Clan markings were being ripped down in the town, and in their places crude animal totems were thrown up. And the reason for such deceptions? There was a dark flood of barbarian tribes from the north making forays into the Plains of Mica, their armies streaming forth into the northern reaches of Stravimon. That was a cause for concern to the king. If the tribes came together in their thousands it would be a bloody mess for the towns and cities far beyond Baradium Falls.

Hell’s Keep. An apt moniker. More so than its official designation, Citadel Thirty-Six. The grey, high, fortress-like walls were built into the third highest peak of the Silkspire Mountains, two thousand feet up from one of the long-abandoned merchant routes out of the eastern kingdoms. Well away from the home comforts of Stravimon. This was a place to send only the most hardened and dangerous criminals. Those too deadly to imprison in any normal gaol – but too important or useful to have killed. No one had ever escaped. For two days the tall prisoner had watched the shifty little newcomer with all the keenness of a hungry eagle at dawn. Initially he had thought him merely yet another assassin who had been issued his true name and taken it upon himself to end his days. Like those other failed attempts, this one would no doubt end sadly for the would-be assassin. The most brutal of the cleansing started last summer, when there were harvest festivals and offerings for the Goddess, but the seeds had been planted long before.’Xavir glared at Landril. ‘The man I was, he died out there. Years ago. My swords were taken. I have innocent blood on my hands. They sent me here because of it and they were right to. There is no forgiveness for what we did.’ I guess I should type a bio here. I'm FranJessca, or Fran for short. I'm the owner/reviewer behind A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog. I've been reading and reviewing books on my blog since leaving the Navy in 2011, and I will keep doing it as long as possible. My favorite genres will always be Romance & Fantasy, and I read every subgenre underneath those two genres. (Sorry, not a fan of nonfiction, so don't try to convince me to read it.) There is always something to glean from words, which ones, how they’re said. If they’re used as knives or balms.”

I know those vicious Lost Boys would do anything to protect me. But what if I’m not the one that needs saving?Don’t get me wrong, if you want spice this book is way more focused on that than the plot. There’s no true development of the relationships. It goes from “we’re not sleeping with you” to “you sleep with no one else” in a heartbeat. But in a “you’re our whore and we’ll do whatever we want with you” kind of way. This is where my main problem comes from for the book. I don’t like degrading language during sex scenes. Some people like it, but I don’t. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the series outside of that. I couldn’t set these books down as I read them. The plot of each is a little all over the place, but each book focuses on a specific aspect. Here’s the overview of each book without giving too many spoilers: The conversation with Landril had stirred the burning embers within Xavir. This was a red heat he had suppressed, until suppression had become habit, and habit had become his character. He had never thought of leaving Hell’s Keep after the first year. He had found a way of coping and his satisfaction came from stopping other ruined men from being worse than they were. His gang had become a substitute for his clan, and that sat well with him.

But . . . things were different now that Landril had given him a vision. The outside world – the duchies and Stravimon – was in crisis. People were dying. Lupara, of all people, was involved with Landril’s scheme. That suggested ill times indeed. In a way, being in Hell’s Keep was no longer a punishment, but a shelter from the storm. Elysia sighed. ‘Should we not question what we are shown? Is the world not an illusion? That’s what we’re taught all the time. Those are the words above the archways as you enter the Forgotten Quadrangle.’ Of course. Look, spy, whatever you were out there –’ Xavir gestured with finger to the west – ‘does not apply in here.’For two centuries, every Darling woman goes missing on their eighteenth birthday. It’s pointless to hide turning this time because he’s coming for you no matter what. Winnie Darling has been told since she was a little girl what to expect on her eighteenth birthday, but she doesn’t believe it until the night of her birthday it happens. Her mother tried everything to prevent it from happening, but nothing and no one could stop Peter Pan. Speaking of islands, there are seven in total. Each island has two shadows: one of life and one of death. The individual who claims the Life Shadow is known as the King, while the other is known as the Dark One. Peter Pan once had the Life Shadow for Neverland, but he lost it due to Wendy Darling and Tinker Bell. An event that left Tinker Bell dead after Peter said he didn’t believe in fairies. This is similar to the original tale, as Peter had lost his shadow in that one too when he met Wendy. However, losing one’s shadow (specifically the Life one) results in the island dying and the individual of the said shadow being unable to go into sunlight without it. This is what’s happening to Peter Pan, and he can sense that Winnie is his last chance of regaining his shadow or he will die. A horn’s braying echoed around the walls, and the mammoth iron doors ahead of them screeched demonically as they opened. Landril took one lingering look at freedom before being pushed with the others through the gateway of hell. The Vicious Lost Boys by Nikki St. Crowe is a dark reimaging of Peter Pan and Wendy. This series has four books in total in the main series, though there is going to be a spin-off book in the future. This review is going to focus solely on the main series. These books are fairly short reads, so you can easily read each of them in one sitting. They do have an enemy-to-lover and reverse harem vibe to them, as well as darker undertones. If those aren’t your vibe, then this series isn’t for you. The Never King

The young novice and the old, blue-robed teacher walked in silence along the passageway. Yvindris had a slight limp because of a persistent pain in her left leg which she waxed lyrical about to the bored Elysia. This was typical conversation among the older tutors, seemingly more concerned about news of their health than about magic – and even talking about magic could be dull enough at times. It made Elysia more determined than ever to spend time practising the more physical arts, lest she turn into someone like Yvindris. But things are not all full of magic and sunlight on the island. There’s something darker and more sinister haunting the forest. You always talk like a warrior, not like a prisoner.’ Davlor eyed Xavir with an almost childlike enthusiasm for the supposed glory of military life.

Why can you not do what is a simple task for a sister of your advanced learning?’ Yvindris’s words were neither soft nor harsh, just the same emotionless monotone that most of the old matrons used with her. Only Birgitta was any different. Except when Wrath turns his dark, dangerous power on me...it doesn’t work. And now the villain is looking at me like I’m the enemy. But there was no denying the overwhelming shadow cast by Peter Pan when he was standing in my house.