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The Shadow and the Thimble
He promised to save her brother. She promised to kill him. Neither expected to fall in lust.
London, 1895. Wendy Davenport is running out of time. Her brother is dying, her family is unraveling, and the debts strangling their household have left her with nowhere to turn.
Then a young man appears at her window. Not truly a man at all, but a myth wrapped in moonlight. Peter is a wish-granter, a devil, a miracle. He offers her one impossible bargain: come to Neverland for a single week, and her brother will live.
But miracles are never free.
Before Wendy can accept, Lady Julie Bainbridge—London’s most vindictive socialite and the woman who knows the Davenport family’s ruin by heart—presents her with a counteroffer: Kill Peter. Bring back proof. Save her family and silence the truth forever.
So Wendy goes to Neverland with murder in her heart and desperation in her veins.
But Neverland is not the dream she was promised. It is feral, intoxicating, and ruled by Peter—a beautiful liar with star-bright eyes and a touch that feels like surrender. Every moment with him blurs her purpose. Every kiss unravels her resolve. And the deeper she is pulled into his world, the harder it becomes to remember the girl who came to kill him.
Desire is a trap. Love is a weapon. And Neverland always takes its tithe.
A darkly erotic Peter Pan retelling steeped in temptation, knife-edge longing, and a love that demands you burn for it. Perfect for readers who crave the sensual mythology of Sierra Simone, the dangerous fantasy of Scarlett St. Clair, and fairy-tale retellings with teeth.
London, 1895. Wendy Davenport is running out of time. Her brother is dying, her family is unraveling, and the debts strangling their household have left her with nowhere to turn.
Then a young man appears at her window. Not truly a man at all, but a myth wrapped in moonlight. Peter is a wish-granter, a devil, a miracle. He offers her one impossible bargain: come to Neverland for a single week, and her brother will live.
But miracles are never free.
Before Wendy can accept, Lady Julie Bainbridge—London’s most vindictive socialite and the woman who knows the Davenport family’s ruin by heart—presents her with a counteroffer: Kill Peter. Bring back proof. Save her family and silence the truth forever.
So Wendy goes to Neverland with murder in her heart and desperation in her veins.
But Neverland is not the dream she was promised. It is feral, intoxicating, and ruled by Peter—a beautiful liar with star-bright eyes and a touch that feels like surrender. Every moment with him blurs her purpose. Every kiss unravels her resolve. And the deeper she is pulled into his world, the harder it becomes to remember the girl who came to kill him.
Desire is a trap. Love is a weapon. And Neverland always takes its tithe.
A darkly erotic Peter Pan retelling steeped in temptation, knife-edge longing, and a love that demands you burn for it. Perfect for readers who crave the sensual mythology of Sierra Simone, the dangerous fantasy of Scarlett St. Clair, and fairy-tale retellings with teeth.
393 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2021
44 people are currently reading
4194 people want to read
About the author
K.J. Sutton
14 books1,814 followersK.J. Sutton is the Amazon bestselling author of the Fortuna Sworn Saga. Her writing has reached readers around the world and earned recognition from Kirkus Reviews.
She grew up in Minnesota and earned her master’s degree in Creative Writing from Hamline University. She now makes her home there in a plant-filled house with floor-to-ceiling windows, a piano in the corner, and a collection of bird feeders on the porch. When she isn’t writing in her favorite coffee shop, she’s likely walking her dogs with an audiobook in her ears or hunting for thrifted treasures.
She also writes young adult novels as Kelsey Sutton.
She grew up in Minnesota and earned her master’s degree in Creative Writing from Hamline University. She now makes her home there in a plant-filled house with floor-to-ceiling windows, a piano in the corner, and a collection of bird feeders on the porch. When she isn’t writing in her favorite coffee shop, she’s likely walking her dogs with an audiobook in her ears or hunting for thrifted treasures.
She also writes young adult novels as Kelsey Sutton.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
January 12, 2023
✅ Kind of Peter Pan retelling
✅ Gorgeous cover
✅ Smut
✅ Action
✅ Dark and ruthless world-building
✅ Deception and Betrayal
✅ Characters
✅🆗 Plot and pace
🆗 Romance / Insta-lust
❗️❗️ This is a very loose retelling of Peter Pan, the names of some characters and some elements of the story are the same, but it is definitely darker and sexier than the Peter Pan I remember. 😏
3.5 stars
Wendy Davenport’s family is broke and indebted, and poor Wendy is struggling to keep them afloat. Her mother won’t leave her bed since she’s learned about their precarious situation, her father drowns his emotions in alcohol, and her younger brother Michael is ill and risks dying. With no money to pay for a physician, Wendy had no real choice but to accept Peter’s deal when he flew in through her window for the third night in a row: follow Peter on an adventure for one week, and he will give her a cure for Michael in exchange. The only problem is that Wendy also accepted to kill Peter in exchange for wealth that would erase all of her family’s monetary problems forever. Wendy travels to Neverland with the intention to kill Peter unless she falls for him and his mysterious dark charms first.
I was a little apprehensive about this book since I am not really a fan of Peter Pan. I do adore K.J. Sutton’s other series though so I gave this one a chance and I was not disappointed. Straight On ‘Til Morning is an engaging and sexy adventure full of action and emotions. The ending is also expected-yet-unexpected (I know it does not make sense...), so overall it was a very nice book and an engaging dark, and mysterious adventure.
I fell in love with KJ Sutton's version of Neverland, where everything is equally beautiful and dangerous. It is a dark and ruthless place where everything and anything can be (and probably will be) a threat to your life. At the same time, it is full of wonders and magic and it creates an enthralling dark and mysterious atmosphere.
The characters were also well developed for a relatively short standalone book. Peter is a complex character with an unexpected depth. He refuses to grow up and chooses to live a life of adventure instead, even though it is tainted with the pain of being rejected by his family, and the loss of his love. Wendy longs for adventure but has been forced into the role of the perfect highborn lady since she was a little girl, and she has been forced into the role of a caregiver for her family since her parents gave up on trying to care for their children. She desperately tries to stay afloat and provide for everyone, until she is swept away by the magic and freedom of Neverland, and faced with Peter's determination to make her forget about London and her family.
I also really liked Captain James (I do have a thing for pirates). I was honestly hoping for him to become a love interest, and even at the end of the book, I was hoping for a reunion between him and Wendy. I do like Peter, but James just had that "je ne sais quoi" that made me fall in love with him.
I really enjoyed the way the story is written, how the madness and chaos of Neverland are described, how Peter's and Jame's stories were slowly revealed all throughout the book, and how we followed Wendy as she tasted freedom, and decided she wanted more of it, even if it meant living a chaotic life hidden in the forest with a bunch of kids. One thing that I didn't like as much is how everything ended up being fine for her family. Her parents panicked because she disappeared for days (even though it felt like she spent weeks or even months in Neverland), but that's it. We don't see the repercussion of her choices, and we don't see how she deals with returning to her "normal" life, except in the epilogue that happens 1 month after she came back.
