What do you think?
Rate this book
Wendy
Traveling to New Zealand to study abroad is the most adventurous thing twenty-year-old Wendy has done. But she gets more than she bargained for when a hike through the countryside mysteriously transports her to an island in Neverland, the vast sea on an archaic earth-like planet. While struggling to come to terms with the impossible, Wendy is taken hostage by Captain Hook and his crew on board the Jolly Roger. As the ship casts off and sails into the horizon, home has never felt so appealing—or seemed so far away.
Her fortunes change when she escapes and teams up with Peter, a roguish young sailor, to outrun Hook and find the means to go back to her loved ones left behind. But as Wendy and Peter's adventures unfold, their friendship turns into something more.
Faced with cursed treasure maps, sea-witches, and blood-thirsty pirates, Wendy could never have predicted what will become the greatest challenge of all. How will she bring herself to leave Peter behind?
Her fortunes change when she escapes and teams up with Peter, a roguish young sailor, to outrun Hook and find the means to go back to her loved ones left behind. But as Wendy and Peter's adventures unfold, their friendship turns into something more.
Faced with cursed treasure maps, sea-witches, and blood-thirsty pirates, Wendy could never have predicted what will become the greatest challenge of all. How will she bring herself to leave Peter behind?
- GenresRetellings
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2018
7 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Molly K. Mulligan
1 book5 followersMy debut novel, Wendy, is available on Amazon and is free through Kindle Unlimited.
Born in North Carolina and currently 28 years old, I grew up to become a travel and surf junkie. I've been living with my fiance on board our 42 foot sailboat in the South Pacific islands of French Polynesia for the past three years.
In addition to writing, surfing, and traveling, I enjoy reading and cooking :)
https://www.instagram.com/mollykmulli...
Born in North Carolina and currently 28 years old, I grew up to become a travel and surf junkie. I've been living with my fiance on board our 42 foot sailboat in the South Pacific islands of French Polynesia for the past three years.
In addition to writing, surfing, and traveling, I enjoy reading and cooking :)
https://www.instagram.com/mollykmulli...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 21, 2018
4.5 stars!
Mild spoilers ahead – Read at your own risk
This has become one of my favorite retellings! While reading this, I found it hard to believe this was a debut novel at times because of how well written it was. I was worried about how this Peter Pan retelling would turn out, but I absolutely loved how the author made the story her own. Wendy was amazing! She was smart and relatable and strong – I admired her the entire time. Very rarely did I ever get annoyed with her because every thought she had made sense and she was rational and her emotions were realistic. She always thought out her choices and I realized that I really liked and appreciated characters like her. Her struggle with accepting the deaths of her parents was well done and so was her struggle with deciding on whether or not returning home was what she really wanted. I also liked how she served as a foil for Peter who was adventurous and flamboyant. I’ve been moving away from instalove since it’s often portrayed as very unrealistic and uninteresting. I love seeing relationships build and I think that Wendy and Peter’s relationship grew at just the right pace. I adored the both of them and I think the author did a great job with all of the characters as well as building a good image of what Neverland looked like.
Although the story was well written, it took me a while to get through the book. Personally, I thought it had a slow start which is not at all a bad thing, it’s just that I have to take more breaks when reading it.
As for critique, some details were repetitive. For example, when Wendy mentioned she had boyfriends in the past, she mentioned that same detail later on or when she mentioned she and Peter like to tease each other, I already knew that from the first couple times that was mentioned. That kind of repetitiveness continued and it was a bit of a distraction. Another part that inhibited my reading a bit is I get that Wendy is insecure, but there were times where it felt a little overkill. Always mentioning how beautiful Peter is and that he was out of her league and that he'd never fall for someone like her...it got pretty redundant at times and I didn't understand why she was applying that kind of logic from her world into Peter's world. Given how sensible Wendy is throughout the book, I found this constant insecurity putting a bit of a damper on my interest.
Other than that, I enjoyed this novel so much. I would recommend this novel to everyone looking for a good Peter Pan book :)
Mild spoilers ahead – Read at your own risk
This has become one of my favorite retellings! While reading this, I found it hard to believe this was a debut novel at times because of how well written it was. I was worried about how this Peter Pan retelling would turn out, but I absolutely loved how the author made the story her own. Wendy was amazing! She was smart and relatable and strong – I admired her the entire time. Very rarely did I ever get annoyed with her because every thought she had made sense and she was rational and her emotions were realistic. She always thought out her choices and I realized that I really liked and appreciated characters like her. Her struggle with accepting the deaths of her parents was well done and so was her struggle with deciding on whether or not returning home was what she really wanted. I also liked how she served as a foil for Peter who was adventurous and flamboyant. I’ve been moving away from instalove since it’s often portrayed as very unrealistic and uninteresting. I love seeing relationships build and I think that Wendy and Peter’s relationship grew at just the right pace. I adored the both of them and I think the author did a great job with all of the characters as well as building a good image of what Neverland looked like.
