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Captain James Hook #1
Captain James Hook and the Curse of Peter Pan
An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.
Night after night, for untold years, Peter Pan flew into children’s rooms and took them to a far away land with the promise of endless adventure. That is until one night in Port Royal, when Peter meets James Hoodkins and sets events in motion that create his greatest enemy: Captain James Hook.
The Curse of Peter Pan tells the life of the man who becomes the symbol for piracy around the world. Captain James Hook has reason and wit behind his seething hatred for Peter Pan. If only someone would listen...
Night after night, for untold years, Peter Pan flew into children’s rooms and took them to a far away land with the promise of endless adventure. That is until one night in Port Royal, when Peter meets James Hoodkins and sets events in motion that create his greatest enemy: Captain James Hook.
The Curse of Peter Pan tells the life of the man who becomes the symbol for piracy around the world. Captain James Hook has reason and wit behind his seething hatred for Peter Pan. If only someone would listen...
197 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
37 people are currently reading
792 people want to read
About the author
Jeremiah Kleckner
20 books13 followersJeremiah Kleckner is an educator and author from New Jersey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
May 25, 2013
Let me start off by saying that I am a HUGE Peter Pan fan!! He is one of several characters that I have to read or watch ANYTHING with his name on it.
I am also a fan of books that tell the REAL story - because, as you well know, there are always two sides to every story.
Captain James Hook and THE CURSE of Peter Pan says it all.
This is the story of Peter Pan and James Hook got to where they are today - from Hook's point of view. The story begins when Jim is a boy and Peter Pan flies through his window.
I absolutely loved it ... so much that I couldn't put it down. If you want to know why Hook despises Pan so much - besides just for the fact that he has only one hand because of him - then you really need to check this book out. It is DEFINITELY worth the read (and the $2.99 it costs on Amazon to read it on your Kindle or Kindle app).
I am also a fan of books that tell the REAL story - because, as you well know, there are always two sides to every story.
Captain James Hook and THE CURSE of Peter Pan says it all.
This is the story of Peter Pan and James Hook got to where they are today - from Hook's point of view. The story begins when Jim is a boy and Peter Pan flies through his window.
I absolutely loved it ... so much that I couldn't put it down. If you want to know why Hook despises Pan so much - besides just for the fact that he has only one hand because of him - then you really need to check this book out. It is DEFINITELY worth the read (and the $2.99 it costs on Amazon to read it on your Kindle or Kindle app).
January 12, 2018
3.5
Peter Pan is another one of those stories that I would say I'm a fan of even though I'd never actually read it. I grew up with the Disney movie version, and have read a few retellings and versions, but I've never read the original story. So I can't really say how this compares to that.
That said, I like pirates and I was curious to read a version of the story where Hook isn't the villain he's made out to be.
I was somewhat surprised to find how little Peter Pan was actually in this story. He acts more as a catalyst, and he does show up from time to time, but, mostly, this is the story of James Hook and how he turned from young, English school boy to a member of the British navy to pirate - and Pan definitely does play an important role in the events that unfold.
This book is on the darker side, and there were times where I found myself surprised that it's essentially listed as a kids book. I mean, in the next book of the series there's a scene where .
I remind myself that children aren't as bothered by blood and violence in stories as parents are about their children reading it - but if you're a parent cautious about the amount of violence in a story, I'd recommend reading this one first before giving it to your kids. (And it's not quite the cartoon violence of the Disney movie... )
There's also a certain level of moral ambiguity, as Hook becomes, essentially, an Ahab to Pan's white whale.
But, for me, that was all to the good and a big part of what made the story interesting. It's painted in shades of grey, and Hook is, after all, a pirate. Whether he is justified in his quest for Pan or not, there are events which unfold which clearly make him not entirely innocent, either.
I will say that the middle slogged a little bit, even with the story being so short - but the beginning was strong, and the ending was very good. Overall, I ended up enjoying this story much more than I had anticipated, and quickly jumped into the next book to finish the story. (We only get to Neverland at the end of this story, so this one serves almost as a prequel to the original Pan story, whereas the next book in the series covers those events.)
Peter Pan is another one of those stories that I would say I'm a fan of even though I'd never actually read it. I grew up with the Disney movie version, and have read a few retellings and versions, but I've never read the original story. So I can't really say how this compares to that.
That said, I like pirates and I was curious to read a version of the story where Hook isn't the villain he's made out to be.
