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Format: Kindle
Publishers: Spencer Hill Press
Published: 22nd September 2015
Pages: 368
Genre: YA, Fairytale Retelling, Fantasy
Main Characters: James Hook
Date Read: 20th August - 26th August 2015
Date Read: 20th August - 26th August 2015
Rating Given:
Synopsis:
James Hook is a child who only wants to grow up.
When he meets Peter Pan, a boy who loves to pretend and is intent on never becoming a man, James decides he could try being a child—at least briefly. James joins Peter Pan on a holiday to Neverland, a place of adventure created by children’s dreams, but Neverland is not for the faint of heart. Soon James finds himself longing for home, determined that he is destined to be a man. But Peter refuses to take him back, leaving James trapped in a world just beyond the one he loves. A world where children are to never grow up.
But grow up he does.
And thus begins the epic adventure of a Lost Boy and a Pirate.
This story isn’t about Peter Pan; it’s about the boy whose life he stole. It’s about a man in a world that hates men. It’s about the feared Captain James Hook and his passionate quest to kill the Pan, an impossible feat in a magical land where everyone loves Peter Pan.
Except one.
I received a review copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I adore his cover it's so eye catching and very apt for this book and I must admit that it was the cover that drew me in first. I love the colours used in this cover with the hint of red and green which works well for the story as well.
I was so excited about getting my hands on this book as not only was the cover stunning but also it was a Peter Pan retelling which I love retellings but I felt so disappointed in the story. When I first started it I thought it was going to be a really good book but the further I went into the story the more it dragged. I felt a little confused with whether this was supposed to be a young adult or an adult book as the beginning was very child like but then when Hook grew it had a lot of adult themes yet an underlining of young adult. I do like this particular take on Peter Pan with Pan being the bad guy, I think it is very easy to think of him as evil when you think back to the original and then add on what Pan did to Hook wasn't good. I also like that it was how James Hook became Captain Hook as well as aligning the story with the story of Peter Pan that we all know and love. There was a bit of a romance in the story which I feel that it fell a bit flat as I just didn't believe in either of their intentions. I really didn't like the ending as we all know how Peter Pan ends and there's no difference there but I felt sad that, that was how it all ended plus I felt it was a little rushed.
I'm not too sure about most of the characters I guess my favourite would have to be Hook but he still wasn't a character that I loved all the way through. I felt so sorry for Hook and everything that Pan had done to him but even with everything Pan had done I didn't understand the depth of his hatred. Peter Pan wasn't a nice character at all he was so arrogant and annoying. I did like some of the Lost Boys as they where sweet enough but easily led by Peter Pan. I also liked some of the pirates as they would always try and help Hook do the right thing even when he didn't always listen. I didn't like Tiger Lilly as she kept leading Hook on and a bit of a hypocrite.
Overall this book was a bit of a let down but there was moments when I did enjoy it, it just wasn't enough for me to enjoy it.
