Falling For the Pirate: A Little Mermaid and Peter Pan retelling with a twist

To Win a Dark Heart

by Nicki Chapelway

A siren with no song
A lost boy who accidentally grew up
It was supposed to be the perfect story… not her reality.

Vera is a screenwriter at the end of her rope. She has always wanted to write a story that will bring a villainous twist to two of her favorite fairytales, but if her producer asks her to make one more edit to the script, she might just lose it.

However, when she wakes up in the world of her script, she begins to think she has already lost it. Forced into the role of her main character, a vengeful siren by the name of Moira, Vera finds herself having to live through the story of the Little Mermaid… but as the villain of the tale.

Struggling with how to get by with fins is bad enough, being doomed to get her heart broken in a love triangle of her own making is worse. But none of that compares to the fact that by some twist of fate, it seems her producer James is also in this story. And he is filling in the role of the notorious Captain Hook. James blames Vera for the fact that he is currently missing a hand and being hunted by a monstrous crocodile. He is also not too happy that his nemesis is a childlike force that is creepy beyond all reason.

Now Vera finds herself having to get herself and her producer back home safely as she struggles to survive her own story and not fall in love with either her producer or the guy she made up. But as the plot progresses, she starts to wonder if she should have been kinder to her own characters.

And maybe she should have written a happy ending after all.

Falling for the Pirate is a retelling that combines elements of The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan. With a unique portal fantasy twist this villainous tale tells the love story between Captain Hook and the Sea Witch. Full of pirates, sirens, stressed screenwriters, and sea monsters this swashbuckling romantasy is the fifth book in the To Win a Dark Heart series which retells fairytales as old as time, but this time it’s the villain’s turn to get a happy ending.

Genres: Retellings, Fairy Tale Retellings, Fantasy, Romantasy

236 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 13, 2026

About the author

Nicki is a twenty-something author of swoony romantic fantasy. She has been writing since she was eleven and has since published several works. She enjoys creating stories with twisty-stabby faerie romances, retellings that take a darker turn, and epic fantasies in worlds full of monsters and magic.

Nicki lives in Ohio where she spends far too much time watching TV, playing video games, and sleeping. She listens to music basically all the time, and adores obsessing over mythologies, her shows, and her slew of fictional boyfriends. When not writing, she can usually be found at her desk with either a paintbrush or a pen in her hand.

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Reviews

[Sarah Ryder · Rating 4 out of 5]

****Actual Rating 4.5 Stars****

So addictive (I read it in one day), so fun and charming, yet deep and raw all rolled up into a romcom style portal fantasy with a dash of horror and the best combination of The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan I’ve ever read or even heard of.

Vera was so relatable to me, especially as a fellow writer who has totally been on the train of “my story’s perfect!” then “ouch, maybe not, this doesn’t make sense…” until someone says otherwise and now it’s perfect again, lol. Nicki perfectly captured the struggles of a creative spirit and also the darker side of what can happen to both stories and life when we let in too much of the darkness of this world with no hope or light in sight and just how heavy and destructive that truly is in both worlds.

James is an absolute dear I wanted to hug as he kind of gets to butt end of the deal just for critiquing Vera’s script, lol, and I also related to him desperately trying to keep his mind organized in all the chaos and mess of this situation he finds himself in, not to mention he keeps a (mostly) wonderful attitude the whole time that I wouldn’t be able to keep up. He is such a saint and I commend him for that.

Their relationship was just the cutest and I loved how the “plot” kept pushing them together, not to mention how clever the whole magical “plot” worked and how it forced things to happen, so creative!

The mash up of The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan worked so well together that I wonder why more people haven’t done it before. Nicki included both the lighter, fun elements of the tales but also their darker aspects, which not many authors do because let’s face it TLM is a little depressing and PP is downright psychotic if you really think about it, lol.

I laughed so many times at the thoughts and actions of Vera and James, was moved by the many lines and symbolisms throughout, and ultimately closed the book with a smile even though I was sad to say goodbye so soon. This is a delight of a retelling mash up that I HIGHLY recommend!