I was somewhat surprised to find how little Peter Pan was actually in this story. He acts more as a catalyst, and he does show up from time to time, but, mostly, this is the story of James Hook and how he turned from young, English school boy to a member of the British navy to pirate - and Pan definitely does play an important role in the events that unfold.
This book is on the darker side, and there were times where I found myself surprised that it's essentially listed as a kids book. I mean, in the next book of the series there's a scene where .
I remind myself that children aren't as bothered by blood and violence in stories as parents are about their children reading it - but if you're a parent cautious about the amount of violence in a story, I'd recommend reading this one first before giving it to your kids. (And it's not quite the cartoon violence of the Disney movie... )
There's also a certain level of moral ambiguity, as Hook becomes, essentially, an Ahab to Pan's white whale.
But, for me, that was all to the good and a big part of what made the story interesting. It's painted in shades of grey, and Hook is, after all, a pirate. Whether he is justified in his quest for Pan or not, there are events which unfold which clearly make him not entirely innocent, either.
I will say that the middle slogged a little bit, even with the story being so short - but the beginning was strong, and the ending was very good. Overall, I ended up enjoying this story much more than I had anticipated, and quickly jumped into the next book to finish the story. (We only get to Neverland at the end of this story, so this one serves almost as a prequel to the original Pan story, whereas the next book in the series covers those events.)
January 30, 2013
I love the back stories to well known stories like this. Seeing how young James became Captain Hook and how he met Peter, and also why he hates Peter so much, is just fantastic. Well written, I liked the characters, I only wish that they would have built a little more on his pirating adventures. I just felt like it was short and I would have loved to see more of young Hook. All in all I liked it a lot though. :)
June 3, 2013
This book was very great and interesting. it has so many details about how life was back the with ships and pirates. This book has an extreme twist because captain hook isn't the bad guy, but peter pan is. It explains captain hook's life and how it got ruined by peter pan. I recommend this book to all action and drama book lovers. If you have the right and creative mind, you can actually picture like a mini movie about the book, that is how well described the book is.
November 22, 2012
This book was excellent. I loved the idea of getting to know Hook and how he became the villain he is in Neverland. My mother lent the book to me after she read it, and I am beyond glad that I got the opportunity to give this book a chance!
My only complaint is that the final chapter could have delved deeper into how Hook came to Neverland. Otherwise, I loved it.
My only complaint is that the final chapter could have delved deeper into how Hook came to Neverland. Otherwise, I loved it.
November 14, 2019
I started this review several times and deleted it, not feeling like the first sentence was doing it justice for a quick sum up of the book. Not that starting it by telling you that makes it any better...
4 stars. Certainly 4 stars. I wish this was on a ten scale, because it feels like it might be just better than 4 stars, but it wasn't quite a 5 star read (listen)for me. I would probably give it a 9 on a 10 scale, or a 13 on a 15 scale, or a 17 on a 20 scale... you get the point.
I like the story. I like the interpretation of the age old classic. Some parts of this book bothered me, as far as the development of the characters, and some parts I loved.
It was a relatively quick listen, if you are driving to Vegas from Salt Lake, you can complete if you start it when you leave and finish it when you arrive, as long as you drive around in Vegas for about 20 minutes!
Parts of this story are dark. Not your typical Peter Pan type of events. There is death. There is destruction, deceit, revenge, and more of the dastardly characteristics more common among the pirate stereotypes. Disney probably wont make this one a movie.
Like I said already, I liked it, it just took a different road than I was expecting for a Peter Pan type story.
4 stars. Certainly 4 stars. I wish this was on a ten scale, because it feels like it might be just better than 4 stars, but it wasn't quite a 5 star read (listen)for me. I would probably give it a 9 on a 10 scale, or a 13 on a 15 scale, or a 17 on a 20 scale... you get the point.
I like the story. I like the interpretation of the age old classic. Some parts of this book bothered me, as far as the development of the characters, and some parts I loved.
It was a relatively quick listen, if you are driving to Vegas from Salt Lake, you can complete if you start it when you leave and finish it when you arrive, as long as you drive around in Vegas for about 20 minutes!
Parts of this story are dark. Not your typical Peter Pan type of events. There is death. There is destruction, deceit, revenge, and more of the dastardly characteristics more common among the pirate stereotypes. Disney probably wont make this one a movie.
Like I said already, I liked it, it just took a different road than I was expecting for a Peter Pan type story.
