This was a beyond good book. It is 4.5 stars for me. I really loved the world and the the characters were so engaging and such a fast pace read. I loved the twist on neveland and it was so cool. I really enjoyed the duel POV we got and was invested in both sides of the story. I just loved how twisted this story became and all the tieback and connections to the orginal story. I loved the cast of characters and also how the book still addressed historical issues but also brought urban fantasy elements as well. I think the setting of this book was so strong and so well crafted as well. I really loved this story and can't wait for the sequel. ( )

This was a beyond good book. It is 4.5 stars for me. I really loved the world and the the characters were so engaging and such a fast pace read. I loved the twist on neveland and it was so cool. I really enjoyed the duel POV we got and was invested in both sides of the story. I just loved how twisted this story became and all the tieback and connections to the orginal story. I loved the cast of characters and also how the book still addressed historical issues but also brought urban fantasy elements as well. I think the setting of this book was so strong and so well crafted as well. I really loved this story and can't wait for the sequel. ( )

FROM AMAZON: Forget the story of Peter Pan you know. Because in Everland, 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 are children, among them Gwen Darling and her siblings, Joanna and Mikey. They spend their nights scavenging and their days avoiding the ruthless Marauders - the German army led by Captain Hanz Otto Oswald Kretschmer.

Unsure if the virus has spread past England's borders but desperate to leave, Captain Hook hunts for a cure, which he thinks can be found in one of the survivors. He and his Marauders stalk the streets snatching children for experimentation. None ever return. Until the day they grab Joanna.

As Gwen sets out to save her, she meets a mysterious boy named Pete. Pete offers the assistance of his gang of Lost Boys and 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 will cost Gwen. And are she, Pete, the Lost Boys, and Bella enough to outsmart Captain Hook? ( )

The publisher of Everland, Scholastic, was really excited for this book. They sent out manuscripts – unbound sheets of printer paper – to booksellers almost a year before the book’s release. In two years I’ve worked in a bookstore and for the 25 years before that the bookstore had been around, no one can recall being sent an unbound manuscript. Needless to say, as the resident lover of all things Peter Pan at the store, the manuscript found it’s way into my hands.

I enjoyed Everland. It has a clever premise with hints of steampunk and allusions to historical events. It is a quick and enjoyable read, the plot is well paced and well structured. I had found myself in a reading slump before I picked it up to read and Everland is a great book palate cleanser. It is serious enough to hold one’s attention and make you think, but light enough that it doesn’t cause any sort of book hangover that would inhibit one from diving directly into the next book on a lengthy TBR list.

The characters are intriguing, none are exact copies of their original Peter Pan inspirations, but they stay true enough to J. M. Barrie’s characters that certain personality traits and behaviors are predictable. However, Spinale makes the circumstances of those actions a surprise as her setting, while bearing a resemblance to the century-old Neverland, is unique to her story. ( )

Everland is a steam-punk/dystopian retelling of Peter Pan. A quite enjoyable one at that.
It takes place in a post-apocalyptic London that was destroyed by bombs and a deadly virus known as the Horologia virus.
The chapters alternate between Gwen and Hook's POV. While I would have liked to see a chapter or two from Pete or Bella's perspective I can understand why it focuses more on Gwen and Hook.

Hook is looking for Gwen who he finds out is the only person who is truly immune to the virus so he needs her for a cure. Meanwhile, Gwen with the help of Pete and the Lost Boys sets out to rescue her sister who was captured by Hook and his marauders.

I don't want to spoil the book for anyone so I won't say any more than that but if you're a fan of retellings that manage to stay (somewhat) true to the original while also crafting an imaginative new story I'd suggest giving Everland a try.

*ARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. ( )