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Darling
A teen girl finds herself lost on a dangerous adventure in this YA thriller by the acclaimed author of The Wicker King and The Weight of the Stars—reimagining Peter Pan for today’s world.
On Wendy Darling’s first night in Chicago, a boy called Peter appears at her window. He’s dizzying, captivating, beautiful—so she agrees to join him for a night on the town.
Wendy thinks they’re heading to a party, but instead they’re soon running in the city’s underground. She makes friends—a punk girl named Tinkerbelle and the lost boys Peter watches over. And she makes enemies—the terrifying Detective Hook, and maybe Peter himself, as his sinister secrets start coming to light. Can Wendy find the courage to survive this night—and make sure everyone else does, too?
Acclaimed author K. Ancrum has re-envisioned Peter Pan with a central twist that will send all your previous memories of J. M. Barrie’s classic permanently off to Neverland.
An Imprint Book
On Wendy Darling’s first night in Chicago, a boy called Peter appears at her window. He’s dizzying, captivating, beautiful—so she agrees to join him for a night on the town.
Wendy thinks they’re heading to a party, but instead they’re soon running in the city’s underground. She makes friends—a punk girl named Tinkerbelle and the lost boys Peter watches over. And she makes enemies—the terrifying Detective Hook, and maybe Peter himself, as his sinister secrets start coming to light. Can Wendy find the courage to survive this night—and make sure everyone else does, too?
Acclaimed author K. Ancrum has re-envisioned Peter Pan with a central twist that will send all your previous memories of J. M. Barrie’s classic permanently off to Neverland.
An Imprint Book
288 pages, Hardcover
First published June 22, 2021
74 people are currently reading
17.2k people want to read
About the author
K. Ancrum
11books1,873followersK. Ancrum, is an author of award winning speculative contemporary YA notably THE WICKER KING, DARLING and most recently the critically acclaimed ICARUS. K. is a Chicago native passionate about diversity and representation in young adult fiction. She currently writes most of her work in the lush gardens of the Chicago Art Institute.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 766 reviews
June 25, 2021
K. Ancrum is truly just a once in a lifetime author. Her prose and craft are so unique and so smart and every book by her feels like something of magic. Darling is a modern day thriller reimagining of Peter Pan with a very diverse cast; our main character is Black and we have a very full cast of side characters side characters of color (Black, Korean, and Ojibwe), who are queer (lesbian rep, ace rep, bi rep, and a really beautiful Chicago drag scene moment that I could gush about forever), and disabilities (hearing impairment & amputated hand).
Wendy has recently moved to Chicago, but when moving into her new bedroom she realizes the window is broken and unable to stay closed. And this story is told over the course of one night when she leaves through the window with Peter Pan himself because of a promise of a party, but she soon realizes that Peter did not walk out of the pages of a fairytale.
This is a very unsettling and uncomfortable story about the vulnerability of kids (especially bipoc queer kids) who feel like that don't have a place to belong. Every book by this author is truly a love letter to found families, but this book also explores the importance of safety and how hard it can be to recognize abuse, especially when it it can be disguised as kindness when you are longing to find a place to belong. Again, this can be a bit of a terrifying read at times, but you will be swept alongside Wendy, becoming more and more enthralled, discovering all the things, and wanting to protect all the lost kids.
K. Ancrum is just an author that really means a lot to me, and I know her stories are touching and helping and healing so many kids who are able to find her words. She is such a bright light in this universe, and I'm forever thankful that I get the honor to read her books. Truly, once in a lifetime.
Content and Trigger Warnings: death (off page), murder (off page), police brutality, child abuse, manipulation, abduction, child abandonment, explosions, grooming, blood depiction, brief mention of disordered eating, and anxiety depiction.
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Buddy read with Ѳë! �
Wendy has recently moved to Chicago, but when moving into her new bedroom she realizes the window is broken and unable to stay closed. And this story is told over the course of one night when she leaves through the window with Peter Pan himself because of a promise of a party, but she soon realizes that Peter did not walk out of the pages of a fairytale.
