The Girl Who Dreamed in Thorns: And So She Withers

by Rebecca L. Garcia, Dawn Darling

One year ago, Holly returned home with no memories, a bloody scar, and a torrent of nightmares.

On the night of her debut into society, a mysterious stranger offers her the answer to the question that has haunted her since her What happened to Wendy Darling?

Desperate to find her sister, she goes with him to the thorny island from her dreams. Except, Never has changed. The forest is rotting. The faeries are dying. And Kit, the handsome, brutal Wyard who she once loved, hasn’t forgotten her betrayal.

Caught between the boy who wants to punish her and the pirate begging to save her, Holly begins to suspect that the most dangerous thing on the island was never the magic, the island, or the one who controlled both.

It was the moment she allowed him to feel anything at all. Because very few lived long enough to break the heart of a Wyard, and none survived it.

The Girl Who Dreamed in Thorns is a lovers-to-enemies Peter-Pan inspired bully romance, set against the grim, death-filled backdrop of Never, where wickedness lurks beneath every fairy-dusted leaf, innocence demands sacrifice, and a broken heart can kill you.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy

259 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2026

About the author

Rebecca writes dark fantasy romance, usually with gothic elements and always with morally gray characters. Originally from England, she lives in Texas with her husband, and two sons. She loves anything with enemies to lovers, slow burn, and lots of angst.

Find out more about Rebecca and check out her books here:
Website: www.rebeccagarciabooks.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/rebeccalgarciabooks

Reviews

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, but like....what if I can fix him??? WHAT IF I CAN FIX HIM????

Sure, he tortures Wendy (who arguably deserves it), decapitates faeries regularly, and needs to seek anger management. And sure, there are a ton of other red flags.

But what if red is my favorite color?? WHAT THEN?

[Paige Ciemnolonski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy shit. Just... Oh my god. I wasn't entirely sure what might happen. I... I didn't know if she could do it or not. And Cade? Fuck. And now Never is... And Kit is...
Holly is FUCKED.
I am looking forward to seeing how unhinged Kit will undoubtedly be in book 2 though. Just... Fuck

[Freya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m team Kit!! Review to come…

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I say this altered my brain chemistry in the best possible way that’s not a joke. I’m a sucker for Peter Pan inspired stories and this one is my new favorite. I literally need a therapist to tell me what’s wrong with me after going through all the emotions I had while reading this. I’ve literally been staring at a wall for 15+ minutes contemplating what to do with my life now that I’ve finished it.

If you’re debating reading this - JUST DO IT. I promise you won’t regret it.

[Charlotte Andrea ✨ bloomingbookmania · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5⭐️ My dark villain fairytale heart is so happy now 🖤

“How could something that beautiful be so cruel?“

I’m obsessed with every book by Rebecca L. Garcia, she is my gothic queen, and this was an amazingly dark and unique story. Thank you so much to Rebecca and Dawn Darling for this eARC 🫶🏼

“If it is a monster you see in me, Holly Darling, then it is the monster I will become.”

💜 Dark Peter Pan Retelling
🖤 Lovers to Enemies
💜 Bully Romance
🖤 Forced proximity/return
💜 Morally black MMC
🖤 Angst, obsession & banter
💜 Magic with a Price
🖤 Predator vs prey

“Butterflies swarmed in her stomach at the memory. She wished they would die.“

I have long been obsessed over dark fairytale retellings and this delivered BIG! Please read TWs before reading it! If you loved Once Upon a Time and Peter Pan, but wanted it to be a dark bully romance then this is for you.

After reading lots of fairytale retellings and Rebecca’s books, I thought I knew a bit where this could go, but boy was I so wrong! The whole time I was kept on my toes and I could not guess anything of the plot 🔥 I loved it!
Several timelines or flashbacks don’t always works for me as it can take me out of the plot or be confusing. Here it works perfectly and just gave a deeper understanding that felt natural for the story. Especially when learning of their past love story and connection to the other characters.
The magic system is unique and was slowly explained more. I was a bit confused by the bonding and magic sharing as it said everything was shared, then magic wasn’t shared, but it may be just me.

