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It Came from Neverland
Peter Pan meets Stephen King's It in this twisted horror retelling of a classic childhood fairytale set during WWI.
1914, Wendy Darling works by day as a school teacher and by night, she assists soldiers who have returned home from the Western Front. There is one mysterious patient who despite all the care they’ve given him, is in a deep sleep, unable to wake up. One night, when he murmurs the words “Peter Pan,” Wendy is thrown back to a darker time, one that she wishes she could forget.
When one of her students goes missing, it brings back memories of when children went missing and were later found murdered in London many years ago. Wendy believes that Peter Pan, the entity that she believed killed those children, is back. She and her brothers had a close encounter with Peter Pan, after all. But her brothers only remember Peter Pan and Neverland as a fantasy of childhood games.
When another child goes missing and signs start to point to Wendy, Scotland Yard digs into old reports, finding that Wendy knew the names of all the children who had been killed. As Wendy tries to prove her innocence, she also has to find a way to stop Peter Pan once and for all.
1914, Wendy Darling works by day as a school teacher and by night, she assists soldiers who have returned home from the Western Front. There is one mysterious patient who despite all the care they’ve given him, is in a deep sleep, unable to wake up. One night, when he murmurs the words “Peter Pan,” Wendy is thrown back to a darker time, one that she wishes she could forget.
When one of her students goes missing, it brings back memories of when children went missing and were later found murdered in London many years ago. Wendy believes that Peter Pan, the entity that she believed killed those children, is back. She and her brothers had a close encounter with Peter Pan, after all. But her brothers only remember Peter Pan and Neverland as a fantasy of childhood games.
When another child goes missing and signs start to point to Wendy, Scotland Yard digs into old reports, finding that Wendy knew the names of all the children who had been killed. As Wendy tries to prove her innocence, she also has to find a way to stop Peter Pan once and for all.
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 2026
About the author
Cynthia Pelayo
68 books815 followersCynthia Pelayo is a Bram Stoker Award winning and International Latino Book Award winning author and poet.
Pelayo writes fairy tales that blend genre and explore concepts of grief, mourning, and cycles of violence. She is the author of Loteria, Santa Muerte, The Missing, Poems of My Night, Into the Forest and All the Way Through, Children of Chicago, Crime Scene, The Shoemaker’s Magician, as well as dozens of standalone short stories and poems.
Loteria, which was her MFA in Writing thesis at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, was re-released to praise with Esquire calling it one of the ‘Best Horror Books of 2023.’ Santa Muerte and The Missing, her young adult horror novels were each nominated for International Latino Book Awards. Poems of My Night was nominated for an Elgin Award. Into the Forest and All the Way Through was nominated for an Elgin Award and was also nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Poetry Collection. Children of Chicago was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award in Superior Achievement in a Novel and won an International Latino Book Award for Best Mystery. Crime Scene won the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Poetry Collection. The Shoemaker’s Magician has been released to praise with Library Journal awarding it a starred review.
Her forthcoming novel, The Forgotten Sisters, will be released by Thomas and Mercer in 2024 and is an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid.”
Her works have been reviewed in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, LA Review of Books, and more.
Pelayo writes fairy tales that blend genre and explore concepts of grief, mourning, and cycles of violence. She is the author of Loteria, Santa Muerte, The Missing, Poems of My Night, Into the Forest and All the Way Through, Children of Chicago, Crime Scene, The Shoemaker’s Magician, as well as dozens of standalone short stories and poems.
Loteria, which was her MFA in Writing thesis at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, was re-released to praise with Esquire calling it one of the ‘Best Horror Books of 2023.’ Santa Muerte and The Missing, her young adult horror novels were each nominated for International Latino Book Awards. Poems of My Night was nominated for an Elgin Award. Into the Forest and All the Way Through was nominated for an Elgin Award and was also nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Poetry Collection. Children of Chicago was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award in Superior Achievement in a Novel and won an International Latino Book Award for Best Mystery. Crime Scene won the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Poetry Collection. The Shoemaker’s Magician has been released to praise with Library Journal awarding it a starred review.
Her forthcoming novel, The Forgotten Sisters, will be released by Thomas and Mercer in 2024 and is an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid.”
Her works have been reviewed in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, LA Review of Books, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 676 reviews
May 15, 2026
It Came from the Nether Land by Cynthia Pelayo is a stunning blend of psychological horror, dark fantasy, and gothic fairy-tale retelling that completely consumed me from beginning to end. This eerie reimagining of Peter Pan takes everything familiar about childhood fantasy and transforms it into something haunting, unsettling, and unforgettable.
The story explores grief, trauma, fear, and the dangerous comfort of escaping reality. What begins as a beautifully mysterious tale slowly unravels into something darker and far more psychological. The tension builds so naturally that I found myself unable to put it down, needing to know where the story would lead next.
What truly made this book extraordinary for me was Cynthia Pelayo’s writing style. Her prose is mesmerizing. Every scene feels alive. I could hear sounds echoing through the darkness, smell decay and rain in the air, and feel the chilling atmosphere wrapping around each page. It takes incredible skill to make a reader experience a story through all the senses, and Cynthia Pelayo delivers this effortlessly. Her descriptions are poetic yet deeply unsettling, creating a dreamlike horror that lingers long after reading.
The characters were another highlight. They felt emotionally raw and authentic, carrying pain and vulnerability that made their journeys feel real. Every interaction added another layer to the growing psychological unease, and I became deeply invested in what would happen to them. No character felt unnecessary—each one contributed to the haunting atmosphere.
What I loved most was how the horror was handled. This is not a book that relies on gore or jump scares. The fear comes from atmosphere, emotion, and the slow unraveling of the mind. It creeps under your skin and stays there, creating a constant sense of unease that becomes almost suffocating in the best way.
And then there’s the ending—absolutely brilliant. Beautifully crafted, emotional, shocking, and deeply satisfying, it brings everything together in a way that left me speechless.
It Came from the Nether Lands is one of those rare books that is both terrifying and beautiful at the same time. Cynthia Pelayo has created something darkly magical, emotionally powerful, and completely immersive. If you love psychological horror with rich atmosphere, unforgettable writing, and fairy tales twisted into nightmares, this book deserves a place at the top of your reading list.
Thank you NetGalley, Crooked Lane Publishers, and Cynthia Pelayo for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing Date: June 9th, 2026
The story explores grief, trauma, fear, and the dangerous comfort of escaping reality. What begins as a beautifully mysterious tale slowly unravels into something darker and far more psychological. The tension builds so naturally that I found myself unable to put it down, needing to know where the story would lead next.
What truly made this book extraordinary for me was Cynthia Pelayo’s writing style. Her prose is mesmerizing. Every scene feels alive. I could hear sounds echoing through the darkness, smell decay and rain in the air, and feel the chilling atmosphere wrapping around each page. It takes incredible skill to make a reader experience a story through all the senses, and Cynthia Pelayo delivers this effortlessly. Her descriptions are poetic yet deeply unsettling, creating a dreamlike horror that lingers long after reading.
The characters were another highlight. They felt emotionally raw and authentic, carrying pain and vulnerability that made their journeys feel real. Every interaction added another layer to the growing psychological unease, and I became deeply invested in what would happen to them. No character felt unnecessary—each one contributed to the haunting atmosphere.
What I loved most was how the horror was handled. This is not a book that relies on gore or jump scares. The fear comes from atmosphere, emotion, and the slow unraveling of the mind. It creeps under your skin and stays there, creating a constant sense of unease that becomes almost suffocating in the best way.
And then there’s the ending—absolutely brilliant. Beautifully crafted, emotional, shocking, and deeply satisfying, it brings everything together in a way that left me speechless.
It Came from the Nether Lands is one of those rare books that is both terrifying and beautiful at the same time. Cynthia Pelayo has created something darkly magical, emotionally powerful, and completely immersive. If you love psychological horror with rich atmosphere, unforgettable writing, and fairy tales twisted into nightmares, this book deserves a place at the top of your reading list.
Thank you NetGalley, Crooked Lane Publishers, and Cynthia Pelayo for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing Date: June 9th, 2026
August 9, 2026
Goodreads challenge
Not all fairy tales have a happily ever after. Some have murder, trauma, creepy forests, and a Peter, who desperately needs anger management.
First of all… THIS SETTING. The heebie jeebies showed up early and decided they were staying for the entire book.
And Peter?
Sir. What happened to you?!
This is NOT the happy go lucky, sprinkle some fairy dust, and fly away Peter we remember.
This Peter is dark. Malicious. Murderous. Unhinged.
Basically, he looked at Neverland and said, “You know what this place needs? More psychological trauma.”
He isn’t what dreams are made of.
He’s what nightmares wake up screaming about.
It’s been 12 years since Wendy Darling and her brothers escaped Peter’s clutches.
But Peter hasn’t forgotten.
Oh no.
He’s back.
And he is PISSED.
