The Child Thief

Dark and Compelling

The Child Thief / 978-0-061-67133-3 I usually save the 'parental warnings' in my reviews until the end, but "The Child Thief", as compelling and fascinating as it is, nonetheless requires some upfront warnings. If you are thinking of buying this novel for a child, perhaps on the grounds that it is a Peter Pan story and therefore child-friendly, be warned that this is an incredibly dark and violent novel. I'm not exaggerating when I say that nine out of every ten pages contains a depiction of rape, child molestation, violence, murder, torture, or several instances of the F-word. I certainly wouldn't say that no child or teenager on earth would be able to appreciate this novel, but I do strongly advise that you read this book yourself, beforehand, to determine whether this level of violence will be disturbing to the intended recipient. With that out of the way, let me say that I am quick to condemn books that rely on violence, sex, and profanity in an attempt to divert the reader's attention from the fact that there is no actual plot. "The Child Thief" is not one such novel - every incidence of violence within this novel acts in service to the plot, and the end result is an incredibly compelling story that is both a re-imagining of the classic Peter Pan tale, but also remarkably true to the original in many of the details (lest we forget that Barrie's version contained quite a bit of death and murder behind the scenes). Brom has taken the premise that Peter Pan steals children away to Neverland and has expanded the concept to fit within our dark reality. Here, Peter Pan does not steal away babies who fall out of their prams - he steals away children who are victims of abuse, neglect, molestation, and all the other such evils of our world that children should never have to endure. But the Neverland that Peter promises to lead these victimized children to is not an escape in the classic sense - it is supremely dangerous, and no longer in the exciting "but-we-always-escape-in-the-end" kind of danger that the Disneyesque Neverland fostered. The neglected children are given a family and an emotionally safe haven, but every moment of their days are spent in training, in the hopes that once they leave the confines of their home they will not die immediately in this hostile world. Brom has woven a masterful tale here, with both the real world and the Neverland/Albion world realistically rendered, with both the good and the bad. There is not a single character in this novel which could be described as flat or two-dimensional; even the most minor and ancillary characters are vivid, complex, and contain their own unique mix of perspectives and motivations. I would deeply recommend "The Child Thief" to anyone who enjoys morally ambiguous tales with complex, three-dimensional characters. If you won't be offended by the incredibly violent and profane nature of the writing, and if you won't be upset by the characterization of a beloved childhood story character as something much less perfect and much more human, then "The Child Thief" is definitely worth looking into. ~ Ana Mardoll

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Excellent page turner

This book is dark, bloody, and nothing like Disney. Did I mention it's also great?! Peter finds the unwanted kids, kids with horrible pasts that need a new life, he takes them home to Avalon. There they join the Devils and are trained as warriors. Little do the kids know they are going to be sent to war with the flesheaters, that's the whole reason Peter brings them home to his strange land.

You'll meet several characters you will love, but as this is a dark novel don't expect them to survive the entire story. There isn't really a bad guy in this book, as everyone in it has some dark history. Excellent book and worth the read, and the art is snazzy too

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A new classic

This is not only one of the longest books I've read recently, but also one of the most anticipated. I was lusting after this book and really did my best to get my hands on an ARC, but had to settle for borrowing it from the library. Was worried that it might let me down as I was looking forward to it so much, but am happy to report that it was just as good as described! So good that I'm going to buy my own copy, which I rarely do with library reads.

The Child Thief is Peter, a wild child who found refuge on the mythical island of Avalon. Found it interesting that Brom combined the Peter Pan myth with Arthurian legend. Variations of the Lost Boys, Captain Hook, and The Lady of the Lake show up, but in a much darker format. Pretty sure that this book is destined to become a classic, as the story is just that good! Brom is an extremely talented storyteller as well as being a gifted artist.