“The grass beneath his back was more comfortable than any bedding could be, and the girl at his side? Even more beautiful than the night sky she stared so longingly at.“

I really love the MCs and what each character brings to the table, but unfortunately I didn’t get a connection to the others in the crew and her sister is a hard one to place for now. Seen others describe this as "Found Family", but I didn’t get that and don’t really miss or expect that either because of the darker vibes. I feel wrong saying that I love Kit, but I will because he got to me slowly and everyone loves a villain… even a very dark one, right?! Now, the second MMC I’m
Not too sure about, but we will see. No promises 🤭 I’m a huge believer of “I can fix him“ so if that makes me naive and a fool for them both, then so be it… can’t wait to continue to be one in book 2 🖤

“It was one thing to be loved by a predator, but to become the prey, the girl who broke him, was another. A hate born from love lasted forever.“

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter pan retellings are slowly becoming my favorite retelling. This was fun. Dark and steamy and that ending broke my god damn heart.

[Jessica Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok but bully romance is now my new fav 😍 Guys, I love Jack Barlowe. I love Ivar the Boneless. These men can stab me with their red flags and I'll thank them. I loved this story so much and I can't wait for book 2. Kit is in my top 5 bfs now.

[meghin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wait. Am I in love with a villain? Yes, yes I am 🥵😍

I am not normally a bully romance gal but this… this will live in my mind rent free for a long time. I need more!

[theromantasybookcorner._ · Rating 4 out of 5]

💜✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 ✨💜
📖 The Girl Who Dreamed in Thorns by @dawndarlingauthor & @rebeccagarciabooks
╰⇢❥ 🗓️: May 21, 2026 - 𝗔𝗩𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗞𝗨!
💜 𝙶𝙴𝙽𝚁𝙴: Dark Romance / Bully Romance / Dark Fairytale
✨ 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂: The Never After Duet - Book 1

“𝓘𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓭 𝓫𝔂 𝓪 𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓭𝓪𝓽𝓸𝓻, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓻𝓮𝔂, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓰𝓲𝓻𝓵 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓫𝓻𝓸𝓴𝓮 𝓱𝓲𝓶, 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻. 𝓐 𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓫𝓸𝓻𝓷 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓵𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻.“

⇢❥ 𝙼𝚈 𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝙶𝙷𝚃𝚂:
Thank you so much to @dawndarlingauthor @rebeccagarciabooks @rrbooktours for my #gifted ARC of The Girl Who Dreamed in Thorns! This review is comprised entirely of my own thoughts & opinions, & is based on the copy I received.

When I say I want a dark Peter Pan retelling, The Girl Who Dreamed in Thorns is exactly what I mean! This book was such an addictive read, & I genuinely can’t stop thinking about it!😍

Kit and Holly had me completely hooked!! Their push-and-pull dynamic was so compelling, and despite the fact that there were so many red flags flying around their relationship, I couldn’t help but love them together and their interactions. Kit is basically a walking red flag - but who doesn’t love a villainous MMC😂 his more vulnerable moments were just amazing to read and I loved seeing that side of him! AND HONESTLY, the ending? I’m not gonna say because I don’t want to spoil anything but… I get his feelings! I’m definitely interested to see how their dynamic changes in the next book after the way this one ended.

This is a relatively quick read, & it packed so much into its pages! The pacing was fast, the story never dragged, and there was so much emotional depth woven throughout both the characters and their relationships. I loved learning more about the Lost Ones and their histories. Watching their found-family dynamic was one of my favorite parts of the story, even if they were facing more than a few challenges navigating Holly’s return to Never!

One of my favorite aspects of the novel was the setting😍 Being in Never felt both magical and unsettling at the same time, and the authors did an incredible job creating a dark atmosphere. This eerie version of Neverland perfectly mirrored the darker themes of the story and added so much to the reading experience!

If you’re looking for a dark, addictive Peter Pan retelling filled with morally gray characters, intense chemistry, and a hauntingly atmospheric setting, this one is definitely worth picking up! And with the way this book ended, you’re definitely going to be hooked (get it? 😂)! I am FERAL for book two and cannot wait to see where this story goes next!