Because Wendy broke a promise.
And Peter apparently believes that forgiveness is for people who have never heard of revenge.
Now Wendy has to pay.
So if you’re looking for a cute little retelling with happy thoughts, fairy dust, and wholesome adventures…
RUN.
Because this ain’t that Peter.
This Peter brought the trauma, chose violence, and apparently left his happy thoughts somewhere in Neverland.
Check this out!
Not all fairy tales have a happily ever after. Some have murder, trauma, creepy forests, and a Peter, who desperately needs anger management.
First of all… THIS SETTING. The heebie jeebies showed up early and decided they were staying for the entire book.
And Peter?
Sir. What happened to you?!
This is NOT the happy go lucky, sprinkle some fairy dust, and fly away Peter we remember.
This Peter is dark. Malicious. Murderous. Unhinged.
Basically, he looked at Neverland and said, “You know what this place needs? More psychological trauma.”
He isn’t what dreams are made of.
He’s what nightmares wake up screaming about.
It’s been 12 years since Wendy Darling and her brothers escaped Peter’s clutches.
But Peter hasn’t forgotten.
Oh no.
He’s back.
And he is PISSED.
Because Wendy broke a promise.
And Peter apparently believes that forgiveness is for people who have never heard of revenge.
Now Wendy has to pay.
So if you’re looking for a cute little retelling with happy thoughts, fairy dust, and wholesome adventures…
RUN.
Because this ain’t that Peter.
This Peter brought the trauma, chose violence, and apparently left his happy thoughts somewhere in Neverland.
Check this out!
June 20, 2026
4.5 Stars
Have you ever wondered what happened to the Darling family after their return from Neverland?
Wendy works as a school teacher at a home for children orphaned by the war. Unfortunately, she is still affected by the trauma of her time in Neverland. The stories that are told are all fictionalized, and in actuality, it was a complete nightmare. When another child goes missing, Wendy is convinced Peter took them and is determined to get them back, even if it means going back to Neverland.
This was definitely an interesting, creepy take on the traditional fairy tale. I dare to say I like this version better. My only quibble would be that based on the blurb, I had a different interpretation of certain things, specifically Wendy’s involvement with the missing children. Cryptic, I know. That aside, I really did enjoy this dark take on the classic.
Have you ever wondered what happened to the Darling family after their return from Neverland?
Wendy works as a school teacher at a home for children orphaned by the war. Unfortunately, she is still affected by the trauma of her time in Neverland. The stories that are told are all fictionalized, and in actuality, it was a complete nightmare. When another child goes missing, Wendy is convinced Peter took them and is determined to get them back, even if it means going back to Neverland.
This was definitely an interesting, creepy take on the traditional fairy tale. I dare to say I like this version better. My only quibble would be that based on the blurb, I had a different interpretation of certain things, specifically Wendy’s involvement with the missing children. Cryptic, I know. That aside, I really did enjoy this dark take on the classic.
Read
May 27, 2026I always thought Peter Pan felt more sinister than magical! Thank you, Cynthia Pelayo, for centering Wendy's story on the other side of Neverland and exploring the nightmare of knowing his legacy of trauma isn't over. Classic book lovers and horror fans, this is for us.
July 13, 2026
Having only dipped my toes into the horror genre, I'm still discovering which styles resonate with me, and It Came From the Never Land seemed like an intriguing story to explore next. Reimagining Peter Pan as a gothic horror novel is a clever concept, especially when you consider that the original story already has a slightly sinister edge beneath its fairy-tale surface.
The atmosphere was easily the strongest part of the novel. Wartime London provides the perfect backdrop, and Cynthia Pelayo creates a haunting world filled with shadows, dreams and missing children. Although I only knew the basics of the original Peter Pan story, I still enjoyed seeing its familiar characters and ideas twisted into something much darker, and I imagine readers who know the source material well will find even more to unpack.
As the story progressed, though, I found myself admiring it more than connecting with it. The repeated references to shadows and tapping gradually became less effective, and the dreamlike style didn't quite click with me at times. While I was curious to see how Wendy would save the children in her care, it wasn't until the final act that I became fully invested in her story. There were flashes of the horror I was hoping for, particularly one unsettling scene involving crows that ended up being the creepiest moment in the novel. Even so, I was left wanting a little more by the end.
Although this didn't completely win me over, I'm still glad I stepped outside my comfort zone. Every horror novel I read gives me a better sense of what I enjoy as a reader, and this one has encouraged me to keep exploring different corners of the genre. It may not have been the right fit for me, but I can certainly appreciate its atmosphere, originality and the fresh perspective it brings to a classic story.
The atmosphere was easily the strongest part of the novel. Wartime London provides the perfect backdrop, and Cynthia Pelayo creates a haunting world filled with shadows, dreams and missing children. Although I only knew the basics of the original Peter Pan story, I still enjoyed seeing its familiar characters and ideas twisted into something much darker, and I imagine readers who know the source material well will find even more to unpack.
As the story progressed, though, I found myself admiring it more than connecting with it. The repeated references to shadows and tapping gradually became less effective, and the dreamlike style didn't quite click with me at times. While I was curious to see how Wendy would save the children in her care, it wasn't until the final act that I became fully invested in her story. There were flashes of the horror I was hoping for, particularly one unsettling scene involving crows that ended up being the creepiest moment in the novel. Even so, I was left wanting a little more by the end.
Although this didn't completely win me over, I'm still glad I stepped outside my comfort zone. Every horror novel I read gives me a better sense of what I enjoy as a reader, and this one has encouraged me to keep exploring different corners of the genre. It may not have been the right fit for me, but I can certainly appreciate its atmosphere, originality and the fresh perspective it brings to a classic story.
May 12, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane for my pre-release copy of Cynthia Pelayo's It Came from Neverland. Below is my honest review.
I'm a bit disappointed. This one had such an intriguing premise, but the execution was quite lacking. The stakes never really felt high. The plot dragged until the last 20%, and I almost gave up multiple times. I'm glad I didn't because I enjoyed parts of the story, but it was a slog.
The characters were kinda shallow and under-developed. There was talk of an entity that made Peter what he is, but then it's never mentioned again when they're discussing how to stop Peter for good... what's stopping the entity from creating another Peter?
There were SO many typos. SO SO SO many. And the shifts from current reality to a memory of time in Neverland and back weren't really indicated, so all of a sudden mid-page you'd be thrust into a conversation that was a memory being relived, but nothing told you that. It was jarring.
The "happy ending" part was awkward and cringy as well.
Two stars, meh, and I hate saying that about any book.
I'm a bit disappointed. This one had such an intriguing premise, but the execution was quite lacking. The stakes never really felt high. The plot dragged until the last 20%, and I almost gave up multiple times. I'm glad I didn't because I enjoyed parts of the story, but it was a slog.
The characters were kinda shallow and under-developed. There was talk of an entity that made Peter what he is, but then it's never mentioned again when they're discussing how to stop Peter for good... what's stopping the entity from creating another Peter?
There were SO many typos. SO SO SO many. And the shifts from current reality to a memory of time in Neverland and back weren't really indicated, so all of a sudden mid-page you'd be thrust into a conversation that was a memory being relived, but nothing told you that. It was jarring.
The "happy ending" part was awkward and cringy as well.
Two stars, meh, and I hate saying that about any book.
July 21, 2026
So good! The comparison to It is a great one. I think I'll be afraid of Peter Pan for the rest of my life. Peter was absolutely giving Pennywise vibes. Such a cool mesh of historical horror/fantasy. A fantastic retelling.
June 27, 2026
This was a creeper!! First of all I love Peter Pan, okay. I knew he was demonic, I mean a boy who never grows up, last name Pan and he can fly. Yeah serious red flags, but just like Wendy I would have jumped out that window with him too LOL😂 Then comes the aftermath and that’s where this story starts and sh@t gets real dark, twisted and quite creepy. Peter is all together something different from nightmares and obsessed with Wendy in ways that will make your skin crawl.
What I loved the most was the art of storytelling here. A lot of detail went into cracking your imagination open and teasing your senses. I’m not gonna lie I had to side check myself a couple of times thinking I seen something out the corner of my eye 😂😂 Yes there was a lot left to be desire here and I liked the fact that there was no happily ever after when the Darling children returned home and people got wind of their story and the going on’s in Neverland.
I truly enjoyed the ride even with it lacking in areas where it could have given more, and then bringing in things that made no sense. It was a fantastic story and if you like a little horror with your fantasy and a thing for Peter Pan, check this one out. This one will give you some thrills and chills and for that I say….Thank you!
What I loved the most was the art of storytelling here. A lot of detail went into cracking your imagination open and teasing your senses. I’m not gonna lie I had to side check myself a couple of times thinking I seen something out the corner of my eye 😂😂 Yes there was a lot left to be desire here and I liked the fact that there was no happily ever after when the Darling children returned home and people got wind of their story and the going on’s in Neverland.
