Colleen OakesWendy Darling: Volume 2: Seas (Wendy Darling, 2)

Before we begin this review, can I just say that I thought this series only had two volumes and I'm both miffed and excited for volume three: shadow? Because as exciting as it is to have more story, I was kind of hoping this would be the end so I didn't have to wait. But I suppose book #3 will be here eventually so, here's to the long wait for the finale!Well, here we are at the next installment. My first snippet of praise is that this series was divided up very well. Despite the story being cut into volumes, each volume follows an arc (so Stars covered Wendy's time on pan island while Seas covers her time with the pirates) which means the volumes feel like there's a real focus and individual tale to be told, so by the end of the book there's feeling that the arc is wrapped up and we're given enough at the end to leave us hanging at the start of the next arc. I wouldn't call it a cliffhanger so much as I'd call it a teaser for what's to come.One very good development in this book is the character development. Wendy started out pretty meek and obedient in Stars and by the end we see her start growing a spine and being brave. In Seas, she's expanding upon this even more, but without sacrificing all the qualities that made her good. She's still polite and dedicated to her family, but now she's changed. She's seen and done things that have affected her, causing inner turmoil and forcing her to think and act at times in ways she would never have considered before all the horrors of Pan's world. Her journey from polite Edwardian girl to home-bound survivor on a pirate ship is interesting and I felt it was well planned out. I have high hopes for who Wendy will become in book #3 after those last few pages. Colleen Oakes has definitely given a new strength and fire and dimension to the character of Wendy Darling. Captain Hook and Peter Pan are also equally well fleshed out as we learn more about both, watching Peter fall deeper into the role of villain while Hook rises in our minds from villain to anti-hero, not quite good, but not completely wicked either. Overall I'm quite pleased with the character development we're given in the volume.As for the story... I'm sure you can imagine that with this volume's focus being on Wendy's journey after escaping, after rejecting Peter and incurring his wrath and becoming involved with Hook and his pirates that there would be a lot of action and some really tantalizing scenes with darkness and deception and blood and pain. It starts off with a sinister punch with a prologue, but then when the focus shifts back to Wendy it takes a few pages before we get anywhere since this is a new setting that needs introduction before we can just get into all that juicy, rich stuff. I wouldn't say that the book is slow by any means though; at 269 pages it's a pretty quick read, but this is one of the rare cases where I don't feel like it's length is a downside. It's well written enough with a satisfying balance between being detailed and full but propelling the story along its way.We also start to get a wider scope of things; Stars had a pretty narrow focus, only touching on Neverland as a whole here and there, but now we're really getting into it with the introduction of mermaids and the natives and the pirates and peeking more into fairies and magic. There's more backstory given, we get a good dose of Wendy remembering things in London like memories of Booth (also did I mention that I am really happy that Wendy recognized that Peter was bad news and holds onto her healthy feelings for Booth? I have read far too many books where the heroine stays with the unhealthy, abusive one and leaves the good one, so when an author writes a heroine who doesn't fall for that "he's damaged so he needs to be loved" nonsense that traps girls into thinking it's noble and expected to love and endure someone who mistreats them and that they can't forgo such men in favor of healthy, happy relationships). Things also are starting to feel darker and more violent; we only touched upon it a few times in Stars, but in this one it seems like the whole book has shadows cast over it, some places darker than others.There's some sensitive subject matter to be aware of; rape is mentioned several times (though it doesn't happen to Wendy nor are there scenes depicting it, but it is mentioned and inferred that its something the pirates do) and there's of course general violence and murder. These things are to be expected in a book about pirates, but since this is YA I just wanted to make sure potential readers are aware that this book is a bit higher on the maturity scale than the first one.I don't have any real complaints to list. It's an engaging addition to the series and I look forward to the next one.*It's late so I might return later to write some more stuff! But in short, if you liked the first volume but just wanted some more darkness and to see the plot get more complex then you'll love reading Wendy Darling Volume Two: Seas!

I'm reviewing out of order, but I really liked this trilogy. The first volume had beauty twisted dark. The second volume reversed the land for sea. The third shifted worlds. It was a great read, each with impressive high spots. Just as Neverland was described beautifully, piracy and the boats were captivating. Not in an overly-glorified way, per se, although Captain Hook has dashing, softening moments, but like a vivid portrait can capture a scene and draw one in. I really enjoyed this book and quickly purchased the next one.