⇢❥ 𝙰𝙳𝙳 𝚃𝙷𝙸𝚂 𝚃𝙾 𝚈𝙾𝚄𝚁 𝚃𝙱𝚁 𝙸𝙵 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴:
💜 Bully Romance
✨ Dark Fairytale
💜 Lovers to Enemies
✨ Peter Pan Reimagining
💜 Villain gets the Girl
✨ Unhinged MMC
💜 Found Family to Enemies
✨ Dark Fairytale

━ ༻❤︎︎༺ ━

[bookishpadawan · Rating 5 out of 5]

🥀Dark Peter Pan retelling
🖤Bully romance
🥀Lovers to enemies
🖤Villain gets the girl
🥀Found family to enemies
🖤Lots of angst and yearning
🥀Unhinged MMC
🖤She's his to ruin
🥀Plot twist that will f*ck your brain
🖤Grimm fairytale vibes
🥀Dual POV
🖤Duology


♥️♥️Huge thanks to Rebecca L Garcia and Dawn Darling for the gifted arc, it's an honor and privilege to me. All opinions are my own♥️♥️

I think this is the best Peter Pan retelling that I've ever read. the storyline kept me interested at every step and the book moves along at such a fast pace that there were no dull moments. Just a thrilling experience from start to finish that leaves you breathless😭 every chapter pushed me further into the book, making it impossible to put down😭 the worldbuilding itself is wonderful and easy to fall into.

"If it is a monster you see in me, Holly Darling, then it is the monster I will become."

"You think I can't take it? I can take all of you, Kit. Even the monster."

"You ruin me and I'd let you do it over and over if it meant you'd kiss me like that every time."

me while reading this book:








This book was so goood and all came down to a pain cliffhanger that makes you grasp for the next book like you gasp for air after you hold your breath. I'm already looking forward to book two!!!😫😫😫

p.s I don't care if anyone calls Kit a walking red flag. what is a red flag? what I see is a green flag so green as a tropical forest.

A year ago, Holly returned home with no memories, her sister—Wendy, disappeared and nightmares that keep haunting her. A year later, Holly returned to the world she had forgotten to save Wendy, but in a year, the world she knew had changed, the faeries were dying, and the land was rotting, and Kit, who she once loved, turned into a monster who extremely wanted to ruin her.

[Jennifer Amaral · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book feels like wandering through a decaying fairy tale where every beautiful thing is already halfway dead 👀🖤🌿

Dark Peter Pan retelling?
Lovers-to-enemies tension?
A brutal magical island rotting from the inside out??

Yeah… this completely consumed me.

The atmosphere in this book is absolutely INCREDIBLE. Never doesn’t feel whimsical or safe—it feels haunted. Rotting forests, dying faeries, cruel magic, and this constant feeling that something ancient and dangerous is lurking beneath every corner of the island.

And honestly??
I was obsessed from the very beginning.

Holly was SUCH a compelling FMC.

She’s traumatized, grieving, and desperately trying to piece together memories that clearly shattered her for a reason. The mystery surrounding what happened to Wendy—and what happened to Holly herself—creates this constant emotional tension throughout the story.

Because you KNOW something terrible happened.

You just don’t fully understand how terrible yet 👀🖤

Then there’s Kit…

And WOW.
That man is absolutely devastating 🔥

Angry. Heartbroken. Brutal in that deeply personal way only someone who once loved you completely can be.

And honestly??
The lovers-to-enemies dynamic between them HURT in the best possible way.

Because underneath all the hatred, punishment, and emotional violence, you can still feel how much history exists between them.

That’s what makes the tension so addictive.

Every interaction feels layered with betrayal, grief, longing, and the terrifying reality that loving someone in Never may literally destroy you.

The pirate love interest also adds SUCH a good emotional contrast to the story 👀🔥

Because while Kit feels like the embodiment of Holly’s painful past, the pirate represents escape, possibility, and another dangerous kind of temptation entirely.

And honestly??
The emotional triangle worked SO well because none of the choices feel safe.

What really made this stand out for me though is how dark and emotionally sharp the story becomes underneath the fantasy elements. This isn’t a nostalgic retelling—it’s about obsession, memory, betrayal, and what happens when love turns monstrous.

