I really enjoyed reading this book! I read this book in one sitting because I could not put the book down, I highly recommend reading this book!

This was a really good book to read. I got into pretty quickly and enjoyed it.
This book different from others I have read which made me pay attention more. I chose it because I liked the blurb and it matched my expectations.

Read more on my blog at;
https://thebedsidebooksblog.blogspot.com/

"Mary Darling, L M d’Mello’s eponymous protagonist, was abandoned on hospital steps at birth and spent most of her early years living in care. Things start to look up for her when she is adopted by Tom and Susan, a caring couple who lost their own daughter in an accident. Tom and Susan do their best to make Mary happy, however school bullies are making her life wretched, until an expected ally emerges. Mary’s life is transformed when she discovers that she has unusual and powerful supernatural abilities that she can use to understand and heal animals. She begins a fight to save the animal world from cruelty and extinction, and as her powers mature throughout the books in the trilogy, she must defeat increasingly dangerous enemies, making discoveries about her own abilities along the way. "

The touch of mystery and magic made it a brilliant book to read.

Reason why I chose the book:

It was mostly the title. It made me instantly think of Peter Pan and I just love Neverland, and the description sounded like it was good – because the main character could talk and heal animals, and that really intrigued me.

Reason why I’m not finishing it:

Nothing interesting happens or something that would make me want to read on instead of forcing myself to read on. I think I read until Chapter Nine and realised I should have stopped at Chapter Three. Also, there’s major discrimination and racism against the main character in the book, because she’s Romani. I did not like how the other characters treated the main character and how they flung insults at her. There were too many insults, most of them coming from kids her own age, which annoyed me and then a teacher also contributed to the discrimination, which resulted in my (metaphorical) closing of the book (as it was an e-book).

Any thoughts I had while reading the book:

Do the animals she talks to speak English or does she understand each and every single animal language? Does she speak to them in English or in their language?

Although it started pretty good with a kind girl who loves animals and discovers she can help them a lot more than others, it kept repeating itself and not getting anywhere. It's sad because it had a lot of potential.

Interesting concept but... the racist and ableist slurs were so terrible. It appears the protagonist is Romani, although the author doesn't mention it anywhere. There is no mention of why using some many (and terrible) slurs; are they being reclaimed? will they be challenged? I didn't finish the book, but I don't think slurs are challenged at all. Even the protagonist describes herself and her heritage with disgust and disdain. Of course, I could be wrong, I hope I'm wrong. But that's why an author's note about it is necessary. And I did try to find out, but none of the interviews I read mentions anything about slurs, trigger warnings or Romani mc.

I wasn't involved in the story after that. Also, the writing was very confusing, changing from the first-person narrator to the third person.

This was a charming read that I think many will enjoy!

I nice story about a young girl estranged from the world finally coming into her own. With a school bully that is truly malicious, a friendship that is life changing and powers that heal this book will change how you see young lives.

Sadly, DNF at 35%. There's absolutely nothing wrong with this novel, and I hope to come back and finish it sometime, but there's no drive to find out what's going on or what will happen next, either. I hope Mary gets her happy ending, but I'm not in a hurry to read it and see. I'm sorry, I'm sure that other people will enjoy it much more than I did, but it just didn't hook me.

Thanks for the chance to read it.

This book is aimed at young adults however I think many ages will enjoy its warmth and charm. I read this book alongside my 9-year-old daughter who was just as hooked on every chapter as I was. The chapters are short and easy to keep up with for young readers.
The story starts by introducing us to Mary; the Darlings adopted Mary after being left on the hospitals step shortly after her birth. Mary attends Milton Upper School and feels like she is different from the other girls; she soon becomes a target for the bullies and feels very alone. The very confident and outgoing Lizzie notices Mary and the girls soon become great friends. As the girls come closer and their love for animals shines it is made clear that all is not what it seems to be with Mary. Mary has a gift, a gift, which is explored through out the book and makes it a magical read.
I believe this is the first of a trilogy by L M D'Mello, I look forward to enjoy more and finding out what is next in the adventure of Mary Darlings world.