Peter Darling by Austin Chant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
*~~*ARC kindly provided by the author to me in exchange for an honest review *~~*
Ten years ago, Peter Pan left Neverland to grow up, leaving behind his adolescent dreams of boyhood and resigning himself to life as Wendy Darling. Growing up, however, has only made him realize how inescapable his identity as a man is.
But when he returns to Neverland, everything has changed: the Lost Boys have become men, and the war games they once played are now real and deadly. Even more shocking is the attraction Peter never knew he could feel for his old rival, Captain Hook—and the realization that he no longer knows which of them is the real villain.
To be honest I am a bit hesitant regarding re-tellings or alternation of old, well-known tales (you mostly know from Disney and set a pattern in mind). But the blurb sounded more than interesting and the tagged genre gained my interest.
But so far I can tell: magic was happening here, it was real and honest in its writing, sometimes it was very dark and cruel, very unexpected tbh.
But, oh so bittersweet then… especially when Hook and Peter then finally met and did not fight.
I was truly hooked (and forgive me the pun ;)) and I really LOVED that Peter Pan and Captain Hook went from enemies to lovers. :3 They had a great chemistry and the reason for Peter why he has Hook as villain are logical.
In fact all the reason and topics named made incredible sense and… it was a perfect mix of the well-known aspects with new, captivating facts.
One of the most changing parts were the fact that Peter is shown as transgender in this book and he is in the world outsite Neverland Wendy. Devastated and unhappy with being and treaten as a woman he escapes into the world of Neverland again – but he is grown-up.
The changes were awesome displayed, the struggles and responsibilities to be an adult are named, these are the things which scares Peter but on the other hand we see a different Peter than in the original.
Another major topic is the enemy-to-lovers-relationship between Peter and Hook. And this is in my eyes perfectly developed. Believable, reasonable and so sweet and sexy and a bit hot. There is only one detailed scene with Hook – or James how his prename is – and Peter. But the other scenes with them are the prelude to this, and the tension is there. From the start and until the end…
And if you worry, because I mentioned cruel and dark parts, there won’t be a happy ending you can be relieved. There is one. And what kind of. :3 It is fitting to the start of the book and gives a closure to the topic so manificent. :3
This book truly deserves a re-read later, it’s totally worth and this is belongs to one of the best reads for 2017, and the year is only this young so far. Very unique, it stands out and it’s one of the best re-tellings and continuation of a classical fairy tale I ever read so far. :3
With charming, but known character which make a huge development, who are believable and palpable.
5 out of 5 stars for this magical piece of art.
Mikku-chan 
2 thoughts on “Review: Peter Darling”