3.5 stars

I really liked this. It had some obvious pacing issues, and I doubt whether or not it was a great decision to give Wendy a pov, besides Hook and Jane, as well as having three time lines and location switches. Because it read quite chaotic and messy to me, I'd say not. But the characters, their relationships and the writing itself I loved! It was whimsical, but also dark and eerie, and the relationships felt real.

At some points I was wondering whether I had missed something, but again, not sure if it was because of the chaotic-ness of the plot and I actually missed something, or whether I should have picked up Wendy, Darling, A.C. Wise's previous book, before getting into this one. The first half was quite slow, but I looooved the last 25% of this book so much!

I unfortunately decided to dnf this book at 50%. I loved parts of it but just found myself confused and lost. I think because it was dual timeline I was getting mixed up. I really love retellings and had high hopes for this one.

Thank you to netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

💫 Hooked 💫
By AC Wise
Publisher: Titan Books (July 12.2022)
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy

I’m going to start by saying that you should read “Wendy, Darling” . While this isn’t necessarily a series, it does take place after (and with spoilers) that book ends. I really enjoyed the darkness centred around the first book and knew that I wanted to continue with the story within Neverland. However This time it was centred around Hook (James), Wendy and Jane (Wendy’s daughter).

I will say off the bat, it’s not for the younger reader. It’s a deep dive into death and darkness within the Peter Pan story. There’s a whole are Wendy and Hook
Friends? Frenemies? Did we get the evil character wrong? Was it really Peter Pan with the darkness and not Captain Hook? Happening within the pages which I thought was quite clever of a storyline.

I also loved that James (Hook) had found a love that happened to be a man by the name of Samuel, who brought out and made him see the goodness in him (side note: I would have loved more Samuel).

There is a lot of trigger warnings
(⚠️ drug use, death, gore, strangulation, drowning, mental health) that need to be addressed for many readers and I hope that it does come out in the final copy. Its dark. It’s violent. But ultimately wasn’t as loved by me as the first book that felt more character-deep.

Clever synopsis and would still recommend to certain people but not as loved as the first. I do however enjoy the authors writing and will still pick up whatever she writes next. I’m enjoying her unique takes within worlds we thought we knew.

So, so good! Who can't help but love a Captain Hook retelling? This book was imaginative, compelling, and sadly I found myself finished with it too quickly. I need more!! I found this story to be a much darker take on Neverland and Peter Pan and it was exactly what I was looking for. Cannot recommend this book enough! (Also, don't forget to read Wendy, Darling by this author as well if you haven't already.)

Hooked was a big surprise to me. I was intrigued by a queer retelling of Hook’s story and therefore, read it from that perspective. I suspect the book will produce a range of strong reactions from different readers. As someone who doesn’t like Peter Pan and whose closest familiarity with the story is the kids film Hook, I think it works fine for readers with the most basic grasp of the Pan universe. I have no doubt that some of the characters (especially the pirates) are richer if you have more book knowledge than I do but it was totally understandable without knowing who they were.

I always thought Hook was the most interesting character in Peter Pan and I think that this novel makes the most of him being both a monster and a vulnerable person. I liked that no one is wholly likeable (except Samuel who felt very flat). I also thought that actually providing some queer context for James Hook worked even though I was surprised about how that manifested.

The pacing of the book is very mixed and I am uncertain how useful the time jumping is. HOWEVER, I did enjoy reading it and wanted to know what happened. James Hook and Wendy feel as I remember them and I think that we get a satisfying reckoning with the cruelty in Peter Pan while also thinking about how villains are made. Lots of potential. Definite romantic appeal to those who do like Peter Pan more widely. I found it compelling. A perfect holiday read or something I’d have in the library for older teenagers who like retellings.

Note: this book covers post-traumatic stress at length, includes varieties of drug use, and has quite a lot of violent scenes. It is not a middle-grade or young YA story.

2.5 stars rounded up.

I really tried to get into this one, because I love the idea of a queer Peter Pan retelling. Hook was the most interesting of the characters, and I found myself skimming the Darling chapters to get back to his storyline. By the midpoint, however, I wasn’t invested in his storyline as much either. The chapters were too long.

I think additional edits were needed to tighten up the story. I would have preferred a novella that focused solely on James and Samuel because that was the most compelling aspect of the novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

As always, thank you to netgalley and the publishers for granting me an arc.

So I don't know if Hooked is a sequel to Wendy, Darling though I assume it is. Saying that, Hooked can easily be read without needing to read the first book, there's no confusion.

The book follows James, AKA Captain Hook, but not as the man we all know from the stories. He's an elderly man now, well into his eighties, but the beast of Neverland is never far away.