‼️Content‼️

TRIGGER WARNING: a character has panic attacks; magic controls a character

Language: sucks; darned; crappy

Violence: a shipwreck; fighting with weapons and magic (not detailed); a dagger is held to a character’s throat; a character’s hand is cut (not detailed); injuries and blood (not detailed); a character’s stabbed in the shoulder (not detailed); a character is forced to stab another (not detailed)

Sexual: uses of hot, sexy, hunk, and sexiest; mild suggestive hints/comments; a guy notices a girl’s legs; a kiss (not detailed)

Other: magic; mermaids; a character has panic attacks; pirates; characters are sucked into another world; magic controls a character; shadow monsters/place


****Note: I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher. All thoughts and opinions are most assuredly my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review. If I was I wouldn’t have read it. 😜****

[Tash Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5) ARC Review - Falling for the Pirate by Nicki Chapelway.

This was such a cool concept where the screenwriter becomes a character in her own story. I think it must be many writers’ dreams, unless like in this case where you write a not so happy ending.

I enjoyed the story but felt something was missing and I just can’t put my finger on it. I don’t feel that I really connected with Vera, but Hook was a better character for me. I enjoyed the humor within the book and where there was still some romance and a sweet love story.
The villain wasn’t really a villain in either case though.

Overall it was a cute story but felt a bit rushed and confusing at times. I don’t know if it was just because of the urgency within the story itself.
But I will still recommend to anyone who enjoy fast paced fairytale retellings.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a cool premise! The opening line hooked me immediately, and I was constantly trying to figure out the next plot twist. I read this book on the plane from the United States to Germany, and the story kept me entertained for the three hours it took to read the book. 😉

The writing itself did not feel publish-ready (it was like reading the manuscript before it was professionally edited), so I had a hard time losing myself in the story (I read an arc, so of course I excuse a few typos--this was much more than that with developmental issues and line and copy edit problems that don't get resolved during a final proofread). I wish the book had been longer to include more background details on the plot and the characters, which I think could have avoided some confusion on my part (although I have no clue how The Little Mermaid plays into this story if Vera isn't supposed to represent Ariel or Ursula--a straight Hook retelling may have been a much stronger book!).

I did laugh out loud multiple times and even had the lady in front of me on the plane turn around once and give me the side eye! This is a genre I typically love, so I was disappointed that I didn't enjoy it as much as I was hoping. All in all, a great premise plus laughable moments minus un-fleshed-out/confusing characters minus weak writing/editing = a solid average of 3 stars.

[Erin]

When the series put out an ARC form, all that was listed were the two retellings being put together and the author. The Little Mermaid was one of my favorite movies and I do enjoy the original Anderson story. However, if the blurb were included this is not one I would have signed up for. Books about authors are something I avoid. There were times when Vera was writing a script, other times she called it a book. And at no point were there stakes. She knew it was a story of her own making. It never became clear how she and her producer ended up in her imaginary land or how they got out. Maybe this is how most stories about authors are? Wouldn't know, as I tend to avoid them.

[Thoroughly Clean Indies]

Genre: Fantasy, romcom, fairy tale and classic retelling [of The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan]
Tropes: Characters go into a story, forced proximity, foes-to-lovers, unlikely allies, misunderstood
Setting: Contemporary, movie come to life
Writing style: Dual POV, 1st person, present tense
Tone: Uncertain and tense, absurd-ish
Character- or plot-driven: Both

Romance: Yes
Clean level:
• 1 mouth kiss barely described
• Light attraction between various characters
• 1 instance of tracing thumb over each other’s cheek
• 1 instance of noticing how close their faces are to each other and putting a hand to his cheek; very light tension implied not described
• References to flirting
*See caveats below

Sensitive aspects:
• 1 instance of man landing on top of a woman in a “sexy” position for a prolonged time; he thinks of it as “a disgusting scene with [their] bodies”
• 1 instance of man blushing realizing how tight his pants are
• 1 instance of sexy, 2 of hunk, 3 of hot
• 2 uses of checking someone out
• 1 reference to trying to seduce someone, not sexual
• Dagger cuts through someone’s hand, and while it’s not gory, there is blood and worry about how deeply the knife cut
• 1 instance c**ppy

Favorite aspects of the book:
• Living out the screenplay as a means to recognize the need to fix/improve perspective on life
• Seeing the plot holes because of actually living the script
• The last chapter

Thoughts on main characters: Vera’s screenplay is a product of cynicism hardened over time. Experiencing the dangers of her own making could further reinforce that worldview if not for her ability to self-reflect. James is uptight and something of a control freak. He’s awkward and comes across more like a teenager than the adult he is, but he is capable of courage when the circumstances call. Even though he can be obliviously unfeeling when it comes to work (at least from Vera’s perspective, considering we are not privy to his critique delivery), he is otherwise a good, caring person.

