Oh how I wanted to like love book!

Where to start? Why not the beginning. These Deathless Shores begins by introducing the reader to a terrible character I didn't want to root for. Jordan. She was downright awful. Things brightened a bit when the story swapped POVs with her childhood bestie, Baron. He had his own issues, that I don't think were ever fully explained or explored, but he was less awful than Jordan. Then we have Tier, who ended up being my favorite of the characters.

After a boring introduction to this trio, they join forces—each with their own reason—in search for the island of Neverland. Because Jordan and Baron were once lost boys (despite Jordan being, in fact, a girl) and Tier believes the island is home to treasures untold that could change his life for the better, if only he could get his hands on it.

Their travel plans don't go as planned, but they do make it to the island and team up with the pirates to enact Jordan's plan—find Peter and steal Tink so Jordan will have unlimited access to dust. Which, we learn early on, is incredibly addictive. Especially when used to alter one's own physical appears for many years, as Jordan has done.

Listen, I have to admit I'm not a huge Peter Pan fan to begin with, but this book didn't fully work for me. I liked that this telling was darker, with Peter being the polar opposite of the picture Disney painted of him. It addresses a LOT of different topics like addiction, mental health, anorexia, and having crappy parents. In the end though, I left the book wondering, what was the point? I don't think the characters—aside from maybe Chay—really learned any lessons or changed in any way. They basically started and ended the book the same, and what I like about characters in books, is watching them grow as characters. I just didn't see the growth here.

The pros: Dark, twisted Peter Pan. Multiple POVs. Lot's of character flaws. Interesting take on the Lost Boys.

The cons: It took until almost halfway through the book before I cared about anything I was reading. The characters were difficult to connect with and Jordan was especially awful. Ended unsure of what the point of the whole story was.

So, ultimately, this book left me wanting, but if it sounds like your kind of book, please read it and let me know your thoughts!

I’ve written before about how I often find myself mentally considering certain books to be THE definitive re-telling of any particular fairytale or folk story. For example, it’s hard for me to imagine any story beating Robin McKinley’s “Beauty” as my definitive version of “Beauty and the Beast.” There are also fairytales and stories for which it has been notoriously difficult for me to find this “one true version.” “Peter Pan” is one of these. But I live in ever-lasting hope, so I was excited to check out this new version of the story, this time following grown-up “lost boys” who travel back to the magical island and now find themselves cast as the villains.

Unfortunately, I’m still on the hunt after reading this book. However, that’s not to say that this book didn’t have its own strengths and new takes on the classic story to explore. For one thing, I very much like the overall concept with these former “lost boys” (this is in quotes mostly because one of the main characters is a woman who had disguised herself as a boy when she was in Neverland to avoid the typical role of housekeeper that girls must play while there) travelling back as adults. And not only are our lead characters adults, but the entire story is very adult in tone. This is a bloody, grim look at the horrors that would lie at the heart of an island where kids spend most of their time fighting battles with pirates.

Even more so, the story centers addiction and childhood trauma as primary themes throughout the story. Obviously, these are not happy topics, but I think that added an interesting level of seriousness and severity to the tale. One of my struggle points with this book, however, came down to how it handled some of the discussions about addition. On one hand, I think some of it is incredibly effective, highlighting the on-going difficulties that people face, year after year. However, I’m not quite sure about how it was ultimately handled. Fairy dust is clearly a magical substance, so its addictive properties do not necessarily need to be based in reality. But the story almost dodges some of the harder aspects of this addition in the end of the book, and I’m not exactly sure what message was being conveyed here. That said, I could be missing something, and this all might work fine for other readers.

I also struggled a bit with the characters themselves, particularly Jordan. On her own, she had a lot of the traits I enjoy in my female main characters. She’s flawed, brash, and ruthless. However, I struggled more when it came to her relationship and interactions with Baron, her staunch childhood friend. At times, this relationship felt a bit strange, with Jordan seeming to take advantage of Baron’s friendship and feelings for her, almost bullying him at points. This could be simply that their temperaments were very different, but it just felt rather off throughout.

