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A review by visceralreads
Tink and Wendy by Kelly Ann Jacobson
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.5
i feel bad for the low rating so I'm gonna let the book marinate long enough for me to review it thoroughly
okay, I had high hopes for this book because a) a peter pan retelling! and b) tink and wendy!!! However the story just wasn't enough for this queer adaptation of peter pan. The dual timelines ('Then' and 'Now') were interesting at first, but it became confusing quickly as I had to keep track of what was happening in the Past Past when Tink and Peter met Wendy, the Past when Peter and Wendy were a thing, the Past Past Past when Tink and Peter were in neverland, the Now where Tink is talking to Wendy's granddaughter, Hope (which is easy to follow through, at least), and the random bits of neverland/fairy lore by the historian (the one who chose Tink to be peter's guardian).
Other than the messy timelines, one thing I really disliked reading about was Tink and Wendy. Don't get me wrong, i'm queer myself, but this is such an injustice to what tink and wendy could've truly been. There's too much telling (tink is attracted to wendy and very explicitly stated that she loves wendy because peter was an awful brat or something) and not enough showing! I don't get to see how wendy and tink developed mutual feelings for each other through their actions (other than that one time when wendy gave tink a leaf) and the narration does absolutely nothing for tink's yearning for wendy. I'm so disappointed when it's all a happy ending in the end and i'm just forced to accept that somehow tink and wendy and together now.
Additionally, peter pan was an astronomical jerk. I've never felt so annoyed by peter when reading this retelling.
Two things I liked though were 1) Tink's personality and 2) the neverland lore:
1) I like this Tink very much, and I was actually surprised that she smoked and drank because i didn't expect that, but it somehow fits her. This Tink stayed true to the original - witty, fierce, jealous, full of mischief, and loyal - but I really love how Tink here was so enjoyable and easy to read. I just love her
2) Also the neverland lore is pretty cool! I liked reading about the fairies and the mermaids and the forgetfulness curse on the Lost Boys and how Neverland works! Although it does little to advance the plot sometimes, it's still very interesting
Take my review with a whole bag of salt though, if you love Peter Pan retellings and/or sapphic romance, go ahead. I was just expecting more from this book :(
okay, I had high hopes for this book because a) a peter pan retelling! and b) tink and wendy!!! However the story just wasn't enough for this queer adaptation of peter pan. The dual timelines ('Then' and 'Now') were interesting at first, but it became confusing quickly as I had to keep track of what was happening in the Past Past when Tink and Peter met Wendy, the Past when Peter and Wendy were a thing, the Past Past Past when Tink and Peter were in neverland, the Now where Tink is talking to Wendy's granddaughter, Hope (which is easy to follow through, at least), and the random bits of neverland/fairy lore by the historian (the one who chose Tink to be peter's guardian).
Other than the messy timelines, one thing I really disliked reading about was Tink and Wendy. Don't get me wrong, i'm queer myself, but this is such an injustice to what tink and wendy could've truly been. There's too much telling (tink is attracted to wendy and very explicitly stated that she loves wendy because peter was an awful brat or something) and not enough showing! I don't get to see how wendy and tink developed mutual feelings for each other through their actions (other than that one time when wendy gave tink a leaf) and the narration does absolutely nothing for tink's yearning for wendy. I'm so disappointed when it's all a happy ending in the end and i'm just forced to accept that somehow tink and wendy and together now.
Additionally, peter pan was an astronomical jerk. I've never felt so annoyed by peter when reading this retelling.
Two things I liked though were 1) Tink's personality and 2) the neverland lore:
1) I like this Tink very much, and I was actually surprised that she smoked and drank because i didn't expect that, but it somehow fits her. This Tink stayed true to the original - witty, fierce, jealous, full of mischief, and loyal - but I really love how Tink here was so enjoyable and easy to read. I just love her
2) Also the neverland lore is pretty cool! I liked reading about the fairies and the mermaids and the forgetfulness curse on the Lost Boys and how Neverland works! Although it does little to advance the plot sometimes, it's still very interesting
Take my review with a whole bag of salt though, if you love Peter Pan retellings and/or sapphic romance, go ahead. I was just expecting more from this book :(