Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. These Deathless Shores was a fun take at a Peter Pan retelling. I will say that it read a little slow to me, but I think that was because the setting was so somber, as were the characters. It was a good read, but you have to be in that mood for it to feel right as you're reading it. I would definitely recommend this to those who grew up loving Peter Pan, and want something a little darker. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads. 3.75 stars rounded to 4.

Thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for sending me a free arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

If you like Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse and fairytales with a dark twist, I think you might like These Deathless Shores by P.H. Low. I don't know why the Black Sun comparison works for me, but I thought about it multiple times while reading so I included it anyway.

The book is a gender-bent, villain-origin story of Captain Hook. It is set in a futuristic, alternate world where the story of Peter Pan is told and few know that it is real.

For me, I didn't find myself as immersed in the story as I would have liked to have been nor felt connected with the characters enough to truly be invested in their stories and plot line (with the small exception of Chay). The characters felt a bit flat at times and it felt that, depending on what needed to happen for the story, a character would change their tune to fit the part. I also like my magic systems in fantasy books to have clear definitions and some of the things that happen towards the end with the magic seemed sudden and convenient for the characters.

However, while I didn't love this book, my interest was piqued enough for me to finish it and I think the author has potential for the future, as it is their debut book.

My review of this book is currently posted on my Goodreads. - linked below.

P.H. Low's debut fantasy, "These Deathless Shores," offers readers a tumultuous voyage into a reimagined realm, where the familiar tale of Peter Pan takes a haunting and introspective turn. Set against the backdrop of a Southeast Asian-inspired world, this gritty retelling plunges readers into a narrative brimming with cruelty, addiction, and the struggle for identity.

At the heart of the story is Jordan, a former Lost Boy grappling with the harsh realities of adulthood and withdrawal from the addictive magic of Dust. Low deftly crafts Jordan's journey, weaving together themes of lost innocence, resilience, and the unyielding power of storytelling. As Jordan confronts her past and seeks retribution against Peter, readers are drawn into a narrative that transcends the boundaries of traditional fairy tales.

Low's prose is both evocative and unflinching, painting a vivid portrait of a world where magic and brutality coexist. From the whimsical shores of the Island to the shadowed alleys of the real world, the author invites readers to explore the depths of despair and the heights of redemption.

While "These Deathless Shores" is not without its flaws, including pacing issues and repetitive themes, it nevertheless stands as a compelling addition to the realm of dark fantasy. With its diverse cast of characters and thought-provoking exploration of trauma and resilience, this novel offers a poignant reminder of the enduring power of storytelling to illuminate the darkest corners of the human experience.

In the end, "These Deathless Shores" is a captivating voyage into the unknown, where the line between heroism and villainy blurs, and the true cost of redemption becomes clear. Low's debut heralds the arrival of a bold new voice in fantasy fiction, one that promises to leave an indelible mark on readers' hearts and minds.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. When I first started reading this and read it to be apin on Peter Pan I was so excited. And that was only the beginning. I loved the characters, the world building, the action, and the story
Quick and enjoyable read. Highly recommend.

2.5

This book was frustrating. It felt like a character study where the characters actions were rushed or out of nowhere. It was an adventure story where the adventure just sorta happened. It was a deep dive into the toxic bonds that trauma forms, but with the characters flip flopping how they felt about each other for the needs of the scene. Overall, the writing was gorgeous and lush and there were so many beautifully written scenes that fell flat because they were missing the connective tissue and establishing work that would have made them whole. Taken individually there were scenes in this book that felt like they came from a 5 star read, but hadn’t earned their emotional depth.

We follow Jordan, Baron, Chay, and Tier (though Chay and Tier are very much secondary point of view characters) as they all meet on Peter Pans island. 9 years ago Jordan and Baron, lost boys on the verge of growing up, fled the island in disgrace and blood. In the intervening years, Jordan has become a prize fighter addicted to a dangerous drug that is the only thing that softens her withdrawal from the islands fairy dust. Baron is struggling to keep his head above water, fighting the pressures of his family and academia and his own demons. When they’re given the chance to return to the island, they take it, Jordan hoping to regain what she thinks is owed to her, Baron hoping he’ll find closure for the things that haunt him. There they find themselves at odds with Peter, themselves, each other, and fate as the old stories seem to the playing themselves out once more. But Jordan and Baron know how it ends for Captain Hook, and they’re not about to let it happen quietly.

