On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness: Adventure. Peril. Lost Jewels. and the Fearsome Toothy Cows of Skree.

by Andrew Peterson

Book Overview

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, and their disabled 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 they love to survive the evil pursuit of the venomous Fangs of Dang, who have crossed the dark sea to rule...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400073847
• ISBN13: 9781400073849
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: Waterbrook Press
• Length: 284 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

My children and I were on the literal edges of our seats!

This will likely be on the list of our favorite family read aloud books! At the time of reading this first book in the series, my crew is 9, 8, 7, 4, and 2yo. The 2yo doesn’t have much of an opinion but everyone else was so engaged in the story- even the 4yo! The laughed, I cried, and we were all captivated by the Igiby’s story. A beautiful story lovingly showing the coming of age of the main character mixed with all manner of adventure and humor. We are waiting by the mailbox for the second book in the series to arrive.

Great Read and Good Fun

My wife and I couldn't wait to start reading this together as soon as we got it. We don't have any children to read it to, but at 25 and 22 yrs. old we both still love reading children's and young adult fiction (like the Chronicles of Narnia and Chronicles of Prydain). This book was right up our alley. We couldn't put it down! I highly recommend it as a funny read but also a serious story about responsibility, love, and sacrifice. You'll enjoy the heroic deeds of the characters, the endless quotes from Mr. Reteep, and the fine sense of humor that comes across in various character interactions and bodily noises. : )

Added to favorites!

It's hard to find words to explain Andrew's novel. The subtitle says it's an adventure filled with peril. Other reviewers have labeled it as "fun to read" and "wildly imaginative". These are all accurate depictions of what you will experience, and I would add that it is an absolutely brilliant story. It has so much engrossing creativity that I kept having to remind myself that the lands of Skree and Aerwiar were just storybook lands; that Fangs of Dang weren't waiting in the center of town to arrest me; that Gnag the Nameless didn't have a desire to hunt me down and finish me off. Through the pages of this excellent work, I found myself laughing out loud, wiping tears off of my cheeks, and actually throwing the book across the room when I reached the climax in the plot! Andrew's writing style creates within you an emotional bond with the characters and makes you totally lose yourself in their world. You absolutely NEED this book in your collection.

Fun and Thought-Provoking

I'm a big fan of Andrew Peterson's songwriting and music, so when I heard he'd written a novel I had high expectations. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness delivered. It's not great literature, it's not going to displace Narnia or Lord of the Rings in the canon of fantasy literature, it's not going to be studied in classrooms fifty years from now. But it was a ton of fun to read, and I've continued to think about some of the themes a couple weeks after finishing the book (I plowed through it in about four days earlier this month). The characters are memorable and well-crafted, the dialogue is perfect (unimaginitive or stilted dialogue is usually where sloppy fiction loses me, and this one kept me throughout), and the plot is fun and tense and touching and a little messy, but in a good way. I've been told that I frown a lot when I read, not because I'm unhappy but because I'm thinking and processing, and I guess when I get lost in my thoughts my expression looks sour. This book made me smile as I read it. It was fun to read and is even more fun to read aloud (I've read the first two chapters to the kids, and next is Chapter Three: "Thwaps in a Sack"; they cackled when I read the parts about falling hammers and horse nuggets; they'll love toothy cows and Peet the Sock Man and the Fangs of Dang too). But there's also plenty of tension and drama and conflict, which carries the story along. At times it seemed a little bit derivative of The Chronicles of Narnia, until it reminded me more of To Kill a Mockingbird, but then it brought to mind Harry Potter, except when it was more like Lord of the Rings. Then there were all those times when it was completely original. There's a lot that's familiar and a lot that's original. It's a good mix. This is Book One of The Wingfeather Saga, a series title that makes a lot more sense after reading the final few chapters. I'm going to recommend this to my friends and their kids (probably appropriate for about age 5 and up to listen to, and for age 7 and up to read), and I'm looking forward to the next book in The Wingfeather Saga.

A fantastic adventure for adults and young readers.

Before you can get through the title of Andrew Peterson's new book, he pokes you with his sense of humor. In the opening pages, the author delights in throwing you head first into a world of meeps, chortneys, and flabbits. What's a flabbit? You'll find out when you need to know, so play along with this fantastically spun tale of adventure, wit, and hope. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness is a pleasure to read for the thrilling story and the delightful way Peterson chooses to tell it. Characters are rich and mysterious, and the story is dealt like cards in the hands of a magician. The world created for these characters is equally rich, full of unexpected color and detail. The reader is allowed to go down small footpaths along the story's trail, some important, others just for whim. Footnotes and appendices are even offered, rewarding the reader with extra insight and out-loud laughs. Andrew Peterson is best known as a songwriter. In fact, he is a craftsman whose wood is words. He selects words and shapes phrases with fierce skill. Happily, he has applied himself as fiercely to his newest adventure. More, the story fills the soul with hope, recognizes the heart's ache, and reminds us of what is valuable. Reading this book was a complete joy. Sprouting near the family trees of Narnia and Middle-Earth, young readers will love reading about the land of Anniera. Adults will quickly be swept up in the adventure, beauty, and humor. It may be a great storybook for families, as the chapters are 4-5 pages long. I happily recommend it to any reader.