Reviews

Heartless by H.G. Parry

madlyreading's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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plottrysts's review

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5.0

An incredible retelling of Peter Pan from Captain James Hook's perspective. James and Peter meet as boys in the workhouse, where James spends their nights telling stories: the ones he learned from his mother and ones he makes up about Neverland. James can't forget Peter even 20 years after they're separated.

H.G. Parry is one of my favorite authors, and this novella is a perfect example of why that is. She takes the traditional Peter Pan themes of storytelling, loyalty, and (of course) growing up and makes them into a powerful fable, both recognizable and strange. Her writing is just a dream!

If you've been nervous about starting her books because of their length, this novella is the perfect place to start. It is fabulously strange and poignant.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

megatza's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

An emotional retelling of Peter Pan, and the desire to throw away everything for the memory of a friendship that meant the world. Parry's gorgeous prose and insightful words lend a new magic to Neverland, and perhaps make you see the world simultaneously through the lens of the child Peter and the adult James [Hook]. Perfectly executed in novella form. Bittersweet (I cried) and moving. 

cassimiranda's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I received an eARC of this book for review from Subterranean Press via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
  • The brief: This fantasy novella is inspired by J.M. Barrie’s classic, Peter Pan. Orphans James and Peter spend years together at a London workhouse before Peter escapes. Decades later, James may finally be able to follow his odd friend to a strange and distant land. It might have been better if he had never had that chance.
  • If you enjoy modern yet faithful interpretations of classics that incorporate beautiful prose and a strong plot, I urge you to give this one a chance.

I requested this title because I’d read Parry’s previous work, The Magician's Daughter. I am so glad I did! Heartless has deep and compelling characterization, an engaging plot, strong world building, and layered symbolism. You don’t have to be an ardent Peter Pan lover to appreciate this work. I’m not, and yet I was fully absorbed the entire time. It is nearly impossible to give you a more detailed plot summary than the published synopsis without spoilers. What I can say is that this book… it’s my new head-cannon. Don’t skip it – you will certainly regret it.

Quote:
~ Nobody grows up, not really. There is no threshold to cross, no milestone to reach, no moment when a soul hardens from something malleable and uncertain to something fixed in stone. Everyone is always growing, all the time. (p 90) ~

bookshelvesandtealeaves's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I really enjoyed this take on Peter Pan!

Some of the details were heartbreaking, like Peter’s origin and Gwendolen’s fate and the details laid out for the Peter Pan story we actually know.

This one tugs on your heartstrings, too. James and Gwendolen are both such loveable characters, it’s very easy to get swept away in their story.

Two things didn’t quite work for me, though. Being only 140 pages, this whole plot felt SO rushed. I would have liked to have spent more time with James and George at sea, get to know the ways they’ve changed over the years. The other thing sort of leads on from that - I did not get the sense AT ALL that 20 years had passed. Not only to we miss any on-page development or true passing of time, but James’s dialogue felt just as juvenile at 34 as it had at 14. There was no sense of him having aged or gained any experience despite spending 20 years at sea.

Despite this, it was an easy, enjoyable read.

thenaptimewriter's review

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4.0

Heartless by HG Parry. (Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.) I haven’t read Peter Pan or watched the movie recently but this dark & haunting retelling still got to me in the best of ways. Peter & James Hook meet in a workhouse & we gradually learn how James becomes Pirate Hook & how they all reach Neverland. I didn’t “love & adore” this book but I’m still thinking about it which means something too. This is my second book by HG Parry & I definitely want to read more. Fantasy fans, check out The Magician’s Daughter! 4 ⭐️. 

janelleaimi's review

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adventurous emotional lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5