I have been dyyyyiiinnnng to buy and read this book since the moment I saw it’s gorgeous cover! I mean, how GORGEOUS, right?! **heart eyes** Now, after having the book for over six months… I’ve FINALLY gotten around to reading it!
The truth about Neverland is far more dangerous than a fairy tale.
Claire Kenton believes the world is too dark for magic to be real–since her twin brother was stolen away as a child. Now Claire’s desperate search points to London… and a boy who shouldn’t exist.
Peter Pan is having a beastly time getting back to Neverland. Grounded in London and hunted by his own Lost Boys, Peter searches for the last hope of restoring his crumbling island: a lass with magic in her veins.
The girl who fears her own destiny is on a collision course with the boy who never wanted to grow up. The truth behind this fairy tale is about to unravel everything Claire thought she knew about Peter Pan–and herself.
Dust ended up being different from what I’d expected in some ways, but I did really love it! I was intrigued by Claire from the start. I had so many questions about her and her dust, just like she did, I suppose, and I was eager to learn the answers. I always had a big crush on Peter Pan as a little girl LOL, so Kara’s Peter endeared himself to me from the start. His inner thoughts were hilarious, and I loved how Kara combined the boyish thoughts and actions of the traditional Peter Pan with a more grown-up version–you got a good sense of his internal struggle between growing up and staying a little boy forever. Sometimes he irritated me or was downright terrible, but I was still rooting for him all the way to the end. I was hoping for a romance between Clarie and Peter, and Kara delivered. **handclaps excitedly** That flying kiss, though!! **sigh** You just have to read it to see what I mean LOL.
I loved how Kara blended aspects of the Disney version and the original fairytale into her story, making it all feel seamless and real. She also perfectly balanced the light, happy side of Neverland with the darker elements that are not as familiar to most casual Peter Pan fans but are actually present in the original story.
The plot is one of the things that was a bit unexpected for me. It didn’t feel slow and I definitely never felt bored, but I guess I expected it to move even faster, with even more action and adventure?? Instead, it was a little simpler than I thought it would be–or perhaps straight-forward is the better word. But none of this is necessarily a bad thing. The story was still perfectly delightful! The only true complaints I’d say I had were 1.) things felt a tad melodramatic at times and 2.) I found myself a little lost on a number of occasions, feeling like maybe I’d missed some information somewhere (which I might have).
This is definitely just part one of a larger story, so if you read this book you’re going to want to move on to book two to find out what happens next. I have so many more questions that still need answering, so I really can’t wait to read Shadow. I’m eager to see what exactly has become of Neverland (is it “broken” and “torn apart” literally or figuratively or both?) and to see Peter in his “natural habitat”. Plus, I think the full brilliance and beauty of this story will best be appreciated when you can look at the duology as a whole.
If you’re a fan of shows like Once Upon a Time, or love Peter Pan or fairytale retellings/continuations then Dust is a must read, for sure! 4.5/5 Stars!
PS: I couldn’t help but think what an awesome movie/movie franchise or tv series this would make! I mean, it would be television/film GOLD!