There’s some exploration of free will within the confines of the script. The film’s plot has ways of forcing the protagonists to do what it wants, but there are parts where they manage to override it, so that not everything works out the way it was written.

The outstanding message is about the reality of creating many of our own problems. Vera’s attitude is born of things largely outside her control, but she allows them to take over. She twists the elements of the script that her younger self conceived so positively into something dark and merciless. The dangers she and James face living out her creation are literally of her own making. Perspective is everything, and it can lead to choices that make life worse than it would be otherwise, or better.

I would have liked a glimpse of Vera and James’s interactions, in-person or in messages, to get an idea of why she feels about him the way she does. In the narrative, their attraction developed too easily for me. While having to survive such circumstances together with someone would bring people together, and her awe at James putting himself in physical danger to save her would significantly elevate him in her eyes, I would expect more time before bringing romance in (by the end). I love the concept of them being brought into the script to be brought together, so I do wish there had been solid development in their relationship.
____________________________________

I don’t recognize the setting on the map, but then, I could get lost in my hometown.

Relatable 😄

“I mean this Frederick guy is all looks and no brains. He doesn’t even have a personality other than being a valiant hero. How in the world are you going to find a guy like that in real life?” “I never said my type was convenient,” she grumbles. “There’s a reason I’m still single.”

You want a man with no personality? That’s an odd ideal, to say the least.

“My script wasn’t flawed,” she spits, her eyes flashing with frustration.

That's not what you've been saying since you got here.

Naia was my harsh criticism on innocence and naiveite. Showing that she was wrong to try to see the best in everyone and that type of wishful thinking almost cost the mermaid her soul. But maybe I was wrong, after all it’s the harsh jaded character who died in the end. Not the one who genuinely believed that the world could be a better place.

There’s a difference between blind positivity that refuses to acknowledge truly terrible people with no interest in doing good, and a belief in the potential for goodness that can be actualized through conscious choice and action.

Favorite Quotations:
• I stutter, surprised by this man’s polite question that seems extraordinarily out of left field. And also a bit too familiar for a kidnapper and kidnappee, but then I’ve read that if you are kidnapped you should try to build a rapport with your kidnapper. Remind them that you’re a human being and maybe make them feel bad for snatching you. Bad enough that they would even take murdering you and dumping your body in the woods off the table.
• He looks both kindly and murderous. Like he would have you over for tea before he kills you.
• This whole ordeal is somehow his fault, of that much I am certain. Why else would he be here? And I am the hapless victim in all this. No writer should be forced to live out their story. We ought to be free to tear our characters’ lives apart at will and not have to live with the consequences.
• “I’m so sorry, I’d say I don’t know my own strength, but I’m currently fighting against it so I’m all too aware.”
• That’s tough, buddy, but at least your version of being doomed by the narrative is getting elbowed a couple of times. I’m going to get turned into a pin cushion by my producer. We are not the same.
• “As if I’ll trust the word of a siren. You must have him under a clever enchantment.” “I’m songless!” Vera cries out, throwing her hands up. “She’s so extremely songless,” I add stepping a bit closer. “Extremely?” Vera asks wrinkling her nose. “I did sing in my church choir as a kid—” “Not relevant,” I say quickly cutting her off[.]
• “Now, you walk in a square, leading me.” “How does one walk in a square?” he asks baffled. “For someone who likes boxes as much as you do, I would think you would know how to walk in a square.”
• When I first read the story of Peter Pan, I was enthralled by the boy who never grew up, but as I grew older and reread my favorite tale, I found it to be far darker than I’d imagined. It had almost seemed as though Neverland was a sort of purgatory where Wendy and her brothers’ souls were kept as they fought for their life against some illness. They got better and so were able to escape Neverland.
• [T]hen she whispers so quietly that I’m sure I misheard it. Just like I mishear that ticking sound behind me.


