A review by wordsofclover
The Neverland Wars by Audrey Greathouse
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.