✨ If you love:
• dark Peter Pan retellings
• lovers-to-enemies romance
• gothic fantasy atmosphere
• emotionally brutal tension
• morally dangerous love interests

This one is haunting, vicious, addictive, and beautifully tragic in all the best ways 🖤🌿

[Lilith's_Library_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, a heartfelt thank you to Rebecca L. Garcia and Dawn Darling for providing me with an ARC of The Girl Who Dreamed in Thorns: And So She Withers. My apologies for the delay in getting this review posted—I’ve recently been caught up in the exciting chaos of buying a home and moving, but I’m so grateful to finally have the chance to share my thoughts on this beautifully haunting story.

The Girl Who Dreamed in Thorns is a mesmerizing blend of dark fantasy, gothic atmosphere, and emotional storytelling. From the very first page, I was drawn into a world filled with beauty and sorrow, where dreams and nightmares seem to intertwine and every secret carries a hidden cost.

The authors have created a wonderfully immersive atmosphere that feels both enchanting and unsettling. The imagery throughout the story is vivid and lyrical, painting a world of thorns, shadows, and fragile hope that lingered in my mind long after I finished reading. The darker elements never felt overwhelming but instead added depth and richness to the narrative.

I especially loved the emotional journey of the characters. Their struggles, growth, and resilience made them easy to connect with, and I found myself deeply invested in their fates. The relationships were beautifully developed, filled with moments of tenderness, heartbreak, and quiet strength that balanced the darker themes perfectly.

The pacing occasionally slowed in a few places, but it also allowed the story's atmosphere and emotional beats to fully unfold. Every chapter added another layer to the mystery, making it difficult to put the book down as I searched for answers alongside the characters.

For readers who enjoy gothic fantasy, haunting prose, emotional character journeys, and stories wrapped in darkness and beauty, The Girl Who Dreamed in Thorns: And So She Withers is a captivating read worth experiencing.

✨ A beautifully atmospheric tale filled with thorns, dreams, heartache, and hope, woven together into a story that feels both haunting and unforgettable.

Thank you again to Rebecca L. Garcia and Dawn Darling for the ARC. I look forward to reading more from both authors in the future! 🖤📚🌹

[Shyla S · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love dark fantasy with haunting imagery, emotional depth, and beautifully flawed characters, A Girl Who Dreamed in Thorns is a gripping and immersive read. This dark Peter Pan retelling transforms Never into a decaying, violent world filled with monsters both magical and human, creating an atmosphere that feels constantly dangerous rather than whimsical.

Holly is pulled back into Never to search for her missing sister Wendy, and the mystery surrounding the island kept me completely invested. One of my favorite parts was the use of flashbacks, showing how Kit and Holly went from love to hate over time. Their history added so much emotional weight to every interaction and made the tension between them impossible to ignore.

Kit absolutely stole the show for me. As the son of a God, he controls Never with his powers, and he was completely unhinged in the best way possible. Morally gray, chaotic, and emotionally fractured—of course I loved him. He brought such unpredictability to the story and made every scene he appeared in feel intense.

The writing is atmospheric and vivid, pulling you into a world filled with pain, resilience, love, and survival. The balance between brutality and vulnerability made this story the story impossible to put down. Perfect for readers who enjoy romantasy, gothic fantasy, morally gray characters, and dark fairytale retellings. Definitely a standout read for fantasy romance fans.

𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙤/𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙚 = Kit & Holly Darling
𝘾𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 = Yes
𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 = This is book 1 of a duet.
𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙚(𝙨) = Dark Romance • Lovers to Enemies • Fairytale (Peter Pan Retelling) • He's a Demigod & She's the sister of Wendy • Bad Boy × Good Girl • Fantasy/Magic • Found Family • Morally Pitch-black characters • Dual POVs
𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 = Bullying • Sexual Content • Violence/Fighting/Blood/Torture • Murder/Death • Neglect (off page) • Emotional Abuse •
𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙇𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡 = 1🔥
𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 = 5 ⭐️

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review


“I’m going to trust you,” she decided and inhaled sharply. “That’s a terrible choice.” “Fortunately for you,” she said, lifting the skirt of her dress and turning her back to the edge with a grin, “I make terrible choices. You included.”

