The Dark One by Nikki St. Crowe Summary

The Dark One is the second book in the Vicious Lost Boys series, a dark paranormal romance retelling of Peter Pan. The story follows Winnie Darling, a descendant of the Darling family, as she navigates life on Neverland with Peter Pan and the Lost Boys in a reverse harem romance. War brews between Pan, Captain Hook, and the fae queen for control of Neverland, while Pan desperately seeks to reclaim his shadow and rightful throne.

The Dark One is ideal for readers who enjoy dark, spicy romance with morally gray characters and reverse harem dynamics. This book suits fans of paranormal romance, Peter Pan retellings, and enemies-to-lovers tropes with intense adult content. Readers should be comfortable with explicit scenes, as this installment significantly increases the spice level from the first book. It's not for those seeking traditional fairytale romance or sweet storylines.

The Dark One receives mostly positive reviews, with readers rating it 4-5 stars and praising its improved plot development and character depth compared to the first book. Reviewers highlight the enhanced spice level, better world-building, and the fascinating politics of Neverland. The book features an intense cliffhanger ending that leaves readers eager for the next installment. However, some criticize predictable plot twists and writing style issues.

Nikki St. Crowe is a USA Today and #1 Amazon Bestselling Author specializing in dark, spicy romantasy where villains get the girl. She started her writing career in fourth grade, placing second in a Young Author's Competition, initially crafting stories about magical mansions and lost treasure. Crowe now writes paranormal romance featuring morally gray love interests and has published 31 books. When not writing, she enjoys spending time in the woods with her husband and daughter.

The Dark One significantly increases the spice level from the first book, with reviewers describing it as "extremely spicy" and rating it 4.5 out of 5 peppers. Multiple reviews characterize the book as "erotica at its best" and a "fuckfest" with explicit, dirty scenes throughout. Nikki St. Crowe "upped the spice level by 100%" in this second installment. The reverse harem dynamics become fully realized as Winnie becomes intimate with all four Lost Boys: Pan, Vane, and the twins.

Pan opens a box expecting to find his shadow, but two shadows emerge instead: his actual shadow and a death shadow. Pan's shadow escapes into Captain Hook's territory, while the death shadow nearly kills one of the twins before fleeing. Pan must bargain with Hook to enter his lands and retrieve his shadow, offering to trade Hook's sister Cherry in exchange. Recovering the shadow becomes critical for Pan to restore his full power and defend against enemies threatening Neverland.

Vane is one of the Lost Boys and a primary love interest who becomes a fan-favorite character in The Dark One. Initially appearing to hate Winnie, Vane's protective feelings for her emerge throughout the story. His character receives significant development, including backstory revealing the Crocodile is actually his scary brother. A jealous character wants Vane exclusively for herself and commits terrible acts to ensure she's the only one who can have him. Multiple reviewers cite Vane as their favorite character in the series.

The Dark One ends with an intense cliffhanger that leaves readers desperate for the third book. Reviewers describe the ending as "crazy" and note that someone's plan "backfired" on them, prompting one reviewer to laugh evilly rather than humorously. The cliffhanger involves the death shadow and its consequences for the characters. The ending was somewhat predictable according to some readers, who guessed the shadow's final location early in the book. Despite predictability concerns, the cliffhanger successfully hooks readers for the next installment.

The Dark One is widely considered superior to The Never King, with readers praising improved plot development, better world-building, and enhanced character depth. While both books feature high spice levels, the second installment increases explicit content dramatically. Reviewers note the storyline becomes "way more interesting" and "makes a lot more sense" in The Dark One. The politics of Neverland become more fascinating and complex. Both books are short, action-packed reads that can be finished in one to two days.

The Crocodile in The Dark One is not an actual reptile but a person, providing a unique twist on the classic Peter Pan tale. This character is revealed to be Vane's brother, described as "scary". Queen Tilly, the twins' sister and fae queen, summons the Crocodile to destroy both Captain Hook and Peter Pan, hoping to rule all of Neverland herself. Like in the original fairytale, Hook remains afraid of the Crocodile, though the fear takes on new meaning given the character's human form.

Critics point to poor writing style, including frequent sentence fragments, excessive one-sentence paragraphs, and stiff dialogue. Some reviewers found plot twists predictable, particularly the death shadow's final destination. Others note that certain story elements "make no sense," causing frustration during reading. The book contains content warnings for sexual harassment and intense adult content that may not suit all readers. Despite these criticisms, most reviewers still enjoyed the book for its entertainment value, spice, and character development.

Winnie Darling is the protagonist and descendant of the Darling family who becomes the central figure in a reverse harem romance with Pan and the Lost Boys. Described as "amazingly strong and confident," Winnie refuses to take disrespect from anyone. She decides to stay on Neverland with Pan, Vane, and the twins, wanting all of them regardless of consequences. Each of the four men completes a different side of Winnie's personality. Enemies use her connection to Pan as leverage in their fight for control of Neverland.