Talking about the romance, it is not the best or the most developed and complex romance there is, but it is smutty (there is smut before we even reach the 2% mark! 😏 ), and even though I am not a fan of insta-lust, it was not so bad actually in this book.
I do recommend this book if you are looking for a fun, fast-paced story with action, romance, sword-fight, complicated feelings and relationships, and a dark and ruthless setting.
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✅ Gorgeous cover
✅ Smut
✅ Action
✅ Dark and ruthless world-building
✅ Deception and Betrayal
✅ Characters
✅🆗 Plot and pace
🆗 Romance / Insta-lust
❗️❗️ This is a very loose retelling of Peter Pan, the names of some characters and some elements of the story are the same, but it is definitely darker and sexier than the Peter Pan I remember. 😏
3.5 stars
Neverland stole memories as often as it stole lives.
Wendy Davenport’s family is broke and indebted, and poor Wendy is struggling to keep them afloat. Her mother won’t leave her bed since she’s learned about their precarious situation, her father drowns his emotions in alcohol, and her younger brother Michael is ill and risks dying. With no money to pay for a physician, Wendy had no real choice but to accept Peter’s deal when he flew in through her window for the third night in a row: follow Peter on an adventure for one week, and he will give her a cure for Michael in exchange. The only problem is that Wendy also accepted to kill Peter in exchange for wealth that would erase all of her family’s monetary problems forever. Wendy travels to Neverland with the intention to kill Peter unless she falls for him and his mysterious dark charms first.
I knew saving my brother had been tied to destroying Peter.
I was a little apprehensive about this book since I am not really a fan of Peter Pan. I do adore K.J. Sutton’s other series though so I gave this one a chance and I was not disappointed. Straight On ‘Til Morning is an engaging and sexy adventure full of action and emotions. The ending is also expected-yet-unexpected (I know it does not make sense...), so overall it was a very nice book and an engaging dark, and mysterious adventure.
I fell in love with KJ Sutton's version of Neverland, where everything is equally beautiful and dangerous. It is a dark and ruthless place where everything and anything can be (and probably will be) a threat to your life. At the same time, it is full of wonders and magic and it creates an enthralling dark and mysterious atmosphere.
In all the time I’d known him—sometimes it seemed like days, others it felt like years, and on certain occasions, it was just a smattering of seconds—Peter hadn’t been kind. Agreeable, maybe, and certainly passionate, but not kind.
The characters were also well developed for a relatively short standalone book. Peter is a complex character with an unexpected depth. He refuses to grow up and chooses to live a life of adventure instead, even though it is tainted with the pain of being rejected by his family, and the loss of his love. Wendy longs for adventure but has been forced into the role of the perfect highborn lady since she was a little girl, and she has been forced into the role of a caregiver for her family since her parents gave up on trying to care for their children. She desperately tries to stay afloat and provide for everyone, until she is swept away by the magic and freedom of Neverland, and faced with Peter's determination to make her forget about London and her family.
“I make you want to care again. To be something more than a boy of Neverland. You’re so lost—all of you are—and I awaken the part of you that wants to be found.”
I also really liked Captain James (I do have a thing for pirates). I was honestly hoping for him to become a love interest, and even at the end of the book, I was hoping for a reunion between him and Wendy. I do like Peter, but James just had that "je ne sais quoi" that made me fall in love with him.
I really enjoyed the way the story is written, how the madness and chaos of Neverland are described, how Peter's and Jame's stories were slowly revealed all throughout the book, and how we followed Wendy as she tasted freedom, and decided she wanted more of it, even if it meant living a chaotic life hidden in the forest with a bunch of kids. One thing that I didn't like as much is how everything ended up being fine for her family. Her parents panicked because she disappeared for days (even though it felt like she spent weeks or even months in Neverland), but that's it. We don't see the repercussion of her choices, and we don't see how she deals with returning to her "normal" life, except in the epilogue that happens 1 month after she came back.
“This is what it means to grow up, Peter,” I said finally. “To recognize our mistakes and bear the weight of them. All we can do is try to be better.”
Talking about the romance, it is not the best or the most developed and complex romance there is, but it is smutty (there is smut before we even reach the 2% mark! 😏 ), and even though I am not a fan of insta-lust, it was not so bad actually in this book.
I do recommend this book if you are looking for a fun, fast-paced story with action, romance, sword-fight, complicated feelings and relationships, and a dark and ruthless setting.
“Never say goodbye, because goodbye means going away… and going away means forgetting,” he murmured.
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May 17, 2021
Wendy Davenport is struggling to keep her family afloat. Their fortune has dwindled to nothing, leaving them with unsurmountable debt. Her mother has taken to bed, her father has turned to alcohol and Wendy's brother Michael has taken ill and may very well die. So when Peter flies through Wendy's window offering to take her on an adventure, she has to refuse. However, when the affluential Lady Bainbridge offers to restore the Davenport family to their former wealth in exchange for Peter's life, Wendy reluctantly agrees, travelling to Neverland with the intention to kill Peter... unless she falls for him first.
As someone who is not a big fan of Peter Pan as a book in itself, I was a tiny bit apprehensive about this one. However K.J Sutton delivered a fun, engaging story with plenty of whimsy and action, balanced with points of high emotion.
I personally love the dual nature of Peter Pan as a character, with his desire to never grow up and live a life of adventure laced through with the pain of a boy who was rejected by his family and forced to find his own way and I feel like that was represented very well in Straight on Til Morning, with added points of tension when romance and a fraught relationship with a long-lost brother thrown into the mix as well.
Wendy is a character who longs for adventure but has been forced into the role of caregiver to her family when they hit hard times so I loved seeing her try to hold onto the parts of herself she would rather let go as she was swept away by the magic and freedom of Neverland and faced with the enigmatic Peter, who is trying his best to make Wendy forget about all she cares about to stay with him forever.
While I don't love J.M. Barries Peter Pan, I enjoyed how original elements and iconic lines from the children's classic were woven throughout Straight On 'Til Morning, often in unexpected ways. I loved the exploration of Neverland and the wonders it contains and the twists on characters and plot points that I am already familiar with.
And of course, in typical K.J. Sutton fashion, this book packs an emotional punch at the end that I wasn't expecting but thoroughly enjoyed.
Overall if you enjoy fun, fast-paced stories with complicated romances, sword fights, whimsy & messy characters that make your heart, this book may be for you.
As someone who is not a big fan of Peter Pan as a book in itself, I was a tiny bit apprehensive about this one. However K.J Sutton delivered a fun, engaging story with plenty of whimsy and action, balanced with points of high emotion.
I personally love the dual nature of Peter Pan as a character, with his desire to never grow up and live a life of adventure laced through with the pain of a boy who was rejected by his family and forced to find his own way and I feel like that was represented very well in Straight on Til Morning, with added points of tension when romance and a fraught relationship with a long-lost brother thrown into the mix as well.
