Customer Reviews

The Monster in the Hollows (Wingfeather Saga)

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It was a lovely May morning under the arbor on our bricked back porch. We love family time. We love being out in the morning before the sun has climbed high and grown hot. And we love a good story.

We had been waiting for this story for months. To our great delight it finally arrived, and there in the early cool of the day we read its final pages. Our hearts were thrilled with the song of the stones, the terrors of the deeps of throg, a family fighting through affliction, heroes and villains, friends and foes, laughter and tears.

There's much to ponder in The Wingfeather Saga, much about the way the Maker moves, about the way it's always too early to quit, about the way the Maker takes a failure and makes a flourish, about how singing for love rather than power will make a bent song beautiful, and on and on . . . And this isn't just a book for the kids to think about, though think on it they should and will.

The Monster in the Hollows isn't what you think, but it is Book Three in the Wingfeather Saga. Reading these stories as a family has been made more fun as we follow Andrew Peterson's progress on his blog and twitter updates, as we see the way other readers react in song and form to the tales he tells, and as we pray that the Lord will continue to cause his gaze to pierce into the way things really are.

Andrew Peterson is a lover of language, a poet with a heart full of melody. And hope. And joy. And faith. And love. More than once as I read this book aloud to my boys my voice choked with emotion. More than once I paused to read and re-read lines for their loveliness. And as we slowly savored the sorrow and joy, the triumph and tragedy in those final pages of the book, I found it more beautiful than I had hoped it could be. In the night, hope lives on. We read those final pages slowly, then read them again, and again.

What would it have been like to have read The Chronicles of Narnia as old Clive Staples finished them? What would it have been like to read along with Tolkien as he produced The War of the Ring? We won't know, but if you jump in right now, you can read along with Andrew Peterson as he moves toward the completion of The Wingfeather Saga, and you can join us in asking the Maker to bless Andrew as he seeks to be used to seal the song in the soul, to write the word on the heart, and to fill the sight with the form of the beauty of a better world.

It's a shame wordsmiths can't get shoe deals like athletes. Peterson would be pulling down seven figures for his new Readbook or Fila Fiction Cross Trainers. We could see ads like the famous Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson "Can you top this?" commercials. Peterson vs. Stephen King in a literary game of H-O-R-S-E. Peterson and JK Rowling endorsing new footwear (or word processors). I wish AP and others like him could pull down some of the same deals the NBA and NFL thugs get. Pro athletes merely entertain. Craftsmen and bards on the level of Peterson, Stephen Lawhead and Tosca Lee entertain AND make us better people. While reading Master Works such as the Wingfeather Saga our spirits soar. Our souls are fed. We become better people. We grow.

Andrew Peterson's Wingfeather Saga is (to keep the sports metaphor going) akin to Braves rookie left fielder Jason Heyward hitting a dramatic home run in his first major league at bat. It's like Jars of Clay's debut album. A monumental work right out of the gate. It's a little bit scary. If he grows as a writer we will have to invent new superlatives to review his future books. Lawhead is my favorite writer, but his early works like Dream Thief were not polished. Wingfeather, on the other hand, is polished, shiny, and brilliant. No learning curve here.

One thing that separates this Nashville Bard - Singer/Songwriter - Creator of Modern Allegory from the original Inklings (Tolkien, Lewis) is his relatability. (Is that a word?) The British professors were staid, stodgy, academics. Stinkin' brilliant academics and storytellers, but academics nonetheless. AP didn't grow up in a boarding school. He grew up in an American public school, just like most of us and Ralphie from "A Christmas Story". His sensibilities are All American. I do believe he has taken the baton from C. S. Lewis, but he is running this race in a way that post-moderns can easily relate to. His easy humor, comfort level while incorporating monsters and fantasy elements, and fearlessness in writing frightening passages could only have been written by a member of the Boomer generation or later.

We could only hope that the man who opened a Christmas song with the lines "It was not a silent night/There was blood on the ground" would not disappoint when writing a novel. He did not. As God is my witness, he did not disappoint. Except for the scores of passages that are laugh-out-loud funny; the many sections that will have you rethinking and readjusting your life philosophy; the entire chapters that are achingly beautiful; the wee hours in the morning when you will say, "I've got to put this up and go to bed" but won't be able to; the number of times you're not reading the book but will find yourself reliving scenes from it in your daydreams; the frequent times you will find yourself moved to tears; the many times you will find yourself telling friends and family about certain scenes or reading passages to them; the times you thank God for sending Andrew Peterson to us: except for those times and passages, this is an average book by an average author.

Andrew Peterson's third book in the Wingfeather Saga easily matches and in many ways surpasses his first two entries in the series, ON THE EDGE OF THE DARK SEA OF DARKNESS and NORTH! OR BE EATEN!

