North! Or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson

Reviewed by Lori Fox

"If you appreciate Terry Pratchett and David Eddings for their humor, Donita K Paul for her story telling, and JK Rowling for her ability to give people the most interesting names, you'll surely enjoy both books in the Wingfeather Saga."

The jewels of Anniera have narrowly missed capture by the dreaded Fangs of Dang---lizard men with venomous fangs who serve the evil Gnag the Nameless. No one knows why Gnag is seeking the jewels, but one thing is certain, if anyone had known that the jewels were actually three rather unremarkable children, it's unlikely they would have survived this long.

As the Igiby children, by blood the King, the Throne Warden, and the Song Maiden of Anniera, race north with their mother, grandfather, and strange bookish companion, Gnag is concocting another plot in his insatiable lust for conquest. Along the way, the children meet danger at every turn in the forms of wicked Stranders, sea dragons, bomnubbles, traitors, and even their own jealousies and insecurities.

North! Or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson is the second book in the Wingfeather Saga. The story follows the three Igiby children, also known as the Jewels of Anniera, as they flee north. The dreaded Fangs have found out that the children are actually the jewels, and now no place in all of Skree is safe for them. It might be better to take their chances with the toothy cows and the bomnubbles.

In book one, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, the story was a little flat for the first 2/3 of the book as we followed the children around learning about their world (Which, by the way, is called Aerwiar, since the first man looked at the first thing he saw and said “Well, here we are.” The story was passed from generation to generation until everyone simply began calling the planet on which they lived, Aerwiar.). Much of book one was world building and back story, with the final third becoming wonderful, page turning action. In book two, you continue from exactly where book one left off, dropping you straight into the action, which continues through most of the book.

While I think most things are explained well in this book, I do think that most readers would find themselves quite lost if they haven't read book one. At the very least, book one will let you appreciate the depth and many points of interest much more fully in North! Or Be Eaten.

If you appreciate Terry Pratchett and David Eddings for their humor, Donita K Paul for her story telling, and JK Rowling for her ability to give people the most interesting names, you'll surely enjoy both books in the Wingfeather Saga.

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Lori Fox is a freelance writer who is working on her first novel as well as writing reviews for TitleTrakk.com. In addition to writing, she enjoys reading, making jewelry, and taking as many trips to Walt Disney World as possible with her wonderful husband Kyle. Visit her online at her website.