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His Darling
I left Neverland behind to grow up.
I never expected it to come looking for me.
Peter Pan was once the boy who chased stars and promised me eternal youth.
Now he’s a man—dangerous, brutal, and beautiful in ways that terrify me.
He stole into my world.
He bound my body and twisted my mind.
He tells me this is what I always wanted:
To be his darling.
For eternity.
But Neverland is no longer a place for childhood dreams.
It breathes, it watches, and something monstrous stalks its shadows.
Now, in its savage wilds, Peter is teaching me what it means to belong to him.
Because taking my innocence was never going to be enough.
He wants my submission.
And if I’m not careful, loving him won’t only destroy me—it will destroy us both.
His Darling is a standalone dark fantasy romance reimagining of Peter Pan and inspired by the myth of Hades and Persephone. It features a dark, unconventional romance and morally complex characters.
I never expected it to come looking for me.
Peter Pan was once the boy who chased stars and promised me eternal youth.
Now he’s a man—dangerous, brutal, and beautiful in ways that terrify me.
He stole into my world.
He bound my body and twisted my mind.
He tells me this is what I always wanted:
To be his darling.
For eternity.
But Neverland is no longer a place for childhood dreams.
It breathes, it watches, and something monstrous stalks its shadows.
Now, in its savage wilds, Peter is teaching me what it means to belong to him.
Because taking my innocence was never going to be enough.
He wants my submission.
And if I’m not careful, loving him won’t only destroy me—it will destroy us both.
His Darling is a standalone dark fantasy romance reimagining of Peter Pan and inspired by the myth of Hades and Persephone. It features a dark, unconventional romance and morally complex characters.
- GenresDark RomanceFantasy
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 10, 2026
About the author
Marie Blake
1 book2 followersMarie Blake writes dark romance featuring obsessive heroes, fierce devotion, and heroines who choose the monster instead of running from him.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
April 10, 2026
This dark Peter Pan retelling is absolutely addictive . . . and scorching.
I loved the twisted, darker take on Neverland. It takes the familiar magic of the original story and drags it into something far more seductive, dangerous, and compelling.
One of my favorite parts was watching Peter and Wendy navigate the tension between memory and desire. Wendy craving the man Peter has become while still remembering the boy she once fell for. That contrast added so much emotional depth to the heat and darkness.
A deliciously dark retelling that feels both nostalgic and wickedly new.
I loved the twisted, darker take on Neverland. It takes the familiar magic of the original story and drags it into something far more seductive, dangerous, and compelling.
One of my favorite parts was watching Peter and Wendy navigate the tension between memory and desire. Wendy craving the man Peter has become while still remembering the boy she once fell for. That contrast added so much emotional depth to the heat and darkness.
A deliciously dark retelling that feels both nostalgic and wickedly new.
April 7, 2026
Wow. I devoured this book in 3 days…
I’m writing this review immediately after finishing the book. This was such an amazing read to me for so many reasons. There was only one thing I didn’t like about the book just a smidge: the amount of spice until the plot started heavily kicking up.
My very first feeling getting started into this book was trepidation. I’ve personally never read the story of Peter Pan but I’ve heard enough about it throughout my life to know the basic characters and name of the main location. Because of my own basic knowledge yet lack of (regarding the actual details of the story) I was unsure how this kind of dark romance fairytale retelling would sit with me.
As I kept reading, my very first reaction was something akin to shock and disbelief. I clutched my imaginary pearls so hard but I couldn’t stop reading. 😂
Circling back to the end of my first paragraph, as the book progressed, I did get into the thought that there was too much spice that lacked real depth and passion to be understood. However, past 50% into the book, I no longer felt this way.
His Darling succeeded in leaving me feeling a bit bereft and yearning. However, it still managed to suck me into the novel in such a way that I truly immersed myself into its world. I understood what the main characters felt and even felt portions of their passion, anger, darkness, happiness, grief, fear, and hurt. So many emotions, memories, and moments packed into one story that truly tugged at my heart strings with heart break in the end.
A part of me felt like a child on an adventure because of the amazing job the author did in creating such a beautiful, visually-stimulating picture in words. His Darling will probably be my all time favorite haunting fairytale. I hope that if this becomes a standalone series, that each one is masterfully done like this was.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I’m writing this review immediately after finishing the book. This was such an amazing read to me for so many reasons. There was only one thing I didn’t like about the book just a smidge: the amount of spice until the plot started heavily kicking up.
My very first feeling getting started into this book was trepidation. I’ve personally never read the story of Peter Pan but I’ve heard enough about it throughout my life to know the basic characters and name of the main location. Because of my own basic knowledge yet lack of (regarding the actual details of the story) I was unsure how this kind of dark romance fairytale retelling would sit with me.
As I kept reading, my very first reaction was something akin to shock and disbelief. I clutched my imaginary pearls so hard but I couldn’t stop reading. 😂
Circling back to the end of my first paragraph, as the book progressed, I did get into the thought that there was too much spice that lacked real depth and passion to be understood. However, past 50% into the book, I no longer felt this way.
