On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (Wingfeather Saga) by Andrew Peterson

Mar 17, 2008

nate rated it

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Delightful in every way! Peterson's first foray into fiction was even better than expected. Lots of laugh out loud moments, the footnotes were brilliant, the story was great and I can't wait to read the next installment of the Wingfeather Saga.

I've posted an extended review on my blog.

I'll be giving away a copy of the book on my blog between March 17-21. Swing on by to learn more.

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Jan 11, 2009

Katie Wandell rated it

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This book drew me in with the humor and creativity of names and phrases and situations. Some of it was the silly/eye-rolling kind but in a good way - I smiled and laughed through a huge portion of this book. I was also drawn in by the story and the characters.

I especially liked Peet and how he is crazy, interesting, mysterious, sad, but also good, kind, a protector/hero. I kept wanting to find out more about him. I like when things aren't always what they seem. One of my favorite p...more

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Apr 28, 2008

Turi rated it

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Shelves: advance-reader

One benefit of my new job in the Technical Services department of the library is that I get a look at a lot of the advance reader copies that come in. These are prepublished books that publishers send out to generate interest and hopefully sales. They are usually uncorrected proofs, so you have to swim through some typos, but usually they're pretty good. That's how I got a look at this book, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, which won't be out for another month or so.

Wow, I li...more

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Apr 21, 2008

Loren rated it

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From ISawLightningFall.blogspot.com

I always feel a bit apprehensive when a musician decides to try his (or her) hand at writing. It’s one thing to pen short snippets of lyrical verse. It’s another to hold a reader’s attention over several hundred pages. Fortunately, singer/songwriter Andrew Peterson’s On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness more than entertains, despite a few literary failings.

The Igiby family lives on the outskirts of the sleepy hamlet of Glipwood on the...moreFrom ISawLightningFall.blogspot.com

I always feel a bit apprehensive when a musician decides to try his (or her) hand at writing. It’s one thing to pen short snippets of lyrical verse. It’s another to hold a reader’s attention over several hundred pages. Fortunately, singer/songwriter Andrew Peterson’s On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness more than entertains, despite a few literary failings.

The Igiby family lives on the outskirts of the sleepy hamlet of Glipwood on the continent of Skree in the world of Aerwiar. The three Igiby children -- Janner, Tink and Leeli -- spend their days helping their widowed mother Nia with chores and their peg-legged, ex-pirate grandfather Podo keep the pests out of the garden. All is not well in Skree. Years ago, a Nameless Evil arose, sacked the high court of Anniera and conquered the entire Skreean continent. Now scaly terrors called Fangs occupy Glipwood, oppressing the populace and abducting children in the Black Carriage. The only things as terror-inspiring as the hordes of the Nameless Evil (which happens to be named Gnag the Nameless) are the toothy cows roaming the nearby forest. Well, completing the reams of paperwork required to procure a hoe from the local garrison is pretty terrifying, too. And we shouldn’t forget the ferocious warrior kings of Torrboro and their frightening affection for fluffy kittens …

If this sounds to you like a cross between The Lord of the Rings and Monty Python and the Holy Grail, you’ve hit the nail on its proverbial head. Dark Sea of Darkness revels in heroic high fantasy on one hand and wacky absurdism on the other. The pairing works well. Who didn’t want more comic relief while venturing through Middle Earth? Instead of Adam and Eve, or somesuch serious-sounding pair, being the first inhabitants of Aerwiar, we get Dwayne and Gladys. We meet Mayor Blaggus, who is as unctuous as his name suggests, and Peet the Sock Man, the town idiot who likes to insult the parentage of street signs and wears stockings over his hands. We are treated -- in the loosest use of the word -- to recipes for the Fang delicacies maggotloaf and booger gruel. Some of the best bits are footnotes Peterson uses to reveal backstory. A favorite from a section on the Igiby children’s studies, called T.H.A.G.S.: “Three Honored and Great Subjects: Word, Form, and Song. Some silly people believe that there’s a fourth Honored and Great Subject, but those mathematicians are woefully mistaken.”

