This is a great middle-grade series, probably best suited to kids 8-12. It's billed as Christian and it is in the same spirit as Chronicles of Narnia. Point being--I'd think it has relevance and appeal to non-Christian readers as well.

If your kids are at the age/stage where you read together, this series would be great for that. There's no language or sexualized content. Main characters are a sibling group. The series is essentially an adventure quest with clear heroes (who mostly win, but not without costs) and villains.

There's enough tension and peril to keep things interesting (and also so there are stakes to the outcome of the story), but not so much to invoke fear in younger or sensitive readers.

I'm glad there are authors out there still writing books like these and publishers who are backing them. ( )

On the edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness live the Igiby family--12-year-old Janner and his younger brother Tink, little sister Leeli, and their mom and grandfather, known mostly as Podo. Their land has been conquered by Gnag the Nameless, who hails from Dang, across the sea, and who has sent his Fangs to keep the people in line. Through a series of connected events that all starts with a mischievous dog, the Igibys find themselves on the wrong side of the Fangs of Dang. When the Fangs come to realize that the Igibys have knowledge of the location to the jewels of the late King Wingfeather and the Shining Isle of Anniera, which are said to be the key to restoring Anniera and defating Gnag, the Igibys realize they will always be in danger.

This book was a lot of fun, with characters that are lively and entertaining and a lot of lore and history. The quirky nature of the narrative and even the names of various people and location had me chuckling more than once. Though it's children's fiction, it doesn't pull any punches, and reminds me of The Chronicles of Narnia, as well as Roald Dahl, to a degree.

Right off the bat, the explanation for the name of the world these characters inhabit gives you a sense of the writing style. The first person to exist woke up on the first morning, looked at a rock, and said, "Well, here we are." Thus, the world's name came to be known as "Aerwiar." Though none of the other names for people or places are really explained, and I did actually struggle a little muddling through so many when they came close together, this is a good example of the tone of this book.

Even with the whimsical nature, there is still some real peril. Fortunately, possibly because it's meant for kids, for the most part, the good guys prevail and the bad guys are defeated, at least in some way. I'm not saying there aren't some losses, but I won't say more because of spoilers.

One of my favorite things about the book were the hints that the author dropped throughout the book, giving little nudges about a big secret revealed near the end. Two big secrets, really but they were tied together. While I suspected pretty early on, and then decided I was definitely right still a ways from the reveal, remember that this book is meant for kids. I could imagine kids near my daughter's age, maybe a bit older, reading this and beginning to catch on, getting excited as they realized the truth.

It was fun and full of adventure, and I cannot wait to continue the series! I recommend this book for folks of all ages who enjoy clean, fun fantasy adventures. Also, you might see it labeled as Christian, and there are some references to a deity that many of the people believe in, but it is not overtly Christian. It may be a bit allegorical, again similar to the Narnia books.

Thank you to Netgalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah for providing me a copy of this book to review. ( )

This was my third time reading the book, but maybe the most special. After 2 years of my daughter and me trying to keep my husband from hearing spoilers about this series, in the hopes that he might listen to the books someday, he finally started. He listens to the audiobook (masterfully done by the author himself, and it's a treat just to hear him voice Podo, Oskar, Peet, etc.) on his way to and from work. When he came home from work one day when we had to turn around and leave to drive half an hour somewhere else and asked if we could keep listening to the book in the car, I knew he was hooked. It means more to me than I can express that my daughter, my husband, and myself all love these books and want to share the experience together. (We also watched the premier of the new animated series together and look forward to more!)

My full, original review of the re-released hardcover can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2992471023 ( )

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 the land with malice. The Igibys hold the secret to the lost legend and jewels of good King Wingfeather of the Shining Isle of Anniera.

Box a