Wendy is a character who longs for adventure but has been forced into the role of caregiver to her family when they hit hard times so I loved seeing her try to hold onto the parts of herself she would rather let go as she was swept away by the magic and freedom of Neverland and faced with the enigmatic Peter, who is trying his best to make Wendy forget about all she cares about to stay with him forever.
While I don't love J.M. Barries Peter Pan, I enjoyed how original elements and iconic lines from the children's classic were woven throughout Straight On 'Til Morning, often in unexpected ways. I loved the exploration of Neverland and the wonders it contains and the twists on characters and plot points that I am already familiar with.
And of course, in typical K.J. Sutton fashion, this book packs an emotional punch at the end that I wasn't expecting but thoroughly enjoyed.
Overall if you enjoy fun, fast-paced stories with complicated romances, sword fights, whimsy & messy characters that make your heart, this book may be for you.
May 19, 2021
This was a complete impulse read and I have no regrets! I accidentally clicked "Look Inside" on Amazon and ended up reading the first chapter, which I almost never do... and was completely hooked afterwards 😆
✅ I'M NORMALLY NOT A FAN OF RETELLINGS but I really enjoyed this one! It did a good job of capturing the whimsy of Neverland and incorporating aspects of the original story while still being very original and new
✅ NEVERLAND WAS PERFECT and I fell in love with the magical creatures, the people and the setting. I loved how it had both beautiful and dangerous parts to it and I enjoyed getting to explore it through Wendy
🆗 THE OVERALL CONFLICT AND BLACKMAIL seemed a little forced and not super realistic. And while the "secret assassin" trope is obviously entertaining for multiple reasons, there's just something that always bothers me about the lack of communication involved
🆗 THE ROMANCE ITSELF didn't have a whole lot of depth but I was still pretty content with it overall 😅 It was kind of a combination between medium-burn and insta-lust, but in this case, I actually found the insta-lust funny. It seemed believable to me that Peter was horny all the time because Wendy was one of the only adult females he was around consistently in Neverland hahah
✅ I LOVED HOW SMUTTY this was! It's not on the same level as a lot of pure romance novels, but for the fantasy genre it was great 💕 I mean the steam started off with a bang from literally the first chapter lol
✅ I WAS SURPRISED HOW DEEP THE CHARACTERS were for a standalone and I think the author did a great job showing Peter's backstory unravel and showing Wendy's descent into chaos in Neverland. I do wish there would have been more repercussions to Wendy's forgetfulness in the real world though
Overall, I had no expectations going in to this book and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it! Normally, it's difficult to execute a good balance between interesting characters, a fun and action packed fantasy adventure, and a steamy romance in a standalone novel- but KJ Sutton was able to accomplish just that. It is similar to A Deal with the Elf King in the genre and target audience, but I actually think this book was much better overall.
✅ I'M NORMALLY NOT A FAN OF RETELLINGS but I really enjoyed this one! It did a good job of capturing the whimsy of Neverland and incorporating aspects of the original story while still being very original and new
✅ NEVERLAND WAS PERFECT and I fell in love with the magical creatures, the people and the setting. I loved how it had both beautiful and dangerous parts to it and I enjoyed getting to explore it through Wendy
🆗 THE OVERALL CONFLICT AND BLACKMAIL seemed a little forced and not super realistic. And while the "secret assassin" trope is obviously entertaining for multiple reasons, there's just something that always bothers me about the lack of communication involved
🆗 THE ROMANCE ITSELF didn't have a whole lot of depth but I was still pretty content with it overall 😅 It was kind of a combination between medium-burn and insta-lust, but in this case, I actually found the insta-lust funny. It seemed believable to me that Peter was horny all the time because Wendy was one of the only adult females he was around consistently in Neverland hahah
✅ I LOVED HOW SMUTTY this was! It's not on the same level as a lot of pure romance novels, but for the fantasy genre it was great 💕 I mean the steam started off with a bang from literally the first chapter lol
✅ I WAS SURPRISED HOW DEEP THE CHARACTERS were for a standalone and I think the author did a great job showing Peter's backstory unravel and showing Wendy's descent into chaos in Neverland. I do wish there would have been more repercussions to Wendy's forgetfulness in the real world though
Overall, I had no expectations going in to this book and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it! Normally, it's difficult to execute a good balance between interesting characters, a fun and action packed fantasy adventure, and a steamy romance in a standalone novel- but KJ Sutton was able to accomplish just that. It is similar to A Deal with the Elf King in the genre and target audience, but I actually think this book was much better overall.
May 18, 2021
I do not normally like Peter Pan retelling but the smut and spice and STORY really made me love this!
May 28, 2021
RTC ✨
March 7, 2022
Peter Pan has never been a favourite of mine. I think I always found him somewhat creepy when I was little, and when I grew up I learned about the urban legend that said that the children of Neverland didn't grow up because when they eventually did, Peter Pan killed them off. Trust Disney to turn any nightmare into a fairytale.
That being said, there’s something incredibly disturbing about this retelling and I'm not just referring to the random violence we find among lost boys and girls.
The book starts with Peter giving Wendy head. Right off the bat. That moment really sets the tone for the rest of the book because it’s something so random that you expect this retelling to be:
1) Filled with lots of smut every few pages
2) Romance being the main plotline
But it’s not.
The story doesn't seem to know what it wants to focus on. Romance? Adventure? Character development? It is all this and nothing at the same time as none of these facets are explored in depth, but rather developed in fits and starts.
I wouldn’t say its romance because Peter and Wendy’s relationship is so poorly fleshed out its laughable. Why do they even like each other? Why did Peter set his sights on her? Why is Wendy willing to overlook his many (and disturbing) flaws? He’s basically a narcissistic sociopath. It’s also very unclear how old Peter and Wendy are in this retelling. I’m choosing to think they’re young adults because the alternative makes me very uncomfortable.
It’s not purely adventure, because we get soo many meandering plotlines (including random smut) and so many plotholes that it just can’t be. Ugh.
It doesn't focus on character development either because by the end of the book I still didn’t know shit about the character’s reasons. We’re told not shown in the best case scenario, but that to me means nothing. The characters do not evolve. No one is held accountable for their horrible mistakes. Peter kills/kidnaps children and lies all the time, Wendy forgets about her dying brother because having carefree fun is her top priority, Lily is selfish and cruel, Captain Hook tries to constantly gaslight his brother and kidnaps people on multiple occasions.... and none of it is talked about or acknowledged, they all just collectively sweep it under the rug and call it a day.
I think I would have preferred the book to have focused on just one of these things and fleshed it out in detail until the end, but as it is, it feels incredibly long and worst of all, it’s boring.
That being said, there’s something incredibly disturbing about this retelling and I'm not just referring to the random violence we find among lost boys and girls.
The book starts with Peter giving Wendy head. Right off the bat. That moment really sets the tone for the rest of the book because it’s something so random that you expect this retelling to be:
1) Filled with lots of smut every few pages
2) Romance being the main plotline
But it’s not.
The story doesn't seem to know what it wants to focus on. Romance? Adventure? Character development? It is all this and nothing at the same time as none of these facets are explored in depth, but rather developed in fits and starts.