April 12, 2013
The story, "Captain James Hook And The Curse Of Peter Pan" is the story of Captain James Hook retelling the story of his past, recounting the tales from his young childhood to his adulthood. Through this we learn a lot more about the Captains horrific past and the scars it makes. The telling of the story is brilliantly told, the new perspective of Captain Hook really sets the mood for what can be expected from his past and the recognition of the Captain's telling the story is never too far as to confuse the reader, this is done by adding the Captains remarks in his telling of the story. Another positive note is the complexity that the book has that pieces the story together, for both the reader and the Captain. The downside of this book is the pace. The pace of the story doesn't allow the reader to connect to characters other then Captain Hook causing readers to not be able to feel sympathy towards the Captains emotions toward other characters like his father, his mother, and his friends. This book has been a thrilling read from start to finish. It also accurately connects this book from the original story of Peter Pan giving fans of the original a reason to read this book to learn more about our dual armed crusader.
May 1, 2013
I feel a lot of my reviews need to start with the fact that I'm all about characters. So when I get to chapter nine of a book and I find that I don't care an iota about a single character yet, I can't go on. Which is a shame because I bet this book is pretty good, I love retold stories. I wanted to stop at chapter four, but thought that I should give it some more time, I think chapter nine was acceptable.
Also, I have recent vision problems that make me extremely picky about what books I spend time with. Previously, I probably would have gone further into this book before giving up. I may come back another day to give it another chance.
Also, I have recent vision problems that make me extremely picky about what books I spend time with. Previously, I probably would have gone further into this book before giving up. I may come back another day to give it another chance.
June 11, 2013
Okay story of pirates that uses the Peter Pan mythology as a basis for the plot. A revisionist version, of course, somewhat like the TV show Once Upon A Time in that the characters are similar to the old stories, but interact differently.
A free book of the day on Kindle, or I would not have picked this one up, it still is a decent read for anyone interested in Disney-related characters or J. M. Barrie retread stories.
A free book of the day on Kindle, or I would not have picked this one up, it still is a decent read for anyone interested in Disney-related characters or J. M. Barrie retread stories.
April 25, 2013
Entertaining. Different perspective on a classic tale. Each step logically leads to the next in explaining how a gifted scholarly and sickly boy gradually turns into Captain Hook.
April 18, 2022
An excellent telling of pre-Peter Pan Hook. Most of the story is built from actual Captain Hook facts. Some have been altered, but it's still very well done.
May 10, 2018
I really enjoyed this retelling of Peter Pan from Captain Hook's perspective, especially him meeting Peter when Captain Hook was jut a boy. I also liked the introduction of the crocodile character (and her reason for hunting Hook), Smee (another pirate sailor), and the Lost Boys. Great fun read!
October 18, 2015
Captain James Hook and the Curse of Peter Pan
Written by: Jeremiah Kleckner, Jeremy Marshall
Narrated by: David Stifel
Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Captain James Hook and the Curse of Peter Pan is enticing from the first word. The description of Hook leads the reader into the book; “His eyes are so narrow that they never seem to blink” and he “smiles with everything but his eyes.” The authors create a fascinating character, dangerous but hypnotic. The first chapter sets the tone so well, not only of Hook’s character but all the great winks towards the Captain Hook you grew up with, like his pocket watch that ticks very loudly.
As the story progresses, more and more familiar characters from Peter Pan enter and begin to play their part. The genius of the authors is that no one plays the part you expect. Is Hook the villain? Is Pan the hero? Side characters like Smee are also not as one would assume. The characters of this book incorporate more shades of grey and live in a morally ambiguous world. It would be difficult to discuss the plot without giving anything away. Trust me, this is one plot you want to uncover for yourself. It will hold your attention to the last word.
David Stifel’s narration of Captain James Hook and the Curse of Peter Pan was fabulous, one of the best narrations I have ever listened to. His voice can be honey smooth or dangerously sharp. Not only does he convey the personalities of the different characters, he does a fine job of conveying each character’s emotions. The authors need to sign him to a long term contract for this entire series. The production values of the audio book were first rate. The sound is clear. There are no extraneous noises or changes in volume.
