Never Never (Villains #9) by Serena Valentino

Book Review Nov 24, 2022

My review

3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I've read most of this series so far (I think I somehow managed to miss Cruella's story in Evil Thing) so when I spotted Hook's story on the shelf in my local supermarket, I snatched it up.

If I'm being honest, this was a frustratingly slow starter for me compared to the other stories I've read in the series. I struggled to get past the first third of the book, lacking a connection to James as a character and feeling like there wasn't really any plot for me to follow.

Thankfully, my perseverance did pay off and the latter part of the book picked up in pace and plot enough that I started to enjoy the experience. The twists that came in the story were unexpected, and caught me off guard in a great way. I found myself pleasantly surprised by the path that the author chose to take and caught myself wishing that the original story had some of this backstory included in it.

In terms of characters, I think the reason I struggled to connect with James was that his actions felt selfish to me all along. Despite an attempt to justify his moves and motives, it never felt right and ended up grating on me somewhat.

I did particularly enjoy the Odd Sisters role in the story. Their inclusion was what gave the book depth and an eerie enchantment. Despite the book being based, at least in part, in Neverland, it wasn't until the Odd Sisters were part of the conversation that I felt any real magic about what was happening. Their involvement is what bumped my score up to the three stars that I've given.

Definitely not my favourite story in the series, but it ended up being a worthwhile inclusion in the overall story of the sisters.

Book blurb

Before Peter Pan and Wendy. Before the Lost Boys. There was just a boy named James who wanted to get back to Neverland.

As a baby, James Bartholomew fell out of his pram and was taken to Neverland. James is claimed by his parents just shy of seven days--after which he would have officially become a Lost Boy. Once he returns to London, he never stops thinking about Neverland. As he grows up, he hates his life in London, and everything to do with growing up and eventually becoming a gentleman. So he seeks a position on the ship of the infamous pirate, Blackbeard.

On Blackbeard's ship he learns to be a cutthroat pirate, and eventually becomes captain of his own ship, which James is determined to sail to Neverland. With the help of the Odd Sisters and a bit of magic, he just might get his wish. But returning to Neverland comes at a price--and now that he's grown up, the whole world seems to be rooting for his demise...