I wouldn’t say its romance because Peter and Wendy’s relationship is so poorly fleshed out its laughable. Why do they even like each other? Why did Peter set his sights on her? Why is Wendy willing to overlook his many (and disturbing) flaws? He’s basically a narcissistic sociopath. It’s also very unclear how old Peter and Wendy are in this retelling. I’m choosing to think they’re young adults because the alternative makes me very uncomfortable.
It’s not purely adventure, because we get soo many meandering plotlines (including random smut) and so many plotholes that it just can’t be. Ugh.
It doesn't focus on character development either because by the end of the book I still didn’t know shit about the character’s reasons. We’re told not shown in the best case scenario, but that to me means nothing. The characters do not evolve. No one is held accountable for their horrible mistakes. Peter kills/kidnaps children and lies all the time, Wendy forgets about her dying brother because having carefree fun is her top priority, Lily is selfish and cruel, Captain Hook tries to constantly gaslight his brother and kidnaps people on multiple occasions.... and none of it is talked about or acknowledged, they all just collectively sweep it under the rug and call it a day.
I think I would have preferred the book to have focused on just one of these things and fleshed it out in detail until the end, but as it is, it feels incredibly long and worst of all, it’s boring.
May 21, 2021
SMUTTY PETER PAN!!🤭
Going into this i was like oop- i don’t know about this but the second half really picked up and i enjoyed it a lot!
Wendy was amazing and the concept was super cool!
All and all a nice quick and fast paced read :)
4/5⭐️
Going into this i was like oop- i don’t know about this but the second half really picked up and i enjoyed it a lot!
Wendy was amazing and the concept was super cool!
All and all a nice quick and fast paced read :)
4/5⭐️
Want to read
May 18, 2021I am anything but straight for the woman on this cover 👀👀
May 22, 2021
“Second star to the right, and straight on ‘til morning.”
I give this book 4.5✨
Everything in this book was amazing! I loved all of the characters in this book. Peter has a special place in my heart now. Wendy was such a baddie and I loved her character so much you get to see her character grow so much throughout the whole book. Not even going to lie I also have a crush on James too.
I never saw the ending happening, not going to lie I did cry. Other then the ending crushing my soul I absolutely love this book. Will definitely recommend to everyone!
I give this book 4.5✨
Everything in this book was amazing! I loved all of the characters in this book. Peter has a special place in my heart now. Wendy was such a baddie and I loved her character so much you get to see her character grow so much throughout the whole book. Not even going to lie I also have a crush on James too.
I never saw the ending happening, not going to lie I did cry. Other then the ending crushing my soul I absolutely love this book. Will definitely recommend to everyone!
August 30, 2024
that was NOT the peter taylor swift wrote about
January 23, 2022
✨Book Review✨
⭐️⭐️.5
🌶
Straight on til Morning by K J Sutton
This is a 'spicy' Peter Pan retelling and I had high hopes...
As someone who LOVES retellings and reads them constantly, I was really excited for this!
The plot started off strong, if I disregard the random spice sesh like 5 pages in. Wendy's story was really shaping up to be a fantastic outline for the book. Then... it stopped.
There was no chemistry with Peter, no back and forth, and the spice felt like it was just put in there so it could be called spicy. Felt like the book equivalent of click bait to me. It didn't fit with the pace or plot of the book at all.
Wendy's story and motivation dropped for 3/4 of the book. Hook's character unfortunately disappointed me, and Peter was more interested in personal gains. This book had a great outline and fell super short.
Overall I gave this book a 2.5 but rounded up for the goodreads.
⭐️⭐️.5
🌶
Straight on til Morning by K J Sutton
This is a 'spicy' Peter Pan retelling and I had high hopes...
As someone who LOVES retellings and reads them constantly, I was really excited for this!
The plot started off strong, if I disregard the random spice sesh like 5 pages in. Wendy's story was really shaping up to be a fantastic outline for the book. Then... it stopped.
There was no chemistry with Peter, no back and forth, and the spice felt like it was just put in there so it could be called spicy. Felt like the book equivalent of click bait to me. It didn't fit with the pace or plot of the book at all.
Wendy's story and motivation dropped for 3/4 of the book. Hook's character unfortunately disappointed me, and Peter was more interested in personal gains. This book had a great outline and fell super short.
Overall I gave this book a 2.5 but rounded up for the goodreads.
Read
January 8, 2023This is a dnf. I gotta clean out my currently reading, not going to let that list bully me in 2023.
September 8, 2024
4.75star rating
79% rating
what. What! WHAT was this book?
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to read another Peter Pan retelling again now. Because how will it match the disheveled, fun energy this book carries?
I picked up this book because I love Peter Pan. And I was interested in reading more of K.J Sutton’s work. And the author did not disappoint.
This book was a lot. So I think the best way to talk about it, is starting from the characters:
⚠️ Warning Spoilers ⚠️
Bell/Tink
She’s definitely a curious character for readers. She’s a character left untouched in writing and belonging to mystery. Although I can’t find any similarities with her personality to the original book besides her name.
Lilian
I do not like her.
I definitely liked her when she was fighting against that person that planned to kill her. She was a badass.
The rest of the book I just didn’t like her.
But then again we never got to see her side of the story, and her relationship with Peter was never fully explained. It’s said that she had a crush on Peter, which leads you to assume that Peter is just oblivious to that and is just having fun and admiring her. But the whole book leads you to assume that there’s more between them because he gets distracted by her.
Which just annoys me that it wasn’t further explained. If Peter isn’t interested in her like that, I wish that was just blatantly stated at some point in the book.
In conclusion I can’t forgive a girl that tried to have another girl eaten alive because of jealousy. No badass fighting can redeem that.
Lost boys
I love how they’re need for a home was explored. It’s little hints throughout the book that just build up that they want and need a parental figure. It’s because of that, that I didn’t understand why they were just left in Netherland.
Hook/James
…
That’s all I’m going to leave. Just um… questions. And confusion. And how old is this person? I believe he’s a well crafted character in a certain way. I’ve just forgotten everyone’s age including James’s and now I’m wondering if his feelings for a certain someone was legal. But also his ending???
So, in conclusion: ???????
Wendy’s Family
I’m so glad Michael and John aren’t a major importance to this story. I always found it weird how in the original Peter Pan an older sibling like Wendy meets a stranger Peter Pan that she knows isn’t 100% safe and is just like ‘can I bring my younger brothers?’
Michael is a driving plot point and I like how sickness from that time became a part of it. It felt very realistic.
John didn’t have a strong presence in the story. Which was fine. Greatly written even. I loved the tiny detail with how the family falling apart slowly affected him.
I can be annoyed with the parents all I want. But I understand where it’s coming from. I mostly can understand the mother. Because especially at that time with her high status, she is in a hopeless position where she can’t be someone to make an income and now she’s struggling with depression. And with depression and that time period… I felt some pity for her.
However, I’m not gonna lie. I've always been biased with not liking the father. And he did not escape me not liking him in this book.
