Picked this up on a whim at my local library and mostly based on the jacket design, if I'm honest! I'm very glad I did however as this stripped-down retelling of the Pan myth turned out to be a lot more thoughtful and immersive than I would have guessed.I think some people may be disappointed in this book because there really isn't a lot of action. And the romance, even though it's the central point upon which the book hinges, isn't all that romantic. The stated mission of the book is quite simple, in that it's about the despairing Captain Hook's attempt to escape from a violent and futile existence ruled by the whims of a god-like child (or a child-like god; Pan's origin story is resolved quite neatly but not really dwelt upon. However, the book is really a metaphorical exploration of the obstacles that traditional gender expectations and roles can present to the formation of adult relationships. Hook's development from a depressed and misogynistic relic into a self-aware and empathetic man is frustratingly slow and stuttering, which honestly just makes his journey more believable. The book is very cleaver in the development of this theme, only really articulating what you've begun to suspect well into the narrative, by which time you're already fully involved. I will say that it was incredibly refreshing to read a fantasy in which the heroine isn't a winsome, innocent adolescent or 20-something stunner, but a mature woman with complex emotional baggage and a life story that isn't totally absorbed within that of her romantic partner. Stella Parrish has lived a full and difficult life before her romantic union with Hook, this self-sufficiency and autonomy has a dramatic impact upon the way in which they learn to love one another. All in all I found this to be a fairly profound and very enjoyable read. The conclusion strikes a perfect balance between the traditional "happy ending" and bittersweet, and I actually almost enjoyed the final chapter more than any other in the book. I really wanted to love this more than I did. The concept of Hook being a sympathetic character and Pan being a villain is unique, and I really enjoyed some of the changes that author made to Neverland. However, I feel like this book either needed to take itself more seriously or take itself less seriously as it ended up straddling an awkward place between serious fiction and beach-read-esque fantasy. On the one hand, the characterization of Hook is great, his relationship with Parrish is well done, and the hopelessness and oppressive nature of Hook's plight all lend themselves to a dark, reflective novel. On the other hand, the endless (and after awhile pointless) not-quite-perilous situations Hook finds himself in on Neverland don't advance the plot much, feel out of step with the tone set by Hook's first person narrative, and would be more at home in a fun, light-hearted comedy. In addition, though some of the rules of Neverland that the characters encounter towards the end of the novel are somewhat illogical and seem like contrived plot devices, the ending is still a well-done and satisfying conclusion. Imagining Jason Isaacs as Hook throughout was also a definite plus.
What do You think about Alias Hook (2014)?
Captain Hook the hero. Peter Pan the villain. That alone makes it worth a read.
—GracenScott