Despite its inventiveness, Dark Sea of Darkness contains more than a few first-novel mistakes. The worst is unexpected shifts in point of view, which seriously disrupt the narrative flow. If this happened a time or two, it would be excusable. However, one three-page chapter features over a half-dozen changes in the viewpoint character, and a switch from Janner’s perspective to that of Tink’s spoils a climactic encounter with the Black Carriage. It’s amazing that an editor didn’t notice them. Other problems are less egregious, but still niggle. There’s a fair bit of overly expository dialogue and description, and the only purpose Leeli serves for much of the book is to be swiped by some baddie and then rescued.

Not that the novel’s intended audience (which is children) will particularly care. They’ll be too caught up in the adventure and humor to notice. Adults might be willing to forgive them, too, once they get to the ending. Let’s just say that when Peet’s socks come off, he goes from pitiful wretch to righteous avenger in an instant. Also, this is the first in a series. Let’s hope the second installment fixes the faults of Dark Sea of Darknesses. That would be a truly compelling read.(less)

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May 30, 2008

Joel rated it

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Peterson's first book in the Wingfeather Saga is a fun read. I enjoyed the characters, the fact that the whole family was the center of the story, not just the children, as most kid's stories these days focus. They each are quirky and add depth to the tale. The actual narrative is well developed in this first book. From the terrain, to the players, to the enemies, to the history, even the food, the songs, the books are all developed.

Some of the things I wasn't wild about were the of...more

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Mar 21, 2008

peter rated it

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I have to admit that I was a little skeptical about this one. Andrew Peterson is high on my list of favorite singer/songwriters, but I wasn't sure that his talent would translate well to the novel format. After all, you need more than a couple verses and a hooky chorus to make a storybook sing.

But aside from a few reservations about the sheer ridiculousness of some of the character names, I found the book to be really enjoyable, suspenseful, quite funny, and possessed of its own uniq...moreI have to admit that I was a little skeptical about this one. Andrew Peterson is high on my list of favorite singer/songwriters, but I wasn't sure that his talent would translate well to the novel format. After all, you need more than a couple verses and a hooky chorus to make a storybook sing.

But aside from a few reservations about the sheer ridiculousness of some of the character names, I found the book to be really enjoyable, suspenseful, quite funny, and possessed of its own unique voice.

The story follows the fantastic adventures of three children--Janner, Tink, and Leeli--as they look for treasure, hide from the bad guys, and try to unravel the mysteries of their own past. The pace and tempo are similar in some ways to the Harry Potter books, but with much more fun and much more hope.

Along the way, they are chased by all manner of strange creatures, including toothy cows (which are hilarious to imagine, but not to meet in person) and the Fangs of Dang (which are smelly, ill-humored villains with a taste for maggotloaf.) They explore Anklejelly Manor. They end up in the Fang dungeon twice. They narrowly escape certain death numerous times. In the end, they...well, you'll have to read it, I guess.

For me, what made this book more than just light entertainment was the presence of two deeper themes. The first--a fierce love of family--was a refreshing departure from the dysfunctional relationships and remote or absent adults of so many modern children's stories.

The second theme, which gave this book its heart, was the acknowledgement of and longing after something deeper, some mystery beyond understanding. To quote Frederick Buechner quoting Rinkitink, the king of Oz, "Never question the truth of what you fail to understand, for the world is filled with wonders." After a day of near disaster, little Leeli sings a song of sadness and hope that makes even the dragons fall silent. And then the moment of beauty passes without explanation and we never understand what really happened there on the rock overlooking the Dark Sea. But in the gloom a light shimmers and brings hope of something bigger, some deeper magic. Despite the danger and doubts, still we discover a world full of wonder. As far as I'm concerned, that, and a toothy cow or two, is all you really need for a pretty good adventure.(less)