Although the story was well written, it took me a while to get through the book. Personally, I thought it had a slow start which is not at all a bad thing, it’s just that I have to take more breaks when reading it.
As for critique, some details were repetitive. For example, when Wendy mentioned she had boyfriends in the past, she mentioned that same detail later on or when she mentioned she and Peter like to tease each other, I already knew that from the first couple times that was mentioned. That kind of repetitiveness continued and it was a bit of a distraction. Another part that inhibited my reading a bit is I get that Wendy is insecure, but there were times where it felt a little overkill. Always mentioning how beautiful Peter is and that he was out of her league and that he'd never fall for someone like her...it got pretty redundant at times and I didn't understand why she was applying that kind of logic from her world into Peter's world. Given how sensible Wendy is throughout the book, I found this constant insecurity putting a bit of a damper on my interest.
Other than that, I enjoyed this novel so much. I would recommend this novel to everyone looking for a good Peter Pan book :)
May 9, 2018
Despite the fact that fairy-tale retellings aren't a genre I ever thought I'd be interested in, I found this book immensely enjoyable.
Wendy is a slightly nerdy twenty-year-old student. She goes for a hike, is mysteriously transported through space and time to Neverland, and finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime as she struggles to make her way home once more.
There's more than a hint of romance, as Wendy meets and falls for another main character in this childhood classic ;) But the story is much more than that, as the naive girl that Wendy once was is replaced by a fighting survivor, sailing the seven seas of Neverland and overcoming her deepest fears in an attempt to return to life she left behind.
This was an easy read, and a good story well told that I would recommend to anyone.
Wendy is a slightly nerdy twenty-year-old student. She goes for a hike, is mysteriously transported through space and time to Neverland, and finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime as she struggles to make her way home once more.
There's more than a hint of romance, as Wendy meets and falls for another main character in this childhood classic ;) But the story is much more than that, as the naive girl that Wendy once was is replaced by a fighting survivor, sailing the seven seas of Neverland and overcoming her deepest fears in an attempt to return to life she left behind.
This was an easy read, and a good story well told that I would recommend to anyone.
September 4, 2019
I was torn in giving this a 4.5 or 5, but considering my enjoyment in reading this, I gave this a 5 in the end.
This retelling of Peter Pan is unlike any other that I have read. Of course, considering that this is my first retelling of the story, it's no wonder I'd think that.
Most importantly, though, this story isn't about Peter, but Wendy.
Wendy went on a trip to New Zealand with her best friend, Jennifer and while there, she experienced a strange phenomenon that transports her into a world she has never known before, lost in a complete foreign land. One of the things I love about this story is that Wendy lived in a modern world, one that has never heard of the actual Peter Pan story. So it's refreshing to see this kind of take in to this story. The Neverland world and the modern one has many things in common in terms of the things in its existence, yet again it's not the same.
There's also Peter. He's lived his whole life being alone and stranded on an island, navigating the seas and feeling content with that, until he met Wendy. These two characters also shared some things in common, yet they were also so much different. I absolutely love the chemistry between Wendy and Peter, the friendly banters they had with each other, and while their personalities are different, they relied on each other throughout the journey. Although Peter tend to opt an optimistic outlook on things, he's also mischievous but earnest. And Wendy's character is refreshing to read because while she's a worrier, and are reckless with her words when she's in a bind, she's also brave and strong and that was apparent when she helped fend them both from the pirates in some occasion, apart from Peter who was both reliable and always the knight beside her.
There's just one thing that I thought was a bit odd, which while I didn't think this occurred too much nor did it prevent me from enjoying the story OR left me feeling annoyed, was Peter's way of speaking. While he does sound archaic just like the world in Neverland, sometimes he sounded like a boy from Wendy's world rather when they were communicating. That did make me think about the consistency, however, it wasn't too pressing that I thought it was a problem for me to enjoy the book.
I had wondered how the ending was going to be like halfway through my read, will I get the satisfaction of Wendy making the smart and right decision that will suit what she loved and always wanted, or will she drop everything without closure just to get a chance at love? I'm glad to say that I was content with how it ended, and while they didn't make haste of their plan, it was a relief knowing that Wendy had planned things out and is someone who's responsible and loyal to her family, even when she had found love in the end.
