Everland (Everland #1) by Wendy Spinale

Everland by Wendy Spinale is a the first in a YA spin-off with this starter taking on a steampunk, darker, apocalyptic version of Peter Pan.

“The only way to grow up is to survive.

London has been destroyed in a blitz of bombs and disease. The only ones who have survived the destruction and the outbreak of a deadly virus are children, among them sixteen-year-old Gwen Darling and her younger siblings, Joanna and Mikey. They spend their nights scavenging and their days avoiding the deadly Marauders—the German army led by the cutthroat Captain Hanz Otto Oswald Kretschmer.

Unsure if the virus has spread past England’s borders but desperate to leave, Captain Hook is on the hunt for a cure, which he thinks can be found in one of the surviving children. He and his Marauders stalk the streets snatching children for experimentation. None ever return.

Until one day when they grab Joanna. Gwen will stop at nothing to get her sister back, but as she sets out, she crosses paths with a daredevil named Pete. Pete offers the assistance of his gang of Lost Boys and the fierce sharpshooter Bella, who have all been living in a city hidden underground. But in a place where help has a steep price and every promise is bound by blood, it might cost Gwen more than she bargained for. And are Gwen, Pete, the Lost Boys, and Bella enough to outsmart the ruthless Captain Hook?“

Overall Rating : 5/5 – This book brought a dark twist to Peter Pan while also providing an original storyline. The apocalyptic world with fierce pirates and a mysterious virus made this series a solid opener.

Cover Rating : 5/5 – I love the steampunk look to the cover!

Plot Excitement : 5/5 – Completely hooked!

Quick Read : 5/5 – I listened to the audiobook in a matter of 4 days.

Emotional Connection : 5/5 – The added touches of the audiobook sold this series for me. The two narrators were perfect for the characters, especially Hook.

World Building : 4/5 – I felt like there could have been more of the world-building, but I think the next book may answer my questions.

Unique YA : 4/5 – Even though this is a re-telling, the minor similarities to the original tale allowed this book to still be unique.

Possible Re-Read : 3/5 – The story was interesting, but I don’t think I’ll be picking this up again anytime soon.