Tink and Wendy

Kelly Ann Jacobson's reimagining of Peter Pan is not for the faint hearted as we see this particular story through Tink's eyes from a Then and a Now perspective. I feel the need to say that for the most part the now, has Tink struggling with alcohol and coffee addiction in the very real world of America rather than Neverland.

This is a reimagining thar makes you truly feel for Peter Pan's Guardian Fairy and whilst you may normally find Pan's refusal to grow up as almost endearing; Jacobson gives us a Pan who is infuriating as he wants the best of both worlds and whose antics and childishness are his greatest fault. I wanted to drag him back to Neverland and keep him far FAR away from the Darling children and Tinker Bell.

As well as the two narratives set in diffenr tike frames, we also learn about events throughout the book from the pages of Neverland Lore and these are fascinating and bring depth to familiar characters from J.M Barrie's 1911 book. Learning albeit in brief stages how Tinker Bell became Peter's guardian makes so much sense thanks to Jacobson as I always wondered how such a fierce fairy who refused to behave would guide the leader of the Lost Boys and protect the forgotten children from harm.

You cannot help but hope she gets her happy ever after, and with the arrival of Hope Darling, a brilliantly written original character; you get to see glimpses of Tink's life both the good and the bad and I love how Hope is able to breathe life into the old fairy whose life has been frozen for fourty years whilst as well know, those in Neverland forget her. Tink's love for both Wendy and Peter is beautiful and tragic in it's portrayal and you as the reader will want to often hug the broken fairy who has remained in the Darling home haunted by the ghosts of those she has lost for decades. Even during her worst moments, she's still so very much the sprite who we all know in her green uniform but somehow.. more.

There are moments that feel a little rushed, but it doesn't deflect from the story in any manner; Tink and Wendy is dark at times and deals with many situations that could be potentially triggering - alcohol addiction for one. I will also say that you don't truly get enough insight into the real love Tink and Wendy have for one another; and whilst the brief glimpses do work? I did want a little more of their connection and a little less of Wendy and Peter - though their relationship is also extremely important to the story.

Also - could we please have Neverland: A History published because what we got was incredible, and maybe a tale about a certain pirate who dislikes clocks?

Trigger Warnings: alcoholism, addiction, self harm and suicidal idolatry, teen pregnancy and childbirth, death, abandonment (parental and sibling), vehical accidents