His Darling succeeded in leaving me feeling a bit bereft and yearning. However, it still managed to suck me into the novel in such a way that I truly immersed myself into its world. I understood what the main characters felt and even felt portions of their passion, anger, darkness, happiness, grief, fear, and hurt. So many emotions, memories, and moments packed into one story that truly tugged at my heart strings with heart break in the end.
A part of me felt like a child on an adventure because of the amazing job the author did in creating such a beautiful, visually-stimulating picture in words. His Darling will probably be my all time favorite haunting fairytale. I hope that if this becomes a standalone series, that each one is masterfully done like this was.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 7, 2026
ARC review
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ on the Romance.io scale of spice: Explicit and Plentiful.
I was initially drawn to to this book on the bases of this being BOTH a retelling of Peter Pan AND Hades and Persephone. Which one could reasonably expect when reading the blurb. Set in Neverland with the characters of the tale of Peter Pan we recreate Hades and Persephone’s tragedy. No tale lends itself so perfectly to this transition as Peter Pan.
Thus, I expected the author to lean into that folk myth of Neverland being the place where the souls of children go when they die—not an unreasonable assumption based on the original setting of the tale being Victorian England and the upcoming Industrialisation with its rampant child labour and deaths.
This is not that book though.
What it is, is nice. Like many a debut author it is a very nice tale, not brave, not dramatic, not dark in the way a dark romance could be. It contains one and a half-ish instances of maybe CNC between a lovely range of spice scenes. Spice scenes that—while well written and titillating—are a bit generic. They do not really show who these people are and to me they are a tad too far removed from the rest of the tale tone wise. At least some of them, not all, but enough to drag the plot down a bit.
This is a general problem with the book: it does tell you and awful lot without showing it to the reader. We are told of monstrosity without experiencing it; we are told of fear without feeling it.
I guess in a sea of retellings of “Peter Pan but now with Spice” it was the kindest one I read. A sweet but spicy Romance and to those I recommend this. The Darkness of this Peter is in his childishness… somewhat. It’s difficult to describe without going into details, but there seems to be a hesitation in the way the character is written as if the author didn’t want to fully commit to a character flaw
All and all it was an entertaining and easy read. I’m well aware that most of what i described above is nitpicking an otherwise lovely story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ on the Romance.io scale of spice: Explicit and Plentiful.
I was initially drawn to to this book on the bases of this being BOTH a retelling of Peter Pan AND Hades and Persephone. Which one could reasonably expect when reading the blurb. Set in Neverland with the characters of the tale of Peter Pan we recreate Hades and Persephone’s tragedy. No tale lends itself so perfectly to this transition as Peter Pan.
Thus, I expected the author to lean into that folk myth of Neverland being the place where the souls of children go when they die—not an unreasonable assumption based on the original setting of the tale being Victorian England and the upcoming Industrialisation with its rampant child labour and deaths.
This is not that book though.
What it is, is nice. Like many a debut author it is a very nice tale, not brave, not dramatic, not dark in the way a dark romance could be. It contains one and a half-ish instances of maybe CNC between a lovely range of spice scenes. Spice scenes that—while well written and titillating—are a bit generic. They do not really show who these people are and to me they are a tad too far removed from the rest of the tale tone wise. At least some of them, not all, but enough to drag the plot down a bit.
This is a general problem with the book: it does tell you and awful lot without showing it to the reader. We are told of monstrosity without experiencing it; we are told of fear without feeling it.
I guess in a sea of retellings of “Peter Pan but now with Spice” it was the kindest one I read. A sweet but spicy Romance and to those I recommend this. The Darkness of this Peter is in his childishness… somewhat. It’s difficult to describe without going into details, but there seems to be a hesitation in the way the character is written as if the author didn’t want to fully commit to a character flaw
All and all it was an entertaining and easy read. I’m well aware that most of what i described above is nitpicking an otherwise lovely story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 5, 2026
⭐⭐⭐ /5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
- Dark
- MMC = possessive, explosive, punishment kink
- Gorgeous atmosphere + 🔥 spice
- Peter pan retelling
His Darling hooked me right away with the premise. A dark Peter Pan retelling? Say less. I was ready for trauma, obsession, danger...maybe even a morally black/charcoal (not grey 🖤) man to ruin my life in the best way possible. But what I got was more of a fever dream of jealousy, manipulation, and punishment‑by‑sex that lost a bit of its focus along the way.
Maria Blake’s writing is genuinely beautiful. The prose is lush, the Neverland vibe eerie and immersive, and the spice absolutely delivers.
Peter… whew. He’s not quite the kind of villain I usually fall for. I love an unredeemable man when his darkness feels earned, when you can trace the pain behind the obsession. Here, his anger and control just felt a little directionless. Using sex as punishment didn’t deepen his character so much as make him tiring to follow.