This is a very unsettling and uncomfortable story about the vulnerability of kids (especially bipoc queer kids) who feel like that don't have a place to belong. Every book by this author is truly a love letter to found families, but this book also explores the importance of safety and how hard it can be to recognize abuse, especially when it it can be disguised as kindness when you are longing to find a place to belong. Again, this can be a bit of a terrifying read at times, but you will be swept alongside Wendy, becoming more and more enthralled, discovering all the things, and wanting to protect all the lost kids.
K. Ancrum is just an author that really means a lot to me, and I know her stories are touching and helping and healing so many kids who are able to find her words. She is such a bright light in this universe, and I'm forever thankful that I get the honor to read her books. Truly, once in a lifetime.
Content and Trigger Warnings: death (off page), murder (off page), police brutality, child abuse, manipulation, abduction, child abandonment, explosions, grooming, blood depiction, brief mention of disordered eating, and anxiety depiction.
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Buddy read with Ѳë! �
December 3, 2022
rep: Black mc, Russian bi ace li, Black scs, lesbian sc, bi sc, mixed race (Irish & Ojibwe) bi sc, hard of hearing sc, Ojibwe bi sc, Ojibwe sc, Korean-American sc
tw: violence, guns, blood, off page murder
i have never been this stressed out by reading a book in my life
tw: violence, guns, blood, off page murder
i have never been this stressed out by reading a book in my life
March 31, 2025
Almost DNF at 56%, and I probably lay it on thick with this statement, but I've never felt so regretful for purchasing a book as I am with this one. I spent too much for a book I ended up not liking [internal breakdown].
Darling by K. Anchrum is a modern-day Peter Pan retelling with expedient themes, thrills, and a delightfully varied ensemble of reimagined characters. And one renowned thing about me is that I am a big fan of Peterpan... movie; which probably the one mistake I made to compare this book to while reading them. Because Darling is more of an accurate rendition of Peterpan by JM Barrie � for that is still cool because I love how twisted, relatable and less children-friendly the classic tale was.
Plot and Writing Style
Unfortunately, this less than 300 pages book took me too long to finish because I couldn't find myself to come by anything entertaining, and that might have to do with the author's style of writing that is not up to my preferences. It's elaborative but at the same time pointless. The rise to the plot was abrupt, and one scene would take up too many words for it to progress further, my attention span literally AWOL. The ending was lacklustre, and the twist was tedious. My friends who have read this seem to enjoy and love it, so I am unsure if this is a me problem, but frankly speaking: this book bored the hell out of me.
Characters
Having said that, what I find astonishing instead was how perfect the embodiment of the Peterpan characters was written (mind you, I still couldn't care less about them though). Ancrum adds canon bits from the original like Wendy's sewing skill, Tinkerbell's jealousy, the Lost Boys, the Mermaid Lagoon, even as far as the scraps between Captain Hook and the Crocodile. What got wraps my mind around the most was Peter's character which was not entirely positive � just like the Peter in Barrie's book who he is dangerous, manipulative and not the hero Disney made out to be. Also, kudos to Anchrum for the massive diversity in the characters representing racial and queer identities... and that's basically it.
This book has the potential to be great. Every occurrence that propels the plot ahead has an eloquent to amplify a few thought-provoking messages; on the vulnerability of youth which hit close to home considering the transition to adulting life that I'll be experiencing. It's dark, mysterious and uncomfortable at times; still, I don't know what went wrong. I am devastated because this is one of my anticipated releases, but also come to be one of the biggest disappointments I've read this year.
Darling by K. Anchrum is a modern-day Peter Pan retelling with expedient themes, thrills, and a delightfully varied ensemble of reimagined characters. And one renowned thing about me is that I am a big fan of Peterpan... movie; which probably the one mistake I made to compare this book to while reading them. Because Darling is more of an accurate rendition of Peterpan by JM Barrie � for that is still cool because I love how twisted, relatable and less children-friendly the classic tale was.