Thank you very much for the authors for sending me an early copy of the book!

Wow this was such a good read. I really enjoyed this dark Peter Pan retelling.
The atmosphere just sucked me in and I lost myself reading it for hours. I loved the third person POV writing, it really gave a dark fairy tale vibe to the book.
But this was so much more than a fairytale retelling. There are gods, Demi gods, magic and magicians and lots of banter in a dark world.
There is a lot of trains dealing in this book so read the TW!
The FMC Holly Darling carried a lot of hurt and because of that she wasn’t able to trust anyone full heartedly.
The MMC Kit (Peter Pan) a demigod with immense powers carried the same weight as Holly so they were very similar.
We’ve also been introduced to the other MMC Cade (Hook) who I actually really liked. He is either the villain or the good guy, to be honest I’m still more sure after finishing the book, but either way I loved him! He was funny with a very good charisma but couldn’t make up my mind about him. Hopefully book2 will give me all the answers about him.
This was the first in a two book series and it ended in a gut wrenching cliffhanger so be prepared.
I really enjoyed this read and will definitely read the next book because I’m dying to know what happens next!
If you like dark romance and fairy tale retelling you should definitely read this book!

[Krista Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark retelling of the classic Peter Pan fairytale, that very much has the vibes of “I can fix him, no really I can” in the best way.

You follow the FMC Holly, who after 3 years of being missing and no memory except small flashes in her dreams, is forced by her parents to debut into society since her sister Wendy is presumed dead and someone needs to help their family. But on the night of her debut, a stranger shows up to take her away, claiming her knew her durning her time away and knows where Wendy is and how to save her. She follows him back to never and remembers her time on the island with Kit and the lost ones, and why she left because Kit tortured and tore out Wendy’s heart. She must now convince the man she swore never to love to allow her to live and let her sister be free, though the island and Kit have changes since she fled a year ago, and they all blame her for the state everything is in now.

This was a dark, spicy and slightly aged up retelling of Peter Pan, that had elements of the classic tale, while mixing in the darkness of someone meant to be forever young, with abandonment issues and tasked to hunt evil magicians. I liked that the world building fit into the same storyline while adding additional magic to our world, and some darker parts to neverland. There was plenty of will they won’t they, I hate you but I love you passion between Holly and Kit and after that ending I can’t wait to find out what he does next. My rating 4.2/5!

Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!

[Stephanie Rhamstine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the authors for this eARC!!

This definitely takes the familiar Peter Pan world and twists it into something much darker and more unsettling. This isn’t whimsical Neverland. The forest is rotting, magic feels dangerous, and there’s a heavier atmosphere hanging over everything that gave the story a really unique vibe. I genuinely appreciated the reimagining because it felt fresh while still using elements that felt familiar.

The writing style and world-building were absolutely the standout parts for me. I loved the darker themes and the interesting twist surrounding Never and how Holly ends up there. There were a lot of ideas here that had me wanting to keep reading and discover where everything was headed.

That said, this one ended up landing more in the middle for me. Holly and I unfortunately did not click. I struggled with her character because she often felt like she wasn’t really thinking for herself, and I kept wanting more from her decisions and growth. I’m hoping that changes as the series continues because I do see potential there. Some relationships and moments especially Holly’s time with Cade felt rushed, and toward the conclusion things started moving so quickly that I found myself wishing for more explanation in certain areas.

Even with some confusion near the end, I will say that final page absolutely did its job because now I’m curious where book two is going 👀

[FantasyHuntt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: ⭐️
Genre: Dark Romance
Tropes: Found family, lovers to enemies, fairytale retelling (Peter Pan), betrayals, demigod, magic, portals, loss

Overall, I found this book to be an engaging read. I don't often dive into dark romance, but I've enjoyed some titles in this genre.

The use of flashbacks was a highlight, showing how our main characters, Kit and Holly, transitioned from love to hate. Both have strong personalities that mesh and clash in interesting ways.

We also get to meet the 'lost ones', showcasing their unique traits that made me both love and dislike them as the story progressed. Some of my favourites being Miles and Warren. While struggling and being undecided on the likes of Ava.