I truly enjoyed the ride even with it lacking in areas where it could have given more, and then bringing in things that made no sense. It was a fantastic story and if you like a little horror with your fantasy and a thing for Peter Pan, check this one out. This one will give you some thrills and chills and for that I say….Thank you!
June 21, 2026
1.5 rounded up as there are worse books than these. And there were 3 mildly interesting chapters.
This was a bit of an oddball for me.
It is a dark Peter Pan retelling, with the Orphanage vibes which is catnip to me.
I love Peter Pan as a thief of children, a dark figure: because what else can you call a being that never grows up, knocks at your children’s windows and spirits them away to a land where no one grows up. Sounds awfully like NOS4A2. But wait. It gets better. Shadows move of their own accord, and can sneak around you. If that is not nightmare fuel, I don’t know what is!
Now, about this tale. I loved the setting and the bones of the tale.
The initial part was intriguing but it all went downhill from there. The part that kept throwing me off was how were so many weird things happening so often to be just swept under the rug. I get that Wendy wouldn’t be believed, but how were all these happenings ignored by everyone there?? Also the prose got annoying. Instead of slow and dreamy, I got deliberately vague and meandering.
The characters were weirdly underdeveloped for such a rich background. Wendy is grown up and caring for other children. No one believes her tale, not even her parents, especially after JM Barrie in the same universe created Peter Pan: the cute version that people love better.
That’s it.
That’s the premise and that is her whole arc - where we start with and leave her, though we spend most of the tale with her. We hardly explore anything about her except that she has faced horrors. Michael and John just exist. We know of them, have one chapter with them. They all have done something and maybe need to do something again that might dispel the evil but we stall and stall for no apparent reason than to get to some predetermined page count.
We have some children at Marigold House, but everyone there is pretty forgettable. Also the deep rooted togetherness that children display - which usually is the fuel for such stories - is glaringly absent. Every other character is a cardboard cutout, just there.
The writing is poor and feels overdone to be memorable but ends up repetitive. There is slow burn and there is meandering slog.
The crux: so you don’t have to.
The lore was so convoluted and dull I was just sad I had to read so much to get at this above tripe.
Reading the story is you telling the bunch of kids at a haunted house to run/not split up/do something. Just here it was just “do something” rather than going through bleary motions of repetitive nothings.
This was a bit of an oddball for me.
It is a dark Peter Pan retelling, with the Orphanage vibes which is catnip to me.
I love Peter Pan as a thief of children, a dark figure: because what else can you call a being that never grows up, knocks at your children’s windows and spirits them away to a land where no one grows up. Sounds awfully like NOS4A2. But wait. It gets better. Shadows move of their own accord, and can sneak around you. If that is not nightmare fuel, I don’t know what is!
Now, about this tale. I loved the setting and the bones of the tale.
The initial part was intriguing but it all went downhill from there. The part that kept throwing me off was how were so many weird things happening so often to be just swept under the rug. I get that Wendy wouldn’t be believed, but how were all these happenings ignored by everyone there?? Also the prose got annoying. Instead of slow and dreamy, I got deliberately vague and meandering.
The characters were weirdly underdeveloped for such a rich background. Wendy is grown up and caring for other children. No one believes her tale, not even her parents, especially after JM Barrie in the same universe created Peter Pan: the cute version that people love better.
That’s it.
That’s the premise and that is her whole arc - where we start with and leave her, though we spend most of the tale with her. We hardly explore anything about her except that she has faced horrors. Michael and John just exist. We know of them, have one chapter with them. They all have done something and maybe need to do something again that might dispel the evil but we stall and stall for no apparent reason than to get to some predetermined page count.
We have some children at Marigold House, but everyone there is pretty forgettable. Also the deep rooted togetherness that children display - which usually is the fuel for such stories - is glaringly absent. Every other character is a cardboard cutout, just there.
The writing is poor and feels overdone to be memorable but ends up repetitive. There is slow burn and there is meandering slog.
The crux: so you don’t have to.
The lore was so convoluted and dull I was just sad I had to read so much to get at this above tripe.
Reading the story is you telling the bunch of kids at a haunted house to run/not split up/do something. Just here it was just “do something” rather than going through bleary motions of repetitive nothings.
August 2, 2026
🎧Audiobook/Book Review🎧
This is a retelling of Peter Pan and holy hell, is it dark! I have to say this is my favorite retelling to date. Dear gawd, and every time Peter said “Wendy Darling” it made my skin crawl. 👀👀👀👀👀 We all know the original story is about how Peter steals children and takes them to his world. We know some don’t make it out.
It’s 1914, and Wendy is living the nightmare again. One of her students goes missing. Can she stop Peter once and for all?
This audiobook was phenomenal. The female and male narrators are UK narrators and y’all know they’re my favorite. They did an amazing job setting the eerie atmosphere. I switched back and forth between the physical and I highly recommend both editions. If you love dark messed up stories, GO READ THIS BOOK! I freaking loved it!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trigger warnings of child death
This is a retelling of Peter Pan and holy hell, is it dark! I have to say this is my favorite retelling to date. Dear gawd, and every time Peter said “Wendy Darling” it made my skin crawl. 👀👀👀👀👀 We all know the original story is about how Peter steals children and takes them to his world. We know some don’t make it out.
It’s 1914, and Wendy is living the nightmare again. One of her students goes missing. Can she stop Peter once and for all?
This audiobook was phenomenal. The female and male narrators are UK narrators and y’all know they’re my favorite. They did an amazing job setting the eerie atmosphere. I switched back and forth between the physical and I highly recommend both editions. If you love dark messed up stories, GO READ THIS BOOK! I freaking loved it!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trigger warnings of child death
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
STARRED review in the May 2026 issue of Booklist and on the blog: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2026/05...
Three Words That Describe This Book: Strong Sense of Place, Meaning, Psychological Horror
Other words: dark retelling, trauma, PTSD, survivor guilt, historical horror, books about books, the reader knows how much worse things are going to get after the story ends.
You will never be able to look at Peter Pan the saw way again after reading this book. I need to lead with this because the Peter we are presented with here is in the vein of Charlie Manx (from Joe Hill's NOS4A2).
Wendy has PTSD from what Peter did to her. She has guilt and grief over the boys she could not save. She has the trauma of an abused partner. She is a classic victim of abuse in a time when no one understood that. Readers understand that PTSD really wasn't considered a medical condition until AFTER WWI.
In Pelayo's hands, Barrie's stories about the Darling children are the happy version of what was a TRUE CRIME mystery that rocked Pelayos alternate London. The Darling's are famous for disappearing and reappearing, but they are also infamous because of the "crazy" things Wendy claims happened. But the world knows the story Barrie wrote. Barrie took her pain and turned it into joy. She has read everything he has written. People know it is about her. It is awful for her, every single day. She is like today's famous victims of evil men.
Kensington Garden as a place of MANY child abductions, no one believing or listening to Wendy, her being put into a mental hospital during her teen years to protect her from herself and her derangements. Her estrangement from her brothers because they all were told to push their trauma and feelings down.
But now it is 12 years later. Wendy is functioning, barely. She works at the orphanage where she lived after her stay in the hospital. She is the children's teacher. It is 1914 and WWI is just starting to ramp up. The specter of the war we know is to come overshadows everything. It is bad now with young men dying and being injured, children being given to the orphanages because their fathers have been killed and the mothers cannot raise all of their children alone.
Readers know things are bad but they will get worse. There is one mention of some coughing and it is enough to remind readers that after the war, the 1917 flu will come. The atmosphere is oppressive to start, so that everything that Wendy is experiencing is menacing right off the bat.
Pelayo uses the atmosphere and history of the time and place, overlays it with the "true" horror of what happened to the Darling children, and then slowly builds the horror. The whole book is like a pot of water that begins on low as Pelayo begins to turn up the heat. Once it is simmering, the boiling comes quick. But here is the thing, even as it clams down after almost boiling over, it is still simmering, rather fast. Why? because the end resolution of this book is a pause. Michael is off to war, the war will come to London, everyone will be affected, and then the flu will kill many. Oh, and a Second World War will come next. Readers know this. So even with a pleasant outcome to this story, the horror of what will come lingers on this story. That was so very well done.
Wendy is developed perfectly. She is bookish and anxious and so isolated. She has very few friends because she is not allowed to share her truth. That labels her as insane. So when she starts to see the signs in the children (from the first lines, Agnes, one of her charges, is during a bird skull because "he" told her to) that Peter is trying to entice them to Neverland she is on edge. But no one will deliver her, she knows that. And then more things happen, crows are attacking, her shadow is acting strange.
