Second Star to the Left: 1 (Reimagined Fairy Tales)

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Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a review. This kindness does not affect my opinions of this book, which are wholly my own. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book. My opinions are my own! The same quote had also been used in a few other Star Trek works. In Star Trek: The Motion Picture - Handbook of Production Information, the goal of making Star Trek: The Motion Picture was said to be " to dazzle the senses, to make visions soar. To make possible that journey to the second star to the right, straight on until morning." In the penultimate scene from the script for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Kirk told Saavik, " Lieutenant, new course: 'Second star to the right and straight on till morning.'" [1] Although the line didn't make the final cut of that film, it appears in the novelization of Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, written by Vonda N. McIntyre. Tink was a very fun and loveable character and the enemies to lovers romance between her and Hook was a joy to read! Another thing that bothered me was that they found the scale easily. The witch gave them a riddle — okay — but are you really telling me that it was just that easy? Save for the fog? Like Tinker Bell just managed to spot everything coincidentally? It was boring and anticlimactic.

There’s something interesting that I’ve noticed while reading the last few romantic fantasy novels that I’ve come across, including Second Star to the Left. When the tension is high and our MCs are in a dangerous spot, my mind unwittingly starts warning me that someone is going to die; this is fantasy and there has to be repercussions to make the stakes feel high, right? Not so with my last two reads, which openly guaranteed happily ever afters for their characters. It’s funny, before reading these last two books, The Isle of a Thousand Worlds and Second Star to the Left, I would have thought that a guaranteed HEA would destroy the tension being built by the story. Instead, what I have found is that it actually enhances my experience because I know that nothing terrible is going to happen to these characters I have fallen in love with over the course of the book. Now, I’m not opposed to some good old-fashioned suffering, but this has proven to be a welcome reprieve from the standard doom and gloom that fantasy can sometimes dip into. Brought together by feud, curses and an unexpected mutual treasure hunt style quest, these two must work together to obtain their common goal. Putting aside their differences and opinions of each other seems out of the question - until an undeniable passion and some new understandings begin to change everything. It's hard to describe much about the book without giving away too much. When we meet Tink, she is on a mission retrieving a valuable jewel for the mermaid queen. She is the only one capable of providing the means for Tink to return to her homeland, where she was cast out. Let's just say this jewel might just be in possession of a certain handsome pirate, who's missing a hand... I also wished for a more 3D portrayal of Hook as an amputee. More of his daily challenges, how he adapts. Routine stump & prosthesis care. Atrophy/skin breakdown considerations. Prosthesis design details & suspension method. What his recovery would have entailed. There was a bedroom scene when his stump ‘disappears’ partway through, something akin to “white-room syndrome,” which I don’t think was intentional at all, but it was something I noticed. If his stump was something Hook was self-conscious about and continuing to hide, I would have liked for Tink to have noticed and to have continued trying to reassure him/build up his confidence.So my dynamic with this story already had a bit of a running start. I’ve been a huge fan of Megan’s stories since we first met years ago. She has this incredible way of weaving sexual tension and fiery passion into a fantasy world that takes my breath away–and kinda makes me press my thighs together. Romance readers know what I’m talking about! This is a before-Wendy story that exposes connections and relationships between Neverland's most famous faces that nobody's ever known about before. It provides a lot of insight, for those who can read between the lines and look ahead to the timeline of the classic tale, as to why Peter and Tink have such a volatile relationship and why Tink even wants to hang around. It provides an interesting connection between Peter and Hook, as well, and definitely does an excellent job at making Hook a lot more human. He's still a pirate captain, he's still not on the right side of the law (if such a thing exists in a place like Neverland) and he's still motivated by greed and revenge, but we get to see him as a sympathetic, flawed man who has redeeming qualities.

Without spoiling anything, there’s a big “trust fall” moment that I loved, because of Hook’s complete faith in Tink. It’s a moment when he could’ve easily said, “No, don’t. You’re too hurt, too weak,” but he doesn’t because she said she could do it. He trusts and respects that she knows her own body and capabilities. Along with the romance, there’s a healthy dose of adventure, humor, and suspense as Hook and Tink are forced to work together to right some of the wrongs from each of their pasts. This book left me on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next. It truly draws you in completely! Fantasy brilliance of the highest form, this story will transport you to the mystical world of Neverland - with adult twists that will leave readers begging for more. But going into this story, already a huge fan of Megan’s work, was counter-balanced by the fact that Peter Pan is probably my least favorite fairy tale. I’ve never been a fan of the lost boys concept, and Hook has always been portrayed as a douche-waffle (with the exception of Once Upon a Time).

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this was such a cute retelling of Peter Pan. i loved this version of Tinker Bell and Captain Hook. because of this book i'll never not see Hook and Tink as endgame. boom. a ship has been born. The author’s writing was easy, fun and enjoyable. This book was fast-paced and there was always something happening. I’m not a fan of slow books, so I enjoyed this aspect. If you are interested in Second Star to the Left, add it to your TBR on Goodreads. If you have read it already, tell me your thoughts in the comments or link to your review and I will give it a read.