SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY
It's been twenty three years since Peter has seen Molly. But when events lead Molly's daughter to come to Peter for help, he agrees to return to London. Turns out Ombra may have returned but Peter has to deal with the fact that his best friend has grown up as well as his own fears.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Peter doesn't see Molly until the climax of the book but he is aware that his friend has grown up and married. A large theme of the book is Peter's own fears of Ombra, which have increased since they last met.
Wendy is brave and smart. She is likable, but I would have to say, not much different then her mother. (Perhaps she is less aggressive? Molly came off that way often with George in the last two books.) She shows tremendous trust in Peter at the climax which I found interesting.
Ted has grown up and is now a professor. Wendy goes to him for help and he later returns to assist her and Peter.
Molly learns about James' suspicions but blows him off. Eventually she worries about him and investigates. She is important to the story because of her relationship and the knowledge she passes to her daughter, Wendy.
James has grown up and is now a member of Scotland Yard. He serves as a starting point for the story but doesn't return until the climax.
Tinker Bell is important, creating a much needed distraction for her friends.
Uncle Neville is a wealthy and slightly crazy inventor. None of his inventions work but that doesn't stop him from trying. He loves attempting flying machines and is important to the plot as two of his inventions are used.
O'Neal is one of a group of men who claimed to have been lost at sea. He provides the side story of what is happening on Neverland.
Leonard Aster is older now and his health is failing him. But he still proves invaluable to the plot, as he tells Wendy with information and risks his life.
Captain Hook is still up to his old tricks. Although he is important to the plot, he still ends up threatening to kill Peter. Again.
Fighting Prawn is important to the story because he reveals suspicions about O'neal and his men. He also comes up with a plan to send Wendy home.
PACING
The story starts out slower, like all of the others. We get separate stories that slowly unfold. Peter's on the Island, Molly's in London as well as some of our villain's story.
HUMOR
There is the usual use of humor regarding Captain Hook and Smee that made me smile. And a scene where Peter gets a scientific explanation of the telephone made me laugh.
Just like the previous books, the humor is sprinkled throughout so as to no destroy the gravity of the matters at hand. There is also the matter of Magill's bear and how it lives in the city now.
PETER'S FAILURE-SPOILERS
When the group learns of a stone at a museum, they go to retrieve it. Ombra shows up and attacks and they get separated. Peter ends up losing the stone because of his overpowering fear of Ombra. Not only that but he flees and forgets about Tinker Bell, he allowed him to escape.
This was an interesting aspect because Peter has never had any real problems regarding fear. If anything, he was too brave, it led to him being reckless.
ALL GROWN UP
Peter hesitates when Wendy finally arrives and asks for help. He is obviously thinking that after twenty three years, his friends no longer care about him. They have their own lives.
I wanted this to be addressed, but after his initial reaction, it's forgotten. I suppose he forgave them and let his anger go, but if so, it's merely because he was too busy trying to stop Ombra. Not because of any growth on his part.
THE LOST BOYS
We get to see Tubby Ted, James, and even Thomas, all grown up. Although I wish we had seen Prentiss. And we really didn't get to see much of Thomas at all. I appreciated seeing them again, but I wished we could have focused more on Peter's feelings about them. The one downside of having so much action in a book is there is little focus on relationships.
IN DENIAL
When George finds out that Molly has seen James, he learns all about the rumors of Ombra. Unfortunately, he reacts rather angrily. He wants nothing to do with his past. I would understand it if he was simply worried for his wife, but he came across as an idiot. And even when he admits to being wrong, it's far too late and he proves himself ineffectual.
It's as if since he became an adult, he had to be stupid so the kids could save him. I didn't really care for that. Especially since all of his development seems to have gone down the drain.
CLIMAX-VAGUE SPOILERS
With the help of Molly's locket, they find Ombra's victims and his goal. We also find Molly and learn of a sacrifice that she was planning to make, along with George. They end up facing Ombra but with some help manage to stop him and get the star stuff. Everything comes to a head as they use a train to take it away only to be chased. Ombra isn't so much as defeated as he has vanished.
AFTERMATH
Peter returns to the Island, along with Hook and his crew. They confront O'neal and his boss who had planned to take the left over star stuff (from the original portion in the first book, that created the mermaids). It's mentioned that they will make sure to hide the star stuff and seal it up. I had to wonder, why didn't they do that long before? That is one of my only gripes.
CONCLUSION
Peter struggles with his own fears, which helps add some depth to his character (although I wish other matters had been addressed). And multiple stories help build up suspense that culminates in the return of Ombra.
My only criticisms are that George seems to have completely reversed his behavior and certain issues regarding Peter are never fully fleshed out. But they are minor criticisms that I hope will be gradually be rectified. I give “Peter and the Sword of Mercy” four stars.
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