This was my first foray into dark romance. I was looking for a read that was an adult diversion of something Disney. This is an adaptation. It’s really just the names of characters from Peter Pan with some similar qualities. Now it’s important to know that Emily McIntyre is well aware that the themes of her book can be disturbing. She put a disclaimer at the beginning of her book. It’s essentially a trigger warning where she lays out the things that you may find disturbing or problematic. She’s unapologetic about it, as she should be, but she just wants to give people a warning that this may not be for them. I discovered pretty quickly after starting this book, that maybe I’m the person the disclaimer is addressing. I finished it. I didn’t hate it. But there were definitely parts of the book that were difficult for me to get through because of the themes.

Characters: Familiar Names with Dark Intentions

James “Hook” Barrie – Not the hook-handed pirate you might expect, but rather a brooding, vengeful man with a tragic past. He’s fueled by hatred for Peter Michaels (the Peter Pan figure of this story) and is determined to make him suffer. He’s charismatic but deeply flawed, blurring the line between hero and villain.

Wendy Michaels – Peter’s daughter, unaware of the darkness surrounding her father. She gets tangled up with Hook, drawn to his dangerous allure. She’s naive but also strong-willed, making her an interesting counterpart to his brooding nature. She also cares for her brother, Jonathan (similar to John in Peter Pan), very deeply. He is a minor character but is important to understanding both Wendy and Hook.

Peter Michaels – In this version, Peter Pan is not the hero, but the villain. He’s powerful, corrupt, and the reason for Hook’s thirst for revenge. Zero redeeming qualities.

Themes

Revenge & Trauma – Hook’s actions are fueled by pain from his past, making him a deeply wounded character. The book explores how trauma shapes people and the lengths they will go to in order to find their version of justice. This is present in almost every relationship in the book.

Toxic Love & Obsession – The relationship between Wendy and Hook is dark, obsessive, and often unsettling. If you prefer love stories that are lighthearted, this one might not be for you. I had to read some parts very quickly and try not to think about them too much. It is graphic.

Power & Corruption – Peter is a man with power, but instead of using it for good, he abuses it. Hook, on the other hand, fights against him but is far from a noble hero. The book plays with the idea that good and evil aren’t black and white.

Story/Plot

Wendy is young and trying to prove herself a useful member of society by working in a coffee shop in her father’s city. He is wealthy and there is no need for her to work. She quickly finds herself drawn to Hook, the enigmatic and dangerous man who runs a club. What she doesn’t know is that Hook is using her as a pawn in his revenge plot against Peter, the man responsible for ruining his life.

As the story unfolds, the line between love and manipulation blurs. Hook’s obsession with Wendy grows beyond what he intended, and she begins to see cracks in the reality she thought she knew; she had been sheltered most of her life and for the most part had no reason to start questioning anything about her family or life. Their relationship is intense, passionate, and—at times—uncomfortable (so uncomfrtable). The book doesn’t shy away from morally gray characters, and it forces the reader to confront the complexities of power, revenge, and desire. On more than one occasion you find yourself wondering if what is happening is just sexual coercion. Wendy is naive but she really tries to convince herself that she needs to expand her horizons; the way she goes about this is extreme. We are essentially walking through her sexual awakening with her, but it is an intense and aggressive experience.

Overall Review

I gave this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars. Will I Read another Emily McIntyre book? Probably not (but also, maybe?). I, like Wendy, learned a lot about myself while reading this book. I know what types of themes/stories I can handle (probably not this type). The writing was fine and the characters were complex. I couldn’t stop picturing cartoon Wendy Darling running around her in her night gown with her brothers, and eventually I had to because of the explicit adult things going on in the book. I suppose this is the downside to reading stories and retellings about characters you are familiar with and like. I like Peter Pan, but it isn’t my favorite Disney movie (although I do love the made for TV musical version with Mary Martin!). However, Peter Pan’s Flight it is my favorite ride at Magic Kingdom. I know it is simple, but the feeling of floating through the dark twinkling sky on the ship and watching the story of the Peter, Captain Hook, and Darling children unfold is something I look forward to whenever I go to Disney World.

If you like dark romance, you might like this book. Hooked by Emily McIntire.