Pelayo moves Wendy in and out of her present and into her past. She enriches the Peter Pan story we all know with details that make us all think long and hard about how dark it really is. And then she adds the overlay that Peter is not a fun young man, but rather, he is a monster who uses the children to stay young and alive... (That is mentioned early)
This book is DARK., The writing though is beautiful. It draws you through as the true horror of Wendy's experiences as a 12 year old and her life now are built up. As she rejoins forces with her brothers to try to finally end Peter's reign of terror, things move faster, but they also get way more terrifying. And again, the ending will leave you satisfied but extremely uneasy because everyone's world in London is about to get a whole lot worse.
This is not your typical Peter Pan retelling. There is no romance here. It is the opposite. And it is very dark and terrifying. The only retelling I can compare it to is Wendy, Darling by AC Wise. But again, this is more Wedny vs Peter as Vic vs Manx in NOS4A2. Also this is a great option for fans of Maguire's Wayward Children series. For Pelayo fans who loved Children of Chicago, this is a great option to pair with that as well.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Strong Sense of Place, Meaning, Psychological Horror
Other words: dark retelling, trauma, PTSD, survivor guilt, historical horror, books about books, the reader knows how much worse things are going to get after the story ends.
You will never be able to look at Peter Pan the saw way again after reading this book. I need to lead with this because the Peter we are presented with here is in the vein of Charlie Manx (from Joe Hill's NOS4A2).
Wendy has PTSD from what Peter did to her. She has guilt and grief over the boys she could not save. She has the trauma of an abused partner. She is a classic victim of abuse in a time when no one understood that. Readers understand that PTSD really wasn't considered a medical condition until AFTER WWI.
In Pelayo's hands, Barrie's stories about the Darling children are the happy version of what was a TRUE CRIME mystery that rocked Pelayos alternate London. The Darling's are famous for disappearing and reappearing, but they are also infamous because of the "crazy" things Wendy claims happened. But the world knows the story Barrie wrote. Barrie took her pain and turned it into joy. She has read everything he has written. People know it is about her. It is awful for her, every single day. She is like today's famous victims of evil men.
Kensington Garden as a place of MANY child abductions, no one believing or listening to Wendy, her being put into a mental hospital during her teen years to protect her from herself and her derangements. Her estrangement from her brothers because they all were told to push their trauma and feelings down.
But now it is 12 years later. Wendy is functioning, barely. She works at the orphanage where she lived after her stay in the hospital. She is the children's teacher. It is 1914 and WWI is just starting to ramp up. The specter of the war we know is to come overshadows everything. It is bad now with young men dying and being injured, children being given to the orphanages because their fathers have been killed and the mothers cannot raise all of their children alone.
Readers know things are bad but they will get worse. There is one mention of some coughing and it is enough to remind readers that after the war, the 1917 flu will come. The atmosphere is oppressive to start, so that everything that Wendy is experiencing is menacing right off the bat.
Pelayo uses the atmosphere and history of the time and place, overlays it with the "true" horror of what happened to the Darling children, and then slowly builds the horror. The whole book is like a pot of water that begins on low as Pelayo begins to turn up the heat. Once it is simmering, the boiling comes quick. But here is the thing, even as it clams down after almost boiling over, it is still simmering, rather fast. Why? because the end resolution of this book is a pause. Michael is off to war, the war will come to London, everyone will be affected, and then the flu will kill many. Oh, and a Second World War will come next. Readers know this. So even with a pleasant outcome to this story, the horror of what will come lingers on this story. That was so very well done.
Wendy is developed perfectly. She is bookish and anxious and so isolated. She has very few friends because she is not allowed to share her truth. That labels her as insane. So when she starts to see the signs in the children (from the first lines, Agnes, one of her charges, is during a bird skull because "he" told her to) that Peter is trying to entice them to Neverland she is on edge. But no one will deliver her, she knows that. And then more things happen, crows are attacking, her shadow is acting strange.
Pelayo moves Wendy in and out of her present and into her past. She enriches the Peter Pan story we all know with details that make us all think long and hard about how dark it really is. And then she adds the overlay that Peter is not a fun young man, but rather, he is a monster who uses the children to stay young and alive... (That is mentioned early)
This book is DARK., The writing though is beautiful. It draws you through as the true horror of Wendy's experiences as a 12 year old and her life now are built up. As she rejoins forces with her brothers to try to finally end Peter's reign of terror, things move faster, but they also get way more terrifying. And again, the ending will leave you satisfied but extremely uneasy because everyone's world in London is about to get a whole lot worse.
This is not your typical Peter Pan retelling. There is no romance here. It is the opposite. And it is very dark and terrifying. The only retelling I can compare it to is Wendy, Darling by AC Wise. But again, this is more Wedny vs Peter as Vic vs Manx in NOS4A2. Also this is a great option for fans of Maguire's Wayward Children series. For Pelayo fans who loved Children of Chicago, this is a great option to pair with that as well.
April 12, 2026
For those of you who don’t know, I am a SUCKER for any type of Peter Pan retelling. So when I saw this on my feed and then on NetGalley, I knew I had to request it!
They were not kidding when they said this book was if IT and Peter Pan had a love child! This was such a wonderful and unique retelling of what we thought we knew about Peter Pan. The story was a well executed slow burn that constantly had me looking over my shoulder and checking every shadow. Cynthia Pelayo does a wonderful job with her smooth transitions between past and present and connecting the story for the bigger picture. The lost boys seemed so primal and animalistic and painted such a good picture in my head. Listen, idk what it is but I also loved the way Cynthia describes smells. I swear, the descriptions were tricking my mind that the smells were really there! If you’re looking for an eerie and dread-filled fairytale retelling, then this book is for you!
Lastly, I’d like to give huge thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC!
They were not kidding when they said this book was if IT and Peter Pan had a love child! This was such a wonderful and unique retelling of what we thought we knew about Peter Pan. The story was a well executed slow burn that constantly had me looking over my shoulder and checking every shadow. Cynthia Pelayo does a wonderful job with her smooth transitions between past and present and connecting the story for the bigger picture. The lost boys seemed so primal and animalistic and painted such a good picture in my head. Listen, idk what it is but I also loved the way Cynthia describes smells. I swear, the descriptions were tricking my mind that the smells were really there! If you’re looking for an eerie and dread-filled fairytale retelling, then this book is for you!
Lastly, I’d like to give huge thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC!
June 16, 2026
I have a nagging suspicion the writer used AI. A lot of AI.
June 19, 2026
It Came From Neverland is everything! I absolutely loved this dark twist on the children’s fairytale. The storyline and take on the story were brilliantly done. The author did an amazing job writing descriptions so clear that you are THERE, transported into the book with Wendy. The atmosphere was so eerie that even without being super gory, you felt uneasy and on edge. I wish we got a bit more Michael perspectives because those did add a nice touch to the story, but overall, very well done! 10/10 recommend!
August 21, 2026
this was so disappointing i highly suspect a
good chunk of it was written by Al because there's no way the writing was THAT repetitive and boring! insane amounts of "it wasn't X, it was Y" and the constant chopping of every sentence was extremely frustrating. few examples below:
”We stood in the nursery. Our nursery.”
”He looked at us again. Really looked.”
”John reached for me. Not to restrain. Not to urge. Only to steady.”
”He leaned back in the chair. Closed his eyes. Not sleeping, just listening. Trusting.”
”The scrap and drag of wings against wood. Not frantic. Not trapped. Testing its boundaries.”
reading that formulaic prose for the umpteenth time started getting on my nerves and u can't tell me chatgpt didn't have a hand in this 😑
the concept was so good but the execution fell super flat. bad prose, grammatical errors, typos (ARE ALL THE COPY EDITORS DEAD??), cardboard characters, unengaging plot... yeah i could keep going 💀 nothing made sense and everyone had the personality of a cardboard cutout at best. the author was trying way too hard to make the story come across as scawy 👻 but miserably failed at it. if there's any "horror," it's the writing style. truly horrific!
also, why is the blurb so misleading??? Scotland Yard was barely mentioned like TWICE but the blurb makes it sound like it's gonna be some high stakes thriller-esque horror novel where Wendy gets interrogated by him or some shit - which WASN'T THE CASE AT ALL.
genuinely there’s nothing worthy of praise in this book and i’m so annoyed because i really wanted to love this :(
good chunk of it was written by Al because there's no way the writing was THAT repetitive and boring! insane amounts of "it wasn't X, it was Y" and the constant chopping of every sentence was extremely frustrating. few examples below:
”We stood in the nursery. Our nursery.”
”He looked at us again. Really looked.”
”John reached for me. Not to restrain. Not to urge. Only to steady.”
”He leaned back in the chair. Closed his eyes. Not sleeping, just listening. Trusting.”