I think this book has a lot of good ideas, and the bones of something very interesting that unfortunately wasn’t fully formed. Baron especially seems to change motivations, stances, and thought processes in order to advance the story without explanation. You’ll notice I didn’t even include Chay and Tier in the story description, because they feel superfluous even in their own story. Chay could have been the most interesting character in the story as she struggles with the guilt and trauma of forcing herself to fit into Peters world despite knowing his cruelty, but we simply aren’t given enough time with her to get everything we could have out of that story.

Thank you to Orbit Books and NETGALLEY for the eARC in exchange for my honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for this ARC of These Deathless Shores by P. H. Low in exchange for an honest review! This was a book where the premise of it ended up appealing to me way more than the actual book did. I'm going to start with the things I liked or things that didn't work for me but I could see appealing to others. My priority being that I want people who will enjoy this book to find it and give it a try!

I think overall this book is well-written. It is beautiful prose. The language is very lyrical and flowery, though sometimes for me it seemed a bit like it was trying too much to be lyrical. But I do think it did a good job of bringing the story to life. The characters were interesting, and they were a well-done representation of disability in a fantasy story. The setting of the Island especially was also something I enjoyed. P. H. Low mastered describing a setting and making readers fall into it. The Island is definitely an interesting part of this story. I will say though that I didn't have access to a map. I believe the book, once it is out, will have one that wasn't provided in the ARC, and also that a map is a necessary addition. If there isn't a map this book would drop maybe .5 in rating for me, it would be that important.

There are multiple POVs, with the majority of the book being split across four though there is an occasional fifth from a pretty unique perspective. That was really well-done. I think it could've easily got confusing but P. H. Low did an amazing job with the POVs. So if you like a lot of POVs this is a good book for that. I know that can be hit or miss for some people, though I will say this would be a decent story to try if you're interested in finding out if you like multiple POVs. It never really overwhelmed me or felt cluttered.

As the book's summary will tell you, this is a dark re-imagining of Peter Pan & Captain Hook. I think this is such a neat idea. These Deathless Shores really does deal with some dark themes. The main ones being addiction/withdrawal, loss of childhood, violence, trauma, etc. This book can be very brutal and gruesome at times. It doesn't shy away from that stuff at all and if that is something you're interested in I believe you'll be able to appreciate what P. H. Low has done here. I think in this regard my expectations for a dark fantasy/ re-telling were met.

These Deathless Shores loses me in a few big areas in particular. First of all, I feel that the book is longer than it needs to be. It's too long because it's too repetitive. I think this is part of how the author trying to be whimsical in the fantasy story, but it made parts of the book boring and hard to get through. I was ready for the next moment to move the plot along way before it comes. Which makes for a difficult reading experience. At first I did think it was because of the multiple POVs. That's not it though that part was actually fine. It's just the plot that drags things out too long for no real reason.

The second thing for me was that, yes I understand this book is dark and the world is harsh. I just could not take how miserable everyone was. I think a lot of the characters were interesting but I really grew to not be able to stand most of them, particularly Jordan. I could not bring myself to root for her at all. I assume it was supposed to come across that she was miserable because of her situation/the plot of the story. But it literally felt like that was just a personality trait. The book even gives us examples of Jordan being awful before she sets foot in Neverland. So that's not even the trauma she's just a wretched person. She was very unlikable. And honestly other characters were too. The only saving grace was that the villain was even more unlikable. As I said I was really interested in the characters to start so I was a little disappointed by how I felt about them at the end.

