Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

The Prince of Yorsha Doon was my favorite story within this collection of Wingfeather Tales with From the Deeps of the Dragon King being my second favorite. I love Podo and it was a great story of his pirating days.

Overall the collection was a good read, some of the stories took you right back into Aerwiar and others did not.

I dived into this book with high expectations because I really enjoyed the series. However, I'm sad to say that this does not match the standard of The Wingfeather Saga. Honestly, I loved the short stories and really enjoyed the first few but the last one was a little too draggy and took me too long to finish it. I think I would also have preferred these stories to have a closer link to the saga either to provide a back story of the characters or expound the events that were happening simultaneously. Overall, this felt more like fan fiction (not necessarily a bad thing) which I found was hard to connect to The Wingfeather Saga.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook & Multnomah through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Wingfeather Tales takes the reader back to the land of Aerwiar for more exciting adventures! The stories in this book do not include the four Wingfeather children from the original series. They do, however, include some of the other original characters from the Wingfeather Saga. It was fun to read these imaginative stories from Andrew Peterson and other authors. If you enjoyed the Wingfeather Saga, you will like these stories too!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It took me a minute to get used to the vocabulary, but it fits the story and held me captive. One of the tales made me sad... but they are well written, intriguing and entertaining!

Authors who write fiction intrigue me. I think Andrew Peterson is brilliant as a songwriter, singer, and writer. With his book "Adorning the Dark" he beat me. His sagas are full of adventures and eye-catching for children. I do not know if they will be translated into Spanish but I would like to give them to children I appreciate. I like when an author knows that his work on a story is over, but when he knows that his brain will continue to have fanciful ideas and can continue to expand interesting stories for lovers of the saga. This is excellent teamwork that can not only capture your children but explode your mind as an adult as these gifted people take you on a journey through the mazes of their imaginations. What a delight he imagines meeting and working with such people. I hope you really enjoy your work through this book as well.

This short story collection runs the gamut from a ballad to a love story to an emotional novella. I loved being back in the world of Aerwiar and experiencing all it holds once again. I love the Saga books and recommend them on audio, but I actually think I would recommend this one in print so you can be more immersed in the story.
I saw someone else say this on Goodreads "...This collection of tales is like very high end fan fiction. It IS high end though." And that is the perfect description of this collection!

Content Warning: Kidnapping

Wonderful collection of stories! My kids and I enjoyed these tales that continued with some of our favorite characters from the series. Would make an excellent gift. :)

✦ 3.5/5 ✦

This review is going to be pretty short because I don't have many thoughts to share.
To me, most of the stories in Wingfeather Tales just didn't feel...Wingfeatherish. It was disappointing but makes sense because giving a world of your imagination's creation to other writers to play with won't always turn out the same way. I found myself skimming pretty often because I just wasn't interested in many of the stories, and like I was getting at, a lot of it felt more like fanfiction. I do have to say that N.D.'s story was fantastic, and I am time and time again blown away by AP's writing style. I loved the new illustrations as well!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Waterbrook & Multnomah for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Andrew Peterson built the world of Aerwiar that I felt sad to leave behind after finishing the Wingfeather Saga. While these new stories do not revisit my favorite characters, it brought me back to so much of what I grew to love about the world and characters Peterson created. I read all five Wingfeather books aloud to my 8-year-old in the last two months. This book did not grab his attention in the same way as the series, but he still enjoyed it.

There were some parts in The Places Beyond The Maps that I felt were difficult to read to my young son. The main character in his grief, was so despairing of his own life. While I was worried this despondency was a little mature for him, this was one of his favorite stories in the collection. It was the story I was gripped by the most, and I find I am still thinking about it days later.


#netgalley #wingfeathertales

Wingfeather Tales is a collection of seven different stories written by different authors. They all take place in Aerwiar--a world first introduced in the Wingfeather Saga. I hadn't previously read the saga before diving into this book, and I quickly realized I had to familiarize myself with the other stories to fully appreciate this new collection. I highly recommend reading the saga before picking up this book. It will not only help you make connections between the various stories included in the anthology, but it will also save you some confusion.

The Wingfeather Tales are full of imaginative lands with engaging characters and fantastical events. However, some of stories kept me turning the pages more than others. I was fully captivated by "The Prince of Yorsha Doon" and "Willow Worlds". Both stories held my attention until the very end.

While not all of the stories caught my attention, I think they will be thoroughly enjoyed by fans of the saga and the world of Aerwiar. The only thing I struggled with while reading these wonderful stories, is the recommended age level. Most of the stories seem far too difficult for my Middle Grade students to comprehend or appreciate. This book would best suit older, or advanced readers.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great anthology of short stories from different authors for all Wingfeather fans. The artistry in the pages of this book does not disappoint.