Its heavily implied that James suffered at the hands of Peter, doomed to die over and over all for Peter's entertainment, dragged back to Neverland by Peter's beast. After escaping Neverland for what he thought was the final time, James realises that no matter what he does he can't escape Neverland or who he was forced to become.

We also have the POV's of Jane and Wendy. Jane and her best friend, Peg, want to become doctors in a world primarily run by men, but when Peg is murdered Jane finds herself seeking comfort from her mother, who runs into James seemingly randomly. The three realise that Neverland's door has reopened and the Beast has once more returned, baying for blood.

I absolutely loved this story and I loved reading about James and Samuel. Samuel has a special place in my heart.

I had no idea this would be the year of Peter Pan retellings! I was so excited to get my hands on this one, and wow...not to mention, there's a same-sex relationship! YAY!

Pan is only mentioned a few times, he's the villain, the hero, all of the things, but you don't see him in the novel. You are more acquainted with Hook/James, Jane Darling, Wendy Darling, and Michael Darling.
It's quite the lineup. The thing about Neverland is "Once invited, always welcome. Once invited, never free."

There is a monster from Hook's darkest nightmares back from Neverland to haunt him- no, kill him. It stalks the streets of London and innocent people are murdered until Hook/James can come face to face with his demons. The monster slipped through a hole between worlds, and now the Darlings and Hook/James have to team up: enemies to friends, maybe.
Hook/James isn't the only one with ghosts - the story explores grief, broken relationships, and addiction.

I always enjoy a retelling, especially one from my childhood, but this one was a little too dark for me. The story would go back and forth between past and present and honestly, it just confused me. Like, I don't understand how the magic and the 'battles' in Neverland fixed anything, I don't understand.
If you enjoy a dark story, then yes, I think you will enjoy this novel, however, if you want something a little lighter without loss and grief, I wouldn't pick this novel. It's not the fairytale you grew up with, it's what happens in real life when you lose people you love, and then, of course, there's Neverland- nothing is supposed to make sense there.

release date: 7/12/2022🎉

Thank you to Titan Books and Net Galley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this one is not for me. I made it about 25% in and put it aside as a DNF. It's a really tough undertaking to write a Peter Pan inspired story, especially coming at it from different perspectives. The first couple chapters are mainly inner dialogue, repetitive, gives too little and too much detail at the same time? This one is just not for me and I don't foresee myself coming back to it in the future.

Thank you NetGally for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

ARC provided by #NetGalley #Hooked in exchange for an honest review.

I consider Hooked a psychological suspense thriller fantasy. I found the story very slow moving, emotionally raw and nostalgic. Many themes of grief, sexism, addiction, LGBTQ, forgiveness, loss and love are expressed. However, it was still a wild epic ride with ghosts, creatures, fights, and murder. At times I did had a hard time getting into the action because it seemed abstract.

While it is based on a Peter Pan fairytale, I consider it Hook's tale. It follows mostly Hook and Wendy's daughter Jane with Pan being this dark figure that is referenced and villainized. I enjoyed this book a lot and learned more about Peter Pan than I previously knew. I will forever look at him side eye'd now. You see he isn't the fun loving boy wonder he is portrayed to be. Bending people to you will for sport, not cool.

Book offers a different side of Cpt Hook that I never considered. You get Cpt Hook as aging James Hook, the man, lost, a future derailed, vulnerable, flaws and all. And I empathized with him, whereas, I never did before. And you get a view of his personal life that I surprised me. Didn't see it coming.

It is a beautifully written book.

So, I was very interested by the plot of the book, I had some sort of high expectations that sadly haven’t been met.
All in all is still a good take on the fable we all know and a nice read, so I would still recommend it!

”Fill up every space in yourself with the knowledge that you can do this, because you’ve done it before. Leave no space for doubt, then aim for the second star to the right and keep on straight until morning.”


SUMMARY
Once invited, always welcome.
Once invited, never free.

Captain James Hook, the immortal pirate of Neverland, has died a thousand times. Drowned, stabbed by Peter Pan’s sword, eaten by the beast swimming below the depths. Until he found a door in the sky, an escape. At the time, he took the chance no matter the cost, however now the beast has found him in London 22 years later, and it’s time to pay up.

OPINION
When I think of Peter Pan, Neverland, the Darlings, I think of magic, I think of no rules, I think of fairy dust and pirates and most of all, I think of happy endings. This is Peter Pan with a dark twist.

This story is full of stormy trechearous waters, one moment you’re sinking into one timeline and then you’re thrashed into the next. The story submerges your thoughts, giving you no time to rest, to settle.

Wonderfully so, this makes the story tense. Unfortunately, it also acted a barrier for me to get invested in the characters since the past versions and the present versions of themselves seemed so different.