And Wendy? Bless her heart. She’s stuck being confused 80% of the book while getting blamed for wanting honesty from a man who literally controls her reality.
Maria Blake can write.But somewhere between the silky sentences and endless spice, the plot just dissolved. It dragged in the middle, then rushed through the resolution like, “boom, trauma fixed..''
That said, I totally see why some readers loved it. It’s atmospheric, visually rich, and seductive in that twisted fairy‑tale way. It just leaned a little more into lust over logic than I personally go for.
Spicy, moody, but missing the emotional core I crave in my dark reads.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
- Dark
- MMC = possessive, explosive, punishment kink
- Gorgeous atmosphere + 🔥 spice
- Peter pan retelling
His Darling hooked me right away with the premise. A dark Peter Pan retelling? Say less. I was ready for trauma, obsession, danger...maybe even a morally black/charcoal (not grey 🖤) man to ruin my life in the best way possible. But what I got was more of a fever dream of jealousy, manipulation, and punishment‑by‑sex that lost a bit of its focus along the way.
Maria Blake’s writing is genuinely beautiful. The prose is lush, the Neverland vibe eerie and immersive, and the spice absolutely delivers.
Peter… whew. He’s not quite the kind of villain I usually fall for. I love an unredeemable man when his darkness feels earned, when you can trace the pain behind the obsession. Here, his anger and control just felt a little directionless. Using sex as punishment didn’t deepen his character so much as make him tiring to follow.
And Wendy? Bless her heart. She’s stuck being confused 80% of the book while getting blamed for wanting honesty from a man who literally controls her reality.
Maria Blake can write.But somewhere between the silky sentences and endless spice, the plot just dissolved. It dragged in the middle, then rushed through the resolution like, “boom, trauma fixed..''
That said, I totally see why some readers loved it. It’s atmospheric, visually rich, and seductive in that twisted fairy‑tale way. It just leaned a little more into lust over logic than I personally go for.
Spicy, moody, but missing the emotional core I crave in my dark reads.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
May 6, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: moderate, about 5 scenes!
Peter Pan x Persephone x Hades Trope
I am in TEARS!!!! This book was such a good dark retelling of Peter Pan! Honestly to the general public though, I wouldn’t read it if Peter Pan is your favorite childhood character and you don’t know how to separate the two fantasies from each other. This one is a DARK version of the fantasy we all know and love.
Peter Pan has grown up, against his own wishes but he wanted to be the same age as the girl he fell in love with at first sight all those years ago. Bringing Wendy back to Neverland, she discovers that the one light and happy fairytale land is not as it seems any longer, and neither is its king. Wendy spends her journey back in Neverland discovering the truth behind mysterious shadow beasts that swarm the island and the mysterious darkness beneath the surface of the man she fell in love with at the young age of 12. He is not the same and everyone knows it.
Will she save Peter Pan & will she save Neverland?
My small remarks:
I will say, and this is a personal thing, the fact that there was at least “______ murmured” on about every other page drove me insane instead of finding ways to say “she spoke almost at a whisper” or something else. That’s just me! Everything else was very well written.
I will ALSO add that learning the secret to Hook and another character in the story, I want to know more about Hook in his own story and maybe I’ll be wishing upon the second star to the right but……..
“I am not a monster. I am hers. And she- My Darling.”
Spice: moderate, about 5 scenes!
Peter Pan x Persephone x Hades Trope
I am in TEARS!!!! This book was such a good dark retelling of Peter Pan! Honestly to the general public though, I wouldn’t read it if Peter Pan is your favorite childhood character and you don’t know how to separate the two fantasies from each other. This one is a DARK version of the fantasy we all know and love.
Peter Pan has grown up, against his own wishes but he wanted to be the same age as the girl he fell in love with at first sight all those years ago. Bringing Wendy back to Neverland, she discovers that the one light and happy fairytale land is not as it seems any longer, and neither is its king. Wendy spends her journey back in Neverland discovering the truth behind mysterious shadow beasts that swarm the island and the mysterious darkness beneath the surface of the man she fell in love with at the young age of 12. He is not the same and everyone knows it.
Will she save Peter Pan & will she save Neverland?
My small remarks:
I will say, and this is a personal thing, the fact that there was at least “______ murmured” on about every other page drove me insane instead of finding ways to say “she spoke almost at a whisper” or something else. That’s just me! Everything else was very well written.
I will ALSO add that learning the secret to Hook and another character in the story, I want to know more about Hook in his own story and maybe I’ll be wishing upon the second star to the right but……..
“I am not a monster. I am hers. And she- My Darling.”
April 14, 2026
⭐ 4 stars | 🔥 Spice: 3/5
Okay… this is a Peter Pan x Hades & Persephone dark retelling and yeah, it’s as twisted as it sounds.
First of all, this is a DARK read.
