Hello book lovelies!
My Peter Pan obsession is well known to those close to me and a most dear friend of mine checked this book off my to-buy-soon list last September. It had been sitting on my shelves collecting dust until a sprinkle of fairy dust cut my attention. I needed to escape from my reality for a while and my forever beloved Neverland did not disappoint yet again.
Although I adore this book, please be aware of the trigger warnings before picking it up.
This review is spoiler free! ;)
About the book:
There is one version of my story that everyone knows. And then there is the truth. Once I loved a boy called Peter Pan.
Peter brought me to his island because there were no rules and no grownups to make us mind. He brought boys from the Other Place to join in the fun, but Peter’s idea of fun is sharper than a pirate’s sword. He wants always to be that shining sun that we all revolve around. He’ll do anything to be that sun. Peter promised we would all be young and happy forever.
Peter will say I’m a villain, that I wronged him, that I never was his friend.
Peter Lies.
CW: murder, amputation, child abuse, graphic content, mental abuse, victim blaming
Rating: 5/5
Author: Christina Henry
Genre: YA, Retelling
Pages: 318
Jamie is the first boy Peter Pan ever brought to his island, so many seasons ago he eventually lost count. He adores Peter Pan. He saved him from the cruelty of the Other Place and brought him to a land that keeps him young forever, no matter how long forever will be. But there is something inside Jamie that begins to awaken. An awareness that he didn't possess before. Peter's smile is not as bright as it used to be. Peter's stories not so fascinating, Peter's games not so thrilling. Peter's lies not so convincing.
As Jamie begins to realize the most dangerous thing on the island is not what lurks in the shadows, strange things begin to happen. Things that were never supposed to happen on Peter's island.
This twisted journey to Neverland left me speechless. It's an entirely unique take on the classic tale of the boy who never grew old, forsaking completely Disney's fan favourite version. The original tale of Peter Pan is far from a fun and joyous tale and this book follows on that trail. The atmospheric setting of the island and the very nature of its protagonists synthesise the perfect melody for a thrilling and ominous adventure.
I loved that the story was told from Jamie's POV and how the author used a language that suited better our eleven-year-old protagonist, yet effortlessly gave it a poetic undertone. The descriptions do not drag but utilize all of our senses, guiding us to the second star on the right and straight on till morning. A breath of fresh air blew into the story, as the island had some new locations for us to explore and provided some dangerous new trials.
Before I continue, please be aware that this book deals with heavy subjects. Our characters are of eleven years or younger and there is a lot of blood and a lot of graphic content among the pages. It is described as a dark YA read but for me, it should at least be categorized as NA.
What amazed me most about this book was how Jamie described the terrors he faced throughout his stay on the island. I am comfortable with gore and descriptions of murder but to have them been told from the POV of an eleven-year-old hit a lot harder than I expected. From amputations and murder to a battle to the death, Jamie's voice is that of a young child beginning to discover the true horrors of the world, while his experiences so far match that of a seasoned man. The way he deals with loss and fear, the evident signs of PTSD and the ever-present mental abuse he was exposed to make him an incredibly complicated and tragic character. It is a healing journey that our protagonist never truly manages to complete.
Peter's character is so brilliantly complicated and simplistic at the same time. A child that will never grow up, who sicks power and craves attention. It was horrifying unraveling his motives and desires, as he is the perfect example of how narcissism and obsession can be proven fatal for those around us.
I cried and raged over the pages, going from one chapter to the next in a blink of an eye. It was captivating and magical in its darkest sense.
I will highly recommend you this dark and immersive read, IF you are in the right mindset to read it. I myself am officially a fan of Christina Henry's writing and will pick up her next dark retelling as soon as possible.
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