During this story, we learn Peter's history as well as follow his struggle to "save" lost children. We also join him on his quest to serve his Lady, try to save Avalon, and defeat Avalon's enemies. Any more details would probably contain spoilers, so I'll leave it at this: Read this book and you will not be disappointed! Gave it a 5 out of 5, as I found the book totally captivating! Go! Now! Get yourself a copy!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

from missprint.wordpress.com

The Child Thief (2009) is a dark reinterpretation of the world of Peter Pan by writer and illustrator Brom. His adult novel offers a chilling alternative to the Disney version of Peter Pan which, according to the author's note, is more in keeping with the original text of Peter Pan as written by J. M. Barrie.

Brom's Peter prowls the streets of New York City each night looking for haunted, lost children that he can lure away to a secret place far away. It's impossible to actually steal a child, the mist won't allow that, but you can lead a child. That's what Peter does. In many ways a lost boy himself, Peter finds children who think they have nothing left to lose; victims of violence, abuse and neglect looking for a way out. What these lost children soon learn is that there is always something else to lose.

There have been a lot of comparisons drawn between The Child Thief and Gregory Maguire's Wicked. I can't comment on that having not read the latter novel. What I can say is that The Child Thief will make your skin crawl. Like its cover, the novel is peppered with beautiful, grim illustrations of the characters. The writing is no less bleak. Peppered with violence, cursing, and an overwhelming sense of hopelessness, I can see why other reviews have said this book is not for the faint of heart.

While brilliantly illustrated, the writing often felt less polished. And though certainly innovative, The Child Thief failed to enchant me. The old fairy tales, the original ones by Grimm or Andersen and apparently Barrie, were meant as cautionary tales for young children. Since then the stories have changed into entertainment: light-hearted, sugar-coated stories for boys and girls. I find, without fail, that I prefer the newer version which is probably why I could not fully embrace this novel. However the biggest problem for me is that the world of The Child Thief, possibly unintentionally, seems to be founded on the assumption that all people are amoral, opportunistic, mean and that the world they inhabit runs on violence and brutality--two assumptions I refuse to believe.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great. Really great.

Wonderful story. Imaginative. Interesting. A favorite.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wow!!!!

There are some books that are instant classics this is one of them. It is a version of Peter Pan that I found unable to put down. Some books you have to get through the first couple of chapters to get into it. I have to say this book had me hooked from the first chapter. I felt like I was in one of Brom's paintings.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Child Thief

What can I say about this book? It was dark, gritty, gory, realistic, nightmarish and difficult to read at times. But it was quite good, too. Brom did an admirable job of gathering many myths, legends, and fairy tales into one cohesive and mostly believable world. There were a couple of things I couldn't really buy into, but that's not unusual when an author is building a new world (or an alternate world) and this one was better than many.

For the most part there was a decent balance of good and bad in the characters. Few were black or white and several surprised me with what they showed themselves to be capable of (both good and bad) once I thought I'd gotten a good read on them. But even though I was surprised, it didn't feel forced or unrealistic. I could totally buy that the 'bad' characters were sometimes decent and the 'good' characters had weaknesses and/or darker spots too, and that's an accomplishment for any author.

The one case where this wasn't true was with those who represented Christians. (I think to the author they were Christians, but they certainly weren't truly Christians to me.) They were all rotten to the core; judgmental, unaccepting, unforgiving, full of hate for anyone and anything different and willing to do horrible things in God's name. As a Christian, this hurt and saddened me. I know that things like that have happened and people like that have claimed the name of Christ and there's a reason some people see God's Church this way, but that breaks my heart because that's not the true Church and those people will receive their just reward. But in the case of this particular book, I would have liked to have seen even just one Christian who wasn't horrid. I know they exist because I don't think I'm horrid, and it made the book weaker that that particular set of characters were all bad through and through, without any sort of balance at all.

And now I really must read J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Very Unusual

I loved this book. A very original look at Peter Pan and faeries. There is content of an adult and violent nature so I would recommend parental guidance.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

GENIOUS

Child Theif is probably the best book i have ever read. It was genious and thought provoking the whole way through. Beginning to end the dark portrayol of Peter kept me on the edge of my seat. I would never have thought to put such a well loved character into that context but it worked perfectly. Neverland is like nothing we could have imagined and more. I highly reccomend you read this book, all my friends are begging to borrow it and every single one of them has turned the last page to find that they loved it and wanted more of it! I don't reccomend this book for children though, it does get very violent and gruesome.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

New age Peter Pan

Lots of action and drama. I would recomend it to anyone with a dark imagination. One of my new favorite books :)

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Couldn't put the book down. Great fan of Brom.