Plot and Writing Style
Unfortunately, this less than 300 pages book took me too long to finish because I couldn't find myself to come by anything entertaining, and that might have to do with the author's style of writing that is not up to my preferences. It's elaborative but at the same time pointless. The rise to the plot was abrupt, and one scene would take up too many words for it to progress further, my attention span literally AWOL. The ending was lacklustre, and the twist was tedious. My friends who have read this seem to enjoy and love it, so I am unsure if this is a me problem, but frankly speaking: this book bored the hell out of me.
Characters
Having said that, what I find astonishing instead was how perfect the embodiment of the Peterpan characters was written (mind you, I still couldn't care less about them though). Ancrum adds canon bits from the original like Wendy's sewing skill, Tinkerbell's jealousy, the Lost Boys, the Mermaid Lagoon, even as far as the scraps between Captain Hook and the Crocodile. What got wraps my mind around the most was Peter's character which was not entirely positive � just like the Peter in Barrie's book who he is dangerous, manipulative and not the hero Disney made out to be. Also, kudos to Anchrum for the massive diversity in the characters representing racial and queer identities... and that's basically it.
This book has the potential to be great. Every occurrence that propels the plot ahead has an eloquent to amplify a few thought-provoking messages; on the vulnerability of youth which hit close to home considering the transition to adulting life that I'll be experiencing. It's dark, mysterious and uncomfortable at times; still, I don't know what went wrong. I am devastated because this is one of my anticipated releases, but also come to be one of the biggest disappointments I've read this year.
September 21, 2021
A fun fact about me is that I've now (without intending to) read all three of K. Ancrum's releases, devoured all of them, and given them all approximately 4 stars.
And I didn't even notice until right now.
I love to organically find a new auto-buy author.
This is a very wild but believable but almost guilty-pleasure-level dramatic and crazy but real gritty young-adult magic-less contemporary retelling of Peter Pan.
(I feel out of breath after just typing that.)
And it is as fun (and kind of ridiculous) as it sounds.
And also kind of takes a turn to the realistic even as it fully leans into the wackadoodle.
I don't even know. Just read it already I guess?
Bottom line: Thank you K. Ancrum!!! Sorry it took me so long!
--------------
pre-review
hell. yes.
review to come / 3.5ish maybe more
--------------
tbr review
gritty...queer...YA...peter...pan...retelling...
help...dying of excitement...
And I didn't even notice until right now.
I love to organically find a new auto-buy author.
This is a very wild but believable but almost guilty-pleasure-level dramatic and crazy but real gritty young-adult magic-less contemporary retelling of Peter Pan.
(I feel out of breath after just typing that.)
And it is as fun (and kind of ridiculous) as it sounds.
And also kind of takes a turn to the realistic even as it fully leans into the wackadoodle.
I don't even know. Just read it already I guess?
Bottom line: Thank you K. Ancrum!!! Sorry it took me so long!
--------------
pre-review
hell. yes.
review to come / 3.5ish maybe more
--------------
tbr review
gritty...queer...YA...peter...pan...retelling...
help...dying of excitement...
April 28, 2021
wow what a book!!! Kayla Ancrum genuinely does not know how to miss!!!!
rtc
rtc
// buddy read with a dummy
February 20, 2021
DARLING is the Peter Pan retelling with the diverse cast and queer representation of your dreams. K. Ancrum takes the original Peter Pan story and puts it in a chokehold in this dark, wickedly twisted, edge-of-your-seat reimagining. Told over the course of one night, DARLING showcases Ancrum’s talents for spinning stories that sweep up in a world of adventure and danger with an undercurrent of magic.
August 16, 2021
another 2021 anticipated release that disappointed me 🥴
More thoughts here:
More thoughts here:
June 10, 2021
this book fucked me the fuck up and I have so many thoughts.
RTC
RTC
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
July 1, 2021DNF @ 55%. Sad that I didn't love this as much as I was hoping to. Review maybe to come!
June 21, 2021
hey uh shoutout to k ancrum for singlehandedly reviving my love of reading!!!!!