The book tackles themes of disrupted family dynamics and, as a dark romance, it does include some heavier themes involving physical trauma. Just a heads up to take care when reading!

The story flows well, although at times, Holly's decisions had me practically shouting at the book! Still, her character development aligns nicely with her personality, making her choices and actions justifiable.

Towards the conclusion, things felt a bit rushed, and I found myself a little confused, but the final page really tied things together and teased what's to come in future instalments.

If you're a fan of dark romance and fairytale retellings, this one's for you!

[Aneta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book left me unwell and I need the next one to put me together again. I am not dealing with how it ends, am still in shock and I really hope book two will make things better.


Holly

Holly's back in Vorana while her sister Wendy is still missing. No one knows where she is and her mother seems to blaim her for it.

Kit
Holly betrayed him in a certain way and he is desperately looking for her. Clearly Kit is Pan, the king and demigod of Never, a place where Holly has to return in order to save her sister. And to save her sister, she has to be willing to make sacrifices.

I love a good retelling and as soon as i realized that this book is a retelling of Peter Pan I jumped into it very eagerly and was not disappointed.

I must say I loved Kit as soon as he was introduced in the book.

We are also introduced to Cade who is obviously Hook. At first glimpse, he seems to be on another level of unhinged. And at second glance too. He manipulates Holly in order to get what he wants and she betrays Kit to give Cade what he asks. The betrayal has major consequences that will affect all the Lost Boys.

I need to say that I have a special place in my heart for Warren and wish he had a more prominent role in the book.

Please send book two my way as soon as possible 🙏


"A hate born from love lasted forever."

[Rachel Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK this story is WILD! Everyone is toxic, morally grey, depraved, deceptive - and I am just SO invested in the characters and what is going to happen in the second book of this duology! Thank goodness we don't have a super long wait in between books!

This is a dark, twisted, original reimagining of Peter Pan. I love the changes and what stayed the same in this one. Holly, Wendy's sister, returns to Never in hopes of saving her sister. She has a past with Kit, the demigod who rules the island, and the people she once called her found family. Now everyone hates her, for her betrayal, which she did after seeing what Kit did to Wendy.

Yall, this book was WILD. I was never quite sure what was going to happen to everyone! There is amazing tension between Holly and Kit - you never quite know when either of them are being truthful or they're being deceptive. And there is a lot of emotion in this too - learning about the characters in flashbacks to show who they were before, especially the Lost Ones (like the lost boys but with females lol)

Oh my goodness, I cannot wait to see how things will get resolved - HOW will things get resolved?!?! LOL I just don't see how we can have a happy ending here lol.

I received a copy for an instagram tour; my thoughts are my own.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Girl Who Dreamed in Thorns is a dark, Peter Pan–inspired story that leans fully into its unsettling, twisted world.

I found the tone of this book really compelling. There’s a constant sense of tension running through Holly’s journey as she searches for her sister, navigating deals, bargains, and situations that feel impossible to escape. That persistence gave the story a strong emotional thread to hold onto, even as things became more intense.

What stood out to me most was the way love is explored. Instead of being purely safe or comforting, it carries weight and risk, sometimes becoming the very thing that threatens everything. That shift felt powerful and added depth to the relationships and choices within the story.

I also really appreciated the reimagining of a familiar world. This isn’t light or whimsical, it’s darker, more brutal, and intentionally unsettling. It takes what we think we know and reshapes it into something much more complex.

Overall, I enjoyed this read and would definitely continue with the next book.

I received this book as an ARC, however, this review reflects my honest thoughts and feelings, shared voluntarily.

[Laur.chaotic.reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok so this book has ALOT of stuff happen in the 259 pages... I wasn't sure if some of it was going to come back later or just end with that quick snippet. Luckily some of it does come back around. And I am hoping more of it will come back around in Book 2!! Holly is in the "regular" world. Then she is in Never. Then she is in the lagoon, then at the camp, then on the ship. Then not on the ship. Then in the cave cells. Then not in the cave cells. Back in the lagoon. Back in the sea. So on and so far. Girl was everywhere!

