakes running through the story. There were so many little tidbits and details sprinkled throughout the book that kept me fully invested, and I found myself constantly trying to piece together where things were heading.
I had a few predictions while reading that ended up being correct, which was really satisfying, but there were also a couple of twists I genuinely didn’t see coming. The story did a great job keeping me engaged without ever feeling predictable.
Lochlan and Jillian’s chemistry came through really well, and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop throughout the story. Their dynamic added a nice layer of tension and emotional depth, especially alongside Jillian’s secrets and the larger mystery unfolding around them.
The “only one bed” moment was also a fun addition and added to their dynamic in a really enjoyable way.
Overall, Seeking Revenge is an entertaining fantasy filled with secrets, twists, humor, and a heroine who refuses to go down without a fight. I had a great time reading it, and the ending left me really satisfied. Huge thank you to Mary Mecham for the ARC!
I really loved the blend of fantasy, hidden identities, and revenge woven throughout the book. Jillian is such an interesting heroine because she’s undeniably morally gray, but it’s impossible not to understand why she makes the choices she does. Her determination and survival instincts made her incredibly compelling to follow, especially in a world where trust feels dangerous at every turn.
This book also had me cracking up more than once, which balanced surprisingly well with the tension and higher stakes running through the story. There were so many little tidbits and details sprinkled throughout the book that kept me fully invested, and I found myself constantly trying to piece together where things were heading.
I had a few predictions while reading that ended up being correct, which was really satisfying, but there were also a couple of twists I genuinely didn’t see coming. The story did a great job keeping me engaged without ever feeling predictable.
Lochlan and Jillian’s chemistry came through really well, and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop throughout the story. Their dynamic added a nice layer of tension and emotional depth, especially alongside Jillian’s secrets and the larger mystery unfolding around them.
The “only one bed” moment was also a fun addition and added to their dynamic in a really enjoyable way.
Overall, Seeking Revenge is an entertaining fantasy filled with secrets, twists, humor, and a heroine who refuses to go down without a fight. I had a great time reading it, and the ending left me really satisfied. Huge thank you to Mary Mecham for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow! I really enjoyed this book. I was really wondering how Mary Mecham would pull it off this time, because bounty hunter and criminals aren't something I'd usually associate with Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but I'm not at all surprised that she made it work seamlessly.
Some of my favorite things:
The Characters. All the characters had depth and all their actions lined up with their motivations. I love well-written, consistant characters! I of course adored our main characters, but I also really enjoyed the side characters.
The Plot: Great, as per usual. It's a bit different than some of the previous books, no fates of kingdoms hanging in the balance, but it's not a lesser story at all. I think this is one of my favorite books in the Legends of Neverland series.
The Twists: There where several plot twists, I guessed one of them, but was totally surprised by several others. I obviously don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil anything, but the plot twists were great!
Content Note: As mentioned in the books description, slavery and human trafficking play a large role in why our protaganist does what she does and leads the life she leads.This book also deals with grief, and there is also some violence in the book, it is not overly graphic and it does genuinely contribute to the plot and make sense for the world this book is set in. There is no explicit content, only some kisses. Unlike the rest of this series, this book is not a standalone. I would definitely recommend reading at least the previous book, and preferably the whole series. Aside from the fact that this book will spoil some major surprises for the other books, you get a deeper understanding of a lot of the side characters, and the rest of the series is great, so that's what I'd recommend.
Overall, this book is a 5/5 stars, and I will definitely be rereading it many times.
I received an ARC of this book, but all opinions expressed in this review are my own and freely given.
Some of my favorite things:
The Characters. All the characters had depth and all their actions lined up with their motivations. I love well-written, consistant characters! I of course adored our main characters, but I also really enjoyed the side characters.
The Plot: Great, as per usual. It's a bit different than some of the previous books, no fates of kingdoms hanging in the balance, but it's not a lesser story at all. I think this is one of my favorite books in the Legends of Neverland series.
The Twists: There where several plot twists, I guessed one of them, but was totally surprised by several others. I obviously don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil anything, but the plot twists were great!
Content Note: As mentioned in the books description, slavery and human trafficking play a large role in why our protaganist does what she does and leads the life she leads.This book also deals with grief, and there is also some violence in the book, it is not overly graphic and it does genuinely contribute to the plot and make sense for the world this book is set in. There is no explicit content, only some kisses. Unlike the rest of this series, this book is not a standalone. I would definitely recommend reading at least the previous book, and preferably the whole series. Aside from the fact that this book will spoil some major surprises for the other books, you get a deeper understanding of a lot of the side characters, and the rest of the series is great, so that's what I'd recommend.