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the first page of the book: [talking about how canonically, peter pan would murder the lost boys if they "grew up" too much]
me: thank you for destroying my childhood. have a great day
// buddy read with the mango queen. NEVER forget their official title
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the first page of the book: [talking about how canonically, peter pan would murder the lost boys if they "grew up" too much]
me: thank you for destroying my childhood. have a great day
// buddy read with the mango queen. NEVER forget their official title
Read
July 30, 2022DNF @ 12%
I know, I know, that's really early to DNF a book, but this book has an audience who will adore it (deservedly so), and I'm afraid I'm not in that audience anymore. I've realized in the past few years that it's very rare that I enjoy a YA contemporary book anymore, and I've also reached the age (and the point in parenthood) where I'm no longer the fun, rebellious, spunky teen... but I'm now the grouchy, rule-abiding, "I do this because I care!" parent spoiling all of the aforementioned teen's fun.
Even this early in the book, Wendy is constantly griping about her parents not allowing her to go meet up with internet friends they're unfamiliar with, and she keeps tossing little barbs at them about how she's 17 and going off to college soon so they should lighten up... and all I keep thinking is, "But honey, they're right!"
I don't believe in rating books negatively when I know it's this much of an "it's not you, it's me" sort of thing, and I don't foresee my experience getting better based on the synopsis and other reviews (both positive & negative) that I've read, so I'm sadly going to cut my ties here and eagerly await K's next book instead. �
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
Buddy read with the incredible Malli! �
—Ĕ�
| | |
I know, I know, that's really early to DNF a book, but this book has an audience who will adore it (deservedly so), and I'm afraid I'm not in that audience anymore. I've realized in the past few years that it's very rare that I enjoy a YA contemporary book anymore, and I've also reached the age (and the point in parenthood) where I'm no longer the fun, rebellious, spunky teen... but I'm now the grouchy, rule-abiding, "I do this because I care!" parent spoiling all of the aforementioned teen's fun.
Even this early in the book, Wendy is constantly griping about her parents not allowing her to go meet up with internet friends they're unfamiliar with, and she keeps tossing little barbs at them about how she's 17 and going off to college soon so they should lighten up... and all I keep thinking is, "But honey, they're right!"
I don't believe in rating books negatively when I know it's this much of an "it's not you, it's me" sort of thing, and I don't foresee my experience getting better based on the synopsis and other reviews (both positive & negative) that I've read, so I'm sadly going to cut my ties here and eagerly await K's next book instead. �
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
Buddy read with the incredible Malli! �
—Ĕ�
| | |
June 27, 2021
As a child, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella didn't stand a chance with me. I was a Peter Pan kind of girl, obsessed with the movie, with children who never grew up and who could fly with magic dust.🧚♀�
Darling is a darker and refreshing retelling, with a wicked twisted.
That said, I think it left a lot to be desired in terms of depth.
Maybe because it all happened in one night?🤷♀�
August 10, 2021
� 4 / 5 �
“You’re better than he is, remember that. He’s smart but he’s alone, and he always will be.�
Darling is a whimsical and unique modern day Peter Pan retelling that will swoop you through the streets of Chicago following the events of Wendy’s first night in the city.
K. Ancrum simply never misses and the only reason that this doesn’t quite have that 5 star feeling is that I was so much more in love and dazzled by the first 60% of the story.
Wendy Darling has just moved into the city from the suburbs with her parents who are looking to adopt more children. They’re strict on her and won’t let her meet her online friend Eleanor, and her mother recounts her own cautionary tale of meeting strange boys and how that night led to the death of one of them.
“I know a lot of kids do things for their parents that they don’t want and it’s always some big sacrifice. But I know the difference between wants and needs, and my want to go to public school is smaller than my mom’s need to see me go here. And that’s important.�
While Wendy understands her parents and wants to make them proud, she can’t help but sulk when they end up grounding her inside for their first night in the city. However, once they head out for the evening, a beautiful and alluring boy appears at Wendy’s window and she can’t help but follow him outside of the safety of her home for a night that promises her magic and adventure.
Accompanied by his prickly sidekick Tinkerbell, Peter Pan leads Wendy through the streets of Chicago where she will meet the lost boys Peter has taken in and Omi’s crew, but the longer she stays with them, the more things seem amiss.
