Customer Reviews

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness: Adventure Peril, Lost Jewels, and the Fearsome Toothy Cows of Skree (The Wingfeather Saga)

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3 star:		(4)
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I'm a big fan of Andrew Peterson's songwriting and music, so when I heard he'd written a novel I had high expectations. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness delivered. It's not great literature, it's not going to displace Narnia or Lord of the Rings in the canon of fantasy literature, it's not going to be studied in classrooms fifty years from now. But it was a ton of fun to read, and I've continued to think about some of the themes a couple weeks after finishing the book (I plowed through it in about four days earlier this month).

The characters are memorable and well-crafted, the dialogue is perfect (unimaginitive or stilted dialogue is usually where sloppy fiction loses me, and this one kept me throughout), and the plot is fun and tense and touching and a little messy, but in a good way.

I've been told that I frown a lot when I read, not because I'm unhappy but because I'm thinking and processing, and I guess when I get lost in my thoughts my expression looks sour. This book made me smile as I read it. It was fun to read and is even more fun to read aloud (I've read the first two chapters to the kids, and next is Chapter Three: "Thwaps in a Sack"; they cackled when I read the parts about falling hammers and horse nuggets; they'll love toothy cows and Peet the Sock Man and the Fangs of Dang too). But there's also plenty of tension and drama and conflict, which carries the story along.

At times it seemed a little bit derivative of The Chronicles of Narnia, until it reminded me more of To Kill a Mockingbird, but then it brought to mind Harry Potter, except when it was more like Lord of the Rings. Then there were all those times when it was completely original. There's a lot that's familiar and a lot that's original. It's a good mix.

This is Book One of The Wingfeather Saga, a series title that makes a lot more sense after reading the final few chapters. I'm going to recommend this to my friends and their kids (probably appropriate for about age 5 and up to listen to, and for age 7 and up to read), and I'm looking forward to the next book in The Wingfeather Saga.

Before you can get through the title of Andrew Peterson's new book, he pokes you with his sense of humor. In the opening pages, the author delights in throwing you head first into a world of meeps, chortneys, and flabbits. What's a flabbit? You'll find out when you need to know, so play along with this fantastically spun tale of adventure, wit, and hope.

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness is a pleasure to read for the thrilling story and the delightful way Peterson chooses to tell it. Characters are rich and mysterious, and the story is dealt like cards in the hands of a magician. The world created for these characters is equally rich, full of unexpected color and detail. The reader is allowed to go down small footpaths along the story's trail, some important, others just for whim. Footnotes and appendices are even offered, rewarding the reader with extra insight and out-loud laughs.

Andrew Peterson is best known as a songwriter. In fact, he is a craftsman whose wood is words. He selects words and shapes phrases with fierce skill. Happily, he has applied himself as fiercely to his newest adventure. More, the story fills the soul with hope, recognizes the heart's ache, and reminds us of what is valuable.

Reading this book was a complete joy. Sprouting near the family trees of Narnia and Middle-Earth, young readers will love reading about the land of Anniera. Adults will quickly be swept up in the adventure, beauty, and humor. It may be a great storybook for families, as the chapters are 4-5 pages long. I happily recommend it to any reader.

I'm a huge fan of Andrew Peterson's music, so the minute this book came out I was dying to read it. I very much enjoyed it, but feel almost guilty saying I didn't love it. It was a wonderful fantasy story full of dragons and lost worlds and children heroes, and though it started a bit slow it definitely picked up in the last 3rd. But, it was a little too Ogden Nash/Jabberwocky for me... almost every plant, name, town, animal, house, etc. had weird names that distracted me from the story line. Also there were these creative footnotes that were wonderfully clever, but after a while completely distracting as well... I quit reading them about halfway through the book and then came back after I finished it. Lastly, as a child I was never one to like "icky" stuff, and as an adult that stuffy part of my nature has carried over, so I was completely turned off by the long descriptions of maggotloaf, snot porridge... etc. I almost hurled reading it, which I'm sure is a delight to 7 year olds everywhere.

That said, I'm definitely buying the sequel when it comes out, mainly because of who wrote it. If it were any other writer, though, I'd probably just check it out from the library. If you are a fan of children's fantasy, however, you will love this story!

So I started reading this book with the expectation of a Lord of the Rings style tale. It has a bit of that, but it's difficult to say how it's so different than that. One thing is certain, and this is the charming thing that sets The Dark Sea of Darkness apart from stories like the one I mentioned: the novel really doesn't take itself too seriously for very long. Let me explain by giving a couple examples. The top Fang in the township of Glipwood is named Gnorm. Gnorm. It's really not that silly until you say it out loud. And almost every one of the story's short chapters has a footnote that is completely ridiculous, yet completely effective at moving the story along. To me, these endearing little bits made the story really enjoyable. In a way, the silly elements and the fact that the lead characters are all under the age of 13 might make you think it's just a kid's story. On the contrary, I think it's a story that will engage kids of any age, like all the great stories. There's action, humor, peril and toothy cows which are much worse than they sound. Actually, I think some of the other animals are worth mentioning just for their creative names. There are thwaps, ratbadgers, sea dragons, horned hounds, quill diggles, digtoads and more. Andrew Peterson's On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness is an excellent book. The tale is engaging and absolutely satisfying. The characters leap off the pages like a pack of ratbadgers. In fact, I was so riveted that I plowed through the last two-thirds of the novel this evening. And amid all the silliness, there are some deep, important themes to the story-things I'll be thinking about for a few days. I know a part of me really longs to attend the Dragon Day Festival and be rapt by the songs of the Sea Dragons... Honestly I'm not surprised that I enjoyed this book so much. Andrew was already one of my favorite singer/songwriter/story-tellers. I just didn't know he could write fiction.

