Thursday, September 17, 2009

North! Or Be Eaten Book Review

A couple of years ago, while listening to one of Michael Card's In the Studio podcasts, I was introduced to the creative songwriting abilities of Andrew Peterson. My wife and I had the opportunity to attend one of his concerts in the Portland area several months ago and were thoroughly blessed. His Behold the Lamb of God and Resurrection Letters, Vol II albums are just two of his works I've come to enjoy listening to repeated times. I have since discovered his literary creativity, most recently with his second book in the Wingfeather Saga, North! Or Be Eaten.

The fantasy adventure novel picks up where his first Wingfeather Saga book--On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (2008)--left off. We rejoin the three Igiby children--Janner (12), Kalmar (11 and nicknamed "Tink"), and their younger sister Leeli (9)--as they are pursued by the evil, lizard-like Fangs, accompanied by their mother Nia, ex-pirate grandfather Podo Helmer, and trusty and valiant dog Nugget. Discovering that they are the "Lost Jewels of Anniera," heirs to a legendary kingdom across the sea, they race from their home in Glipwood toward the refuge of the Ice Prairies, where the reptilian Fangs are not prone to venture...that is in most cases.

Peterson writes with a style reminiscent of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Dickens. His imagination outruns itself as he pulls villainous creature after villainous creature from his pen. Toothy cows, giant rockroaches, quill diggles, horned hounds, bumpy digtoads, and snickbuzzards are just a few of the dangers that await the protagonists of this great odyssey through Glipwood Forest, the Stony Mountains, and beyond.

Andrew Peterson is the author of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, Book One in the Wingfeather Saga, and The Ballad of Matthew’s Begats. He’s also the critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter and recording artist of ten albums, including Resurrection Letters II. He and his wife, Jamie, live with their two sons and one daughter in a little house they call The Warren near Nashville, Tennessee. Visit his websites: www.andrew-peterson.com and www.rabbitroom.com

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