[Reviews] The Child Thief by Brom
HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLEEEEEEEEEE SHIIIIIIIIIIIT.
OPWFIHOIVWO:FJWEOFIHEOGERFGEFE.
::FLAILS::
GUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH.
I am seriously, seriously in love with this book.
The language can be a little simplistic for my usual taste, but that's the entire point, so that makes it okay. Brom (WTH is this man's first name???) wants to strip all the pretty language and glory from Peter Pan and his Lost Boys, and believe me, he does it well.
In this interpretation of Peter's story, just as much horror as fantasy, Peter is a creature of the liminal spaces, belonging no where and to no one. The readers loves and hates him in equal measure, and sometimes hates him more.
Especially at the end. Oh gods. That end.
I can't talk much about the story, because there's too much that could be spoilery, but I will say that the question of Peter's heritage is not something the reader should consider as part of the plot. It's important, but becomes obvious fairly early on, as soon as all the necessary informational pieces fall into place. Anyone familiar with fantasy and problems of paternity in such stories will see it right away. Pay it no mind. It's important, but not the point.
The point is Peter. The point is Nick. The point is Cricket and Danny and Leroy and Sekeu and Redbone and all the Devils that comprise this Peter's "Lost Boys," many of whom are lost girls. For when this Peter goes hunting for children, he goes in search of the lost and abandoned, the abused and neglected. He wants children who will walk willingly into a dark and dreadful unknown if it means getting away from the hell of their lives, and he takes them into an old and bloody battle.
The book is also peppered with gorgeous illustrations drawn by the author himself, and they are just as darkly, deviously magical as the rest of the story.
This is one of those that as much as I wish it could be otherwise, not everyone will like. Not everyone likes their heroes a little anti-, a little sociopathic, and hard to like, easier to hate.
In short: SOMEONE READ THIS NOW. I NEED TO MUTUALLY FANGIRL WITH SOMEONE. I NEED THIS. PLEASE?
ALSO, THIS NEEDS TO BE A MOVIE. OR BETTER, A WELL-WRITTEN TV SERIES. I NEED TO SEE A WICKED, FERAL RED-HAIRED BOY AND HIS WILD BAND OF CHILD SOLDIERS.
OPWFIHOIVWO:FJWEOFIHEOGERFGEFE.
::FLAILS::
GUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH.
I am seriously, seriously in love with this book.
The language can be a little simplistic for my usual taste, but that's the entire point, so that makes it okay. Brom (WTH is this man's first name???) wants to strip all the pretty language and glory from Peter Pan and his Lost Boys, and believe me, he does it well.
In this interpretation of Peter's story, just as much horror as fantasy, Peter is a creature of the liminal spaces, belonging no where and to no one. The readers loves and hates him in equal measure, and sometimes hates him more.
Especially at the end. Oh gods. That end.
I can't talk much about the story, because there's too much that could be spoilery, but I will say that the question of Peter's heritage is not something the reader should consider as part of the plot. It's important, but becomes obvious fairly early on, as soon as all the necessary informational pieces fall into place. Anyone familiar with fantasy and problems of paternity in such stories will see it right away. Pay it no mind. It's important, but not the point.
The point is Peter. The point is Nick. The point is Cricket and Danny and Leroy and Sekeu and Redbone and all the Devils that comprise this Peter's "Lost Boys," many of whom are lost girls. For when this Peter goes hunting for children, he goes in search of the lost and abandoned, the abused and neglected. He wants children who will walk willingly into a dark and dreadful unknown if it means getting away from the hell of their lives, and he takes them into an old and bloody battle.
The book is also peppered with gorgeous illustrations drawn by the author himself, and they are just as darkly, deviously magical as the rest of the story.
This is one of those that as much as I wish it could be otherwise, not everyone will like. Not everyone likes their heroes a little anti-, a little sociopathic, and hard to like, easier to hate.
In short: SOMEONE READ THIS NOW. I NEED TO MUTUALLY FANGIRL WITH SOMEONE. I NEED THIS. PLEASE?
ALSO, THIS NEEDS TO BE A MOVIE. OR BETTER, A WELL-WRITTEN TV SERIES. I NEED TO SEE A WICKED, FERAL RED-HAIRED BOY AND HIS WILD BAND OF CHILD SOLDIERS.