Like… please check your trigger warnings before going in because this isn’t soft fantasy vibes. This is unhinged, morally grey, slightly disturbing energy.
And honestly?
I kind of loved it.
The way the author twisted the story and turned it into something darker??
So good. The whole Neverland-born = immortal concept?? Obsessed.
If you love dark, morally grey heroes with twisted personalities and tragic backstories… this book is for you.
And I actually really loved how the author took us back to Peter’s childhood, how he was treated, how broken it all was, and why he ended up wishing for a place where kids can just play forever.
The whole creation of Neverland. The fact that it’s literally breathing. And those dangerous, consuming Shadow Beasts lurking around it???
Yeah… that was creepy in the best way.
The characters were all interesting but let’s be real, Thorne Sparrow??? Something tug at my heart when I read about him. Trying to figure out what's happening between him and Hook.
I don’t care what the book says, in MY mind??? Him and Hook are in love. I said what I said. But it's okay. They’re immortal. I’ll just assume they’re pining for each other for eternity.
Anyway.. dark, twisted, and weirdly addictive. (And spicy..)
Thank you so much to Booksprout for the ARC.
Okay… this is a Peter Pan x Hades & Persephone dark retelling and yeah, it’s as twisted as it sounds.
First of all, this is a DARK read.
Like… please check your trigger warnings before going in because this isn’t soft fantasy vibes. This is unhinged, morally grey, slightly disturbing energy.
And honestly?
I kind of loved it.
The way the author twisted the story and turned it into something darker??
So good. The whole Neverland-born = immortal concept?? Obsessed.
If you love dark, morally grey heroes with twisted personalities and tragic backstories… this book is for you.
And I actually really loved how the author took us back to Peter’s childhood, how he was treated, how broken it all was, and why he ended up wishing for a place where kids can just play forever.
The whole creation of Neverland. The fact that it’s literally breathing. And those dangerous, consuming Shadow Beasts lurking around it???
Yeah… that was creepy in the best way.
The characters were all interesting but let’s be real, Thorne Sparrow??? Something tug at my heart when I read about him. Trying to figure out what's happening between him and Hook.
I don’t care what the book says, in MY mind??? Him and Hook are in love. I said what I said. But it's okay. They’re immortal. I’ll just assume they’re pining for each other for eternity.
Anyway.. dark, twisted, and weirdly addictive. (And spicy..)
Thank you so much to Booksprout for the ARC.
April 8, 2026
The atmosphere is where His Darling truly earns its stars. Blake's Neverland breathes, watches, and hunts, and that world-building is genuinely haunting. The toxic dynamic between Peter and Wendy is the beating heart of the story, and Blake leans into it without apology. The morally black MMC is exactly the kind of villain coded love interest that dark romance readers crave, and the intensity of their dynamic is hard to look away from. The Hades and Persephone undertones add a mythological weight that elevates the retelling above a straightforward reimagining. That said, the pacing does get uneven in the middle stretch, and I found myself wanting more world-building outside of the central dynamic. The story is so focused on Peter and Wendy that the wider world of Neverland and the monstrous thing stalking its shadows doesn't get the space it deserves.
His Darling is a solid, atmospheric dark retelling that fans of villainous MMCs and corrupted childhood tales will enjoy. It didn't completely blow me away the way some of my favorite dark retellings have, but it's a compelling read with a genuinely haunting setting. A 3.5 star ARC that I'd still press into the hands of any dark romance reader.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
His Darling is a solid, atmospheric dark retelling that fans of villainous MMCs and corrupted childhood tales will enjoy. It didn't completely blow me away the way some of my favorite dark retellings have, but it's a compelling read with a genuinely haunting setting. A 3.5 star ARC that I'd still press into the hands of any dark romance reader.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
I really wanted to like this because the author has a decent writing style and the spice is pretty good, but this just isn’t for me. I love dark romance and Peter Pan but this was more like reading about Wendy being manipulated and gaslit into thinking she was wrong for asking Peter to tell her the truth about him and Neverland leaving her confused and conflicted the whole time, so she would never leave him. I love a good possessive MMC, but this Peter Pan was giving jealous boyfriend with anger issues (which yes can be attractive in an odd way) but not when that anger is pointed in Wendy’s direction when she did nothing wrong and using sex to punish her as a result. Overall, it gave possessive, abusive, manipulative boyfriend vibes that we’re just supposed to sympathize with and excuse because he has a dark side created by childhood abuse (that scene was written well and does make you feel for Peter, but I still can’t excuse everything else despite it). There was also not much useful buildup to the plot (his past child abuse leading to his dark side and Neverland) that took forever to reveal and once it was revealed it’s pretty quick to get to the resolution which is him keeping Wendy for eternity exactly like he wanted.
Not terrible, but not for me.
Thank you to Booksirens for the ARC.
Not terrible, but not for me.
Thank you to Booksirens for the ARC.
