3. srp 2014.

ARC Review: Alias Hook by Lisa Jensen

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Book summary:
"Every child knows how the story ends. The wicked pirate captain is flung overboard, caught in the jaws of the monster crocodile who drags him down to a watery grave. But it was not yet my time to die. It's my fate to be trapped here forever, in a nightmare of childhood fancy, with that infernal, eternal boy."
Meet Captain James Benjamin Hook, a witty, educated Restoration-era privateer cursed to play villain to a pack of malicious little boys in a pointless war that never ends. But everything changes when Stella Parrish, a forbidden grown woman, dreams her way to the Neverland in defiance of Pan’s rules. From the glamour of the Fairy Revels, to the secret ceremonies of the First Tribes, to the mysterious underwater temple beneath the Mermaid Lagoon, the magical forces of the Neverland open up for Stella as they never have for Hook. And in the pirate captain himself, she begins to see someone far more complex than the storybook villain. 
With Stella’s knowledge of folk and fairy tales, she might be Hook’s last chance for redemption and release if they can break his curse before Pan and his warrior boys hunt her down and drag Hook back to their neverending game. Alias Hook by Lisa Jensen is a beautifully and romantically written adult fairy tale.
           With this book being actually the second retelling of my favorite childhood story about Peter Pan and portraying him like a bad character I though that this time it won't suit my ideas about Peter. But once again, I found myself believing the story and actually rooting for my last favorite childhood character, Mr. Hook. 

"The Neverland must have its wildness, its terrors," she tells me. "Here, children must find not only their happiest fantasies, but their most violent and terrible nightmares. They must face their demons and laugh at them. That is the key to growing up."

            The quote from above tells you a lot about this story. This is not a fairy tale we all grew to love, but rather a different take on the story. Different take about Hook and his life. While reading this story you find out why Peter and Hook are really enemies and what actually happened to Hook to be the only adult in the Neverland. Or at least what he though before we meet Stella, a woman who is not Wendy but still is in Neverland. "How is that possible?" he wondered.

              Hook cannot answer that question but he knows one thing and one thing only. He must save her from Peter who will do everything to make her life miserable like he made his. But he never dreamed that she will be what he was waiting for. What will keep him sane in the never-ending cycles of his life which is cursed to last forever.

"That is everything," she rebukes me gently, dark eyes glittery in the firelight. "Kindness freely offered that asks for no reward, love that values another above yourself, the wisdom to live without fear. That is the best of life."

             This is not only a story about Hook and Stella, even mostly it is just that. But it's also a different take on Peter and the Lost Boys and even Wendy. But this story despite being dark and mysterious is also romantic and vivid. It's about redemption and finding oneself in hopeless situations.

             Surprisingly, I did enjoy this story very much. I loved the writing and the whole world-building. Neverland seems closer than ever now. However, it took me some time to get into this story and actually start to like Hook. It was a bit slow at the start.

             Needless to say, this book has one of the prettiest endings out there. I loved it how the author left us some space to imagine how everything went on, but at the same time there are no doubts in your mind.

             P.S. Hook, you are a great character and all, but sorry, Peter has my heart and some part of it will always be his.

Rating: 4 stars. 

Until the next time,
*Note: Copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher, St. Martin Press, via NetGalley. Thank you! 
**Quotes have been taken from the uncorrected proof. They might change in the final book.

Broj komentara: 40:

  1. I've been so excited for this book! I just got my copy and can't wait to read this wonderful story. I love re-tellings and I'm looking forward to this version. I'm so glad you enjoyed Alias Hook and the quote sound amazing. Thanks :)

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    1. I really hope you'll enjoy this one. I cannot wait to see your review. Thank you :)

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  2. Yay1 I am excited about this one, it sounds so good and I always love when authors can twist a tale and make the bad guys out to really be the good guys.

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  3. I am so happy you read and reviewed this already! I know you showcased it as a book you wanted to read and it instantly caught my attention. I read Peter Pan and I've got to say I didn't like him. He's very selfish and non-caring of others. I much rather like retellings of the original story whether Peter is good or not. I've never read a retelling about Hook before. Alias Hook sounds really, really good. I'm very much interested in the romance. I love that the ending was satisfying. Must add this to my tbr before I forget again. Great review!

