On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson is the first of a young middle grade fantasy series. I would rate it something like 4.5 stars if I could, but have rounded to 5 since I can't. I recommend it for every Christian family's bookshelves especially.

The story is rich with Peterson's silly made up words, games, foods, animals, etc. It's very colorful and whimsical. As an adult reading this, it felt bogged down by some of those creative details. The plot is predictable so I felt impatient to get there, but if I had read this as a middle grader I probably would not have felt this way. Even with that criticism, I am anxious to finish the series to see what happens next!

The book teaches how not everything is as it seems, encourages a love of reading and learning, and depicts realistic and loving sibling relationships with a particular focus on the complaints of the oldest sibling. As an oldest sibling myself, I could relate to Janner's frustrations.

The characters are each unique with complete storylines and good development for the first book of a series. The writing is amazing, clear, and very, very creative. I enjoyed the silly footnotes and details.

Thank you NetGalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah for a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review!

Parents, students and Christians will love this book. In addition to challenging the reader to advance their knowledge of "big" words, it also expands ones mind through delightful scenery and circumstances presented in the book. It is the first in the series. I look forward to reading this with my younger readers.

What a great start to this series! I loved being introduced to all the characters and the author does a great job world building. I loved the humor and honesty of each of the main characters and I can’t wait to read more!

Thank you Waterbrook & NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to review this title.

I would pitch On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness as Lord of The Rings meets The Princess Bride. I loved the descriptions of the made up characters and I could picture them perfectly in my head. This book is geared towards children but just as great for adults as well.

The characters are very unique and realistic. The plot is a bit complex for a middle grade novel, but written so clearly it's so engaging and easy to read. It's so boldly adventurous and absolutely hilarious.

Delightful, laugh out loud funny, exciting, and generally pretty wonderful. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

A story the whole family can get into, after reading this book I have ordered it on audio for our families long car trips. My boys couldn’t wait for each chapter this book has made getting through this pandemic much more enjoyable. It had plenty of action to keep two boys ages 10 and 12 hooked but it was also very enjoyable for me as well I know we are excited to start reading the next book.

This was a unique experience for me. I'll start by saying it's a good book and I recommend it. But there were times I wondered why I was reading it. It is definitely full of middle school humor, which isn't exactly my thing. The first third, I found hilarious, but I was waiting for something. The middle third was harder to stick with, but the end was totally worth it.

Based on the fact that so many big-name Christian book bloggers recommended it and the author is a Christian, as far as I know I assumed it would have a strong Christian message. I was wrong as far as thinking the "Gospel" would be presented in an allegorical way, but the character of the main characters speaks to solid values and so much more.

Being the first book to an epic series, in a completely made up realm, it does take a lot of setting up, but by the end of book one, you really want to read the rest. I'm looking forward to diving in, and am glad I persevered!

I received a copy of this book from @netgalley, and chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own

The first in the Wingfeather Saga, this book introduces us to the Igiby family – Janner, Tink, Leeli, Nugget the dog, and their mother Nia and pirate-come hero grandfather, Podo. The family live in Glipwood, in Skree – once peaceful, but now occupied by the fearsome Fangs of Dang. Hitherto the Igiby children have managed to remain below the radar of the Fangs, but it is the day of the annual Dragon Festival, and all this is about to change…

The novel’s first two chapters, an introduction to the history and geography of Skree, will amuse some and annoy others – but they don’t last for long, and for those in the latter category willing to persevere, the adventure unfolds quickly and very soon the book becomes hard to put down as one perilous brush with the Fangs is followed by another and another. In fact, cliff hangers abound in this riveting tale, as not only do the protagonists have Fangs to contend with, but also Toothy Cows, Horned Hounds, and all manner of other fantastic creatures, in addition to their own fears. Relationships are rich and character development strong and full of hope as the Igibys confront the worst in themselves and choose courage and love in the face of relentless oppression.

