1st reading: July 31-August 6,2019

Let her drop, said Tink.
“What did she say?” said Molly.
“She said to be careful,” said Peter, shooting a hot look at Tink to tell her to keep her bells to herself.

Oh, how I love Peter Pan! Yet, after reading the first book in this series, I was very disappointed with the complete lack of editing. It was so poor that I was distracted by it. I am very happy to report no such problem exists with this second book! This was such a fun book to read, and there are some fun surprises, as well.

Some years back, someone gave my family a box full of books that they thought our kids might be interested in. In that box was the first book in this series Peter and the Starcatchers. It sat on a shelf for awhile before I decided to give it a read and I was not disappointed. Now I've finished the second book and it has only gotten better.
The first book left Peter on Mollusk Island (aka, Never Land) and this book picks up there with Peter and the lost boys living alongside the Natives and Hook and his stranded Pirates. We quickly find out, however, that a new evil, Lord Ombra, a shadow thief, is after the star stuff that gave Peter his ability to fly and never age. Lord Ombra proves to be a formidable foe as the action quickly moves to London where we are reintroduced to Molly Aster and her parents who are Starcatchers as they seek to return the powerful starstuff.
Even at over 550 pages, the book moved quickly with short, action-filled chapters that kept the story moving quickly from one group/storyline to another. This all led up to a dramatic climax and a satisfying ending.
Though this is an older series, that does not seem to be published anymore, I am glad I found it and am look forward to reading the rest of the books.

If you want to see boastful Peter Pan get taken down a peg, just watch him leave his home on the island and visit Victorian London. That seems to be the message here as our larger-than-life hero keeps getting into scrapes that require Tink or Molly to rescue him from. He does a lot of rescuing himself, too. After all, the action is fast-paced and there are opportunities for almost everyone to shine. I say almost because once peter leaves the island there are only a few chapters dedicated to the lost boys left behind to protect themselves from the marooned pirates and the ending is rather abrupt. If you liked the first book of the series you’ll probably like this one too, and there are references to the original Peter and Wendy as well for those who know enough to spot them. The fact that Tink’s loyalty to Peter can only be matched by her jealousy towards the girls he meets is something that might make J.M.B. proud.

4 out of 5 stars

In our last adventures Peter didn't come for Molly in London.... seems like we need a new adventure to tell this important part of the original story! Of course to does help that multiple groups of deadly characters who are each dead set on getting the starstuff is hunting down both Peter and Molly and the rest of the Asters. It is a terrifying turn of events with multiple kidnappings and daring rescues that keep you on your seat through the whole story. If you want to know if our heroes all make it through, you are going to have to read for yourself because the darkness is brooding and it takes everything.

This series of books on Peter can get any reader engaged just because of how many twists and turns his adventure takes him on. It is never boring and a fantastic adventure from cover to cover.

More violent than I'd hope for my kids

We loved listening to the audiobook of this series because it is narrated by Jim Dale, who also narrated the Harry Potter audiobooks. He's amazing, and I think could make a reading of the phone book entertaining!

I loved this book! They hired a new editor, and I only saw one error. The storyline was fantastic and kept me turning page after page. If I hadn’t been travelling, I would have read it in a day.

Peter, the lost boy left with magical powers on an Island called the Never Land, wanted to see his friend Molly again back in England. Unfortunately, he had no reason to go there and there was no way he could get there. So, one day he went exploring and found that a boat full of evil men had come to steal the magic. What the men didn't know was that the magic was in England with his friend's family. Then, the men figured out and set sail to England. Peter, wanting to warn Molly, hid on their ship and got to England. What was Peter to do now that he had no idea where Molly lived? This story is about friendship, love, and adventure.

I’m reading this series out loud to my daughters at bedtimes. My eldest already read the first three but both are enjoying this run, as an I. This is a wonderful retelling of the Peter Pan story, providing additional depth and background to an already fun framework. It’s a fun read for this adult but very enjoyable for my 9 and 11 year olds.

I enjoyed it, for the most part. My biggest complaint is that it was excessively long. There was an awful lot of filler. Lots of unnecessary, superfluous details and even side stories that just filled pages. We don't really need to know exactly what is happening every single minute to every single character... I will continue with the series, because I heart Neverland. I just have to take breaks in between installments.

I think I love this even more than the first book. Lord Ombra is one of the most terrifying villains I’ve ever read—a creature who can steal shadows and control people. Eerie, exciting, and creative, and still the best Peter Pan retelling (even better than the original story).

Just as great as I remembered it, and just as action packed. This book makes the first book look incredibly boring in comparison. Loved the plot line, loved the surprises and all the little pieces of this story. Loved how Peter hit rock bottom but in the end was the same Peter Pan we all know and love.

I was a little shocked at some parts since this is a kids book -- especially the part about kids getting nabbed off the street and forced to make money for some gross guy. But honestly those parts I found the most exciting.

The only part I did not like was Molly in this story. In the first book she is cool and level headed and smart. In this book she is very obviously a child and makes poor decisions, which is a totally different character than who they built her up to be in the first book. Her character started to really annoy me at some point.

The last bit I will say is that Peter starts to question himself and if he is human anymore in this book. I love this undercurrent theme, and am looking forward to how they build upon this in future books.