(I received a free ARC of this book from the author and am gratefully—voluntarily—leaving a review.)

[Lisa Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Among the ARCs I've read so far in To Win a Dark Heart, Falling for the Pirate by Nicki Chapelway was the most surprising. This book subverted all my expectations of this multi-author series of dual villainous fairy tale retellings and gave me something I rarely see in this genre. It reads like a modern isekai show, in which the protagonists are regular people who are reborn as fictitious characters in a story they are somewhat familiar with. In this case, it happens to be a story that one of them wrote. This is a plot frequently used in anime, most recently with last season's The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess, but I don't see it as often in fairy tale retellings, and especially wasn't expecting it from this series, which already contains several unique features.

Vera is a struggling screenwriter who just sold an edgy version of "The Little Mermaid" that crosses over with Peter Pan in the trend-setting style of Once Upon a Time. Vera's screenplay was meant to be a Wicked-inspired tragedy from the perspective of Moira, the sea witch, whose greed causes her untimely downfall. When she wrote it, she thought it was profound and poetic until she woke up in Moira's body and realized she had no desire to live out the story she created. To make matters more awkward, her producer, James, wakes up in the same fictitious world in the body of Captain Hook, Moira's love interest. The two are surrounded by familiar, yet unfamiliar, icons and must navigate their way through the dangers of the fractured fairy tale screenplay before it's too late.

What I enjoyed most about this book is that it doesn't take itself seriously at all. Vera and James constantly break the fourth wall, acting like regular people while everyone around them is living out a pre-determined script. Their modern perspectives provide a fresh take on this dark fairy tale world, and their antics to avoid suffering the tragic fate of the irreverent plot bring them closer together. Writers often fantasize about living out the story they created, and this book teaches them to be careful what they wish for in the most hilarious way. It also introduces some modern ideology into the timeless tales that inspired it, giving the male lead some queer characteristics, and poking fun at the extremely popular trend of fractured fairy tale retellings.

Granted, there are parts of this book that don't always make sense, but that just adds to the fun of it. The original Little Mermaid character and her prince are two-dimensional archetypes that Vera later realizes she should have put more thought into. Instead of the mermaid being sacrificed at the end of her screenplay, it is the sea witch, the greedy protagonist in need of a redemption arc. There are many layers to this book, which can get confusing to readers who are looking for something deeper than a fluffy romcom. There's the original stories of "The Little Mermaid" and Peter Pan, the Once Upon a Time-style screenplay that turns these stories into a new one from a different perspective, and the overarching narrative story of Vera and James, who just want to avoid their tragic endings and go home. It all blends together into a wacky isekai comedy.

Falling for the Pirate is a surprisingly irreverent take on fairy tale retellings, with a healthy dose of humor and heart. Nicki Chapelway's unique blend of modern sensibilities and classic storytelling makes for a refreshing read that's more interested in having fun than taking itself too seriously. It is likely the most unique entry in To Win a Dark Heart, swapping out the brooding, misunderstood villains in favor of relatable modern perspectives. If you're looking for a lighthearted, entertaining romance with a dash of wit and creativity, this is the book for you.

[Ilona Nurmela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the premise and description, but skimmed from half-way as the MMC was too metroseggshual for my taste and the script/game-like writing style is not quite my cuppa.

Vera is a struggling scriptwriter who had been given too many nitpicking edits from the movie’s producer, James. When they both find themselves living out her script, things get interesting.

I loved the premise - an author finding herself in her own script and living out the plot as she wrote it, picking up on the plotholes and emptiness of heroic characters as she goes. I also loved the villains being made heroes who try to save themselves (and the story). Plot-driven story acquired quite a literal meaning for me after reading this 90-minute novella - as in what happens when the plot itself becomes sentient - which was cool. The cynic in me delighted in the usual fairytale protagonists being mocked for being too goody-two-shoes - sometimes, the MCs in fairytales do come across as too good to be true. Villains are way more imaginative as they have to be.