April 15, 2026
This story primarily takes place when Wendy is around adulthood. The period of time Wendy and Peter were together in Neverland while children is mostly mentioned as general statements and of what occurred in the past. I liked that we did not spend too much time in their adolescent years, too.
Peter becomes a man with a heart and mind that is both cruel and loving. Even when in a sweet mood, he is likely to make possessive and obsessive declarations of need for Wendy rather than sugar-coated words. The more power he has amassed, the greater his hold on it is slipping, though. This is a man whose will and darkness do not bend for others.
Wendy is a strength and weakness for Peter, Neverland, and ultimately herself. She is fairly quick to fold and is accepting of many situations, which allows Peter to have his way with her often and in delightful ways. Beyond a couple of chapters' worth of Peter’s memories, all of the POV is hers. I wish that had changed more, because there were many times I really wanted to be in the head of other characters.
The lighthearted moments are few and far between in this story. My heart lurched for multiple characters, and I finished reading the book with hopes that their story continues to improve and lead to finding true happiness.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Peter becomes a man with a heart and mind that is both cruel and loving. Even when in a sweet mood, he is likely to make possessive and obsessive declarations of need for Wendy rather than sugar-coated words. The more power he has amassed, the greater his hold on it is slipping, though. This is a man whose will and darkness do not bend for others.
Wendy is a strength and weakness for Peter, Neverland, and ultimately herself. She is fairly quick to fold and is accepting of many situations, which allows Peter to have his way with her often and in delightful ways. Beyond a couple of chapters' worth of Peter’s memories, all of the POV is hers. I wish that had changed more, because there were many times I really wanted to be in the head of other characters.
The lighthearted moments are few and far between in this story. My heart lurched for multiple characters, and I finished reading the book with hopes that their story continues to improve and lead to finding true happiness.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 16, 2026
⭐️ 5/5
🌶️ 5/5
His Darling by Marie Blake, provided via BookSirens, is a dark romance retelling that takes familiar inspiration and transforms it into something entirely different.
While rooted in elements of Peter Pan, the story diverges significantly, incorporating darker themes and additional inspiration from Hades and Persephone. This combination creates a unique narrative that feels both recognizable and fresh.
One of the strongest aspects of the book is its character work. The MMC is distinctly morally grey, with layers that add complexity to both his actions and motivations. This makes the dynamic within the story more engaging, especially for readers who enjoy darker character portrayals.
The plot is well-developed, and the intensity of the romance is matched by the level of spice, which is executed strongly throughout the story.
This is a book that will likely be a hit-or-miss depending on reader preferences, particularly for those who enjoy dark retellings and morally complex characters.
Overall, His Darling is a bold and engaging reinterpretation that leans fully into its darker themes.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
🌶️ 5/5
His Darling by Marie Blake, provided via BookSirens, is a dark romance retelling that takes familiar inspiration and transforms it into something entirely different.
While rooted in elements of Peter Pan, the story diverges significantly, incorporating darker themes and additional inspiration from Hades and Persephone. This combination creates a unique narrative that feels both recognizable and fresh.
One of the strongest aspects of the book is its character work. The MMC is distinctly morally grey, with layers that add complexity to both his actions and motivations. This makes the dynamic within the story more engaging, especially for readers who enjoy darker character portrayals.
The plot is well-developed, and the intensity of the romance is matched by the level of spice, which is executed strongly throughout the story.
This is a book that will likely be a hit-or-miss depending on reader preferences, particularly for those who enjoy dark retellings and morally complex characters.
Overall, His Darling is a bold and engaging reinterpretation that leans fully into its darker themes.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
4.5💗 4🔥
Book Tier: 🎬 Felt Like Watching a Movie/Series
This is my first Peter Pan retelling and it did not disappoint. The writing style is so well executed and feels like being completely immersed in the story.
Peter is presented as the possessive and obsessed mmc who will ruin everything just to keep Wendy with him. While Wendy is getting to learn about her feelings and how to deal with them until she finally submits to Peter because she wants to.
We get to also see how Neverland has changed into something different yet the magic is still there. And little did we know that Wendy’s return is what the island needed to become whole again.
I’m obsessed with Peter’s unhinged side when claiming Wendy. I loved everything about him and his dirty talk hehe. The intense scenes in CNC and primal play were my favorite especially when they had that magical touch. I really enjoyed Wendy’s and Peter’s dynamic.
His Darling is absolutely worth reading, and I’m so happy I had the chance to dive into it early. It’s easily my favorite dark romance retelling of all time!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Book Tier: 🎬 Felt Like Watching a Movie/Series
This is my first Peter Pan retelling and it did not disappoint. The writing style is so well executed and feels like being completely immersed in the story.
Peter is presented as the possessive and obsessed mmc who will ruin everything just to keep Wendy with him. While Wendy is getting to learn about her feelings and how to deal with them until she finally submits to Peter because she wants to.
We get to also see how Neverland has changed into something different yet the magic is still there. And little did we know that Wendy’s return is what the island needed to become whole again.
