The Wingfeather Saga, Book One
A friend of mine turned me on to Andrew Peterson several years ago on drive through the mountains of Yunnan, China. I had never heard his “adult music” before, but had enjoyed the Slugs and Bugs album with my kids, so when he introduced me to such lyrical sermons as “You’ll Find Your Way” and “Be Kind to Yourself,” I was hooked.
I don’t recall who told us about the Wingfeather series, but it’s one I’ve had on my to-read list for a while. We just finished this first book in the series this week, and we’re all excited to pick up Book Two. I must admit, however, that there were some bumps on our way to getting here.
First, about a year ago we had tried listening to the book on audio. I was way more excited than my kids were, to be sure, but as we trudged through Chapter 1, none of us had any idea what was going on. Granted, every fantasy novel needs its oddly-named locals and strange, fanciful customs. That’s to be expected. But with so many fanciful creatures and backstory mentioned so early on, we were literally lost. We stopped listening to it after the first chapter, and weren’t sure we’d ever try again.
The second bump is more obvious, that audio books don’t allow for the reading of footnotes, of which there are many in this book. But honestly: why so many footnotes!? Even on our second time around when I read the book aloud to my kids, I saw them there, but I wasn’t going to break my stride by reading them all to my kids!
And do we really need so many anyways? I recall reading somewhere (I don’t recall where) that a footnote is just the arrogant man’s attempt to show that he knows a lot, but doesn’t know enough to fit those facts into the flow of his regular writing. I’m sure that goes for scholarly writing more than for fiction, but again…why so many footnotes in a novel for kids? Peterson should have saved all the lore and backstory for other books-to-be-published-later (which he’s already done and quite successfully). Unless they’re vital to the story, all these footnotes need to be deleted from future editions of the work.
When I was finally able to find a copy in a used book store over the summer (not as easy as you think!), I was excited to give this book a second chance. We made it though Chapter 1 safely this time, though a third bump again threatened to derail us. The main problem was that I had such a hard time getting Peterson’s rhythm of writing down as I read it aloud, and each time he threw a new made-up word into the mix, I got caught up all over again. I didn’t find my flow until about a quarter of the way through the book, which is more patience than I’d have given for most any other book. I think I’ve got a handle on it now, but I did find it frustrating at first.
OK, enough complaints. We’re knee-deep in the Wingfeather world now, following Janner and the Igibys as they figure out what to do with Fangs who are hunting them. We’re more familiar with the odd creatures that inhabit their world and were certainly surprised by the concluding chapters of this first book. We’re all anticipating the thrills that await us as we delve into Book Two: North! Or Be Eaten, and I hope (as the reader) that this round will be a whole lot less bumpy than the previous!
©2022 E.T.
Read More from Andrew Peterson:
- On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (2008)
- North! Or Be Eaten (2009)
- The Monster in the Hollows (2011)
- The Warden and the Wolf King (2014)
- Adorning the Dark (2019)
- The God of the Garden (2021)