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The Neverland Wars #2
The Piper's Price
Peter is plotting his retaliation against the latest bombing. Neverland needs an army, and Peter Pan is certain children will join him once they know what is at stake. The lost boys and girls are planning an invasion in suburbia to recruit, but in order to deliver their message, they will need the help of an old and dangerous associate — the infamous Pied Piper.
Hunting him down will require a spy in the real world, and Gwen soon finds herself in charge of locating the Piper and cutting an uncertain deal with him. She isn't sure if Peter trusts her that much, or if he's just trying to keep her away from him in Neverland. Are they friends, or just allies? But Peter might not even matter now that she's nearly home and meeting with Jay again.
The Piper isn't the only one hiding from the adults' war on magic though, and when Gwen goes back to reality, she'll have to confront one of Peter's oldest friends… and one of his earliest enemies.
Hunting him down will require a spy in the real world, and Gwen soon finds herself in charge of locating the Piper and cutting an uncertain deal with him. She isn't sure if Peter trusts her that much, or if he's just trying to keep her away from him in Neverland. Are they friends, or just allies? But Peter might not even matter now that she's nearly home and meeting with Jay again.
The Piper isn't the only one hiding from the adults' war on magic though, and when Gwen goes back to reality, she'll have to confront one of Peter's oldest friends… and one of his earliest enemies.
381 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 21, 2017
17 people are currently reading
889 people want to read
About the author
Audrey Greathouse
7 books185 followersAudrey Greathouse is a Seattle-based author of science-fiction and fantasy. Raised in the suburbs, she became a writer after being introduced to NaNoWriMo during her sophmore year of high school. Since then, she has drafted more than a dozen books, 100 sonnets, and 800 other poems, and a handful of short stories and one-act plays.
After dropping out of her university and beginning training as a circus performer on the aerial silks, she returned to school to study at Southern New Hampshire University College of Online and Continuing Education to earn her B.A. in English Language and Literature, with a minor in Computer Information Technologies.
Audrey Greathouse is a die-hard punk cabaret fan, and pianist of fourteen years. She's usually somewhere along the west coast, and she is always writing.
After dropping out of her university and beginning training as a circus performer on the aerial silks, she returned to school to study at Southern New Hampshire University College of Online and Continuing Education to earn her B.A. in English Language and Literature, with a minor in Computer Information Technologies.
Audrey Greathouse is a die-hard punk cabaret fan, and pianist of fourteen years. She's usually somewhere along the west coast, and she is always writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 21, 2017
This book takes the second star on the right and launches into adventure pure with whimsical, childhood imagination straight on till morning.
If the adults from the normal world aren't stopped, Neverland will be destroyed. Peter Pan already has a plan, but it involves a deal with the notorious Piper. Gwen is ready to help Peter even if being sixteen already makes it hard for her to play in the Lost Kids' childhood games. But nothing is as it appears, and Gwen soon wonders if she's in over her head.
This is a book for the young at heart. I did read the first one in the series, so the writing style and flow wasn't a surprise. The author masterfully weaves child like tendencies with an emerging adult, creating the perfect world for a coming of age story. The first pages appear to be written for a younger audience, but as the story progresses, it hits the inner struggles of growing up head on.
The imagery is a real treat. Neverland comes to life with all the quirkiness and ease of the original tale. The Lost Kids are ready to play every game, and even when the going gets tough, they keep it all in the realm of play. The only character that comes across a little more clever with his years of experience is Pan. He's still a child at heart and belongs fully to Neverland, but there is a wonderful wisdom in all that he does which, at times, puts him beyond his years. It's an intriguing mixture which makes this Peter a sheer delight.
The plot moves along with imagination, fairy dust and magic. Adventures flow, one right after the other, and there are tons of twists and turns. The tension stays high even when the light-heartedness never fades. Some things fit logically well together. Others do not. But in Neverland, imagination rules so these holes don't bother in the least.
Gwen has a bit of a romance going, which doesn't come across quite as natural as it could and, for me, fell a little short. The word 'love' falls, but it doesn't seem to click with the fly-by-night meetings she has with her heart-throb.
Summed up, this is a wonderful read fairy tale friends, and especially those of Peter Pan, are sure to enjoy. It's comes across a bit young for YA at times, but that what Neverland is all about. I'm giving this 4.5 stars and am rounding up. I'm definitely excited to see where the epic battle for this land will go next.
I received an ARC from the author and enjoyed it so much, I wanted to share my thoughts.
If the adults from the normal world aren't stopped, Neverland will be destroyed. Peter Pan already has a plan, but it involves a deal with the notorious Piper. Gwen is ready to help Peter even if being sixteen already makes it hard for her to play in the Lost Kids' childhood games. But nothing is as it appears, and Gwen soon wonders if she's in over her head.
This is a book for the young at heart. I did read the first one in the series, so the writing style and flow wasn't a surprise. The author masterfully weaves child like tendencies with an emerging adult, creating the perfect world for a coming of age story. The first pages appear to be written for a younger audience, but as the story progresses, it hits the inner struggles of growing up head on.
The imagery is a real treat. Neverland comes to life with all the quirkiness and ease of the original tale. The Lost Kids are ready to play every game, and even when the going gets tough, they keep it all in the realm of play. The only character that comes across a little more clever with his years of experience is Pan. He's still a child at heart and belongs fully to Neverland, but there is a wonderful wisdom in all that he does which, at times, puts him beyond his years. It's an intriguing mixture which makes this Peter a sheer delight.
The plot moves along with imagination, fairy dust and magic. Adventures flow, one right after the other, and there are tons of twists and turns. The tension stays high even when the light-heartedness never fades. Some things fit logically well together. Others do not. But in Neverland, imagination rules so these holes don't bother in the least.
Gwen has a bit of a romance going, which doesn't come across quite as natural as it could and, for me, fell a little short. The word 'love' falls, but it doesn't seem to click with the fly-by-night meetings she has with her heart-throb.
Summed up, this is a wonderful read fairy tale friends, and especially those of Peter Pan, are sure to enjoy. It's comes across a bit young for YA at times, but that what Neverland is all about. I'm giving this 4.5 stars and am rounding up. I'm definitely excited to see where the epic battle for this land will go next.
I received an ARC from the author and enjoyed it so much, I wanted to share my thoughts.
February 26, 2017
I was given an e-copy of the Piper's Price by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Piper's Price is the second book in the Neverland Wars series. It picks up a few months after the end of the first book, where Gwen and her sister, Rosemary, fled reality and the black coats of the Anomalous Activity Department, who intend to strip down Neverland's magic and use it for their own purposes. In order for Peter to recruit an army of children to protect Neverland, Gwen must return to reality to hunt down tokens to summon the infamous Pied Piper. But when the Piper does show up, the cost of his cooperation might be more than Gwen can handle.
Aw, yeah, guys. This book is the prime example of a sequel ending up better than the first book. The plot was a smash hit and integrated many elements from the first book very nicely, from Gwen's mysterious childhood memory to the mermaid's scale. I was delighted to see how all these elements came together, and makes me excited to see how future things will come into play, such as the mermaids finally getting their "sky glass"/mirror. The relationships in this installment were much deeper and more heartfelt. I particularly enjoyed the friendship between Gwen and Lasiandra, as it is always nice to see authors explore female friendships in YA, even if one of the girls is a mermaid.
The plot in this book was much more engaging than the previous installment, in my opinion, as there was more clarity to Gwen's mission and circumstances. Despite that, I feel like the tension could have been improved by outlining the stakes a bit more. We have a vague idea that Neverland will be bombed and stripped of magic, but it would be nice to see the concrete consequences if Gwen were to fail. (e.g., if they're not able to recruit the Piper by X date, the black coats will invade.) In addition, I feel the tension suffered because the bad guys didn't come across as big and bad. They had access to powerful magic-fueled technology (like ability to track flight and suppress all magic in an area) yet hardly utilized it to its full effectiveness. They come across as bumbling and incompetent more than usual, which dulled the kids' victories over them. The pirate appearance ended up feeling more threatening than this entire magic suppression agency, because he came after Peter and Gwen with everything he had.