Related to the characters, their relationships did not work for me at all. I did not find myself enjoying or rooting for Jordan and Baron's romance. I wish I got the sense that either of them found happiness in the other. That might just be me but I definitely didn't get much from their connection. I don't actually have a problem with Tier and Chay's relationship, except for the fact that it was 100% insta-love. That made it hard to enjoy the things from their dynamic that I would have normally loved because their connection felt baseless. Tier was probably my favorite character and I definitely could've loved the romance between him and Jordan's sister. It really was just their insta-love that let me down there.

So, I think this book is for people who love lyrical writing, love dark re-tellings of classics, enjoy multiple POVs, and who don't mind the things that I did mind, such as the length of the book. If you're a fan of Peter Pan, think about if you're looking for the story you know to be turned upside down. If that interests you, I think this book is one you should get. It's not really for people looking for wholesome romance stories. If you're good with more toxic relationships, which if I'm being fair probably fits the story well enough, then look no further.

I love when children don’t get their way.

I was really excited to read this one because I absolutely love Peter Pan retellings, especially ones that surround the origins of Captain Hook. These Deathless Shores follows our main character Jordan who’s addicted to magic dust from her childhood. While fighting withdrawal she decides to return to the Island and seek revenge against Peter, the one person who ruined her life in the first place.

P.H. Low did an excellent job creating atmosphere for this story. I really enjoyed the writing style and I felt it really captured the dark vibe it was going for. There were so many instances of gorgeous imagery and the author's word choice was extremely meaningful.

The second half of the story was the most enjoyable to me. I liked seeing the progression of Jordan’s behavior in relation to her hatred for Peter and overcoming the other lost boys. You could see her really enter her villain arc and have a sort of power trip after becoming the leader of the pirates. She was out for blood and it showed.

Although by the end I felt like I really understood Jordan, the other characters left more to be desired. I didn’t find myself really connecting to any of them or caring about the relationships that were established. Jordan and Baron felt so off and on throughout the whole story that I can’t imagine what they had romantically really lasting. Tier and Chay came so out of left field for me and felt that it wasn’t fully fleshed out or developed. Peter as a character is the one that fell the most flat for me. He’s made out to be this horrible person for the pain that he caused Jordan, but he rarely got any page time until the second half. I wish there would’ve been more showing of his actions rather than telling to flesh him out just a little bit more because he didn’t truly encapsulate the image of himself that was being pushed.

All in all it was a decent story and I am definitely open to checking out more of this author’s works in the future. Thank you so much NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with this arc!

“They had both knew from the beginning that they would not save each other.”

TW: ableism, abuse, addiction, alcohol, animal cruelty, animal death, anorexia, blood, body horror, body dysmorphia, child abuse, child death, cursing, death, death of a loved one, domestic abuse, drug abuse, drug use, eating disorder, fatphobia, fire/fire injury, gore, grief, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, medical content, medical trauma, mental illness, misogyny, physical abuse, sexual content, torture, violence, vomit.

From the moment I read what this book was about, I was certain I was going to love it. A dark, diverse Peter Pan retelling with themes of trauma, grief, lost childhood, addiction, etc. was right up my alley. I love the light, fairytale, whimsical versions of Peter Pan but I also know how well the story can lend itself to darker themes and I was excited for what the author was going to do with this.

Before I carry on with the review, I want to say that I'm aware that this was this author's debut and the act of writing a book is an impressive feat. Not every book will be for every reader. That doesn't mean I am not aware of the work put into this or that I mean any ill will to the author themself. Even just the act of including all of the rep in here (disability, specifically) was incredible and something we need more in fantasy.

That being said, I cannot remember the last time I struggled this much to read a book. My issues were with every aspect of the story made it difficult to even pick up. I struggled with the pacing, the worldbuilding, the characters, the writing style, and even the way the themes were handled (specifically ones I had experience with.)

There's so much that could have been fantastic about this book, but I don't feel like it was capable of reaching its full potential.

The world-building was a mess that was barely described and when it was described, I ended up more confused than I was before. I understand the world beyond the Island is supposed to be like ours, but not - though even this is never really explained, other than a difference in currency and the Peter Pan book having been written by a different author.