There are a lot of great things to say about Andrew Peterson's book, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. I'll stick to three things in particular: storytelling patience, storytelling skill, and storytelling philosophy.

Storytelling Patience - One of the most impressive things about Peterson's debut effort is that he has patience in his storytelling. He lets dramatic tension build appropriately, doesn't give things away too easy, and keeps you wondering what's coming. Even where upcoming plot points can be deduced in advance, Peterson unfolds them with skill and delight. The story moves along at a nice pace, with new and intriguing aspects of the world of Aerwiar being unveiled; it picks up its pace at the appropriate place, and by the time the story is rolling toward its climax, we are thoroughly immersed in this secondary world Peterson has created. Not only that, but he pulled off a really important balance: he told a full enough story to stand alone, but left enough unanswered to leave you longing for the next installment of the Wingfeather Saga.

Storytelling Skill - Peterson creates an entirely believable, quirky secondary world with lots of humor, but not so much that the story isn't taken seriously. There are great names, both for humans (Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby, Nugget the dog, Peet the Sock Man, Podo, Oskar N. Reteep), for bad guys (Khrak, Gnorm, Slarb, Vop, Gnag the Nameless), and for creatures (Fangs of Dang, toothy cows, horned hounds, thwaps). The characters are compelling, and I found myself particularly drawn to Podo and Peet the Sock Man.

Storytelling Philosophy - Peterson clearly believes that our own subcreations echo the Maker's primary creation. Apart from references to prayers, there is no explicit religious content to the story; yet the story makes the heart yearn for the remembrance of the true victory of Christ over evil, which is exactly what a fairy tale can do. Peterson's story fits all the requirements of the fairy tale laid out by great thinkers like George MacDonald, G.K. Chesteron, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Madeleine L'Engle. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness clearly stands in their noble tradition.

I highly recommend Andrew Peterson's On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness.

This is from my 9 year old son:

The beginning wasn't very exciting, but then in the middle of the story it started to pick up and I got into the excitement of the adventure. My favorite part was when they discovered their true identity and found Arthram P. Wingfeather. I couldn't wait to read the other books in the series.

In this first of the Wingfeather Saga, Andrew Peterson introduces the reader to a fantasy land like no other. This is a tale about growing up and being adult, themes that are close to the hearts of young persons everywhere. This book, however, is far from dry moral toast. Mundane tasks and wild adventure await the Igiby children, and all of it is wrapped in beauty and imagination. From "flabbits" to "totatoes" to "shadowed steed, and shadowed tack, and shadowed driver driving", this book will have children young and old on the edge of their seats.

Andrew Peterson is a talented songwriter, and it turns out also an extremely talented writer! His work is on par with any of the greats I have ever read with my kids, including C.S. Lewis' "Narnia" series. This story is clever and exciting with great character development. It is adventurous and parts are funny. However, it is probably the darkest story we have read, with some really scary parts. Much scarier and intense than anything in the "Narnia" series. So my advice is to be prepared going into it that parts of it might be disturbing to young readers. For instance, a large portion of the plot involves children being afraid of violent, lizard-like creatures that come in a black carriage to kidnap them and carry them away to a place of unknown torture. I love Andrew Peterson as a singer/songwriter, and he is a talented writer, but this story is really written for older kids, and I didn't know that beforehand.

I've read a lot of fantasy in my day, and I must say that this is one of the most beautifully crafted, clever, and creative pieces that has come before my eyes. Thank you mr. peterson. I cannot seem to stop recommending this book to people, and I look forward to the forthcoming follow ups with great anticipation.

In his first novel, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, Andrew Peterson weaves a magnificent tapestry out of what is at first glance merely an enjoyable children's fantasy story. Peterson has transmogrified the ordinary adventure into a rollicking, robust tale that is neither too silly nor too sad nor too syrupy sweet, yet has the proper doses of all of the above. From beginning to end, this first installment of the Wingfeather Saga resounds with hope, stirs the heart, and tickles the funny bone while offering glimpses of the One True Story that makes all others worthwhile.

This imaginary world is imbued with a gaggle of cartoonish, oddly familiar creatures: some good, some benign, and some dangerous. The good, a family called Igiby, are our protagonists, and these three ordinary children will soon be caught up in an extraordinary adventure that begins in their own small township. When Tink, the middle brother, finds a mysterious map which mentions the lost jewels of Anniera, the siblings are propelled into a series of events that will forever alter their ordinary, somewhat comfortable lives, (since it is hard to be comfortable when you have been ruled by Gnag the Nameless for nine long years). With help from their mother Nia, grandfather Podo and various friends, the Igiby children attempt to avoid the dangerous Fangs--and horned hounds, toothy cows, and the occasional traitor in disquise--who are determined to harm them and capture the lost jewels for their leader.

Something that surprised me about this story was Andrew's ability to make even the most hilarious-sounding characters come to life with a pathos and drama that runs deeper than your usual children's book. From the Igiby three to Peet the Sock Man and Zouzab the Ridgerunner, Peterson has managed to develop amazingly complex, robust characters despite silly-sounding names. I did not expect to get so caught up in the Igiby's world, but by the end of the book, Peterson's ability to bring his characters to life forged an emotional connection, and I just couldn't put the book down. Though I guessed correctly about some of the events and circumstances, I was enthralled with these children and their world and stayed up past my bedtime, like a kid with a flashlight under the covers enjoying every stolen moment. This books is sure to instill a love of reading into at least a few hundred dozen kids, two of whom I hope are my own.