Wingfeather Tales will be warmly welcomed by those who read and loved the four books of The Wingfeather Saga and weren’t quite ready for it to end. This book is comprised of a series of short stories set in the world of the WIngfeather Saga. Each story is written by a different author, so each has a unique perspective, while still remaining faithful to Peterson’s creation. The illustrations are delightful, and this volume will make a great companion to The WIngfeather Saga on the bookshelf. I highly recommend reading the introduction by Andrew Peterson before diving into the stories themselves.

Review will be posted on retail sites, Goodreads, and on YouTube Channel Hicks Picks Books.

Thanks go to NetGalley, WaterBrook, and Multnomah for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

It just didn’t grab me
.I love the Wingfeather Saga but I had a hard time getting through The Wingfeather Tales. It didn’t hold my attention. However, I did find some smiles inside, my favorite being The Ballad of Lunric and Rube, which simply must be read aloud to achieve the full effect.

I was given an ARC of this book for free prior to publishing but we also purchased the hardback to read as a family since we have read and loved the previous four books in the Wingfeather Saga. I will say it is SO fun to be back in this world. I didn’t realize how much I had missed it. This was such a great collaboration of several great authors. Can’t wait to read the hardcover now with my family!

Wingfeather Tales is a return to Aerwiar or an introduction. The book can be read (and enjoyed!) as a standalone. For fans of the Wingfeather Saga, Wingfeather Tales allows the reader to return to a beloved world. Each story reveals something different about the world of Aerwiar. I started in the middle, because my children begged to know what happened next with Marilee and the Florid Sword. After the first page, they said we needed to tell everyone to read this book. I love how thorough the world building is. The delightfully quirky humor behind every detail really sets the entire series apart from other fantasy series. I have been amazed with how much this book sparks the imagination of children. My children hear the stories and immediately want to create their own stories and illustrations. Reading this book is a door to creativity, and I can think of no greater gift for children.

This book is a wonderful follow-up to the Wingfeather Saga. Each writer has a distinct voice while still blending perfectly with Peterson's humor, poetry, and creativity. Don't expect to learn more about the ending of the Wingfeather Saga, but do expect to see some old friends and to make some new ones. That said, this book will contain some minor spoilers if you haven't finished the saga!

These stories are perfect for reading on your own or to older kids. The first story, "The Prince of Yorsha Doon, especially, is an Aladin-like-story likely to become a favorite for reading aloud. The second--“The Wooing of Sophelia Stupe"--is a hilarious story for lovers of word-play but may be difficult for kids to read. However, it and "Willow Worlds" each have moments of wonder that I, as a writer myself, could only hope to create.

"From the Deeps of the Dragon King" is heartbreaking and may be upsetting to kids, but wow--imagine Moby Dick with Dragons! "Shadowblade and the Florid Sword" is a short but adorable comic about two beloved characters from the saga. "The Ballad of Lanric and Rube is a funny tale told completely in verse. Finally, "The Places Beyond the Maps" is a beautiful, heartwarming novella full of hope and healing.

I had so much fun reading these and hearing from all of these lovely voices. In a way, it felt like reading a collection of stories from a modern group of Inklings, all working to weave tales of hope and joy and redemption. I hope you enjoy them, too!

P.S. For writers, there is a great intro by Peterson about the writing process!

(3.5 / 5)

For me, last year will forever be known as the year of the Wingfeathers. I read the entire Wingfeather Saga for the 1st time...and the 2nd time, in a way, as the author, Andrew Peterson, read his books live, a few chapters a day, throughout the year. This book is a collection of 7 stories set in that same world, written by 6 different authors. First, let me get some basic info out of the way: Yes, you really should read this only if you've read the Wingfeather Saga in its entirety, which I fully recommend that you do either way. No, none of these stories is a continuation of that series in any way. Well, one sort of is, to a very small degree, but more on that in the details below. Let's just say that it will not answer the burningest questions you've most likely been left with after finishing the series. Andrew Peterson has stated on more than one occasion that he would prefer to leave any answers up to the imagination of his readers, which is fair.

My overall book rating is a reflection of the average of individual ratings for each story. I did not love the stories overall as I might have hoped. However, I did go into this uncertain about how I'd enjoy them. I'm not really huge on short stories in general, but I couldn't help but give this book a go, considering how much I loved the original series. What follows is a list of each story with its author and illustrator, my rating, and a brief (as much as possible) review for each.