This series is fabulous this is the best book I’ve read in a long time and I read a lot. Adventure, true courage and beauty abound. Wendy’s life on the pirate ship under hooks guidance takes a complete turn. Learn about Peter and his arrival in neverland. Peters binding with the shadow, his betrayal of the fairies. Who is good and who is bad. Who are hooks spies. You will love it.

Admittedly, I thought this book was slow at first, but boy, did it speed up and take me on a roller coaster of emotion!Starting off immediately after the events of Book 1: Stars, we pick up with Wendy Darling and Hook, and the story that follows takes us through amazing worldbuilding that deepens Peter Pan in ways I didn't think possible, and opens new mysteries!! I'm looking forward to book 3!

In this second book in the series of the Peter Pan retelling, Colleen Oakes gives us the great pleasure of diving back into Neverland, where Peter is a narcissist and Captain Hook is strangely likeable. We see Wendy grow in mental fortitude throughout the story - a young woman learning to stand on her own two feet and analyze the situation - a great role model for young female readers. I'm glad I had put off getting the second book in this series, because now I can dive right into the third!

I was hooked from the first chapter and was able to read the entire book quickly. A good followup to 'Stars' and continuation in the Wendy Darling Series. I liked this book even better than the first! More character development, adventure, and twists and turns in Neverland. This is definitely not your childhood Peter Pan story.

I enjoyed the first book but Wendy really comes to life in this one. I couldn't put it down. Great character development. Perfect pacing. Big emotions.

This series is SOO creative and beautifully written. I can't wait to get my hands on the third book.

I'm in love with literally everything in this book. I'm in love with Wendy Darling. It's such a pleasure to watch her grown and learn, to find herself more and more. And it was so amazing to meet Hook and to see more of Neverland and the people actually living there. The book is clearly setting up a big battle, but it does so brilliantly. The atmosphere is just so wonderful. I can feel, smell and see every little part of Neverland. I can't wait to see what happens in the last book!

Los personajes tienen un toque único siempre hay un giro inesperado lo que hace que cualquier cosa puede pasar. Es un poco desesperante la intriga que deja el final y sinceramente no puedo esperar a leer el tercer libro aunque ya falta poco.

We already know Peter to be an unreliable narrator, so it's no surprise that Hook is not so much a monster but just a man. Pirates, however, aren't always the best people to trust so Wendy has to navigate a tentative agreement with Captain Hook, avoiding Peter, finding a safe place on the ship, and keeping herself and Michael alive. It's quite fun to read, to be honest.While STARS explored Neverland itself, SEAS explores the history of its inhabitants. What really happened between Hook and Peter? How did Hook come to Neverland? What happened to the Pilvinuvo Indians? What, other than Think, was giving Peter the power he had?There is so much talking in this book and, unfortunately, a lot of it is info-dumps. Granted they're necessary info-dumps, but I ended up skimming some of them. Whoops. On the other hand, the Darling siblings' interactions with the pirates of the Sudden Night were always fun, and the crew's growing acceptance of the both of them was nice too. The growing friendship between Hook and Wendy is a thing to behold, and I enjoyed a lot of their interactions and observations of each other (when there weren't some of the longer info-dumps anyway).Wendy develops more as a character in this one. She's understandably on guard for a lot of the novel, particularly in the beginning where she's surrounded by pirates and the ever present threat of Peter Pan is looming in the distance, but she gains more confidence as things go on. By the end, she's taking steps to save her family, bring down Peter, and fix what's happening in Neverland. I'm not saying that she develops as a character just because she stabs Peter at one point in the novel (which is a bonus), but more because she becomes more confident in herself and what she can do. She's comfortable teasing people, giving her opinion, and standing up for herself. It's great to see in comparison to the more timid and subdued Wendy we saw in STARS.There are a lot of new characters in SEAS, and I love almost all of them. Fermina, however, is one of my favourites; she's so nice to Wendy and their interactions made me smile a lot. She brings up some interesting points as to why there aren't any Lost Girls, and just how far Peter will go when someone denies him—not that Wendy needed the reminder, but it leads towards something major for the plot.Unlike my hopes, Abbott wasn't in this one too much. I was devastated, but Oxley's appearance definitely made up for it❤︎ I missed my Lost Boy Generals.I have to say that the end of this one was better than the end of STARS, and I can't wait to see what happens in SHADOW.

Wonderful!

Me atrapo desde el primer tomo y mis ganas por este libro me llevo a comprarlo en ingles en vez de esperarme a que saliera en español, muy recomendable y ansiosa por el tercer tomo