I don't think I was in the right mood for this when I read it. I felt like the beginning kind of dragged and didn't get to any real plot points for too long into the book.

I am a sucker for Peter Pan retelling and anytime I see one I immediately want to read it! What you should know first is that book is a continuation of the book Wendy, Darling. You don't necessarily have to read Wendy, Darling to enjoy this book, but I would recommend it. There are some flashbacks and references to people and events from the first book that you may not fully connect if you haven't read the first book.

This second book, focuses on Captain Hooks story. While Wendy, Darling was a dark retelling, this one is even darker. Hook is tormented and held captive by Peter Pans whims. He is forced to die over and over again in Pans dark sinister games. Can he break free? At what cost?

I enjoyed the twist on Hooks character and how his backstory is brought to the present with Wendy and Jane's stories and an unlikely merging of friendship. I loved the focus on his relationship with Samuel and his internal battle to fix what he broke.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I absolutely love Disney book retellings. I especially loved this one. When I was a kid, Hook was always the bad guy but now being grown, I understand why Hook was so mean and moody lol. Peter Pan has always been in my top 5 favorite Disney movies and reading this story about Hook and his perspective makes me love the Peter Pan story even more.

Although this does have a sad and bittersweet ending, it’s an amazing example of how things aren’t always as they seem to be. I love how Hook was trying to be a better person for Samuel but I hate how he never got to express himself to him.

I will say that nothing really exciting starts happening until about chapter 21. A lot of the book is story building and it kinda got somewhat boring along the way. I’m glad I finished it though because once you get close to the end, it really starts coming together. I would definitely recommend this book to any Disney fanatic because it’s such a good Hook retelling about life after Neverland.

I am a HUGE fairytale fan, and I have an enormous soft spot for Captain Hook. I’ve always thought that Peter was the villain, so I love stories that give Hook redemption. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this book :( First of all, I didn’t know that this was a sequel. That was really disappointing because I would have read the other one first. Second, the pacing was very slow. It dragged on for quite a bit unfortunately.

I was not aware that this book was a sequel, And if I had been I think I would’ve enjoyed it a lot more. That being said I spoke with an excellent reimagining of Peter Pan adding all of the dark elements that made it so interesting to read as a more mature reader. I would definitely recommend this series to my friends especially those who are obsessed with Peter Pan as I always have been. I especially loved the reimagining of hook because he is such an interesting character and the author just handle him so well.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a requested advance copy for review. All opinions are my own.

Wow, just wow. I thought Wendy, Darling was beautifully done. But Hooked is spectacular. It’s heartbreaking, poignant, wrenching, cathartic; it rips you to shreds and still manages to stitch you back together by the very end.
Neverland trapped everyone that landed there, and it never really lets go. This is more true for Hook than anyone else. Though he escaped physically, he’s never really free. His relationship with Samuel was so unexpected, beautiful, and yet heartbreaking. We also see Wendy and Jane still trying to come to grips with the events of 8 years ago. While it’s not required to read Wendy, Darling first (Wise does a great job summarizing previous key events), I think the emotional impacts are higher if you have read it.
Honestly, I cried a ton towards the end of the book, but to me that just speaks to the power of the writing and the story.
Highly recommended.

Summary: There is something hunting her Wendy Darling, Jane Darling, and Captain Hook aka James can all feel it in the air there is something in London and it is hunting them. James needs help and begrudgingly Wendy and Jane agree to help him. While eescaping from Neverland with his crew he accidental created an opening that allowed a beast to flee Neverland and hunt anyone that has an essence of Neverland down and eventually it possesses someone and Jane and Captain Hook. must go back to Neverland to save them.

