Review: Death in Neverland by Heather C. Myers

Death in Neverland by Heather C. Myers 
(Neverland #1) 
Publication date: November 12th 2014 
Genres: Fantasy, Retelling, Young Adult

Description:
In the Neverland, people don’t grow up. Because they’re dead.

Remy Cutler dies, and somehow escapes certain death. She returns to the land of the living with nothing but a ripped gown and a fear of heights.
She plans to escape her arranged marriage by stowing away onto a ship in hopes to leave her home with no one none knowing. However, she is found out, and the sailors aren’t happy. Before any damage can be done, she is yanked from her predicament back to The Neverland, a place where death resides – the very place she escaped from years ago. Souls are ferried by her savior. To her, he’s known as Nick, but to The Neverland, he’s the slippery Nicholas Grey.

The more time Remy spends with Nick and his crew, however, the more she realizes he’s shockingly misunderstood. Pirates aren’t all bad the way gentleman aren’t all good. One such gentleman goes by the name of Peter, and he has nothing but power on his mind and revenge against Grey in his heart. And then there are those that are completely indiscernible, like James Hook, a Viking and ruler of The Other World, whose sole ambition is attaining more souls to rule over, no matter what the cost.

This dark retelling of Peter Pan infuses familiar characters created by J. M. Barrie with new characters and Greek mythology. It is the first in a trilogy.

My Thoughts:
Remy Cutler is a typical upper class girl, sheltered, well trained, snobbish. When she runs away from her arranged marriage, she ends up alive in the underworld; Neverland.
I wouldn't call this a retelling of Peter Pan at all. Yes, it uses familiar characters like Peter and Hook in name, but that's about it. I feel like it's a closer fit to a later period interpretation of Greek Mythology, with Hook taking a sort of Hades position.
That aside, I enjoyed this story. The characters aren't particularly memorable, but the story definitely kept me engaged. I will be reading the rest of the books at some point, since it has a *spoiler* cliff hanger ending. But I found the writing overly heavy with description and "internal dialogue" to the point where it was distracting from the plot and made the pace drag. I think it's also in need of a heavy editor's hand as there were many incorrect spellings/word usage etc.
But, as I said, the plot definitely held my attention, and made me curious enough that I'd like to read what happens in the next book/s.

**Thank you to Xpresso Tours for providing a review copy**