None the less, I really enjoyed it! It was a fun, quick adventure. I also really love Peter Pan retellings and pirates. But I would say it is a dark retelling of a few fairytale smash-ups w/ the main focus being Peter Pan. I really liked the push and pull, and uncertainty between Kit and Holly. The constant struggle between family and love. Making choices based upon one over another - so someone is always deeply unhappy!

I am looking VERY FORWARD to reading book 2! I must know what Cade is up to. And Kit for that matter. Oh, definitely read that bonus chapter at the end. Kit not being given the luxury of the taste... lol! SOOOO GOOD!!!

[Jamaica · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

I went in sort of blind, completely forgetting what genre this was, and once I figured it out, I'll say this. I'm not usually the fantasy romance type, however... This book had me sucked in, finishing it in a day. At first, I was going to read half, finish the other half the next day. You know how it goes, you say just one more chapter, and it never happens.

I'm impressed by how it was written. The twist on Peter Pan was a pretty cool read. It definitely has some STEAMY tension in this book, had me foaming at the mouth when I thought they would finally do it. My heart did break for Kit at the end, a few tears broke free, but in the end, he still lives. Rebecca has me ready for the next book for sure, because I have to see what happens with Wendy, Cade, and Holly. Does Kit go after Holly? Does Holly return to Never? There are SO many questions that I need answers to.

If you love tension, a good plot that only keeps thickening, aaaaaaaand maybe a few tears? This is something you should definitely read.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓖𝓲𝓻𝓵 𝓦𝓱𝓸 𝓓𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓭 𝓲𝓷 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓻𝓷𝓼 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓣𝓸𝓾𝓻 & 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀

𝒢𝑒𝓃𝓇𝑒: Dark Fairytale Romance
𝒮𝑒𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓈: The Never After Duet Book 1

“𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝒷𝓇𝑜𝓀𝑒𝓃 𝓂𝑒𝒶𝓃𝓈 𝒽𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓀,”

A WALKING RED FLAG MMC and I’m here for it!! I’m sorry but I love Kit and Holly’s push-pull relationship and how they’ve built such a solid foundation and neither are ready to let go despite how hurt they both are. The pacing of this was fast which I loved and it truly kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time. I kept telling myself one more chapter in the evenings but couldn’t hold myself to it as each chapter ended wanting, no, NEEDING to know more! This Dark Peter Pan reimagining was written so beautifully, i truly fell in love and cannot wait for book 2!

𝟜.𝟝 ⭐️

Read this if you love:
🖤 Bully Romance
💜 Dark Fairytale
🖤 Lovers to Enemies
💜 Peter Pan Reimagining
🖤 Villain gets the Girl
💜 Unhinged MMC
🖤 Found Family to Enemies
💜 Dark Fairytale


A huge thank you to RR Book Tours, Rebecca Garcia and Dawn Darling for my gifted copy!

[Laura Pearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark Peter Pan retelling, this book was interesting. It cast Kit, the MMC, as both the villain and the love interest in the vein of the dark romance. Kit is flawed, vacillating between morally gray and morally black throughout the book. The FMC is Holly Darling who is beloved in Never but also torn between loyalty to her older sister Wendy and Kit and his Lost Ones.

I enjoyed this one, the pacing was good. At the start of the book, Holly doesn’t remember her time in Never so we learn about Kit through her memories and flashbacks after she returns to Never with Miles, a Lost One.

I won’t spoil the story but I will say the spice and relationship between Kit and Holly was well written and had a feeling of being hopelessly drawn to each other even when it wasn’t in their best interests.

I’m glad I read this ARC and will absolutely read the second book in this duology when it comes out.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book promises a dark Peter Pan retelling and boy did it deliver! 😱
We initially follow the POV of Holly as she is brought back into the island of Never to find her missing sister Wendy. What she initially believes to be a rescue turns out to be more of a trap and she must fight her way through the controlling ways of Kit to find her sister and get them both home.
Kit is the son of a God and controls Never with his powers. He's lost Holly once before and he refuses to let her leave again before he's made her pay for betraying him!
The book alternates between telling the story as it happens and then switching to flashbacks for both characters, this initially made me struggle to follow along but, once I realised this was how the book was to be set out, I soon got into the flow 🥰
I can't wait to see how the story continues into the next book as I feel there is so much more to unpack for these characters and they both have a lot of growth and change coming their way 🤞🏻💕

[Irma *Irma The Book Whisperer* · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was such a vibe! I was captivated from the first chapter and eager to get back to the story every time I had to stop.

