Andrew Peterson

Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby experience many fantastic adventures while looking for a lost treasure.

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness

𝚕𝚒𝚕𝚢

4 ★ - (really liked it)

What a fun read! I can see how, like some other reviewers have said, the writing style could be something you either hate or love but I ended up liking it. The foot-notes were interesting because I love world building/lore and I feel like the one Shakespeare book I read with the weird format where the explanations were in the footnotes prepped me for this, haha! There were some things that I as a writer might have done differently but overall I really enjoyed it. I've had many friends mention they liked the series but I had no idea what I was getting myself into, I didn't even read the synopsis until I started reading my copy XD 

The plot reminded me of the movement of ocean waves in the way that it would slowly build and gain tension and then slow down again, multiple times, slowly building momentum until it hit the climax and the high stakes I was waiting for unfeld. Just when I decided the book was different than I anticipated, instead having a rolling plot and lesser stakes: it broke through. The story starts slow but it's full of danger, strong family bonds, interesting creatures, the lamentations of an eldest sibling, secrets, and much much more. 

Also, I'm usually good at guessing plot twists - partly because I'm a writer maybe? XD - and saw some things coming (and I mean it *is* a middle grade book so that's to be expected) but there was one plot twist I absolutely did not see coming oh my word. (view spoiler)[ I did *not* expect Zouzab to betray them what.  (hide spoiler)] Somehow it completely flew under my radar and I was shocked XD 

I found many favorite characters in the main cast: the Igibys, Podo, Peet, and Oscar... I loved Leeli, (which is all the more fun because my family sometimes pronounces my name like hers XD) she's simply darling. And a story with a strong family unit is always refreshing. I loved the feel of the cottage and seeing how although they could sometimes be frustrated with each other they loved one another fiercely. Their faith playing a part in the story too >>>

And THE DRAGON SONG SCENE AHHH. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. My two most favorite part of the book are that and the end where the jewels were revealed. (which I totally saw coming but started to second guess lol) I rather wish the author had left out some of the more repelling things (which I can see how they might fit...) because it almost took away from the story. If he had left that out but kept in the lightheartedness that breaks up the tension I think it would have been just splendid. Also an honorable mention to Books and Crannies (I love that nameee) and Anklejelly Manor and its stash because although they didn't make the favorites I though those places were cool XD 

And I did cry... a little more than tearing up. I think it was at a couple of parts where Janner was crying and one scene where his mother is talking to him. It must be the eldest sibling connection man because it hit hard. 

All in all, this book was great and I have just acquired the second one! I hope that I'll like it even more now that I'm familiar with the style :D

CWs - or things that caught my attention: some violence, several descriptions and mentions of rather gross things, death, mentions of deceased family, someone wanting to kill the Igiby's and Podo (and nearly doing so), mentions of corpses, mentions of a war, secrets, injuries, fighting with weapons, mentions of a ghost (there isn't one), unforgiveness (mostly from Podo), grief?, oppression, and possibly more. 

*Might be a bit scary for younger readers with some of the violence, death, and The Black Carriage. I'd say ten or so and up would be a good age range but I'd judge based more on maturity and how well they could handle it. 

4/22/24

Once, in a cottage above the cliffs on the Dark Sea of Darkness, there lived three children and their trusty dog Nugget. Janner Igiby, his brother Tink, their crippled sister Leeli are gifted children as all children are, loved well by a noble mother and ex-pirate grandfather. But they will need all their gifts and all that love to survive the evil pursuit of the venomous Fangs of Dang who have crossed the dark sea to rule the land with malice and pursue the Igibys who hold the secret to the lost legend and jewels of good King Wingfeather of the Shining Isle of Anniera.

Adventure, peril, lost jewels, and the fearsome toothy cows of Skree

On the edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness

One of my absolute favorite young adult books. I will always recommend it and tell everyone to continue reading the series.

Moriah Howard

After living for years under the occupation by the evil Fangs of Dang, the Igiby children find a map rumoured to lead to the lost Jewels of Anniera - the one thing the Fangs will do anything to find. The family is thrown headlong into a perilous adventure, uncovering truths about who they are that will change their world forever. Repackaged with new illustrations, this is the opportunity to discover the Wingfeathers.

(Wingfeather Series 1)

Middle grade books always go so hard and love them for that. 

Jessie!

YES! Absolutely. I love it!!!

Middle grade books always go so hard and love them for that. 

Heaven Adore

I need book 2 like ASAP. This was so good; a lot better than I expected! I had heard a lot of mixed things about this series, which is probably why I put it off for so long. But one day my best friend was raving about it (and maybe, just maybe pressuring me to read it he-he), so I finally bought it from Barnes & Noble last month and I'm glad I did.