The characters development was well-done for Gwen. I really liked seeing her struggles with doubts, and her flipping between two worlds-- adult and childhood. She perfectly straddles that inner conflict that many teenagers face where they don't feel as though they belong in either world. I especially liked that the book delved further into the relationships between characters, particularly between Gwen and Jay vs Gwen and Peter. The latter relationship is not romantic but has fleeting hints that there might be. However, Peter's stunted character makes it difficult to determine where it will go. He is presented as a "larger than life" figure, but he often comes across as one dimensional because we only see one facet of his personality-- pretty much the stereotype of Peter Pan. I understand the effect that was going for, but as other "fictional" characters come across with more personality, I'd feel like he could have a greater effect if we saw other sides to him as well.
There was a bit of conflicting world building which I felt could have been improved through some more explanation. It was difficult for me as a reader to understand how the world worked as things often flip-flopped in their usage, Like, the raven tree eggs at the beginning of the book were being used as a food, then later were being used as a weapon. There was a host of "fictional" characters that had immigrated to reality, but it's never specified who's who. There were some minor hints, and maybe I'm just dense, but as this is a book for kids, spelling it out in this case is probably best. As Gwen would recognize these figures from movies and storybooks (as the princesses mention Disney at one point) I can’t see why she wouldn’t be making comparisons in her mind between the reality versions and what the fiction depicted them as.
Delving a little deeper would also help with the whole "reality vs fiction" representation of Native Americans. It touches a little deeper on it in this book by showing Tiger Lily living in reality as a Native American as opposed to a redskin, which I think is important. I'm not Native American, so I can't speak to the representation, but I will say I'm glad the redskins and Native Americans are shown to be two separate entities.
Aside from all the criticisms, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was such a fun mission-based story that gave Gwen a lot of autonomy and strength. She wasn't just another kid in Neverland; she was one of the only lost children smart and strong enough to take on this mission for Peter. The romance as well between her and Jay was so light and beautiful, especially in the way the two accepted the realities of their situation. Gwen often reminds herself that this is a crush, not a True Love situation, which lets the romance grow naturally. By the time they get to the L word, it feels organic to their situation despite their time apart. Because most of the story takes place in reality, it has a definite urban fantasy feel to it that really made the whole thing charming. I would recommend this book for readers on the younger end of the YA scale, perhaps those transitioning from MG to YA.
3.5/5 stars. A kick ass sequel that beautifully tied elements together and led by an awesome heroine juggling her life between two worlds.
The Piper's Price is the second book in the Neverland Wars series. It picks up a few months after the end of the first book, where Gwen and her sister, Rosemary, fled reality and the black coats of the Anomalous Activity Department, who intend to strip down Neverland's magic and use it for their own purposes. In order for Peter to recruit an army of children to protect Neverland, Gwen must return to reality to hunt down tokens to summon the infamous Pied Piper. But when the Piper does show up, the cost of his cooperation might be more than Gwen can handle.
Aw, yeah, guys. This book is the prime example of a sequel ending up better than the first book. The plot was a smash hit and integrated many elements from the first book very nicely, from Gwen's mysterious childhood memory to the mermaid's scale. I was delighted to see how all these elements came together, and makes me excited to see how future things will come into play, such as the mermaids finally getting their "sky glass"/mirror. The relationships in this installment were much deeper and more heartfelt. I particularly enjoyed the friendship between Gwen and Lasiandra, as it is always nice to see authors explore female friendships in YA, even if one of the girls is a mermaid.
The plot in this book was much more engaging than the previous installment, in my opinion, as there was more clarity to Gwen's mission and circumstances. Despite that, I feel like the tension could have been improved by outlining the stakes a bit more. We have a vague idea that Neverland will be bombed and stripped of magic, but it would be nice to see the concrete consequences if Gwen were to fail. (e.g., if they're not able to recruit the Piper by X date, the black coats will invade.) In addition, I feel the tension suffered because the bad guys didn't come across as big and bad. They had access to powerful magic-fueled technology (like ability to track flight and suppress all magic in an area) yet hardly utilized it to its full effectiveness. They come across as bumbling and incompetent more than usual, which dulled the kids' victories over them. The pirate appearance ended up feeling more threatening than this entire magic suppression agency, because he came after Peter and Gwen with everything he had.
The characters development was well-done for Gwen. I really liked seeing her struggles with doubts, and her flipping between two worlds-- adult and childhood. She perfectly straddles that inner conflict that many teenagers face where they don't feel as though they belong in either world. I especially liked that the book delved further into the relationships between characters, particularly between Gwen and Jay vs Gwen and Peter. The latter relationship is not romantic but has fleeting hints that there might be. However, Peter's stunted character makes it difficult to determine where it will go. He is presented as a "larger than life" figure, but he often comes across as one dimensional because we only see one facet of his personality-- pretty much the stereotype of Peter Pan. I understand the effect that was going for, but as other "fictional" characters come across with more personality, I'd feel like he could have a greater effect if we saw other sides to him as well.
There was a bit of conflicting world building which I felt could have been improved through some more explanation. It was difficult for me as a reader to understand how the world worked as things often flip-flopped in their usage, Like, the raven tree eggs at the beginning of the book were being used as a food, then later were being used as a weapon. There was a host of "fictional" characters that had immigrated to reality, but it's never specified who's who. There were some minor hints, and maybe I'm just dense, but as this is a book for kids, spelling it out in this case is probably best. As Gwen would recognize these figures from movies and storybooks (as the princesses mention Disney at one point) I can’t see why she wouldn’t be making comparisons in her mind between the reality versions and what the fiction depicted them as.
Delving a little deeper would also help with the whole "reality vs fiction" representation of Native Americans. It touches a little deeper on it in this book by showing Tiger Lily living in reality as a Native American as opposed to a redskin, which I think is important. I'm not Native American, so I can't speak to the representation, but I will say I'm glad the redskins and Native Americans are shown to be two separate entities.
Aside from all the criticisms, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was such a fun mission-based story that gave Gwen a lot of autonomy and strength. She wasn't just another kid in Neverland; she was one of the only lost children smart and strong enough to take on this mission for Peter. The romance as well between her and Jay was so light and beautiful, especially in the way the two accepted the realities of their situation. Gwen often reminds herself that this is a crush, not a True Love situation, which lets the romance grow naturally. By the time they get to the L word, it feels organic to their situation despite their time apart. Because most of the story takes place in reality, it has a definite urban fantasy feel to it that really made the whole thing charming. I would recommend this book for readers on the younger end of the YA scale, perhaps those transitioning from MG to YA.
3.5/5 stars. A kick ass sequel that beautifully tied elements together and led by an awesome heroine juggling her life between two worlds.
August 22, 2022
3.5 rounded up for good reads
The Piper's Price is the sequel to the Neverland Wars - in this book we are discovering the things the Piper requires in order to help save Neverland & go on the quest to save those things. Gwen also continues to wrestle with choosing between being a kid & an adult. What is more important to her, growing up with all her friends & loved ones or experiencing childhood for her last chance?
We also get a bit more romance and friendship development in this book. Overall a pretty solid sequel.
The Piper's Price is the sequel to the Neverland Wars - in this book we are discovering the things the Piper requires in order to help save Neverland & go on the quest to save those things. Gwen also continues to wrestle with choosing between being a kid & an adult. What is more important to her, growing up with all her friends & loved ones or experiencing childhood for her last chance?
We also get a bit more romance and friendship development in this book. Overall a pretty solid sequel.
August 5, 2017
Four stars only because I had trouble getting into it. But once I was in, it was fun, whimsy, creative, and just plain imaginative. The characters really stand out in this one, even more than in the last, and the author's voice is more defined.
I'm still not completely head over heels for Jay, but I'm more on that ship than I was last book.
Overall, a great followup to The Neverland Wars.