I can understand hopelessness. But I just get this strong feeling of prejudice towards protecting your family. So I just couldn’t stand how he just fell apart when his family needed him more than anything. He didn’t look for every job because he didn’t even consider working at a factory.
He had kids to feed and care for, so lose your dignity. Because they were just like ‘oh, if we can’t be rich people in business, we’ll just have nothing.’ Like, what? Your kid is dying! Get any job you can!
Wendy Darling
I love both Peter and Wendy. But if Peter hurts Wendy I am on her side no matter what. I will fight for that girl.
Peter Pan
I love this boy, but he also causes so much rage from me. Wtf. There were so many times I was ready to start throwing punches at this fictional character.
“The boy himself was a walking contradiction.” That quote explains him perfectly.
But this portrayal of Peter Pan was perfect to the original. It’s Peter Pan but older. He’s both caring, but also horrible. He’s predictable but also unpredictable. He makes me happy and also makes me f*cking furious.
This Peter Pan is basically a lot more darker… and he’s also a lot more horny. I was not expecting that, but it exists.
Also, why was his relationship with Wendy so sexual? Every time I thought he was going to just have a nice conversation with Wendy and be cute, he just has to whip it out.
I just wanted more sweet moments between him and Wendy.
Peter Pan was the reason this book felt like a fever dream. I sat in the dark reading this book wondering what reality was.
But he’s also the main reason this book couldn’t be a full 5stars, that and my confusion with Hook.
World building
Aaaaahhhh, I loved the world.
Plot
*Laughs in fever dream* I had a lot of fun. I couldn’t stop reading the book.
Ending
I was shocked and in denial when it ended because I thought I still had a few more pages left and then I felt empty.
But, I actually liked the ending. But I still think Peter and Wendy need at least one session of couples therapy. Just so I can get closure.
Final thoughts
I have a soft spot for this book. I lowkey kind of love
I really enjoyed it, even if I do have some critics on it.
➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖
There’s so much I need to say and I need to get a drink first.
This book was one of the books that helped me get out of a reading slump.
79% rating
what. What! WHAT was this book?
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to read another Peter Pan retelling again now. Because how will it match the disheveled, fun energy this book carries?
I picked up this book because I love Peter Pan. And I was interested in reading more of K.J Sutton’s work. And the author did not disappoint.
This book was a lot. So I think the best way to talk about it, is starting from the characters:
⚠️ Warning Spoilers ⚠️
Bell/Tink
She’s definitely a curious character for readers. She’s a character left untouched in writing and belonging to mystery. Although I can’t find any similarities with her personality to the original book besides her name.
Lilian
I do not like her.
I definitely liked her when she was fighting against that person that planned to kill her. She was a badass.
The rest of the book I just didn’t like her.
But then again we never got to see her side of the story, and her relationship with Peter was never fully explained. It’s said that she had a crush on Peter, which leads you to assume that Peter is just oblivious to that and is just having fun and admiring her. But the whole book leads you to assume that there’s more between them because he gets distracted by her.
Which just annoys me that it wasn’t further explained. If Peter isn’t interested in her like that, I wish that was just blatantly stated at some point in the book.
In conclusion I can’t forgive a girl that tried to have another girl eaten alive because of jealousy. No badass fighting can redeem that.
Lost boys
I love how they’re need for a home was explored. It’s little hints throughout the book that just build up that they want and need a parental figure. It’s because of that, that I didn’t understand why they were just left in Netherland.
Hook/James
…
That’s all I’m going to leave. Just um… questions. And confusion. And how old is this person? I believe he’s a well crafted character in a certain way. I’ve just forgotten everyone’s age including James’s and now I’m wondering if his feelings for a certain someone was legal. But also his ending???
So, in conclusion: ???????
Wendy’s Family
I’m so glad Michael and John aren’t a major importance to this story. I always found it weird how in the original Peter Pan an older sibling like Wendy meets a stranger Peter Pan that she knows isn’t 100% safe and is just like ‘can I bring my younger brothers?’
Michael is a driving plot point and I like how sickness from that time became a part of it. It felt very realistic.
John didn’t have a strong presence in the story. Which was fine. Greatly written even. I loved the tiny detail with how the family falling apart slowly affected him.
I can be annoyed with the parents all I want. But I understand where it’s coming from. I mostly can understand the mother. Because especially at that time with her high status, she is in a hopeless position where she can’t be someone to make an income and now she’s struggling with depression. And with depression and that time period… I felt some pity for her.
However, I’m not gonna lie. I've always been biased with not liking the father. And he did not escape me not liking him in this book.
I can understand hopelessness. But I just get this strong feeling of prejudice towards protecting your family. So I just couldn’t stand how he just fell apart when his family needed him more than anything. He didn’t look for every job because he didn’t even consider working at a factory.
He had kids to feed and care for, so lose your dignity. Because they were just like ‘oh, if we can’t be rich people in business, we’ll just have nothing.’ Like, what? Your kid is dying! Get any job you can!
Wendy Darling
I love both Peter and Wendy. But if Peter hurts Wendy I am on her side no matter what. I will fight for that girl.
Peter Pan
I love this boy, but he also causes so much rage from me. Wtf. There were so many times I was ready to start throwing punches at this fictional character.
“The boy himself was a walking contradiction.” That quote explains him perfectly.
But this portrayal of Peter Pan was perfect to the original. It’s Peter Pan but older. He’s both caring, but also horrible. He’s predictable but also unpredictable. He makes me happy and also makes me f*cking furious.
This Peter Pan is basically a lot more darker… and he’s also a lot more horny. I was not expecting that, but it exists.
Also, why was his relationship with Wendy so sexual? Every time I thought he was going to just have a nice conversation with Wendy and be cute, he just has to whip it out.
I just wanted more sweet moments between him and Wendy.
Peter Pan was the reason this book felt like a fever dream. I sat in the dark reading this book wondering what reality was.
But he’s also the main reason this book couldn’t be a full 5stars, that and my confusion with Hook.
World building
Aaaaahhhh, I loved the world.
Plot
*Laughs in fever dream* I had a lot of fun. I couldn’t stop reading the book.
Ending
I was shocked and in denial when it ended because I thought I still had a few more pages left and then I felt empty.
But, I actually liked the ending. But I still think Peter and Wendy need at least one session of couples therapy. Just so I can get closure.
Final thoughts
I have a soft spot for this book. I lowkey kind of love
I really enjoyed it, even if I do have some critics on it.
➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖
There’s so much I need to say and I need to get a drink first.
This book was one of the books that helped me get out of a reading slump.
June 8, 2022
DNF 53% I was thinking of continuing but I actually really hate the protagonists and it sounds like they don't improve at all so why would I keep reading about selfish narcissists?