I enjoyed this audio book very much. I was not able to listen one day because of location so I purchased the kindle version. While I still liked the story, this is one situation where the audio book brings a whole new dimension to a book. The narration adds precious gold and silver threads to the tapestry of the narration. For example read the line, “When I turned the body of my father, I expected the world to collapse around me but, strangely, it didn’t.” The lines could convey a total lack of feeling for a son for his father. But when Mr. Stifel narrates that line, it conveys a totally different emotion. It conveys a boy thrust into manhood through a traumatic event, a boy who has neither time or fear or grief because surviving has become the only thought. It really is a masterful narration.
This audio book was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com.
Story (Plot) 5
Performance 5
Production Quality 5
Attention Holding 5
Written by: Jeremiah Kleckner, Jeremy Marshall
Narrated by: David Stifel
Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Captain James Hook and the Curse of Peter Pan is enticing from the first word. The description of Hook leads the reader into the book; “His eyes are so narrow that they never seem to blink” and he “smiles with everything but his eyes.” The authors create a fascinating character, dangerous but hypnotic. The first chapter sets the tone so well, not only of Hook’s character but all the great winks towards the Captain Hook you grew up with, like his pocket watch that ticks very loudly.
As the story progresses, more and more familiar characters from Peter Pan enter and begin to play their part. The genius of the authors is that no one plays the part you expect. Is Hook the villain? Is Pan the hero? Side characters like Smee are also not as one would assume. The characters of this book incorporate more shades of grey and live in a morally ambiguous world. It would be difficult to discuss the plot without giving anything away. Trust me, this is one plot you want to uncover for yourself. It will hold your attention to the last word.
David Stifel’s narration of Captain James Hook and the Curse of Peter Pan was fabulous, one of the best narrations I have ever listened to. His voice can be honey smooth or dangerously sharp. Not only does he convey the personalities of the different characters, he does a fine job of conveying each character’s emotions. The authors need to sign him to a long term contract for this entire series. The production values of the audio book were first rate. The sound is clear. There are no extraneous noises or changes in volume.
I enjoyed this audio book very much. I was not able to listen one day because of location so I purchased the kindle version. While I still liked the story, this is one situation where the audio book brings a whole new dimension to a book. The narration adds precious gold and silver threads to the tapestry of the narration. For example read the line, “When I turned the body of my father, I expected the world to collapse around me but, strangely, it didn’t.” The lines could convey a total lack of feeling for a son for his father. But when Mr. Stifel narrates that line, it conveys a totally different emotion. It conveys a boy thrust into manhood through a traumatic event, a boy who has neither time or fear or grief because surviving has become the only thought. It really is a masterful narration.
This audio book was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com.
Story (Plot) 5
Performance 5
Production Quality 5
Attention Holding 5
September 26, 2015
This is the story of how young bookish James Hoodkins became the wicked pirate Captain Hook. It’s a tale full of tricks, escapes, defeats, captures, treasure, Never Never Land, and lost love. After giving this book a listen, I, too, wanted to hunt Peter Pan down and tie him to the main mast.
The story starts off in Port Royal in the Caribbean, probably in the 1600s or 1700s. At first, it reads a bit like a historical fiction, which I enjoyed. Young James is a scholarly kid and much more into books than into sword fighting or sailing. His mother quite enjoys telling him fantastical tales right before bedtime or during his bouts of illness. So, of course, when Peter Pan makes his first appearance in James’s life, he has no problem believing.
James’s father is not the coddling sort and makes a final decision, against the wishes of both wife and son, to take James on his next sailing venture. James’s best friend will be going with him, so at least he has that. James makes a sweet farewell to his friend (and perhaps more than friend) Emily. As you might imagine, the venture doesn’t go as planned and little by little we see how the quiet, timid, sweet James Hoodkins turns into the bold, wretched, determined Captain Hook.
There’s death and romance, sword fights and alligators, pirate treasure and the English Navy. The fantasy elements are firmly grounded in events that could have really happened in our world. This lent a gravity to the story that made me appreciate it all the more. I read Barrie’s original Peter Pan novel sometime ago. I enjoyed it, though it was written for its age and contained touches of racism and sexism. It was very refreshing to have all the awesome bits of the tale without the disappointing bits in this fascinating retelling.
There are only two female characters in this tale but the authors write them well. We only get a few glimpses of James’s mom but she is her own character. We see much more of Emily and she has even more personality. Both women leave an indelible mark on the man who becomes Captain Hook.
I received a copy of this audiobook at no cost from the narrator (via Audiobook Blast) in exchange for an honest review.