”The scrap and drag of wings against wood. Not frantic. Not trapped. Testing its boundaries.”
reading that formulaic prose for the umpteenth time started getting on my nerves and u can't tell me chatgpt didn't have a hand in this 😑
the concept was so good but the execution fell super flat. bad prose, grammatical errors, typos (ARE ALL THE COPY EDITORS DEAD??), cardboard characters, unengaging plot... yeah i could keep going 💀 nothing made sense and everyone had the personality of a cardboard cutout at best. the author was trying way too hard to make the story come across as scawy 👻 but miserably failed at it. if there's any "horror," it's the writing style. truly horrific!
also, why is the blurb so misleading??? Scotland Yard was barely mentioned like TWICE but the blurb makes it sound like it's gonna be some high stakes thriller-esque horror novel where Wendy gets interrogated by him or some shit - which WASN'T THE CASE AT ALL.
genuinely there’s nothing worthy of praise in this book and i’m so annoyed because i really wanted to love this :(
September 2, 2026
In a Nutshell: A historical fantasy-horror combining ‘Peter Pan’ and ‘IT’. Lyrical writing and vivid imagery. Extremely slow-paced in the first half. Repetitive. Confusing shifts in timeline. More about atmosphere than about gore. The final quarter is the strongest. Recommended to those who don’t seek instant gratification. The official blurb is inaccurate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
This book is supposed to be a creative combination of J.M. Barrie’s ‘Peter Pan’ and Stephen King’s ‘IT’. I haven’t read IT, so I cannot offer any comments in that regard. But as a Peter Pan retelling, this novel has a fantastic idea but average execution.
Bookish Yays:
👻 The retelling angle. As someone who has never understood why Peter Pan is a beloved character, I appreciate the direction taken by this story. This Peter Pan is very original.
👻 The DARKness of this retelling. Gruesome without being gory, it offers some really sinister chills.
👻 The final confrontation. Quite satisfying.
Bookish Okays:
🐦 Wendy as a character is fairly convincing as someone dealing with PTSD. But Wendy as a narrator is mostly introspective and not linear in her thoughts. Her narration doesn’t help us stay focussed.
🐦 The writing. Lyrical and beautiful. But somehow a misfit for this genre, at least for me. I don’t read horror for literary flourishes.
🐦 The atmosphere. The imagery is truly vivid with all its black birds and shadows, but as the first half is more atmosphere than action, it tests the patience many times.
🐦 The ending. Good but perhaps a bit too anticlimactic in its happiness. The forced potential relationship didn’t win any stars from me.
Bookish Nays:
🏴☠️ The blurb is inaccurate. The last para doesn’t happen in the book at all! 🤔
🏴☠️ The character development of every character except Wendy. So utterly flat! Her brothers John and Michael get one chapter in their first-person POV, but this brief glimpse into their thoughts barely helps us know them. I didn’t get why they had only a single chapter each.
🏴☠️ The pacing is extremely slow. About three-quarters of the book is more like a build-up, with the same ideas being repeated again and again. The final quarter is better in terms of action, but some reveals are quite convenient.
🏴☠️ The plot structure – the weakest point of the book. There are random flashbacks within chapters, and also random changes of location. With no time indicators at all, it gets very confusing to figure out if a scene is happening at present or in the past or merely in Wendy’s imagination. (Note to audiobook fans: This book might be utterly perplexing to understand through the ears alone!)
🏴☠️ Peter’s backstory. So convoluted! And with so many logical gaps!
Bookish Doubts:
🏴☠️ What happens to that character whose name begins from S? He seems to have been forgotten quite conveniently, which is quite strange as he was among the creepiest characters in the book.
Overall, while the book offers some truly spooky chills, the haphazard structuring, the overly lyrical writing, the repetitiveness of the first 75% or so, and the lacklustre character development doesn’t make it an enjoyable read. The concept had tremendous potential, but the implementation needed some strict editing. There are some genuinely fascinating horror elements herein, so I am very disappointed that the writing couldn’t deliver as promised.
That said, there are readers who enjoy atmosphere more than action, and who are far more patient with an extensive build-up. They might enjoy this book more. Mine is somewhat an outlier opinion, so do read other reviews before you take a call on this work.
Recommended to horror-fantasy readers with far more patience for slowness, repetition, and lyrical writing than I have.
2 stars.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books for providing the DRC of “It Came from Neverland” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
1914. Twelve years after the incident that changed her life and her family forever, Wendy Darling works as a school teacher and also volunteers with a local hospital, reading to soldiers who have returned broken from the Western Front. One patient in particular is her regular subject; he is unable to wake up from his sleep despite all the care. One day, when he utters the name ‘Peter Pan’ in his sleep, Wendy is taken aback, recollecting the dark days from the past when multiple children went missing from Kensington Park and later found murdered. She knows that the entity called Peter Pan was to be blamed, but no one took her or her brothers, the only trio to return alive, seriously. When one of her present-day students disappears in the same manner, Wendy knows it is up to the Darling siblings to set right the mistake of the past so that no more innocent children lose their lives.
The story comes to us in Wendy’s first-person perspective.
This book is supposed to be a creative combination of J.M. Barrie’s ‘Peter Pan’ and Stephen King’s ‘IT’. I haven’t read IT, so I cannot offer any comments in that regard. But as a Peter Pan retelling, this novel has a fantastic idea but average execution.
Bookish Yays:
👻 The retelling angle. As someone who has never understood why Peter Pan is a beloved character, I appreciate the direction taken by this story. This Peter Pan is very original.
👻 The DARKness of this retelling. Gruesome without being gory, it offers some really sinister chills.
👻 The final confrontation. Quite satisfying.
Bookish Okays:
🐦 Wendy as a character is fairly convincing as someone dealing with PTSD. But Wendy as a narrator is mostly introspective and not linear in her thoughts. Her narration doesn’t help us stay focussed.
🐦 The writing. Lyrical and beautiful. But somehow a misfit for this genre, at least for me. I don’t read horror for literary flourishes.
🐦 The atmosphere. The imagery is truly vivid with all its black birds and shadows, but as the first half is more atmosphere than action, it tests the patience many times.
🐦 The ending. Good but perhaps a bit too anticlimactic in its happiness. The forced potential relationship didn’t win any stars from me.
Bookish Nays:
🏴☠️ The blurb is inaccurate. The last para doesn’t happen in the book at all! 🤔
🏴☠️ The character development of every character except Wendy. So utterly flat! Her brothers John and Michael get one chapter in their first-person POV, but this brief glimpse into their thoughts barely helps us know them. I didn’t get why they had only a single chapter each.
🏴☠️ The pacing is extremely slow. About three-quarters of the book is more like a build-up, with the same ideas being repeated again and again. The final quarter is better in terms of action, but some reveals are quite convenient.
🏴☠️ The plot structure – the weakest point of the book. There are random flashbacks within chapters, and also random changes of location. With no time indicators at all, it gets very confusing to figure out if a scene is happening at present or in the past or merely in Wendy’s imagination. (Note to audiobook fans: This book might be utterly perplexing to understand through the ears alone!)
🏴☠️ Peter’s backstory. So convoluted! And with so many logical gaps!
Bookish Doubts:
🏴☠️ What happens to that character whose name begins from S? He seems to have been forgotten quite conveniently, which is quite strange as he was among the creepiest characters in the book.
Overall, while the book offers some truly spooky chills, the haphazard structuring, the overly lyrical writing, the repetitiveness of the first 75% or so, and the lacklustre character development doesn’t make it an enjoyable read. The concept had tremendous potential, but the implementation needed some strict editing. There are some genuinely fascinating horror elements herein, so I am very disappointed that the writing couldn’t deliver as promised.
That said, there are readers who enjoy atmosphere more than action, and who are far more patient with an extensive build-up. They might enjoy this book more. Mine is somewhat an outlier opinion, so do read other reviews before you take a call on this work.
Recommended to horror-fantasy readers with far more patience for slowness, repetition, and lyrical writing than I have.
2 stars.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books for providing the DRC of “It Came from Neverland” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
August 11, 2026
The darker side of Peter Pan, the Lost Boys and, of course, the Darling children…..all grown up! I have heard of the stories of the dissection of this long favorite of mine. It is like pulling apart tiny little innuendos and making the original unrecognizable. And yet, I liked it. I will be looking over my shoulder when I take my youngest two grandbabies to ride Peter Pan’s Flight next spring,
June 13, 2026
1.5 stars rounded up
Horror stories based on Peter Pan are my faves... however, I found this one utterly lacking.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Wendy was an astonishingly underdeveloped character. Kidnapped and taken to Neverland where she played mother to a group of boys, she gets back to London where, as an adult, she's... taking care of a bunch of children in the place she lived after her parents gave her up for her "delusions" about Peter Pan and Neverland. That's it. That's the extent of her character.
John and Michael seemed like afterthoughts; the book is told from Wendy's perspective, but one chapter is given to John and one is given to Michael to show their response to Peter's return. They both say they need to connect with Wendy ASAP but they sure take their time. There's no reason to be invested in the sibling relationship because it's practically nonexistent.