Overall, this was just an ok read for me. The tone was a bit too grimdark throughout, without enough levity to be found to counterbalance it in the way I wanted. I also liked the broader strokes of the characters, but their relationship also felt a bit off in a way that didn’t allow me to fully connect to their arc together. If you enjoy darker fantasy stories, however, this still might be one worth checking out!

Rating 7: Tackling dark themes of addiction and childhood trauma, this had a lot of potential, but began to feel weighed down by its own grim tone as the story went on.

Link will go live on The Library Ladies on July 20

(CW: Brief scenes of body gore.)

I am not a big fan of the original Peter Pan story. There was always something about a group of kids battling pirates and trying to stay alive on a secret island that felt off to me. These Deathless Shores not only tackles my discontent with this premise head on, but also does a wonderful job of interrogating the last impact of this premise. In exploring the long-term impact of children living and fighting for their survival at such young ages, Low develops a story in which the Island becomes a source of trauma and addiction in more ways than one. While this book is often billed as a Captain Hook origin story, I think it’s more about finding ways to break free from what’s expected and building your own story. It’s a story about fighting past demons, finding a way to live with the wounds (real and metaphorical) of childhood trauma, and discovering who can be when you let go of who you think you’re supposed to be. Aside from a great plot, the writing is also beautifully descriptive and there is just enough world building to keep you engaged but also wishing for more stories from the world. This is a great book that will draw you in and have you turning the page to find out what happens next.

I super loved the book for about 90% of it, but was disappointed at the ending. It felt very unsatisfying, kind of reinforcing the pointlessness of existence that the whole book had been grappling with. Sort of feels like it was supposed to be an anti-urban environmental statement, but that doesn't work logically with the way it ends.

Also, for the love of all that's good, put content warnings into the book!!!! Nothing in the description, blurb, or advance praise prepared me for the intense depression, suicidality, and constant casual murder. Please, publisher, if you're listening - add some content warnings before releasing the book!

A dark Peter Pan retelling where the main characters are pirates and an iteration of Captain Hook. It's a super interesting concept, and the writing style is noticeably artistic. I'm partial to more "flowery" writing, and I don't consider that a negative AT ALL when talking about writing. I really admire the way that this novel talks about the issues within it, because it takes a lot to be able to write about these topics in a way that isn't super offensive or off-kilter.

I really enjoyed pieces of this, but couldn't get past others. I like the Island as a character, I really like the idea of a main character taking up a role of Captain Hook because there's a lot of complexities there, the idea of Peter&Hook's story being cyclical throughout history is really neat too. All of these are super neat concepts. There's a few relationships that are hard to fully feel though, and Baron/Jordan's relationship was really uncomfortable to read imo. I really felt as though I was missing a certain amount of context walking into this story, and only halfway through did I feel like I could really grasp what was going on within the story. I think that the writing style might have something to do with this? The conversations are decribed so in depth and with a lot of intention, but the world/setting doesn't have this same description so it was hard for me to "see" what was going on in the story and as a result I wasn't really grounded in what was happening.

This author has balls to tackle as many fantasy elements, characters, and tough topics as they do. In a lot of ways, the writing style suits the difficult themes and I think a more descriptive, artistic approach made this super interesting to read. I will say that the voice the author uses and the descriptions in the novel might do it a disservice at points, where maybe certain characters or plotlines could be stripped away so that the narrative can breathe. I see the vision for this book, but I don't think I found myself understanding what was going on until it was a bit too far into the story.

These Deathless Shores is a dark and riveting return to Neverland. As a former Lost Boy, Jordan must return to Neverland to fight her addiction to Dust. When she has the chance to face Peter Pan one last time, Jordan must use all her knowledge of the Island to survive. How far will she go to succeed?

These Deathless Shores is a compelling and gritty retelling. P.H. Low does not shy away from the gruesome price of magic- from addiction to illness to sacrifices. This was one of the most unique Peter Pan retellings that I’ve read. Jordan is a morally gray character who must make tough choices. As the tale unfolds, Jordan is unafraid to become the villain if it allows her to finally have the vengeance she was denied.

