3.5 stars
This was a whirlwind! It’s a Peter Pan retelling. When I think of Peter Pan, I think of fantasy worlds and taking care of kids lovingly. If you’re the same, get that all out of your head cause this is very, very different. It’s edgy and dark and you won’t see the twists coming.

Peter is dark and manipulative. He’s mysterious with an edge of dangerous, but not in a good way. Everyone seems to admire him and fear him at the same time. I knew something was going on but I just couldn’t tell what exactly. Wendy gets wrangled into this whole mystery, and is she just really naive? I wanted to smack some sense into her many times. She got herself in some seriously stupid situations and then just sticks by them cause they ask nicely? Even when she can tell it’s very dangerous? (cue the smack upside the head!)🤦‍♀️

Then a BOMBSHELL is dropped and it changes the entire feel of the book. What just happened? I’m reeling. Normally in a book I loooove this. It turned dark and sinister and serious. Very serious. It was so crazy and unexpected that I’m feeling let down and disappointed.

I admit I was very entertained and read this quickly but I’m left feeling unfulfilled. Peter Pan is a hard story to retell. It’s a happy, fun story with so much innocence. When absolutely everything about it is changed, it makes me feel unsettled.

All the points to Ancrum for the diversity in this book. I’ve never had so many ethnicities with lgbtq+ included.

I actually believe I will be in the minority on my opinion for this book. I think if I would’ve had an inkling as to the direction of the book, that I wouldn’t have been so blindsided and would’ve liked it much more.

Content Summary: The F words were excessive and felt very out of place. There were very few other curse words so those F words stuck out a lot. Also, if rated R movies get rated R for excessive F words, why are books like this allowed to be YA? The full review is on my blog!

Thank you to Fierce Reads for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book of K. Ancrum's that I have read and it does not disappoint! Darling is a dark, modern retelling of Peter Pan. In the story, Wendy Darling has recently moved to Chicago and after a chance encounter with the alluring Peter Pan, she makes the questionable decision to accompany him to a party. Ancrum then proceeds to detail Wendy’s night of adventures with the mysterious Peter Pan and his friends (the entire story takes place over the span of one night). If I discuss anything more about the plot, it would be considered a spoiler. Thankfully, Darling is a fast-paced read that readers will want to devour in one setting!

Although Ancrum includes many nods to J. M. Barrie’s original tale, she also takes many creative liberties. The two most notable (and best!) changes from the original source material are Ancrum’s focus on the darker aspects of Peter Pan and Ancrum’s cast of characters.
(1) Darker Aspects of Peter Pan: It needs to be noted that Darkling is a dark fairytale retelling. Ancrum does successfully modernize Peter Pan for today’s teen audience and in doing so, she also does not shy away from addressing several dark themes - both in Peter Pan and our society.
(2) Cast of the Characters: Darkling contains such a diverse cast of characters. I loved meeting all of the characters and would enjoy reading even more stories about them!

Many thanks to Imprint and NetGalley for the e-ARC! All opinions are my own.

Darling is a brilliant modern retelling of Peter Pan set in Chicago. I never read the original Peter Pan, so all I had for reference was the happy-go-lucky (and racist) Disney version. K. Ancrum begins the story with a quote from the original, and this sets up the darkness of Darling so well! Of course, I was also horrified to learn that Peter Pan killed some of his "lost boys."

As with most books that I read, the characters made Darling for me. I loved the uncertainty and the whirlwind of the plot (I read it in about 24 hours; it was handy that I was stuck on a train for about 3 hours), but the characters made the story so real. Also, there is asexual, bisexual (and lesbian?), and Ojibwe rep!

Growing up (or the lack of) is, naturally, central to the story in the both the original and K. Ancrum's retelling; however, the latter challenges readers to think about why exactly there is a fear of "growing up," especially from Peter's perspective. Ancrum challenges us to investigate what's motivating Peter's violence and to dive deeper into why he believes that his actions are justifiable. He possesses this ability to draw people in and blind them (usually in fear) of the possibility of his violence.