All in all, though, I really love how Molly K. Mulligan wrote this story, how everything including the plot, settings, names of parts of the ship and the descriptions of every scene that I can imagine really well was laid out clearly in this story. While reading this, there was also a sense of magical wonder and feelings of ethereal-ness in this book and that definitely influenced how I feel in enjoying it. It was easy to get attached to Wendy and Peter and I loved how the story ended.
I'm really glad that I finally took the time to read this book :D
This retelling of Peter Pan is unlike any other that I have read. Of course, considering that this is my first retelling of the story, it's no wonder I'd think that.
Most importantly, though, this story isn't about Peter, but Wendy.
Wendy went on a trip to New Zealand with her best friend, Jennifer and while there, she experienced a strange phenomenon that transports her into a world she has never known before, lost in a complete foreign land. One of the things I love about this story is that Wendy lived in a modern world, one that has never heard of the actual Peter Pan story. So it's refreshing to see this kind of take in to this story. The Neverland world and the modern one has many things in common in terms of the things in its existence, yet again it's not the same.
There's also Peter. He's lived his whole life being alone and stranded on an island, navigating the seas and feeling content with that, until he met Wendy. These two characters also shared some things in common, yet they were also so much different. I absolutely love the chemistry between Wendy and Peter, the friendly banters they had with each other, and while their personalities are different, they relied on each other throughout the journey. Although Peter tend to opt an optimistic outlook on things, he's also mischievous but earnest. And Wendy's character is refreshing to read because while she's a worrier, and are reckless with her words when she's in a bind, she's also brave and strong and that was apparent when she helped fend them both from the pirates in some occasion, apart from Peter who was both reliable and always the knight beside her.
There's just one thing that I thought was a bit odd, which while I didn't think this occurred too much nor did it prevent me from enjoying the story OR left me feeling annoyed, was Peter's way of speaking. While he does sound archaic just like the world in Neverland, sometimes he sounded like a boy from Wendy's world rather when they were communicating. That did make me think about the consistency, however, it wasn't too pressing that I thought it was a problem for me to enjoy the book.
I had wondered how the ending was going to be like halfway through my read, will I get the satisfaction of Wendy making the smart and right decision that will suit what she loved and always wanted, or will she drop everything without closure just to get a chance at love? I'm glad to say that I was content with how it ended, and while they didn't make haste of their plan, it was a relief knowing that Wendy had planned things out and is someone who's responsible and loyal to her family, even when she had found love in the end.
All in all, though, I really love how Molly K. Mulligan wrote this story, how everything including the plot, settings, names of parts of the ship and the descriptions of every scene that I can imagine really well was laid out clearly in this story. While reading this, there was also a sense of magical wonder and feelings of ethereal-ness in this book and that definitely influenced how I feel in enjoying it. It was easy to get attached to Wendy and Peter and I loved how the story ended.
I'm really glad that I finally took the time to read this book :D
August 7, 2018
Wendy, a college student studying abroad, could have never predicted that she would collide with a portal while wandering through the beautiful forests of New Zealand...
Molly Mulligan is a world builder, particularly in scenery descriptions. I had no problem visualizing every waterfall, cave, lagoon, cove, and swamp. Her plot was simple and easy to follow which is great for YA, but also very intriguing and laid out wonderfully. I do not consider "Wendy" a fairy-tale retelling. It does borrow characters and elements of a world that is reminiscent to Peter Pan. But Mulligan owned this plot line, it was creative and unique and all her own. Perhaps she will plan to incorporate missing characters in her next book, maybe tinker bell, and the lost boys might make an appearance, and I am interested to know if Peter will ever fly?
Mulligan's knowledge of travel upon the ocean really helped to create a sense of realism, I will not pretend to understand all the nautical terms, but I really felt like I was on a ship. If you need a maritime adventure with great world building, and affable characters. Try this escape!
Molly Mulligan is a world builder, particularly in scenery descriptions. I had no problem visualizing every waterfall, cave, lagoon, cove, and swamp. Her plot was simple and easy to follow which is great for YA, but also very intriguing and laid out wonderfully. I do not consider "Wendy" a fairy-tale retelling. It does borrow characters and elements of a world that is reminiscent to Peter Pan. But Mulligan owned this plot line, it was creative and unique and all her own. Perhaps she will plan to incorporate missing characters in her next book, maybe tinker bell, and the lost boys might make an appearance, and I am interested to know if Peter will ever fly?
