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Fairy Tales Rewoven #2

The Hope in the Dust

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When a trip to the seaside ends in tragedy, young Jamison flees from the one person meant to protect him. Finding refuge with a crew of forgotten children, he struggles to figure out if their leader is someone to follow or a pirate lord to be feared.

Ten years later, present-day Jamison is a single father trying to give his daughter a better life as the town apothecary. In a town scourged by the red rash, Jamison fights to keep hope alive against the ticking of the clock. Weaving tales and offering healing powders, Jamison inspires the children of Ermenya to believe they might yet outlive the plague that stole his young wife.

The unexpected appearance of a long-lost friend reveals a series of threats tracing back to his fractured past. Jamison would do anything to keep his little Moira safe from them all—but pirates have a way of carrying grudges, and not all mothers are good.

277 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2025

6 people want to read

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Nikki Crown

2 books9 followers

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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Shayla Riley.
616 reviews20 followers
September 16, 2025
THE HOPE IN THE DUST
(Book 2 of 2: Fairy Tales Rewoven)
by: @nikkidcrown_author

••I give 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

~The unexpected appearance of a long-lost friend reveals a series of threats tracing back to his fractured past. Jamison would do anything to keep his little Moira safe from them all—but pirates have a way of carrying grudges, and not all mothers are good...

-THE HOPE IN THE DUST, is book two in the amazing Fairy Tales Rewoven Series and it does not disappoint! ✨-I would greatly recommending reading dear book one before, as The Hope In The Dust, immediately continues on from the ending of book one. From the first page to the last page, I was deeply moved with ALL of the feels and I am left needing oh so much more! This is not a series to miss out on, my friends. What made this dear story stand out for me, was the delightful unpredictability, vivid details, captivating adventure, great mystery, sparks of chemistry, a dash of romance, and with heartwarming weaved layers of depth within. It’s the endearing and relatable characters, who melted my heart with such genuine love, protection, and care given to what matters most. Watching them rise above their own real life problems while holding true to their hopes and dreams was beautiful and inspiring. This is a wonderful fast-paced dear story, and is worth the captivating and beautifully tender read! I absolutely look forward to more to come in this lovely series and by this dear author!💯📚💚✨

“You’re my Little Lark; you won’t fall-
you’ll fly. I promise I’m right here.”

•Content: real world problems: anxiety, abandonment, bullying, and emotional abuse, run away, thieving, carriage accident, sickness, loss, death (on/off page-handled gracefully), anger, mild danger/peril, one biblical minimal swear word used, kisses only.

-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

“Don’t think about everything that could go wrong; find a happy thought. Be the hopeful James you always are.”

#thehopeinthedust
#nikkidcrownauthor
#allaboutthebestreads

“Some things are worth fighting for.”
Profile Image for Morgan (youarethelibrarian).
1,012 reviews16 followers
September 26, 2025
This is book 2 in the Rewoven Fairytales series, and they need to be read in order. We learn about where James has been, and get dual timelines of the present and his past.
There are a lot of villains, which I’m not a fan of, but it seems they’re all being controlled by one person. There is a lot we still don’t know, and that ending was just cruel to readers!!
Profile Image for Chantel.
193 reviews18 followers
October 7, 2025
Wow, these just keep me thinking, weaving details together in my mind, and SO READY for the next part of the story!
Profile Image for Melissa’s Bookshelf.
2,539 reviews177 followers
October 2, 2025
“We are going to control this story, Jamison. We are the masters of our narrative.”

Nikki Crown has done it again! The Hope in the Dust is another exciting fairytale twist in the amazing Fairy Tales Rewoven series. I absolutely loved Jamison’s story. Be prepared for a cliffhanger though & get ready to desperately need the next book in the series. It’s a creative dual time period twist on Peter Pan that had me eagerly turning the pages.

After Jamison’s father’s death, his mother becomes increasingly erratic. To protect his dearest friends & himself, he runs away from home. On his journey, he meets a group of forgotten children led by a commanding boy named Peter. The FROGS immediately adopt him into their group & teach him how to survive. A delightful little girl named Gwen meets the FROGS while waiting for her mother on the church steps & begins sharing stories with them each visit. While Jamison is taken with her, so is Peter.

Ten years later, Jamison is an apothecary trying to help the local children escape a dreaded sickness ravaging the town. Now a widower caring for his young daughter, Jamison’s finally ready to return to the home he ran away from years ago. But, the arrival of a visitor from his past changes everything & he wonders if he might be able to open up his heart again. Before long though, another less wanted figure from his past returns threatening his friends & young daughter.

