The Child Thief by Brom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'll say this: I was consistently on edge and low-key horrified throughout this novel. This isn't a gore-fest, but a deeply twisted psychological nightmare masquerading as a DIFFERENT Peter Pan.

Or even, as the author pointed out and I can personally attest to, having read the original--it's now a deeply explored fleshing out of the real subtext, the core realness of being heartless as a child.

But Brom takes it so much further. The stakes, the fleshed out Avalon, the fae, even the flesh-eating captain stuck for 300 years in this sideways world, is gloriously conceived here. I can also attest to having my emotions tugged wildly between attraction to the life, deep revulsion, close sympathy, and deep revulsion over and over again. It's quite a ride.

Brom is one hell of an author. Just saying that this is a retelling of Peter Pan ignores just how much further he takes the world and characters. What we think we know is just the launching point. Brom just takes it all the way.

Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.

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