I was so absorbed in the story, and it was terrifying to witness how Wendy gets more entangled in Peter's web and in just a few hours. Lesson: beware of handsome, smooth-talking men? Sometimes I was like, Wendy, please think this through just for a few more seconds!! A random guy comes into your bedroom because your window is broken? Why would you take up his offer to go to a party??

Darling shows that it takes a collective effort (and lots of stress and anxiety) to break from an abusive person and even more so to see a semblance of justice seen through for their actions. Plus, the story questions "family." Even if someone desperately tries to build a family for themselves and others, how do they achieve that goal? Can you force family? Even a "found" family?

Conclusion: Highly recommend! However, please take note of the content warnings before jumping into this story!

3.5 stars

This book took what I thought I knew about the story of Peter Pan and turned it on its head. It was dark and mysterious and honestly, made me super uncomfortable at times. K. Ancrum wove a very clever tale and I really enjoyed all the nods to the original story. The writing was engaging, but there were a lot of moving parts in the story and characters to keep track of, which made things sometimes feel a bit disjointed. Wendy's questionable decision making had me screaming as a parent and I did have to suspend disbelief quite a bit to get into the story. At times she spoke and acted very much like a 17 year old, and then other times she sounded much more mature and not at all like a teenager. The big reveal was a great twist (though not completely surprising), but the ending wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly after so much build up. It almost felt too sweet considering what had happened in the story. Overall, Darling was an entertaining read.

CW: murder (off page), violence, guns

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

I really loved The Weight of the Stars and I was very excited to read Darling, it did not disappoint. Not to do a huge comparison, but Darling had lots of elements that I loved in TWOTS- the found family, the queer stories, and the happy ending that everyone deserved. This book is definitely one of the most stressful I've read in a long time. Ancrum sprinkled things throughout the story so as a reader you could tell that something wasn't right so when you finally got all the answers it was so satisfying but I was still surprised. This was also a great retelling that successfully updated the Peter Pan story for modern audiences. I really enjoyed it and will be recommending it!

DARLING is a fun romp with an undercurrent of threatening. I spent more time laughing than feeling nervous, but Ancrum never lets the reader forget the inherent lack of safety in the experiences Wendy (the main character) and Peter's crew are having as they spend an unforgettable night traveling across Chicago to various bars, parties, and dark alleyways.

The story relies heavily on an understanding of Peter Pan lore, but not any specific adaptation; anyone who has seen the 2003 movie or any musical version or read J. M. Barrie’s book will have equal footing with Ancrum’s retelling. As I cannot approach the story without knowledge myself, I'm not sure how effectively the story works without this understanding. I think the worldbuilding (contemporary Chicago) and the dialogue are strong and accessible; most of the moments I found the funniest were not specific to Peter Pan lore. But once again, I can't be sure how complicated someone who didn't know the beats of the source material would find DARLING.

Overall, I absolutely loved the story and cannot wait to hold a finished copy in my hands!

This review is thanks to an Advanced Reader's Copy from NetGalley - thanks to NetGalley and K. Ancrum!

Darling by K. Ancrum is a modern thriller retell of Peter Pan. Wendy Darling - freshly moved into Chicago after spending most of her life in the quiet suburban neighborhoods of the Chicagoland area - is a Black teenager with a sharp mind and sharper tongue. However, the story quickly takes off with an dizzying chain of events: A charming young boy stumbles into her room, invites her to spend time with a punk named TinkerBelle, meet his Lost Boys that he takes care of, and go to a party with an increasingly odd ragtag group of teenagers. Despite what is considered reasonable judgment, Wendy agrees and finds herself in a situation spiraling horribly out of control.

I was SO. EXCITED. To get approved for an ARC of K. Ancrum's novel! Let's talk about some amazing (spoiler-free) points:

- K. Ancrum does an insanely impressive job of filling the reader with that primal, instinctual dread of being in a dangerous place with a dangerous person. Noticing the warning signs but being way too out of your element to be able to do something about it. Maybe this feels more intense to girls/female-presenting folks, but I think she did wonderfully at making the reader horribly stressed for just about every single character. (I read the whole novel in a day because I was so nervous to find out what happened.) In that same vein, women protecting women was such a strong force in the story, and really made it feel that much more real to me.

