wordsofclover's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
When Gwen Hoffman's little sister Rosemary disappears from her bedroom in the middle of the night, she is shocked to discover the ongoing battle between that of grown-up reality and technology and the dangers of magic. When she gets the chance to follow her sister to Neverland, Gwen takes it and discovers the entrancing idea of never having to grow up and the irresistible adventures of Peter Pan.
As Neverland/Peter Pan stories go, I thought this one was written pretty well with all the whimsy and fairytale elements I would expect from a story about everlasting childhood. There was enough in the story that kept the original story alive while also new elements were added to freshen up the idea of Neverland, Peter Pan and the Lost Children.
Unfortunately this story was very character-focused as we followed Gwen's experience in Neverland and her ever contradictory thoughts about growing up and her conflicting feelings about being a teenager. I thought Gwen was just a boring, bland and sometimes annoying character (honestly, preferring to go to a party of pot-smoking teens than flying around Neverland with faeries - questionable) who thought one thing and then acted out another. There wasn't really a plot to the story and once things did seem to get going with the Neverland bombing, the story was over. The book felt more of a build-up to whatever the author hopes to do in the next book.
As Neverland/Peter Pan stories go, I thought this one was written pretty well with all the whimsy and fairytale elements I would expect from a story about everlasting childhood. There was enough in the story that kept the original story alive while also new elements were added to freshen up the idea of Neverland, Peter Pan and the Lost Children.
Unfortunately this story was very character-focused as we followed Gwen's experience in Neverland and her ever contradictory thoughts about growing up and her conflicting feelings about being a teenager. I thought Gwen was just a boring, bland and sometimes annoying character (honestly, preferring to go to a party of pot-smoking teens than flying around Neverland with faeries - questionable) who thought one thing and then acted out another. There wasn't really a plot to the story and once things did seem to get going with the Neverland bombing, the story was over. The book felt more of a build-up to whatever the author hopes to do in the next book.
karly_ackley's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: War and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcohol
edarcys's review against another edition
3.0
The narration seems a bit immature (although perhaps that's the point) but the story is intriguing.
macchi's review against another edition
Gwen's just a normal girl doing her normal teenage thing and reluctantly growing up when Peter Pan kidnaps her younger sister. Suddenly, Gwen's world is turned upside down. Her sister returns the next night to say that she flew away with Peter and purportedly to keep an eye on her sister, Gwen flies away with them to Neverland. Oh, and there's a war going on between Neverland and reality because the real world's been taking the magic of Neverland and reverse engineering it, then presenting their findings as technological advancements.
I tried. I really really really tried. I wanted to like this book because it was recommended to me and the recommender had loved it. And because the idea of reverse engineering magic and calling it technology development had potential. But I unfortunately couldn't even finish this book, and not for any of the reasons I thought (I stopped at page 160 or so).
The Neverland Wars started off promisingly enough. Gwen's obviously a teenager who's struggling with the idea of growing up and its attendant responsibilities. There's definitely a part of her that wants to stay a kid, and which she tries to do so, under the guise of entertaining her younger sister. She clearly cares about her sister and her family, pretty normal.
Then everything started to go downhill. We follow her to high school, she comes home to find her sister's disappeared, her father reveals the secret of their technology, her sister comes back with Peter Pan in tow and Gwen decides to go to Neverland, to keep an eye on her sister and bring her back, she tells herself. Hijinks in Neverland ensue.
I honestly think this book would have benefited from a better editor. There was a lot of potential in it, but there were errors in the printed text, the writing could have been tightened significantly, and it felt like everything was just meandering along for no apparent reason.
From the start, I was struggling with the unnecessarily ornate language being used. It didn't seem appropriate for a story told from the POV of a teenager. Also, some of those words don't mean what you think they mean. Just saying.
I found myself regularly questioning why certain scenes were included. Did we need to see her telling a story to the Lost Children (maybe)? Did she need to eat a star (I think no)? Did we need to see the whole process of the kids sorting out what to do with the feast (Eh)? And not just the inclusion, but how long it took to go through everything in the scenes. I understand the need to show how normal Gwen's life is, with all her high school worries and concerns. But we didn't need to be walked through the vast majority of her day and the inane conversations with her friends about homecoming and dresses and so on. Those interactions, by the way, also came off as exceptionally cliche and OTT; I felt like I was trapped in a bad teen movie. I really don't need to know Gwen's philosophical musings on every little aspect of Neverland and children and why they do what they do or the exact and elaborate reasons why she's reacting the way she is. This book could have done with an awful lot more show and an awful lot less tell.