The Wingfeather children, heirs to the throne of the fallen kingdom of Anniera, have safely arrived at the Green Hollows, the peaceful former home of their mother and grandmother. However, even their entrance into the kingdom is tenuous because of the transformation of young Kalmar Wingfeather into the likeness of a Grey Fang, a vicious enemy of the Hollows. The Wingfeathers have triumphed over many deadly foes-- Fangs, Bomnubbles, Gargan Rockroaches, and Stranders-- but now they must face what is perhaps deadlier: the fear & suspicion of their friends. There is a monster in the Hollows, for sure. But you'll surprised when you find just who it is.

While previous books explored themes like courage, perseverance, and hope in the midst of assault from "the bad guys" (and there are still plenty of villains to fight this time around!), this one takes a penetrating look at the struggles that "the good guys" face when they are trying to protect themselves. As the love & patience of our heroes are tested & tried, we learn with them about forgiveness, hospitality, and most of all sacrificial love. I can think of no other children's book as nuanced or thoughtful as this one in dealing with the darkness in the hearts of others and our own hearts. The characters are all well-written & engaging, the story is quite gripping, and the themes gently woven throughout are a rich ocean to explore. I had to read the last half in one sitting because I couldn't just stop and go to bed! I highly recommend the Wingfeather Saga, and especially this book, to all mature young readers!

Many people can tell a good story, some people can tell a great story. Andrew Peterson makes you BELIEVE in his story.

I don't want to give a synopsis of this book; there are many others who can do that much better than I can. I want to simply say that this book changed the way I look at the world and my place in it. This book made me see my children as "jewels", my husband as my hero and God as the cord that binds us together.

I would recommend this book (and have recommended it)to everyone...young and old. As a parent, I monitor what my kids read and I often read a book before letting my 13 year old read it. We read the first two books in this series together and when "The Monster in the Hollows" arrived I handed it over to my daughter with no fears of what she would find inside. I knew that she would find treasure, truth and a good dose of humor. I knew that she would not find bad language, false "truths" or situations that compromise the Christian values we are teaching her.

I have not cried so hard over a book since I was 12 years old and read "Where the Red Fern Grows." I have not held my breath in fear and anticipation while reading a book since I read of Rohan's desperate attack on the orcs at Minas Tirith. Not since "The Chronicles of Narnia" have I wanted a world created in a story to truly exist.

Thank you to Andrew Peterson for taking us on such a wonderful journey, making us laugh (and cry) along the way. I will remember who I am.

Some stories beg to be read while sitting amidst the towering splendor of an ancient hardwood grove, or tucked between the secretive bends of a meandering stream. If you don't have a hardwood grove or meandering stream nearby, don't fear. This story will transport you there, and beyond. It's a tale that ripples with warm vitality and lilting verse, driving you deeper into the lyrical land of Aerwiar than you have previously traveled. Grab some pumpkin stew or rootberry ale and prepare to drink deeply of the third chapter in this fantastical feast.

If you've walked with the Wingfeathers thus far, you're familiar with Janner's trembling courage, Tink's ravenous appetite, and dear Leeli's resolute tenderness. You've seen them survive fierce battles - both without and within. What they now encounter in the Green Hollows will reawaken wounds of bitterness, shame, and doubt, once again threatening to unravel the royal line of Anniera. While battling this inward darkness and enduring the suspicion of the Hollowsfolk, the Jewels of Anniera will now face a new monstrosity - a vile and twisted creature that haunts the Hollows with the darkest of designs. And as with books 1 & 2, if the suspense doesn't knot your stomach, the belly laughs might. The aptly aimed interjections of the inimitable Podo Helmer and the delightful Oskar N. Reteep make for lightness of heart in all the right places.

One of the strengths of the Wingfeather Saga is that its characters are so truthful. There are no illusions of perfection. They fear, and they fail, and they despair. And so we believe them. The delicate strands of the story are tied to the characters' unflinching realness. And entrusted to their hands by a courageous author, the narrative rings true. It whispers of faith even as it wrestles with doubt. It sings of restoration. It insists on hope.

Here's a nice draught of lingual goodness to tempt your palate:

"His heart was black with despair, so the Maker's magic was most welcome. It helped him believe there was power pulsing behind the veil of the visible world, pulsing like blood through the world's veins, sending life and light coursing through everything, surprising and confounding at every turn. When he remembered this, the darkness glimmered with goodness." (p. 288)

In the words of Alan Rickman, the face of J.K. Rowling's Severus Snape, "It is an ancient need to be told stories. But the story needs a great storyteller." Peterson, with diligent regard for his craft, delivers.

