Breaking Neverland: A Retelling of Peter Pan, Part II (The Classical Kingdoms #9) By Brittany Fichter

Author's Note: This book is the sequel to Neverland Falling, A Retelling of Peter Pan, Part I

Neverland is breaking.

Wendy has been banished.

Peter Pan is losing control.

Peter has banished Wendy from Neverland, but she's determined to return to fetch her brothers. To go back, however, she'll need a miracle. Such a miracle will be costly, and Wendy must decide whom to trust and how far she’s prepared to go...as well as how willing she is to leave Peter Pan to his fate.

Peter and the Neverstar are upholding a skeleton of the place Neverland once was. And without Wendy beside him, the effort seems doomed to futility. Just as he’s about to give up, though, redemption looms on the horizon…but with it comes sacrifice of monumental proportions.

And while Captain Jay might be gone, his schemes haven't been forgotten. The more Peter and the captain and Wendy play their dangerous games, the more Neverland begins to crumble. Everything he loves is going to come crashing down, and Peter must choose which to save before he loses it all.

Breaking Neverland is the ninth book in The Classical Kingdoms Collection and is the sequel to Neverland Falling. Read this fairy tale retelling now to experience danger, intrigue, and passionate, clean romance as only fairy tales can give. Breaking Neverland: A Retelling of Peter Pan, Part II (The Classical Kingdoms #9)

I really enjoyed this book as being a part of the Kingdom Classics. I love the story of Peter Pan and couldn’t help but love how this story ended.

In the first book, Wendy loves the idea of Peter Pan that she makes her own stories for her siblings. She is expected to take over the family ranch and one day finds herself engaged to a man she’s just recently met. With the help of the new farm boy, Peter, he takes her, her brothers, and her dog to Neverland to escape from getting married.

In the second book, Wendy is banished from Neverland but her brothers are still there. While she was in Neverland, her friend got the idea to send a letter to King Everard to help her locate Wendy. Once he finds out the fae are involved, he takes off directly to help find Wendy.

I really love this story because she makes sure the lost boys are taken care of and have the knowledge to understand the outside world. I enjoyed the romance between Peter and Wendy so much I purchased the necklace from the link to her sister-in-laws Etsy account and love to wear it!

I can’t wait for the next book in the series, I’ve read the latest 3 sneak peeks as per the newsletter. I’m excited to read it next!! Breaking Neverland: A Retelling of Peter Pan, Part II (The Classical Kingdoms #9) *A few spoilers*

Too many emotions and too many thoughts. Gah!

This book started out rather slow. Since it picked up right where the first book left off, the start of this one felt like a prolonged middle.
Things did eventually pick up when Wendy reached the final straw with the Fae and had to escape Neverland.

Wendy was a lot stronger in this book than the last, likely because she finally stopped running and began fighting.

Peter, stubborn, self-sacrificing Peter. He made me love him and want to shake him all at once.
It's his nature to protect those he cares about, so he always tried to do the right thing, but it was a moment worth cheering at when he finally stood up for himself and fought back.

His sacrifice, though I knew he would live in the end, was great and honestly made me tear up.
It was bittersweet when the characters realized that he had used the last of his strength and his life to protect Wendy, the Lost Boys, the redeemed Fae, and even sent Jay back to his mother.

Peter and Wendy’s love for each other was fierce, tragic, and beautiful. There was honestly so much more depth to them and their relationship than I would have expected of a Peter Pan retelling.

I admit, I was expecting it to happen, but I was disappointed when Jay was revealed to be a villain after all. The author did a fantastic job of making me like him and I thought we would have a good Captain Hook, but that didn’t happen.

The writing and descriptions were so alive and vivid. I honestly felt like I was in Neverland along with everyone as it was crumbling down.

And let me tell you, those villain deaths were so deserved and so satisfying.

The whole time after Peter’s sacrifice I knew he was going to be revealed to be alive, but as the book got closer and closer to the end, I was getting kind of nervous that it was going to have a bittersweet ending rather than a happy one. I was wrong, and I'm glad.

The ending was just perfect, and it was the bow on top of a really incredible duology within a series! Neverland falling and breaking neverland - brilliant. The best books of the classical kingdom collection so far!!! (yes, I read the becoming beauty books, and they are great! 5stars! But) this is a masterpiece! Especially the ending ðŸ'œ
A must read!
(and you really want to subscribe to brittany fichters newsletter, the secret chapters of all books, but especially these 2 books, are so worth it!)
The story may be full of fantasy, but at the same time it is so authentic, so comprehensible and so full of love.
I liked Wendy being so straight forward, brave, kind etc.
But the depths of Peter's love (not just for Wendy) and compassion and his readiness to sacrifice himself over and over so willingly... That kind of humbled me.
It may not be the book, which tells about 'the maker' the most, but in this case, you could sense so much of Him through the characters (without the need to always remind the reader of Him) that less was more. (Oh and a certain queen provided for all who like more obviousness just fine - and yes you will see her husband too;)