What I didn’t enjoy:
- James - did not like him at all - cowardly, looking for the woman to save him and worrying about coffee and spas and therapy - too metroseggshual for my taste, sorry, so I couldn’t fathom how or why Vera fell for him, seriously;
- the original plot of Vera’s script - I liked much more how the author rewrote it when the real people were dropped into her imaginary script and I guess that was the whole point of the story, tbh;
- I would have loved to have seen Vera reworking her script together with James after their adventure - that would have been the true happy ending for me and closing the “script has too many plotholes and missing details” arc. But, not my book, so I’ll accept the ending as it is.

Overall - enjoyable, if you like gaming and fairytales and are in your 20s - neither of which apply to me. As am not the target audience here, don’t take my word for it and read the novella yourself.

Recommended for lovers of clean no-spice YA/NA mashup retellings, especially Little Mermaid and Peter Pan, with gaming worldbuilding feels thrown in.

[~ • { Elizabeth } • ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌊🪝🧜‍♀️ ARC Review: Falling For the Pirate by Nicki Chapelway
⭐ 4.5/5 Stars — a witty, romantic fairytale twist about stories, fate, and choosing your own ending
Falling For the Pirate feels like waking up from a stormy dream and realizing the dream is staring back at you with a hook for a hand.
🎬 Vera is a screenwriter who loves fairytales but has always felt the villains deserved more. More depth. More sympathy. More truth. She wants to write a bold retelling part Peter Pan, part The Little Mermaid but her producer keeps pushing for “new” instead of meaningful. Then she falls asleep to rain… and wakes up as a mermaid. Specifically, the sea witch villain of her own script.
🧜‍♀️ Living underwater, breathing the sea, and inhabiting the body of Moira the character she created forces Vera to confront the cost of the stories she tells. Especially when she realizes this world mirrors her screenplay far too closely to be a dream.
🏴‍☠️ James Pearson, the frustrating, logic driven producer, wakes up hungover, missing a hand, and dressed as Captain Hook aboard the Jolly Roger. He doesn’t even drink. He’s convinced he’s been drugged, kidnapped, or cursed possibly all three. What he definitely knows? Vera is involved.
✨ What unfolds is clever, self-aware, and surprisingly tender. Villains with depth. Fate challenged. Sword fights, stolen glances, scars traced gently, and a romance that grows in the cracks between fear and choice. James saves Vera. Vera rewrites herself. Together, they dare to fight the ending.
🌌 If you love:
🧜‍♀️ Fairytale retellings with meta twists
🏴‍☠️ Captain Hook energy
🎬 Writers trapped in their own stories
💫 Enemies to lovers
⭐ Choosing love over fate
⚠️ Content Warnings:
• Attempted murder
• Stabbing / violence
📖 Final Thoughts:
Nicki Chapelway delivers a sharp, heartfelt story about kindness toward characters and ourselves. Falling For the Pirate reminds us that villains are often just heroes who were never given a happy ending… and sometimes, it’s not too late to write one.
— Elizabeth

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! I absolutely loved this story so, so much! It was AMAZING.

It does have a little bit of an insta-love feel because the book takes place over a short period of time, but there is definitely breadcrumbs to SHOW their growing feelings....

First of all, this book was LAUGH OUT LOUD funny. Like I read this book during free time at work, and it was SO HARD not to laugh. There are SO many amazing quotes in this book. I can't wait until I get to make a "using quotes to convince you to read my favorite books" post for this book once it releases. Soi many amazing options.

This book is also adventurous. Imagine the Jumanji movies meet fairytales. It is just amazing. I loved the concept up this book so much! I didn't want to put it down. I will definitely be reading this book again (and again, and probably again). It might become a comfort read when I need something "feel good."

I mean, it's kind of ironic given that this book is about a screenwriter and a producer, but this book would make an AMAZING movie. I mean, did I not mention Jumanji meets fairytales... like come on. This would be an EPIC MOVIE.

The characters are also so loveable. Vera is kind of sassy and snarky BUT she does care. It's so fun watching her live out her manuscript and her reactions to plot and characters she created.

James is just an absolutely cinnamon roll. We must protect him at all costs, haha. He is so uptight, but also so sweet and endearing. It is so entertaining following him as he tries to play the part of Captain Hook.

Now, for the most part this book is hilarious and lighthearted, but the author still manages to pack quite the punch. There are some lovely themes about searching for happiness, that ideas can be romanticized, and sometimes we need to sacrifice things for those we care about.