"The Prince of Yorsha Doon" by Andrew Peterson (5 / 5) - This was my favorite short story in the collection, with a ragged, loner street urchin getting the chance to be something more, to do something more. It's charming and contains a wonderful appearance by one of the bigger characters in the original series. (illustrated by Cory Godbey, Nicholas Kole, & Hein Zaayman)

"The Wooing of Sophelia Stupe" by Jennifer Trafton (3 / 5) - The story of the author of the Creaturepedia books on its own was decent, if open-ended. However, I was slowed down and tripped up by the character's vocabulary. He had a penchant for using very large, at times ridiculous words, both real and made-up (though a lot more made-up than real, I'm pretty sure). I'm sure it's meant to be whimsical, and that plenty of people will find the fun in it, but it's not really my preference. (illustrated by John Hendrix)

"Willow Worlds" by N.D. Wilson (4 / 5) - I really liked seeing young Podo, and perhaps the genesis of what made him who he is in the Wingfeather books. The plot to this story, especially coupled with the story before it, paints such a vastly different fabric for this fantasy world than what was in the original books, leaving me a little surprised and confused. The story is particularly short and abrupt, but I liked the general idea of it and wish there was more on this subject. (illustrated by Joe Sutphin)

"ShadowBlade and the Florid Sword" by Andrew Peterson & Jay Myers (4 / 5) - As alluded to in the first paragraph of my review, this is the one tale in the book that is a continuation of the original series. The title tells it all, and it's actually in comic-book format. I did like having the chance to see the two together, and wish it had been longer. Though several of the stories in this collection end abruptly and with more that could be told, I think this is the one I most want to see more of.

"From the Deeps of the Dragon King" by A.S. Peterson (2 / 5) - This story was tragic and disturbing, and while it was clearly meant to be so, my rating is not due to the theme or mood. Considering how Podo's story and character arc went in the original series, especially at the end of North! or Be Eaten, I really think I would have preferred not seeing him at this time of his life. It almost felt like undoing everything related to this that happened in the series. Plenty of others, I'm sure, will be happy to read about Podo's past, but it just made me sad. (illustrated by Doug TenNapel)

"The Ballad of Lanric and Rube" by Jonathan Rogers (4 / 5) - This story was short and silly, maybe a little predictable to me, but overall just fun. (illustrated by Justin Gerard)

"The Places Beyond the Maps" by Douglas Kaine McKelvey (2 / 5) - This is the kind of story that I wish I could rate higher and feel like a rube rating so low, because I'm sure it's meant to be beautiful and poignant, but it's just not for me. It's the story of a man whose daughter was taken away by the Black Carriage, and all that he goes through as he tries first to get her back, then to get justice, and finally just to find some meaning and purpose after the tragedy. It is long (literally as long as all of the other stories put together, since it started at 50% in the e-book) and moves slowly most of the time. There is a lot of introspection, depression, even self-hatred--all things you might expect in the situation, but I felt like it plodded along most of the time. It didn't help that the author has a tendency toward long, run-on sentences. Entire paragraphs, long in their own right, can be made up of just one or two sentences. It's a style choice, I'm sure, but not one I care for.

This story is also one that actually caused squeamish me to wince as injuries and the attempt at mending such were described in fairly vivid detail at least once. The man contemplates killing himself or at least giving up on life multiple times. It's dark, much darker than even the most serious parts of the original series. There were a few bright points for me, like the inclusion of a wonderful character from the original series and the epilogue that added a little hope after the disturbing (and just plain weird) ending. (illustrated by Aedan Peterson)

Final thoughts: I didn't mention illustrations in the individual reviews, but I enjoyed every one of them. Andrew Peterson has a way of collecting talented people around him (not to mention his own talented children), and I can imagine the honor of having other authors and artists take part in a project like this for his books. I think, though, that some of this collection lost the charm and feel of the original series, and I especially don't think I'd say this is as great for the age group that the first series was so well suited for. What's most telling to me is that my daughter (10 years old), who has read/listened to the Wingfeather Saga in some format probably half a dozen times, only read about a story and a half from this collection and walked away. She'll go back to it eventually, but clearly it didn't draw her in like the original books. I do think that fans of the original series should read this collection, or at least some of it. I know I'll re-read some of these stories again in the future, but I was not quite the right audience for some of them.

What a pleasure it is to dive back into this world! The various authors are able to craft amazing stories because Andrew Peterson created such a rich world. Each of these stories is special and kept us wanting more. My tween and teen boys were excited about the graphic novel story included. My favorite of the stories was the first--the longing for belonging fighting with the longing for freedom amidst an action-packed story kept me turning pages!

I think that this book could be read by those who have never read the Wingfeather Saga. There are a few spoilers regarding the Saga’s war between Gang the Nameless and Aerwiar. But the stories will all still pull you in and flow.

This short story is full of color and descriptions to help the reader really see Yorsha Doon through the eyes of a young street urchin. Safiki saves the Prince from certain death and makes several new friends along the way. It’s very reminiscent of Aladdin.
Ollister Pembrook tells of his adventure after writing the Creaturpedia. Then he meets Sophelia Stupe, a poxed face young lady and falls in love. “Someday” becomes “Soon”.
Podo and Captain Whilly’s adventures is another great story about sailing to the Sunken Mountains to capture sqwyrms, baby dragons. These are just a few of the seven short stories in Wingfeather Tales.
All these short stories are brought to life and further explain life in all the outer areas from the Wingfeather books. Wonderful addition and great fun for readers of all ages!