I'm still not completely head over heels for Jay, but I'm more on that ship than I was last book.
Overall, a great followup to The Neverland Wars.
February 5, 2017
*Thank you to the author, Audrey Greathouse, for sending me a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
FIRST THOUGHTS
I read the first Neverland Wars book and I felt iffy about it. At the time, I didn’t know a sequel was in the works. When the author contacted me about reviewing an eARC copy of The Piper’s Price, I thought I would give it a try.
CHARACTERS
I still wasn’t a fan of Gwen as the protagonist. I could definitely do without her. I felt as though she didn’t know what she was doing half of the time. Peter Pan was super moody throughout most of the book. He wasn’t exactly pleasant to be around most of the time, which got old quick.
Tiger Lily was introduced. It was nice to see her, but she was in a different form. I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about that, though she was a great addition to the story. Aside from the Piper, the other characters, like the Lost Boys, weren’t in it too much. It was almost like Peter was making Gwen do just about everything. While he had his reasons for that, it got a bit old.
PLOT
Unlike the first book, this one seemed to have an actual plot. Peter is looking to fight back against Reality and seeks help from the Piper. However, he and the Piper have a tough past so Peter can’t directly go to him, so he sends Gwen to find him.
I was pretty excited to see the Piper in this story. I thought it would be an interesting twist. However, we didn’t meet the Piper until about 200 or so pages in, and the book is only a little over 300 pages. The Piper names his price and keeps Rose, Gwen’s little sister, as an incentive for Gwen and Peter to get him what he wants. Gwen was distraught and worried, but I didn’t feel it. One, because we don’t know Rose all that well, and two, I don’t really care about Gwen.
WRITING STYLE
Audrey Greathouse has a wonderful writing style. The way she tells the story is beautiful and she has a way with words. Plot and characters aside, I don’t mind reading her narration of things.
OVERALL
While I wasn’t overly excited about the characters and the plot disappointed me a bit since the Piper didn’t have as big as a part as I assumed he would, the book was still enjoyable through the writing. I have to say that I enjoyed it more than the first book.
Favorite Quote:
“Don’t doubt yourself so much, Gwenny-Lyn–it’s horribly grown-up.” –Audrey Greathouse, The Piper’s Price
*This review was originally posted on RachelPoli.com
FIRST THOUGHTS
I read the first Neverland Wars book and I felt iffy about it. At the time, I didn’t know a sequel was in the works. When the author contacted me about reviewing an eARC copy of The Piper’s Price, I thought I would give it a try.
CHARACTERS
I still wasn’t a fan of Gwen as the protagonist. I could definitely do without her. I felt as though she didn’t know what she was doing half of the time. Peter Pan was super moody throughout most of the book. He wasn’t exactly pleasant to be around most of the time, which got old quick.
Tiger Lily was introduced. It was nice to see her, but she was in a different form. I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about that, though she was a great addition to the story. Aside from the Piper, the other characters, like the Lost Boys, weren’t in it too much. It was almost like Peter was making Gwen do just about everything. While he had his reasons for that, it got a bit old.
PLOT
Unlike the first book, this one seemed to have an actual plot. Peter is looking to fight back against Reality and seeks help from the Piper. However, he and the Piper have a tough past so Peter can’t directly go to him, so he sends Gwen to find him.
I was pretty excited to see the Piper in this story. I thought it would be an interesting twist. However, we didn’t meet the Piper until about 200 or so pages in, and the book is only a little over 300 pages. The Piper names his price and keeps Rose, Gwen’s little sister, as an incentive for Gwen and Peter to get him what he wants. Gwen was distraught and worried, but I didn’t feel it. One, because we don’t know Rose all that well, and two, I don’t really care about Gwen.
WRITING STYLE
Audrey Greathouse has a wonderful writing style. The way she tells the story is beautiful and she has a way with words. Plot and characters aside, I don’t mind reading her narration of things.
OVERALL
While I wasn’t overly excited about the characters and the plot disappointed me a bit since the Piper didn’t have as big as a part as I assumed he would, the book was still enjoyable through the writing. I have to say that I enjoyed it more than the first book.
Favorite Quote:
“Don’t doubt yourself so much, Gwenny-Lyn–it’s horribly grown-up.” –Audrey Greathouse, The Piper’s Price
*This review was originally posted on RachelPoli.com
March 7, 2017
3-7-17
4.5 stars
just as fun and cute and exciting as the last i love peter and gwen so much aHHHHHHH i just really love peter lord help me
1-27-17
AHHHHHHH YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS BOYYYYYYYYYYYY OH HELLLLLLLL YEAHHHHHHH
IM SO HYPE MORE PETER AND GWEN FUCK YEAH
i need to reread this before i read the sequel lol
4.5 stars
just as fun and cute and exciting as the last i love peter and gwen so much aHHHHHHH i just really love peter lord help me
1-27-17
AHHHHHHH YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS BOYYYYYYYYYYYY OH HELLLLLLLL YEAHHHHHHH
IM SO HYPE MORE PETER AND GWEN FUCK YEAH
i need to reread this before i read the sequel lol
July 10, 2017
The Skinny
Peter Pan must save Neverland! Grown ups in Reality have upped their game, and these are no longer idle threats. The War is near, and Peter cannot win it without more children. In order to gain the following Neverland needs, Peter needs the Piper’s help. Except they are nearly arch enemies. Then there’s the problem of some puzzling tokens that must be found to summon the Piper.
Since Peter can’t go himself, he sends Gwen back to Reality to hide with an old Native American friend. Peter’s perfect pairing is no surprise – Tiger Lily will help Gwen along the way and keep her safe from the Anomalous Activity Department. While gathering intel, Gwen is reunited with a friend of her own. Once returning to Reality, Gwen has no one besides Tiger Lily. Except there’s Jay – the boy she is crushing on – and whose party she literally vanished from at the end of the first book. He can keep a secret, but her magic might give her away.
Gwen also meets an interesting group of ladies while waiting for her moment to meet and lure the dangerous Pied Piper into Peter’s plan. Once it arrives, Gwen is thrown for quite a loop. Luring the Piper is much more difficult than she ever imagined – and the stakes are high.
The Players
Gwen – 16 years old, struggling with growing up and remaining innocent
Peter Pan – 14 years old, struggling to find the Piper and protect Neverland
Lasiandra – the blonde mermaid who developed a friendship with Gwen, despite mermaids not being trustworthy
Tiger Lily – a grown woman now, living in a trailer
Jay – Gwen’s crush, good at keeping secrets
Dawn – Tiger Lily’s friend, she agrees to help Gwen find one of the puzzle items
Piper – the magical pipe-playing man who lures children away,
The Quote
“This isn’t about you or your children. It’s about the greater issue of children’s autonomy and Neverland’s right to exist.”
The Highs and Lows
Plot. Unlike the first book that had an unclear plot line, there is a clear and strong plot that pulls in many characters and presents new situations and new information for readers that continue to make the war Peter is fighting more real. This book picks up a short time after the end of the first book when Gwen and her sister fled Jay’s party with the black coats of the Anomalous Activity Department on their heels. They want to strip Neverland of magic forever. The bombings are becoming more frequent and dangerous in Neverland.
Overarching Conflict. To preserve Neverland and prevent the grown-ups in Reality from stealing Neverland’s magic, Peter needs to recruit an army of children. For once, Peter has a plan. Unfortunately, it involves dealing with the devil: the Piper. Peter and Gwen must solve a riddle and bring the required tokens for the Piper to appear. Solving the riddles proves quite difficult and requires the help of others.
Lasiandra. The blonde-haired mermaid is more than meets the eye. While mermaids are not to be trusted, she somehow gains a glimmer of trust from Gwen. She and Gwen develop a friendship that is mutually beneficial. While Lasiandra is helping Gwen in the short term, she will reap her rewards in the long run. She provides Gwen with important information and also gifts her a mermaid scale for future use to call her when Gwen should need her.