While we're at it, what was going on with randomly dropping into third person omniscient? We started in Gwen's head in the form of third person limited, the random lapses into omniscient to (pointlessly) tell us about one of the Lost Children and why they are the way they are, or the history of the relationship between Hollyhock and Bramble or the vices of the respective fairies... quite frankly, that may add depth for some people, but I was too discombobulated by the POV shift to care.
But the final straw from me was the usage of "redskins". Oh sure, the author tried to handwave it and say it wasn't relevant because the people they were talking about weren't actually native to America so why would you call them Native Americans, and anyway they call us "kids" so how is "redskins" any different. I'm not going to go into a rant about the inappropriateness of trying to compare those two terms. All I'll say is that one doesn't carry the history of derogatory usage that the other does. That may not mean anything to you, but it means a lot to the people who have been on the receiving end of it or who have grown up dealing with it and the legacy of that history. And it actually means a lot to people of any colour and race who have been on the receiving end of similar terms.
Even then, EVEN THEN, I might have overlooked it except that the author fell into what, quite frankly, was just laziness as far as I can tell. Because all the old and distasteful stereotypes were trotted out in describing these characters. From living in tipis (something specific to only some Native American tribes), to the way the chief spoke (seen the Disney movie? It's like that), and all the spaces in between. There was a lot the author could've done to make those characters more than what the original portrayal made them out to be, even if they were just minor characters. But she didn't, and I was done at that point.
Pretty disappointing, all up. It could've been so much more, and it really really wasn't.
I tried. I really really really tried. I wanted to like this book because it was recommended to me and the recommender had loved it. And because the idea of reverse engineering magic and calling it technology development had potential. But I unfortunately couldn't even finish this book, and not for any of the reasons I thought (I stopped at page 160 or so).
The Neverland Wars started off promisingly enough. Gwen's obviously a teenager who's struggling with the idea of growing up and its attendant responsibilities. There's definitely a part of her that wants to stay a kid, and which she tries to do so, under the guise of entertaining her younger sister. She clearly cares about her sister and her family, pretty normal.
Then everything started to go downhill. We follow her to high school, she comes home to find her sister's disappeared, her father reveals the secret of their technology, her sister comes back with Peter Pan in tow and Gwen decides to go to Neverland, to keep an eye on her sister and bring her back, she tells herself. Hijinks in Neverland ensue.
I honestly think this book would have benefited from a better editor. There was a lot of potential in it, but there were errors in the printed text, the writing could have been tightened significantly, and it felt like everything was just meandering along for no apparent reason.
From the start, I was struggling with the unnecessarily ornate language being used. It didn't seem appropriate for a story told from the POV of a teenager. Also, some of those words don't mean what you think they mean. Just saying.
I found myself regularly questioning why certain scenes were included. Did we need to see her telling a story to the Lost Children (maybe)? Did she need to eat a star (I think no)? Did we need to see the whole process of the kids sorting out what to do with the feast (Eh)? And not just the inclusion, but how long it took to go through everything in the scenes. I understand the need to show how normal Gwen's life is, with all her high school worries and concerns. But we didn't need to be walked through the vast majority of her day and the inane conversations with her friends about homecoming and dresses and so on. Those interactions, by the way, also came off as exceptionally cliche and OTT; I felt like I was trapped in a bad teen movie. I really don't need to know Gwen's philosophical musings on every little aspect of Neverland and children and why they do what they do or the exact and elaborate reasons why she's reacting the way she is. This book could have done with an awful lot more show and an awful lot less tell.
While we're at it, what was going on with randomly dropping into third person omniscient? We started in Gwen's head in the form of third person limited, the random lapses into omniscient to (pointlessly) tell us about one of the Lost Children and why they are the way they are, or the history of the relationship between Hollyhock and Bramble or the vices of the respective fairies... quite frankly, that may add depth for some people, but I was too discombobulated by the POV shift to care.
But the final straw from me was the usage of "redskins". Oh sure, the author tried to handwave it and say it wasn't relevant because the people they were talking about weren't actually native to America so why would you call them Native Americans, and anyway they call us "kids" so how is "redskins" any different. I'm not going to go into a rant about the inappropriateness of trying to compare those two terms. All I'll say is that one doesn't carry the history of derogatory usage that the other does. That may not mean anything to you, but it means a lot to the people who have been on the receiving end of it or who have grown up dealing with it and the legacy of that history. And it actually means a lot to people of any colour and race who have been on the receiving end of similar terms.
Even then, EVEN THEN, I might have overlooked it except that the author fell into what, quite frankly, was just laziness as far as I can tell. Because all the old and distasteful stereotypes were trotted out in describing these characters. From living in tipis (something specific to only some Native American tribes), to the way the chief spoke (seen the Disney movie? It's like that), and all the spaces in between. There was a lot the author could've done to make those characters more than what the original portrayal made them out to be, even if they were just minor characters. But she didn't, and I was done at that point.