The sex in it is actually a huge fucking flaw for me. It's not badly written smut but it is TERRIBLY paced and horrifically placed. It feels like a younger YA novel overall, like the characters all feel 15 at most but then there's these explicit sex scenes that appear out of nowhere, and I mean literally out of nowhere. They're never logical in their appearance, frequently it happens when someone is upset and then suddenly they enter sex god territory for 5 pages and then go back to being upset like nothing happened it made me feel like a crazy person. Like did this author write a 15 year old intended YA and then decide to just go through and add some smut without actually trying to integrate it on a later draft??? It's fucking baffling and given that I have no idea how old the characters are and that none of them have any kinda relationship or personality to justify these scenes I actually just hate it.
There was no reason for the opening to be as long as it was. None of it was interesting enough to justify it and it defeated itself anyway with multiple unnecessary levels of motivation that the character didn't even need anyway. We could have skipped the entire opening and just had her go with him the first time to either 1. Try to figure out how to help her family or 2. To try to kill him which is revealed with a flashback. We don't need him to visit 5 times with no purpose and an arduous description of how miserable her shitty family is combined with blackmail from some random uninvolved 3rd party. It'd make more sense of the blackmailer was related to her issues maybe but it's completely unrelated and feels like an unnecessary level of escalation when combined with her family issues. I'd prefer the blackmail angle if she was a harder woman but as it stands it didn't suit the story and made her and her family more boring by virtue of simply being there.
This is all the more egregious by the fact that Wendy has a negative character arc where she becomes more selfish and narcissist as the novel goes and happily forgets about her family so WHY DID WE HAVE TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME READING ABOUT THEM. AAAAAHH.
I especially started disengaging when the author tried playing with ideas of polyamory where Wendy wants to irrationally fuck Peter and James constantly (don't worry none of them have any chemistry) and there's this narrative of aww it's okay to wanna love more than one person! This is TRUE but not in HER specific case. She hasn't communicated this desire to anyone and she's literally seeing James behind Peters back and James and Peter want to kill each other and they're brothers. That is not polyamory that is cheating. There is no communication and there is no consent so Wendy is not in a polyamorous romantic relationship she is in a narcissistic I'm the center of the world and everyone better do what I want relationship.
This is to polyamory rep what 50 shades of grey is to BDSM - sure it can be conceived of that way in the loosest sense of the term but anyone that knows this shit is gunna get pissed off.
On top of that I have no fucking clue why Peter likes Wendy or why Wendy likes Peter I legit actually wish she'd just stab him cos both of them are awful and according to other reviews neither of them get better and neither of them have any reason to ever like each other and I guess it's valid to write stories about the worst people alive just sitting and shitting in a wood all day long but I'm not interested in that personally so BYE
The sex in it is actually a huge fucking flaw for me. It's not badly written smut but it is TERRIBLY paced and horrifically placed. It feels like a younger YA novel overall, like the characters all feel 15 at most but then there's these explicit sex scenes that appear out of nowhere, and I mean literally out of nowhere. They're never logical in their appearance, frequently it happens when someone is upset and then suddenly they enter sex god territory for 5 pages and then go back to being upset like nothing happened it made me feel like a crazy person. Like did this author write a 15 year old intended YA and then decide to just go through and add some smut without actually trying to integrate it on a later draft??? It's fucking baffling and given that I have no idea how old the characters are and that none of them have any kinda relationship or personality to justify these scenes I actually just hate it.
There was no reason for the opening to be as long as it was. None of it was interesting enough to justify it and it defeated itself anyway with multiple unnecessary levels of motivation that the character didn't even need anyway. We could have skipped the entire opening and just had her go with him the first time to either 1. Try to figure out how to help her family or 2. To try to kill him which is revealed with a flashback. We don't need him to visit 5 times with no purpose and an arduous description of how miserable her shitty family is combined with blackmail from some random uninvolved 3rd party. It'd make more sense of the blackmailer was related to her issues maybe but it's completely unrelated and feels like an unnecessary level of escalation when combined with her family issues. I'd prefer the blackmail angle if she was a harder woman but as it stands it didn't suit the story and made her and her family more boring by virtue of simply being there.
This is all the more egregious by the fact that Wendy has a negative character arc where she becomes more selfish and narcissist as the novel goes and happily forgets about her family so WHY DID WE HAVE TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME READING ABOUT THEM. AAAAAHH.
I especially started disengaging when the author tried playing with ideas of polyamory where Wendy wants to irrationally fuck Peter and James constantly (don't worry none of them have any chemistry) and there's this narrative of aww it's okay to wanna love more than one person! This is TRUE but not in HER specific case. She hasn't communicated this desire to anyone and she's literally seeing James behind Peters back and James and Peter want to kill each other and they're brothers. That is not polyamory that is cheating. There is no communication and there is no consent so Wendy is not in a polyamorous romantic relationship she is in a narcissistic I'm the center of the world and everyone better do what I want relationship.
This is to polyamory rep what 50 shades of grey is to BDSM - sure it can be conceived of that way in the loosest sense of the term but anyone that knows this shit is gunna get pissed off.
On top of that I have no fucking clue why Peter likes Wendy or why Wendy likes Peter I legit actually wish she'd just stab him cos both of them are awful and according to other reviews neither of them get better and neither of them have any reason to ever like each other and I guess it's valid to write stories about the worst people alive just sitting and shitting in a wood all day long but I'm not interested in that personally so BYE
May 24, 2021
4.5 Star
This book pulled me in so many different directions. Never was I reading this and just reading, I was always being pushed back and forth, debating and wavering. Falling in and out of love, fully unable to make a decision on who/what I wanted. It made it all feel so real, so invested!
Peter was so expertly done, so true to himself. I dove into this book ready to be swept off my feet by my childhood crush, and at first everything was as I remembered. He was a dashing sort of scoundrel, his wildness was so intriguing and his playfulness made him elusive and all the more enticing to want to chase after. But then, as we get closer we are shown what never growing up really means. The curtain is pulled back and we see him in the eyes of the adult we now are. He is childish. Selfish in his desires and actions. He takes only his own counsel, and as someone who leads a band of children in the harsh and dangerous world of Neverland, that kind of thinking leads to unsavory answers to problems. He is not all good, he is not all bad. He is simply Peter.
I found myself loving and hating him, I was so delighted to genuinely not know who "the love interest REALLY is" This book kept me on my toes, and after reading so many books for so many years, that has sadly been something of a rarity for me.
Please read this book! Its interesting, and pretty spicy to boot! The characters, inner dialog and relationships are so real and suck you in instantly and I love Wendy so much as our MC.
This book pulled me in so many different directions. Never was I reading this and just reading, I was always being pushed back and forth, debating and wavering. Falling in and out of love, fully unable to make a decision on who/what I wanted. It made it all feel so real, so invested!
Peter was so expertly done, so true to himself. I dove into this book ready to be swept off my feet by my childhood crush, and at first everything was as I remembered. He was a dashing sort of scoundrel, his wildness was so intriguing and his playfulness made him elusive and all the more enticing to want to chase after. But then, as we get closer we are shown what never growing up really means. The curtain is pulled back and we see him in the eyes of the adult we now are. He is childish. Selfish in his desires and actions. He takes only his own counsel, and as someone who leads a band of children in the harsh and dangerous world of Neverland, that kind of thinking leads to unsavory answers to problems. He is not all good, he is not all bad. He is simply Peter.