The Island itself was a geographical disaster. While I understand the intention of this may have been to replicate the dream-like confusion and nonsensical view of the world that exists in childhood, no one ever questions it or brings such a thing up - leaving the reader to wonder if they're just immensely stupid or if nothing is truly being explained.

The characters were impossible to connect with/care for/sympathize with, any of it. We're supposed to believe that they're this way due to the trauma they've experienced from the island and the Dust addiction, but then we have flashbacks to one of them (at age 7) beating the shit out of their 4 year old sister because their family loved her ballet moves. Sibling rivalry is a thing and I'm not lessening that, but you can't have me believe a character is only terrible because of what Peter Pan made them and then show me they were always terrible.

Another thing, Peter wasn't even a character. He was a cardboard cut-out villain that murders mercilessly and giggles. That's literally all he does. He goes from acting like a drunk child to calling Tink a bitch. The story of Neverland always includes the fighting and stopping of pirates. That's a plot that can get dark and I appreciate that, however; the violence felt sadistic for the sake of being sadistic. This Peter and his Lost Boys don't imagine themselves as the Island's valiant protectors or glorious heroes stopping the villains, they're just creepy and torture any adult they come across.

One final point before I end this review, as it is already long and negative enough. I usually try to stay objective and keep my personal opinions out, but in case you're like me, I wanted to mention: this book was very descriptively written and could be particularly graphic or disturbing, especially when it comes to the gore or the vomiting. I'm not usually bothered by what I read, but there were moments this actually turned my stomach.
If you're someone with sensitivities, triggers, or even just sensory issues I would recommend being aware of that before heading into the book.

Overall, I'm absolutely devastated that I disliked this as much as I did, but I can't honestly rate it any higher. As always with ARCs, I'm grateful to have read it and I truly do wish the author the best.

There are several ways I envisioned spending my evening, but writing a review for a book about adults addicted to fairy dust wasn't one of them. If I had to suffer through this book's 5 POVs, 432 pages of purple prose, and plot that moved at a snail's pace, y'all can listen to what I have to say.

As a fan of J. M. Barrie's "Peter Pan" and a lover of dark retellings, I was excited to delve into a Captain Hook origin story. This book has everything I love in a fantasy: a magical setting, a sprinkle of romance, and morally gray characters trying to wreak vengeance on the fools that wronged them. Unfortunately, my reading experience was a different matter.

Part of my problem stems from the worldbuilding. I felt like I was reading the second novel in a series and had missed all the key information. The opening chapters reference multiple fictional countries. Then, when I was finally starting to piece a map together, the setting changed from a city to the mythical island of Neverland. The island—if possible—was even worse. The amount of page space wasted describing literal TREES was unbearable. There were descriptions of pine trees, tree stumps, the Lost Boy's hollow trees, and every variation between. I thought I was going crazy until I did a word search and discovered that the word "tree" comes up 150 times in this story. If this is the universe telling me to read more eBooks and cut back on my physical book collection, then consider the message received.

I also struggled to connect with the characters in this story. I didn't find Jordan (our aspiring Captain Hook) likable, and her sidekick, Baron, came across as a pushover. If I like a book's characters, I can overlook its other elements (I'm staring at you, Twilight). That wasn't the case here. Jordan was too brash, jaded, and self-centered for me to support her. Baron had the personality of wet cardboard and a will that matched. There's also an insta-love subplot between the pilot who got them to the island and Jordan's sister, but I was mentally checked out of the story by that point.

Finally, we have to talk about the pacing. I think this book had the opportunity to explore deeper topics like trauma and grief, but any attempts at doing so were overshadowed by the unrelatable characters and tedious descriptions. I enjoy a sprinkle of purple prose, but it felt like the author was a little heavy-handed. I feel bad for saying this, but I don't believe this needed to be a 432 page book.

