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

What worked:

Mystery surrounds the father of Janner, Tink, and Leeli as their mother and grandfather, Podo, don’t speak much about him or the family’s past. Their whispers and subtle looks at each other tell Janner his guardians are hiding secrets. Podo spends much of his time tending the farm crops but he transforms into a fearsome fighter if his grandchildren are threatened. Janner doesn’t understand why his mother treats them differently from other kids in the village as Janner must practice his reading and writing, Tink perfects his artistic talents, and Leeli improves her musical talents. Janner can’t stop thinking about the father he can’t remember and he’s determined to uncover whatever his mother and grandfather are concealing.

The character of Peet is curious as the author presents mixed messages about him. He’s most known for being the crazy man romping around town, squawking and waving his arms around. When he’s not in town, he ventures deep into the woods where dangerous creatures abound and townspeople fear to enter. However, he pops up whenever the kids are in trouble but they can’t figure out why. Their grandfather, Podo, is never happy with Peet even after he jumps into danger to protect Podo’s grandkids. Janner and readers will be confused as to why Podo is so angry with Peet and their relationship remains a mystery until the very end of the book.

The Fang are lizard-like creatures that have taken over the village and surrounding country. They harass, beat, and arrest the humans and force them to live in fear. Children fear the sound of the Black Carriage because it means one of them will soon disappear forever. However, the author adds drama to the loathsome Fang as there is discontent among their ranks. The lizards are bad enough already but one Fang in particular becomes consumed with hate toward the Igiby family and spends most of the book trying to kill the children. He incurs the wrath of his fellow Fang and ends up lurking in the shadows before reappearing at strategic parts of the story.

What didn’t work as well:

The author creates levity early in the book by frequently including humorous comments and footnotes. These parts of the passage are entertaining but they muddle the seriousness of the tone as the plot develops. Also, the book’s synopsis gives away a little more information than it should.

The Final Verdict:

A warning isn’t much different from an invitation. It’s nice to read an adventure story about a normal, relatable boy. Janner doesn’t have superpowers, elite fighting skills, a magical object, and he’s not overly brave. The essence of the story is his battle to be brave enough to keep his younger siblings safe against the Fang. The mystery of his family’s past underlies everything and is eventually revealed in the end. Overall, I recommend you give the book a shot.