I want to read sooo much more of Peters and Wendys stories😉

Ps.: i would recommend to read the books in order, it pays off;) I received a free copy of this book, and I am voluntarily posting my review. What an amazing conclusion to the Duology! Peter Pan has never been one of my favorites, but Fichter has done a fantastic job in this retelling. It will give you all the feels, and you may ugly cry, and then happy cry. Also, kudos to Fichter for giving Nana a decent role. I always hated that Nana got left behind in the original. 306 Oh wow, what a ride! I love Brittany’s retellings, and this one did not disappoint. Her unique take on the fairies of Neverland, Captain Hook, Peter Pan, of course, and even Neverland itself is so creative and flows so well into the world she’s created with her other tales. I love the themes of growing up, and what that entails, along with the fantastical aspects that she weaves in so well. Though Peter Pan is one of my absolute least favorite fairy tales, she does an amazing job reinventing the story into something beautiful, even if heartbreaking some times. I loved this story much like the rest of her series, and am looking forward to her next adventure!

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, but was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own. Fantasy

It had been a minute since I'd read part I of this duology, and I had to re-read that chunk before I could even begin my journey into this finale. Three to 3.5 may seem harsh, but calm yourselves (whoever you are). I have my reasons:

Pros/Interesting Elements
-Sexist Roles Seem Inescapable
*Although Wendy is taking care of children she loves (AKA the Lost Boys) with a person she loves/craves adventure as she does (Peter), we still get these moments of frustration that would've plagued Wendy as a housewife in her own world while being married to Rueben: chasing after kids all day, keeping them from a visibly distant/tired Peter/father figure, dreaming of the days past when the said love interest literally captured a rainbow for her.
-Darkness Looms
*Rather than a Peter Pan retelling that boasts a lush Neverland, this world is in shambles. I'm talkin' beetles feeding on the forest, dying vegetation to the point of Wendy needing to use her imagination to picture/conjure up food for their table.
*Not only are the visuals darker, but the emotions as well: Like her parents before her, Wendy and Peter must now put on brave faces for the Lost Boys, telling them not to worry when Peter's sighs carry across the house after a long day of trying to keep Neverland/the star's death at bay.
-More Than Meets the Eye
*Unlike OG Peter, this version isn't callous in the least. He feels genuine sadness when a Lost Boy decides to grow up and move on (He gets rather choked up when Wendy mentions seeing the boy turned man now contemplating marriage). Peter also takes part in the child care process, staying up late to rock a teething Slightly to sleep even after Wendy's been banished from Neverland.
-Temptation to Move On/Feminist Crit.
*Despite their sweetness, kisses shared with Wendy are dangerous. Her mere presence is a threat to Neverland because every moment Peter is alone with Wendy/dreams of deeper kisses in the future and the children they could have, means he could be convinced to grow up. And then who would cater to Neverland's needs?
*The idea that Neverland is a bit of matriarchy is an interesting concept:
1.Peter is ruled by the star, who is a woman, and loved him like a son.
2.He's beholden/in fear of not Jay (Captain Hook), but Tiger Lilly. She's the one who banishes Wendy and wields the upper hand when double crossing Peter with Jay. Jay's the one begging her to calm down/listen, trying to avoid her wrath.
3.Wendy is key to his future or demise (depending on who you ask in the story), possessing the power of influence over Peter. Her urging Peter into growing up despite being told not to could be read as the dangerous woman or too stupid to live, but I prefer to see it as Wendy's autonomy.
4.Bonus: Wendy calls out Peter's cowardice, his play boy-esque behavior with her heart (AKA kissing her in the first place, playing the what if game with no intention of making it real). OG Wendy could never.
-On My Own
*Once Wendy's back in her world, there's an emphasis on her having to come up with plans on her own. Her brothers are stuck in Neverland, she must bargain with her would-be husband for a chance at his library, and taking down Jay with her own tactics/commanding the others he captured to follow her lead. All done without Peter/hope that he'll be able to help her. I liked that his betrayal brought out this independent/proactive streak in a usually submissive/moony eyed character.
*Wendy's not willing to give up a multifaceted motherhood: she wants to write, have adventures, all while being married out of love and raising children. While the the having children bit isn't my scene, I can appreciate/support someone who wants to have it all.
-Romance
*The What If Game was so sweet it gave me a toothache and their flirting wasn't too shabby either.
*Them being called Peter and Wendy Pan just warmed my heart.
-Family Ties
*Rather than running away further alienating Wendy from her father, it actually makes him come to her defense (literally) when her former fiancé comes to curse her out/snub Mr. Darling.
-Death of the boy=life of the man really got me.

