Release Date: July 3, 2012
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Harper Teen
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 292
Source: Bought
Interest: Fairy Tale Retellings; So many raving reviews!
Buy the Book: IndieBound | Amazon | B&N
Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair. . . .
Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell.
Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything—her family, her future—to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.
With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.
From the New York Times bestselling author of Peaches comes a magical and bewitching story of the romance between a fearless heroine and the boy who wouldn't grow up.
Rating: 5 / 5 Riceballs
Book Review:
I admit that before I heard SO many raving reviews about this book, I thought it was some corny, cliché paranormal romance. Judging from my rating, Tiger Lily definitely wasn't. True, it was a love story, but it was also emotional, tragic, beautiful, and heartbreaking.
As I've mentioned many times before, I'm a huge fan of fairy tales! Personally, I really liked it that Tiger Lily, a character that has very little attention or screen time in adaptations (namely, the Disney one), had her own story. Admittedly, I don't know the tale very well, but the idea is something that I never really thought of, so I loved how Jodi Lynn Anderson portrayed Tiger Lily's story! Neverland and its other various creatures and tribes were also explored, in a sort of curious and dark but fantastical way ^__^
I also enjoyed Tiger Lily's character! In the story, so many bad things happen to her, but she still manages to be a generous person. A lot of times, a villager or group of natives might make bully or abuse her, although Tiger Lily ends up not doing anything in return. She's also a very forgiving person, and is willing to give, expecting almost nothing at all in return. Throughout the book, even though the sheer length is pretty short, you see aspects and details of her character that brought her out as both emotionally vulnerable at times, but still growing stronger to overcome her problems.
The side characters were also well characterized! Tik Tok was probably my favorite: he was eccentric in his own ways, but such a smart and caring character. Pine Sap was also adorable, and his friendship and constant support for Tiger Lily warmed my heart. Peter and the Lost Boys were predictable mischivous, but lovable. Even Giant (the monstrous guy Tiger Lily is supposed to marry) and the various "Aunts" in the village brought something to the story!
Peter & Tiger Lily's relationship was also well developed and well, sweet. I know in the original Peter tale there's not much of a romance, except for the thimble-kiss with Wendy, but I still felt like it added to the story. It's actually well drawn out throughout the beginning to middle of the story, but personally I liked it like that ^__^ Of course, because that the romance (and eventual end) don't really match with the original tale, readers looking for something that REALLY matches with the original might be disappointed.
And the ending! It just tore me up! Tiger Lily is actually the type of book that tells you from the beginning that there's not a happy ending, and as a reader you could probably also predict it. I knew I knew I knew it was coming, but it still made my heart hurt! And what added to that was that Tiger Lily eventually forgave Peter, which really showed her power to forgive, and that even love could be let go...
Overall, Tiger Lily was an instant favorite of mine, with a sweet romance and heartbreak at the end. The writing style, characters, and plot all made for a beautiful but bittersweet story. Fans of fantasy-romance would probably enjoy this book, although readers looking for a read that matches with the original tale might be disappointed. If you're thinking about checking this one out however, definitely do so - I think it's worth your time ^__^
As I've mentioned many times before, I'm a huge fan of fairy tales! Personally, I really liked it that Tiger Lily, a character that has very little attention or screen time in adaptations (namely, the Disney one), had her own story. Admittedly, I don't know the tale very well, but the idea is something that I never really thought of, so I loved how Jodi Lynn Anderson portrayed Tiger Lily's story! Neverland and its other various creatures and tribes were also explored, in a sort of curious and dark but fantastical way ^__^
I also enjoyed Tiger Lily's character! In the story, so many bad things happen to her, but she still manages to be a generous person. A lot of times, a villager or group of natives might make bully or abuse her, although Tiger Lily ends up not doing anything in return. She's also a very forgiving person, and is willing to give, expecting almost nothing at all in return. Throughout the book, even though the sheer length is pretty short, you see aspects and details of her character that brought her out as both emotionally vulnerable at times, but still growing stronger to overcome her problems.
The side characters were also well characterized! Tik Tok was probably my favorite: he was eccentric in his own ways, but such a smart and caring character. Pine Sap was also adorable, and his friendship and constant support for Tiger Lily warmed my heart. Peter and the Lost Boys were predictable mischivous, but lovable. Even Giant (the monstrous guy Tiger Lily is supposed to marry) and the various "Aunts" in the village brought something to the story!
Peter & Tiger Lily's relationship was also well developed and well, sweet. I know in the original Peter tale there's not much of a romance, except for the thimble-kiss with Wendy, but I still felt like it added to the story. It's actually well drawn out throughout the beginning to middle of the story, but personally I liked it like that ^__^ Of course, because that the romance (and eventual end) don't really match with the original tale, readers looking for something that REALLY matches with the original might be disappointed.
And the ending! It just tore me up! Tiger Lily is actually the type of book that tells you from the beginning that there's not a happy ending, and as a reader you could probably also predict it. I knew I knew I knew it was coming, but it still made my heart hurt! And what added to that was that Tiger Lily eventually forgave Peter, which really showed her power to forgive, and that even love could be let go...
Overall, Tiger Lily was an instant favorite of mine, with a sweet romance and heartbreak at the end. The writing style, characters, and plot all made for a beautiful but bittersweet story. Fans of fantasy-romance would probably enjoy this book, although readers looking for a read that matches with the original tale might be disappointed. If you're thinking about checking this one out however, definitely do so - I think it's worth your time ^__^
I have not read this book but I definitely would sometime.
ReplyDeleteI love the story of Peter Pan and The Lost Boys. But the girl with the crow feather in her hair seems very interesting.Also love it when there is not happy ending but great characters.
GREAT review, Rachael-Madison
Your reader,
Soma
Hi Soma! I love Peter Pan too, and a great ending, even if it's not happy, with great characters always makes my day <3
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Nice! I loooved this one as well! While I enjoy Disney's version, because they're Disney, I thought this was a very fresh and unique way of telling the tale!!
ReplyDeleteAlso loved that Tink is the narrator and seriously, how creepy was Smee?!
Great review!
I totally agree - I love Disney even if their tales aren't 100% accurate, because they're just so cute & happy! Tink was also a great narrator too! As for Smee, he definitely was a bit creepy, but he was, well, interesting...
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Yes, I agree! I knew the ending, but damn, it made my heart cry :(
ReplyDeleteI just LOVE this book <3 I want to read it over and over again.
I haven't read Tiger Lily yet, but it sounds so good! I love Peter Pan and can't wait to see what the author does with the tale in 'Tiger Lily'.
ReplyDeleteI really want to read this! It sounds so interesting! And told from Tinker Bell? It's a win for me! :)
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