With a strong cast of supporting characters, especially Chay and Baron, this is an action-packed tale. I loved the complex LGBTQ+ rep. These Deathless Shores is not a book for the faint of heart, but instead will be a book that keeps readers thinking about it long after the last page. What does it mean to be the villain in the story, to leave childhood behind? P.H. Low is definitely an author to watch and I’m excited to see what they write next.

Thank you to P.H. Low, Orbit Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

These Deathless Shores, the title is so catchy and the fact that it's a Peter Pan retelling had me straight away! The way the author used the world we know and created this whole other way of perceiving it was extraordinary.

I can say that I personally had a hard time connecting with the main character, but I feel as though it was meant to be that way. I felt for their struggles and all that they’ve gone through, but that ending had me screaming. I did like all the side characters. When it switched perspective the first time, I was thrown off a bit, but I understand why the multiple POV’s were necessary. I do however have a preference to know that a book is dual or multi POV on the back cover copy, (but that is a me thing and I’m certain others won’t feel that way.)
I also don’t feel that the back cover really tells the story it says it does either. Especially since the first paragraph of the back cover is just a back story that’s intermingled into the story.

The writing is grimdark throughout and is beautifully written. I loved the Southeast Asia (I believe) inspired world setting. It too was exquisite to read. I am certain that the author is a phenomenal writer. Though the story fell a little short for me. I do know others will feel differently and I encourage others who love Peter Pan to pick up this book, but be prepared to be battered.

#review #phlow #TheseDeathlessShores #NetGalley

“If he used to be a child, he isn’t anymore”.
Dark fairy tale retellings are some of my favorite literature and Peter Pan is one of my favorite stories. Even more so are the stories where Pan is depicted as a villain. This is one such story that is hauntingly real and wholly believable in its premise. The South-East Asian inspired future setting of the story is unique, captivating, and fresh in its approach to the Pan mythos.

Make no mistake, this is no book for children. This is for adults and holds violence, gore, and triggering subject matter. Low’s version is what happens when the veil of nostalgia is lifted. Low is able to capture how dealing with childhood trauma can manifest in many ways for survivors. Whether that is through drugs, PTSD, body dysmorphia, sex addiction, emotional detachment, fear of intimacy, disassociation, or anger issues. It questions what happens to the psyche of an immortal child who spends decades kidnapping other children, turning them into child soldiers and forcing them to battle and gruesomely murder pirates and those who wash ashore.

While not perfect, this novel does a great job of reeling readers into its world. The beginning and the end of the novel are excellent, although the ending does lean heavily on an oft-used trope and feels slightly rushed. The middle could have been cleaned up as it has a lot of repetitive scenes and dialogue. There are also some tonal issues throughout where the novel never truly leans into a specific genre. As a result, some violent scenes come across jarring and temporarily displace the reader. The focal point are the characters and in their writing is where Low shines. We feel their trauma, their anguish, and their rage as they each deal with their trauma in different ways. Ultimately this novel shows us the negative side of growing-up and what it means to be an adult who can’t let go of the past. It is a strong debut and Low should be on your reading list.

This book has so much going for it that I’m a little sad I didn’t enjoy it more.

Things I loved:
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. I used to wonder at Peter Pan because ultimately it was a group of children fighting with weapons being “raised” by another child. This book relates to a lot of the questions I had about the original story. It’s wonderfully dark and the overall plot just fits. I love the sinister tone and the concept of the Island.
Also, there was a lot of fantastic representation with disability rep, anxiety attacks, involuntary substance addiction, etc. I think all of these things were represented in a real light that I really appreciated.

Things that didn’t quite work for me:
First, I was struck by the lack of worldbuilding here for a fantasy novel. Sometimes books have too much info-dumping, but this was the opposite. I couldn’t conceptualize the world at all - the Island or the outside world. I’m not sure if that’s intentional so that readers each have their own unique experiences, or if it’s just a weaker point of the book. This might not bother you if you’re not a world building fiend like I am.
Further, while I loved the premise, the tone, the language, and the story, I just couldn’t connect with the characters. They each had their strengths and weaknesses, but they all fell flat for me. I wanted to know what happened because the story was compelling, but I found I didn’t actually care about any of the characters.

