Reviews

I cannot express enough words to describe how much I wanted to like this book. Truly. All of the attention that it has on Booktok and even the rating here on Goodreads built such expectations in my mind that I can't even explain them. But I'm truly upset with how much I didn't like it.

I want to start this review with what I liked, because this book is not, in any way, all bad.
Firstly, the whole world and all the characters that this author created are so mindblowing to me. I loved the idea of Wendy, the purest of characters in the original story, being the daughter of Peter (Pan) Michaels, and being the love interest of James (Hook) Barrie. Just wow. The whole presence of Tina Bell (Tinker Bell), and the watches/clocks, and freaking Croc. I cannot express how much that surprised me. It was so clever and so addicting to keep reading and finding more parallels! Just... Amazing.
Secondly, the smut in this book. Good lord! So, freaking good. I don't know why I expected this book to not have much smut, but, my gosh, wasn't I pleasantly surprised to know that I was so wrong?
Thirdly, the first chapters of the book and the part between 50-85% of the book were to drool for. I freaking loved it. I know that there are people that do not like the second part of the book, but, honestly, I think it was the best one. It was just drama-filled and it wasn't as 'silly' as people say it is. I really did enjoy it!
And, finally, and lastly, a very specific big spoiler, which I was very glad that it was in the story in the first place -

Spoiler

Wendy's reaction to her killing her own father. It was so raw and so real that, even though I wish it was longer to drag more of this horrible feeling of Wendy's new reality, it made me not even want to blink while reading. It was so freaking good. Every emotion and every physical display of emotion was just... so good.

Now. Unfortunately, I think I need to say all that I disliked in the book... which is not exactly the shortest of lists.
Firstly, in the first half of the book, I found a lot of instability of emotions - and not the good kind. I'm not talking about someone being an unhinged character and being emotionally unstable. Oh no, I'm talking about a character who is having an argument with another and from one to two paragraphs going: from mad to sad to furious to sad again to loving and then to mad again. It just was a part that really made me want to stop reading because it really was not pleasant to see. (I don't think I found this anywhere in the second half of the book, though, which I really enjoyed.)
Secondly, it's similar to the previous one - also in the first half. The main character, Wendy, had constantly unstable opinions on the characters. There were days where she didn't like or trust a character and then for no absolute reason, she would just trust them all over again. And when I say 'for no reason', I'm saying: with absolutely no thought process that could lead her to her new opinions. Just, nothing. I'm picky, I know, but it just didn't sit right with me.
Thirdly. Oof, this one could've been the reason why I wouldn't read this book in the first place. The instant love trope. Wendy falls for Hook so freaking quickly, it made me feel shocked. With no warning, no development of feelings or thoughts about him - that I noticed, at least -, she just fell for him. Just like that. And their love is, Uhm... how do I say this? Very quick. Extremely quick. Insta love quick.

Spoiler

One simple date later and already saying "Are you mine?" and "I'm yours" sort of quick.

I didn't feel like there was much tension between them too - as if they were just there to be the main characters, who are promised to us to fall in love, but there is nothing to back up their first and later attractions to one another. They just fell in love. And that's it.
(Just know that I not mentioning Hook in these love situations, because, as we know from the synopsis, this is his whole plan - to get her. So his emotions and feelings aren't that important or prevalent to me... because he was simply working out his plan.)
Forthly, Hook's power in the city. James's power in this city - which he practically rules - is so important to the story, but... it's just not there. (More justification in spoilers. Read at your own risk)

Spoiler

It's said that he is feared and respected, a lot. Like a lot. And there were only a few people in the story that actually showed fear towards him or even respect. This man is so disrespected in my eyes. He is literally betrayed by his own men - has rats and problems with some shipments since the beginning of the story, I believe. Loses men as they join Croc because many of them were, and I quote, "wronged".

It just felt like this idea of power was constantly forced onto the reader, but there was a LARGE lack of proof to prove that, at least in the first part of the book - which made kind of made me dislike it a bit more when I was reading it.
Fifthly, Wendy's naiveness and dumbness. Wendy is not in any way the smartest cookie in the jar. The character is loveable and her naiveness can be seen as a consequence of her life with constant protection from her father. But this is a woman, who has a job... She would, realistically, know how to not do the dumbest of things - not to trust so dumbly, when she literally says that she knows better. The way she trusts Hook right away is insane to me. Sure, he must be extremely good-looking and good with his words, but she literally trusts him so quickly, it didn't make sense to me. Knowing how their first impression of each other is not the best too, it just feeds more into her not being exactly smart.
And lastly, the ending. Obviously, this part of my review will be hidden because of spoilers, but, in a no-spoiler summary: hope you like plot twists... a lot of them... at once.

Spoiler

I am in no way saying that the ending was not entertaining to read or that it didn't make me want to keep on reading to know more, but, lord, was it a bit laughable. It starts off with Wendy being dumb and going to the mansion - unarmed and with no backup even after she knows who her dad is and how dangerous he can be -, talking to (a high) Tina, getting attacked, and, boom! the madness begins. So, Moira is a traitor. Oh, Starkey is a traitor too! Hold on, Smee (James's friend, sort of, someone he saved and gave a job when poor) is a traitor too? And the twins could be dead! Guns pointed everywhere. Smee is James's cousin now? Okay, interesting. Oh, both Starkey and Smee are Peter's business partners, wow. And Peter just shot them both in the head... alright. Wendy is untied!... But Tina's there and holding her still. Peter is aiming at a hounded James, and he reveals that Wendy's brother is JAMES'S BROTHER? A bastard son, which explains why Peter didn't love him or care for him. What in the hell? He keeps going to try and kill James but he pauses so the main couple practically exchange 'i love you's'. Cute! But Peter wants to kill him still. Wendy fights back and boom! Tina's dead. Wendy has the gun, but James tells her not to do it. She exchanges last words with her father - an amazing dialogue, by the way, which only fuels the reader's hate for Peter - and she does it.

As I've said. The very ending of this whole thing is amazing, in my eyes... but was this the most chaotic thing I've ever read? Freak yeah.

And, yeah, that's it. I believe. This is probably the biggest review I've ever written, but I really had to let it all out. I read this book very slowly because I wanted to begin the second half with a clear mind and ignore how much I didn't like the first half, and I think it made me feel better about everything. Of course, as I always say, I will not ever judge anyone if they say that they love this book. The story itself is super interesting. There are just things in it that, of course, aren't for everyone. I'm a person that loves slow burn and this story does not have it, at all. So, I feel like I'm not the right person to be reading it, in a way. Overall, it was an experience and a very interesting one. I will still love those things that I mentioned in the beginning, as well as dislike the other ones. But, hey, who am I to tell you to not read this book? Everything that I said is subjective and, maybe, you'll love everything that I didn't. We never know.

That's all, I think. Sorry for such a long rant! Have a great day!

madscorriveau's review against another edition

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5.0

This book was so good! Captivating right from the beginning and had a good story line.

chloexx's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

emka_99's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

indigowildcard's review against another edition

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3.0

Not sure how to feel about this book… not what I expected at all… it was to fast for me. There was no world building and no character description which I found confusing… I put in my “junk food” book category cause that’s what it was, a fast read to pass the time between reading other books

domireadsbooks's review against another edition

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5.0

It's my first Emily McIntyre book and I love it. I wasn't sure if I would like James at first, I really wanted to like him but something was off. However after a couple of chapters I really fell for him

knotemnels's review against another edition

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dark

Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Didn’t care for the virginity trope, but otherwise this book fucks.

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