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Mar 16, 2008

Katie rated it

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*No spoilers*
Andrew Peterson has already proven his prowess as a storyteller through his many music albums. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness is yet another of Peterson's triumphs. The characters are instantly captivating--Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby are children who live in Skree, a land conquered by the evil land of Dang and ruled by the frightening lizard-like Fangs of Dang. The children embark on a complex adventure, looking for a hidden treasure while desperately hoping to...more

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May 08, 2008

Kirsten rated it

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Shelves: childrens-literature

As the first book of a trilogy, and it really isn't an entire story onto itself, though it has story enough within it. It sets up a world and its characters for an epic adventure. The characters are consistent and full of life, and I very much look forward to seeing where they go from here and uncovering the past mysteries that they have come from. AP ties an entire family into the story he spins in such a way that the adventuring children and the adults are characters with whom the reader can c...more

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Jan 27, 2011

Matthew Robbins rated it

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Shelves: fiction

Welcome to Aerwiar, more specifically, to the Glipwood Township in the land of Skree, where the Fangs of Dang make it their general pastime to wreck the lives of the townspeople. Things are generally quiet, though, except during the Dragon Day Festival, when things come alive as people come from near and far to hear the Sea Dragons' beautiful song and awaken a deep longing. That’s where the tale of Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby begins. A run-in with Slarb the Fang ensues. Soon, they are tracking...moreWelcome to Aerwiar, more specifically, to the Glipwood Township in the land of Skree, where the Fangs of Dang make it their general pastime to wreck the lives of the townspeople. Things are generally quiet, though, except during the Dragon Day Festival, when things come alive as people come from near and far to hear the Sea Dragons' beautiful song and awaken a deep longing. That’s where the tale of Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby begins. A run-in with Slarb the Fang ensues. Soon, they are tracking down the location on Oskar N. Reteep’s map, encountering ghosts, horned hounds, and toothy cows, all while they try to understand the link between their mother, Nia, their grandpa, Podo, Peet the Sock Man, and the Jewels of Anniera.

Andrew Peterson, a storyteller who utilizes music, plays, and now novels as his mediums of choice, crafts an epic tale following in the footsteps of Lewis and Tolkien with On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, the first installment in the Wingfeather Saga (a review of book 2 to be published tomorrow). While the book is targeted towards the Young Adult age group, people of all ages will enjoy Peterson’s ability to weave together mystery, awe, wonder, suspense, and humor within a story of giant scope.

While the story is told from a third-person perspective and develops all characters well, the focus is mostly from the view of Janner Igiby, a 12-going-on-25-year-old, who struggles to find his way when his world is turned upside-down. His father is gone, leaving Janner’s grandpa Podo to instill lessons in manhood. When the Fangs begin to threaten their way of life, Janner must learn many of these lessons very quickly. Peterson has a great ability to see things from a 12-year-old’s point of view, combining wonder with fear and insecurity in Janner as we see him becoming a man and taking on new responsibilities throughout their adventures.

Peterson’s other strength is his imagination, which has created a world in Aerwiar that is enormous. Providing maps, appendices, and detailed descriptions, he enables the reader to completely immerse himself in the world by including unending amounts of detail. Footnotes regularly appear to give back stories on places or people, quoted from books in epochs past such as Eezak Fencher’s Comprehensive History of Sad, Sad Songs (published, of course, by Blapp River Press). These touches create a sense of reality about the fictional world.