The rest of the characters are vague and uninteresting. Eleanor runs the children's home and there are staff mentioned whose names I don't remember. There are a bunch of children we're supposed to care about but they're just generic side characters. We're supposed to hate the constable because of how he treated Wendy when she came back from Neverland, but we don't have enough of the story to care about hating him. We're supposed to care about Roger because Wendy loved him, but we only got bits and pieces of that story. Then there’s Edward the soldier who’s in the hospital yet completely uninjured but asleep and therefore a plot device for Peter to use, because of course. Also, Captain Hook was randomly able to show up in London for some reason.
And then there's Peter Pan himself. Part of the problem with him is that the lore surrounding him and Neverland is convoluted as fuck. He's an ancient creature that takes the shape of a man but is also a kidnapped child who's less than 50 years old? There's an ancient crow named Solomon who kidnapped a child from the late 1800s and turned him into a creature that lives between worlds and that's Peter Pan... and every 12 years Peter Pan wakes up? Or every 12 years he takes a bunch of kids and then sleeps for another 12 years??? And Peter Pan has only been around for like 50 years, but Neverland is filled with a shit-ton of bones of dead boys?? Also, crows are watching because Solomon??? The lore made absolutely no fucking sense.
The passage of time is also confusing. It seems like the entire story takes place over a few days, maybe a week and then, at the end, we find out months have passed. And, during that time, the three Darlings are gutted with worry for their siblings but do nothing except attempt to call and send letters when they could have just immediately gone to each other’s houses?? Like, there is zero internal logic.
The writing itself is meh. It starts by building tension, and that's fine, but then that cycle of tension building just repeats... and repeats... and repeats... and repeats... until I'm sitting there irritated because nothing is happening except cycles of tension that lead nowhere.
It sucks, because the potential for a good story was here. It's a great idea, and Peter Pan is excellent fodder for horror adaptations. The execution of It Came from Neverland, however, was absolute shit. Underdeveloped characters, underdeveloped world building, underdeveloped plot. (Also, at least 2 glaring grammatical errors??? Ouch!) Not worth the read.
Horror stories based on Peter Pan are my faves... however, I found this one utterly lacking.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Wendy was an astonishingly underdeveloped character. Kidnapped and taken to Neverland where she played mother to a group of boys, she gets back to London where, as an adult, she's... taking care of a bunch of children in the place she lived after her parents gave her up for her "delusions" about Peter Pan and Neverland. That's it. That's the extent of her character.
John and Michael seemed like afterthoughts; the book is told from Wendy's perspective, but one chapter is given to John and one is given to Michael to show their response to Peter's return. They both say they need to connect with Wendy ASAP but they sure take their time. There's no reason to be invested in the sibling relationship because it's practically nonexistent.
The rest of the characters are vague and uninteresting. Eleanor runs the children's home and there are staff mentioned whose names I don't remember. There are a bunch of children we're supposed to care about but they're just generic side characters. We're supposed to hate the constable because of how he treated Wendy when she came back from Neverland, but we don't have enough of the story to care about hating him. We're supposed to care about Roger because Wendy loved him, but we only got bits and pieces of that story. Then there’s Edward the soldier who’s in the hospital yet completely uninjured but asleep and therefore a plot device for Peter to use, because of course. Also, Captain Hook was randomly able to show up in London for some reason.
And then there's Peter Pan himself. Part of the problem with him is that the lore surrounding him and Neverland is convoluted as fuck. He's an ancient creature that takes the shape of a man but is also a kidnapped child who's less than 50 years old? There's an ancient crow named Solomon who kidnapped a child from the late 1800s and turned him into a creature that lives between worlds and that's Peter Pan... and every 12 years Peter Pan wakes up? Or every 12 years he takes a bunch of kids and then sleeps for another 12 years??? And Peter Pan has only been around for like 50 years, but Neverland is filled with a shit-ton of bones of dead boys?? Also, crows are watching because Solomon??? The lore made absolutely no fucking sense.
The passage of time is also confusing. It seems like the entire story takes place over a few days, maybe a week and then, at the end, we find out months have passed. And, during that time, the three Darlings are gutted with worry for their siblings but do nothing except attempt to call and send letters when they could have just immediately gone to each other’s houses?? Like, there is zero internal logic.
The writing itself is meh. It starts by building tension, and that's fine, but then that cycle of tension building just repeats... and repeats... and repeats... and repeats... until I'm sitting there irritated because nothing is happening except cycles of tension that lead nowhere.
It sucks, because the potential for a good story was here. It's a great idea, and Peter Pan is excellent fodder for horror adaptations. The execution of It Came from Neverland, however, was absolute shit. Underdeveloped characters, underdeveloped world building, underdeveloped plot. (Also, at least 2 glaring grammatical errors??? Ouch!) Not worth the read.
September 24, 2026
This was a great horror retelling of the classic Peter Pan fairytale! 10/10 no notes. The author did a great job of building Peter up as an eldritch horror and creating the lore around him, which was interesting to dive into once the Darling children were all back together again trying to figure out how to defeat him. I also really enjoyed how ‘Captain Hook’ was incorporated into this adaptation, but no spoilers there.
I’m a sucker for a horror with a happy ending, too. So I appreciate that this was tied up in a neat little bow for us.
I’m a sucker for a horror with a happy ending, too. So I appreciate that this was tied up in a neat little bow for us.
September 14, 2026
Peter Pan retelling in horror as Peter Pan takes the children instead of finding them
July 24, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up💫
A book that combines the wonder and enchantment of Neverland with dark horror, historical fiction and gore. ⛰️🌈⭐️🏴☠️🧚This story is like a warm cup of tea that is slowly scalding your insides.
The world is at the dawn of WWI and Wendy Darling is living a quiet life, teaching children at a large manor house. Twelve years earlier she was kidnapped along with her brothers; a story that became widespread news. Not a soul believed their actual story so it rots like a dark secret in the back of her mind.
Suddenly that secret has found a new voice (enter: shadows, crows, chants and children.🐦⬛✨) These characters were warm and familiar and the setting was gorgeous and terrible. At times the plot felt a little choppy, but I lost myself in this book for 60 pages straight at the end.
This made me feel the *perfect* amount of scared! I COULDN’T HAVE FOUND A MORE PERFECT ENTRY BOOK INTO THIS GENRE. CLASSIC DISNEY MEETS HORROR!!! RAHHHH I LOVED IT!!!!!!
A book that combines the wonder and enchantment of Neverland with dark horror, historical fiction and gore. ⛰️🌈⭐️🏴☠️🧚This story is like a warm cup of tea that is slowly scalding your insides.
The world is at the dawn of WWI and Wendy Darling is living a quiet life, teaching children at a large manor house. Twelve years earlier she was kidnapped along with her brothers; a story that became widespread news. Not a soul believed their actual story so it rots like a dark secret in the back of her mind.
Suddenly that secret has found a new voice (enter: shadows, crows, chants and children.🐦⬛✨) These characters were warm and familiar and the setting was gorgeous and terrible. At times the plot felt a little choppy, but I lost myself in this book for 60 pages straight at the end.
This made me feel the *perfect* amount of scared! I COULDN’T HAVE FOUND A MORE PERFECT ENTRY BOOK INTO THIS GENRE. CLASSIC DISNEY MEETS HORROR!!! RAHHHH I LOVED IT!!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wendy Darling, a schoolteacher caring for returning soldiers, is haunted by a mysterious patient who murmurs, "Peter Pan." Memories rush back when a student goes missing, reminiscent of historical child murders linked to Peter Pan, whom Wendy believes has returned. As more children disappear, Scotland Yard investigates, uncovering Wendy's knowledge of the murdered children. Struggling to prove her innocence, Wendy must confront Peter Pan and stop him once and for all...
I have to admit, I was captivated by the cover! You know me, no need for blurbs to catch my interest. If a book has an eye-catching image, I’m all in! However, the concept behind this story holds great potential!
This dark, eerie, and unsettling tale mainly unfolds from Wendy's perspective, though we also get glimpses from Michael and John. As we delve into Wendy’s adult life and her job, we start to uncover what happened during her impressionable youth. Her relationship with her brothers is strained; they’ve kept their distance to avoid confronting the past. Wendy turns to journaling to manage her trauma, but little does she know that when it comes to Peter Pan, he always gets what he wants—be prepared for some gory twists along the way.
To be honest, I had never heard of Peter Pan until I moved to the U.S. and married my husband. We watched a few movie adaptations, and I found the whole idea rather creepy—with a man who’s fascinated by kids living in Neverland. I’m grateful someone wrote this book because I've always thought there was something off about Peter Pan! In this story, he’s not the hero; instead, another unexpected character takes on that role! Can you guess who? You’ll have to add this to your TBR list to find out!
If you enjoy J.H. Markert’s work, I guarantee you’ll appreciate this one! If you know, you know... This is a dark retelling of a beloved fairytale, filled with horror and supernatural elements, where your favorite character is the villain. It’s a childhood nostalgia reimagined in an entirely different light. Set during the WWI era, this fresh take might just be what you’re seeking this Halloween season! Just imagine reading this during Halloween week - it’s bound to be spooky! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to spread the word about this dark, twisted read that would go hand in hand with IT! Ha!