Pretty disappointing, all up. It could've been so much more, and it really really wasn't.
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
2.0
Finished reading: July 20th 2016
“People think that only the serious is important. They forget how essential it is to remain whimsical.”
Spoiler
I have to confess I'm confused. Did I miss something and The Neverland Wars is actually the first book of a series? Because I really had the feeling the actual story was still missing after I reached the final page. I mean, for a book that is called the Neverland WARS, there isn't much explained about this supposed war between the children and adults... And the story kind of ended right when it was starting to become interesting. I have to be honest and say I wasn't really impressed by this book, and even thought of DNFing it once or twice. The first part had quite a slow pace and the prose/tone really bothered me. For a teenager not wanting to grow up, Gwen sounds awfully dull and 'adult'. Just to give an example:
"Absorbed in their own antics, the young children did not much care as Gwen slunk away from the table. They continued boisterously, but she crept through the forest, stepping softly with her bare feet."
Tell me I'm wrong when I say this doesn't sound like YA appropriate prose. And definitely when it's supposed to be about a teenager that doesn't want to grow up... The tone just feels all wrong and the prose is 'distant' and doesn't seem age-appropriate. I agree things become better once they are in Neverland, but it didn't stop bothering me. I wasn't really a fan of Gwen in general, although I liked the general idea behind The Neverland Wars of an older Peter Pan and a teenager being torn between average teenage life and Neverland. I just wish the plot itself would have made more sense; less cliche teenage life and more Neverland magic, and of course more focus on the war itself. I kind of hope there will be a sequel focusing on the war... Because that truly was the most interesting part of this retelling.
Gwen is just like any normal sixteen-year-old girl with a place on the debate team and a crush on the soon-to-be homecoming king. She doesn't really want to grow up, but doesn't really believe in magic either... And she definitely didn't know her little sister Rosemary could actually run away with Peter Pan, or that magic does really exist. Because that is exactly what did end up happening, and Gwen soon finds herself chasing after her little sister so she can bring her home safe. But Neverland is without doubt a magical place, and Gwen is starting to like it there even though she feels out of place as a teenager. And her sister doesn't seem to want to leave either. Gwen will have to make the difficult choice whether to stay in Neverland or return to reality, and the war isn't making things easier.
I was really looking forward to this Peter Pan retelling, but unfortunately The Neverland Wars didn't live up to expectations. I enjoyed the part that was set in Neverland and the descriptions of the fictional place, but I wasn't too convinced by the plot itself. I wish there would have been more about the war and less about Gwen and her cliche teenage life... Because that is what would have made this read truly interesting. And I think I have already made it clear I wasn't convinced by the prose/tone either.
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
mlatrece's review against another edition
4.0
This doesn't remind of the Disney Peter Pan stories I grew up with. Audrey Greenhouse did a great job with the characters and their development. Come on, who doesn't love mermaids? Greenhouse did an excellent job in creating Neverland for the readers (I was able to create nice visuals in my head while reading). As this Peter Pan version is different than the one I was accustomed to, I really enjoyed reading book. Except for the eating with the stars scene which I must admit was a little bit odd for me. If you're a Peter Pan fan or just magical books then this is highly recommended for you.
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
kirstyreadsblog's review
2.0
Thank you to netgalley and Clean Teen Publishing for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Neverland Wars is a Peter Pan retelling set in the modern day where we follow 16 year old Gwen after her sister disappears. She finds out that her sister has gone to Neverland with Peter and that Neverland is currently at war with the world.
I had been excited to read this book as I like Peter Pan, I like retellings and the cover is really pretty but it just fell completely short on my expectations. I tried so hard to like it but it just didn't happen. The writing was so slow, I didn't really like they way it had been set and I just didn't really get it.
Continue my review here: https://kirstyreadsblog.wordpress.com/2016/08/12/the-neverland-wars-by-audrey-greathouse
The Neverland Wars is a Peter Pan retelling set in the modern day where we follow 16 year old Gwen after her sister disappears. She finds out that her sister has gone to Neverland with Peter and that Neverland is currently at war with the world.
I had been excited to read this book as I like Peter Pan, I like retellings and the cover is really pretty but it just fell completely short on my expectations. I tried so hard to like it but it just didn't happen. The writing was so slow, I didn't really like they way it had been set and I just didn't really get it.
Continue my review here: https://kirstyreadsblog.wordpress.com/2016/08/12/the-neverland-wars-by-audrey-greathouse
pwbalto's review against another edition
2.0
I'm calling this book PETER PAN: THE SEQUEL - TOTALLY ADVERBS!
auburnedge's review against another edition
2.0
I had high hopes for this book. I really love retellings of Peter Pan and the idea that society is using magic to progress was interesting.