I found myself loving and hating him, I was so delighted to genuinely not know who "the love interest REALLY is" This book kept me on my toes, and after reading so many books for so many years, that has sadly been something of a rarity for me.
Please read this book! Its interesting, and pretty spicy to boot! The characters, inner dialog and relationships are so real and suck you in instantly and I love Wendy so much as our MC.
March 15, 2022
I literally sobbed 5/5
“I think there’s always one whose feathers are a bit brighter, don’t you?”
“I think there’s always one whose feathers are a bit brighter, don’t you?”
November 10, 2021
I ended up skimming the last 30% of the book. The premise of the book was interesting, but we don't go much beyond that. There are glaring plot holes and plenty of random scenes (especially random sex scenes).
Also, I don't really get it why everyone is OK with child fight club while there are seemingly plenty of resources on the island and the villagers are eager to protect their children - why not move the kids there instead of killing them off?
Why can't the fairies provide for the kids if they are effectively being guarded by them? Probably some fairy dust would suffice to get them flying and they could all go get food and stuff on their own. Why can't the mermaids resurrect everyone? It's all just weird.
Also, I don't really get it why everyone is OK with child fight club while there are seemingly plenty of resources on the island and the villagers are eager to protect their children - why not move the kids there instead of killing them off?
Why can't the fairies provide for the kids if they are effectively being guarded by them? Probably some fairy dust would suffice to get them flying and they could all go get food and stuff on their own. Why can't the mermaids resurrect everyone? It's all just weird.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2021
This book was weird…and I read a lot of weird books…but you start off with a description of a “boy” knocking on the window and the heroine’s voice sounds childlike and she’s getting up from what she thinks is a dream…..aaaaaand then she lets him in and this “boy” as she keeps calling him is described with manly, adult features and they basically start boning immediately.
…….what? I’m so confused. Are they adults? So they somehow know each other? Am I supposed to be into this? Three seconds ago I thought they were kids but now they are naughty touching and it feels like I need to go take a shower and see a priest. 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
DNF for me.
…….what? I’m so confused. Are they adults? So they somehow know each other? Am I supposed to be into this? Three seconds ago I thought they were kids but now they are naughty touching and it feels like I need to go take a shower and see a priest. 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
DNF for me.
Read
October 17, 2025So sad that this book just didn’t work for me. I found the plot a bit all over the place and I really didn’t vibe with the spicy Peter Pan retelling! I will definitely be reading another book by this author though - the writing style was definitely up my street but sadly this one was a miss for me.
October 19, 2021
Actual rating: 4.5 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐🌠
This book was everything I wanted it to be! I love Peter Pan and the stories about Neverland. I was very excited when K.J. Sutton surprise released this book, as I am a bigfan of her writing, worldbuilding and the way she tends to write morally grey characters. Her Fortuna Sworn is also a well-loved series of mine. I was waiting for the perfect moment to read it and I'm glad I did. The way she wrote Peter was done perfectly in my opinion and intriguing. The way she wove the original story with her own version in a dark and unique way was nicely done. For example, hoe she incorporated the shadows and thought of her own meaning behind it fit perfectly to the story. A very well done retelling that I thoroughly enjoyed!!
This book was everything I wanted it to be! I love Peter Pan and the stories about Neverland. I was very excited when K.J. Sutton surprise released this book, as I am a bigfan of her writing, worldbuilding and the way she tends to write morally grey characters. Her Fortuna Sworn is also a well-loved series of mine. I was waiting for the perfect moment to read it and I'm glad I did. The way she wrote Peter was done perfectly in my opinion and intriguing. The way she wove the original story with her own version in a dark and unique way was nicely done. For example, hoe she incorporated the shadows and thought of her own meaning behind it fit perfectly to the story. A very well done retelling that I thoroughly enjoyed!!
August 22, 2021
CAWPILE rating: 2.2/10
STAR rating: ★½
Yeaaaaah, just not for me.
STAR rating: ★½
Yeaaaaah, just not for me.
December 9, 2021
Pretty sure I’ve already forgotten half the plot
August 11, 2021
OH MY FLIPPING GOD! IF YOU LOVE PETER PAN AND LIVE FOR THE SPICE THEN THIS IS IT FOR YOU!
Did my childhood get ruined? YES
Did i mind it? NOT IN THE LEAST
Do i need help? ABSO-FUCKING-LOUTLY
I was slumped and this cured it right up! This book was so good and so fun and so sexy that i’m not even mad that i’ll probably need therapy. I loved the tidbits and details towards the original movies, once they quoted ‘the second stat to the right and straight on ‘til morning’ i lost my mind! From then on it was going back to my childhood, well, all except for the sex. The spice in this, both traumatized me and i overly enjoyed. I will NEVER see Peter Pan and Wendy with the same eyes but hooooooly wow, the spice was too hot and too good that i am okay with the trauma. And i mean it, this book does NOT hesitate, literally from the very first pages you are left breathless.
There’s also a little bit of Once Upon A Time in there too, if you’ve seen the series then Peter’s shadow will make a shit ton of sense. But if you’ve read or know the original story you know that Peter is always portrayed as the villain as well as Neverland having a mind of it’s own and sharing a connection with Peter. The lost boys, the Jolly Roger, Tinkerbell, everything was such a throwback and mix it with some spice and it’s the perfect combination. If you’ve watched Peter Pan (2003) then the references made here will blow your mind and heart away. I was screaming my lungs out when they made some of the references and it was so cute and so just AGH! Right towards the end i was drinking my tears, first from pain and then from joy. If you find yourself in a slump then this is the perfect picker upper.
✨✨✨✨✨/5
🌶🌶🌶.5/5
Did my childhood get ruined? YES
Did i mind it? NOT IN THE LEAST
Do i need help? ABSO-FUCKING-LOUTLY
I was slumped and this cured it right up! This book was so good and so fun and so sexy that i’m not even mad that i’ll probably need therapy. I loved the tidbits and details towards the original movies, once they quoted ‘the second stat to the right and straight on ‘til morning’ i lost my mind! From then on it was going back to my childhood, well, all except for the sex. The spice in this, both traumatized me and i overly enjoyed. I will NEVER see Peter Pan and Wendy with the same eyes but hooooooly wow, the spice was too hot and too good that i am okay with the trauma. And i mean it, this book does NOT hesitate, literally from the very first pages you are left breathless.
There’s also a little bit of Once Upon A Time in there too, if you’ve seen the series then Peter’s shadow will make a shit ton of sense. But if you’ve read or know the original story you know that Peter is always portrayed as the villain as well as Neverland having a mind of it’s own and sharing a connection with Peter. The lost boys, the Jolly Roger, Tinkerbell, everything was such a throwback and mix it with some spice and it’s the perfect combination. If you’ve watched Peter Pan (2003) then the references made here will blow your mind and heart away. I was screaming my lungs out when they made some of the references and it was so cute and so just AGH! Right towards the end i was drinking my tears, first from pain and then from joy. If you find yourself in a slump then this is the perfect picker upper.