- A respectful retelling of a story that has not aged well. "Tiger Lily" is replaced with Ominotago, a canonically Ojibwe/Chippewa girl.

- Characters/Characterization: The motives and actions of each character is well thought-out and realistic. Ancrum takes the involvement of police in the story seriously - a Black protagonist in Chicago would not be quick to trust cops, and for good reason. Despite there being many characters, she does a great job of individualizing each of them and making them quite memorable.

- Can I just say I LOVE having an author that actually knows how to write teenagers? I actually giggled at some of the texts exchanged in the book, as well as the dialogue. (Specifically, one between Wendy and Minsu near the end of the book. It flowed so naturally and I lived for it.)

- A fresh perspective of putting the responsibility on the adults that fail the children around them. (This seems to be a theme in her novels, which I love.) Every time Wendy reminds the adults that are supposed to protect her to do their job and not blame her, a CHILD, for the events of the story, I gave a sigh of relief.

- THE TWIST!!!!!! THE TWIST!

- You ever read a novel and think, "Oh, but I wish ______ happened at the end!"? That hypothetical happens in Darling, and it is SO cathartic. (Also, by the end of the book - which all happens in one night!! - you feel just as exhausted as the rest of the characters.)


I would love to pair this novel with another modern retelling of other classic tales in the classroom, or compare it to the original story. This book was such a treat to read, despite the stress it gave me!

Darling is a modern retelling of Peter Pan, where a boy breaks into Wendy's house and takes her out for a night of adventure and crime, which will soon turn very dark.

While I think the diverse cast of characters in this book is so important and great representation to normalize in YA, there are just *so many* characters in this book that don't really need to be there. The story sacrifices well written character arcs and development for a smaller cast of main characters for a large cast of super diverse characters that aren't given much spotlight. In this instance it felt like the author had a checklist of identities to include, and they just made as many characters as possible to check off all those identities, which in the end detracted from the story quality.

That being said, this thriller was still super enjoyable. I was on the edge of my seat, I was shocked by the twist, I was in tears at one point, and I had a fantastic time while reading. I do think that this large cast of characters sometimes made this pacing a bit weird because the author needed to fit everybody in, but overall this story is a great thriller that I highly recommend for Halloween time.

What if Wendy, Tinkerbell, Peter Pan, and the Lost boys lived in current day Chicago? What if Wendy was black, Tinkerbell was bi, and Captain Hook isn't all bad? Darling takes the traditional Peter Pan story and modernizes it in a way that is equal parts familiar and excitingly different. While many of the character descriptions felt contrived, a modern retelling will definitely appeal to fans of the classic fairy tale.

Wow wow. I don’t usually enjoy thrillers but I DO enjoy retellings, and I LOVED this take on Peter Pan that focuses on the parts of the book that Disney conveniently left out. This was such an engrossing (and quick!) read!

Darling is a contemporary retelling of Peter Pan. I know, I know, I know it is just a story but what in the world would possess a 17 year old to go out for the night with someone who breaks into her house??? Everything happens in one night and I also felt that there was so much diversity that it felt crammed down my throat, please don't get me wrong I enjoy when a book has a wide array of characters but this felt like the author had a huge list and was like "check, got another in there". This one was just not for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in return for an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of ‘Darling’ by K Ancrum. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was a compelling and unique take on Peter Pan in modern day Chicago. The mystery unravels slowly and I wish I had been able to sit down and read the book in one or two sittings but that’s a me problem and not a fault of the story. There was so much unknown about what was happening and I just wanted to discover what was behind everyone’s strange behavior. That lack of knowledge was frustrating at times but I think that speaks to the talent of the author. I think readers are supposed to feel that frustration and helplessness alongside Wendy. The reveal was executed well. I also liked all the nods to Peter Pan’s story both in places and characters.

There were so many characters to like and root for. They all felt like real and interesting people that I’d want to know more about. My big issue is kind of silly I guess but I really didn’t like the last line of the epilogue. I know Wendy probably didn’t intend it in a mean way and kids say stuff like that all the time, but it kind of ended the story on a sour note for me. But overall, I would recommend the story especially if you can read it in one or two sittings.