I’m obsessed with Peter’s unhinged side when claiming Wendy. I loved everything about him and his dirty talk hehe. The intense scenes in CNC and primal play were my favorite especially when they had that magical touch. I really enjoyed Wendy’s and Peter’s dynamic.
His Darling is absolutely worth reading, and I’m so happy I had the chance to dive into it early. It’s easily my favorite dark romance retelling of all time!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 7, 2026
This was a delicious, dark, forlorn time that I enjoyed a lot! I love twisted retellings of Peter Pan and this story didn't disappoint! The aggression and pain that Peter experiences comes out with his possession and obsession of Wendy, and together they create a new dynamic as adults that dives into new territory. There was definitely a sadness I understood of leaving your childhood behind and having to live in an adult world, missing your younger, happier memories. Seeing Peter's lived experience and his devastation when Wendy left was heart breaking to me. I loved how Wendy committed to the dark, both inside Peter and herself, and loved Peter through everything. The spice was written so well, and beautifully explored the more forceful, aggressive kinks of sex and passion because it is possible to have the right balance of pleasure and pain, calm and chaos, hard and tender. Just like with Wendy's stories, this one had a lovely melancholy feeling of connection that I appreciated.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 9, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a dark romantasy fairytale retelling. It explores some dark themes, and of course, I would recommend reading the trigger warnings.
I enjoyed the fact that this was from Wendy's perspective. I connected with this interpretation of her, and I appreciated the beauty in her narrative.
Of course, this moves away from the interpretation of Peter and Wendy as children who don't want to grow up. Here, they have a different type of relationship and different kind of chemistry. It's important to go in with an open mind, but I enjoyed this alternative darker take on their relationship. I also enjoyed the interpretations of other characters like Tinkerbell and Captain Hook.
Thank you to Booksirens and the author for a free copy to review.
This is a dark romantasy fairytale retelling. It explores some dark themes, and of course, I would recommend reading the trigger warnings.
I enjoyed the fact that this was from Wendy's perspective. I connected with this interpretation of her, and I appreciated the beauty in her narrative.
Of course, this moves away from the interpretation of Peter and Wendy as children who don't want to grow up. Here, they have a different type of relationship and different kind of chemistry. It's important to go in with an open mind, but I enjoyed this alternative darker take on their relationship. I also enjoyed the interpretations of other characters like Tinkerbell and Captain Hook.
Thank you to Booksirens and the author for a free copy to review.
April 10, 2026
3.5 stars. I found this book to be unnecessarily convoluted. I understand what happened with the main villain, but the why is confusing. Wendy is a pretty weak character, so the majority of the book is her reaction to everything happening around her.
This is a pretty loose sequel to Peter Pan and I didn't really get the Hades and Persephone themes other than the story told by Wendy. I, like Wendy, felt dragged along for most of the book because there were no answers to what was happening with Peter. Everything comes to light in the final chapters, but it didn't feel like a satisfying ending after being strung along for so long.
The scene descriptions were phenomenal. I loved the bioluminescence and the mushrooms and all the other descriptions of Neverland. I could absolutely picture the landscape and it was beautiful.
Thank you to BookSirens and Marie Blake for the free eARC.
This is a pretty loose sequel to Peter Pan and I didn't really get the Hades and Persephone themes other than the story told by Wendy. I, like Wendy, felt dragged along for most of the book because there were no answers to what was happening with Peter. Everything comes to light in the final chapters, but it didn't feel like a satisfying ending after being strung along for so long.
The scene descriptions were phenomenal. I loved the bioluminescence and the mushrooms and all the other descriptions of Neverland. I could absolutely picture the landscape and it was beautiful.
Thank you to BookSirens and Marie Blake for the free eARC.
April 7, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My word this was an amazing blend of a Peter Pan/Hades and Persephone re-telling! The spin on the story was so unique and inventive. The boy who never grew up became a man, and he wanted Wendy Darling.
The dark, monstrous take on Peter instead of the magical whimsy just worked. As a dark romance lover, I devoured the obsession, possessive, primal, and carnal nature of the story. Peter Pan went from G to X rated, and I screamed hell yes! 🌶🌶🌶🌶
But what I was not expecting was the deep, emotional connection and understanding. Not everyone is simple as appear. Complexity is in our nature. It makes us alive.
Any book that made me feel that much is definitely worth 5⭐️.
My word this was an amazing blend of a Peter Pan/Hades and Persephone re-telling! The spin on the story was so unique and inventive. The boy who never grew up became a man, and he wanted Wendy Darling.
The dark, monstrous take on Peter instead of the magical whimsy just worked. As a dark romance lover, I devoured the obsession, possessive, primal, and carnal nature of the story. Peter Pan went from G to X rated, and I screamed hell yes! 🌶🌶🌶🌶
But what I was not expecting was the deep, emotional connection and understanding. Not everyone is simple as appear. Complexity is in our nature. It makes us alive.