This evolving fairytale had me on pins & needles as more puzzle pieces are revealed. I highly recommend reading the previous book in the series to fully appreciate this book. I loved seeing Jamison’s & Gwen’s romance grow throughout the story, as well as seeing Jamison reconnect with his old friends. His little daughter Moira is a delight & I enjoyed seeing the loving way Jamison cares for her & his friends. Loved the clever nods to Peter Pan, but in this story he’s more sinister, controlling, ruthless, & piratical. Jamison’s mother also plays the villain whose tragic past twists her personality.

Highly recommend this not to miss series for fairytale fans! Can’t wait to read the next book. I received an advanced copy from the author but also purchased a copy through Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are completely my own & provided voluntarily.
Profile Image for Riella Cristobal .
424 reviews9 followers
September 21, 2025
Oh my goodness! What a story! I was so excited for the continuation of the Fairytales Rewoeven series and it was so good. Full disclosure, this does end on a bit of a cliffhanger and probably should not be read without reading the first book.
I really liked Jamison! He was constantly doing what he could to protect and care for people. I admired his dedication to caring for people and how he was willing to sacrifice for them.
The split time of the story was a really interesting way of both seeing the story, but also learning about Jamison and understanding him. His past not only set the stage for his present, but still influenced his choices. It was interesting to see more of his perspective especially in the past. He created a life for himself and his daughter. It was so sweet to see how he cared for her. Jamison was a really sweet character and I loved meeting the other Frogs.
I had so many questions after the first book and I enjoyed seeing the story continue to unfold. I loved the Peter Pan elements and how it was incorporated into the story. The majority of the story was on Jamison’s experience and it was cool to see some of the other characters come in later in the book. I am really excited to see how the stories come together and how all the threads will come together. This fairytale inspired fantasy has some light violence and only a kiss or two.
I received an ARC.
Profile Image for Kaitlin M.
102 reviews4 followers
September 22, 2025
Wow!

I had no idea what to expect coming into this Peter Pan retelling but this was truly something else!

We get to follow Jamison’s story both as a child who runs away from his mother after a horrible accident and an adult who is raising his daughter alone after losing his beloved wife.

This was an extremely creative, unique, and devastating retelling of Peter Pan that any fan of fairy tales should definitely check out, just be prepared for the twists and turns and potentially heart-wrenching moments, and the ending just wow.

Her characters all have such depth and encourage you to love and care for them and she crafts her villain well.

I don’t have the words to properly describe how this book made me feel but wow just go read it for yourself.

I will be eagerly awaiting the next in this series!

Thank you to Nikki Crown for including me on her ARC team! I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Content Warning:
Mild language (damn, damned, hell) used infrequently
Toxic family relationships
Manipulative relationships
Homelessness
Illness/injuries (main characters work as apothecaries)
Death of children - on and off page
Clean romance
85 reviews5 followers
September 25, 2025
Unpredictable. Nostalgic. We’ll-written. Adventurous. This book was an amazing fairy tale mash up that I would recommend to any Peter pans or fantasy fans out there!

Although this is a series, I jumped right in with the first book. There was a bit of background that I missed from book one, but not so much as to ruin my reading experience. So if you’re wanting to jump in with this book, you can! I plan on buying book one and catching up now that I’ve finished the second one!

I feel like Nikki did a great job giving a fresh take on a fair tale and while also providing unexpected connections to the original Peter Pan that made me smile. I enjoyed the dual timeline of James’ past and present as well as the mysterious prologue. The book definitely ends on a cliffhanger and made me so much more excited to read book two!

Other highlights:
- The main character as a healer❤️
- Themes of hope during dark times
- Strong female leads
- How neverland was incorporated
- Childhood love
- Unexpected twists and turns

I don’t want to say too much to avoid spoilers, but suffice it say this is a fun one I would recommend!
Profile Image for Emily Cronk.
334 reviews18 followers
September 29, 2025
Well this was an adventure!

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, The Truth in the Tale, so I was super excited to read this one! And let me just tell y'all - it did not disappoint. There was so much to love in this book, from the awesome cast of characters to the unique take on the Peter Pan story to the adventure and suspense.