Overall, this book is a 5/5 stars, and I will definitely be rereading it many times.
I received an ARC of this book, but all opinions expressed in this review are my own and freely given.
Review of advance copy received from Author
THIS. BOOK.
I started it expecting to love it, as I have with basically every book by Mary Mecham, and it delivered. I totally shipped Gil and Lochlan, and he was a sweet baby angel. Unfortunately, some things I want to rant about are spoilers, so continue reading at your own risk. The middle paragraph is where all the spoilers are, so you can jump to the end if you don't want to read them.
Still here? Alright then.
I'll try to keep it vague, but there is one character who seems to be having a hero arc hinted at (iykyk) and I am NOT here for it. This is one instance where I'd love to be wrong. If said character gets involved with a certain other character, I might break something. The Certain Other Character (again, iykyk) is basically my child and I will be very upsetti spaghetti if anything (particularly that first character) happens to her. Also, Lochlan. He was a 10, then he jumped to a 2 reaaaaaaal quick. I get where he was coming from, but he definitely went about it the wrong way. I didn't like how fast Gil forgave him. He messed up big time, make him suffer for his crimes.
Alright, rant is over. Altogether a really good book. Their first kiss had me kicking my feet and giggling at 1 am. Honestly, if I were to write a first kiss scene specific to how I would like it best, not much would change from this one. There were a few bits where I wanted to take a few characters out back and fight them, but that's a good thing. Altogether pretty good. I'd rate it a 4.5-4.75, but I'm rounding it up for Goodreads.
I received an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.
I started it expecting to love it, as I have with basically every book by Mary Mecham, and it delivered. I totally shipped Gil and Lochlan, and he was a sweet baby angel. Unfortunately, some things I want to rant about are spoilers, so continue reading at your own risk. The middle paragraph is where all the spoilers are, so you can jump to the end if you don't want to read them.
Still here? Alright then.
I'll try to keep it vague, but there is one character who seems to be having a hero arc hinted at (iykyk) and I am NOT here for it. This is one instance where I'd love to be wrong. If said character gets involved with a certain other character, I might break something. The Certain Other Character (again, iykyk) is basically my child and I will be very upsetti spaghetti if anything (particularly that first character) happens to her. Also, Lochlan. He was a 10, then he jumped to a 2 reaaaaaaal quick. I get where he was coming from, but he definitely went about it the wrong way. I didn't like how fast Gil forgave him. He messed up big time, make him suffer for his crimes.
Alright, rant is over. Altogether a really good book. Their first kiss had me kicking my feet and giggling at 1 am. Honestly, if I were to write a first kiss scene specific to how I would like it best, not much would change from this one. There were a few bits where I wanted to take a few characters out back and fight them, but that's a good thing. Altogether pretty good. I'd rate it a 4.5-4.75, but I'm rounding it up for Goodreads.
I received an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Yet another hit by Mary Mecham! This was such a fantastic story with quite a few delightful and unpredictable twists!
I love that in this loose Goldilocks retelling, Jillian, the Goldilocks characters, fully embraces her villianous tendency of breaking and entering, and so much more! Her character is so complex, and truly morally gray. She's willing to lie to, threaten, and backstab anyone to get a larger paycheck or critical or advantageous information.
Lochlan is a fantastic MMC and love interest. I love how his color-blindness was used for humor, and how it was always clear that he was hiding something, though as a reader, I had no idea what! And while the romance is a bit more of a side quest in this book, compared to some of the other books in this series, it still delivers some fun, sweet moment and swoony kisses!
Now, if this happens to be the first book in the Legends of Neverland series that you are reading, I highly recommend going back and reading books 1-4! While each book can technically be read as a standalone, there's one particular character who appears in all the books who's character arc will be best understood and appreciated if the books are read in order.
That being said, I'm honestly not sure what my opinion is on Peter Pan! I hated him in book 1! He was such a twisted, evil punk! But, slowly, throughout the series, I'm starting to like him. Peter is so hard to predict, and I love that!
I can't wait to see what the rest of his story looks like. And I can't wait for the rest of the books in this series!
I love that in this loose Goldilocks retelling, Jillian, the Goldilocks characters, fully embraces her villianous tendency of breaking and entering, and so much more! Her character is so complex, and truly morally gray. She's willing to lie to, threaten, and backstab anyone to get a larger paycheck or critical or advantageous information.