All in all, this was an amazing read and I highly recommended it to anyone looking for a fun, whimsical fairytale retelling.

I received an ARC From the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Chad Barrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book from the author and though I didn’t have to post a review to receive the book, I wanted to offer my honest, voluntary impression upon finishing it.

This was a delightful mash up of two of my favorite fairy tales, The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan with a
undertone of humor throughout.

Vera is a screenwriter who despises her producer James who is always having her rewrite her screenplay. She isn’t sure what happened but during a thunderstorm she and James are transported into her screenplay where she is the Sea Witch and James is Captain Hook!

She is the one who takes the little mermaids song in this instance ( not her voice) but finds her feelings of darkness because of the way life has treated her start to change as she sees James in a new light as they are thrown together to try and change the plot she has written for the movie! Being with Naia ( the little mermaid) has an affect on her as well causing her to wish she had written the screenplay differently.

When the plot seems to have taken on a mind of its own Vera sees a way to save James even if it costs her in the end.

I really enjoyed this story! It shows even villains can change from how we have always read and pictured them in our minds when we heard or read the fairy tales as they were originally written.

I have really enjoyed this series where villains get their own happily ever after and prove they aren’t the dark souls we always thought them to be!

I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend this book as well as this series as books I know you’ll love if not only to just read a refreshing new twist on classic fairy tales we’ve all known and loved!

Did Vera and James somehow enter into her screenplay or was it a dream? If a dream how were their memories so vivid even when they weren’t in the same place and aware of what the other was doing at the time? They hadn’t even been in communication before this experience happened to them!

A spooky mystery for sure!

[Charissa James · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story had great potential. I've never come across a mashup of The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan that featured the villains of those stories, so I was excited to see where the author would take it. I also found myself hooked by the fact that Vera found herself in a strange world with the one person she didn't like. I'm always a sucker for some good tension between the MCs.
However, the writing desperately needs editing. Not just proofing for typos but some good developmental editing. I don't do that kind of work, but I have been reading for a long time, so I know when sentences sound wrong and when the plot could use some help.
I wish that it was explained how Vera and James ended up in the world of the movie script. One of the reasons I kept reading was to see if any explanation was given on the return trip, but the way back couldn't have worked for the way there, so I just ended up confused.
Also, the romance needs some help. For a majority of the book, James and Vera are determined not to fall for each other despite how handsome or pretty they find each other. And they don't! Until they're suddenly kissing with no lead up. I would've liked to see more chemistry between them. (You can have chemistry without spice btw.)
Another minor thing that any decent editor should catch - Vera wrote a SCRIPT for a movie, yet three times, it is referred to as a BOOK. Those are not the same thing.
I would give the author grace on all of this if this was her debut and she didn't know any better, but she's published several books with similar problems according to some reviews I read. Good for her going for what she wants and publishing, but if she wants returning readers, she would put a little more work/investment into her stories.

Thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Fairy Tale and Fantasy Fan Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very lucky to receive an ARC of this book. I had never read a Peter Pan retelling before but Falling for the Pirate was a wonderful retelling and is also based off The Little Mermaid fairy tale. I adore books where modern day characters end up in fantasy worlds. Nicki Chapelway puts a fantastic spin to her story by having one of the main characters be a script writer and putting both protagonists (Vera and James) into the her story as the villains (Captain Hook and the sea witch Moira). And let’s just say Vera did not write them happy endings and now they must try to change their fates and get home alive.

Both Vera and James were great characters. They bring a good dose of humor and realistic opinions to the story. For example Vera makes a point that her scripted version of Hook’s personality would work well in a fictional world as the love interest but not in real life. Both she and James are a great team and my only complaint is that I wish the book was longer so I could have read more about them and see more of their relationship. While (like Vera) I have a few questions at the end of the story I’m surprised that I’m okay with not knowing them. In a way this book reminds me of the movie Midnight in Paris where you just accept that the characters somehow traveled to another world without knowing how it happened. The story still wraps up well and you just accept that you won’t know the details of why or how.