Instead I found myself saddened by the book, the story idea was amazing but I just got bored half way through the book. The premise of Peter Pan stealing kids away from families was only breifly mentioned and the parents/officers were mentioned only in beginning. I wanted more from each side, why did they think their kids were stolen, did most kids return home. Did they lose their memories once home as parents thought they were being kidnapped?
I did enjoy the magic and the thought provoking parts. Do you want to grow up, do you have to grow up? It really makes you think about your life and if growing up is a thought process or just a frame of mind.
Instead I found myself saddened by the book, the story idea was amazing but I just got bored half way through the book. The premise of Peter Pan stealing kids away from families was only breifly mentioned and the parents/officers were mentioned only in beginning. I wanted more from each side, why did they think their kids were stolen, did most kids return home. Did they lose their memories once home as parents thought they were being kidnapped?
I did enjoy the magic and the thought provoking parts. Do you want to grow up, do you have to grow up? It really makes you think about your life and if growing up is a thought process or just a frame of mind.
ashleynestlermsw's review against another edition
3.0
There are many Peter Pan retellings or stories that connect to the main ideas thereof, but The Neverland Wars is probably the most original novel in this section of the genre that I have read. It borrows the concept of Neverland and the magic that makes Neverland tick, and it brings it to reality by mixing it with today's adults and our societal needs.
"Teenage Dream" played on, but Gwen found herself wondering if skin-tight jeans and sex on the beach really were supposed to be the height of teenage ambition. If that was what teenage dreams were, then what kind of dreams did Gwen have? Before she even made it to school, she turned the music, tired of listening to a woman ten years older than her sing about what it was to be young forever.
The beginning of this novel hit it off for me. I couldn't put it down and I thought that the writing was witty and realistic. I connected immediately with our main character, Gwen, and how she felt like an old soul when compared to her teenage peers. Her personality is displayed perfectly in the quote above, and that quote is probably one of my favorites in young adult literature now because it is so true. The pace of the book was great, but as soon as the first few chapters passed, the story sped up too quickly and morphed to a childish, unrealistic plot.
That being said, Audrey Greathouse has great potential. Her writing is entertaining, but the way that she moved the story in the direction of humans using Neverland's magic for themselves ended up being silly and unrealistic when it could have been presented better. It seemed as though her characters weren't taking the situation seriously, and because of that, I didn't either. Gwen also changed from the thoughtful teenager demonstrated above, to another whiny teenager who I came to dislike by the end of the novel. I didn't find myself rooting for the characters like I had in the beginning, and that was a let down for me. If this novel and its plot were reexamined to fix the inconsistencies of the characters, I am sure that it would win me back over. That being said, there are many quotes that I do love in this novel and will be keeping, but the plot and characters just slid downhill as the story went on. The Neverland Wars has a great premise for a story, and while I am sure that younger adults will adore it, it just wasn't for me.
Whatever happens, we love each other. And that's more important than magic.
"Teenage Dream" played on, but Gwen found herself wondering if skin-tight jeans and sex on the beach really were supposed to be the height of teenage ambition. If that was what teenage dreams were, then what kind of dreams did Gwen have? Before she even made it to school, she turned the music, tired of listening to a woman ten years older than her sing about what it was to be young forever.
The beginning of this novel hit it off for me. I couldn't put it down and I thought that the writing was witty and realistic. I connected immediately with our main character, Gwen, and how she felt like an old soul when compared to her teenage peers. Her personality is displayed perfectly in the quote above, and that quote is probably one of my favorites in young adult literature now because it is so true. The pace of the book was great, but as soon as the first few chapters passed, the story sped up too quickly and morphed to a childish, unrealistic plot.
That being said, Audrey Greathouse has great potential. Her writing is entertaining, but the way that she moved the story in the direction of humans using Neverland's magic for themselves ended up being silly and unrealistic when it could have been presented better. It seemed as though her characters weren't taking the situation seriously, and because of that, I didn't either. Gwen also changed from the thoughtful teenager demonstrated above, to another whiny teenager who I came to dislike by the end of the novel. I didn't find myself rooting for the characters like I had in the beginning, and that was a let down for me. If this novel and its plot were reexamined to fix the inconsistencies of the characters, I am sure that it would win me back over. That being said, there are many quotes that I do love in this novel and will be keeping, but the plot and characters just slid downhill as the story went on. The Neverland Wars has a great premise for a story, and while I am sure that younger adults will adore it, it just wasn't for me.
Whatever happens, we love each other. And that's more important than magic.