The story moves just a little slowly at first as Peterson develops the landscape and characters, but once it gets going, the narrative is exciting and engaging. The book ends with a final revelation that provides a satisfactory ending to book one and will lead nicely into book two, where the adventures will no doubt continue in top-notch fashion. Peterson is a magnificent songwriter, and the moniker of great storytelling writer can now be added as well.(less)

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Oct 01, 2010

Jordan Dasen rated it

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Peet the Sock Man <3

Need I say more? Alright, so you may be thinking "What the heck is wrong with that title." If you hate it already, there's still a lot of hope of liking the book itself. It has to be taken as it is, for sure. Comparing it to other books or going into it with a pre-decided standard ruins it... as it ruins any good book. Now, the 'humor' is not as 'humorously used' as you might think. Yes, things are given redundant and sometimes dumb names, but i...morePeet the Sock Man <3

Need I say more? Alright, so you may be thinking "What the heck is wrong with that title." If you hate it already, there's still a lot of hope of liking the book itself. It has to be taken as it is, for sure. Comparing it to other books or going into it with a pre-decided standard ruins it... as it ruins any good book. Now, the 'humor' is not as 'humorously used' as you might think. Yes, things are given redundant and sometimes dumb names, but it's more along the lines of Lemony Snicket type twistedness than it is humor. Not to say that there AREN'T funny parts; I almost injured a lung laughing during the letter scene at the end. I related a little too much coming from a large family, was in a giggly mood... You get the picture. And it was that funny.

Andrew Peterson, by the way, is an amazing Christian songwriter. If you haven't heard of him, listen to every song you can find RIGHT now. Also, re watch some Veggietales movies- He wrote the monkey/tail/ape song X) So coming from that amazing mind, we can know that this book must be good.

Storywise, I was surprised to find that there WAS a story. It's meant for the younger type, though I expected... a younger young type. The first creature impaling surprised me, as did the second and third. And I continued to be surprised when my favorite character pulled a surprise on me that I would've willed from a much 'better' story. And by this point I had completely adopted the story as its own world, and was completely impatient and desperate to read more, probably even more than any of my younger siblings. It ended up being the teens and parents of my family that enjoyed it, strangely enough, though Gabe's obsession is not to be forgotten.

Of course, I have a complete and utter bias towards Peet (challenged only by the socks he wears and the street signs he fights), and had an unfortunate little interest in most of the others. Janner almost got interesting at the end though, and I'm going to be expecting some interest out of Tink in the second book. Of course we all care for Leeli, and her dog (I love that thing... T.T ) There are many strange creatures in the story, which were as amusing as they were whimsical.

It's actually involving, and I admit to shedding tears and giving way to obsessing. Needless to say, I cannot WAIT for my mom to hurry up and get the second book... I need it, for me, if my brother wants it or not xD

The story was written by a Christian and you can tell; it's pretty much an allegory, though it certainly doesn't look or feel like the standard one. Many good influences, mostly revolving around family protection and unity (And maybe a few wedges that get in the way of that? Hmm)

Oh! And toothy cows. Have I mentioned those? Heh, those are priceless. My 'big thing' from the story may be Peet the Sock Man, though the REAL big thing is the toothy cows of Skree. Beware.(less)

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Feb 18, 2010

David Dickerson rated it

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It's not often you find a book that combines great, lighthearted whimsy and odd-ness with an epic story imbued with truth.

OTEOTDSOD (even the acronym is ridiculously long!) is a wonderful book, and I was actually surprised at how it drew me in. Andrew Peterson apparently has an talent for making it appear that he's about to lead his characters into some cliche scene, and then doing the opposite of what you're expecting.

The action in this story moves at a fairly breakneck ...more

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Nov 09, 2009

Redheadkate rated it

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It was the subtitle that got me On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness: Adventure. Peril. Lost Jewels. And the Fearsome Toothy Cows of Skree. While you might be scratching your head in confusion, I’m going, “yeah, tell me about those toothy cows”.

I listened to the audio version of the book. Oh, it was everything the title promised and more. I love Peterson’s impish humor, yet there is depth to the book. I longed to be in my car just to listen to the story. It made me want to drive ...more

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Oct 14, 2009

Jill Williamson rated it

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The Igby children, Janner, Tink, and Leeli, manage to anger a vicious Fang and are thrown into jail. Janner is certain that they will be taken away in the Black Carriage, forever slaves of Gnag the Nameless. But before the carriage arrives, their mother bails them out with a handful of precious jewels.