K. Ancrum herself has said this is a chapter by chapter adaptation and you can really feel this especially with the pacing of the story and how everything unfolds in one night. This is such a captivating and addicting book to read because you feel just as dazed as Wendy is jumping from one place to another as dread seeps in, and overwhelmed in the best sense by meeting a pretty big cast of characters.
“Hearing the other teens laughing fake and loud made Wendy feel like she was about to pass out. People don’t get good at doing things like that unless they needed to. Unless they’ve done it often and for their own protection.�
With them, the author very seamlessly brings together a diverse group of teens who are all endearing in their own ways and are all just trying to survive. This book is very much about this found family, with its positive aspects and the love they’ve found there but also prominently showcasing Peter’s toxicity and grooming.
By taking advantage of kids in already disadvantaged situations (especially BIPOC and queer youths) he sets out to create his own perfect family where he strives to stay the most beloved of all.
While Peter is definitely not a good person, this doesn’t mean Detective Hook becomes a hero, far from it. He still reeks of incompetence and the author does not shy away from showcasing acts of police brutality. This is a core layer of this retelling as Wendy is Black and deep distrust of the police plays into the plot a fair bit. I'm not sure however that Hook's portrayal was succesful despite the author's intentions for it. I see the vision, I understand it, but it did not quite fit in, in my opinion. This is in part where the last parts of the book felt a bit lackluster in comparison to such a dazzling beginning.
I am once again awed by K. Ancrum’s writing and her ability to make our modern world feel magical and whimsical (even if still dangerous). This story truly has an atmosphere like no other and it will stay with me a long time.
�
Buddy read with Melanie �
“You’re better than he is, remember that. He’s smart but he’s alone, and he always will be.�
Darling is a whimsical and unique modern day Peter Pan retelling that will swoop you through the streets of Chicago following the events of Wendy’s first night in the city.
K. Ancrum simply never misses and the only reason that this doesn’t quite have that 5 star feeling is that I was so much more in love and dazzled by the first 60% of the story.
Wendy Darling has just moved into the city from the suburbs with her parents who are looking to adopt more children. They’re strict on her and won’t let her meet her online friend Eleanor, and her mother recounts her own cautionary tale of meeting strange boys and how that night led to the death of one of them.
“I know a lot of kids do things for their parents that they don’t want and it’s always some big sacrifice. But I know the difference between wants and needs, and my want to go to public school is smaller than my mom’s need to see me go here. And that’s important.�
While Wendy understands her parents and wants to make them proud, she can’t help but sulk when they end up grounding her inside for their first night in the city. However, once they head out for the evening, a beautiful and alluring boy appears at Wendy’s window and she can’t help but follow him outside of the safety of her home for a night that promises her magic and adventure.
Accompanied by his prickly sidekick Tinkerbell, Peter Pan leads Wendy through the streets of Chicago where she will meet the lost boys Peter has taken in and Omi’s crew, but the longer she stays with them, the more things seem amiss.
K. Ancrum herself has said this is a chapter by chapter adaptation and you can really feel this especially with the pacing of the story and how everything unfolds in one night. This is such a captivating and addicting book to read because you feel just as dazed as Wendy is jumping from one place to another as dread seeps in, and overwhelmed in the best sense by meeting a pretty big cast of characters.
“Hearing the other teens laughing fake and loud made Wendy feel like she was about to pass out. People don’t get good at doing things like that unless they needed to. Unless they’ve done it often and for their own protection.�
With them, the author very seamlessly brings together a diverse group of teens who are all endearing in their own ways and are all just trying to survive. This book is very much about this found family, with its positive aspects and the love they’ve found there but also prominently showcasing Peter’s toxicity and grooming.
By taking advantage of kids in already disadvantaged situations (especially BIPOC and queer youths) he sets out to create his own perfect family where he strives to stay the most beloved of all.
While Peter is definitely not a good person, this doesn’t mean Detective Hook becomes a hero, far from it. He still reeks of incompetence and the author does not shy away from showcasing acts of police brutality. This is a core layer of this retelling as Wendy is Black and deep distrust of the police plays into the plot a fair bit. I'm not sure however that Hook's portrayal was succesful despite the author's intentions for it. I see the vision, I understand it, but it did not quite fit in, in my opinion. This is in part where the last parts of the book felt a bit lackluster in comparison to such a dazzling beginning.