✨✨✨✨✨/5
🌶🌶🌶.5/5
August 21, 2021
I have fallen so unexpectedly hard for this book I don’t even know where to begin.
Owning to the book’s synopsis, I expected a stereotypical “badass-female-lead who has to kill her enemy/love interest until it is quickly a them-against-the-world-love... with fae” type of fantasy book but this story blew me away.
Firstly I love how close the author kept the story to the original Disney Peter and Wendy story. Easter eggs like the ticking crocodile and Michael’s glasses gave the story a nostalgic charm, all the while the book was far from Disney-rated. Think Lord of the Flies set in Neverland. It also must be noted that of all the fantasy novels I have read, this spin on a children’s tale had the MOST morally-grey and complex characters I have come across so far. Seriously.
I absolutely adored this book. This was my first read of K.J Sutton’s works, so I can’t wait to read her infamous ‘Fortuna Sworn” next.
Owning to the book’s synopsis, I expected a stereotypical “badass-female-lead who has to kill her enemy/love interest until it is quickly a them-against-the-world-love... with fae” type of fantasy book but this story blew me away.
Firstly I love how close the author kept the story to the original Disney Peter and Wendy story. Easter eggs like the ticking crocodile and Michael’s glasses gave the story a nostalgic charm, all the while the book was far from Disney-rated. Think Lord of the Flies set in Neverland. It also must be noted that of all the fantasy novels I have read, this spin on a children’s tale had the MOST morally-grey and complex characters I have come across so far. Seriously.
I absolutely adored this book. This was my first read of K.J Sutton’s works, so I can’t wait to read her infamous ‘Fortuna Sworn” next.
September 15, 2021
★★★✧
I would read a Peter Pan retelling any day. But give me it with a handful of steamy scenes and more morally grey characters and you have officially described my perfect book.
Though I wasn't the biggest fan of the writing in this one, Neverland itself was as dangerous and alluring as ever. Filled with new lore while staying true to so many old favorites, I throughly enjoyed this one. Wendy is given new life and strength that came through tenfold and Peter was still equal parts mysterious and charming.
If you love romance, smut, retellings or more specifically anything to do with Neverland--pick this up.
I would read a Peter Pan retelling any day. But give me it with a handful of steamy scenes and more morally grey characters and you have officially described my perfect book.
Though I wasn't the biggest fan of the writing in this one, Neverland itself was as dangerous and alluring as ever. Filled with new lore while staying true to so many old favorites, I throughly enjoyed this one. Wendy is given new life and strength that came through tenfold and Peter was still equal parts mysterious and charming.
If you love romance, smut, retellings or more specifically anything to do with Neverland--pick this up.
May 17, 2021
Wonderfully done
I approached this book with all the caution that I normally do with retellings, but the story here was beautifully crafted and new, with just enough nods to the original tale. The character development was great and I am very pleased with the ending. I read the while story in one sitting! This is a book meant for 17+ readers.
I approached this book with all the caution that I normally do with retellings, but the story here was beautifully crafted and new, with just enough nods to the original tale. The character development was great and I am very pleased with the ending. I read the while story in one sitting! This is a book meant for 17+ readers.
November 13, 2021
This is such a fantastic book. I'm not normally a fan of the dark adaptations but this was wonderfully written.
The story was intricately written with just enough nods to the original. I loved the ending too.
I'm normally a fantasy reader and devoured this book within two days. Well worth a read!
The story was intricately written with just enough nods to the original. I loved the ending too.
I'm normally a fantasy reader and devoured this book within two days. Well worth a read!
November 20, 2021
I do so love me a Peter Pan tale ♡
April 26, 2022
5/5 ⭐️
Aaaahhh!!! Sooo goood!!! Omg! The story! Peter! The smut! Aldhdgekejd!! Usually I don’t like the smut but daaaam. This was amazing!
Aaaahhh!!! Sooo goood!!! Omg! The story! Peter! The smut! Aldhdgekejd!! Usually I don’t like the smut but daaaam. This was amazing!
June 17, 2021
This story was pitched to me as a smutty Peter Pan retelling with the 'I was sent to kill you trope'. The story did those things but I found it underwhelming.
We read about Wendy Davenport, her brother is dying and her family is losing all its wealth. There are rumors about a flying boy who can grant wishes. One night, he ends up at Wendy's window.
I adored the world, the author really made something good of Never land. More scary, more depth. The plot was also good! It was original ans had Nice points.
Plotwise, my only real issue was the romance, which obviously was a pretty big part of the story. It made no sense to me. When they first meet, Peter gives Wendy head. Like within minutes of first meeting. I didn't feel like there was a real connection between them?
Lets at least say sex scene's we're definitely present! If you only want to read it for that, though, don't. Not that they were bad, it's just very plot heavy and while the sex scenes weren't bad, they were just a bit... Bland? Idk maybe I'm just too gay so I'm not going to judge that.
Another issue I had were the characters. Wendy annoyed me to death for 3/4 of the story, although I did love her after that, it was still hard to sit through the other 3/4. She literally was like 'I have to kill him and I will kill him' and a few pages later she was banging him. I will say she had a nice and satisfying arc.
The other characters weren't really better. There was no development outside of Wendy, even Peter was terriblely one dimensional hidden beneath the fact that he kept a lot of secrets and a sad past.
I know this might sound very negative but I did have a good time reading this! Just not really for me. I'd reccomend this to people who enjoy Sarah J. Maas!
Cw: death, murder, fighting, sex, near death experience, violence
We read about Wendy Davenport, her brother is dying and her family is losing all its wealth. There are rumors about a flying boy who can grant wishes. One night, he ends up at Wendy's window.
I adored the world, the author really made something good of Never land. More scary, more depth. The plot was also good! It was original ans had Nice points.
Plotwise, my only real issue was the romance, which obviously was a pretty big part of the story. It made no sense to me. When they first meet, Peter gives Wendy head. Like within minutes of first meeting. I didn't feel like there was a real connection between them?
Lets at least say sex scene's we're definitely present! If you only want to read it for that, though, don't. Not that they were bad, it's just very plot heavy and while the sex scenes weren't bad, they were just a bit... Bland? Idk maybe I'm just too gay so I'm not going to judge that.
Another issue I had were the characters. Wendy annoyed me to death for 3/4 of the story, although I did love her after that, it was still hard to sit through the other 3/4. She literally was like 'I have to kill him and I will kill him' and a few pages later she was banging him. I will say she had a nice and satisfying arc.
The other characters weren't really better. There was no development outside of Wendy, even Peter was terriblely one dimensional hidden beneath the fact that he kept a lot of secrets and a sad past.
I know this might sound very negative but I did have a good time reading this! Just not really for me. I'd reccomend this to people who enjoy Sarah J. Maas!
Cw: death, murder, fighting, sex, near death experience, violence
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