Narration: David Stifel did an excellent job bringing this story to life. Over the course of the book, James goes from a pretty mellow kid to a hardened pirate. Stifel hardened the character’s voice as the tale went along and that was well done! He also had this great voice for Peter Pan being a youngish, mostly oblivious voice. His female character voices were believable.
The story starts off in Port Royal in the Caribbean, probably in the 1600s or 1700s. At first, it reads a bit like a historical fiction, which I enjoyed. Young James is a scholarly kid and much more into books than into sword fighting or sailing. His mother quite enjoys telling him fantastical tales right before bedtime or during his bouts of illness. So, of course, when Peter Pan makes his first appearance in James’s life, he has no problem believing.
James’s father is not the coddling sort and makes a final decision, against the wishes of both wife and son, to take James on his next sailing venture. James’s best friend will be going with him, so at least he has that. James makes a sweet farewell to his friend (and perhaps more than friend) Emily. As you might imagine, the venture doesn’t go as planned and little by little we see how the quiet, timid, sweet James Hoodkins turns into the bold, wretched, determined Captain Hook.
There’s death and romance, sword fights and alligators, pirate treasure and the English Navy. The fantasy elements are firmly grounded in events that could have really happened in our world. This lent a gravity to the story that made me appreciate it all the more. I read Barrie’s original Peter Pan novel sometime ago. I enjoyed it, though it was written for its age and contained touches of racism and sexism. It was very refreshing to have all the awesome bits of the tale without the disappointing bits in this fascinating retelling.
There are only two female characters in this tale but the authors write them well. We only get a few glimpses of James’s mom but she is her own character. We see much more of Emily and she has even more personality. Both women leave an indelible mark on the man who becomes Captain Hook.
I received a copy of this audiobook at no cost from the narrator (via Audiobook Blast) in exchange for an honest review.
Narration: David Stifel did an excellent job bringing this story to life. Over the course of the book, James goes from a pretty mellow kid to a hardened pirate. Stifel hardened the character’s voice as the tale went along and that was well done! He also had this great voice for Peter Pan being a youngish, mostly oblivious voice. His female character voices were believable.
September 24, 2015
This was a magical tale full of adventure and fantastical delight. It was really enjoyable. It reads as an instant classic. It fits well with the novel Peter and Wendy that came out in 1911. It's the story told from Hook's point of view. Being a fan of anything Peter Pan I jumped at the chance to read this book.
The writing style is spot on and instantly you're pulled into the nautical world of Hook as he recalls being a boy growing up in Port Royal and encountering Peter Pan, then later Neverland. The way in which he discovers Neverland reminded me of The Chronicles of Narnia and was a really cool part of the story that was super fun to read. I loved the way he describes the part of Neverland he discovers. Parts of this story also reminded me of Tarzan of the Apes, which is a fantastic book. Young James and a friend face incredible beasts on an island and much like Tarzan their adventure facing off against these beasts makes for exciting fiction.
The author really captures the voice of Captain James Hook and you get to hear his story from his childhood on. It was fascinating and very well told. This book is a real treat for anyone who loves good storytelling but especially for fans of the Peter Pan story world.
There were some incredible sword fights at the end that were immensely satisfying. They made for huge stand up and cheer moments that made my heart swell with pride for the most unlikely of protagonists James Hook. This book was easy to rate at 5/5 stars. I loved every minute of reading it. I was highly entertaining, well written, and full of fun adventures.
Also the narrator David Stifel did an outstanding job with the audiobook. He just nailed Hook's voice and the voices of the others perfectly with all the different accents. It really added to the story to hear it told through a perfect Captain James Hook voice.
The writing style is spot on and instantly you're pulled into the nautical world of Hook as he recalls being a boy growing up in Port Royal and encountering Peter Pan, then later Neverland. The way in which he discovers Neverland reminded me of The Chronicles of Narnia and was a really cool part of the story that was super fun to read. I loved the way he describes the part of Neverland he discovers. Parts of this story also reminded me of Tarzan of the Apes, which is a fantastic book. Young James and a friend face incredible beasts on an island and much like Tarzan their adventure facing off against these beasts makes for exciting fiction.
The author really captures the voice of Captain James Hook and you get to hear his story from his childhood on. It was fascinating and very well told. This book is a real treat for anyone who loves good storytelling but especially for fans of the Peter Pan story world.