Gwen’s Dilemmas. Gwen experiences a series of dilemmas throughout this installment. It made her more real and believable as a character. First of them all is the fact that Gwen is now 16 – the oldest of the Lost Boys of Neverland. For her, it is harder to engage in Neverland. In fact, she is losing the ability to fly. It is becoming cumbersome to play along with the Lost Boys and their games. Then there is the fact that Peter sends her away – back to reality, hiding out in Tiger Lily’s trailer. While Peter claims she is helping and doing the important work to finding the Piper, Gwen can’t help but wonder why Peter wanted to send her away from Neverland. Was she the right person for this job? Was this mission even real? Does Peter trust her? Is he going to follow through? Her doubts are real and even more real for a teenage girl. She doesn’t feel that she belongs in either place – Neverland or Reality.
Tiger Lily. Who knew she’d been living in Reality all this time? She is living as an actual Native American, leading a relatively quiet life. Apparently she, along with her friends (princesses?), were part of the MRP, Magic Relocation Program, and have denounced all things magic since. Most of them want nothing to do with magic – or Peter – anymore after all these years. Tiger Lily and her friend Dawn are the most helpful to Gwen. While Gwen hides out at Tiger Lily’s, she acts sort of like a surrogate parent, but more like an older, wiser friend. And she’s the only one who openly will help Peter, causing me to question what Peter had done in the past to these Neverland migrants.
Peter. Again Peter seemed one-dimensional and elusive. I was expecting him to have greater exposure in this book and to show character growth. The closest he came was his reassurance to Gwen about choosing and trusting her above all.
The Piper. He is revered as notorious and sinister. After solving the token riddles and presenting the Piper with them, Gwen soon finds she is in over her head. Acquiring the Piper’s assistance is not as easy as handing over a pirate patch and other baubles. His price is much higher: the crown of Princess Charlotte of Wales, a root cutting from the Never Tree, and of course his pipe. Ultimately, the Piper wants to be finished with the mermaids, whose magic can always find him thanks to the stars. So he needs something more powerful than them from Neverland – the Never Tree cutting. It could be the most damaging thing of all to Neverland.
Jay. I thought we saw the last of Jay when Gwen fled his party at the end of the first book, but her crush on him seems to have a hold over her. While contacting him at all was extremely risky, Jay seemingly knows how to keep secrets – and big ones. I found it hard to believe that he wouldn’t spill the beans and give away her presence – especially to her parents – but I suppose that shows the distance and disconnect they had before she disappeared. What did Jay really know about Gwen anyway? They obviously weren’t that close. I did find it ironic though, that Gwen was the one with the crush on him, but anytime she told him to jump, he asked how high…or rather, what hour of the night and which remote location to meet at. There was more to Jay, though. He actually listened to and supported Gwen, unlike her parents or even Peter.
The last two-thirds of the book really rocketed the tension and the danger Gwen and Peter and all of their friends are in. While they secured the Piper, it comes at an additional cost, and the dark side of adulthood that Peter has pronounced all along is finally seen in itself. I hope this increased anxiety and action flows through into setting up another great plot line to come next.
Peter Pan must save Neverland! Grown ups in Reality have upped their game, and these are no longer idle threats. The War is near, and Peter cannot win it without more children. In order to gain the following Neverland needs, Peter needs the Piper’s help. Except they are nearly arch enemies. Then there’s the problem of some puzzling tokens that must be found to summon the Piper.
Since Peter can’t go himself, he sends Gwen back to Reality to hide with an old Native American friend. Peter’s perfect pairing is no surprise – Tiger Lily will help Gwen along the way and keep her safe from the Anomalous Activity Department. While gathering intel, Gwen is reunited with a friend of her own. Once returning to Reality, Gwen has no one besides Tiger Lily. Except there’s Jay – the boy she is crushing on – and whose party she literally vanished from at the end of the first book. He can keep a secret, but her magic might give her away.
Gwen also meets an interesting group of ladies while waiting for her moment to meet and lure the dangerous Pied Piper into Peter’s plan. Once it arrives, Gwen is thrown for quite a loop. Luring the Piper is much more difficult than she ever imagined – and the stakes are high.
The Players
Gwen – 16 years old, struggling with growing up and remaining innocent
Peter Pan – 14 years old, struggling to find the Piper and protect Neverland
Lasiandra – the blonde mermaid who developed a friendship with Gwen, despite mermaids not being trustworthy
Tiger Lily – a grown woman now, living in a trailer
Jay – Gwen’s crush, good at keeping secrets
Dawn – Tiger Lily’s friend, she agrees to help Gwen find one of the puzzle items
Piper – the magical pipe-playing man who lures children away,
The Quote
“This isn’t about you or your children. It’s about the greater issue of children’s autonomy and Neverland’s right to exist.”
The Highs and Lows
Plot. Unlike the first book that had an unclear plot line, there is a clear and strong plot that pulls in many characters and presents new situations and new information for readers that continue to make the war Peter is fighting more real. This book picks up a short time after the end of the first book when Gwen and her sister fled Jay’s party with the black coats of the Anomalous Activity Department on their heels. They want to strip Neverland of magic forever. The bombings are becoming more frequent and dangerous in Neverland.
Overarching Conflict. To preserve Neverland and prevent the grown-ups in Reality from stealing Neverland’s magic, Peter needs to recruit an army of children. For once, Peter has a plan. Unfortunately, it involves dealing with the devil: the Piper. Peter and Gwen must solve a riddle and bring the required tokens for the Piper to appear. Solving the riddles proves quite difficult and requires the help of others.
Lasiandra. The blonde-haired mermaid is more than meets the eye. While mermaids are not to be trusted, she somehow gains a glimmer of trust from Gwen. She and Gwen develop a friendship that is mutually beneficial. While Lasiandra is helping Gwen in the short term, she will reap her rewards in the long run. She provides Gwen with important information and also gifts her a mermaid scale for future use to call her when Gwen should need her.
Gwen’s Dilemmas. Gwen experiences a series of dilemmas throughout this installment. It made her more real and believable as a character. First of them all is the fact that Gwen is now 16 – the oldest of the Lost Boys of Neverland. For her, it is harder to engage in Neverland. In fact, she is losing the ability to fly. It is becoming cumbersome to play along with the Lost Boys and their games. Then there is the fact that Peter sends her away – back to reality, hiding out in Tiger Lily’s trailer. While Peter claims she is helping and doing the important work to finding the Piper, Gwen can’t help but wonder why Peter wanted to send her away from Neverland. Was she the right person for this job? Was this mission even real? Does Peter trust her? Is he going to follow through? Her doubts are real and even more real for a teenage girl. She doesn’t feel that she belongs in either place – Neverland or Reality.
Tiger Lily. Who knew she’d been living in Reality all this time? She is living as an actual Native American, leading a relatively quiet life. Apparently she, along with her friends (princesses?), were part of the MRP, Magic Relocation Program, and have denounced all things magic since. Most of them want nothing to do with magic – or Peter – anymore after all these years. Tiger Lily and her friend Dawn are the most helpful to Gwen. While Gwen hides out at Tiger Lily’s, she acts sort of like a surrogate parent, but more like an older, wiser friend. And she’s the only one who openly will help Peter, causing me to question what Peter had done in the past to these Neverland migrants.
Peter. Again Peter seemed one-dimensional and elusive. I was expecting him to have greater exposure in this book and to show character growth. The closest he came was his reassurance to Gwen about choosing and trusting her above all.
The Piper. He is revered as notorious and sinister. After solving the token riddles and presenting the Piper with them, Gwen soon finds she is in over her head. Acquiring the Piper’s assistance is not as easy as handing over a pirate patch and other baubles. His price is much higher: the crown of Princess Charlotte of Wales, a root cutting from the Never Tree, and of course his pipe. Ultimately, the Piper wants to be finished with the mermaids, whose magic can always find him thanks to the stars. So he needs something more powerful than them from Neverland – the Never Tree cutting. It could be the most damaging thing of all to Neverland.
