Member Reviews
This was an intriguing book with a unique premise and immersive world-building. The author does a great job of crafting a rich, detailed setting that pulls you in, and the themes of loyalty, survival, and power make for a compelling backdrop. The magic system and lore are particularly well-developed, adding depth to the story.
However, while the world is fascinating, I found the pacing uneven at times. Some sections felt slow, and it took a while for the plot to really gain momentum. The characters, though interesting, could have been fleshed out more—there were moments when I struggled to connect with them or fully invest in their journeys.
Unfortunately it was one I had to DNF but I hope to read it again in the future.
3.5 upped to 4
It's a good novel and I appreciated the characters. I liked it but didn't love as I felt something was off
There's potential but it wasn't my cup of tea
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
An early dnf--this one was simply not for me no matter how hard I tried, however I would still recommend it to the right readers. You'll know very quickly whether you gel with it or not.
These Deathless Shores by P.H. Low is genius! A Peter Pan retelling where everything is flipped on it's head, not least, Peter Pan being evil! The reworking of the story to a darkly gothic narrative is absolutely delicious and the reimagining of key characters is inspired.
These Deathless Shores is a fantastic concept and I really enjoyed it
Thank you to NetGalley, Angry Robot and PH Low for this fantastic ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
I usually avoid Peter Pan retellings like the plague because I have no interest in them. I saw this book on Shelley Parker-Chan's story and thought the way they described it was something I could love. In the end, it was fine. I wished the author had used the hints imperialism more and developed that theme throughout the novel. I thought the writing was so atmospheric and I absolutely loved that, as well as the overall world they set up but overall it wasn't a book I absolutely loved.
I wanted to love this but it just felt too dark for me, it's very possibly the mood I was in but not what I wanted or expected.
In theory this book is right up my alley so i will totally try again in the future!
Loved how dark and violent this went. Enjoyed the spin on Peter Pan and how believable it was. Enjoyed a few of the side characters. Wasn't a big fan of the pacing or sparodic world building. Struggled to connect with the mc's and their relationship. Would of liked to not of been in the mc's head quite so much.
Interesting premise and the darkness was great but didn't really hit for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Angry Robot for the arc, all thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.
Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the advance reader copy.
I went into this book with a lot of expectations and found I had to lower them in order to finish the story.
There are some great world building elements but the story did drag on a lot of its parts.
A lot of the characters aren’t likeable which also doesn’t help but I think a few edits wouldn’t have gone a miss.
I liked the reimagining of Peter Pan and the after of the story everyone knows.
I really struggled with this book, I think the premise was really interesting but sadly I just couldnt get on with the writing style.
I also found it reqlly hard to relate to the charavters and quite often didnt understand what was going on
A dark Peter Pan retelling? Count me in!
This book was magical & adventurous but also very raw & dark.
Things i loved
- I loved the concept of Peter Pan being a villain. It made so much sense & was very believable
- Hook was also a fantastic character
- All the other characters. They were all flawed in their own ways & you got to understand what drives them
- How gory it was, wow. Only a couple of scenes but yikes
Things that could have been improved
- It could have used another edit. Some parts were very confusing and the pacing was a bit off
- The romances felt rushed & I didn’t find them believable
Overall, I enjoyed it. It’s not my fave book of the year but I think there are people out there who would read this & absolutely love it.
3 stars
Although this was beautifully written and the setting and atmosphere were amazing, the story itself didn't grab me.
I felt lost about the story, and in a big way, it was because of the romances in it. I didn't enjoy them. At all. The romance made no sense, especially Chay's one.
This is one of those instances where if there wasn't romance, the story might be better.
Also, a lot of characters felt very shallow. Like I wanted to know more of them, but they were underdeveloped.
Still, because of the exceptional writing style, I might be interested in reading more of this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Dark and enthralling fairytale retelling with a twist.
The writing style was fantastic, I loved how fleshed out everything was.
The story was fast paced, and it did feel like I was missing a lot as I was reading through.
And I couldn't feel the connection with the romance, it just wasn't getting there for me.
The story itself was great, and it did keep me entertained.
DNF @ 23%. Life is short and there are too many books to read as it is.
This book is all about drug addiction and hating yourself. The characters are one-dimensional and irritating. The story would be confusing if the plot wasn't so shallow that you don't even care enough to invest your brain in the workings of this. The premise sounds amazing but then once you get into it, it fails to deliver. Twenty-five to thirty-three percent is how much time I usually give a book to make an impression on me, but this was sheer torture. I feel like I'm going through Dust withdrawals from forcing myself to digest this swill. Who even are these people and why do I hate them so much?
A dark dramatic twist on the Peter Pan stories we know well. Jordan was masquerading as a boy on an Island with the Lost boys, however upon her first period she's thrown out and back to reality. And worse than office jobs and lack of flight, is the fact that the island had magical dust, and leaving that island has caused Jordan severe withdrawal. So she plots to return to the island, and take control of the Dust supply.