There were some incredible sword fights at the end that were immensely satisfying. They made for huge stand up and cheer moments that made my heart swell with pride for the most unlikely of protagonists James Hook. This book was easy to rate at 5/5 stars. I loved every minute of reading it. I was highly entertaining, well written, and full of fun adventures.
Also the narrator David Stifel did an outstanding job with the audiobook. He just nailed Hook's voice and the voices of the others perfectly with all the different accents. It really added to the story to hear it told through a perfect Captain James Hook voice.
January 28, 2016
As one of the authors of this book, it is difficult for me to not rate it highly as I add it to my shelf. This book is very special to me. It is my first published piece and my co-author and I are very proud of it.
I'll check back on this site from time to time and will happily respond to any questions or comments readers wish to post.
If you haven't taken a look at this book yet, here are a few of the review comments on Amazon:
“The further I got into the book the more exciting the read became.”
“This is so imaginative, so well written, so engrossing, I couldn't put it down.”
“Reading this book literally made me feel as if I was in a movie theater watching it.”
"There is something more than a little disturbing about Peter Pan."
This novel "portrays Peter Pan in a much different and even sinister light."
http://www.amazon.com/Captain-James-C...
I'll check back on this site from time to time and will happily respond to any questions or comments readers wish to post.
If you haven't taken a look at this book yet, here are a few of the review comments on Amazon:
“The further I got into the book the more exciting the read became.”
“This is so imaginative, so well written, so engrossing, I couldn't put it down.”
“Reading this book literally made me feel as if I was in a movie theater watching it.”
"There is something more than a little disturbing about Peter Pan."
This novel "portrays Peter Pan in a much different and even sinister light."
http://www.amazon.com/Captain-James-C...
June 3, 2013
Loved it! Amazing story of how Captain Hook came to be and why he doesn't like Peter Pan so much. So many twist and turns you won't see coming! This book talks all bout how Captain Hook was drawn into piracy and the incredible adventure he goes through when he is away from his home, mother, and Emily in Port Royal. As he meets Peter Pan one night, he becomes friends with this mysterious creature that can fly and comes from a creative world of Neverland. But once he is older, he realizes that all the devastating things that have taken place in his life were all because of that green-clothed "friend" of his. His pain was all caused by Peter Pan and calls him a curse as Captain Hook calls on his vengeance.
June 11, 2013
This was a quick read, and while I hesitate to use the word fun, it was enjoyable. A retelling of Peter Pan from Hooks point of view this is not. I went into this one expecting something more along the lines of McGuires Wicked, but again, not the case. This is Hook telling his life story as he is being taken back to Port Royal to be hung as the pirate he has become. It definately made me feel a little sympathy for Hook as well as Mr. Smee, both of whom I spent my childhood hating as they were always after my beloved Peter Pan. Peter also gains a bit of a new persona in Hooks memoirs (for lack of a better term). I suppose this is to be expected, however. This story is definately more Barrie than Disney as far as James Hook is concerned, but overall it was an enjoyable few hours.
November 17, 2012
Very brave move to write a prequel to such a famous novel. I am an avid Peter Pan fan (yes, even at my age) I love all versions of this, be it the novel, the stage play, the movie. In fact Pirates in general capture my imagination and let me have such a fun time. This book was a little too serious for my liking. Almost "grown up". I had to detache myself from the Peter Pan I know in order to enjoy the book in its own right, which I eventually did. My imagination however, was not taken on that colourful journey that most Pirate stories take me on which was my own personal disappointment.
May 1, 2013
Ah, how Capt'n Hook became Capt'n Hook and why he hates Peter Pan...
May 30, 2013
Fun short read. Interesting history for the story of Captain Hook.
July 15, 2013
This book was really awesome. It gave Captain Hook a great back story and anyone who loves the story of Peter Pan will have a totally different respect for Captain Hook after reading this.
July 5, 2016
Cute story
I almost feel sorry for poor Captain Hook. What a clever past this author has written of him. Good story
I almost feel sorry for poor Captain Hook. What a clever past this author has written of him. Good story
February 17, 2013
Light, Fun, Easy read
July 29, 2019
GO GET IT AND READ IT RIGHT NOW.
I grabbed this book at a local comic show the author was attending, as the "Peter Pan Dark Side Theory" always intrigued me. Turns out, this is the guy that kicked it all off! I finished the book in a few hours as I could not put it down!