Jay. I thought we saw the last of Jay when Gwen fled his party at the end of the first book, but her crush on him seems to have a hold over her. While contacting him at all was extremely risky, Jay seemingly knows how to keep secrets – and big ones. I found it hard to believe that he wouldn’t spill the beans and give away her presence – especially to her parents – but I suppose that shows the distance and disconnect they had before she disappeared. What did Jay really know about Gwen anyway? They obviously weren’t that close. I did find it ironic though, that Gwen was the one with the crush on him, but anytime she told him to jump, he asked how high…or rather, what hour of the night and which remote location to meet at. There was more to Jay, though. He actually listened to and supported Gwen, unlike her parents or even Peter.
The last two-thirds of the book really rocketed the tension and the danger Gwen and Peter and all of their friends are in. While they secured the Piper, it comes at an additional cost, and the dark side of adulthood that Peter has pronounced all along is finally seen in itself. I hope this increased anxiety and action flows through into setting up another great plot line to come next.
August 12, 2017
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author for review. Thank you!
This series and I have had a rocky relationship. It's a shame. I like the concept, the cover art, and the fact that it's a retelling, but the content just hasn't clicked for me.
Most, if not all, of the issues I had with Book 1 are present in The Piper's Price. Gwen continues to fill too many pages with unresolved teenage angst and an identity crisis. The book itself seems to suffer an identity crisis of sorts, featuring a protagonist who often comes across as much, much younger than 11th grade and a story that might make more sense as a middle grade novel (minus the brief moments of obscenity-filled teenager-dom).
The writing style remains awkward to my ear and full of telling instead of showing; and the plot meanders toward an incomplete conclusion with several tangents I hoped would develop into something meaningful, but didn't. This book also featured a romance for Gwen that gave rise to even more angsty internal monologuing and little character development.
If you love Peter Pan retellings and/or have already started this series, The Piper's Price might be for you. I'm still curious about some of the magic and characters in this story, but it wasn't enough to outweigh my problems with the main character, writing, and plot.
This series and I have had a rocky relationship. It's a shame. I like the concept, the cover art, and the fact that it's a retelling, but the content just hasn't clicked for me.
Most, if not all, of the issues I had with Book 1 are present in The Piper's Price. Gwen continues to fill too many pages with unresolved teenage angst and an identity crisis. The book itself seems to suffer an identity crisis of sorts, featuring a protagonist who often comes across as much, much younger than 11th grade and a story that might make more sense as a middle grade novel (minus the brief moments of obscenity-filled teenager-dom).
The writing style remains awkward to my ear and full of telling instead of showing; and the plot meanders toward an incomplete conclusion with several tangents I hoped would develop into something meaningful, but didn't. This book also featured a romance for Gwen that gave rise to even more angsty internal monologuing and little character development.
If you love Peter Pan retellings and/or have already started this series, The Piper's Price might be for you. I'm still curious about some of the magic and characters in this story, but it wasn't enough to outweigh my problems with the main character, writing, and plot.
January 9, 2017
Gwen and Peter ate back in Neverland. The grown-ups are sending attacks in and effort to capture Neverland's magic including the fairies. Peter has the solution though. He needs more children and fast. The only person who can get the job done is the Piped Piper.
The story is good. However, I went into it thinking that the Piper would be a bigger part of the book but he only has a few scenes. There are a couple of other characters added in one scene that I wish more of the background was explained and nit just thrown in for the purpose of that one scene.
Overall, it is a good story but with a slower pace. If you read the first book you're likely to like this book. And it is a must read if you plan on continuing the series as I don't think we heard the end of the Piper.
*This is an arc review (rating rounded up)
The story is good. However, I went into it thinking that the Piper would be a bigger part of the book but he only has a few scenes. There are a couple of other characters added in one scene that I wish more of the background was explained and nit just thrown in for the purpose of that one scene.
Overall, it is a good story but with a slower pace. If you read the first book you're likely to like this book. And it is a must read if you plan on continuing the series as I don't think we heard the end of the Piper.
*This is an arc review (rating rounded up)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2017
Wow, what an amazing adventure this story was. I was hooked when I read the first book and when the author announced she was releasing another, I just had to jump in and read it. The tale that the author spun was absolutely phenomenal. I was enchanted by the turn of every page. This is a remarkable remake of an old classic with a unforgettable ride into a mystical and magical world of amazing characters that will bring out the kid in you again. The story-line was amazing and the characters unforgettable. The magic of this story flowed out of the pages of this book and left me fantasizing about being a part of it. The story felt so real, that I felt as if I was watching the scenes unfold in my head and letting me escape from real life if only for a few hours. I highly recommend this incredible journey into an awesome and memorable world of mystery and magic.
August 27, 2019
3.5 stars. I gave this a half star more than the first book because of the Piper's character, who I really enjoyed BUT it took him so long to show up! There wasn't as much Neverland in this book and a lot more Gwen, both of which are things I disliked in the first book. The only thing that was pretty okay was the relationship between Gwen and Jay, I liked how slowly their relationship progressed, it felt so much more real than a lot of other YA relationships.
I'm bummed that I don't like these books more as the covers are awesome.
I'm bummed that I don't like these books more as the covers are awesome.
October 24, 2017
Initial Thoughts Upon Finishing
Gah I just love this retelling of Peter Pan! I think I preferred the first book but the second has me so excited for the conclusion I can't even. There's less Neverland in this one which is probably why I felt it dragged just a little at some points but it's a great book for further exploring Gwen's character. I love how different this retelling is by swinging it into YA - AND THE COVERS ARE GORGEOUS.
The Piper’s Price
This the second book in this series and it’s a retelling of Peter Pan!! So if you haven’t read the first book then leave!!
Spoilers ahead for book one!
The Piper’s Price picks up from the events of the first book and we’re still following Gwen as she’s at an awkward age to be in Neverland but determined to stick with her sister — and with Peter, who she obviously is more than a little fond of — and fight against the adults that are ruining Neverland with their abuse of magic.
So the plot of the sequel is Gwen trying to get in contact with the Piper to get him on their side of the war to try and save Neverland before the magic runs out. But he’s a tricky fellow and demands several things of Gwen before he’ll co-operate. Most of the book follows Gwen as she tries to meet this criteria.
We get to meet a few new characters in this book, such as the Piper and also Tiger Lily. But most of the book takes place outside of Neverland and is much slower paced, or maybe the better way to describe it is that it just less exciting than the first one. I can’t deny I was ever so slightly disappointed overall but I still enjoyed it, and I’m hoping the third book will round things up wonderfully!
Indecisive Feelings
So let’s discuss these indecisive feelings a bit further. I’m all for retellings of classics, I love seeing someone do something new with the story. My favourite thing about what Greathouse has done with this series is making Peter older and introducing a love interest (we think). I love that Gwen is at an odd age and so we’re seeing Neverland from a curious perspective — and I love the story of the magic and the war against reality.
But everything is moving much too slow for me. I’m not sure what to think about love interests anymore because our lover boy from book one — the guy from school, Jay — is back in this book. And Peter is fairly elusive, so are we shipping Gwan (can that be the ship?) or not?
Spoilers:
Summary
An interesting sequel to the first book, indeed!! I’m crossing everything that the third book takes us out with a bang — and I can’t wait to see our fantastic mis-match of character battling it out against reality together. I hope that Gwen pulls herself together more so that she can have it straight in her head whose side she’s actually on and I hope to god Peter is upfront and centre in book three. I guess we’ll see.
Happy reading!
Gah I just love this retelling of Peter Pan! I think I preferred the first book but the second has me so excited for the conclusion I can't even. There's less Neverland in this one which is probably why I felt it dragged just a little at some points but it's a great book for further exploring Gwen's character. I love how different this retelling is by swinging it into YA - AND THE COVERS ARE GORGEOUS.
The Piper’s Price
This the second book in this series and it’s a retelling of Peter Pan!! So if you haven’t read the first book then leave!!
Spoilers ahead for book one!
