Click here to get your copy!

Peter Pan has always been one of my favorite Disney characters. So when I read the summary of this book, I just had to sign up for the tour. And I’m glad I did, because this story exceeded my expectations.

Claire is an interesting character to follow. I love how passionate she is about finding her brother, never giving up, letting nothing stop her. She’s overly skeptical about the legend of Peter Pan, although, to be honest, I would be, too.

I loved how well Swanson portrays Peter’s character. While he has grown up, because he was forced to leave Neverland and return to Earth, he’s still just as playful and mischievous. I also liked how we get a glimpse into Peter’s past and his reasons for leaving his home on Earth.

However, don’t start reading this book expecting the happy fairytale of Neverland that we all know so well. Swanson’s portrayal of Neverland is much darker and sadder.

The book also does end on a cliffhanger and I do have to say-I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel to come out.

I had received a copy of this book as part of the Celebrate Lit Blogging Team and was required to give an honest review.

About the Author

As the daughter of missionaries, Kara Swanson spent her childhood running barefoot through the lush jungles of Papua New Guinea. Able to relate with characters dropped into a unique new world, she quickly fell in love with the fantasy genre. The award-winning author of The Girl Who Could See, Kara is passionate about crafting stories of light shattering darkness, connecting with readers, and becoming best friends with a mermaid—though not necessarily in that order. Kara chats about coffee, fairy tales and bookish things online (@karaswansonauthor) and at karaswanson.com

More from Kara

I wrote Dust not just for those who grew up loving the original Peter Pan story — but especially for the children who were left behind. Those of us who never escaped through a window to a magical world, whose childhoods oftentimes felt a little shadowed.

Dust follows Peter Pan when he is cast out of Neverland, grounded in London. For the first time, this Peter has to start thinking about someone other than himself—and become a beacon to remind any Lost ones that there is still magic to be found.

Dust also follows a young woman named Claire who can create pixie dust, but is desperately afraid of herself because when her fears and insecurities leak out, her dust starts to burn. Claire has seen too many shadows to believe in fairytales anymore and is doing everything she can just to lock away the strange dust dripping from her fingertips. But when she meets Peter, he challenges everything she thought she knew.

I wrote Claire for those of us who may feel too weighted to even remember what it feels like to have hope lift your soul. Who can look at ourselves and all we see are our own shadows and shortcomings.
Throughout the course of the novel, Peter has to teach Claire how to see the spark of light inside herself that is far brighter than the darkness. As he helps this girl learn how to fly, Peter rediscovers what it is that truly makes him Peter Pan: the unquenchable childlike belief that there are weightless thoughts in all of us that can lift us out of the shadows.

This story is a love letter to anyone who has ever needed that reminder. We have value simply because we exist. We do not have to be weighed down by our shadows. There is still light that can lift our hearts if we have faith, trust…and a dash of the impossible.

Blog Stops

Giveaway