Janner is curious where the jewels came from, and he’s not the only one. The Fangs come after them again, this time seeking the precious Jewels of Anniera they are certain the Igbys ar...more

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Dec 05, 2009

Lydia Presley rated it

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Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

It's been a long time since I was a little girl listening to stories being read or told to me by my dad, but Andrew Peterson's On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness took me right back to remembering.

This is a story about three children, Janner, Tink and Leeli and their adventure in the town of Glipwood. Other characters include Podo, the ex-pirate Grandfather, Nia, the brave mother, Nugget, Leeli's loyal canine companion and Peet, the mysterious, crazy protector.

Pete...more

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Aug 02, 2011

Brandy Painter rated it

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Shelves: childrens, fantasy, middle-grade

Review originally posted here.

A long title, and kind of a ridiculous one, but the book does have a hint of the ridiculous in it. The story takes place in the land of Aerwiar (a name derived from "here we are") and has a variety of odd creatures with odder names. Quirky is the word used to describe it on the back of the book. When I began to read I felt that Peterson had built a tower of quirky so high it was in danger of toppling into the realm of cutesy. I try to avoid cut...moreReview originally posted here.

A long title, and kind of a ridiculous one, but the book does have a hint of the ridiculous in it. The story takes place in the land of Aerwiar (a name derived from "here we are") and has a variety of odd creatures with odder names. Quirky is the word used to describe it on the back of the book. When I began to read I felt that Peterson had built a tower of quirky so high it was in danger of toppling into the realm of cutesy. I try to avoid cutesy at all costs and almost stopped reading as a result. I decided to give it a little longer and was soon wrapped up in the story. Peterson manages to avoid cutesy (but only just).

This is the story of three children, Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby, and how their boring life becomes full of danger and intrigue involving secrets of a toppled kingdom and the lost jewels of Anniera. The plot focuses on Janner, the eldest, who has grown a bit resentful of his role as protector of his younger siblings. And one really can't blame him given that Tink and Leeli possess the common sense and survival instinct of gnats. It is easy to identify with Janner as he struggles with his role and his grandfather's admonitions to put others before himself.

There is evil afoot in the land the Igibys call home. The nameless evil (named Gnag the Nameless) has taken over the land of Skree from his fortress in Dang and filled it with his minions, known as the Fangs of Dang. I found it a little difficult to take villains with such an absurd name seriously.

There is quite a bit of the absurd in the book, making Aerwiar more reminiscent of Oz or Wonderland than Narnia or Hogwarts. The narrative structure is also more similar to the former, very action driven and almost episodic. There was another way in which this reminded me of those other two books. The absurd elements in the story make the darkness seem not as menacing in many ways. I never felt a true sense of peril. There is danger but it never becomes foreboding. Even when tragic things happen, they are fixed in such a way that nothing is sacrificed or lost. (There were sacrifices that occurred prior to the story but these are told in exposition by the adults to the children and are therefore distant and not as real.) Which is why I think the book works best for an audience as yet untouched by cynicism, or one that is easily creeped out by truly dark elements in books. It would make a great read aloud for emergent readers and a good independent read for 2nd-5th graders.(less)

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Aug 14, 2011

Morgan rated it

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This is like a wholesome fantasy version of Tom Sawyer, or a violent Little House on the Prairie.

The style is light and silly, but tone of the book contrasts that as the kids are CONSTANTLY in danger. Once hi-jinx ensue then all it is just surge after surge of the kids reacting to their environment. It gets a little exhausting having them saved all the time rather than being able to bail themselves out, but honestly unless an outside force comes to their defense, there would be no...more

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Jul 03, 2008

Nicole rated it

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This book was a very quick, fun read. It's quite humorous. Imagine Christian Monty Python writing a fantasy book. Tons of humor and imagination thrown in. The absolute best part of the book: all the footnotes and appendices that give you "background" on the culture...hilarious.

