It's here!1
If a resonating theme of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness hinted that knowing where you come from is as significant as knowing where you’re going, the theme of Andrew Peterson’s Book Two in The Wingfeather Saga dives deeper, but is wrapped neatly up in the dedication to his three children: “Remember who you are.”
This whole concept of understanding your true identity, intentionally remembering who you are, and living your life in the light of that reflection, is threaded throughout the Igiby’s second grand tale of adventure. A myriad of responses to this true identity is witnessed: resentment of inherited responsibilities; hiding from the truth; running from the truth; fighting against the truth; and even the rare quiet and humble acceptance…each character struggling or submitting in his and her own way.
Like most AP stories, you don’t get very far before you’re smacked good and hard with reflections of your own responses to the truth. Do we remember who we are? Or do we allow the world to define us, to tell us who we are, eroding our foundation with slow and seductive (but merciless) waves of lies until we topple into the ocean? And if our eyes grow dim enough, and we lie in darkness for long enough…how painful it can be to come into the light again. Yet, it is only by this light that we see. It is only by this light that we can become who we already are. Do we remember? 2
Shall I talk about the book? I’ve been putting off writing my review for a reason…a reason I am loathe to actually type out for all to see. North! Or Be Eaten is not as good as OTEOTDSOD. It’s in grave danger of catching Middle Book Syndrome; Aerwiar is no longer a new world of discovery, and lacks a bit of the sharp poignancy I found on my first visit there. There are altogether too few footnotes. 3 And the Great Battle has yet to be fought, so the end is hardly satisfactory, as it’s clearly not the end. I chalked it up to extravagant and nigh unmeetable expectations. Then I sat down and re-read the last few chapters again tonight and changed my mind.
How could I have thought it lacked poignancy? The last scenes are intense enough to awaken that unquietable but “pleasurable ache between my heart and my stomach”, as Podo would say. It’s difficult to say much without giving too much away, but I will say that the end4 bursts open in glorious and powerful revelation of true identity…not in discovering some new identity, but in fully recognizing what is already known.
“What’s magic, anyway?” Nia asks in Chapter 57. “…Aerwiar is full of wonders and some call it magic. This is a gift from the Maker…(it) has great power, but it is clear the Maker put the power there when He knit the world. If it seems as though we have uncovered some great secret, it is only because the wars of the ages concealed what once was as common as grass.” 5
What is magic, Nia? Magic is finding newness in a story older than time. Magic is unearthing more of myself, and more of my Maker, while digging into a child’s tale about old pirates and fork factories. And magic is, of course, getting to know Peet the Sock Man more thoroughly. 6
-------------------------------------------------------
1. As usual, if you’re looking for an honest-to-goodness review, go somewhere else. Or just buy the book because you know you already want it.
2. What? Too vague and overspiritualized for a book review? Deal, you’re the only one reading this anyway!
3. That’s as close as I’m going to get to your suggested complaint, Ames.
4. though not quite the end…
5. This line really struck me “…because the wars of the ages concealed what was once as common as grass.” A thing resounds when it rings true, and all that. I’m not sure the quote flows with the review at all, but who’s really keeping score?
6. Indeed.
