Review: Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas

Hey, everyone! I hope you’re doing well. I’ve heard a lot of good things about this book, so I was really excited to read this book. And. . . I don’t have a lot else to say, so I’m just going to get into the review.

Title: Lost in the Never Woods
Author: Aiden Thomas
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: None
Page Count: 371

Synopsis: “When children go missing in the small coastal town of Astoria, people look to Wendy for answers.

It’s been five years since Wendy and her two brothers went missing in the woods, but when the town’s children start to disappear, the questions surrounding her brothers’ mysterious circumstances are brought back into light. Attempting to flee her past, Wendy almost runs over an unconscious boy lying in the middle of the road, and gets pulled into the mystery haunting the town.

Peter, a boy she thought lived only in her stories, claims that if they don’t do something, the missing children will meet the same fate as her brothers. In order to find them and rescue the missing kids, Wendy must confront what’s waiting for her in the woods.”

Content Warnings

kidnapping, grief, loss of loved ones, violence, trauma

There are no spoilers in this review.

Lost in the Never Woods is a beautifully told retelling of Peter Pan. It deals with loss of loved ones and mental health.

I heard a lot of good things about this book when I first discovered it. So, naturally, I was excited to read it. It’s been five years since Wendy and her brothers went missing and only Wendy returned. When her brothers’ mystery is brought up again, Wendy is so overwhelmed, she nearly runs over a boy in the middle of the road: Peter.

Now, I haven’t actually ever read the Peter Pan story or seen one of the movies, but I know the story. I liked this new twist on it, while still staying true to the original fairytale. And the cover, it’s gorgeous. It took a while to realize that the entrance to the woods Wendy is walking towards is outlined in the shape of her brothers’ heads. Once I saw it, I could not unsee it. It’s a really cool design.

Wendy was a fairly good main character. She’s been through a lot, but I can’t really put a description of her in my mind. It feels as if her brothers’ mystery kind of defines her, which I mean, it does, but I can’t seem to think of her in any other way. Wendy’s bond with Jordan was amazing. Jordan was always there for Wendy, supporting her, and having Wendy trust her enough as well.

And of course there’s Peter. He is truly a kid at heart, even though his physical form doesn’t match. Him and his shadow take on completely different forms and honestly, I don’t know how Peter’s shadow can be that evil.

Aiden Thomas paints scenes with his writing. The description of the woods was done really well and everything just came alive in this story. I was captivated with the wood scenes and I could feel the tension rising.

Trauma and loss can do a lot to a family. I feel like this aspect was presented realistically. It’s like Wendy had to grow up so much faster than her peers around her. She was making grocery lists and cooking her for parents at age 13.

I did think that the book could’ve been slightly shorter. I felt like it dragged a little in the middle. There was a lot going on near the end of the book, but the beginning and middle felt a little slow.

Lost in the Never Woods is a beautifully written book, dealing with the loss of loved ones, trauma, and grief. I really enjoyed this and the pacing made the book drag out slightly, I still had a good time. And the end of the book was so good.

My Rating: 4/5 dragons

Have you read Lost in the Never Woods? What did you think of my review?
Chat with me in the comments below!