On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness

It was surprising how much a series for children spoke to my heart. I loved the deep worldbuilding that didn’t shy away from the darker things. As I listened with my daughter, I was overcome by the message of truth, transformation, and the power to do good. This beautiful story encouraged us to have value and purpose in this world–one that is more about being than doing.

The Wingfeather Saga is a great in-between series for fans of Narnia and Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings (I did read The Hobbit to my kids but they didn’t always get why things were funny or scary, and I think with the later Harry Potter books especially, it would be more in my interest to start those when my children are over 10 so they can grow up along with Harry in the series). 

The Wingfeather Saga starts off a little darker, with a family dealing with the past and the secrets. Two boys, Janner, Tink, and… show more.

As children we are taught to not judge a book by its cover and Andrew taught me to not judge a book by its title either.

The perfectionist in me thought the title foolish and roundabout. Andrew disabused me and I am thankful for it.

I had the pleasure of hearing the audio version and it blew me away with its depth, creativity, and humour. I described it to my wife as if Lord of the Rings had been written by Dr. Seuss.

There is a certain musicality to his prose and to my delight I found he is also… show more.

This series of books is written to engage your children’s mind in a positive way. They are clean, fun, intriguing, and full of danger and expedition. The masterful storytelling and humor of the author and the world he has created combines talking creatures; the Fangs of Dang; with real people in the land of Skreean. The books are non-stop adventure as they follow the Igiby children, their brave and noble mother, and their retired ex-pirate grandfather. They discover and experience many adventures in their curious, coming-of-age, lives, both with themselves, and their secretive past. These books are sure to delight… show more.

This series inspired me more than anything else I have ever read to create for myself. It is the defining text for my own series. Peterson so expertly mixed unforgettable characters and seat-edging adventure with spiritual truths that resound no matter the age or intellect. It is a story that perfectly teeters the balance of fun and imagination with real truths no adult could deny. Once again, the world so captivates its readers that one walks away wondering if toothy cows might indeed graze the nearest pastureland.

When my family read On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness together, we were captivated! The story is a unique fantasy tale full of friendly humor, children's characters who go on adventures they never asked for, and plot twists you’d never expect! This book is gripping for readers of all ages while interweaving truth and opening the door to wonder and dream up stories all my own. The fantasy world was fun to dive into, and I left the story inspired to be courageous, to prioritize family, and to understand sacrificial love and living for a kingdom in… show more.

Come for the toothy cows—stay for the hilarious footnotes sprinkled throughout this rollicking adventure. Andrew Peterson’s beloved Wingfeather Saga begins with On the Edge… While the Wingfeather books get better and perhaps more serious as the series continues, I love this insight into Peterson’s goofy sense of humor. I handed this book to my sons when they were each in middle school, and they became instant fans.

Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga is packed with action, adventure, and a family that sticks together through thick and thin. One of the things I love to read about is a core group of people that are far from perfect but are striving to live and love to a high standard. The Wingfeathers fight, they make costly choices, they fail, they grow, they laugh, and they quest together. And when everything is on the line, they do what they must to make things right again, and I think we could all use more heroes like that.

You can see Andrew Peterson’s whimsy in the title of this book and feel it throughout the story. Three children in a world very similar to our own are thrown into an adventure in which they must face sea dragons and terrible venomous lizard people. The Wingfeather Saga (which this story begins) captures readers with a gorgeous world and nonstop adventure. But where it wins my heart is the overriding theme. The soul of this story is family.

Andrew Peterson is a thoughtful writer, musician, artist, and theologian whose creative work reflects his faith. My children have read the entire Wingfeather Saga many times and whole-heartedly recommend it for other young readers. One of my sons recommends this as a light-hearted yet deep Lord of the Rings-esque saga with touches of comedy, family, and Christian values. And another told me it is an exciting adventure and a funny story that is good for all ages. And I add to that my appreciation for the clever and inspiring artwork that accompanies the stories.