The Monster in the Hollows: The Wingfeather Saga, Book 3

I think book 3 may be my favorite in the quartet. There were so many pieces of this one I really enjoyed.Of course, I'm hook-line-and-sinker for the characters. We started the series following a loving family and through each part of the story, we get to see a piece of each sibling grow up a little, which is really cool! It's a bittersweet thing, to watch someone grow a little harder, a little taller, and a little stronger. Something always happens to steal that carefree innocence, but when they grow right and true, you can't help but cheer them on. I've loved seeing Leeli especially come into her own here in this book.But even the boys continued to grow deeper and stronger in this story. Watching the guilds and the training they went through was fascinating. (I'll just note, I was upset Janner didn't get his first choice! As a reader, I would have been allll for those scenes!) I loved watching the boys grow closer together and deal with the tension between them as they struggled to do that. But it was also really rewarding to watch how the siblings all interacted in the face of the school kids, both inside of and outside of their guilds. I definitely related to the whole outcast situation. Been there done that.Oh man! All the bits with Sara Cobbler! I got so mad when we would leave the rest of the story on a cliffhanger and then so mad when we wouldn't get to see more of Sara XD She was one of my favorite characters and I definitely couldn't wait to see how her story ended in the last book!Just as in the previous book, we get to dig into such a fun world. The culture of the Hollows was simple, but distinct. It kind of drove me nuts for the first part of the book. The Wingfeather family was just...going to go to school? Try to live like normal?? I was so confused as to why they were ignoring the world they knew faced issues, but...they were just kids. And I can understand why their mother would want a normal life for them for as long as they could have it. But I think it went even deeper than that: the whole culture of the Hollowsfolk was very "ignore everyone else and just do what's best for us." So, it was interesting to watch the dynamics of the people who clung to that mentality and those who began to split off and see the need to grow beyond their beloved home.And I can't properly leave a review without noting how incredibly in awe I am of Peterson's ability to tap into the emotional side of storytelling. I mean, I just love the yearning and homesickness he stirs in all of his work. But dude! The end of this story was worse than the end of the last one! Nia had me tearing up again and the brothers love for one another and then the spoilery thing that I can't say because SPOILERS! But I tell you what, I was UP-SETTED. Again! Partially because I had a suspicion early in the book and shoved it aside. Then partially because I was right even though I connected the dots moments before the reveal. And then because it all ended in a huge mess again! I was not a happy camper at the end of this book. Peterson forms these strong ties between these characters and I just wish I had that myself. I love how fiercely loyal each of the Wingfeathers are to each other. It's such an incredibly beautiful thing to behold.Just all of the things, guys. All of the things. This tale is such a sweet, heart-wrenching one. I highly recommend it.MG, clean fantasy, no foul language, some mild romance, and a little mild violence here and there. There’s some prejudice and captivity, and thematically the book explores hope and hopelessness, darkness and light, right and wrong. It offers a lot to start conversations around, but I’d feel fine giving it to a middle school kid or pre-teen.

Book 3 is equally powerful, profound and gripping. Andrew is deeply gifted and blessed. Thank you Father, King Jesus and Holy Spirit🙏✝️❤️✨️

I’ve been finishing these books like a snack. Peterson is a story-telling genius. I can’t wait to read the next and final book in the saga.

My 10 yr old daughter is completely hooked on this series and loves reading the books in this series!

This is the third in Andrew Peterson's award winning fantasy series The Wingfeather Saga. The Monster in the Hollows tells the story of the Wingfeather children hiding from Gnag the Nameless in the Green Hollows, one of the few places in the land of Aerwiar not overrun by the Fangs of Dang.It's a story about the children attempting to assimilate into a new culture and figure out how to do life (simple things like make friends, go to school, survive bullies, etc.). It's also a story about Kalmar's battle against guilt and shame, and Janner's struggle to protect his little brother. There also is a wonderful side story about Sarah Cobbler and the rebellion at the Fork Factory.Of the three Wingfeather books, this has the least "laugh out loud" passages (there were many in the first two books). However, what it lacks in laughs, it more than makes up for in suspense. I read the majority of the book in two nights. I'd finish a chapter and not be able to put the book down because I simply had to know what was going to happen next (this rarely happens for me; I almost always choose sleep over resolutions in plot lines). There also were a few tear jerker moments, beautifully written and wonderfully woven into the plot line.Fairy tales are great because they create for the reader (especially in kids) a moral imagination. You can't learn compassion or sacrifice or courage from definitions. We need to see examples in great stories. The Monster in the Hollows is one of those great stories that helps to form the good, the noble, and the beautiful in our minds and hearts. Peterson may very well be a better novelist than he is a songwriter (and that's saying something). I can't wait to read these books to my daughter.

my 10 year old loved it. its a very good book. probably for kids from 8-12 years old.

We love this entire series. My 4 sons have loved to read these books. They’re definitely not for ages below 7 or very sensitive kids (in my opinion).

This book and this series remind the reader of the important things of life without any hint of teaching or preaching, but with realistic characters in a fantasy, dystopian world that seems so silly in the beginning and so real not very far at all into the story. The writing is completely different is some ways and completely compelling throughout.

Este é o melhor até aqui. Ainda não li o quarto, mas os acontecimentos neste livro me fizeram feliz e triste.

Se avete amato Il Signore degli Anelli, le Cronache di Narnia o la Storia Fantastica (The princess bride) e volete che i vostri bambini intraprendano una lettura in lingua inglese (o volete farlo voi stessi) non potrete non leggere e non innamorarvi del bestseller americano The Wingfeather Saga. E' una saga fantasy, profonda e commovente, ma altresì divertente e piena di umorismo e creatività. Vi addentrerete nel mondo di Aerwiar, che vi entrerà nel cuore, con le sue creature fantastiche e strampalate (e perlopiù spaventose), e vi affezionerete a ciascuno dei personaggi. In questo terzo capitolo esplorerete una nova terra, in cui i protagonisti dovranno ambientarsi, ma non sarà così facile come sembra. Quando tutto però sembrerà aver preso una certa direzione, le cose saranno messe in crisi da delle strane sparizioni di bestiame e... un omicidio. Possibile che Janner non può proprio fidarsi di suo fratello? Chi è il mostro che si aggira di nascosto? Sull'app Angel Studios attualmente troverete anche la prima stagione della serie animata. L'autore Andrew Peterson, noto cantautore americano, si distingue per il suo talento artistico e la sua profondità.

Mega spannend. Konnte nicht aufhören. Und echt bewegend. Super Story Hat richtig Spass gemacht und bin jetzt richtig gespannt auf das grosse Finale in Buch 4. Wärmste Empfehlung.

This was so amazing! Anyone needing a book series read the Wingfeather Saga. My gratitude to Andrew Peterson and his skill.What a way of making me want to read the fourth book.

Can't rave enough - my kids (8 and 10) - can't put them down. Great writing, great characters, great development, great world-building.