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Jun 23, 2008

Kristi rated it

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Recommended to Kristi by: Margo

A really fun read by one of my favorite musicians. Multi-talented Andrew weaves a story stylistically reminiscent of Narnia. This book made my disinterested-reader Colby into a 4-hour-a-day reader. :-) Can't wait for the next installment.

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Aug 05, 2010

Dave McNeely rated it

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As much as I love Andrew Peterson, and I still believe that the worst song he has ever written is better than 99.9% of the iTunes Top 100 on any given day, I just couldn't get into this story. There were moments when Peterson's ability to use words to paint pictures to ilicit emotions came out, but the characters did not pull me in enough and the story lacked punch, especially in a genre that is chock full of great reads. I have not read the second book in the series, but I am optimistic that ...more

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Jan 07, 2012

Amber Sabo rated it

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I had no idea how wonderful this book would be.
I started reading it because I love fantasy and will give anything a try, but to be honest I wasn't expecting much.
I LOVE IT WHEN I'M WRONG because this was fabulous. I love how Andrew Peterson can make up these magical characters and not over-explain them. He describes them briefly and then leaves the rest up to our imagination.

But my favorite thing about this book was the characters. They are well-developed and I fell in...more

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Mar 20, 2008

Allison rated it

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Recommends it for: jennifer, kristen

A fantastic, fun fairy tale for all ages! Peterson has created a wonderful new world, full of humor and heart.

See my full review here: http://teamredd.blogspot.com/on-edge-of-...

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Jan 13, 2011

Laura rated it

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You know those stories that are wildly frustrating about halfway through because there are just so many things that could happen? And then when you get to the end you think, "Yeah, that's the only way this could have happened"?

That's this one. I had to stop about 50 pages from the end since it was late and I didn't want to sleep through my alarm for the third day in a row, but I came home from work and read straight through to the end. I must confess - I doubted in that 18-...more

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Jun 04, 2008

Laydenyght Ekstrom rated it

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Shelves: sf-fantasy

While good for all ages I'd say, this book was the first in a while to keep me up well past my bedtime. Very fun read, excellent critters, and I very much look forward to the next installment.

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Sep 19, 2011

Megan rated it

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Shelves: read-in-2011

'On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness' is a wonderfully crafted tale! The characters are so well written that I connected to them immediately. The story moves at such a fast pace, that I was able to this book in one sitting. The 'Jewels of Anniera' are mentioned all throughout the book and I kept wondering "What do they look like?" and "Where are they?". When I reached the end of the book, I finally found out where they were and why they were so important.

There...more

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Jan 27, 2011

Susie rated it

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Shelves: childrens-lit

I found this book at my brother's used bookstore in the 'ham and got it because I love Andrew Peterson. At first I was a little annoyed by the world he created (everything has it's own name--greenoins, totatoes, etc.), but as I continued reading I forgot about all of that and just enjoyed the story. You can definitely see how Peterson was influence by Tolkien in the tone of the work and the depth of the history belonging to his world. I also enjoyed his tongue-in-cheek way of (through footnotes,...more

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Apr 02, 2010

John Gardner rated it

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Andrew Peterson has long been one of my very favorite singer/songwriters. His lyrics possess both depth and whimsy, a combination that is rare among Christian artists. He has also shown a proclivity for conveying rich spiritual truths in his music using familiar language from popular fantasy novels by Christian artists such as the Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings (particularly in his album "The Far Country"). So when I found out he was writing a series of fantasy novels h...moreAndrew Peterson has long been one of my very favorite singer/songwriters. His lyrics possess both depth and whimsy, a combination that is rare among Christian artists. He has also shown a proclivity for conveying rich spiritual truths in his music using familiar language from popular fantasy novels by Christian artists such as the Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings (particularly in his album "The Far Country"). So when I found out he was writing a series of fantasy novels himself, my interest was piqued.

What I encountered in this first entry to the "Wingfeather Saga" was a fun-filled yarn that was a pure pleasure to read. Peterson is a first-rate storyteller, and this is sure to be a book that will be enjoyed by many a young reader (and a few old ones, too).