Peterson is such a captivating writer. I appreciated how descriptive everything was, which helped me, as the reader, to imagine what was happening and my five senses were tapped. The characters were also very loveable. I'm definitely a Janner fan! And I just love how Podo talks; his bluntness and sarcasm are priceless.

And my goodness, the twists at the end of the book! *swoons* I was literally freaking out ha-ha. The gasps, asking "Why," and miscellaneous ponderings escaped from my lips during the last 40 pages of the book. When a book gets me that excited and intrigued, then it's really good.

I'm still not much of a fantasy person, even though I have started to read more books in that genre, but this was absolutely amazing. I would definitely recommend it!

Rick Dobrowolski

This was a fun book to read to my 8 year old daughter. Andrew Peterson is a great storyteller, and that shines out in this book. I look forward to the rest of the series. One aspect of this fantasy story that I wasn’t fond of was the decision to change common words into weird words in that world. The same was done with animals, cows become dangerous “toothy cows.” I don’t doubt that there were reasons for this, but it seemed odd. Otherwise, the story was masterful and took me to almost the end to figure out the interesting reveal that comes in the last chapter.

Read for a 2nd time outline via Zoom to some kids in my church family during COVID19. Still love this book and it was fun to enjoy it with the kids.

Julie Nicole Waldvogel

This book was like stepping into another world - full of adventure. I loved the sibling relationships that developed throughout the story. 

Dearna Mulvaney

For full review:

"But other than the cruel fangs and the constant threat of death and torture, there wasn't much to fear in Skree."

I will start by saying that I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own. Thank you so much to Waterbrook Press and NetGalley!

I’m in awe with just how big and developed this world is — from its history, games, legends and strange creatures. I adore the use of footnotes. It was a great way to include all the little everyday details without detracting from the narrative.

The story is told with a third omniscient perspective. While the story mostly unfolds from Janner Igbiy perspective but it does jump from different characters. I would’ve preferred to stay with Janner and the rest of the Igiby’s for the whole narrative.

Overall, this was a fun fantasy read with a whimsical world. The last half of the book captured my attention and left of a cliffhanger I’m interested to pick up the sequel, North! Or Be Eaten to see what happens to the Igiby family.

Anyaconda

Unfortunately I didn't love this as much as I wanted to.
There were already a couple of things that annoyed me in the first pages, namely the "humor" of a nameless evil that ends up having a name. Not sure if this is supposed to be funny or what the reason behind this was.
I also wasn't a fan of any of the made up names (Fangs of Dang and the countless bibs and bobs) as I need a bit more finesse and I believe that children do too.
Furthermore I felt that this was a slow read and I expected a bit more action. I felt bored throughout.
The only things I liked was Nugget the dog and the representation of a disabled character in the story.
I've already requested the second book, but I'm not interested in reading on with this series.


Thank you nonetheless Netgalley for providing me with an eARC for both of the books.

Janne Janssens

But other than the cruel fangs and the constant threat of death and torture, there wasn't much to fear in Skree.

*2.5

E-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

*Warning: Unpopular opinion ahead.*

There are a lot of great things in this book, that make me understand why so many people like this story. However, I was often too distracted from the things I disliked to enjoy the good...

Peterson developed fun and lovable characters. They each play their part well accordingly to their personal history and believes, and they each had their own personality. They were well developed characters, and still they felt plain sometimes, especially the adults. I think this has to do with the dialogues and actions that sometimes seemed childish. This works for children up to a certain age, of course, but not for a mother and grandfather.

The author also did a great job in creating a new world, with its own fantastic beasts, mythologies and mysterious places. The execution of the world building is a different story. I felt like the first 30% of the book mostly focused on world building facts that are not relevant to the story. It might have been the author’s goal to draw the readers into this world he has created, but I was just waiting for the real adventure to happen. And then there were also extra footnotes.
I wasn't a big fan of all the footnotes, honestly. They felt a lot like utter nonsense. Because I read the e-book and the footnotes were written at the end of each chapter, it was annoying to scroll to the end of the chapters, and then go back to were I interrupted my reading. And when I read the footnotes, they felt unnecessary. If I waited until I reached the end of the chapter, I didn't remember what the footnote was about. So I didn't get a lot of extra information through the footnotes, and I don't feel like I missed much. I just found them distracting from the story.

*spoiler alert*

After the first 30% things finally sped up. But I still struggled until the final 20%. Until then, the story seemed to have a repetitive pattern: they were captured, they fought, they lost, someone unexpectedly came to their rescue. They were captured again, they fought, they lost, someone unexpectedly came to their rescue. And again. And again.

*end of spoiler alert*

I do admit, there is more adventure than that, and I don't doubt children love that, and their parents will enjoy it with them. I did enjoy the end where the action became more interesting and a lot got explained. This actually made me curious about the next book, which I will read. I just hope it will grab my interest much sooner than the first book.

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness

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