Peterson has created a world that is capable of drawing in the whole family – his fantasy is silly and will enthral children, his language is complex and beautiful and will enchant adults, and the emotional rollercoaster will keep everyone asking for more. We have already ordered Book 2 in the Saga as we’re not ready to leave the Igiby family to their fate yet!

An absolute must-read. Peterson delivers a wonderful first book in the "The Wingfeather Saga". The characters are bold and well thought out. The family filled adventure is perfect for parents to enjoy with the kiddos.

World building is my jam. Give me a parallel universe, a multiverse, a fairy tale spin off world, a Time Lord planet, there’s just something about diving into a whole new place. Somewhere with new geographical boundaries, new animals, new types of “people.” The work that goes into creating such a thing is impressive, immersive, and just downright delicious to read. This year sees the re-release of a series I had never heard of before, The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson. The first two of four books are currently available, with the final two to follow later this year. Think Narnia meets Middle Earth, with a splash of Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer thrown in. How could I resist?

In the first installment, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, we are introduced to the mythology of the world of Aerwiar, a short history of the land of Skree, and the Igiby family. Ravaged by Gnag the nameless and his army of Fangs, the people of Skree live not in servitude, but under occupation. A tentative peace exists in the minds of the children, though not in the adults who can remember the time before. The story focuses on the three Igiby children, who live on the edge of town with their mother and grandfather, who we are told, was a Pirate in a previous life. Janner the eldest boy, Tink his younger brother, and Leeli their sister, who along with her dog Nugget are the main focus of the story. Janner yearns for more physical freedom, but gets more responsibility. Tink yearns for safety and adventure in equal parts. Leeli yearns for a more existential freedom, and will fight anyone who denies her, or defies her for that matter. They are being taught by their mother in an unusual manner under a system she calls T.H.A.G.S which means Three Honored and Great Subjects: Word, Form and Song. Janner studies writing and poetry, Tink studies art, through practical painting and drawing, mostly, Leeli learns music. In Tink’s words “not one other child in Glipwood was forced to spend hours upon hours drawing the same tree over and over from different angles.” Having just gone through several months of virtual school, and facing several more, reading about this was particularly interesting. This unique education is not the only thing that sets them apart from the other residents of Glipwood, and as we come to know and adventure with our protagonists more and more, we become aware that there is a lot more going on here than would appear at first blush.

While we are given some information on the danger around them in the form of a brief history. The terror of living in a captive land is made real to us in the first chapter where we are introduced to “the carriage black”. This is what I imagine the child catcher’s carriage from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang would be like if it were used in a series of American Horror Story. This is no Voldemort bad guy, but neither is it a Sauron. There is something familiar about Gnag the nameless, that distant horror you feel may snatch you up at any moment, but something new and different that draws you in with fear and trepidation. Or if you are Tink, draws you in to go places you shouldn’t, pursue things you shouldn’t, and otherwise get into trouble.

Janner may resent the responsibility pushed upon him by his grandfather, but as his sister and brother begin to get into more and more trouble, he grows, and you realize that he is a protector of sorts, a role that he seems to resent but also is starting to blossom in. The three children develop so much during this first story, yet remain children, which is something that can often be a failing in child-as-hero books. Peterson lends a sense of realism to their childhood, whilst also instilling the fantastical, and the heroic in our young heroes.

The children have been raised in the small town of Glipwood, with no link to the wider world around them. But events conspire to entangle them firmly in the clutches of Gnag the nameless and the machinations of his hordes. With every decision they make, they are drawn further from home, and closer to something that seems to ever elude them. As Gnag the nameless pursues that which he has longed for, the Igiby family becomes inextricably linked with the pursuit. No spoilers here, the book ends with both dark foreboding, and hope for the future. I have high hopes for the remaining three volumes of TThe Wingfeather Saga.

Structurally the book just tickles my fancy. Before we even get into chapter 1, we have three short humorous but expositional preludes, and are given our introduction to the style of humor we should expect of Peterson.