OG Elements
-Wendy's friend Moira's back. Moira being a ref. to OG Wendy's middle name.
-Jay's got a hook for a hand after Peter cuts it off, plus a fear of crocodiles, just like OG Captain Hook, who fears hearing the tick tock of the deadly croc hunting him down.
-Peter brings the crocodile straight to Jay, and just like OG Peter does to Hook, forces him to walk the plank/dangle over the edge of the waiting crocodile.
-Wendy's got a shadow that can separate from herself and fears it will cause Peter to think she's out to kill him, much like Peter's shadow gets away from him/causing mischief in the OG story.
-Wendy wears a green stone on a necklace, gifted to her by Peter. Unlike OG Peter, he knew what the thimble she gave him represented. So, in lieu of being able to give a real kiss, this Peter returns her favor of a trinket/necklace, hoping she'll recognize it as a kiss too.

Cons
-Info Dumping
*The twist that if Neverland/the star dies, then Peter does too, is told to us with less than a hundred pages to go. Some may call that a twist, but I saw it as a soap opera cheap trick to up the stakes. Plus, Wendy's reaction was comically overdramatic. Couldn't we have seen Peter getting weaker from chapter one, rather than show him as a tired father figure? The distinction may not sound like much, but showing this idea would make a big difference.
*Mr. Darling spends three pages talking about how Wendy almost died as an infant. He does this after throwing this info on her randomly in the middle of the day. Wendy does the old soap opera How could this happen? You're a farmer known 'round the surrounding lands for your amazing work ethic. Literally says it just like that. Girl, we already saw this with how your father's able to snag dinner with the king's magistrate/hire all multiple farmhands to work his ever expanding fields.
*King/Fae elements are sloppy. Why did we need this? These ideas made a short book drag on for way too long. Just unnecessary.

See? I do have my reasons. I have been eagerly waiting for this book ever since I read Part I, Neverland Falling. Breaking Neverland is Part II of Brittany Fichter’s Peter Pan retelling. Breaking Neverland picks up where Neverland Falling ends and it was a wonderful conclusion! Wendy just wanted to find a place to call her own, someone who would love her for who she is. She never thought that she would fall in love with a boy who didn’t want to grow up or how it would cost her. Now she needs to return to Neverland to save her brothers and hopefully Peter too.
Okay, so Wendy was so cool. I loved her relationship with the lost boys and how she truly cared for Peter. However, there were times where I wanted to shake her because she didn’t understand all that Peter was going through. But that was probably because we could see Peter’s thoughts. She was such a mom, but I loved how being with Peter allowed her to relax and enjoy being young.
Wendy went through so much and I was so worried for her as she had to figure out what it meant to love Peter and how to save her brothers. She was stubborn but she loved with her whole heart. She had to learn to own up to her mistakes and to trust those around her. It was fun watching her grow up and learn to forgive not only herself but those around her for past mistakes.
Peter had grown up even without knowing himself. He had let himself be manipulated by the fae for so long that he didn’t know how to stand up for himself. However, amidst all of Peter’s faults I still liked him. He was a sweet boy who just wanted to protect those he loved. He had the weight of the world on his shoulders and he was starting to break.
Peter needed to find himself and figure out what he was willing to risk in order to save those he loved. He had to figure out if he was willing to grow up. Peter had to undergo his own changes before he was truly ready to love Wendy and be the man she needed.
Breaking Neverland was amazing! I loved reading it and I can’t wait to read what else Ms. Fichter writes! I loved seeing some old characters and watching the books connect. Moira, Wendy’s friend was so sweet and it was so cool to see her more in this book. I also enjoyed reading about Wendy’s parents.
Breaking Neverland is the 9th book in Brittany Fichter’s Classical Kingdom series. IF you have read any of her other books, you need to read her Peter Pan retellings! They are so good and I would definitely recommend them. Breaking Neverland is a must read, but you do have to read Part I, Neverland Falling, first.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Fantasy This is such an interesting look at the story of Neverland and Peter Pan. It ties in to her other series as well with the Fae and King Everard playing a role in the story.

Neverland exists because the Fae made a deal with Peter when he was 8 years old. He bound his heart to an everstar and was given powers. He created a land where the Fae could live and not die, but they also couldn't change to their other forms either. Peter just had to never grow up.

Wendy grew up hearing stories of Neverland and Peter Pan from one of the Lost Boys who returned to the real world. In the first book she goes to Neverland with her brothers and over time she and Peter fall in love, which causes Neverland to begin to break down. Peter has to make a choice, Wendy or Neverland. But Wendy doesn't know that Peter's heart is tied to the Neverstar and if it dies so does Peter. She plans to leave knowing that if she does it may save Peter and Neverland, but she hesitates and things come to a head, especially when Jay interferes.

This is a wonderful re-telling of Peter Pan, and it's clean! Kindle Edition A very good conclusion to the Neverland story.

A very sweet retelling and a fun return to the imaginative world created in Neverland Falling. Wendy is a very relatable character, and I enjoyed seeing how she and the rest of the characters grew from the first story to this one. 306 Such a good ending to this story! If there was more about this characters, I’d for sure read it because it really made me happy to read this book. It really is the retelling I’d been looking for!

Thank you, Brittany Fichter, for writing this and thank, Amazon gift card, for allowing me to buy it! 306