Curly, Tootles, Jamison, and Gwen were the best. I loved all their interactions and seeing their friendships grow throughout the story. The other supporting characters were also fantastic, with maybe the exception of Peter. Somebody needs to give that boy a facer.

I also loved this story's take on the classic Peter Pan story. It was fun to see how all the different details were woven in, like the Lost Boys and Neverland and the stories of pirates and mermaids that come with it.

If this book isn't on your TBR lists already, it definitely deserves a spot there. Just make sure you read book one first, as this series definitely needs to be read in order for everything to make sense 🙃

Many thanks to the author for the early copy; all thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Kayla Stewart.
319 reviews4 followers
October 3, 2025
✨Review✨

The Hope In The Dust by @nikkidcrown_author
Fairy Tales Rewoven, book 2

What an epic fantasy! What an epic retelling of a beloved story! Oh, but it was Unique! I loved everything about this read! Absolutely spellbound! I could not get this story out of my head. Every twist and new reveal as well as flashbacks. Things coming together and more mystery added. What a phenomenal read.

Jamison is such a wonderful, heartbroken, sturdy, stalwart, and faithful man. He turns his life over to so much good and his work as a surgeon is second to none as he weaves stories and eases burdens.

I loved his stories of Everland, Fairy Dust, and Mermaids.

✨Favorite Quote/Moment✨
“That light comes from the Ever Star. It will be your guide on your next big adventure. On the other side of the stars, Everland awaits. With stunning waterfalls, clear blue pools of water, and hills covered in lush green plants of all kinds.”

Peter. What a dastardly fiend! I could not even, with his deeds. So many characters affected by him and I felt for each one. And James’ mother has to be added to the group of fiends that I was frustrated with.

Curly, Gwen, Emberly, Moira, and Reagan are just a few of my favorite characters.

Seriously so much happens in this story that you won’t be able to put it down. A complete page turner! Loved it so much. Thank you Nikki for an eARC copy!
Profile Image for Beth DeLong.
234 reviews
September 16, 2025
I am really loving this series! Nikki is an excellent storyteller, and I love how expertly she weaves various fairytales together into her tale.

The story jumps back and forth between Jamison's childhood and adulthood (where we left off in the first book). It took me a couple of chapters to get into the swing of it, but it primarily sticks to the two dates, so it gets easy to follow.

This is a cozy sort of read, the type that's perfect for grabbing a bevvy and comfy blanket and settling in. And it's easy to fall in love with Jamison!

One thing about Nikki's books... the ending always throws me for a loop! 😱 I'm both excited and terrified to read book 3. 😅

Thanks so much, Nikki, for the chance to ARC read for you!
36 reviews2 followers
September 12, 2025
This book was so good. It had a nice pace and then it picked up speed and I was dying for more. James' story gets you in all the feels. The story is mainly focused on him and his story lines. It does jump time lines, but the information from the past are integral to the story. The love that James has for his sweet little girl is precious. He is a wonderful protector and leader. It has Peter Pan vibes. This continuation of The Truth in the Tale is fantastic. I am loving this series and am so excited for the story to continue. Just a warning though, the ending may wreck you.
Profile Image for Ashley Powell.
88 reviews2 followers
September 25, 2025
I have been waiting all year for the next installment of the Fairy Tales Rewoven series and y’all!!! My heart! I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to climb into this book and give James a hug! And Tootles, and Curly. This was such a good story of the power of friendship and holding onto hope even in the dark times. It was so beautiful to see how that hope carried James throughout his life; and even how he was able to share that hope with those closest to him. And I adored this book, I would absolutely recommend the series, but guys!!! These cliffhangers are the WORST! Haha! Be warned!
Profile Image for Alexis (IG: lexislimitlesslibrary)  Anderson.
177 reviews10 followers
September 30, 2025
What do you get when all your favorite parts of Peter Pan are combined with a dual timeline, mystery, romance, and friendship that lasts from childhood to adulthood?? The Hope in the Dust! This story is going to live rent free in my head while waiting for book 3 to come out!!

The characters in this book all have an incredible story to tell and the way each of them interact with each other is amazing! I felt that every person has a role in this book, from the childhood friends, to the apothecary and neighbors. They all impact the story which I absolutely loved seeing!

The Hope in the Dust is book 2 of the Fairy Tales Rewoven series and ends on an epic cliffhanger! Do read book 1 before reading this book to get the best understanding of the characters and plot!! These are definitely worth the read!!

Thank you to Nikki for my gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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