I am once again awed by K. Ancrum’s writing and her ability to make our modern world feel magical and whimsical (even if still dangerous). This story truly has an atmosphere like no other and it will stay with me a long time.
�
Buddy read with Melanie �
April 3, 2022
Ancrum is a brilliant writer!!! And she’s done it again with this amazing and absolutely brilliant retelling of Peter Pan!! It’s a stay up all night suspenseful binge read with an incredible cast of characters that you will fall in love with! Highly highly recommend 4/2/22
$2.99 on Kindle US today 1/10/22!!
Oh. My. Freaking. Heck! Modern day Peter Pan and the Lost Boys slumming it in underground subway tunnels? Oh oh oh these lost boys better be really bad boys!! I. Need. This. Now. *screams in faerie dust*
PS. Love you K. Ancrum
$2.99 on Kindle US today 1/10/22!!
Oh. My. Freaking. Heck! Modern day Peter Pan and the Lost Boys slumming it in underground subway tunnels? Oh oh oh these lost boys better be really bad boys!! I. Need. This. Now. *screams in faerie dust*
PS. Love you K. Ancrum
June 24, 2021
I've always known the literary version of Peter Pan is all kinds of F'ed up, and the Disney version is a romanticized fairytale about a man-boy who never wants to grow up. Darling explores the F'ed up version, and boy, is it dark and unsettling.
No spoilers here, but please don't go into this thinking you're going to feel nostalgic, revisiting one of your favorite childhood movies. YOU WON'T. If anything, this may ruin your fond memories of the boy in green tights. mmmmkay?
What I loved: The queer rep, the atmosphere, the fact that Tinkerbell and Wendy don't have some petty girl drama over an undeserving male. The writing is fantastic, and this book is totally binge-worthy.
What I didn't love: There are so. many. characters. in Darling, and at times it was overwhelming. I spent way too much time flipping back to figure out who was who. With any book, when I struggle to keep track of characters, it definitely affects my overall enjoyment. (also, I had to suspend disbelief once or twice, but I do that often with thrillers, so that didn't bother me too much.)
A solid 4 🌟 YA thriller.
Big thanks to the publisher for a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
No spoilers here, but please don't go into this thinking you're going to feel nostalgic, revisiting one of your favorite childhood movies. YOU WON'T. If anything, this may ruin your fond memories of the boy in green tights. mmmmkay?
What I loved: The queer rep, the atmosphere, the fact that Tinkerbell and Wendy don't have some petty girl drama over an undeserving male. The writing is fantastic, and this book is totally binge-worthy.
What I didn't love: There are so. many. characters. in Darling, and at times it was overwhelming. I spent way too much time flipping back to figure out who was who. With any book, when I struggle to keep track of characters, it definitely affects my overall enjoyment. (also, I had to suspend disbelief once or twice, but I do that often with thrillers, so that didn't bother me too much.)
A solid 4 🌟 YA thriller.
Big thanks to the publisher for a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
June 29, 2021
thank you k ancrum for twisting my childhood dreams into something so cruel i can’t even recognize it anymore :�)
// but this was good, short rtc!!
// but this was good, short rtc!!
June 17, 2021
Thank you to YallWest and NetGalley for allowing me to review an eArc of this book. I received this book for free from a YallWest giveaway and received the book via NetGalley. This in no way effects my opinions on this book.
CW//
Darling is a fun and thrilling Peter Pan retelling that tends to align more with the original Peter Pan book than the child versions of the story that are shown in movies. I read Peter Pan for the first time for a class last year and it was somewhat disturbing how Disney made everything so kid friendly when there was clearly much darker themes and topics present in the original story. I’m so relieved to read a Peter Pan retelling that actually represents the book better. Granted it’s different because it takes place in Chicago in the current times, but I appreciated how the characters were so reminiscent of the books characters, especially Peter. It’s clear that the author put a lot of research into this book.
