Pan is the bad guy??
Hooked by Emily Mcintire
⭐️⭐️⭐️(and 1/2 ⭐️)
🌶️🌶️(and 1/2 🌶️)
• Adult Fiction •
I love a good Peter Pan retelling so of course i had to read this. And i actually really enjoyed it!! I know a lot of people weren’t too impressed with the story or the spice but personally? I was a fan.
In this story Hook is *kind of* the good guy. At the very least he’s the villain you most definitely root for lol which i thought would bother me, being a long time lover of Peter Pan himself, but instead it made me fall in love with Hook too (even more so than i did after watching Once Upon a Time 🥵)
I thought that the writing was nice and easy to read without seeming childish or underdeveloped. The authors way of incorporating all of the details of neverland in her modern take on Peter Pan was SO FUN!! I loved picking up on the little things as the story progressed. The spice to me was pretty good, it was nothing crazy but still very enjoyable. But i think my absolute favorite part is, while this book is a stand alone, we get to see a few glimpses of these characters in the future during the epilogue. That last part made me really happy and helped with that post book depression where you sit there wondering what the rest of their story would look like. It’s a detail i wish more stand alone books would incorporate 😅
Overall i would 100% recommend this book! Especially if you’re wanting to start exploring darker romances, i think this is a good introduction to those types of stories !!
(This is an old review but everything still stands, absolutely loved reading this book and might even do a little reread soon 🤌🏼)
I know when I first saw the cover for 'Hooked: A Never After Novel' by Emily McIntire, I was immediately drawn in. It's not just a pretty picture; it tells a story all on its own, perfectly setting the stage for this dark Peter Pan retelling. From the broken clock face, hinting at time being warped or running out, to the bold red lipstick marks suggesting a passionate, perhaps dangerous, romance – every detail screams 'modern retelling' for adult fiction fans. Those red roses in the background? They’re classic symbols of love, but in a dark romance, they often carry a thorny edge. And the salt lamp and bookmark in the image really ground it, making it feel like a book you’d curl up with, even if the story is going to make your heart race. It makes you wonder, doesn't it, how a story we grew up with can be twisted into something so deliciously dark? That's the magic of these modern retellings. They take familiar characters and settings and give them a raw, adult edge, exploring themes that were only hinted at in the originals. For 'Hooked,' seeing Peter Pan reimagined not as the innocent boy who wouldn't grow up, but as a potential villain, turns everything on its head. It challenges our perceptions and invites us to see characters like Captain Hook in a completely new light. This shift from classic fairytale to 'adult fiction' is what makes these books so compelling. I think part of the appeal lies in the way authors like Emily McIntire don't shy away from the complexities of human nature, or even the darker side of love and obsession. We’re no longer looking for simple heroes and villains; we crave characters with depth, with flaws, and with motives that aren't always pure. This genre allows us to explore those darker facets within a fantastical setting, making it both thrilling and thought-provoking. If you're someone who's dipping their toes into 'darker romances' for the first time, 'Hooked' is truly a fantastic entry point because it balances the familiar with the boldly new. The success of 'Hooked' by Emily McIntire really showcases the demand for stories that bravely venture into the shadows of beloved tales. It’s not just about taking a character and making them 'bad'; it’s about exploring the psychological depth, the moral ambiguities, and the intense emotions that come with challenging established narratives. The 'Never After Novel' series itself is a testament to this, with each book taking a classic story and giving it a dark, adult twist. It's a fantastic way to revisit familiar worlds with a fresh, mature perspective, and often, a lot more spice! What I particularly appreciate is how these authors manage to pay homage to the original source material while carving out an entirely new, often more complex, narrative. It's a delicate balance, but when done right, as in 'Hooked', it's truly unforgettable. For those who are drawn to the visual intrigue of the 'Hooked' cover—the broken clock, the lipstick, the roses—it’s clear you’re looking for a book that promises depth and a touch of gothic romance. The cover isn’t just marketing; it’s an artistic promise of the journey within. So, if you're like me and you appreciate a book that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about Neverland, and you're open to seeing Captain Hook not just as a pirate but as a compelling, complex figure, then dive into this dark modern retelling. It's an exploration of good and evil, love and obsession, wrapped up in a package that’s both beautiful and a little bit dangerous, just like that striking cover.