by Andrew Peterson
Life in the small village of Glipwood is pretty simple for Janner Igiby. He and his siblings, Tink and Leeli, do chores and school at their family’s cottage. Sometimes they get to go into the village and help out at Janner’s favorite bookstore. Yes, life is pretty simple as long as they stay clear of the Fangs of Dang who have the village of Glipwood under their thumb.
But things become increasingly not simple when Janner and his family get mixed up with the Fangs, resulting in gaining an enemy and revealing a family secret. A secret that may have to do with the fabled Shining Isle of Anniera. A secret that will have the Igibys fighting for their lives.
There are a lot of fun things about On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. And I just want to say real quick: if you read this series without reading the footnotes, you are missing out on some great stuff. Seriously, read the footnotes.
The characters are great. Everyone has their own distinctive personality and aesthetic. It’s hard to pick a favorite. I like them all for different reasons. They’re all awesome.
The worldbuilding is done really well. While it doesn’t feel too huge and overdone, you know that Peterson has fleshed out this world and the history of it. Even though we stay mostly in Glipwood, we hear of Anniera, the Hollows, and Dang. And there are other comments and tidbits that make the world feel expansive.
The story is fun and lighthearted, but also touches on some deeper themes. Over all, it’s a very nice read and a great start to the series.
Cautions: some brief, non-graphic, moderate violence
Hailey Huntington 