This book is filled with so much diversity that it makes my heart happy. There’s characters of all different ethnicities, including characters who are Ojibwe which I don’t see often in young adult books. There’s strong lesbian characters and most importantly to me, there’s an asexual character. As someone who’s asexual, I can’t even put into words how happy it made me to be reading about an ace character in a retelling of one of my favorite stories. Thank you so much to the author for striving to include so much representation in your book. The ace character also defies typical ideas of what an asexual person should be and I’m so grateful for that.
I knew I would like the book based on its synopsis, but I was surprised by how much I fell in love with the story and the characters. There were a lot of characters introduced all at once and at first it was hard to keep track of them all, but as the story went on it became easier and I wanted to know even more about each character’s backstory. This book comes out on June 22nd, so I highly recommend that everyone preorders this book or at least add it to your want to read list. Trust me that it will not disappoint you.
CW//
Darling is a fun and thrilling Peter Pan retelling that tends to align more with the original Peter Pan book than the child versions of the story that are shown in movies. I read Peter Pan for the first time for a class last year and it was somewhat disturbing how Disney made everything so kid friendly when there was clearly much darker themes and topics present in the original story. I’m so relieved to read a Peter Pan retelling that actually represents the book better. Granted it’s different because it takes place in Chicago in the current times, but I appreciated how the characters were so reminiscent of the books characters, especially Peter. It’s clear that the author put a lot of research into this book.
This book is filled with so much diversity that it makes my heart happy. There’s characters of all different ethnicities, including characters who are Ojibwe which I don’t see often in young adult books. There’s strong lesbian characters and most importantly to me, there’s an asexual character. As someone who’s asexual, I can’t even put into words how happy it made me to be reading about an ace character in a retelling of one of my favorite stories. Thank you so much to the author for striving to include so much representation in your book. The ace character also defies typical ideas of what an asexual person should be and I’m so grateful for that.
I knew I would like the book based on its synopsis, but I was surprised by how much I fell in love with the story and the characters. There were a lot of characters introduced all at once and at first it was hard to keep track of them all, but as the story went on it became easier and I wanted to know even more about each character’s backstory. This book comes out on June 22nd, so I highly recommend that everyone preorders this book or at least add it to your want to read list. Trust me that it will not disappoint you.
Shelved as 'i-need-2021'
February 8, 2020the rest of the year is cancelled
December 2, 2020
Oof. You know you're getting old when you read a book and feel like a parent in a Disney movie, shouting at your daughter that she's too young and reckless to make her own decisions. I really wanted to love this but couldn't get to the necessary level of suspension of disbelief. Every time Darling decided to just overlook the fact that she was out with a guy who broke into her room, then left her in a train station only to then be kidnapped by his "family" where she forgives him AGAIN for everything, it just irked the hell out of me. And those are only the first 30 percent. While it did pick up afterwards, I still felt like a Disney parent by the end of the book, so I'm going to be grumpy but not spoil anything because I'm sure many readers will love this!!
Also, the amount of diverse rep in this book is fantastic!
Also, the amount of diverse rep in this book is fantastic!
Read
May 24, 2020okay, but why is this the first result when i google "darling k ancrum"
in all seriousness, this sounds like the perfect retelling + urban fantasy mashup
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in all seriousness, this sounds like the perfect retelling + urban fantasy mashup
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July 20, 2021
you GUYS!!! we know that k ancrum is my favorite author, and we know that peter pan retellings are my favorite things to read. so obviously i loved this, and it lived up to the hype i had set in my mind of it being one of my most anticipated books of the year. if you know the original text really well it’s very cool to read bc there are a lot of parallel scenes that you can draw upon. there is also queer rep, punk tink, drag queens!!! and a great message that always comes with k ancrums stories.
July 22, 2021
I refuse to believe K. Ancrum wrote this. I’ve come to the conclusion that I love the concept of retellings but I don’t like them, they just come off a little lame. Another disappointment. Great representation though... but that's it.
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August 27, 2021GET IN MY KINDLE
July 25, 2021
2/5stars
I was highly anticipating this book for AGES as I am a peter pan/Barrie and adaptations scholar but y'all, this was just simply a bad book LOL
it wasn't well written, paced, or thought out; I didn't care about any characters, what was happening, or how it was going to end; the twist was boring and the climax mediocre at best.
