Beware of HUGE HUGE HUGE spoilers ahead:)
Okay, first of all: I knew in my soul that these books were gonna be great, but I never thought they would bring me to TEARS. These books were like a roller coaster for my heart. The last book was like a slap in the face for me, and it’s because Andrew Peterson somehow found a way to touch on real subjects in a fantasy setting. Subjects like grief, selfishness, selfLESSness, and love. It just baffles me how he threw so much in there while still keeping it generally clean for children. As light as it seems, there was a lot of deep stuff in there. Like the Fane of Fire part? That part got to me in so many ways, like how it was revealed to Janner how selfish he had been in his journey, and how the Maker told him to ‘be still’ as if saying, ‘it’s okay son.’ And Janner’s sacrifice, how totally selfless his decision was, and how he did it purely out of love. Love makes people do crazy things, and that is the perfect example. Another one is Podo’s sacrifice for his family; he knew this was the end, and he didn’t care because he loved his family and would do anything for them. It made me thing of Colossians 3:14, “Above all, clothe yourselves in love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.” Janner, Podo, Rudric, and even Tink (who's place was taken by Janner) were willing to sacrifice their love for the people they love. And I feel like that message alone is a handful. I literally sat in bed for, like, seven straight minutes just crying. This story was so amazing, sad, annoying, beautiful, awful, and by far one of the best stories I’ve ever read. Andrew Peterson forever has my respect🫡 .
I recommend these books to anyone and everyone, they are so good.
Also, they have been the books holding me up in MY writing. I’ve been learning a lot and it’s definitely been helping my story, so thank you Andrew Peterson🙏🙏
Anyways, that’s most of my DEEP thoughts. Now about the actual characters and stuff:)
My favorite characters… Peet, Janner, Oskar, and Tink.
My favorite book was probably The Monster in the Hollows.
If I were to live anywhere in the books, it would probably be The Green Hollows (though they are really rough over there…)
My favorite part of all the books: book one’s moment would be when they go to Peet’s Castle, book two would be The Fork! Factory (even though it’s a terrible part, it really shows Janner’s courage and dedication to his job as the Throne Warden), book three would be the end, when they realized the bear was Esben, and book four would be either The Fane of Fire moment, or Janner’s sacrifice (or when Leeli and Thorn were on the roof, because I just start cracking up whenever he mentions wanting to get married, I just laugh so hard I don’t know why).
That’s pretty much it. If y’all have any questions, I will gladly answer them.
@Charlotte Cobbler
…yep. Similar thoughts here. As a throne warden in my own family, it affected me a lot. I actually once went through the series looking, and I can directly relate to pretty much every instance Janner has except having a brother (I have 2 sisters).
Very good series, 10000/10, would enthusiastically force upon anyone who asks for a book suggestion or references Peterson, the Rabbit Room, or any Wingfeather merch I have on
Oooh - have you read the Wingfeather Tales yet?
Yes! These books have more depth than any other fantasy book or any other children's book I've ever read, and more than almost any other book, period! (there are probably a few exceptions if I think of every book I've ever read in my life) And I had no idea of this until I had finished the series! 😂 I had originally thought, "Okay, they're praying to the Maker, so I guess it's a Christian book." And there was a lot of silliness. And there was some creepy demonic stuff in book 2 that made me wonder whether I could trust the author. And then at the end I was stunned. I had to relisten to the last 3 chapters again right away, and then the last 10 chapters again, and then the last book again, and then the whole series again, and I realized that this powerful message had been throughout the whole series the entire time!!!!
Sigh. So yes, they are amazing. Absolutely amazing. Even the demonic parts were important. And the Fane of Fire? That was AMAZING!!!! (I wouldn't say the Maker meant, "It's okay," though, because Janner's selfishness wasn't, but the Maker took care of it and Janner just needed to focus on Him.) And the part about Maraly's name, and Kalmar really becoming the king he needed to be after talking with the Maker... so beautiful!!!!
Peet or Janner????
I'm so glad you liked them!!! 🤣
What's you opinion on the epilogue???
Yes, spoiler> do ya think Janner comes back to life? <SPOILER ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ SPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOIIILEEERRRS!
It really is such a beautiful series 🥹