This a dark read, please check your trigger warnings before reading. That being said the authors tone and style of writing perfectly fit these grimdark tones and really immerse you in the bleakness of the story.
There is a lot of excellent representation across the books, with limb difference, disorders, addictions and many other facets of life incorporated throughout. (I cannot speak to their accuracy but i appreciate their inclusion).
The romances all felt a little off for me, I'm not sure they were needed and some felt very forced, and others came out of nowhere. It just didnt fully click for me.
While i love the grimdark element and tone throughout, everything got resolved a little too quaintly for me. Overall it was okay, but not a special or standout read for me.
I was so looking forward to this book as the premise was exactly what I was looking for, a dark fantasy retelling of the Peter Pan story sounded great.
I really tried to like this but it just didn't click though the setting was a good idea, the writing style was good but for me it just didn't gel at all and I couldn't get past the half way mark and decided to call it a day.
There is a lot here to like but for me it's a no.
I really wanted to like this Peter Pan retelling but I just didn’t much. It was a bit too fight oriented for me with not much storyline. I liked the character of Chay but really that was about it.
This is Peter Pan, but not as you know it.
Hook is a once upon a time Lost Boy who was unceremoniously exiled (that’s putting it nicely) when she got her first period. Now an addict, she’s coming back to the Island with her ‘Twin’ because the Island has the drug she needs and the villain who’s overdue for some revenge.
The villain of this story is Peter. You know, Peter Pan. With laughter I heard in my head as Michael Jackson’s (yeah, my brain’s weird) and a bloodlust that probably shouldn’t have surprised me, this Peter deserves everything coming to him, and more. He’s an absolute asshole and I wouldn’t have lost any sleep if Jordan had pulled Peter’s skeleton from his body while he watched. I may have helped her.
In case it’s not obvious, this is not Disney, with its cutesy songs and pixie dust. Okay, there is pixie dust but its ingredients were not approved by Walt.
With a backdrop of feminist rage - being relegated to specific roles in society approved by the patriarchy, making yourself small in order to fit the mould - this is oftentimes a painful read. The legacy of childhood trauma, multifaceted and cruel, is at its heart, with battles waged both against others and internally.
“We become what we need to be in order to survive.”
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the opportunity to read this book.
Once upon a time, Jordan had pretended to be a boy so her and her friend Baron could be the Twins in Peters band of Lost Boys, where Ama was the only female and there to look after the boys, not be one of them
However, growing up comes to us all, and as a girl grows up there are somethings she cannot hide and when Peter and the Boys find out she is violently exiled from the Island
In the real world now, Jordan used other drugs to stop the withdrawals from the Dust from Tink that is given to the Boys on the island, with nothing left to lose she and Baron decide to return to the Island to seek out the magic they once had as children
But the Island is dangerous, with threats from Peter and his Boys and also the Pirates, does Jordan have what it takes to survive the Island she was discarded from, and what will she have to do along the way...
Very dark Pan sequel/retelling. Deals with very heavy themes so check triggers going in. The story of an island of Boys ruled by a mischievous leader that never grows up (and doesn't want anyone else to) leans in dark undertones very well and the author definitely doesn't shy away from this
Out today so you can pick this up now! Thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the review copy
I really enjoyed this very dark retelling of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. What I really liked that although Peter is a key feature of the story, he's more of a side character.
The worldbuilding is really cool. The Island of the Lost Boys is an interesting phenomenon that has its own mind. I also like the Asian influences of this.
The characters are interesting too. They aren't always likeable, but I feel that the trauma of having been a Lost Boy and then forced back into reality would be traumatising for anyone, and it makes sense for the choices that are made throughout the book.
There were points that were a bit confusing in the book, but otherwise, this was a solid read that I really enjoyed.
I am grateful to have received this book to review. Unfortunately I DNF’d at 36%. I tried for over a week to push through, but I struggled to connect to the story & the characters.
I LOVED the premise of this story. I love a Peter Pan retelling & I am an absolute sucker for a villain origin story. I felt the pacing of the book was too varied; there was not enough backstory. For example, we had Tier introduced with a clear background between himself and Jordan that left hate and anger, but no real explanation of that when they brought him in. The multiple POV for the characters seemed not to flow well, and the characters didn’t seem able to stand on their own legs without impact from the FMC Jordan.
I loved the LGBTQIA+ rep, the disability rep and the mental health rep. I think these are all super important to not be shied away from, and the author did this really well. I love a dark imagining, and this did this well too. I loved the SE Asia geographical setting, this made it unique and set away from the standard westernisation of all other novels, I loved the nod towards the Bermuda Triangle too.
I wanted so badly to love this; and maybe I will pick it up another day & try it again and love it then, and there will absolutely be readers out there who will absolutely inhale this book and love it in the way the author deserves it to be loved.
Thanks again, NetGalley and Angry Robot, for the opportunity.