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The Child Thief

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'The Child Thief' by Brom is a dark and twisted retelling of the classic Peter Pan story. The book takes Peter Pan into a modern setting, where he lures troubled children into a misty realm called Avalon to join his band of Devils. The story explores themes of darkness, violence, and the consequences of following a charismatic but dangerous leader like Peter. The writing style is described as atmospheric, captivating, and full of gory and intense moments that keep the reader engrossed in the narrative.

Characters:

The characters are complex and morally ambiguous, with Peter portrayed as both charming and dangerous, and Nick as a relatable teen facing dire choices.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by dark, poetic prose filled with vivid descriptions and graphic violence, complemented by illustrations.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features a dark reimagining of the classic Peter Pan tale, emphasizing themes of neglect and violence as children are recruited into a brutal conflict in Avalon.

Setting:

The setting of Avalon serves as a dark counterpart to the familiar Neverland, infused with Celtic mythology and themes of danger.

Pacing:

The pacing is deliberate, mixing moments of intense action with slower, thoughtful character exploration, making for a dense reading experience.
In a small corner of Prospect Park, in the borough of Brooklyn, New York, a thief lay hidden in the trees. This thief wasn’t searching for an unattended purse, cell phone, or camera. This thief was lo...

Notes:

The Child Thief is a dark retelling of Peter Pan by Brom.
Peter Pan is portrayed as a charismatic and violent leader in this version.
The story includes elements of Celtic mythology intertwined with the Peter Pan legend.
Children recruited by Peter to his island Avalon face a brutal reality and often perish early on.
The narrative explores themes of trauma, survival, and the moral ambiguity of characters.
Brom's writing blends poetic prose with graphic violence, creating a unique reading experience.
The book features illustrations by Brom that enhance the storytelling.
The setting is described as a dying magical land called Avalon, different from the traditional Neverland.
Characters in the story include Nick, a fourteen-year-old boy saved from danger by Peter.
The novel challenges the notion of good vs. evil, portraying complex characters with flawed motivations.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book has high content warnings for themes including child abuse, violence, gore, and disturbing situations.

From The Publisher:

The acclaimed artist Brom brilliantly displays his multiple extraordinary talents in The Child Thief-a spellbinding re-imagining of the beloved Peter Pan story that carries readers through the perilous mist separating our world from the realm of Faerie. As Gregory Maguire did with his New York Times bestselling Wicked novels, Brom takes a classic children's tale and turns it inside-out, painting a Neverland that, like Maguire's Oz, is darker, richer, more complex than innocent world J.M. Barrie originally conceived. An ingeniously executed literary feat, illustrated with Brom's sumptuous artwork, The Child Thief is contemporary fantasy at its finest-casting Peter Pan, the Lost Boys, even Captain Hook and his crew in a breathtaking new light.

Ratings (13)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (5)
Liked It (2)
It Was OK (3)
Did Not Like (2)

Reader Stats (74):

Read It (13)
Currently Reading (2)
Want To Read (47)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (11)

2 comment(s)

Incredible
1 month

I have had this book on my tbr for years but just now picked it up and what a journey this book. Surely it almost killed my childhood dream to join Peter Pan and the lost boys, now I'm very happy that didn't happen. Growing old is not that bad after all

 
It Was OK
4 months

I really really liked the premise, as I am a pretty obsessed with Peter Pan folklore and agree with the author that Pan is a dark character. However, the execution of this dragged on with over-the-top violence and fake kid "street talk" that I started to feel like I was reading fanfiction.

 

About the Author:

Over the past decades, Brom has lent his distinctive visions and artwork to all facets of the creative industries, from novels and games, to comics and film. He is also the author of a series of award-winning illustrated horror novels: Lost Gods, Krampus the Yule Lord, The Child Thief, The Plucker, and The Devil’s Rose. Brom is currently kept in a dank cellar somewhere just outside of Seattle. Visit him at www.bromart.com.

 
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