While this wasn’t really my favorite, I’m still giving it three stars because there is a lot of good. I loved the author’s writing style and will absolutely be looking into other works, so this didn’t turn me off of all their books.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance read of this book. These thoughts and opinions are all my own.

This book is so fun!! The premise is so unique, and I honestly went in not super sure how I felt about a Peter Pan retelling, but I loved it so much. The characters are compelling and the author does a great job making something so familiar feel new and mysterious. I also really enjoyed the bits we got of the outside world. Excited for this to come out!

Many thanks to @netgalley, @orbitbooks, and the author for allowing me to read this eARC. The opinions presented in this review are my own.
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⭐ 2.5 / 5 (rounded up)

What I liked:
- Concept: Grim-dark Peter Pan retelling as a Captain Hook origin story with a dark, murderous Peter Pan who sort of holds Tink hostage, mixing her dust with the ground up bones of Lost Boys who have “grown up?” That sounds insanely interesting. To my disappointment, the execution didn’t live up to my high expectations.
- Backdrop: Southeast Asian setting, culture, geopolitics, and folklore references provided a unique and rich environment from which to build a story.
- Vibe: This isn’t the whimsical Disney cartoon of Millennial childhood, this is a darker side of Neverland. There are many themes in the classic Peter Pan stories that support a grim-dark take. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel the story lived up to the vibe.
- Themes: Open discussion of difficult, but very real, themes - anxiety, panic attacks, eating disorder, substance addiction. While I can’t personally speak to the rest, I felt the author captured the constricted feeling of anxiety and panic attacks well.

My toxic trait:
I have a really hard time leaving things unfinished - 1000-piece puzzles, coloring books, a line of dominos where all but 1-2 fall over (you bet your a** I’m walking over to knock those over!). I will finish a book I despise just so my future self doesn’t have to think about not-finishing it (...you are now seeing why I am able to comment on the realness of an anxiety theme). ARCs are especially difficult for me. I want to provide substance to my feedback and I don’t feel I can do that if I DNF. So, even when it physically pains me, even if my dentist admonishes my teeth grinding, even if I am hate-reading in place of much needed sleep, I nearly always force my way through. Sadly, at about 25% in, These Deathless Shores elicited my “Oh crap, this is going to be a trudge,” feeling. Me being me, I did finish it, but I did so begrudgingly.

The biggest issue I had was the underlying feeling of “I’m confused,” that persisted for at least the first half of the book. It felt as though I had missed something vital, or I didn’t have some needed background knowledge that would make it all make sense. I’m still not sure what it was that I was missing, just that I was missing it.

I did not get the romantic relationships at all. Jordan and Baron’s relationship seemed co-dependent, yet coercive, toxic, and overall just kind of yucky. Their entire relationship “arc” was like picking a flower and pulling the petals while saying “they love each other, they love each other not, they love each other, they love each other not. But why though!?” It was exhausting. Tier and Chay's insta-love? Again, I don't get it.

While the book was quite descriptive in many ways (seriously, does nearly every death need to involve disembowelment?!), the descriptions for Peter and Tink are sparse. It is mentioned that Peter “isn’t a child anymore.” As if that explains why he is so dark and cruel now? But why? Just because he has been in that state for so long? Was he ever childlike or was he always a brutal psychopath?

My overall feeling after completing this book:
It is like I was sprinkled with Dust and spent the entire story hovering over the Island watching the surface level of the action without knowing the important details. Again, maybe I missed something…or several somethings. Maybe I just don’t get it. I will totally own the “I’m the problem, it’s me” here. I could see how this may check some people's boxes. It just wasn’t for me and that’s okay. The writing is good, the concept is awesome, and for those reasons I will definitely try another of P.H. Low’s works in the future. Hopefully the next one will hit the mark for me.

DNF — it’s rare I do not finish a book, but this story was not for me. I was confused often while reading through it, and I felt like it dragged on.

My thanks to Netgalley and Orbit Books for providing me with a digital copy for review.