Couldn't put the book down. Great fan of Brom.

For the most part I loved this book. The dark retelling that Bro

For the most part I loved this book. The dark retelling that Brom created is phenomenal. The setting and the actual time gaps between each 'Lost Child' child from the Native American times all the way to modern New York City times. For the most part, each main character is given a detailed background story. Even the minor characters are given relatively detailed stories. My only issues is the ending which seems very rushed and the background story of one of the major antagonists Ulfger. His background is mentioned, a repetitive re-mentioning of that slight bit of background, and then his background and storyline ends rather abruptly. My personal opinion is that people can relate to each character [minus Ulfger] even in the most minor way, which helps the reader relate to the characters. Overall this book is highly recommended for anyone, of a suitable age of course.

Quite good, but dark

"The Child Thief" is a very good book. The black & white and color illustrations are a wonderful addition to this Nook book. It was a little slow in places. It was a very long novel, almost 400 Nook pages.

To start, let me say what no other reviewer has said, Peter is a sociopath. He does what he wants, because it is what he wants to do. Right vs. Wrong has nothing to do with his decision making process.

Peter lures abused/lost adolescents into the mist with his promises and lies of a life free of rules and adults. A place where they can play games and have fun. Because, what is more fun than engaging children in war "games" against adults?!! He must have known it was doomed from the start, but he keeps gathering kids and leading them to their deaths.

The lines are blurry in this book, between good and evil, much like real life. The mutant adult sadists are evil, but they see themselves as good. Peter and his devils believe they are good because they are fighting for the side of magic. The magical faery folk believe that all humans are evil, whether child or adult. Who is right?

If you are at all sensitive about foul language or extreme child abuse/molestation/torture, then this is not the book for you. This is a book for teens and older, definitely not a kid's bedtime story. There is violence and extreme violence with a few pages of training for battle. It is not a light and happy story.

I enjoyed this book, but it was a bit too long. I almost gave up, but I am glad that I finished. I really liked the inclusion of the many black/white and a few color illustrations. I think that it helped make the story more complete. Make no mistake, this novel is epic in length and story line. It is worth reading, though. I recommend this book to older readers due to the violence and the explicit mistreatment of children.

-AvidReader

Seriously fantastic

Best book i've read in a long time. I first picked it up when it was initially published, sitting in a display in he store. I didn't have the time or money for the book but its stayed in my head all these years. Now after finishing it, im not disappointed. It was money not wasted and its left me with an odd litle ache in my heart. I overwhelmed with sympathy for the characters and yearn for more. Wonderful gore and struggles, a vividly rich world, this is a truly epic novel

Gave me chills!!

I am constantly looking for a great book only to be disappointed all too often BUT this book was captivatingly BRILLIANT!! Peter was such a loving, twisted, tortured soul, I fell in love with him instantly. If you're thinking of reading, read the authors note at the end, Brom has a beautifully real outlook on the story told by J.M. Barrie. Perfect. Every word written has a reason to be, I'm simply sad it's already over lol. This is a book that I crave to discuss.

I Couldn't Get Enough

i got this book on a whim and can i tell you i automaticly fell in love with it. the characters were well developed and the plot was awesome. i love how he stuck to the structure of the originial story while still putting so much of himself into it. this will always be one of my favorites.

GERARD BROM ITS AWESOME !!!!!!

I own all of his fantasy art books plus the first two books and they blew me away! Brom its awesome and fantastic!!!!!

Dark & Disturbing, A incredible yet twisted imagining of Peter Pan

This is Peter Pan like I have never imagined it. The Child Thief is one of the most disturbing, violent, and frightening fairy tale re-imaginings I've ever read. It reminds me of the more grim versions of "Grimm's Fairy Tales" That being said, I was absolutely enthralled, I couldn't put it down. There were some times when I had to walk away from it for a bit, but I'm a bit squeamish when it comes to even a hint of gore. There were also some situations that were uncomfortable to read about such as child abuse, torture, and molestation. However, these things do happen and the way they were used in the story was fitting.