“The Fangs walked about like humans, and in fact they looked exactly like humans, except for the greenish scales that covered their bodies and the lizard-like snout and the two long, venomous fangs that jutted downward from their snarling mouths. Also, they had tails.”

In style and sentence structure the book is greatly reminiscent of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Situations and history are treated as fact even as we encounter them for the first time, and footnotes are delightfully used as both funny distractions, and as a means to aid the story. In what is certainly an homage to Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings Peterson inserts song and poems of the world of Aerwiar to deepen our affinity for the world, and help with some exposition. Peterson is also one of the founders of the creativity hub The Rabbit Room in Nashville, where they recently installed the fireplace from Tolkien’s former home in Oxford into their meeting place, so the link is not just imagined on my part. You will find “The Legend of the Sunken Mountains” a traditional tale from “Fletcher’s Comprehensive History of Sad, Sad Songs” in the appendices of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. The chapter titles are likewise full of wit and whimsy. Who can fail to enjoy something entitled “Not the same as Ships and Sharks” or “Cave Blats and Quill Diggles.”

One of my favorite characters is not in much of the book, though his presence is keenly felt in many scenes when he is present, and when he is not. The proprietor of “Books and Crannies,” the lone bookshop in the town of Glipwood, is a man after my own heart. While devastation reigns across the land, Oskar N Reteep seeks out tome and text, to preserve the literature and histories of a fallen people. He will beg, borrow, and barter to acquire books that are no longer of any use to people whose homes were destroyed. Oskar knows that the words within are worth far more to the land of his forebears, then any measurement in food or shelter could buy. His life’s work is to preserve and protect the written treasures of his land. He is also a man full of the most ridiculous quotes, from the most ridiculous books, and I couldn’t love them more.

“We took a wrong turn at SKREEAN HISTORY,” Janner said, “and then another at POINTLESS POEMS and-”
“No matter,” he (Oskar) said with a wave of his hand. “I believe it was the great Chorton who wrote, ‘To worry over dallying brothers is not worth the trouble when a large shipment [of books] has just arrived.’ Or something to that effect.”

You are left wondering if he is changing the quote to suit the occasion, making it all up, or quoting Chorton verbatim, and quite frankly, any of those scenarios is delightfully acceptable to me.

The book does fall down in the representation of female characters. There are only two of any import, with the other key figures all being men or boys, or lizard men, which count. It would have been nice to have maybe two sisters and one brother, or maybe Olivia N Reteep in charge of the bookstore. But this is the first of four books, so I’ll reserve judgement for future secondary characters to develop. The manner in which Mrs Igiby handles herself throughout the story, is setting her up to easily be one of my favorite characters in young adult fiction. She is part Eliza Bennett, part Arwen, and part Susan Pevensie, and I cannot wait to see what happens to her.

My eight year old came upon me reading this book and I promised him that I would read it to them next. Reading a book together is on our summer bucket list, and I cannot wait to introduce my kids to the Igiby children, Oskar N Reteep, and the town of Glipwood in the land of Skree.

This book was so good! It is a fun read with lots of excitement and adventure.I highly recommend this book for all ages. It has just enough twists and turns to keep you turning the pages. I love that the author didn't leave you with a cliffhanger. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. 5 stars all the way!! Thank you WaterBrook & Multnomah via NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

What a delightful book! I only wish that my children were still small and this could have been one of the books I read to them at bedtime. A really fun story about the Igiby family, children Janner, Tink and Leeli, their mother, Nia, and their grandfather, Podo. They live in a small town controlled by evil creatures, the Fangs. It is a story about the children trying to learn more about their father, who has passed away, and their hunger for adventure. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series to follow the adventures of the Igiby family! I recommend you come along for the ride!

A couple of days ago I got on to netgalley and a cover on the Recommend feed immediately grabbed my attention. I love illustrated covers and The Warden and the Wolf King by Andrew Peterson is just the type I love so I clicked on it and was kind of dissapointed that it was the fourth book in a series. But I wasn't disuaded, I went to goodreads and saw that it was a reedition of a saga from 2008, that the first and second book had been out in march and you could still request them on netgalley so I went ahead and did it.

The Igiby kids, Janner, Tink and Leeli live calmly in their little town near the Sea of Darkness but a small act unleashes a number of misfortunes where the poor kids have no respite against the nasty creatures that have invaded the land.

I really liked this book, the big reveal was somewhat predictable (although I'm not a kid that will probably be surprised) but that didn't take away anything from the story and I was preocupied for these kids and their family all the way to the end.

I have to say that I wasn't liking the writing at the beginning very much, it was quirky and whimsical in a way that I wasn't prepared for.

"Oh, yes, the people of Skree were quite free, as long as they were in their homes by midnight. And as long as they bore no weapons, and they didn’t complain when their fellow Skreeans were occasionally taken away across the sea, never to be seen again. But other than the cruel Fangs and the constant threat of death and torture, there wasn’t much to fear in Skree."

But as soon as the tone of the book starts changing, so does the writing and it immerses you in the story.

Something else that I really liked about this book are the adults in it. They actually help!! If you read middle grade you know that parents are never there nor do they help and the children always have to do everything on their own, which I know is needed to further the plot, but is a little unrealistic. In this case though, the mom and grandfather are always there for the 3 kids and do help them out of a couple of scrapes without overshadowing them.

And speaking of the grandfather, I adored this character, he was one of my favorites, there was, however, just one issue I had with him concerning his attitude toward another character but there is a reason so he is still one of my faves.

I'm ready to continue on my next adventure and I have high hopes for the second installment

When I saw this cover on Netgalley, I immediately requested it. Of course, I also read the synopsis, which seemed like an exciting middle-grade fantasy, and I knew I was going to love this book. Plus, it’s just a reprinting with a nicer cover, lots of people have read it before, and it has good reviews. Unfortunately, I couldn't fall in love with the book ...
This book looked like that I will adore it, but in the end, almost nothing came together for me. A book can buy me with a good world, but in this case, the world was just nothing special. It was a boring fantasy world. I couldn’t like the three main characters either. I had nothing wrong with them, but they couldn’t grow to my heart. And there was the story: it did not tie me down, I was bored, even though things had happened in it, yet I wasn’t interested.
If I have to say something negative about the book, other than that I and the book didn’t fit, I can’t. The world was built nicely, the characters were ok, the story was logical. And as I can’t highlight a negative thing, I can’t highlight a positive either.
I’ll try the sequel to see if I was just in the wrong mood when I read it, but this book was more of a nuisance for me than fun.

My Hungarian review:

Amikor megláttam ezt a borítót Netgalley-n, rögtön jelentkeztem rá. Persze, aztán végig olvastam a fülszöveget is, ami alapján egy izgalmas middle-grade fantasynak tűnt, és tudtam, hogy szeretni fogom ezt a könyvet. Ezenkívül ez csak újranyomtatás szebb borítóval, már sokan olvasták korábban, és elég jó értékelései vannak. Sajnos, nem tudtam végül megszeretni a könyvet...
Ez a könyv az én könyvem kellett volna legyen, de végül nem állt össze nálam szinte semmi. A világ általában vinni szokta a könyvet a hátán, és itt épp ezt éreztem lagymatagnak. Olyan semmilyen, unalmas fantasy világ volt. A három főszereplőt sem tudtam megszeretni. Semmi bajom nem volt velük, de sehogy sem tudtak a szívemhez nőni. És ott volt még a történet is: engem sehogy sem tudott lekötni, agyon untam magam, pedig történtek benne a dolgok, mégsem érdekelt túlzottan.
Ha negatívumot kell mondanom a könyvről, azon kívül, hogy én és a könyv nem illettünk, nem tudok. A világ fel volt építve, karakterek rendben voltak, történet is logikus volt. És ahogy negatívumot, pozitív dolgot sem tudok kiemelni.
A következő részt még megpróbálom, hátha csak rossz passzban voltam, amikor olvastam, de így ez a könyv inkább volt nyűg, mint élmény.