The Piper’s Price picks up from the events of the first book and we’re still following Gwen as she’s at an awkward age to be in Neverland but determined to stick with her sister — and with Peter, who she obviously is more than a little fond of — and fight against the adults that are ruining Neverland with their abuse of magic.
So the plot of the sequel is Gwen trying to get in contact with the Piper to get him on their side of the war to try and save Neverland before the magic runs out. But he’s a tricky fellow and demands several things of Gwen before he’ll co-operate. Most of the book follows Gwen as she tries to meet this criteria.
We get to meet a few new characters in this book, such as the Piper and also Tiger Lily. But most of the book takes place outside of Neverland and is much slower paced, or maybe the better way to describe it is that it just less exciting than the first one. I can’t deny I was ever so slightly disappointed overall but I still enjoyed it, and I’m hoping the third book will round things up wonderfully!
Indecisive Feelings
So let’s discuss these indecisive feelings a bit further. I’m all for retellings of classics, I love seeing someone do something new with the story. My favourite thing about what Greathouse has done with this series is making Peter older and introducing a love interest (we think). I love that Gwen is at an odd age and so we’re seeing Neverland from a curious perspective — and I love the story of the magic and the war against reality.
But everything is moving much too slow for me. I’m not sure what to think about love interests anymore because our lover boy from book one — the guy from school, Jay — is back in this book. And Peter is fairly elusive, so are we shipping Gwan (can that be the ship?) or not?
Spoilers:
Summary
An interesting sequel to the first book, indeed!! I’m crossing everything that the third book takes us out with a bang — and I can’t wait to see our fantastic mis-match of character battling it out against reality together. I hope that Gwen pulls herself together more so that she can have it straight in her head whose side she’s actually on and I hope to god Peter is upfront and centre in book three. I guess we’ll see.
Happy reading!
October 23, 2023
Why did this literally take me FOREVER to read? A month is a longggg time for me to sit on a book, like I finished two OTHER books while I was putting off this one. Honestly just wanted to get it over with.
It wasn’t the worst. It just wasn’t grabbing my attention, and was too long in my opinion. I don’t think I will continue with the series!!
It wasn’t the worst. It just wasn’t grabbing my attention, and was too long in my opinion. I don’t think I will continue with the series!!
August 23, 2017
Much better than the first. So glad I read it. Can't wait to see what book three brings.
November 29, 2017
Loved this! Can't wait for the next one!
April 20, 2020
Full RTC.
September 6, 2020
I love this book I love Neverland
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2022
The best one of the three books in my opinion . Loved The Piper 😊
December 18, 2022
Great story.
June 26, 2018
Great book, I really love the new concept of Neverland that Audrey Greathouse has come up with.
February 14, 2017
Gwen is back in Neverland with her sister Rosemary. They are preparing to help Peter build an army to fight the adults who want to take over Neverland. To do this Peter needs Gwen's help to find the Piper. Gwen goes back to reality to do the task she is given by Peter. With much at stake, they try to stay under the radar always in danger of being caught by the Black suits. Sacrifices are made will it be enough to stop the adults from taking over Neverland?
In an Oyster Shell - A stellar second installment in the Neverland Wars.
The Pearls - The retelling is still really good in this second book. I would dare to say even better. I feel like this second book is more established. It feels like the author really found her rhythm in this book. I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the contrast between Neverland and the characters who are forced to live in reality.
The characters are what make this story. Gwen being a teenager is a huge cornerstone to this story. Being older than the kids she has some maturity that helps. It also is interesting that her maturity also can hinder her and the missions at times. Sometimes her younger sister Rosemary takes on the "big" sister role. It's an interesting twist. Peter is one of the best-developed characters I've come across. There are attributes that you expect from Peter Pan and others that you would not. He is a complicated and interesting character that keeps you turning the pages.
The settings in this story are interesting because you have two contrasting settings. You have Neverland, and than the real world. The author does a great job distinguishing the two. I feel the way she did this best was having characters who were from Neverland, who were forced to be established in reality. It made for a great marriage of the two settings. It even raises urgency for the reader to see Neverland saved.
The Sand - The ending was a little less than satisfying, but there is another book to look forward to, so it wasn't a big deal.
5 Pearls!This review was originally posted on Writing Pearls
In an Oyster Shell - A stellar second installment in the Neverland Wars.
The Pearls - The retelling is still really good in this second book. I would dare to say even better. I feel like this second book is more established. It feels like the author really found her rhythm in this book. I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the contrast between Neverland and the characters who are forced to live in reality.
The characters are what make this story. Gwen being a teenager is a huge cornerstone to this story. Being older than the kids she has some maturity that helps. It also is interesting that her maturity also can hinder her and the missions at times. Sometimes her younger sister Rosemary takes on the "big" sister role. It's an interesting twist. Peter is one of the best-developed characters I've come across. There are attributes that you expect from Peter Pan and others that you would not. He is a complicated and interesting character that keeps you turning the pages.
The settings in this story are interesting because you have two contrasting settings. You have Neverland, and than the real world. The author does a great job distinguishing the two. I feel the way she did this best was having characters who were from Neverland, who were forced to be established in reality. It made for a great marriage of the two settings. It even raises urgency for the reader to see Neverland saved.
The Sand - The ending was a little less than satisfying, but there is another book to look forward to, so it wasn't a big deal.
5 Pearls!This review was originally posted on Writing Pearls
May 22, 2017
I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.
Pipers Price picks up a couple of weeks after the first book left off; Gwen is back in Neverland and is collaborating with Peter and the Lost Boys in an effort to save Neverland once and for all from those in reality who are after it's magic. They have devised a plan to locate the Piper in an effort to (hopefully) garner his support and help in preparing for a final showdown with the grownups for the magic contained in Neverland. Gwen is tasked with traveling back to reality to locate missing pieces of the puzzle and ultimately summoning the Piper. Bargaining with the Piper turns out to be more tricky than Gwen had imagined and the stakes are raised when the Piper kidnaps someone close to Gwen. With the grownups on their trail and an army of children to round up, Gwen, Peter, and the Lost Boys attempt their last ditch, pixie dust filled effort to rally troops to save Neverland.
Knowing how much I loved Audrey's first book in this series, I came into this one with high hopes....and was not left wanting. Audrey has such a beautiful way with words, like they are chosen and arranged with the utmost of intention. The flow of the story line was seamless; I would venture to say even more so than in the first book. Gwen continues to struggle as she teeters on the cusp of adulthood yet still clinging to the remnants of carefree childhood abandon. She is such a strong and loyal character, one who you readily and eagerly cheer for from the outside of the pages. I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Jay and Gwen deepen and flesh out more in this book, he really came alive much more as a character for me. This book also branched out from a strictly Peter Pan retelling to include other characters from some of our most well known fairy tales. The book club full of grown up princesses? Puss and Boots in lock up? Definitely a very nice touch! The tension and danger were definitely amped up a notch in this book which really lent to (what I hope is) setting the tone for a killer third book. The stakes have definitely been raised in this one people. Despite his gruffness, I actually really enjoyed the character of the Piper. An unlikely and dubious hero in his own right, but certainly dangerous. There were certainly more poignant moments this go around, including the scene with Foxglove near the end. That one tugged at the heartstrings a little (read: ALOT). Can't wait for book #3!!
Pipers Price picks up a couple of weeks after the first book left off; Gwen is back in Neverland and is collaborating with Peter and the Lost Boys in an effort to save Neverland once and for all from those in reality who are after it's magic. They have devised a plan to locate the Piper in an effort to (hopefully) garner his support and help in preparing for a final showdown with the grownups for the magic contained in Neverland. Gwen is tasked with traveling back to reality to locate missing pieces of the puzzle and ultimately summoning the Piper. Bargaining with the Piper turns out to be more tricky than Gwen had imagined and the stakes are raised when the Piper kidnaps someone close to Gwen. With the grownups on their trail and an army of children to round up, Gwen, Peter, and the Lost Boys attempt their last ditch, pixie dust filled effort to rally troops to save Neverland.