I've decided to rate this book 2/5 stars. I hate giving books low ratings because I know how much love authors put into each story. "These Deathless Shores" is P. H. Low's debut novel, and I tried to keep that in mind. That said, I don't want to lie about a book that sent me into a two-month reading slump. I did enjoy parts of this book. For starters, I love how beautiful the cover is. It gives off a whimsical vibe that seems fitting for a Peter Pan retelling. I also like how this book highlights the darker undertones in the original "Peter Pan". I think reimagining the fairy dust to have an addictive quality is a clever spin on the classic story.

While I won't be picking up a physical copy of "These Deathless Shores" for my collection, I can see fans of the original Peter Pan enjoying this story. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and Netgalley; all opinions are my own.

A dark and gritty Peter Pan retelling that really hooked me with the adult perspective. I enjoy facing aspects of stories we are only used to seeing one way. So Jordan, an ex-Lost Boy, not being able to let go of her childhood and having negative lasting effects really twisted the narrative from whimsical adventure to villainous revenge. This story terrified me, grossed me out, and intrigued me to no end. I want to read more books like this, and can't wait to recommend it to other brave souls.

This dark Peter Pan retelling from the perspective of former Lost Boys has so much potential. The description hinted at the development of Captain Hook, returned Lost Boys, and what happens when the Lost Boys inevitably grow up. I appreciate how the author addresses mental health issues including substance abuse, loneliness, grief and loss, and thoughts of suicide. It was also a breath of fresh air to have so many diverse characters intertwined in the story with a non-binary pirate and several physically disabled characters, including one of the main characters.
If I just took the book by the description alone, this should have been a new absolute favorite for me with dark, brutal scenes set in a fairytale island, delving into difficult topics. Unfortunately for me, I think this novel is trying to do too much at once and the overall plot and message gets lost. There were a few short chapters that were from the perspective of the island itself speaking to its desire to keep developers away so they wouldn’t ruin it like the other islands near it, but they were so lost in the rest of the book, it felt like an odd insert. If there had been anything else speaking to environmentalism in the story it wouldn’t have felt like it was just plugged-in last minute. Then there were the fight scenes which felt a little repetitive and hard to follow. In every fight scene I had a difficult time deciphering exactly what was happening and how the characters were moving around and tracking how they got anywhere. It was confusing, a little disorienting, and maybe a battle or two too many as they didn’t always add anything to the story.
The character building was decent for the main POVs, however, there were still many times when significant side characters would die and I didn’t care at all. Looking back, most of the side characters barely talked and the author did nothing to endear the reader to them. The author did make a great choice by swapping the group of people on the island from indigenous peoples in the original fairytale to what the author calls “Pales”. I would have liked some sort of backstory on them given that the pirates and Peter’s crew alike often battled with them. The result just gave off the understanding that no one on this island actually cared about the lives of others in any way.
The world building was almost nonexistent for a fantasy novel. I saw there was space for a two-page map, so I hope when the published version is released the map helps readers better understand the layout and scope of the island, but it seems the author is relying heavily on readers to just imagine Neverland from the movies. I really liked that the author changed the setting up a little to be more in a Southeast Asian lens, and as someone who isn’t as familiar with where the cities mentioned in the Outside seeing a map would really help me dive into the setting.
With everything being said, I really did enjoy reading this book. The author’s writing was very good, and at times beautifully lyrical. The overall themes and inclusivity added another level of enjoyment for me that I think should be standard in all fantasy novels today. While I believe the story may have been better as a duology so the author could have a chance for more robust character and world building, I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fantasy standalone with grim-dark storytelling.

A really solid Hook backstory as well as Pater Pan retelling. I think that for the most part, all of it fit well. The writing is great, the characters are fantastic. I felt everything for the Hook character, as well as for the Pan character and their relationship was so fascinating. My one gripe with the book itself is just that I think the book was a little too long for its own good and could probably have been cut a few 100 words to really rein in the plot and make it tight.

What a twisted, dark, and beautiful world P.H. Low has created in These Deathless Shores. Low's grim and lyrical writing sets the tone for an utterly haunting retelling of Peter Pan. If you're a fan of dark, whimsical fantasy like I am, you're going to love this book.