I received this book prior to a business trip and was excited to be able to have time to dive in if I wasn't sleeping on flights. So with minimal sleep I sat in a tin can at 30,000 feet unable to put this book down. Each chapter leaves you wanting more which pushes you into reading more. I'd say 10x I put the book down only to pick it up again 2 minutes later. The time for the trip out and this book filled back. It was the fastest 300 pages I've ever read.

The story picks up where the second book left you. There was enough background information that I didn't have to re-open the past books which I read over a year ago. I think it could stand-alone but I would recommend reading the other books first.

The story and storytelling has matured with each installment. I felt like I was in the story along with Wingfeather children. The previous books seemed to set the table and now was the time to enjoy some hearty food. Andrew Peterson is an excellent storyteller and keeps pulling out plot twists and surprises that keep you on your toes. I expected a few and was floored by others.

A very enjoyable book and a fantastic tale. I loved this book.

This book, just like the preceding two before it, was absolutely fantastic.

Andrew Peterson has not failed to create yet another gripping tale - a true can't-put-it-down story of peril, intrigue, and shocking plot twists that he executes with masterful dexterity.

Even as I type this, my Mom is chowing through the end of North or Be Eaten, and my Dad is beginning The Monster in the Hollows. Every last person in my family of six loves these books, and we've recommended/lent/given copies out to many friends, all of whom have become ardent fans as we have. My Dad, who NEVER reads fantasy, has stayed up until 1:00am (multiple times) to find out the ever-elusive "What happens next?!?" in these marvelous series.

The Monster in the Hollows lived up to the exalted standards Andrew Peterson set in books 1 and 2. We wait with bated breath for the Books to Come.

Thank you, Sir Peterson, for this series. I'm an oldest, like Janner, and his frustrations with his siblings have opened my eyes to the similarities between he and I... it's challenged me to be patient and brave and uncomplaining, as he strives to be. Just a few days ago, throughout a day of intense frustration towards the youngsters in my life, I gritted my teeth and whispered fiercely to myself to be like Janner, to fight like Janner for patience. It gave me courage. Ever since reading this book I have been heartened by the memory of the Wingfeathers' adventures, their moments of cheer, their laughs, and the hard times, and the courage required of them. Thank you so, so much for these books.

Oh. And by the way.

Peet the Sock Man is awesome.

That's all.

A thorough fan,
-brennan gash

There is something deep that unites us all. No, something even deeper than our universal love of Mexican food. It's a common thread that runs through all of us, somehow binding each of us to something greater than ourselves, helping us see each other as more than just unrelated beings moving through unrelated space living out unrelated lives. It unites us and teaches us that we all somehow add to a story much greater than our own, a story that has been groaning toward completion long before us and will continue groaning long after we are gone. It's the idea of story. Not just a story, but the story. I've heard it said that the story of each of us is the story of all of us. Personally, I believe that the story runs much deeper even than encompassing all of us. It runs deep into the very heart of who God is and how He works out His story in and through us all.



I don't know how, but Andrew Peterson has apparently dug a deep well directly into the heart of the story and tapped it for all its majesty, beauty, and grace.



I've been following Peterson for a long time now. I was a big fan of his music (this may be a slight understatement) and I love to read (also an understatement), so I was understandably excited when I heard he was undertaking a new form of artistic expression in writing. I jumped at the chance to follow this amazing storyteller as he told a different kind of story in a different kind of way. So I pre-ordered his first novel, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, and devoured it as soon as I got my hands on it. It was quirky, it was interesting, and it was extremely well-written for a freshman novel. But these qualities, awesome as they were, weren't what hooked me. As I said, Peterson somehow discovered how to tap deeply into the story that unexpectedly united me to an unassuming farm boy on the edge of a redundantly dark sea, and there he found the hook that caught me and wouldn't let go. As I read that first book in the Wingfeather Saga, I wasn't just reading about the emotions that came along with the beautifully redemptive story being told. I was simultaneously living out those emotions in my own life. When those three children hurt, I hurt. When they laughed, I laughed. But most important, when they experienced that great wave of redemption that comes when the story turns and makes everything right again, I was right there with them. Peterson tapped me into something deeper than myself, and I wanted nothing more than to continue in it.



So, needless to say, I purchased the second and third books as soon as they were released (pre-released, in fact). The second book, North! Or Be Eaten, took my breath away. The story continued pressing on toward that completion that I longed for though I dreaded the path I knew it must take to get there. But again, I was hooked because I knew that in reading it I was somehow connected to those emotions that are so easily buried beneath our mundane sea of what we have convinced ourselves is life.