Reading the Author's telling of Hook's transformation, and the catalysts that set it off was an incredible little journey that my imagination needed.
The book starts off with a kick and then begins slowly prepping Hook for the man he is to become, (How he learns his unique fighting styles, how smart he really is, and that he wasn't always the scary pirate we know him as!) and ends in a way that leaves you craving more (Glad there is another book!).
I really dont want to say too much because I don't want to spoil anything, but if you like the Peter Pan story, the movie Hook, hell..even the animated series from back in the day with hook and his goofy white hair..then you'll LOVE this. I am very glad I grabbed this book from this very talented author!
I grabbed this book at a local comic show the author was attending, as the "Peter Pan Dark Side Theory" always intrigued me. Turns out, this is the guy that kicked it all off! I finished the book in a few hours as I could not put it down!
Reading the Author's telling of Hook's transformation, and the catalysts that set it off was an incredible little journey that my imagination needed.
The book starts off with a kick and then begins slowly prepping Hook for the man he is to become, (How he learns his unique fighting styles, how smart he really is, and that he wasn't always the scary pirate we know him as!) and ends in a way that leaves you craving more (Glad there is another book!).
I really dont want to say too much because I don't want to spoil anything, but if you like the Peter Pan story, the movie Hook, hell..even the animated series from back in the day with hook and his goofy white hair..then you'll LOVE this. I am very glad I grabbed this book from this very talented author!
March 24, 2018
Who doesn’t love a twist on a classic tale? I don’t think any villain is safe from someone exploring a heartbreaking and eye opening backstory.
I reread Peter Pan before reading this to perfectly reacquaint myself with both Peter Pan and Captain Hook.
At least 75% of this story is a flashback but here’s the thing, it never feels like a flashback. You are sucked right into the action and the emotion of the story.
There is a well-placed heighted sense of danger and violence in this story.
It’s been a long time since I have felt the urge to highlight sentences in books but this story had lines stick out to me. Like this one: “Something inside of me spoiled as I realized that there was no going home without bringing something unwanted home with me.”
All of your favorite characters are here along with new faces who don’t all make it to the last page but play an important role in the shaping of Capitan Hook.
Also as a fan of Once Upon a Time, all I heard was Colin’s voice, which is never a bad thing.
As much as I wanted Hook to return to Port Royal and live a happy life, I knew it wasn’t going to happen despite knowing the original story. Hook is forced keep taking steps towards darkness and revenge and there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
This story shows that we are not in complete control of our lives, no one is helpless or blameless, sometimes it takes time to see that.
I reread Peter Pan before reading this to perfectly reacquaint myself with both Peter Pan and Captain Hook.
At least 75% of this story is a flashback but here’s the thing, it never feels like a flashback. You are sucked right into the action and the emotion of the story.
There is a well-placed heighted sense of danger and violence in this story.
It’s been a long time since I have felt the urge to highlight sentences in books but this story had lines stick out to me. Like this one: “Something inside of me spoiled as I realized that there was no going home without bringing something unwanted home with me.”
All of your favorite characters are here along with new faces who don’t all make it to the last page but play an important role in the shaping of Capitan Hook.
Also as a fan of Once Upon a Time, all I heard was Colin’s voice, which is never a bad thing.
As much as I wanted Hook to return to Port Royal and live a happy life, I knew it wasn’t going to happen despite knowing the original story. Hook is forced keep taking steps towards darkness and revenge and there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
This story shows that we are not in complete control of our lives, no one is helpless or blameless, sometimes it takes time to see that.
May 16, 2025
What a short, quick read…less than 200 pages! This book takes a creative and compelling twist on the classic tale, diving into Hook’s side of the story with surprising depth and emotion. The writing is sharp, the pacing brisk, and the reimagining of Peter Pan is both dark and refreshing. Excellent read! Where is Book 2!?
August 18, 2019
I really enjoyed hearing of how Captain Hook got to be who he was.Poor guy.David Stifel was the perfect narrator for this tale.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
January 19, 2020
I would give this 2.5 stars .
An enjoyable read and good origen story for Captain Hook, but it didn't really live up to expectations. Peter Pan only plays a small role and I wouldn't describe him as much of a curse, in relation to Hook's story, so the title is misleading.
An enjoyable read and good origen story for Captain Hook, but it didn't really live up to expectations. Peter Pan only plays a small role and I wouldn't describe him as much of a curse, in relation to Hook's story, so the title is misleading.
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