Holly returns to the island of Never to find out what happened to her missing sister, Wendy, after losing her memories. The island is dark and falling apart, and she is caught between an old love who feels betrayed and a pirate who wants her help. Soon, Holly learns that love and old secrets can be more dangerous than the magic on the island.

The writing is excellent and the plot is phenomenal. The way the story starts... it lures you in. My only drawback at times was trying to connect with the main character, Holly. I liked her at the beginning of the book and was eager to see where her story would go, but no matter how much I tried, I liked Kit more! He was completely unhinged in the best way possible.

Overall, for the vibes, the worldbuilding, the writing style, and the Peter Pan references, I really enjoyed this one.

[lemmespoilyou.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the epitome of DARK in dark fantasy, with dread, betrayals, passion, gods, portals, vengeance, rage, and violence abound within Kit's realm. He is absolutely gutted because of Holly abandoning him and the Lost Ones and he has Wendy, her sister, captured and constantly tortured, so when Holly returns to get her sister, Kit humiliates her in every possible way. Kit is spiteful and full of hatred for Holly but he wants her to know he owns her, and it's intriguing and conflicting to read. Cade joins the show, who is charismatic and actually funny, but a devious Magician, so I'm not sure where I land on him yet...am I a fan? Cade and Kit are enemies and Holly is their game, and it is a vicious game they're playing. The ending is heartbreaking and wicked and I hope the sequel brings a little more peace to Kit's broken [missing] heart.

Thank you to the authors for an advanced reader copy. This review is left voluntarily.

[Jessica Hall]

DNF at 72%. I have like 80 pages left but this is becoming a 2 star read for me and I don’t like rating books that low, so I’m quitting.

This book feels like #2 in a series and all the world building and characters get explained in book 1. Except this is book 1 and there are no rules with the world building. Like it all gets made up as we go along. It makes zero sense.

I feel like this book assumes I know who the characters are…? Like literally Miles (who TF is Miles?) kidnaps her and trades her to Cade. WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE???? Like there is no explanation of some characters. Am I supposed to just know who these people are??

Ask yourself how much you like or can tolerate a bully romance. “I read Zodiac Academy” isn’t gonna be enough for this book.

Have you ever wondered how attempted drowning can be a turn on and turn into a sex scene? I certainly have never wondered this but it happens in this book.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never been so instantly hooked on a book like I was with this one. I absolutely loved the intricate magical system and how electric every character and the worlds were. Kit was dark and dangerous but also had that whole “I’ll kill anyone who hurts you besides me” energy and I ATE IT UPPPPPP. Holly wasn’t your typical FMC and totally stood her ground while also plotting against him the whole time trying to hide her feelings the whole time.

This book was sexy, whimsical, dark and I loved every page and need more!!! Anyone who enjoyed Nikki St. Crowe’s Peter Pan retellings will absolutely swoon reading his series!

If you love these tropes you need to read this book!

🧚 dark bully romance
🧚 lovers to enemies
🧚 Peter Pan meets Alice in Wonderland
🧚 morally pitch-black characters
🧚 obsession, hunger, and heartbreak

[Jasmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you author for a copy for a review.

This was such a dark retelling of Peter Pan. I’m like speechless over what happened and the ending? I need the next book to know what happens!

Holly Darling only wanted to feel loved and be loved. To be wanted. She didn’t feel that way with her mother and felt like she didn’t belong. So meeting Kit and seeing that he would be her family changed it all for her. Kit and the lost ones were her family. But would she betray Kit for her true family?

Kit was so bad. Like he had it bad for Holly and he would end the world for her —bad. Yes that’s kinda hot, but you’d think there would be limits on what you would do for someone and call that love. Not with Kit. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Are all the lost ones gone? Does kit go find Holly after breaking his heart again?

This kept me on my toes and it was just so good.