A review by barrettbooks
Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I love retellings! This is a very solid modern Peter Pan retelling, and overall I enjoyed it. The general tone was a bit more dark and angst-driven than I prefer but that is very much just a personal taste thing. The intimate moments between Wendy and Peter are very charming and sweet, the exploration of grief, anxiety, and guilt are astute and real. I felt for Wendy and her parents, struggling to cope after a tragedy that they never received closure for. This is the second work by Aiden Thomas I've read and, like Cemetery Boys, it really shines in its larger ensemble of secondary characters as well as its mains, showing Wendy interacting with and thinking about not just Peter, but also her parents, her brothers, her best friend. Her feeling of personal responsibility, of needing to fix things, of wanting to be brave and struggling against anxiety and panic were very relatable. Peter's intrinsic child-like nature was well-done without being creepy. Overall, this was a lovely, sweet but deeply sad book.

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