Peter finds his "lost boys" among the forgotten children, the runaways, the abused and neglected. He offers them a chance at a different kind of life in a magical world where they never have to grow up and each day is a new adventure. He does warn them that there are also monsters. With his golden eyes and infectious smile, Peter finds it easy to win over these mistreated kids and he creates his own clan in mist shrouded Avalon, his refuge from the cruelties he, himself, experienced in the human world.

Brom paints a vivid world of dying beauty and frightening violence. I love the images he creates of the fairies, pixies, elves, and even the more dangerous creatures that lurk in the swamps. One thing that this author has done incredibly well is blur the line between good and evil. I found myself, several times, feeling sympathy for a character I hated just a couple pages before.

Ultimately I feel that this is a extraordinary story, one that fans of dark fantasy will certainly want on their shelves. The characters, the world, the plot were all written so flawlessly that I easily lost myself in the pages. I would highly recommend The Child Thief and want to thank the person who recommended it to me.

A Fresh, Compelling Take on Peter Pan

Prior to reading Brom's riveting 2009 novel 'The Child Thief,' my only experience with the Peter Pan legend was the repeated viewing of Disney's 1953 classic animated film and Steven Spielberg's 1991 action-adventure 'Hook.' Brom's gripping re-imagination of J.M. Barrie's boy who refused to grow up is, to say the least, not quite as wholesome. Brom's charismatic Peter recruits young runaways and abused children to help save his mystical home from enemies sucking the life and magic out of it. Neverland is the island of Avalon, the Lost Boys are a gang called the Devils, and Captain Hook and his pirates are the "Flesh Eaters," evangelical British refugees who have been marooned on Avalon for centuries.

As an artist, Gerald Brom--who goes by his surname--has contributed to movie conceptual art, role-playing games, comic books, video games, novels, and computer games. In his novels, Brom continues to exhibit his flair for dark fantasy in both the subject matter of his stories and in his original illustrations. 'The Child Thief' includes an eight-page insert of glossy character portraits as well as black-and-white sketches for each of the twenty-six chapters. With these, Brom gives another layer to the world he has created. Characters stand as warriors, both noble and proud, while shadows emphasize an underpinning of malevolence.

As a writer, Brom effectively creates a fantastical world closely linked to our own. Multiple points of view contribute to the full picture painted by a twisted vision and haunting descriptions. He has considered every detail of a deteriorating Avalon separated from the hustle of New York City by "the Mist" controlled by the keeper of Avalon's magic, Lady Modron. The children in Peter's band of ruffians carry the emotional and physical scars of terrible abuse but also the fiery spirit of youth. Their bonds are believable, as is their loyalty to the boy who saved them.

Peter's Devils are willing to die for him and frequently do, despite extensive training. Their battles are intense and bloody. The violence level is probably most comparable to William Golding's celebrated 'Lord of the Flies' or Suzanne Collins's recent best-selling 'The Hunger Games.' The most notable difference, though, is that while Golding and Collins really only show kid-on-kid violence, Brom also shows adult-on-kid violence. The children are ruthless, savage warriors when they fight, and the Flesh Eaters show no mercy. In addition, the adults believe that the children are possessed by real demons, so they make brutal attempts to exorcise them. These scenes are not for the faint-hearted.

Some graphic violence may make 'The Child Thief' an inappropriate bedtime story for small children, but fantasy fans will find plenty to enjoy here. The characters jump off the page, the images are vivid, and the story is engaging. Brom creates high stakes for the world of magic, and in the process presents a worthy addition to the myth of Peter Pan.

illustrations in ebook?

does anyone know if the EBOOK form has the illustrations?! i want this but will buy the paperback instead if the ebook is missing the illustrations. out of two books i bought for my nook water for elephants did not include the illustrations that the book version had but peculiar childen of miss perguine did include them and i want to have the illustrations!