The characters are complex and relatable, and I appreciated the amount of representation that can be found throughout the story. There are also many graphic and devastating monents, so please take a look through the trigger warnings before jumping in.

Overall, this debut novel made me a huge fan of P.H. Low and I cannot wait to see where they go next!

One of my most anticipated of the year because I am also Chinese Malaysian American, and I loved hearing P. H. Low talk at a debut authors panel. Unfortunately, the concept of These Deathless Shores proves to be too much for its pages, as Low attempts to balance a well-beloved children's story with the twist of a new, Kuala Lumpur-inspired world and magic system. World-building is brushed over and often clunky, leaving me wishing for more when Jordan, Baron, and Tier are whisked onto The Island a quarter of the way through the book. It leaves the question of what The Point of this interesting metropolis world is if we are not going to spend much of any time in it.

Once on The Island, Jordan, Baron, and Tier find themselves enmeshed in the lives of other former Lost Boys now finding themselves skirmishing with children whose roles they previously occupied. This is a fascinating concept that I wish was more deeply expanded on, specifically as it relates to the almost deity-like qualities of Peter (who is far from a fully fleshed-out villain).

While I do think this is still worth a read for fans of Peter Pan with a gender and queer twist, this ultimately did not live up to the lofty expectations I had :(.

4, maybe even 4.5 stars for this dust magic infused gem of a book. P.H. Low writes so beautifully, their words wrapping around the reader to fully ensorcell you into the world they've created.

These Deathless Shores is a twist on the classic Peter Pan. Not truly a re-telling, I would say, more of a re-imagining. It follows, Jordan, who as a child spent almost a decade on the island (Neverland, although it isn't called that in the book as far as I can recall). She's now an adult, and after using ample amounts of dust regularly during her time on the island, came back to the "Outside" addicted. She spends the next +/- 10 years trying to survive and stave off withdrawal. Her closest friend (or rather, her only friend) from before the island up to present day, Baron, was on the island with her.

As adults, both Jordan and Baron struggle in various ways. Then Jordan hatches a plan for them to go back to the island and steal something from Peter, and away they go.

Skirmishes abound, revelations unfold, relationships grow and change while they're on the island. The bulk of the book takes place on the island. I don't want to say more about the plot, for fear of accidentally spoiling anything.

One of my favorite things about this book was the inclusivity. Especially that the inclusivity wasn't used as merely a plot device, or even as a tool to push the plot along. This is a great example of how LGBTQ+ characters can (and should) be included in literary works. There was a character with a limb difference and a non-binary character, possibly some others that I don't recall right off.

Not only was the LGBTQ+ rep stellar, but there was plenty of mental health rep as well, including topics like anxiety, panic attacks, suicidal ideation, and depression (although I don't recall it being labeled as depression).

There is a small bit of romance, and a couple of sex scenes. For the sex scenes, it isn't graphic on page - I definitely wouldn't classify those scenes as smut.

One thing I didn't love was that it felt like there was one too many skirmishes between the pirates and the boys. Another thing I didn't love was that it seemed it was fight, fight, fight, The End. I feel it would've flowed better if one of the middle fights had been removed and so there would've been more time for it to flow better towards the ending.

Overall, I felt it was a great book. The writing is just so good, so beautiful. I cannot wait to read more works by P.H. Low. The imagination it took to come up with this spin off of the traditional Peter Pan, kudos to author.

If you're the type that prefers trigger warnings, this book has: drug use, addiction, and withdrawal, violence, physical fighting, some gore, eating disorders, talk of suicide, death, hospitalization.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

DNF at 40%

I liked the lyrical writing style, but the plot and characters weren't doing anything for me.
I don't think that this needed to be split up into 5 POVs. I think that I would have been able to emotionally connect with Jordan and Baron a lot more if we were limited to them. I really wanted to care about them, but I just couldn't force myself to.
I also thought that the pacing felt off. There's quite a bit of action happening, but it doesn't really feel like there's a lot going on. Moments that should have felt really tense felt the same way as everything else for me, it felt quite flat.