Though it got off to a bit of a slow start (then again, so did The Fellowship of the Ring...), I quickly found myself completely wrapped up in the story and, more importantly, in the characters. The action focuses on the adventures of the Igiby children: Janner, Tink, and Leeli. Through his engaging writing style, Peterson quickly allows the reader to become invested in these children. Their personalities are very well-developed, as are those of the secondary characters; no two-dimensional caricatures here!

While the story itself is engaging (I won't spoil it for you by revealing too much of the plot, but the teaser on the cover will perhaps whet your appetite: "Adventure. Peril. Lost Jewels. And the Fearsome Toothy Cows of Skree."), the real strength of this book is the way it incorporates a lot of teachable moments that touch on some serious real-life issues. This book was written for children, but especially to be read to children by adults (The language of the book lends itself particularly well to out-loud reading).

In addition to the more serious themes such as trust, forgiveness, and the providence of God (or "The Maker", in the book), there were a few things I especially enjoyed in Peterson's writing. One of these is the way he makes books themselves so fun. Peterson, like me, is an avid bookworm, and this love of books is instilled in nearly every chapter of this novel. "Books and Crannies", the bookstore frequented by the Igiby boys, is a place filled with deep mystery and a sense of adventure. Salvaging (and reading) old books is portrayed as one of the noblest deeds a hero can do. I was also fond of the "boyness" of the boys in the story. This novel doesn't take itself too seriously, and is not afraid to be irreverent (though never crass), the way little boys often are. Face it: Sometimes boogers are hilarious!

The only thing that keeps this from being a 5-star story is the sometimes awkward use of language, especially in the names of characters and places. One of the things that made LOTR so great is the fact that J.R.R. Tolkien was such a great linguist. He didn't just invent and name characters; he invented entire languages! When he named characters and places, there was a sense of history in the consistency of fantastic names. This is one of the great weaknesses in many books in the fantasy genre, as such linguistic genius is exceptionally rare.

However, Peterson does an admirable job of lending depth to his fantasy world in many other unique ways, most prominently in his use of footnotes. Throughout the novel, he has incorporated notes that provide historical commentary on many of the locations, creatures, and people mentioned. While these notes usually have little to no relevance to the main plot line, the many citations of "scholarly" works set in this fictional world are an interesting way to create a sense of antiquity for "Aerwiar", much in the way of the languages of Middle Earth or the ruins of Narnia. These footnotes are also dripping with the tongue-in-cheek sarcasm characteristic of the way Peterson tells stories in his live concerts.

I am looking forward very much to the sequel, "North! Or Be Eaten!", which I'll probably read this week. Even more, I am looking forward to the day I can read this book to my own son in a few years!(less)

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Mar 26, 2008

Jenni Simmons rated it

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Shelves: fantasy, funny, young-adult, reviewed

I wrote a book review here:

http://www.jennilsimmons.blogspot.com/20...

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Nov 21, 2010

Bryce rated it

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One of the more hilariously written books I've read. It follows the story of the three Igiby children as they discover that the world is not as it seems (TM). As they discover the truth behind their lives, they face a variety of obstacles, but throughout it all, they display a fierce loyalty to each other and the people around them.

The plot does take a while to pick up, and at many points I was left wondering, why are the characters behaving like that?? But by the end, most importan...more

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Apr 12, 2008

Magma rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: action, fantasy, pirates, young-adult-middle-school, with-dragons, mystery

very good and funny fantasy book. there were quite a few twists I didn't see coming.

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May 13, 2008

Emily rated it

· review of another edition

I really liked this book and look forward to reading more from this author

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title link	preview: On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3395023-on-the-edge-of-the-dark-sea-of-darkness?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328750497m/3395023.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3395023-on-the-edge-of-the-dark-sea-of-darkness?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson[/url]

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (The Wingfeather Saga #1)

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On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (The Wingfeather Saga #1)

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