Thank you, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I have to admit, I was captivated by the cover! You know me, no need for blurbs to catch my interest. If a book has an eye-catching image, I’m all in! However, the concept behind this story holds great potential!
This dark, eerie, and unsettling tale mainly unfolds from Wendy's perspective, though we also get glimpses from Michael and John. As we delve into Wendy’s adult life and her job, we start to uncover what happened during her impressionable youth. Her relationship with her brothers is strained; they’ve kept their distance to avoid confronting the past. Wendy turns to journaling to manage her trauma, but little does she know that when it comes to Peter Pan, he always gets what he wants—be prepared for some gory twists along the way.
To be honest, I had never heard of Peter Pan until I moved to the U.S. and married my husband. We watched a few movie adaptations, and I found the whole idea rather creepy—with a man who’s fascinated by kids living in Neverland. I’m grateful someone wrote this book because I've always thought there was something off about Peter Pan! In this story, he’s not the hero; instead, another unexpected character takes on that role! Can you guess who? You’ll have to add this to your TBR list to find out!
If you enjoy J.H. Markert’s work, I guarantee you’ll appreciate this one! If you know, you know... This is a dark retelling of a beloved fairytale, filled with horror and supernatural elements, where your favorite character is the villain. It’s a childhood nostalgia reimagined in an entirely different light. Set during the WWI era, this fresh take might just be what you’re seeking this Halloween season! Just imagine reading this during Halloween week - it’s bound to be spooky! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to spread the word about this dark, twisted read that would go hand in hand with IT! Ha!
Thank you, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 24, 2026
This was an absolutely excellent Peter Pan retelling! It was fast paced, spooky, and chilling. I genuinely could not put this one down. I look forward to reading for from this author!
June 10, 2026
5/5 — I’d give this 6 stars if I could!
Peter Pan has been whispering horror since the very start and the audiobook version of IT CAME FROM NEVERLAND is the grown-up fulfillment of that promise, a dark fairytale you can lose yourself in as easily as any lost child.
Premise - It's 1914, years after the original tale of Peter Pan, and Wendy Darling is working as a school teacher by day and assisting soldiers, home from the Western Front, by night.
One patient is in a deep sleep and they can't seem to wake him up -- then one night, he murmurs "Peter Pan." One of Wendy's students goes missing shortly thereafter and Wendy fears Peter Pan, whom she killed to protect her brothers way back when, has returned.
I loved how the story dealt with the fluidity of memory. I loved how it retread familiar patterns over and over, twisting them each time. And the prose? Stunning, immersive, fairytale through and through. Pelayo crafted a beautiful horrific story and I can’t stop talking about it!
I know it wouldn't have made any sense or followed world rules, but I wished
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Ella Lynch and Rory Barnett. I was particularly excited about listening to this one as an audiobook, as fairytales are best experienced as a read-aloud IMO.
This was a very dark (preferably not bedtime) story, but the truth is I listened to it whenever I could, even in the dark, because it was the sort of story that seduces you, wraps its long, ghostly fingers around you, even as you know horrors are in tow.
Best audiobook of the year? Of my life? MAYBE. I loved this and I hope Pelayo writes more like it! Twist my childhood, I beg of thee.🥹
Thanks, NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Peter Pan has been whispering horror since the very start and the audiobook version of IT CAME FROM NEVERLAND is the grown-up fulfillment of that promise, a dark fairytale you can lose yourself in as easily as any lost child.
Premise - It's 1914, years after the original tale of Peter Pan, and Wendy Darling is working as a school teacher by day and assisting soldiers, home from the Western Front, by night.
One patient is in a deep sleep and they can't seem to wake him up -- then one night, he murmurs "Peter Pan." One of Wendy's students goes missing shortly thereafter and Wendy fears Peter Pan, whom she killed to protect her brothers way back when, has returned.
I loved how the story dealt with the fluidity of memory. I loved how it retread familiar patterns over and over, twisting them each time. And the prose? Stunning, immersive, fairytale through and through. Pelayo crafted a beautiful horrific story and I can’t stop talking about it!
I know it wouldn't have made any sense or followed world rules, but I wished
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Ella Lynch and Rory Barnett. I was particularly excited about listening to this one as an audiobook, as fairytales are best experienced as a read-aloud IMO.
This was a very dark (preferably not bedtime) story, but the truth is I listened to it whenever I could, even in the dark, because it was the sort of story that seduces you, wraps its long, ghostly fingers around you, even as you know horrors are in tow.
Best audiobook of the year? Of my life? MAYBE. I loved this and I hope Pelayo writes more like it! Twist my childhood, I beg of thee.🥹
Thanks, NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2026
If J.M. Barrie dropped acid, had a really bad trip, then decided to write a fairy tale-- it would be this book. Holy Toledo. What did I read? I grew up with the Disney cartoon version of Peter Pan or the TV's Mary Martin flying on wires singing "I'm flying" (I hear it now in my head). This book takes that story, dumps it in the trash and turns it into a terrifying nightmare.
It's 1914 in England. Wendy teaches school and is not close to her brothers, John and Michael. No one speaks of their collective experience in Neverland or of Peter Pan. But Peter is still around, lurking. He's a malevolent presence, just out of sight, but almost tangible. Because Peter is not the fun, happy, playful, carefree boy we have been led to believe. Peter is a murderous, psychopathic killer determined to kidnap and return Wendy to Neverland at any cost.
This book is so detailed and creative that I want to write a fan letter to Ms Pelayo. The plot revolves around what Peter wants and how Wendy isn't having it. The characters are terrific, even the minor (and familiar) ones; and the book barrels along at breakneck speed until it's slam, bam, thank you Ma'am very satisfying ending.
This was a wonderful surprise find for me and I look forward to other books by this author.
5 stars
It's 1914 in England. Wendy teaches school and is not close to her brothers, John and Michael. No one speaks of their collective experience in Neverland or of Peter Pan. But Peter is still around, lurking. He's a malevolent presence, just out of sight, but almost tangible. Because Peter is not the fun, happy, playful, carefree boy we have been led to believe. Peter is a murderous, psychopathic killer determined to kidnap and return Wendy to Neverland at any cost.
This book is so detailed and creative that I want to write a fan letter to Ms Pelayo. The plot revolves around what Peter wants and how Wendy isn't having it. The characters are terrific, even the minor (and familiar) ones; and the book barrels along at breakneck speed until it's slam, bam, thank you Ma'am very satisfying ending.
This was a wonderful surprise find for me and I look forward to other books by this author.
5 stars
May 10, 2026
While this one held promise and was atmospheric, bringing the time period and location fully alive in the reader’s mind, it was too much; too full on which had the effect of diffusing the horror.
Upon opening this book, I was immediately drawn in. I thought the concept of Peter Pan being a scary story was excellent. It is not the sort of thing I would normally read but I was here for it.
Some of the spooky moments were excellent, the crows etc. But there was no subtlety. There was too much going on, tapping, feathers, whispering. There was barely a moment’s break which had the opposite effect and began to feel a lot less creepy and a bit more silly.
It kind of fizzled for me. For a horror, I have to be fully convinced and all in or it just doesn’t work. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.
Upon opening this book, I was immediately drawn in. I thought the concept of Peter Pan being a scary story was excellent. It is not the sort of thing I would normally read but I was here for it.
Some of the spooky moments were excellent, the crows etc. But there was no subtlety. There was too much going on, tapping, feathers, whispering. There was barely a moment’s break which had the opposite effect and began to feel a lot less creepy and a bit more silly.
It kind of fizzled for me. For a horror, I have to be fully convinced and all in or it just doesn’t work. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.
July 16, 2026
Wow, this was bad. 😭 Lowest rating I have ever given. I should have DNFed, but I was already too far in. So glad it’s over.
September 3, 2026
Audiobook (9 hours) narrated by Ella Lynch and Rory Barnett
Publisher: Spotify Audiobooks
Upon starting this audiobook and hearing Ella Lynch, I broke out into the biggest smile.
Ella's voice, tone, cadence, and narration in her first couple of sentences was perfect for a Fairy Tale retelling of Peter Pan. the mood that she put me in for the next 9 hours was so right.
Both Ella Lynch and Rory Barnett are award winning narrators.
The audio is flawless.
I absolutely love the darkness that Cyntha Pelavo put into this retelling of Peter Pan.
Peter Pan is one of my favorite fairy tales. I would hazard to guess that lots of people find it to be in their top fairy tale pics based on the number of times that it has been written and rewritten and published in all forms of media including books, graphic novels, television shows, and movies both live action and animated. Whenever i bring up the story inevitably someone starts with their favorite version and others follow. Recently the conversation veered into the live action movie Hook with the late Robin Williams.
It Came from Neverland toes the line in the retelling between a sweet fairy tale and a tale of caution and terror. Rather than feeling scary it felt as if I was hearing a recounting of a horrific event from a new or casual acquaintance.
