Andrew Peterson is currently finishing the last volume in the Wingfeather Saga, a four-part fantasy series for young readers. I gave the first three volumes to my daughter for her birthday earlier this year:
- On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness: Adventure, Peril, Lost Jewels, and the Fearsome Toothy Cows of Skree. The Wingfeather Saga 1. Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook, 2008.
- North! or Be Eaten: Wild Escapes, a Desperate Journey, and the Ghastly Fangs of Dang. The Wingfeather Saga 2. Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook, 2009.
- The Monster in the Hollows: Sneakery, Betrayal, and the Deadly Secret of Chimney Hill. The Wingfeather Saga 3. Nashville: Rabbit Room, 2011.
I read all three aloud to my daughter, who also listened to the audiobooks for books 1 and 2. (Unfortunately, there’s currently not an audiobook for book 3.)
My family loves these books for at least three reasons:
- Compelling storyline. I can’t recall ever finishing a chapter without my daughter begging me to keep reading. And the books get better and better. We finished book 3 last Sunday afternoon, and by the end of it we were emotionally invigorated and exhausted. At some points my daughter would hop off the couch and celebrate by jumping up and down while doing fist pumps with the widest smile possible. And at another point I could barely read aloud as I fought back tears. What a great story.
- Edifying themes. Themes include servant leadership, protecting the weak, courage, responsibility, loyalty, mercy, and love. I don’t think there are any objectionable elements (unlike Harry Potter), though I suppose some might object to the violent fighting. And the motifs are all edifying (like Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, and The Pilgrim’s Progress). These books have increased my desire to love and lead my wife and children well. One of the recurring themes that my wife repeatedly pointed out is how adults treat children. (I’m not giving specific examples so that I don’t give away the storyline to people who haven’t read the books yet.) See Peterson’s “A Note to Parents.”
- Entertaining style. I wasn’t sure what I thought of the series when I was just starting book 1. My friend Jim Hamilton—a huge Andrew Peterson fan—asked me what I thought about it when I was just starting out, and I replied, “It’s a little over-the-top corny sometimes (especially the footnotes!), but overall it’s a thumbs-up.” But Andrew Peterson’s creative humor and style grew on me! (Now I think I better understand his humor in Slugs & Bugs & Lullabies!) I love this closing line in the author’s note in book 3: “The stories, by the way, are true” (p. 350).
One of my favorite lines is about Podo Helmer:
He moved through the days in peace and wonder, for his whole story had been told for the first time, and he found that he was still loved. (North! or Be Eaten, p. 321)
My family is eager to read the fourth and final book in the series: The Warden and the Wolf King. It should release by Spring 2014.
For more info, see WingfeatherSaga.com.
Update: Book 4 released in July 2014, and Andrew Peterson himself recorded the audiobooks for volumes 3 and 4.
I totally agree! My parents got me all three books for Christmas 2 years ago (I was and still am a huge Andrew Peterson fan) and I read them all in three days! I couldn’t put then down for the world.
Love, love, love the Wingfeather Saga. Read all three books to my kids aloud as well, and even though they range from 8-17, they all loved it, and are eagerly anticipating book 4. The story is engaging, and whereas much is expected of the children, both the adults and the children know their place, and act accordingly.
Thanks for the kind words, Andrew! It’s so encouraging to see that the stories have connected with families. Now to finish book four…
I finished the first three Wingfeathers (for what I expect will be the first time of many) this summer, and I finished them utterly captivated, in a way no book has captured me since Les Miserables, The Screwtape Letters, and To Kill a Mockingbird. I processed them for days after as I sorted through dozens of questions and illustrations of the nature of evil, of humanity, of truth, of power, of heroism, of fear, of manhood, of love, and of redemption.
I’m 25 with a BA in Creative Writing, and I’ve never been a fan of the fantasy genre, so I picked them up–somewhat skeptically, feeling a little unfamiliar with the genre and a little old for the series– only because I am a huge fan of just about everything else Andrew Peterson has ever written. Now I can’t wait to have kids just so I can read them the Wingfeathers. :) If ever there was a book that was meant to be read aloud, these are.
I have four active brothers, so one of my favorite quotes of the series is this: “He must have forgotten that in the mind of a boy, a warning isn’t much different from an invitation.” (On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness.) Someone clearly understands my boys…
Now the question is, are you going to read book four right away, reread the whole series, or wait for the audio and listen to him read them to you. So many choices!
I just finished the Warden and The Wolf King. I got the series for my birthday (June) and it was one of the best books ever. My favorite series are Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia and Percy Jackson. This series was right up there in my favorites. Thank you so much Andrew! I recommend this to anyone who can pick up a book.