Any book that made me feel that much is definitely worth 5⭐️.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My word this was an amazing blend of a Peter Pan/Hades and Persephone re-telling! The spin on the story was so unique and inventive. The boy who never grew up became a man, and he wanted Wendy Darling.
The dark, monstrous take on Peter instead of the magical whimsy just worked. As a dark romance lover, I devoured the obsession, possessive, primal, and carnal nature of the story. Peter Pan went from G to X rated, and I screamed hell yes! 🌶🌶🌶🌶
But what I was not expecting was the deep, emotional connection and understanding. Not everyone is simple as appear. Complexity is in our nature. It makes us alive.
Any book that made me feel that much is definitely worth 5⭐️.
My word this was an amazing blend of a Peter Pan/Hades and Persephone re-telling! The spin on the story was so unique and inventive. The boy who never grew up became a man, and he wanted Wendy Darling.
The dark, monstrous take on Peter instead of the magical whimsy just worked. As a dark romance lover, I devoured the obsession, possessive, primal, and carnal nature of the story. Peter Pan went from G to X rated, and I screamed hell yes! 🌶🌶🌶🌶
But what I was not expecting was the deep, emotional connection and understanding. Not everyone is simple as appear. Complexity is in our nature. It makes us alive.
Any book that made me feel that much is definitely worth 5⭐️.
April 14, 2026
A dark Peter Pan retelling, I have read a few, and this one is great if you are into possessive main male characters and lots of spice throughout the book. We have some of the original Peter Pan characters pop up in the story, including the feisty Tinker Bell. I liked the world building and the dark atmosphere of the book. I would have loved it if there was more background story about Tinker Bell and Finn as well as Hook and Thorne. This book mainly focuses on the relationship between the now adult and shadowless Peter and Wendy, in a slightly different, darker Neverland. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to read more books from the Author in the future.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 14, 2026
His Darling was dark, addictive, and completely pulled me under from the very beginning 👀
There’s this haunting balance between twisted fairy tale fantasy and intense, dangerous romance—and the tension between the two builds in a way that feels impossible to escape. The story takes a familiar inspiration and turns it into something raw, emotional, and deeply unsettling in the best way 🔥
The dynamic between the characters is intense, morally complex, and layered with obsession, control, and desire that keeps pulling you deeper into Neverland’s shadows.
✨ Read this if you love:
• dark fantasy romance 🖤
• morally grey / complex characters
• reimagined fairytales
• obsessive, high-tension dynamics
This one definitely lingers with you long after you finish 👀
There’s this haunting balance between twisted fairy tale fantasy and intense, dangerous romance—and the tension between the two builds in a way that feels impossible to escape. The story takes a familiar inspiration and turns it into something raw, emotional, and deeply unsettling in the best way 🔥
The dynamic between the characters is intense, morally complex, and layered with obsession, control, and desire that keeps pulling you deeper into Neverland’s shadows.
✨ Read this if you love:
• dark fantasy romance 🖤
• morally grey / complex characters
• reimagined fairytales
• obsessive, high-tension dynamics
This one definitely lingers with you long after you finish 👀
April 10, 2026
I generally enjoy spicy retellings, and this one was no different. It's brutal at times, and there's a bit of mind-twisting/mind games. The MMC is jealous, possessive, and definitely has touch her and die vibes. Of course, he is carrying his own demons, and our darling FMC must unravel the psychological puzzle to save him and Neverland.
MMC: You'll love to hate him. His cruelty and tampering in Wendy's non-Neverland life did nothing to make me root for him.
FMC: Overall, she has a good heart. A bit stereotypical in the dumb decision she makes, which moves the plot to its climax.
ARC provided by BookSirens. All opinions are my own.
MMC: You'll love to hate him. His cruelty and tampering in Wendy's non-Neverland life did nothing to make me root for him.
FMC: Overall, she has a good heart. A bit stereotypical in the dumb decision she makes, which moves the plot to its climax.
ARC provided by BookSirens. All opinions are my own.
April 29, 2026
This was everything that I was hoping for from a Peter Pan retelling, it uses the blend of Peter Pan and Hades and Persephone in a way that worked in this type of book. I enjoyed that this had that overall feel of this and getting to go on this journey with the characters. It was a strong start to the His Dark Devotion series, and had that fantasy romance concept that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall journey. Marie Blake has a strong writing style and was glad I was able to read this and hope to read more from them.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 7, 2026
When I first started to read the book I was not expecting the way that it was going to take, even though I read the blurb about the book. The thing that shocked me was the way Peter was throughout the story. I personally felt that he was very wishy-washy and with that in mind it made me feel bad for Wendy because she had to deal with all of it. I am not always a fan of retelling with a twist but I really enjoyed this one and I am glad that I gave it a chance.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 7, 2026
I don’t read many fantasy books but I was captivated by the fact this book was about Peter Pan. I thought this book was beautifully written. The main characters were easy to get hooked into throughout the whole story. The storyline was great. I found myself wanting to know more and what would happen next. The book definitely has some spicy scenes in it that were amazing. This book also had some darkness in it which was also great. Overall I loved this book and will recommend it to people to read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 7, 2026
A delightfully dark retelling of Peter Pan. Boy did I enjoy this! Its a fairy tale for adults and I'm here for it!