Lochlan is a fantastic MMC and love interest. I love how his color-blindness was used for humor, and how it was always clear that he was hiding something, though as a reader, I had no idea what! And while the romance is a bit more of a side quest in this book, compared to some of the other books in this series, it still delivers some fun, sweet moment and swoony kisses!
Now, if this happens to be the first book in the Legends of Neverland series that you are reading, I highly recommend going back and reading books 1-4! While each book can technically be read as a standalone, there's one particular character who appears in all the books who's character arc will be best understood and appreciated if the books are read in order.
That being said, I'm honestly not sure what my opinion is on Peter Pan! I hated him in book 1! He was such a twisted, evil punk! But, slowly, throughout the series, I'm starting to like him. Peter is so hard to predict, and I love that!
I can't wait to see what the rest of his story looks like. And I can't wait for the rest of the books in this series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a delightful Goldilocks retelling and the FMC was such a wonderful morally-grey heroine! I absolutely loved how she struggled to find her family and open herself up to trusting others. Her disguise as a boy was also really wonderful as no one ever guessed a thing, and it was really interesting to see her trying to figure out how to act like a woman when she met Lochlan. Lochlan was so nice and kind to her, being a protective older brother at first when he thought she was just a boy, then being really protective over her when he found out she was a woman. I absolutely loved Lochlan's personality as he grew up with a horrible father and yet he's still so nice and kind. The storyline was also really interesting, with so many twists and turns and the world-building was incredibly detailed so that I was really immersed in the story. This book really dived into the criminal underbelly and looked at how Jillian navigated her stories and lies, pretending to be a boy and having two separate identities. Everything's also tying up really neatly, and I cannot wait for the next book! Seeking Revenge is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it. With its fast-paced plot, excellent character development, great side characters, and incredible world-building, this book touches on so many real-life themes and is also so immersive and gripping. Excellent novel!
I received an ARC from the author. All opinions are my own.
I received an ARC from the author. All opinions are my own.
June 3, 2026
I received this book as an ARC from the author, and I'm so glad I got to read it right away! While Seeking Revenge can be read as a stand-alone novel, I highly recommend reading the other books in Mary Mecham's Legends of Never land series first, especially Escaping Pirates (book #4), as there are some small spoilers in Seeking Revenge. If you've already read the rest of the series, you're going to start recognizing the hints Mary has been leaving in the earlier books. If you enjoy morally gray characters, this book will be right up your alley. Jillian, who, for her own safety, pretends to be a teenage boy named Gil, is a bounty hunter. She's not above bending the rules (maybe even breaking them) to get what she wants. And what she wants more than anything is to find the family that was stolen from her. Then there's Lochlan, the colorblind knitting bandit. Are they both criminals? Yes. Are you going to be cheering for them the whole time? Also yes. Seeking Revenge is suspenseful, but I felt there is a good balance with romance that fits with the Legends of Neverland series. There are several exciting plot twists, and Peter Pan is a crucial character for this installment of the series. My only disappointment is that I have a lot of questions about what happens next, but I'm going to have to wait a while for the next book in the series (which is nicely set up by the conclusion of this book). I guess I'll just have to reread the series while I wait!
June 3, 2026
Review
Seeking Revenge by Mary Mecham
What a fun take on Goldilocks!! That’s not saying anything new in regards to Mary’s novels though. Her books are always wild and imaginative. I adore each and every book that gets added to her world of Neverland. We’ve gotten pirates, sirens, royal rebellions, and now we can add bandits and crime rings to the list. It’s honestly too much fun! Also, I loved the cameos from past books. It really adds to the series and world growth.
Jillian is the definition of a damsel causing distress. She is the most spiny, falsely cheerful piece of work. I loved her introduction as a bounty hunter. My favorite part about her were the hints of femininity and soft moments. Lochlan is such an interesting character. I spent a majority of the book having suspicions about him. He is a gentleman bandit, if there can be such a thing. I really liked the different aspects of his character. This is one of those stories where I would have loved Lochlan’s POV during a couple of scenes. It would have been nice to see his thought process.
Overall, Seeking Revenge was a fun and adventurous story with some dark and gritty undertones and humor. I really enjoyed the plot twists. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
Thank you to Mary Mecham for an ARC of Seeking Revenge! All opinions are my own.