This was okay. I think I expected more action and adventure, which is probably why I feel a little disappointed with this book. It felt more character-driven, which is fine, but I just didn’t connect all that much with the characters. There wasn’t much world-building. The modern world parts felt like reading about our world, but with different names. I feel like the author could have done more to make it feel more distinct. The island parts were interesting at times, but some things didn’t make sense, or didn’t feel truly explained to wrap my head around, such as how the Dust was made. So all in all, a bit of an average read. Fans of the Peter Pan story will probably enjoy this the most. I’ve never been hugely into Peter Pan, so maybe that was part of the reason why I didn’t truly connect to this book. It had potential, and I’m curious to check out this author’s next work.

A retelling of Peter Pan explores themes of cruelty and patriarchal norms. The story centers around Jordan, a former Lost Boy who believed she would never grow up. Now, at twenty-two, she is struggling in the real world and experiencing the effects of the dust, the magical substance that fueled her childhood adventures. Baron, a Lost Boy who left shortly after to Jordan, joins her to the real world. They are lost and feel no connection to their lives and the mundane of ordinary life. Consumed by withdrawal and a sense of loss, Jordan returns to the Island, seeking closure and a final confrontation with Peter Pan with Baron in toe.

They believe the return to the Island will make them feel alive but, instead, a descent into the darker aspects of their childhood. The Island, with its pirates, eternal youth, and perpetual war, serves as a backdrop for the story. Her interactions with Peter Pan reveal their relationship's complexities and inherent cruelty. Jordan's mission is not just about a resolution; it's about reclaiming her identity and confronting the heartlessness of Peter Pan. This book challenges the conventional portrayal of Peter Pan, and so begins the origin story of Captain Hook.

The theme of her addiction was Jordan's need to hold on to her childhood and the battle to let go of the past. The forced exile generates her identity struggle, the disillusionment of becoming an adult, and the injustice of a society where a female's value is based on the level of subservience to men. This story challenges the narrative of the hero and villain. Let me set the record straight; Jordan is not a just character but does blur the lines of villainy. The book is a thought-provoking read into the complexities of trauma. It also had inclusive characters, which bravo to the author.

There was inconstant pacing, a need for more character development, and some plot holes. There was a repetitiveness to the book. The romantic relationships needed to be more believable and have depth. The ending felt rushed. If you are a massive fan of Peter Pan, you will appreciate this alternative and dark POV.

I received an ARC copy from Netgalley and Orbit in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.

I feel kinda bad about this rating, but I straight up did not have a good time. I liked the idea of a dark Peter Pan retelling and there were opportunities for interesting storylines like Tink and her addictive Dust, what happens to the Lost Boys when they grow up, maybe more of a backstory for Peter, etc., but the execution just wasn’t there imo. I’m honestly not sure if there was a single likable character and the romances were just strange all around. I found myself trying to speed read the last half because I just wanted it to be over and I’m not one to DNF. I’m sure there’s an audience for this book but sadly it wasn’t me.

I’m thankful nonetheless to Orbit Books for the ARC!

These Deathless Shores by P.H. Low is a reimagined tale of Captain Hook’s origin - a unique spin on the classic Peter Pan story that we are all so familiar with.

This was one that I was hopeful for as the description and cover art drew me in, but as the story went on I found myself feeling disappointed. I will say that I acknowledge the time, effort and energy that it takes to take your idea from your brain and get it out and then to publish that idea is even more of a feat so I absolutely applaud the author for bringing this creation to life, however, this book was not my cup of tea. Buddy reading this with my friend was what kept me from DNF-ing.

This book focuses on the addiction that former Lost Boys have to Dust. Jordan was kicked off the island once she got her period and Peter found out that she was really a girl, and she brought her “twin” Baron with her, leaving behind her biological younger sister Chay who becomes a mother figure to the Lost Boys, avoiding her period through malnourishment. They are coming back to the Island to capture Tink and kill Peter.

Peter has no redeeming qualities in this book, he is toxic- and the rest of the characters aren’t much better. I found myself disinterested and having a hard time connecting or caring about what was going on. There are some awkward romances that are hard to believe. The beginning did start off strong but it was all downhill from there, and by the end of it I just wanted it to be over with.

I do think that there is an audience out there that will enjoy this dark fantasy retelling, but I’m not sure I know anyone who I’d recommend this to.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I would give one of P.H Low’s other books a try.

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.