Knowing how much I loved Audrey's first book in this series, I came into this one with high hopes....and was not left wanting. Audrey has such a beautiful way with words, like they are chosen and arranged with the utmost of intention. The flow of the story line was seamless; I would venture to say even more so than in the first book. Gwen continues to struggle as she teeters on the cusp of adulthood yet still clinging to the remnants of carefree childhood abandon. She is such a strong and loyal character, one who you readily and eagerly cheer for from the outside of the pages. I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Jay and Gwen deepen and flesh out more in this book, he really came alive much more as a character for me. This book also branched out from a strictly Peter Pan retelling to include other characters from some of our most well known fairy tales. The book club full of grown up princesses? Puss and Boots in lock up? Definitely a very nice touch! The tension and danger were definitely amped up a notch in this book which really lent to (what I hope is) setting the tone for a killer third book. The stakes have definitely been raised in this one people. Despite his gruffness, I actually really enjoyed the character of the Piper. An unlikely and dubious hero in his own right, but certainly dangerous. There were certainly more poignant moments this go around, including the scene with Foxglove near the end. That one tugged at the heartstrings a little (read: ALOT). Can't wait for book #3!!
January 9, 2017
The gang is all back in this sequel of the Peter Pan retelling, "The Neverland Wars" by Audrey Greathouse.
In "The Piper's Price" we rejoin Gwen and Peter as they try and find a way to contact the Piper and get his help to recruit children in order to save Neverland.
After the ending from the first book that left me hanging, I was happy to be back in this world and find out what had happened with Gwen and Peter. It was enjoyable to find out all of the answers to the questions I had swimming around in my mind after reading "The Neverland Wars".
As much as I enjoyed the first book, I must say, that I enjoyed this one a bit more. There was a lot more action, especially in the second half of the book. I also got to see more of Peter and Gwen's personality. I loved seeing how loyal Peter was to his friends and how committed to his cause that he is. I also loved seeing Gwen grow through her experiences and to see how much she loved her sister and would do anything for her.
As an adult reading this book I can understand how heartbreaking it can be for an adult to lose a child to Peter. It is understandable why an adult would not want that child to leave for Neverland. However, at the same time I can see the appeal in being whisked away to Neverland to have fun playing with Peter and the other children. It was fun to go on this adventure with them through the eyes of Gwen.
If I were a child and Peter came knocking on my window, would I go off with him? You bet!
I can't wait to get the third book in my hands so I can see what other adventures await for Peter and the other children.
If you loved the first book, or even if you didn't, I would highly recommend giving this book a read.
Check out more on my blog: papertypeadventures.blogspot.com
In "The Piper's Price" we rejoin Gwen and Peter as they try and find a way to contact the Piper and get his help to recruit children in order to save Neverland.
After the ending from the first book that left me hanging, I was happy to be back in this world and find out what had happened with Gwen and Peter. It was enjoyable to find out all of the answers to the questions I had swimming around in my mind after reading "The Neverland Wars".
As much as I enjoyed the first book, I must say, that I enjoyed this one a bit more. There was a lot more action, especially in the second half of the book. I also got to see more of Peter and Gwen's personality. I loved seeing how loyal Peter was to his friends and how committed to his cause that he is. I also loved seeing Gwen grow through her experiences and to see how much she loved her sister and would do anything for her.
As an adult reading this book I can understand how heartbreaking it can be for an adult to lose a child to Peter. It is understandable why an adult would not want that child to leave for Neverland. However, at the same time I can see the appeal in being whisked away to Neverland to have fun playing with Peter and the other children. It was fun to go on this adventure with them through the eyes of Gwen.
If I were a child and Peter came knocking on my window, would I go off with him? You bet!
I can't wait to get the third book in my hands so I can see what other adventures await for Peter and the other children.
If you loved the first book, or even if you didn't, I would highly recommend giving this book a read.
Check out more on my blog: papertypeadventures.blogspot.com
February 21, 2017
You can find my review at www.readinglark.blogspot.com after 21 Feb 2017.
December 9, 2019
The Piper’s Price continues all of the best elements of The Neverland Wars with an added layer of sophistication. The plot is just as fun and engaging, and Greathouse manages to craft more nuance into the story’s themes.
In this book, we continue to track Gwen’s struggle with growing up as she’s torn between her desire to stay in Neverland and her draw to the adult world. She struggles with regular issues like boys and relationships, and the question of how to assume the responsibilities of adulthood without losing something of herself in the process.
This part of the story delves further into questioning exactly what defines childhood and innocence. Gwen is frozen on the border between being a lost child and a lost teenager, and whenever she returns to reality she feels the weight of her age and attraction to Jay. This seems to imply that there is a connection between innocence and a lack of sexual identity, but I suspect that there’s more to it than that. Gwen is most playful when she’s around Jay because she gets to be the ‘special’ one, not the anomaly that she is in Neverland. She becomes confident through that companionship. I hope that Gwen will realize that she can continue to be youthful even as she grows up - that it’s a state of mind, not an age, and that she doesn’t have to lose that just because she has a crush.
These themes are embedded in the plot with more finesse than the first book and it's really fun to read. The writing grows up, just as Gwen is growing up as she takes responsibility for making her own choices. I still think the writing is best suited for the 13-18 age range, but adults who like YA books can read this and still enjoy it too!
In this book, we continue to track Gwen’s struggle with growing up as she’s torn between her desire to stay in Neverland and her draw to the adult world. She struggles with regular issues like boys and relationships, and the question of how to assume the responsibilities of adulthood without losing something of herself in the process.
This part of the story delves further into questioning exactly what defines childhood and innocence. Gwen is frozen on the border between being a lost child and a lost teenager, and whenever she returns to reality she feels the weight of her age and attraction to Jay. This seems to imply that there is a connection between innocence and a lack of sexual identity, but I suspect that there’s more to it than that. Gwen is most playful when she’s around Jay because she gets to be the ‘special’ one, not the anomaly that she is in Neverland. She becomes confident through that companionship. I hope that Gwen will realize that she can continue to be youthful even as she grows up - that it’s a state of mind, not an age, and that she doesn’t have to lose that just because she has a crush.
These themes are embedded in the plot with more finesse than the first book and it's really fun to read. The writing grows up, just as Gwen is growing up as she takes responsibility for making her own choices. I still think the writing is best suited for the 13-18 age range, but adults who like YA books can read this and still enjoy it too!
March 30, 2019
3.5 stars
I really struggled to rate this eBook. I suspect it might have got a higher rating if I'd not been reading it in dribs and drabs between doing other things.
That said, I am enjoying it. I am particularly appreciating that the YA "love story" is unfolding at a more realistic pace than most books I have read in a similar genre. At times, I do find Gwen's observations a lot more adult than her age would suggest, but I guess that's also quite common with YA novels. This edition felt longer than the typical "YA eBook series" installment which was nice. Often I find these series feel more like one book chopped up into a collection of chapters rather than a series of stand-alone books.
I already own book three so will definitely continue. I'm sure I will want to finish the series, so I am a little nervous to see what the rest of the books will cost me :)
[Edit: Turns out there are only three books in the series so I already own them all :) ]
I really struggled to rate this eBook. I suspect it might have got a higher rating if I'd not been reading it in dribs and drabs between doing other things.
That said, I am enjoying it. I am particularly appreciating that the YA "love story" is unfolding at a more realistic pace than most books I have read in a similar genre. At times, I do find Gwen's observations a lot more adult than her age would suggest, but I guess that's also quite common with YA novels. This edition felt longer than the typical "YA eBook series" installment which was nice. Often I find these series feel more like one book chopped up into a collection of chapters rather than a series of stand-alone books.
I already own book three so will definitely continue. I'm sure I will want to finish the series, so I am a little nervous to see what the rest of the books will cost me :)
[Edit: Turns out there are only three books in the series so I already own them all :) ]
March 10, 2018
Great
Great second book. Really enjoying this series. It's a fun weekend or vacation read. It brings about some light social issues and is highly relatable in terms of the way we all have felt caught between clinging to childhood and being forced to grow up. It provides interesting perspective on these fronts. Looking forward to the final installment.