No-Spice Rating: 1.5
Language: Clean
Faith-Elements: None
Seeking Revenge by Mary Mecham
What a fun take on Goldilocks!! That’s not saying anything new in regards to Mary’s novels though. Her books are always wild and imaginative. I adore each and every book that gets added to her world of Neverland. We’ve gotten pirates, sirens, royal rebellions, and now we can add bandits and crime rings to the list. It’s honestly too much fun! Also, I loved the cameos from past books. It really adds to the series and world growth.
Jillian is the definition of a damsel causing distress. She is the most spiny, falsely cheerful piece of work. I loved her introduction as a bounty hunter. My favorite part about her were the hints of femininity and soft moments. Lochlan is such an interesting character. I spent a majority of the book having suspicions about him. He is a gentleman bandit, if there can be such a thing. I really liked the different aspects of his character. This is one of those stories where I would have loved Lochlan’s POV during a couple of scenes. It would have been nice to see his thought process.
Overall, Seeking Revenge was a fun and adventurous story with some dark and gritty undertones and humor. I really enjoyed the plot twists. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
Thank you to Mary Mecham for an ARC of Seeking Revenge! All opinions are my own.
No-Spice Rating: 1.5
Language: Clean
Faith-Elements: None
Review of advance copy received from Author
Without a doubt, the best book in the Legends Of Neverland series!
When I first received this book, I was in a MAJOR reading slump, and then I FLEW through this book in three sittings. I am certain, though, that my death will come while reading a Mary Mecham book because she is a master of playing with your emotions. I was up at midnight finishing this book because I could not put it down, and I wanted to scream into the night sky because OH MY GOSH THE TWISTS.
While the book has everything one would want and expect from Mary Mecham's writing, it also shines a light on the harsh realities of being a woman in a man's world.
When I first read the short descriptions of this book that Mary Mecham posted on her social media, I was intrigued by how she would make some of these Goldilocks elements work in a story about a bounty hunter pretending to be a young boy. I am truly amazed, though, at how Mecham's wonderful mind works.
I needed to take a couple of days to process the story I had read before writing this review. MY mind was spinning. I have not been able to sleep for days because my mind keeps replaying the whole story over and over.
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC. This is my honest opinion.
When I first received this book, I was in a MAJOR reading slump, and then I FLEW through this book in three sittings. I am certain, though, that my death will come while reading a Mary Mecham book because she is a master of playing with your emotions. I was up at midnight finishing this book because I could not put it down, and I wanted to scream into the night sky because OH MY GOSH THE TWISTS.
While the book has everything one would want and expect from Mary Mecham's writing, it also shines a light on the harsh realities of being a woman in a man's world.
When I first read the short descriptions of this book that Mary Mecham posted on her social media, I was intrigued by how she would make some of these Goldilocks elements work in a story about a bounty hunter pretending to be a young boy. I am truly amazed, though, at how Mecham's wonderful mind works.
I needed to take a couple of days to process the story I had read before writing this review. MY mind was spinning. I have not been able to sleep for days because my mind keeps replaying the whole story over and over.
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC. This is my honest opinion.
June 3, 2026
This villainous retelling of goldilocks, like all of Mary’s neverland books, did NOT disappoint. I loved seeing Gil unfold from the hardened bounty hunter we knew to someone willing to anything to get back to their family. The pacing, the romance (no spice of course), the swoon, the snark, everything we have come to expect from Mary was there and so much more! I love seeing these individual stories weave together into the tapestry she is making and I can not wait for book 6!
The only thing I wish I had a little more of was more call outs to the goldilocks story. It almost felt like an after thought. I wished that we got more than a few mentions of a chair being too hard or a bed being too soft. It also felt slightly out of place given that the MC was a bounty hunter who didn't care much about the softness or hardness of chairs or beds, or even the food they ate as long as they got a meal. I loved the story and everything, it just felt like the whole fairy tale retelling part of it was an afterthought and thrown in last minute. which is totally fine! but in a series of really good retellings it felt like on this aspect alone it fell a little short. other than that though I LOVED the book and it left me wishing that the next one was out already!
The only thing I wish I had a little more of was more call outs to the goldilocks story. It almost felt like an after thought. I wished that we got more than a few mentions of a chair being too hard or a bed being too soft. It also felt slightly out of place given that the MC was a bounty hunter who didn't care much about the softness or hardness of chairs or beds, or even the food they ate as long as they got a meal. I loved the story and everything, it just felt like the whole fairy tale retelling part of it was an afterthought and thrown in last minute. which is totally fine! but in a series of really good retellings it felt like on this aspect alone it fell a little short. other than that though I LOVED the book and it left me wishing that the next one was out already!
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