Author: Emily McIntire
Genre: Dark Romance
Pages: 352
Series: Book #1
My Rating: ★★★★☆
manipulation, revenge, morally gray romance
Hooked is a dark romance retelling inspired by Peter Pan, reimagined through the lens of Captain Hook as a modern, morally gray antihero. The story follows James, a powerful and dangerous man driven by revenge against Peter, and Wendy, the daughter of the man he despises. What begins as a calculated plan to use Wendy as leverage slowly transforms into a complicated and intense relationship that blurs the lines between manipulation, desire, and emotional connection. The novel leans heavily into themes of obsession, control, and vengeance while delivering a darker take on a familiar fairy tale.
The darj retekkubg aspect worked really well, especially the way Captain Hook was reimagined as a complex and morally gray character rather than a traditional villian. The revenge driven plot gave the story weight and kept it engaging.
The romance stood out as intense and emotionally charged. It had that darker edge where attraction and power dynamics are constandtly at play, which made the relationship feel dangerous but compelling. The overall tone of the book fit the darker fairy tale retelling style perfectly and kept the story interesting throughout.
While the concept was strong, parts of the story felt a little predictable once the central dynamic was established. Some of the tension relied heavily on secrecy and power imbalance, which worked thematically but occasionally slowed the pacing. There were moments where I wanted the emotional stakes to be pushed further or resolved more clearly, especially toward the end. It didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment, but it kept the book from being a full five star read for me.
Hooked was a solid and enjoyable dark romance retelling with a strong concept and an engaging, morally gray love interest. It was well written, entertaining, and worth the read, especially for fans of dark fairy tale retellings. If you enjoy revenge driven romances, villain perspectives, and twisted takes on classic stories, this one is a good pick.