Full of magic, devotion and plenty of spice!
To clarify, Peter Pan is grown in this book, he made me a little uncomfortable at times with his possessive personality which made for a great read! I don't want to spoil it, but I will say that it's a definite for your TBR if you're into forced proximity tropes. There was no slow burn about this, straight into it from the go.
Thanks to Book Sirens for allowing me to read this ARC for free!
Full of magic, devotion and plenty of spice!
To clarify, Peter Pan is grown in this book, he made me a little uncomfortable at times with his possessive personality which made for a great read! I don't want to spoil it, but I will say that it's a definite for your TBR if you're into forced proximity tropes. There was no slow burn about this, straight into it from the go.
Thanks to Book Sirens for allowing me to read this ARC for free!
April 8, 2026
This is the first Peter Pan tale with a twist i have read and it didnt disappoint.
The story had me hooked from the start. Plus the boy who never grew up, grew into a morally grey man BONUS!!!
I would have loved to have seen Hooks and Thornes relationship unfold (could be a good book) and maybe an epilogue with Peter and Wendy. You're telling me all that unprotected spice and no patter of tiny feet in Neverland lol.
Overall a very good book. I look forward to reading more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story had me hooked from the start. Plus the boy who never grew up, grew into a morally grey man BONUS!!!
I would have loved to have seen Hooks and Thornes relationship unfold (could be a good book) and maybe an epilogue with Peter and Wendy. You're telling me all that unprotected spice and no patter of tiny feet in Neverland lol.
Overall a very good book. I look forward to reading more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 14, 2026
loved it !! what a great re-telling of Peter Pan... love Wendy and Peter !!!! this is their story... a fast paced dark fantasy re-telling of the fairy tale we all know... she left to grow up...he came back for her... she has always belonged to him... his Darling..!!! Neverland has changed... it's darker.. forbidden.. not like how she remembered it to be... and Peter, he's grown into a man... unlike any that she's ever meet !!! this was so good !!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 11, 2026
Darkly Delicious
This this gave me everything that I love about a fairytale retelling in a dark setting. Peter Pan was dark demented and depraved and I loved every second of it. But underneath all that he still had that mischievous boyish charm that we loved from the OG Peter Pan. And getting the backstory of how he shattered and turned to how who he was currently absolute perfection can't wait to see what this author comes up with next and book two.
This this gave me everything that I love about a fairytale retelling in a dark setting. Peter Pan was dark demented and depraved and I loved every second of it. But underneath all that he still had that mischievous boyish charm that we loved from the OG Peter Pan. And getting the backstory of how he shattered and turned to how who he was currently absolute perfection can't wait to see what this author comes up with next and book two.
Read
April 11, 2026This this gave me everything that I love about a fairytale retelling in a dark setting. Peter Pan was dark demented and depraved and I loved every second of it. But underneath all that he still had that mischievous boyish charm that we loved from the OG Peter Pan. And getting the backstory of how he shattered and turned to how who he was currently absolute perfection can't wait to see what this author comes up with next and book two.
Did Not Finish
April 13, 2026DNF.
I gave this book a fair try but wasn’t able to finish it. The writing itself wasn’t the issue, as I do enjoy dark romance. However, the FMC being 18 made it difficult for me to fully connect with the story.
I’ve found that I prefer dark romance with FMCs who are a bit older (25+), which affected my overall reading experience.
Thank you to the author and Booksirens for providing a copy.
I gave this book a fair try but wasn’t able to finish it. The writing itself wasn’t the issue, as I do enjoy dark romance. However, the FMC being 18 made it difficult for me to fully connect with the story.
I’ve found that I prefer dark romance with FMCs who are a bit older (25+), which affected my overall reading experience.
Thank you to the author and Booksirens for providing a copy.
April 8, 2026
read the ARC for this in exchange for a honest review
I loved this Peter Pan retelling and the depth of the twists.
the characters were written beautifully both damaged but still soft and loveable
the premise of the book is intriguing and the way the author writes flows so nicely it's easy to be submerged
I loved this Peter Pan retelling and the depth of the twists.
the characters were written beautifully both damaged but still soft and loveable
the premise of the book is intriguing and the way the author writes flows so nicely it's easy to be submerged
April 12, 2026
A very dark and naughty retelling of Peter Pan and how he grew up but still loved Wendy.
Very good writing and you aren’t sure on all the twists and turns and how it will end but it did not disappoint at all!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Very good writing and you aren’t sure on all the twists and turns and how it will end but it did not disappoint at all!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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