The ambience is front and center. The world building comes in second. The characters feel more of what would come out of news reporting, interviews, and perhaps even a sit down. There isn't the type of building that you would see in a fictional fantasy story, but they are written well and as if real already. The moments of the story from the start feel like actual people with real reactions, so the building is there but it's done in a way as to not describe the characters or give them back stories, but just report as to who they are.
Very well done. I would give it a 4.5, I rated down to a 4 as I don't think it's quite a 5. I will likely read it again at some point as it was that enjoyable.
Publisher: Spotify Audiobooks
Upon starting this audiobook and hearing Ella Lynch, I broke out into the biggest smile.
Ella's voice, tone, cadence, and narration in her first couple of sentences was perfect for a Fairy Tale retelling of Peter Pan. the mood that she put me in for the next 9 hours was so right.
Both Ella Lynch and Rory Barnett are award winning narrators.
The audio is flawless.
I absolutely love the darkness that Cyntha Pelavo put into this retelling of Peter Pan.
Peter Pan is one of my favorite fairy tales. I would hazard to guess that lots of people find it to be in their top fairy tale pics based on the number of times that it has been written and rewritten and published in all forms of media including books, graphic novels, television shows, and movies both live action and animated. Whenever i bring up the story inevitably someone starts with their favorite version and others follow. Recently the conversation veered into the live action movie Hook with the late Robin Williams.
It Came from Neverland toes the line in the retelling between a sweet fairy tale and a tale of caution and terror. Rather than feeling scary it felt as if I was hearing a recounting of a horrific event from a new or casual acquaintance.
The ambience is front and center. The world building comes in second. The characters feel more of what would come out of news reporting, interviews, and perhaps even a sit down. There isn't the type of building that you would see in a fictional fantasy story, but they are written well and as if real already. The moments of the story from the start feel like actual people with real reactions, so the building is there but it's done in a way as to not describe the characters or give them back stories, but just report as to who they are.
Very well done. I would give it a 4.5, I rated down to a 4 as I don't think it's quite a 5. I will likely read it again at some point as it was that enjoyable.
June 11, 2026
The vibe: very dreamlike-meets-nightmare.
Cynthia Pelayo’s It Came from Neverland is a dark, hypnotic reimagining that blurs the line between folklore, urban legend, and psychological horror—and it lingers long after the final page.
At its core, this novel isn’t just about Peter Pan; it’s about what happens when the idea of Neverland rots. Pelayo takes the familiar mythology and strips it of whimsy, replacing it with grief, obsession, and something deeply unsettling.It feels less like a retelling and more like an infection—Neverland as a creeping, predatory force rather than a place of wonder - a trap.
What stood out most for me was Pelayo’s prose. It’s gorgeous without trying too hard, sharp without losing depth. The emotional undercurrent (grief, guilt, growing up vs. not) hits harder than expected for a horror-leaning story, where the “monster” isn’t just external—it’s memory, longing, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. There’s a rhythm to the storytelling that mirrors a descent—each chapter pulling you deeper into a dreamlike nightmare where reality and myth collapse into each other. You don’t just read this book; you absorb it.
If you like your retellings dark, bizarre and just unsettling enough to make you side-eye your childhood favorites… yeah, this one’s for you.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and the author for gifting me this ARC through NetGalley. As always, the opinions in this review are my very own.
Cynthia Pelayo’s It Came from Neverland is a dark, hypnotic reimagining that blurs the line between folklore, urban legend, and psychological horror—and it lingers long after the final page.
At its core, this novel isn’t just about Peter Pan; it’s about what happens when the idea of Neverland rots. Pelayo takes the familiar mythology and strips it of whimsy, replacing it with grief, obsession, and something deeply unsettling.It feels less like a retelling and more like an infection—Neverland as a creeping, predatory force rather than a place of wonder - a trap.
What stood out most for me was Pelayo’s prose. It’s gorgeous without trying too hard, sharp without losing depth. The emotional undercurrent (grief, guilt, growing up vs. not) hits harder than expected for a horror-leaning story, where the “monster” isn’t just external—it’s memory, longing, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. There’s a rhythm to the storytelling that mirrors a descent—each chapter pulling you deeper into a dreamlike nightmare where reality and myth collapse into each other. You don’t just read this book; you absorb it.
If you like your retellings dark, bizarre and just unsettling enough to make you side-eye your childhood favorites… yeah, this one’s for you.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and the author for gifting me this ARC through NetGalley. As always, the opinions in this review are my very own.
August 20, 2026
:(
I shouldn't have finished reading this.
I kind of wonder why the author choose this story to adapt. I loved Peter Pan as a little kid, both the book and the movie, and even at the time I noticed that there elements that are creepy or off-putting. If I were choosing to adapt that story into a horror I would probably think about those elements, and maybe expand on them. This book never really touched on what made the original story actually creepy.
The closest it came was the half hearted attempt at talking about "loosing yourself and forgetting your past" that it mentioned. But that was never really developed in any meaningful way. It also suffered from a problem I think a lot of horror books suffer from of having the characters be too self aware while in the thick of manipulation.
I feel like the scary part about a place like neverland is how fun it seems to kids, you go on adventures and see magical creatures and do cool action hero things, kind of like a younger version of older myths of people vanishing to fairy land or tir na nog and drinking and partying.
Because this is all told from a more weary adult perspective looking back, the illusion literally is not considered for a single second. They show up to neverland and it sucks. Everyone is having a terrible time and don't regret leaving at all. That's not really Peter Pan anymore that's just some guy who murders kids.
And I recognize that my own personal attachment to the story (as well as my childhood terror at an offhanded mention of Peter "changing" kids to fit down trees better that was in the original book. How? How are you changing them? What are you doing that makes kids physically fit into trees they would not otherwise fit into? you are not a surgeon what are you doing to those kids Peter) is probably clouding my judgement here.
But this also isn't a good story on its own. The lore of it is so nothing, so inconsistent, new elements are added randomly and half of what is there isn't explained. Like the book draws explicit attention to the fact Peter comes around every 12 years and that is a weird number. And exposition man Captain Hook is like "idk man fairies or stars or something" then dies. Then 15 minuets later there is another death scene with just as much post stabbing exposition. Shut up and die already.
Wendy is such a nothing character, her entire arc is supposed to be like valuing herself outside of the service she can provide to others but one of the last scenes is literally her getting hounded into crossing her boundaries by her brothers in the service of some plot device annoying kid. Because this book is told from her perspective as an adult and starts basically the exact time Peter reenters her life she never has a real emotion other than vague fear. Like she likes to read to others? okay? is that supposed to be enough to make me like her? that's not a personality.
This book is so boring.
:(
I shouldn't have finished reading this.
I kind of wonder why the author choose this story to adapt. I loved Peter Pan as a little kid, both the book and the movie, and even at the time I noticed that there elements that are creepy or off-putting. If I were choosing to adapt that story into a horror I would probably think about those elements, and maybe expand on them. This book never really touched on what made the original story actually creepy.
The closest it came was the half hearted attempt at talking about "loosing yourself and forgetting your past" that it mentioned. But that was never really developed in any meaningful way. It also suffered from a problem I think a lot of horror books suffer from of having the characters be too self aware while in the thick of manipulation.
I feel like the scary part about a place like neverland is how fun it seems to kids, you go on adventures and see magical creatures and do cool action hero things, kind of like a younger version of older myths of people vanishing to fairy land or tir na nog and drinking and partying.
Because this is all told from a more weary adult perspective looking back, the illusion literally is not considered for a single second. They show up to neverland and it sucks. Everyone is having a terrible time and don't regret leaving at all. That's not really Peter Pan anymore that's just some guy who murders kids.
And I recognize that my own personal attachment to the story (as well as my childhood terror at an offhanded mention of Peter "changing" kids to fit down trees better that was in the original book. How? How are you changing them? What are you doing that makes kids physically fit into trees they would not otherwise fit into? you are not a surgeon what are you doing to those kids Peter) is probably clouding my judgement here.
But this also isn't a good story on its own. The lore of it is so nothing, so inconsistent, new elements are added randomly and half of what is there isn't explained. Like the book draws explicit attention to the fact Peter comes around every 12 years and that is a weird number. And exposition man Captain Hook is like "idk man fairies or stars or something" then dies. Then 15 minuets later there is another death scene with just as much post stabbing exposition. Shut up and die already.
Wendy is such a nothing character, her entire arc is supposed to be like valuing herself outside of the service she can provide to others but one of the last scenes is literally her getting hounded into crossing her boundaries by her brothers in the service of some plot device annoying kid. Because this book is told from her perspective as an adult and starts basically the exact time Peter reenters her life she never has a real emotion other than vague fear. Like she likes to read to others? okay? is that supposed to be enough to make me like her? that's not a personality.
This book is so boring.
:(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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