Review--Never Never by Serena Valentino

 

The 9th book in the New York Times bestselling Villains series tells the tale of the rise and fall of the infamous pirate, Captain Hook―a boy who grew up.

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…

Returning to Serena Valentino's Villains series is a little like returning home! I am a complete Disney Nerd and I love these tales that give us insight to the villains we grew up with! Never Never explores Captain Hook's story and how he became the villain to Peter Pan's story. For once he was just a boy, longing to return to the place where he never had to grow up.

When James was a child, he was momentarily lost and experienced Neverland for six full days! If he had stayed for just one more day, he would've remained there forever, but his mother found him on the seventh day and he returned home. For years, James read every book he could find, follow every clue, anything that would get him back to Neverland, but it was to no avail.

Finally, when he grew older and should've married a nice girl with a healthy dowry, like his parents wanted, he instead decided to take up a life of piracy in order to find his true home, Neverland! He proves himself worthy to none other than Captain Blackbeard and gets a place on his ship. Joining him on his journey, is longtime childhood butler, Smee. I loved this little add-on to the story as it kind of explains everything we needed to know about Mr. Smee and why he seemed like a total fanboy of Captain Hook in the movie!

Although I always seem to be behind in this series, it's so easy to return to these books again and again! Yes, each story gives us an origin to a villain we all know well enough, but in the background of each story we get glimpses of the Odd Sisters and their daughter, Circe, who play a hand in things helping to guide these wayward souls into the villains they think they are meant to be! Circe of course, tries to keep her mothers from meddling, but we all know how that turns out.

I found Captain Hook's story to be very intriguing indeed! I've read many a fairy tale retelling that places the Captain in the role of tortured hero and in some essence, you get a wee bit of that here too. Obviously, not in full force, but we do get some light shined onto some pretty dark corners. Really makes you see these Disney movies in a different light!

I currently have 2 more Villains book on my shelf before the release of the latest one, whether I get caught up in time for that release is anyone's guess--although not likely, but maybe I can get caught up still before the end of the year! We'll see what happens. I am curious about the endgame of this series. Not that I want to see it end, I am enjoying all these Disney Villain backstories, but I am curious to see how the arc will end for the Odd Sisters themselves. Time will tell of course!

While it is best to enjoy this series in order, in order to get a better understanding of the Odd Sisters, you can in essence pickup any book you choose and read about said villain! It is truly their story after all, but the Odd Sisters have always been playing their own game in the background and it's better understood if you stick to the published reading order. Which ironically, is not in the movie timeline order, something that gets mentioned in this book too by way of chance! Lol. 

Every Disney fan ought to read this series though as who doesn't love a good villain? Better yet, learning what made them into the villain we all love (or love to hate) today?

Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars