{Book Review} On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness

Lad, it’s one thing to be poor in pocket – nothing wrong with that. But poor in heart – that’s no good.”

-On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson

About the book…

This is the first book in The Wingfeather Saga. A tale I would place on my shelf beside C. S. Lewis or J. R. R. Tolkien, masterful storytelling that has become a rarity. The Igiby family has lived as normal a life as they could these last few years in the Glipwood Township under the invasion of the evil Fangs of Dang. But as their freedom slowly slips away, questions begin to rise, and more than their right to walk the streets without being bothered is at stake.

About the author… 

Andrew Peterson is a man of many talents. His music is well known, especially his most recent album, Resurrection Letters, Vol. 1. He is also the proprietor of The Rabbit Room, husband to Jamie and father to Aedan, Asher, and Skye. They live near Nashville.

Some personal thoughts…

I’ll be honest. I was reluctant to pick this book up.

My brother read them in about a week, and told my Mom she needed to read them. So, she read them aloud, and the story got the better of me, and before I knew it, I was sitting right alongside the rest of the kids listening to this epic tale.

Since we first read them as a family a few years ago, I have re-read and re-listened to the audio books numerous times. The story only grows more beautiful with each time through. Something only the best of books can do.

Peterson has the ability to craft a tale that is engagingly witty, unimaginably deep, and utterly moving. A skill that is hard to find today. I cannot applaud him enough for his work. The first book in The Wingfeather Saga is definitely to hardest to get through, and upon completion of the series feels more like an introduction. But DO NOT let that stop you from reading it. This is, in my opinion, a must read series. If you find the first book hard to get into, push through. It is so worth it.

Character development is astounding. Peterson really makes the Igiby family and their surroundings come alive. I mean it when I say he is on of the Tolkien’s or Lewis’ of our day. If you enjoyed The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia and don’t have The Wingfeather Saga, go and get it. Pause whatever fiction you are reading, and treat yourself to this story. You will not regret it.

Things worth mentioning…

This book is clean, as in there is no inappropriate content whatsoever.

There is quite a bit of evil. Death and a black carriage that whisks children away at night. There is evil, because this is a story of good versus evil. It is a wonderful story, and in agreement with what Lewis said, “Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage” I highly recommend it to families for read aloud, adults for enjoyment, and children for amazement.

 

Here at The Corner Shelf, you’ll find On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness on The Top Shelf.