Title: Lost in the Never Woods
Author: Aiden Thomas
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Pages: 384
Read: February 23, 2021
It’s been five years since Wendy and her brothers went missing in the woods and children are starting to disappear again. When she comes across Peter, a boy who she thought lived only in her stories, she realizes there’s more to the disappearances than everyone expects.
This story was dark and very emotional. Wendy has spent the past five years with no memory of her disappearance or of what happened to her brothers. She was living a life filled with grief, depression, and anxiety. Peter crashing into her life changed everything. She slowly starts to regain pieces of her memory of Neverland. They team up to find the missing children and hopefully uncover the truth about her brother’s wearabouts. Wendy was definitely a hurt and traumatized character who we see grieve and heal as she learns the truth. She is mistrustful of Peter at first but he slowly gains her trust, especially after she starts remembering Neverland.
Being in the human world, and with Wendy, has changed Peter. He isn’t the fearless little boy anymore. He feels insecurity and fear for the first time. I loved how protective he was of Wendy. It was very sweet. I really enjoyed seeing him change and grow up. The connection between these two is so strong and emotional it just captivates you and makes you want to keep reading.
While this book had a slow start, it quickly captivated me and I didn’t want to put it down. Aiden Thomas created a fascinating and dark retelling out of one of the most happy and carefree children’s stories out there. This book was all about finding the truths and using them to heal and grieve. It reminds you to look for the joy in painful moments, in love during loss, and in hope during hard times. It’s all about learning to live again. I just loved this unique retelling with all its darkness, pain, and hopefulness.
Trigger Warnings:
- Familial loss, grief, and trauma
- anxiety and anxiety attacks
- alcoholism (parents)
- night terrors and insomnia
- kidnapping
*ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.*
