Series Review: Tales of the Wendy

Hello beautiful!

So I recently did a post ranking the Peter Pan retellings I’ve read. Tales of the Wendy was tied for number one (next to Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson). The series had been on my TBR since I first found out about it several years ago. I did not have any way to access the books until recently, but once I found them, I devoured them.

I was given a copy of The Wendy (book one) by the author in exchange for an honest review. Once I finished it, I immediately rushed to find the second book. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Without further ado, here’s my review!

Tales of the Wendy by Erin Michelle Sky and Steven Brown

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This review is mostly going to talk about books one and two. There is a prequel (Tigerlilja), which I’ll talk about briefly towards the end.

I honestly have not loved a series this much in a long time, so prepare yourself for some serious gushing and obsessing.

Characters
Gosh I love the characters in this series. Wendy, our main character, is strong, bold, and flawed. She is a feminist, but in the true nature of the original, I think. She wants to sail the world as part of the British navy, and, hopefully, to one day be the captain of her own ship. I like that she goes out and gets what she wants. She does not just call out for women’s rights, but proves that she deserves them, whether or not those around her are willing to pay attention. She does make mistakes, but she does her best to amend them and works hard for what she wants. She is also curious and actively seeks out more information about the world around her. I love her interactions with the other characters, both those who believe in her and those who see her as “just a woman.”
John and Michael are not related to Wendy in this series, and I actually liked that aspect of the story more than I was expecting. They are her fellow soldiers at her first post.
Captain Hook is one of the people who does not believe in the capability of women. Wendy, however, slowly changes his mind. He is a fascinating character who grows and changes over the course of the story, which I greatly appreciated.
Peter Pan is a fae or god of some sort in this retelling. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll leave it at that. I love how Sky and Brown kept his forgetfulness and childlike attitude from the original, while still showing him to be an interesting and likable character.
My only minor complaint regarding the characters is that most of the men in the story fall in love with Wendy. Granted, she is the only woman most of them come into contact with on a regular basis, but I still think it’s a bit unrealistic.
Overall, the characters were very well done. 5/5 stars.

Plot
The plot of the first book introduces the reader to the world our story is set in. I really enjoyed the detail Sky and Brown put in, but also liked the bits they left mysterious. I was drawn into the story and wanted to know more. Book one really gets you into the spirit of sailing, adventure, and chasing after the Everlost (the book’s version of the Lost Boys). The general vibe I got from the book was one of excitement, the sea, swordfighting, courage, and adventure. It really kept to the essence of the original while simultaneously delivering a completely new story and plot. It hit the sweet spot of having enough similarity to the original to be familiar, but different enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. Book two certainly had far more action than the first, but I enjoyed both plots immensely. Since book one could be a little slow at times, I give the plot 4.5/5 stars.

Ending
While I usually review the ending of a story, I can’t do that here, as the series is unfinished. On to the next bit!

The Prequel
While I enjoyed some aspects of the prequel, Tigerlilja, I did not love it as much as the other two books. It took away some of the mystery. The tie-ins to Norse mythology were fun, but it did not have the same tone as the rest of the story. I would have been just find without reading the prequel. It’s not necessary to the plot (though we do get a lovely new heroine, Tiger Lily).

So, clearly, I’m in love with this series. I cannot wait for book three. Thank you so much, Erin Michelle Sky, for sending me a review copy!

I give the series 5/5 stars.

Have you read these books? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!

Have an adventurous day!

Love,