I was really anticipating this, so I'm disappointed that it turned out to be my first DNF of the year

"These Deathless Shores" by PH Low is a mesmerizing blend of mythology and fantasy, weaving a rich tapestry of adventure and magic. Unforgettable!

“The only way we’ll get an ending to this story,” she said, keeping her voice light, “is if we write it ourselves.”- P.H. Low

This dark retelling of Peter Pan is built upon themes of greed, jealousy, abuse, pain, abandonment, addiction, body dysmorphia, capitalism, family, friendship, trust, love, and magic. While characters are battling their pasts and their place in this world, they are also challenged with the hope, promise, or suggestion that there will be an After and who they want to be when that time comes. There are lost boys, pirates, the Island, and the Outside and as in all good tales, their paths intersect, collide, and even merge. What stands true through this story is that the strongest relationships are not built upon conceding to another’s demands or beliefs but in the honoring of one’s identity and simply loving one another despite any fault or vice.

Meet Jordan- she will be your Captain Hook of this story. Baron is Jordan’s best friend, some may alike him to Smee but he’s so much more than that first mate. You’ll meet Lost Boys and Pirates who you’ll find are more connected than we’ve known in other retellings. This is not your Disney Peter Pan and this Tink dust is not the pixie dust of happy thoughts. This world is harsh and everyone is in pain.

Low has a way with words and their imagery allows for high definition reading. I’m a fan. Thanks to @netgalley and @orbitbooks_us for the #advancedreaderscopy

Pub date: 7/9/24

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

#thesedeathlessshores #netgalley #peterpan #neverland

3.5 ⭐

Jordan, an exiled Lost Boy, is struggling to be a grown up. At 8 years old, Peter swept Jordan and her best friend, Baron, to the Island where they spent the next 5 years as the Twins in the Lost Boys. Until Jordan's body betrayed her and she began to bleed. Exiled from the Island her life spirals into drug addiction, mafia work and underground fighting. Determined to get revenge on Peter for what he did, as well as take back her life from the debilitating effects withdrawal from Dust causes her, Jordan returns to the Island with Baron in tow. Revenge is the only thing propelling Jordan through life, what happens when it finally is within reach?

This was an enjoyable read! A very unique take on a Peter Pan inspired story. I wouldn't call it a retelling per say, but it definitely kept a lot of the original elements of the Peter Pan story intact. There ended up being significantly more explicit gore than I had expected but I do think it was necessary for the story.

These Deathless Shores is filled with so many deep quotes and thought provoking prose. Darkly compelling this book will be enjoyable for adult fairytale fans

While I appreciate the lyrical (if, sometimes too purple) prose and the central conceit of the novel (the way stories can be repeated; how we need to break free of the cyclical nature of those same stories to truly grow), overall this wasn't really something I particularly enjoyed.

For starters, this was a very bloated book and it didn't really need to be. The book is split up into 5 POVs--the Island itself, Jordan (a former Lost Boy), Baron (another former Lost Boy), Tier (a pilot), and Chay (the current Ama/mother of the Lost Boys). In truth, the only POVs that mattered were Jordan and Baron. Chay maybe added a little more because her POV gave a glimpse into the way the Lost Boys and Peter were in the current day, but Tier's POV didn't add anything to the story and I honestly question why he was there at all. Because of all the POVs, the relationship between Jordan and Baron suffered, in my opinion. Especially because it had to butt up against Chay and her insta-love romance with Tier. And while I appreciated the personification of the Island, I don't know how much it added to the story.

I just think there was both too much going on and not enough. Peter is an important character (not The Main Character, but the catalyst for so much of Jordan's pain and anger) and yet he didn't feel like a character at all. I wish that the book had been either just Jordan's POV or Jordan and Baron's POVs and that we'd gotten more flashbacks into their time as Lost Boys. Given the world a bit more of a boost instead of relying on the reader's knowledge of an established Peter Pan story.

As much as I can see what the book was trying to do, it was weighed down by too many different plot threads that didn't feel like they ultimately fleshed out into a cohesive story. I just didn't enjoy my time readings this, though I imagine others will likely feel differently.