Overall, Falling for the Pirate is a great book and is so far the most unique entry in the To Win A Dark Heart series that I have read. I look forward to continuing the series. If you enjoy books where modern day characters end up in a fairy tale I would also recommend Enspelled by Aria May and The Rose Gate by Hanna Sandvig.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be careful what kind of story you write if you're a screenplay writer

I loved the premise of a screenwriter and producer getting stuck in their own script. The execution of the book was phenomenal. I loved the twists and turns the plot introduced to ensure the characters followed it. When the Peter Pan elements appeared, my jaw dropped. It was so left field yet perfect for this story. Vera and James chemistry grew throughout the book as they learned to work together.

I'm with Vera on one thing: the plot moved far too fast. I would have liked if the story took place over more than two days because everything felt like a whirlwind - far too fast to allow the characters to find any really creative solutions. Yet, that's part of the magic of the book. The fast pace was intentional and explained by Vera at one point. Some readers may be put off by the meta feel of the book, but I found it added another dimension that kept me invested. I wish I could be a fly on a wall when Vera and James discuss their adventure after the last chapter concludes.

Overall, excellent adventure that I highly recommend to readers looking for a fast-paced rom-com with elements of danger and meta commentary.

*I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.

[LeeEllen Belcher (Caw) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This no-spice fairytale retelling was the perfect mix of romantic comedy and portal fantasy. The world-building was immersive, richly detailed, and I was intrigued by how the author melded the classic stories of Peter Pan and The Little Mermaid in this fun and exciting novella. I loved how Vera and James stuck together and helped each other at every turn, becoming more than just acquaintances. I especially liked how they reacted to their situation and each obstacle that came up while looking out for each other.
I don't think I've read anything quite like this before, and I really enjoyed it!

Vera has painstakingly been working on a script for her favorite fairytales. But James, her annoying producer, keeps tearing it apart! Frustrated with the whole thing, she's shocked to wake up one day in the world of her story. She finds it difficult to be the villain and a mermaid in her twisted tale. What's worse is discovering that James is also there as the notorious Captain Hook. As they work through the plot and try to change their twisted fate, they somehow learn to get along and work together.
Will they get back home before the final act?

I received an Advanced Reader Copy with no expectation of a review.
All opinions are my own.

[Kiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falling for the Pirate by Nicki Chapelway is where the villain's get the happy ending... kind of...

When reading this book I found it hilarious, imagine if you got sucked into the work that you were writing? I love this concept of the villains getting that happy ending. This book turned the popular stories that we love, the Little Mermaid and Peter Pan and turning it on its head. It was really enjoyable to read about how the author adapted each of these books.

The characters both reacted in a realistic way of getting dragged into a book and having to make questionable decisions to try to get out of the book. The humor, and the emotions all seemed were really reactions I would have if I were sucked into a story of this sort of making.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a really fun twist on classic stories that we love.

Thanks to Nicki Chapelway for the free book.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow this book was unique and I loved it!

Vera is a screenwriter and James is her producer. What happens when they get trapped in her story? What happens when she becomes the sea witch and he becomes Captain Hook?

What person doesn’t dream of waking up in a fairytale? This book shows that reality and while it can be fun it still has its dangers.

I loved how this book wasn’t just another retelling it went out of the box and was different.

It was fun to see Vera and James navigate her fantasy world and well try not to die.

I also liked seeing Vera live out her story and go well that’s not exactly how I really wanted it to be or why did I do that. It shows how you can think a story is perfect but then read it again and go yeah no. It shows the struggles of writing a story.

Overall I found this story very interesting and couldn’t put it down once I started. I read this book as an arc.

[Leticia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC, and the opinions are my own.
I would like to start by saying that the cover is very beautiful and was one of the reasons I read it, as well as the fact that it is a retelling of The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan. That said, I had certain expectations regarding the villains as protagonists, and I feel that something was missing. The fact that the writer travels to the story she wrote is something I am familiar with, having read other stories of the isekai type, but at no point do the characters seem to stray from the plot, even though that was the goal, so much so that I did not feel that the romance that took place was genuine or just a consequence of the original plot.
The book is short, so you can read it quickly, and the fairy tale elements are easy to follow, and it has a lot of potential, but it ended up falling short.


Thanks to the author for the ARC.

[Theplacesihavebeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falling For The Pirate was a very unique take on mashing up villain stories. If you have read the other books in this series, just be aware that this book is very different from the others. Vera is a screenwriter who gets pulled into her own story as the main female villain and her producer, James, gets pulled in as the main male villain. They both retain their own minds and personalities so it is more about their story as people than the villains of the story. This was a pretty good story by itself, but I must confess as part of this series left something to be desired. The characters went through some good development and the twists in the screenplay were interesting. There was no swearing, some violence and a single kiss so it was a clean read. I did receive an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[H J Palmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, but I could not persist with this one. The premise is intriguing, but it suffers a lack of editing, a tacky tone, the first person perspective is awkward, as well as the lazy dual perspective and even worse: it's all in the present tense.
It does get better as it goes on, but not enough for me to finish it. A contemporary tone does not lend itself to clean romance: like when the heroine calls the hero 'sexy', and the hero checks another woman out.
If this book was edited properly and put in the past tense, it would have had promise.

[Lj · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sure this is a good book, but unfortunately when I signed up for an ARC, I did not realise it was written in the present tense. For whatever reason, I can not get my brain to accept this writting style as actually being readable. Alas I will not be reading this book, but the author's other works and the other books in this series (that I've read so far) have all been fun, clever re-tellings with sweet romance and inventive takes on well known fairy tales.

I received an ARC and voluntarily leave an honest review.

[emeraldragonlady (Maddie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was definitely not the book I was expecting. I definitely expected for there to be the sea witch as a mermaid and Captain Hook and that they fell in love because that is the premise of this book, but I definitely did not expect Nicki to write it the way she did and honestly I think it’s absolutely perfect. It was a little jarring to read this way at first, but I quickly became invested in it cause how often do you actually get to be a part of your own book and so many of us readers always want to be in the book. if you want a fresh new take on a villainous twist between little mermaid and Peter Pan where the villains get the happy ending this is definitely a book for you, but definitely don’t expect it to be in a fantastical world from the get-go.

[Kat Crowder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A creative portal fantasy fairy tale mash up based off characters from Peter Pan and The Little Mermaid.

I really enjoyed this story! From the very beginning it grabbed my attention and I couldn’t stop reading.

I enjoyed the character’s progression through the story. Their arc didn’t feel too rushed or forced. The world building was easy to follow and fun to see the differences from the original fairy tales. The author put an interesting twist on the two fairy tales.

I recommend this book and am enjoying this series of To Win a Dark Heart.

[Ashlyn Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this unique retelling of two classics. The quick paced plot made for an exciting turn of events as the story progressed. I had a hard time getting into the book but once the danger seemed to become more serious, I found myself falling deeper into the tale. The characters well defined but did not have very much depth outside of their roles in the real world but they did have some growth throughout.
Thank you for the arc!

[Emilee Forrester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falling For the Pirate is a retelling of The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan. Nicki Chapelway did an amazing job! I read this as an ARC and absolutely loved it! Full of adventure, pirates, mystery, and so much more, you are going to want more! I can't wait for you guys to read this! I could have used a few more romantic scenes between the main characters, but I loved how their characters developed as the book progressed and how they changed together. Well done!

[Martelize Schütte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vera definitely wish for a happy ending for her characters 😂 I love how she feels so connected with Moira, her main character, but James is really the opposite of Captain Hook who is a 'walking red flag' while James is a golden retriever. He feels instantly bad if he had hurt anybody 😍 I love how they live the plot but also against it. The ending... 🥹❤️

[Sarah Brake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting take on the story of The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan. I only wished we could have gotten to know the main characters at the beginning but I did like that we got right into the action! There was a bit of humor as well in her writing which I loved! There were a few times I laughed right out loud! Anyways, this was such a sweet story!

[Laramee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic mashup of A Little Mermaid and Peter Pan! I loved the fish out of water aspect of this story! If you enjoy fairy tale retellings, this is one you won't want to miss!

I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.

[Grace Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars! =D

Full review to come closer to publication date, February 13, 2026!

[Raeleane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book five of the To Win A Dark Heart by Nicki Chapelway is set in an incredible world mashup of A little Mermaid and Peter Pan. There is some action, adventure, snarkiness and of course a great storyline. The two MC's Vera and James are somehow trapped within Vera's movie script. They are both well written and characters with depth. They are engaging and fun. A great read! I highly recommend it!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. It was a fun twist in a fantasy, then adding the double villains made double the intrigue.