Thoughts: I was surprised how much I liked this. i. would have loved to read about just Hook aka James and Samuel and everything that James forgot in Neverland I feel like they were very cute together and I was rooting for them! I would have loved it if the story just focused on James’ and Samuels's relationship and James' evolution. Also I liked the take she took on Wendy and the potential trauma from dealing with Neverland and Peter Pan. I do love Peter Pan but he’s definitely not a great guy and I love that this story emphasizes that evil and innocents can be mixed I also liked Jane’s relationship with Wendy it seemed very practical and realistic she had an extremely different experience with Peter Pan than Wendy did but even Wendy admitted that Peter was far from perfect and charming at times so I liked how that was address and how Jane handled herself she had a very legitime reason to blame her mother. I would have liked a happier ending for both Hook and Jane. I haven't read Wendy Darling but after reading this I feel like I might have to.

I DNF’d this book about 25% of the way in. From the book’s description I really thought it would be something I’m interested in but the pace is incredibly slow and I had trouble getting into the book. I tried but it really isn’t for me.

Another notable thing is that apparently it’s a sequel which wasn’t super apparent in the description.

Anyways super disappointed I didn’t enjoy this book.

Unfortunately I DNFed this book about a quarter of the way into it. I found it rambling and I could see no clear direction of the story. It was an anticipated read but it failed to keep me interested enough to plow through any further.

If you've ever wondered what happened to the Darling children or Captain Hook after the events of Peter Pan, this book is for you.

It's dark, and takes on the unsettling idea that Neverland is not all wonder and harmless fun. In the wake of the original Peter Pan adventures (and Wendy's subsequent return to Neverland in A.C. Wise's previous book, Wendy, Darling) this tale follows James Hook, Wendy and Wendy's daughter Jane as they navigate life back in the real world, away from the magic.

It deals with grief, loss, longing, survivor's guilt and family connections, expertly weaving a tale of magical realism that helps each character find closure. The prose is lyrical and sharp and full of clever, imagination-evoking metaphors.

I love that we get a proper glimpse into Wendy and Hook in their later years, so we can see how much their past has shaped them. In a way they are pitiable – Hook risked everything to escape the torture of recurrent death in Neverland, and Wendy knows the hidden evil of the place but cannot help but pine for it – but they have their flaws too and make a lot of mistakes. Each character's personality is believable, and fits with the original tale as well as this new one the author has crafted.

If you're a fan of fairytale retakes or retellings, and enjoy books written in lush, dark prose, I highly recommend this one. A thoroughly engaging read.

This tale spins the perspective of Neverland and Peter Pan as into a world of trauma and a master manipulator.

Focused in part on Captain Hook, we learn of his desire to escape the torment of Neverland but he can’t really leave it behind when it’s been a part of him so long.

Jane, Wendy’s daughter, also feels a pull back to the place even though she dreads it at the same time.

Can anyone really ever leave Neverland behind?

I’m going to be thinking about his one for quite some time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the ARC. I will say first that I did not read Wendy, Darling but I found this easy enough to follow. I liked that this was a darker Peter Pan retelling and gave us Hook’s side of the story. He’s not a good guy, but he’s also a victim and his story is heartbreaking. I also enjoyed Wendy’s daughter Jane’s POV and seeing how Neverland has affected their relationship. That being said, I also felt like something was missing and I’m not sure if I liked how it jumped between multiple POVs as well as time periods. I also wish the chapters were broken up more. If you’re looking for an easy dark retelling I think it’s still worth a try.

"Sad Hook, mad Hook, bad Hook. Pretty Peter beat you again."

I enjoyed this dark twisted take on Peter Pan, a tale of struggles, addiction, adventure, revenge, longing, healing and love.

I love Samuel and James's relationship though toxic at times I was so here for it, I had to know what happened.

I wish we got to see more of the lost boys and Jane's story with Timothy.

Even though I enjoyed this book, It did struggle to hold my attention at times.
I found the chapters were to long, which may have played a big part in me struggling to get lost in this book.

Special thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review

Full disclosure: I did not know that the book "Wendy Darling' existed until after I finished this, and perhaps reading it would have made my comprehension of this one a bit better.