Then the third book, The Monster in the Hollows, came out. I didn't think I could experience the story any deeper. I was wrong. As I followed the path that Peterson wove for Janner, Kalmar, and Leeli, I found myself running a gamut of emotions at a level I wasn't sure even existed. This small microcosm of the one great story delved deeply into my soul and touched a part of me that had long been dormant. As I read, I experienced life, love, fear, turmoil, betrayal, and ultimately grace and redemption in a way that I expected no modern novel ever to have the ability to conjure. I experienced the story, and I can't help but want more.



Peterson is, at his core, a storyteller. He knows how to weave a good tale. What I love about his book (and the series as a whole) is that he understands the rules of storytelling enough to know when to abide, when to bend, and when to break those rules in half. I am often disappointed by books, movies, and TV shows that allow you to pick out the bad guy early in the story simply by the way the author introduced him. Far too often you can tell where the story is going, and usually that means the reader (or viewer) loses some interest. That is not the case with Peterson, not because he knows and understands the unwritten rules of good storytelling. But because he understands how to manipulate those rules, torturing them until they relent, producing something surprisingly beautiful.



Would I recommend this book (and the Wingfeather Saga series)? I am ashamed that you even have to ask. I have personally purchased some 20 copies of the first book and have been responsible for introducing at least that many more people to the series. To state it plainly, ABSOLUTELY! If you are a fan of good storytelling, interesting lands and people, and/or all things yummy, you must read these books. Buy them for yourself. Buy them for your teenager who isn't sure that reading is worth his time. Buy them for your parent who loves to read but already owns all the great books known to man. Buy them for the homeless guy on the corner (possibly bag them with a sandwich). Buy them for anyone you can. They too can tap into the great story of stories, and there they can find the redemption and grace that I found reading these books.



C.S. Lewis once wrote, "In life and art both, as it seems to me, we are always trying to catch in our net of successive moments something that is not successive. Whether in real life there is any doctor who can teach us how to do it, so that at last either the meshes will become fine enough to hold the bird, or we be so changed that we can throw our nets away and follow the bird to its own country, is not a question for this essay. But I think it is sometimes done - or very, very nearly done - in stories. I believe the effort to be well worth making."



Lewis, through his incredible storytelling, was just such a doctor as to push us to grasp something beyond our own stories. Peterson unquestionably follows in Lewis' able footsteps, beckoning his readers to strive for the far country that is not their home. Read these books and see for yourself. You won't regret it.

It's 2AM and I just finished the final page of The Monster in the Hollows. Whew, my mind is spinning. I'm filled with a range of emotions, and once again I'm left longing for more.

From the moment I opened to the first page, I couldn't stop reading. Fist fights. Dog talk. Pumpkin stew. What more can you ask for? This book has a richness that kept me turning the pages. Andrew Peterson invited me to the Green Hollows, and there I sat, on a green hill overlooking the sea, carefully listening to every word.

While in the Hollows, Peterson takes us deeper inside the hearts of Janner and Kalmar. As their stories unfolded, I found myself connecting with them. I identified with their struggles, joys, wishes, and secrets. And more than that, I learned from them. I closed the book with a deeper gratitude for the Maker and His love that reaches into our deepest muck and grime and rescues us. The One who longs to make all things new.

Get your hands on this book and let it work its magic on you. Let it remind you of the Maker's faithful love. Let it encourage you with that truth that you are not alone. Let it show you there is a tomorrow after days of regret. And let it fill you to the deepest depths with hope and healing.

Dear Fellow readers,
I have a strange affliction/addiction, I keep being drawn over to the bookcase to reread the same wonderful book over and over again. Once I am dragged away, I wander about the house with a silly grin on my face and a out-of-this-world look in my eyes.
It all started when my older sister presented me with my very own copies of Andrew Peterson's first two books. I love reading and since I had read nearly all the books we owned already, I decided to draw the enjoyment out and try to make reading them last a week. Well, I didn't last two days, once I got started I couldn't stop and before I knew it I was head over heels in love with The Wingfeather Saga. So quite understandably, I was very excited for the release of the third book,The Monster in the Hollows. I kinda annoyed my family with my incessant, "Hey, only 32 days!" "32 days until what?" "Until The Monster in the Hollows comes out!" *they roll their eyes* Then one day I was bored out of my skins and this package arrives for me out of the blue. My mom had surprised me by buying me an autographed copy of The Monster in the Hollows! I have read it numerous times since then, (and that wasn't that long ago even) and I love more each time. So now, when I think I have spare time I find myself irresistibly drawn to the bookcase to read again one of the best books ever. Y'all really should read it as well. In short, reading The Monster in the Hollows once is better than eating chocolate pudding every day, and that is saying something.