4/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Darling is an imaginative, modern retelling of Peter Pan. While I hadn’t seen or read Peter Pan in decades, all you need to remember is the base of the story — Peter Pan and his lost boys vs. Captain Hook with Wendy Darling along for the ride.

The tag line on this cover - the most gorgeous book cover of 2021 - reads: “Some lost boys aren’t meant to be saved.” Keep that in mind as you try to work out who exactly is the villain here.

Without spoiling anything, I think readers who enjoy fairy tales, retellings, and modern suspense enjoy this novel.

Darling is a dark thriller-esque, queer reimagining of Peter Pan with a diverse cast of captivating characters and twists and turns throughout the story. The plot mainly focuses on one wild night for Wendy Darling who gets swept up with a captivating and impish Peter Pan and his merry band of misfits as they wreak havoc around the city and are pursued by a Detective Hook. But Peter isn't quite everything he pretends to be and it turns out he's more dangerous than even she could possibly fathom. This is an edge-of-your-seat wild ride that will keep you hooked until the very end.

Having loved Ancrum's The Weight of the Stars, Darling was one of my most anticipated books for 2021. Ancrum takes us on a roller coaster of emotions and what struck me most about Darling is Ancrum's use of suspense. We are able to witness that captivating charisma that is often toxic, that hides sinister shadows in the night, and yet is able to persuade us in the morning of one's innocence. Darling is able to bring to light some of the more sinister elements I never even began to contemplate when encountering the original. The ideas of people stealing into our houses, worlds where we never grow up, and the idea of escapsism.

Darling balances this high suspense atmosphere which only builds as you continue to read. There are moments when the original peeks through, when you see an echo in the shadows. But Ancrum is also able to allow the retelling aspect to shine by examining ethics and morality. By showcasing the shades of grey within our own actions. Darling is not only a close examination of the character of Peter, his flaws and vulnerabilities, but also of Wendy.

#NetGalley #Darling
I thank NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review :)
All I have to say is this....everyone pick this book up when releases.
You absolutely will not be disappointed 🙌🏼

What if Peter Pan was a serial killer?

Wait, I didn’t hook you with that first question? Truly, this book was a page-turner with a diverse cast, fierce girl power, swoonable guys, and a mixture of the magic of OG Peter Pan mixed with modern fashion and slang.

I appreciated how Wendy and Tinkerbelle grew across their arc, and felt the twist of Peter Pan’s vision was plausible and brought a lot of questions to mind about the original story. This is a recommended read to those who like thrillers, fairytale retellings, and empowering side characters.

What a strange modernization/retelling of Peter Pan! But I should expect nothing less from K. Ancrum, who gave us the weird and intense Wicker King. I did not expect this to go where it did and stayed up all night with it.

Content warnings at end of review.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Fierce Reads for an arc of this book!

Wendy Darling's parents won't let her meet up with an online friend when she first moves to Chicago, but they will let her stay at home alone with a broken lock on her window? Okay, sure. So is it really that much of a surprise when she sneaks out with the charming and charismatic stranger that comes through her window? Wendy has no idea that the party she is promised will turn into the scariest night of her life. Darling takes the classic Peter Pan and turns it into a heart-stopping and insidious contemporary thriller set in modern-day Chicago!

I was immediately hooked when I started reading this book. It flew by so fast and I could hardly put it down. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what would happen to Wendy, Tinkerbelle, and the rest of the characters! I was so surprised by the directions that this book went into, but I absolutely loved it. The characters are amazing and I absolutely loved all the different side-characters. This is such a great book!

Pub Date: June 22, 2021

Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Murder, Mental illness, Gun violence, Gore, Emotional abuse, Death, Confinement, Child abuse, Blood, and Adult/minor relationship

This was a very interesting retelling! I was not sure what I was getting myself into when I started the book but I did like how it was a darker story. I knew that Peter was not going to be a good guy but I was still shocked by the big reveal at the end. Overall it was a pretty good read.