That being said, it was an enjoyable read, though confusing at times due to its nonlinearity and the multitude of perspectives. As a lifelong reader of Peter Pan retellings: this one was not my favorite. 2.5 stars.

I absolutely adored Wendy, Darling so when I saw Hooked on the horizon I immediately knew this was going to be one I picked up. When I got approved for the advanced copy, I dropped everything to read this first.

Hooked follows the story, obviously, of Captain Hook. We get a glimpse of his story through Wendy, Darling but Wise really takes it and runs with it in this book. I'm, as always, in awe of Wise's imagination and storytelling and her twist on Pan and the problematic entities within Neverland really just does my heart good. Additionally, her portrayal of the story of Hook not only garners sympathy, but also provides quite a bit to consider when we think about telling our children fairy-tales and what those fairy-tales might be imparting in terms of values.

Thank you, Titan Books, for allowing me to read Hooked early!

I didn't like this as much as I thought I would. On paper, it should have been a stellar read, but in reality it was only okay.

I finished this book in a week. I really enjoyed the older versions of James, Wendy and Jane after their experiences and trauma after escaping Neverland. I also really enjoyed how Wise described how the characters felt when reaching out to Neverland through their minds and adapting to the real world afterwards.

Jane and Wendy's personal relationship develops through the book as they have struggled with each other after escaping Neverland for the 2nd time. Through this, their relationship has struggled over the years as Jane struggles to deal with the trauma of Neverland and the death of her friend Timothy and Peg. As she hits rock-bottom in Neverland in an attempt to save them, she is able to finally grieve and accept her friend's death was not her fault. I was also touched by James's grief towards Sam and how he coped with the loss of his person.

At times I struggled to understand what was going on through the descriptions but I was able to understand for the most part what was happening in the book currently.

Finally, my favourite part was how Wise told the story through the past and the present. They all lined up with each other to tell the story fluidly through informing the reader of events in the past that lead to the present.

I enjoyed the story, delving into Captain Hook's past and how he ended up in Neverland as Peter's arch enemy. His growing relationship with Samuel was bitter sweet, and I loved the darkness of Peter Pan. However, the book started slowly and didn't really pick up pace. While it was a good read, it didn't keep me enthralled as much as I thought it would.
Many thanks to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the chance to read the ARC.

First off I would say that, although not marketed as a sequel to Wendy, Darling per se, it would help to have read that book first as there are many references to characters and events that took place in that earlier work in Hooked. However, I would then go on to say that I preferred Hooked to Wendy, Darling. I liked Wendy, Darling and gave it 4.5 stars, but Hooked just appealed to me more, I think because I found Hook/James a more gripping character than the Wendy/Jane combination. A.C Wise has created a compelling narrative of his background and his love-hate relationship with Neverland which made him highly relatable and interesting. I was 'hooked' right from the opening chapter and my attention held until the end. If you like Peter Pan and enjoy retellings that put a darker spin on the story then definitely check out Wendy, Darling and Hooked.

(As per your preferences, my review will go live on my blog at the link below on 4 July 2022. At that time I will also share on Goodreads and social media.)

HOOKED can be read as a standalone novel but I'd highly recommend reading WENDY DARLING first as they work as complementary books, exploring and expanding on similar themes. Captain Hook is wasting away in London, grieving and alone, when he accidentally opens himself to Neverland once again and invites a monster into his life. Joining forces with Wendy Darling and her daughter Jane, James must travel back to the place that still haunts him and confront his past.

This book deals with the roles we play, those assigned to us and those we embrace ourselves, and the pain and trauma that can linger long after someone wrests control from us. There's also a beautiful and heartbreaking mlm romance threaded through the narrative, as well as an exploration of the mother-daughter bond. The prose is lyrical and engaging, sweeping the reader along and eliciting a sense of catharsis amidst the poignancy. This is a PETER PAN retelling I'd highly recommend whether you like the original or not.