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    1. I know most people didn't like Peter, but I understood him as I was similar when I was a kid (you know a single child stereotype). I really hope you'll enjoy this one. Thanks, Adriana :)

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  4. I haven't heard too much about this one and haven't been all that keen on it, to be frank, but hearing more about it from you has definitely made me curious. Onto my TBR this goes! Lovely review, Tanja!(:

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    1. I really hope you'll get to enjoy this one. Thank you, Keertana :)

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  5. Nice to hear the ending was so wonderful, Tanja! This is a much different than the usual Peter Pan stories I've seen. Lovely review! :)

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  6. I don't remember. Do you watch OUaT? I know Glass does. Anyhow, COLIIIIIINNN!!! He has forever made Hook a brilliant, charming and wonderful character in my eyes. I blame him for my obsession with all things Hook now lol. It's funny how the roles are reversed in this book ;) I'm glad to hear that it's a tad darker, has romance and is vivid. I love the sound of this! I'm so glad you enjoyed, my lovely :)

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    1. I did watch the first season, but not the second one. However I have seen Colin and yeaaah! I'm all for it :)) Thank you, dear! :)

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  7. I read Larissa's review of this, and man, the moment I found out this book humanized Captain Hook and made us see his situation in his eyes, I wanted to read it ASAP. I really like that it's darker too. Man, I can't wait to read this one. I'm salivating as I type this!

    Faye at The Social Potato

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    1. I really hope you'll get to read this one soon. Thanks, Faye :)

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  8. This sounds like a lovely book and I like book adaptations that let us see our childhood characters in a different perspective. Lovely review, Tanja! :)

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    1. I really hope you'll get to read this one. Thanks :)

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  9. I do like the idea of a Peter Pan retelling and this sounds like a really promising one! So many people have enjoyed this.

    Lovely review, Tanja! <33

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  10. I really love the sound of this, Tanja! I like how we get to see Hook in a much more different light and how he's humanized. I've always been curious of Hook, so I can't to read more about him.
    I'm so glad this lived up to your expectations!
    Lovely review! :)

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    1. I really hope you'll give this one a try. Thanks, Nick :)

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  11. This really does sound like a different take on the classic! I'm definitely curious about it now!

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  12. Hmm…Whenever I see a retelling of anything Peter Pan related, I always am hesitant to read it because of how much I loved Jodi Lynn Anderson’s gorgeous retelling Tiger Lily; and I feel nothing can honestly compare to that. However, this definitely sounds like a brilliant read! I always love when authors really dig deep into the physiology of their characters, and it seems Lisa Jensen definitely did that here.

    Everything about this sounds absolutely wonderful, so I think I’ll give it a go! Thanks for sharing Tanja, and, as always, BRILLIANT review! Glad you enjoyed it! <3

    ~ Zoe @ The Infinite To-Read Shelf

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    1. I loved Tiger Lily, and this one didn't have such beautiful writing but it had a story. Thank you, Zoe :)

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  13. I had no idea about this book, and this is the second review I have read for it. I got tell you Tanja I am excited between their review and yours I am sold, I love Peter Pan and think this sound unique.

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    1. I really hope you'll give it a try. Thanks, Kim :)

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  14. I saw this when I did a Friday forecast and I was most curious about it. I have read a couple of Peter Pan retellings, but none have grabbed my heart. This one sounds good though.

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  15. How neat! I love when an author can take an old story and an "evil" character and make something new.
    Thanks for the review!

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    1. I hope you'll give this one a try. Thanks, Andrea :)

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  16. Sounds like a fun retelling, and like I would enjoy the world building

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  17. Whoa! How come I'm just seeing this now?! I've got to read this one, I love retellings and this one sounds extremely intriguing. Love all the positives you mentioned.

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  18. Can't wait for this one, I've heard such great things about it! Thanks for the amazing review!!
    -Scott Reads It!

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  19. Glad to hear that you also enjoyed this one c: I found it to be quite a lovely read, the writing was so deep and introspective. I love how it gave you a new insight into the characters of Hook and Peter. AND OMG YOU'RE SO RIGHT ABOUT THAT ENDING <33 It was so cute and sad and lovely. I found it to be the perfect ending to the story.

    Lovely review! (:

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    1. I'm so happy we agree on this! :) Thank you, Larissa :)

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  20. WOOT! This sounds fabulous, and that is a very good thing, b/c I have to read this too and soon. I've never read a Peter Pan retelling, which is weird, b/c I love both retellings and Peter Pan, so I have extremely high hopes for this one. Lovely review, Tanja!

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