This is a high fantasy middle grade. A good combination of “Lord of the Rings” meets “Princess Bride” and a little of “newness“.

I like the characters but for some reason I couldn’t get into the story as much as I would’ve liked. I felt the beginning was too slow and if I’d been a part of the age group this was designated for it wouldn’t have kept my interest. Needless to say this is just my opinion. I absolutely love the setting and the creatures involved in the book. The main characters are quirky and relatable at times.

I just think this book may not have been for me. I did enjoy the ending and am going in to book 2.

An excellent middle grade fantasy novel. Can't wait to let my kids read it and see what they think. Great even for adults, the adventure has some twists and turns that'll keep you anxious to learn more about the history and what might happen next.
This is one series you can turn over to your kids without fear. Engaging characters and lessons about listening to your parents, even when there's no explanation.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

A fantasy novel that is undoubtedly full of magic, family, adventures, horrible humans and secrets, everything you can ask for in a story to make it unforgettable.
We follow the story of the 3 brothers, and this novel world is a first introductory book to introduce you to the world and everything that surrounds it, it has certainly surprised me, it is very easy to read for those of us who started in English, and an addictive read is made.
Highly recommended, and I will continue reading the second book.
Also, these new editions are beautiful, without a doubt it does the story a good.

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (book 1) was a wonderful introduction into a new world of mystery and intrigue. It tells the tale of the three Igiby children – Janner, Tink, and Leeli – and their mother and ex-pirate grandfather. They live in a land that has been invaded by the Fangs of Dang, creatures who treat the Igiby family and their fellow residents of Glipwood Township.

Somehow Janner and Tink have a way of launching themselves headfirst into trouble. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness is an invitation to journey with them and battle. I loved every second and dove headfirst into book two. And then found book three at the library as an audiobook and devoured that one as well. There’s a fourth book in the series, but I haven’t been able to get my hands on it quite yet.

A really enjoyable start to a fantasy series. Great world-building; full of humor; likable characters; bursting with danger and adventure; fast-paced plot.

The audio is very good; I paired it with a physical copy to enjoy the illustrations. This is great for a whole-family read-aloud.

Perfect exemplary book for middle grade.

Andrew Peterson has done a great job🤩

Honestly it's been a while since I read a good middle grade book.
This was so amazing.I absolutely want to read more books in this series!
Fantastic world building,nice plot, friendships,this had it!

Recommended read.Read this once if not twice.

Thanks to WaterBrook & Multnomah for providing me access to an e-ARC of this book!
👍👍👍👍👍

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars

Peterson creates a unique world of humans coexisting with a animal-like race that controls the land in this first installment in The Wingfeather Saga. Readers are introduced to 3 siblings growing up a within a world of danger and uncertainty, while their mother and grandfather do all they can to keep them safe. The children don't know much about their father and they know better than to ask questions.

The world within the book is highly imaginative. There are some illustrations included to help one wrap one's mind around the creatures described. The author has spun a tale of pure fantasy, complete with its own vocabulary and fictitious literary references (adults will probably enjoy the lengthy footnotes more than the children). For parents who are are avid J.R.R. Tolkien fans and long to introduce their kids to fantasy, this series would be a good age-appropriate introduction to that genre (think Chronicles of Narnia reading level paired with Tolkien creativity). The lines between good and evil are very clearly drawn and there is a hint of allegory running throughout the story.

I loved the sense of discovery present; readers feel part of the mystery, the danger, the expectancy (and occasionally the fear) that the siblings experience. Characters will become dear friends (or despised enemies) by the time the last page is read. And some characters are not whom they appear to be. I highly recommend this clever, unique tale for ages 8 and up and guarantee you will want to continue reading the rest of the series.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.