As I said in my update, the only description I have for this is it's kpop fanfiction where Jackson Wang is hosting a party and every kpop idol in history is there and the author has to painstakingly describe every single person, what they're wearing, what their makeup is, who they're talking to, etc.
Way too many characters, not a very interesting take on peter pan, and not even very well written so ... Not a very good book.
I was highly anticipating this book for AGES as I am a peter pan/Barrie and adaptations scholar but y'all, this was just simply a bad book LOL
it wasn't well written, paced, or thought out; I didn't care about any characters, what was happening, or how it was going to end; the twist was boring and the climax mediocre at best.
As I said in my update, the only description I have for this is it's kpop fanfiction where Jackson Wang is hosting a party and every kpop idol in history is there and the author has to painstakingly describe every single person, what they're wearing, what their makeup is, who they're talking to, etc.
Way too many characters, not a very interesting take on peter pan, and not even very well written so ... Not a very good book.
August 9, 2021
2.5 stars
June 9, 2024
This was incredible. K Ancrum can literally do no wrong in my eyes, every single one of her stories is just incredible. I especially loved the characters and the friendship groups in this one, they were just absolutely incredible. I loved every second of this (although beware, this is a fucked up book and honestly got pretty disturbing towards the end, so I would definitely be expecting some creepy shit to happen).
June 27, 2021
If K. Ancrum writes something you know I'm going to read it as soon as I possibly can!
I'm bummed to say I didn't enjoy this novel as much as I was hoping. I appreciated how Ancrum decided to write a Peter Pan retelling showing the readers the dark sides of this famous story, but in the end I found myself quite detached from it all.
The book definitely requires the reader's suspension of disbelief on multiple occasions and this is probably one of the things that didn't work for me. Moreover, I would have liked to know more about the mai character, Wendy. I feel like we only got a few glimpses of her personality but it definitely wasn't enough in my opinion.
If you're into retellings this might be the book for you!
I'm bummed to say I didn't enjoy this novel as much as I was hoping. I appreciated how Ancrum decided to write a Peter Pan retelling showing the readers the dark sides of this famous story, but in the end I found myself quite detached from it all.
The book definitely requires the reader's suspension of disbelief on multiple occasions and this is probably one of the things that didn't work for me. Moreover, I would have liked to know more about the mai character, Wendy. I feel like we only got a few glimpses of her personality but it definitely wasn't enough in my opinion.
If you're into retellings this might be the book for you!
July 1, 2021
*3.5
if a stranger broke into my room and asked me to go to a party with him i would simply say no
if a stranger broke into my room and asked me to go to a party with him i would simply say no
Shelved as 'anti-library'
January 1, 2022K. ANCRUM OUT HERE LIKE PETER PAN AND CHICAGO NIGHTLIFE AND GAY AND YES
August 22, 2021
So... that happened. I read a story with many characters. Characters who were introduced according to their diversity points. I read about them reacting to things. I read about them gesturing and having facial expressions and leaning on each other. I read about them wearing outfits and nice makeup. There was a main character watching them do these things. An MC whose questions kept getting ignored, even though she was in danger. An MC who never gave anyone the slip even though this became increasingly clear.
I thought this was supposed to be a thriller, but it was not thrilling. Apparently it was a chapter-by-chapter retelling. I didn't feel there was adequate foreshadowing for the climax, because so much of this was tell and not show, and the writing itself was very basic. The twist was pretty chilling, but I just didn't care for the info-dumping when it happened.
With some adjustments I actually think this would make a decent movie, but as a book it's very disappointing.
I thought this was supposed to be a thriller, but it was not thrilling. Apparently it was a chapter-by-chapter retelling. I didn't feel there was adequate foreshadowing for the climax, because so much of this was tell and not show, and the writing itself was very basic. The twist was pretty chilling, but I just didn't care for the info-dumping when it happened.
With some adjustments I actually think this would make a decent movie, but as a book it's very disappointing.
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