Great second book. Really enjoying this series. It's a fun weekend or vacation read. It brings about some light social issues and is highly relatable in terms of the way we all have felt caught between clinging to childhood and being forced to grow up. It provides interesting perspective on these fronts. Looking forward to the final installment.
February 6, 2017
Review coming soon
April 13, 2017
The Potter-esque trope of the fanciful children at odds with the stuffy adults is alive and well with the sequel.
The Good: The writing was crisp and suspenseful. There aren’t any questionable situations or swearing, so this is acceptable for all reading ages and levels. I expected to enjoy The Piper’s Price since I enjoyed The Neverland Wars and I was not disappointed. The oddities in the writing that I mentioned were gone in the sequel.
The Bad: Pan is still emo. Why is it that the adults want to destroy Neverland? There is a bit of talk of needing magic, but overall, the needs and desires of the adults are pretty one-dimensional. The Pied Piper, who I expected to read more about, seemed to be woefully underwhelming, especially since he had the power to turn the tide of the war.
The Beautiful: I’m still not a fan of Peter Pan as a fairy tale, but I am a fan of Audrey Greathouse. I had a lot of fun reading The Piper’s Price. If you like fairy tale retellings, then you’ll like both books by Audrey Greathouse.
The Final Word: Just like The Neverland Wars, The Piper’s Price is a suspenseful read appropriate for all ages. As far as a star rating is concerned, I think The Piper’s Price is a slightly better story, and it deserves a solid four stars.
The Good: The writing was crisp and suspenseful. There aren’t any questionable situations or swearing, so this is acceptable for all reading ages and levels. I expected to enjoy The Piper’s Price since I enjoyed The Neverland Wars and I was not disappointed. The oddities in the writing that I mentioned were gone in the sequel.
The Bad: Pan is still emo. Why is it that the adults want to destroy Neverland? There is a bit of talk of needing magic, but overall, the needs and desires of the adults are pretty one-dimensional. The Pied Piper, who I expected to read more about, seemed to be woefully underwhelming, especially since he had the power to turn the tide of the war.
The Beautiful: I’m still not a fan of Peter Pan as a fairy tale, but I am a fan of Audrey Greathouse. I had a lot of fun reading The Piper’s Price. If you like fairy tale retellings, then you’ll like both books by Audrey Greathouse.
The Final Word: Just like The Neverland Wars, The Piper’s Price is a suspenseful read appropriate for all ages. As far as a star rating is concerned, I think The Piper’s Price is a slightly better story, and it deserves a solid four stars.
April 28, 2017
eArc review copy provided by author.
An enjoyable follow up to the Neverland Wars. Picking up shortly after where the first book left off, Gwen is now back in Neverland with Peter Pan and her beloved sister Rosemary, ready to aid Peter in his quest to find the Pied Piper.
There was a lot more action in this second instalment, much more of an actual plot, than focusing on Gwen torn between wanting to hang on to her childhood or be a grown up. While there was certainly a huge issue with Gwen still struggling with this problem, there was nowhere near so much philosophical waxing and waning over it.
Peter needs the Piper’s help to formulate a plan that will stop the adults in Reality attacking Neverland. Gwen is sent back into Reality to team up with a now grown up friend of Peter who can help solve the clues to find the means of attracting the Piper’s attention.
Tiger Lily makes an appearance in this one, as a grown adult woman, with friends of other adult women who have left Neverland and grown up, but still remember Peter and the allure of Neverland itself. It’s interesting to see how they cope with Gwen’s appearance and her strange requests. Though it pulls Gwen back into reality and a life she’s not sure if she wants to give up or not. The women hold a “book club” and there’s one rather poignant scene where they’re discussing a romance novel, “Tryst on the Thames” and later Gwen finds a copy wants to know what it’s about, she’s old enough to understand, but the lady who comes to her aid, Dawn, says rather bluntly if she’s still flying about with Peter Pan she’s not old enough to be discussing romance novels.
Kind of a bitter sweet but apt point to illuminate Gwen’s awkward positon. Gwen finds herself going on a shopping trip and getting a new hairdo and these normal teenage things help give her flying the happy boost. Things that would give a normal girl a happy, not something someone deep in magic and Neverland should be that fussed about. Just more of the awkwardness of a teenager dealing with Neverland.
And being back in reality brings Gwen back in touch with her potential love interest from the first book, Jay. I actually really like Jay as a character, he listens to Gwen, he likes her, he doesn’t think she’s nuts when she explains her predicament to him. He’s a nice, decent guy and I can see why Gwen confides in him. I like the way their friendship develops and hints that there could be something more between them, but Gwen of course is torn with her duty to Neverland.
Gwen has some interesting friendship developments in this one, bringing her to see the sides of adults who have been to Neverland and grown up, and then the more magical side of friendships with the Lost Children and the fairies and Lasiandra the mermaid. The Piper himself is quite a dark and creepy character, and something of a jackass. (Though I also quite liked the Piper and the role he played later on in the novel). We also get to see some of the nastier side of the adults in reality and what they’re doing with the magic and beings stolen from Neverland.
Lots more action and some great character development on Gwen, though Peter Pan himself…I found him annoying really. An interesting ending, and I’m definitely looking forward to the final part in this trilogy.
An enjoyable follow up to the Neverland Wars. Picking up shortly after where the first book left off, Gwen is now back in Neverland with Peter Pan and her beloved sister Rosemary, ready to aid Peter in his quest to find the Pied Piper.
There was a lot more action in this second instalment, much more of an actual plot, than focusing on Gwen torn between wanting to hang on to her childhood or be a grown up. While there was certainly a huge issue with Gwen still struggling with this problem, there was nowhere near so much philosophical waxing and waning over it.
Peter needs the Piper’s help to formulate a plan that will stop the adults in Reality attacking Neverland. Gwen is sent back into Reality to team up with a now grown up friend of Peter who can help solve the clues to find the means of attracting the Piper’s attention.
Tiger Lily makes an appearance in this one, as a grown adult woman, with friends of other adult women who have left Neverland and grown up, but still remember Peter and the allure of Neverland itself. It’s interesting to see how they cope with Gwen’s appearance and her strange requests. Though it pulls Gwen back into reality and a life she’s not sure if she wants to give up or not. The women hold a “book club” and there’s one rather poignant scene where they’re discussing a romance novel, “Tryst on the Thames” and later Gwen finds a copy wants to know what it’s about, she’s old enough to understand, but the lady who comes to her aid, Dawn, says rather bluntly if she’s still flying about with Peter Pan she’s not old enough to be discussing romance novels.
Kind of a bitter sweet but apt point to illuminate Gwen’s awkward positon. Gwen finds herself going on a shopping trip and getting a new hairdo and these normal teenage things help give her flying the happy boost. Things that would give a normal girl a happy, not something someone deep in magic and Neverland should be that fussed about. Just more of the awkwardness of a teenager dealing with Neverland.
And being back in reality brings Gwen back in touch with her potential love interest from the first book, Jay. I actually really like Jay as a character, he listens to Gwen, he likes her, he doesn’t think she’s nuts when she explains her predicament to him. He’s a nice, decent guy and I can see why Gwen confides in him. I like the way their friendship develops and hints that there could be something more between them, but Gwen of course is torn with her duty to Neverland.
Gwen has some interesting friendship developments in this one, bringing her to see the sides of adults who have been to Neverland and grown up, and then the more magical side of friendships with the Lost Children and the fairies and Lasiandra the mermaid. The Piper himself is quite a dark and creepy character, and something of a jackass. (Though I also quite liked the Piper and the role he played later on in the novel). We also get to see some of the nastier side of the adults in reality and what they’re doing with the magic and beings stolen from Neverland.
Lots more action and some great character development on Gwen, though Peter Pan himself…I found him annoying really. An interesting ending, and I’m definitely looking forward to the final part in this trilogy.
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