I tried so hard to enjoy the characters but I felt that I couldn’t, even Jane who I would usually lap up with her fiery qualities and breaking of man-made boundaries should have captured my heart but there was nowhere to attach my heart strings too in the many timelines that overlapped each other.

I wish I loved this more. Drug addicted queer Captain Hook really grabbed my attention and instantly made me want to read this right through. Unfortunately, I kept getting bored,
considering it was a sequel to Wendy, Darling, I felt like it was so repetitive of the past and the accompaniment demons, the story didn’t really move forward in any way I expected, it simply felt like a long winded wrap up of conclusions from the trauma Neverland caused in the first novel.

But this isn’t to discredit A. C. Wise’s writing, which is sharp and beautiful, the skill of being able to say exactly what you want to say is underrated because Wise nails this, even as messy as the story could be with its multiple timelines and character POVs, Wise never left any doubt as to exactly what was going on and exactly what the characters were feeling.

RECOMMENDATION
I’d recommend this to those who love Peter Pan retellings and are a fan of writing styles such as VE Schwabb and Christina Henry. This is a sequel and I think I would have enjoyed it more if I’d read the first one.

Hooked is the second book by A.C. Wise that explores what happened to the characters of Neverland once they left (escaped) Neverland and the clutches of Peter Pan. Obviously, this one follows Captain Hook or James now that he is an elder gentleman in London. However, a chance encounter with Wendy Darling starts a chain of events that leads him back to being Captain Hook one last time.

I read Wendy, Darling earlier this year and loved it. This sequel was so enjoyable, I loved that both Wendy and Jane reappeared in this novel as main characters. A.C. Wise's writing style and also her twist on the traditional characters of Peter Pan is just fantastic. Definitely a book and series I recommend.

Read an eARC courtesy of Netgalley; the publisher, Titan Books; and the author, A.C. Wise. Thank you for the opportunity.

I thoroughly enjoyed "Wendy, Darling", so I was thrilled when I had the opportunity to read "Hooked" (the unofficial sequel). It doesn't quite have the same shine as "Wendy, Darling", but it is still a very enjoyable read and no one should be put off by the lower rating (it's only my opinion, after all!). I'm eager to see where A.C. Wise takes us next...

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

A.C. Wise returns with a new installment to their gothic, feminist retelling of Peter Pan. Following Wendy, Jane, and the infamous Captain Hook, we join the trio on a new adventure between worlds.

This book was the best sort of heartbreak. Hook’s portrayal in particular was absolutely breathtaking. A particularly flawed and selfish man, I still found myself loving and rooting for him. He was a deeply human character that I really connected with. The way the author used his relationship with Samuel to show his softer side and his redeeming qualities was gorgeous and written so beautifully. The fact that Hook being queer just existed as fact without any note of struggle against it was also beautiful to see. The way Hook railed against outside forces that tried to tarnish that was also powerful in its telling.

Jane was another wonderful character to engage with. Her struggles against a male dominated world and her desire to carve her own path in it is empowering and so relatable. The way she describes having to do more than her male counterparts to even be in the running is particularly poignant. She’s brave in the face of fear and her growth from the girl she was in the first book to the young woman she is in this one is amazing to see especially as the author kept notes of that little girl in this grown character.

Wendy was stunning as usual, in all her Wendyness, but I was disappointed by the lack of any mention of Mary or her relationship with Mary. However, we did get to see and learn more about Michael who had a relatively small role in the first book. It was intriguing to delve into the depths of his character in this book.

Overall, Hook was the most engrossing member of our merry band of travelers which makes sense given the title. His pain is so poignant and beautifully written. His grief and struggles against both worlds really humanizes him and makes him a sympathetic character to traverse this tale with. I would absolutely recommend this book either as a stand alone or a continuation of the story started in Wendy, Darling. As far as Peter Pan retellings go, A.C. Wise has certainly created one of the best.

While this is meant to be somewhat of a spiritual successor—is that the right term? It might not be—to Wendy, Darling, I don’t think you need to have read that book in order to understand this one. Personally, while Wendy, Darling has been vaguely on my TBR for awhile now, I have yet to actually read it. Hooked, on the other hand, had a premise that automatically intrigued me, and I was eager to see what this twist on the classic villain’s tale had to offer.
My answer was a cacophony of beautiful language, immersive characters, and a powerful message about grief, fear, failure, and everything in between. The fact I had yet to read the Hooked predecessor was of no consequence.
Given how riveted I was by this book, it is unfortunate that life seemed determined to distract me from it. As such, I don’t actually feel that I was able to fully devote the attention I think Hooked actually deserves. That “fully engrossed, hang on every poetic word presented” kind of attention that every author hopes to pull from their reader. However, I did finish it, so now I’m left with the undeniable desire to do it all again. Yes, this is definitely a story I will be rereading, and most assuredly recommending. I love a villainized Pan retelling, and this is one of the best I have read; perfect for any fan of twisted fairytales, or queer classic retellings.

Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Once invited, always welcome. Once invited, never free."

The premise of the book was promising but didn't quite hit the mark for me. The writing and story plot was well put together. There are at least 3 POVs in this story while jumping between timelines but it isn't consistent going back and forth throughout the novel. Although it all comes together well I think it can throw some people off, so please keep that in mind.

"If I'm a monster, then let me be a useful one."

I really love retellings and this was overall enjoyable. The story was definitely dark and experiencing themes of grief, survivor's guilt, and healing bonds. I would have liked to see more development and love between James and Samuel's relationship. The anticipation was long and the moment too short between them, it was painful.

There were many quotes I loved:

"You're not a dog," Samuel had said. "And you're not a monster. Behind the Devil, I saw that you could be whatever you chose - if you chose. Not just what Pan made of you." Samuel's tears slipped free at last. "That's why I stay. Because I care. And because I do love you. But you do have to choose."

"You're stronger than you think."

"You've always been kind to me. Why can't you be kind to the rest of the world?" James has no answer for him. "Why can't you be kind to yourself?"

"Whatever I left behind doesn't matter," Samuel says. "The best part of me, always went with you."

"Because in this world, desire can be a door, a knife can be a key, and a man - a captain - can contain multitudes."

Overall, a strong story with a well written plot, dark and grim themed wrapped in a pretty black bow.

This book is about Neverland and all the characters associated with it - but not as you know it. What I love about this book, is it is NOT a kids book. The language, writing style, the subject content has made that all very clear. This is a dark book. What I didn't realise is that this book does follow on from the book 'Wendy Darling'. I think this book can be read as a standalone, as I didn't have any issues reading this and having not read the last one, but something to be aware of. I'm sure if I had read the last one, the characters in this would have juts had even more depth.

To start with, this book is beautifully written. There is a lot of descriptive language that really brings the world and everyone in it to life, and really paints the story and images in your mind. There is also a lot of use of metaphorical, imaginative, fantastical, magical and whimsical writing. Sometimes, the writing is so beautiful that it did distract me from the story itself. I had to re-read parts to understand the story and what was happening as the language style and writing meant I had to concentrate quite a lot.

The story started off a little messy and confusing. There were time jumps, location jumps, multiple character POVs - these are all literary devices I love - getting to see multiple timelines, places and inside multiple characters heads', however the way it was carried out meant it was jumping around a lot, sometimes mid-chapter, and it did mess with my own head a fair bit, and on many occasions, I was left wondering what was actually happening. Having read the book now, I can think that maybe this confusing start was a deliberate and conscious choice, as it does mirror Hook's messy and unstable mindset for the first half of the book, so this may have been carried out so we could feel the way he did. If this is so, it's very clever, but not something I picked up on until after I'd read the book, so going in to read it, be aware that this is what the book is like at the start.

I love how Hook is clearly in love with Samuel in this book. I love how dark the book is. I loved the actual story once I'd gotten into it (it takes a while for the story to take hold). The way something from Neverland has made its way into London and doesn't belong, the way Peter Pan is almost painted as a villain. Hooked shows the darker and more villainous side of Peter Pan and Neverland, and the long-term effects both have had on Hook, Wendy and Jane.

This book actually made me feel for Hook, a lot. I felt so sorry for him going through what he is, I just wanted to give him a hug and make everything okay! I loved Jane as a character. Her owning being a woman in a male-dominated field and not caring about that at all. The book covers a lot of complex themes - guilt, PTSD, recovery from trauma, and I think even though this is a fantasy book, these themes were covered in a really clever and respectful way.

Whilst I loved the characters individually, I found their relationships with each other weak, with the exception of Hook and Samuel. I'd have liked to have had more depth for the characters relationships with each other.

The more of the book you read, the more it makes sense. Again, this may be a deliberate choice to replicate the minds of the characters whom we are reading about. Once you reach the point where things do start to make more sense, the story is actually really good; even though a lot doesn't happen for the first half of the book. You just have to have patience and push through to get there!

The premise of this book is great , I love Peter Pan so to have a new retelling is exciting. Especially to have LGBT representation. Unfortunately I just didn't love it. I felt it was quite slow paced and not much happened for how far I had read. The more exciting stuff happens in the last few chapters. I didn't feel glued to this or feel a connection to the characters unfortunately.

DNF at 40%

The writing style just wasn’t working for me. Plot was kind of intriguing but the characters felt juvenile and stilted and I couldn’t get past it.