Second Star to the Left: 1 (Reimagined Fairy Tales)

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The writing style was absolutely gorgeous and flowed really nicely. This high sea's adventure was fast paced and had me completely entranced from the very first chapter. I think fans of Sarah J Maas and Olivia Wildenstein will devour this beautifully written romantic fantasy! I also loved that they are a couple that rescues each other (several times over), and anytime Tink’s wings glow, because she is happy 🥺😭😍 And while I love the two main characters and their saucy dynamic, my absolute favorite character is Smee. I would happily read a follow up, especially wanting to know what happened to the boat full of people at the end that vanished. I mean, I know what it's setting up but I just want more. Lol

First, I just have to say that I absolutely LOVED the writing which is fast paced, full of humour, plot twists and a deliciously satisfying romance that I didn’t want to end. It also has just the right level of spice and some really compelling characters that I found thoroughly entertaining, particularly Smee who soo very different (and sexier) than the original and definitely needs his own book.The chemistry and tension between Tink and Hook makes for a swoon-worthy enemies-to-lovers romance filled with conflict and spice, as well as many tender and heartfelt moments to deepen the story. The love scenes in Second Star To The Left are among the best I’ve ever read—emotional and passionate with plenty of interiority as well as heat. Tink, banished from her homeland for selling Pixie Dust (the hottest drug in Neverland), is determined to find a way home and doesn’t hesitate to follow her only lead—even if it means seducing a filthy pirate to steal precious gems out from under his… hook.

There’s also sassy banter. A good ol’ caveman carry. Naked adventure time *waggles eyebrows.* But a lot of tender moments, too, made all the sweeter because of how things begin between them. It's hard to describe much about the book without giving away too much. When we meet Tink, she is on a mission retrieving a valuable jewel for the mermaid queen. She is the only one capable of providing the means for Tink to return to her homeland, where she was cast out. Let's just say this jewel might just be in possession of a certain handsome pirate, who's missing a hand... There have been several behind-the-scenes references to the Peter Pan stories in relation to Star Trek. Tink was a very fun and loveable character and the enemies to lovers romance between her and Hook was a joy to read! But going into this story, already a huge fan of Megan’s work, was counter-balanced by the fact that Peter Pan is probably my least favorite fairy tale. I’ve never been a fan of the lost boys concept, and Hook has always been portrayed as a douche-waffle (with the exception of Once Upon a Time).

John

For those whose favorite characters are also Captain Hook and Tinker Bell, and you secretly ship them (especially when Hook looks similarly to the OUAT Captain Hook aka Killian Jones - that’s who I pictured at least) - this book is for you.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a review. This kindness does not affect my opinions of this book, which are wholly my own. SECOND STAR TO THE LEFT was a great Peter Pan retelling featuring a charming Captain Hook and feisty Tinker Bell. I loved their banter and the way they tried to resist each other but couldn't. The story was fast paced and easy to read and I was pulled into this version of Neverland right away. Second Star to the Left is fast read. The banter is fun and immersive. The plot keeps moving and does not stagnate in one spot. I felt that it spent the right amount of time on each of the characters and having the two perspectives of Cook and Tinker helped add dimension to both characters and keep things interesting. I enjoyed Captain Hook’s crew and their adventures (or mishaps) on the sea. I wished there was a little more to the betrayal plot. I liked the twist. But the reasons didn’t land for me. Too much of a 180. Fantasy brilliance of the highest form, this story will transport you to the mystical world of Neverland - with adult twists that will leave readers begging for more.This is a before-Wendy story that exposes connections and relationships between Neverland's most famous faces that nobody's ever known about before. It provides a lot of insight, for those who can read between the lines and look ahead to the timeline of the classic tale, as to why Peter and Tink have such a volatile relationship and why Tink even wants to hang around. It provides an interesting connection between Peter and Hook, as well, and definitely does an excellent job at making Hook a lot more human. He's still a pirate captain, he's still not on the right side of the law (if such a thing exists in a place like Neverland) and he's still motivated by greed and revenge, but we get to see him as a sympathetic, flawed man who has redeeming qualities. There’s something interesting that I’ve noticed while reading the last few romantic fantasy novels that I’ve come across, including Second Star to the Left. When the tension is high and our MCs are in a dangerous spot, my mind unwittingly starts warning me that someone is going to die; this is fantasy and there has to be repercussions to make the stakes feel high, right? Not so with my last two reads, which openly guaranteed happily ever afters for their characters. It’s funny, before reading these last two books, The Isle of a Thousand Worlds and Second Star to the Left, I would have thought that a guaranteed HEA would destroy the tension being built by the story. Instead, what I have found is that it actually enhances my experience because I know that nothing terrible is going to happen to these characters I have fallen in love with over the course of the book. Now, I’m not opposed to some good old-fashioned suffering, but this has proven to be a welcome reprieve from the standard doom and gloom that fantasy can sometimes dip into. In the reference book The Star Trek Compendium (4th ed., p. 42), TOS: " Miri" is likened to Peter Pan, with the characters of Jahn, Miri, and the Onlies said to symbolize Peter Pan, Wendy, and the Lost Boys, respectively. If you are interested in Second Star to the Left, add it to your TBR on Goodreads. If you have read it already, tell me your thoughts in the comments or link to your review and I will give it a read.

She called him James, that name he'd buried so long ago. She still used it when they were alone. Something shifted in his chest. James had died and been reborn for her. Only her.this was such a cute retelling of Peter Pan. i loved this version of Tinker Bell and Captain Hook. because of this book i'll never not see Hook and Tink as endgame. boom. a ship has been born. fantastical world that feels both familiar and fresh.” — Paulette Kennedy, International Best-selling Author of Parting The Veil I also wished for a more 3D portrayal of Hook as an amputee. More of his daily challenges, how he adapts. Routine stump & prosthesis care. Atrophy/skin breakdown considerations. Prosthesis design details & suspension method. What his recovery would have entailed. There was a bedroom scene when his stump ‘disappears’ partway through, something akin to “white-room syndrome,” which I don’t think was intentional at all, but it was something I noticed. If his stump was something Hook was self-conscious about and continuing to hide, I would have liked for Tink to have noticed and to have continued trying to reassure him/build up his confidence. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book. My opinions are my own!