Mulligan's knowledge of travel upon the ocean really helped to create a sense of realism, I will not pretend to understand all the nautical terms, but I really felt like I was on a ship. If you need a maritime adventure with great world building, and affable characters. Try this escape!
February 5, 2022
I am so glad I bought this e-book! I loved the story in so many ways. It was such a fun, refreshing adventure read and a great retelling of Peter Pan and Wendy. And even with the little bit of fighting with the pirates, the book was pretty clean (some language). It was one of those books that you wish you could read all of in a day but also one you want to drag out longer because you can't get enough of it. Peter was a sweet guy and really, Wendy wasn't too bad either. Hook wasn't the sharpest knife on the ship but I'm pretty sure that's just him. I think the pirates could have had a bit more wit around them but it was entertaining all the more. It would be fun to get this as a real book copy at some point.
Content:
Language:
Sexy Stuff/Romance:
Violence:
Content:
Language:
Sexy Stuff/Romance:
Violence:
May 15, 2018
Wendy is by Molly K. Mulligan. This book is delightful to read. It is probably designated as fiction but it does involve travel to an alternate universe so could also be science fiction. Whatever the designation, it is a delight to read and can be read in one day if you have the time to just read. Luckily for me, it was also on Amazon Unlimited so the cost was right. However, I am so fascinated with stories about Peter Pan that I might have to get a hard copy for my library. This is another version of Peter Pan. It includes mermaids, Neverland, crocodiles, and Captain Hook as well as Peter and Wendy.
Wendy and her best friend, Jennifer, had traveled from Boston to New Zealand to spend a year in school here. Both were biology majors and were eager to study the unusual flora and fauna in New Zealand. Of course, Jennifer was also exploring the young men like their hiking guide. Wendy went ahead on the trail while Jennifer and the guide checked out a swimming hole. She stopped at a sign to rest and felt her phone vibrate. It was her Uncle Bailey who was her guardian now that her parents were deceased. After promising to call him later, she started on. Suddenly everything started shaking. It was an earthquake. She began crawling away from the cliff she was next to. It seemed everything, even her hands were shaking until they moved fast. Then everything was over. She ha to find Jenny. However, everything seemed wrong. The valley looked different and mountains stood where hills should have been. Plants that were not native to New Zealand were growing nearby. Worst of all, she couldn’t find Jenny. She hurried back towards where she last saw Jenny but came across a beach where two men were walking towards her. When they came closer, she noticed they were roughly dressed like pirates. Before she could run, they were on her and captured her. She blacked out.
When she came to, she was in a jail cell on a ship getting ready to sail. She was a prisoner. She was caught up in a dream she couldn’t quite believe. What was going on. Captain Hook had taken her prisoner and he wanted her to get a map from a treasure stack that was cursed and only someone not from Neverland could get it. What adventures would Wendy have before she figured out what was going on.
The book is very well written and really catches your fancy. It is difficult to put down and is suspenseful as well as funny. Catch a ride for adventure with Wendy and Peter.
Wendy and her best friend, Jennifer, had traveled from Boston to New Zealand to spend a year in school here. Both were biology majors and were eager to study the unusual flora and fauna in New Zealand. Of course, Jennifer was also exploring the young men like their hiking guide. Wendy went ahead on the trail while Jennifer and the guide checked out a swimming hole. She stopped at a sign to rest and felt her phone vibrate. It was her Uncle Bailey who was her guardian now that her parents were deceased. After promising to call him later, she started on. Suddenly everything started shaking. It was an earthquake. She began crawling away from the cliff she was next to. It seemed everything, even her hands were shaking until they moved fast. Then everything was over. She ha to find Jenny. However, everything seemed wrong. The valley looked different and mountains stood where hills should have been. Plants that were not native to New Zealand were growing nearby. Worst of all, she couldn’t find Jenny. She hurried back towards where she last saw Jenny but came across a beach where two men were walking towards her. When they came closer, she noticed they were roughly dressed like pirates. Before she could run, they were on her and captured her. She blacked out.
When she came to, she was in a jail cell on a ship getting ready to sail. She was a prisoner. She was caught up in a dream she couldn’t quite believe. What was going on. Captain Hook had taken her prisoner and he wanted her to get a map from a treasure stack that was cursed and only someone not from Neverland could get it. What adventures would Wendy have before she figured out what was going on.
The book is very well written and really catches your fancy. It is difficult to put down and is suspenseful as well as funny. Catch a ride for adventure with Wendy and Peter.
October 1, 2021
Wait ... this was so fun. Everything I could want in a Peter Pan-fanfic-esque novel. I also feel like I learned so much about sailing, like I could go sail a boat rn
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews