Short Book Reviews: A. C. Wise Redeems Captain Hook

 Hooked, by A.C. Wise (Titan)

Once invited, always welcome.
Once invited, never free.

Neverland is not a safe place but not for the reasons givenin the books and movies. It’s a poison in the blood, an addiction whose singletaste changes a person forever. A long time ago, a malevolent eternal childsnatched a young man from his English home and transformed him into an immortalvillain: Captain Hook. Never able to win against Peter Pan and always at themercy of the menacing crocodilian beast, Hook’s world has become oneblood-soaked death after another. Then a slowly evolving relationship with hisship’s surgeon awakens memories of the man he used to be, a man capable ofgoodness, self-sacrifice, and even love. After discovering a door through thesky, Hook and his surgeon return to London, living in the shadows and always fearingthe return of the beast and the darkness that lurks just beneath the surface ofhis mind. On the eve of World War II, a murder throws Hook together with WendyDarling and her grown daughter, and it’s only a matter of time before Neverlandsinks its claws into them again.

The narrative style is intense, dark, and eminentlyaccessible. Moving from one timeline to another, the story unfolds as a spiral,layering connected events, character journeys, and emotional resonances. Iespecially admired how the author offers understanding without excuses forHook’s violent deeds. Like other survivors of horrendous abuse, Hook is stillresponsible for his actions. He is what Peter Pan made of him—thequintessential adversary. He is also what he then makes of the ashen dregs ofthe man he might have been.

I missed Wendy, Darling, A. C. Wise’s previous novelbased on Peter Pan, but I never felt the lack. It’s the mark of askillful writer to create a sequel (or several) that stand so solidly on theirown, no previous experience is required. Instead, Hooked captured me sothoroughly, I’m ready to grab anything else I can find by the author.