On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness

“I don’t want to spend my life fretting over Tink and Leeli, following two little kids around, fussing over them like an old woman and wasting my life!”

Janner struggles with the responsibility of being the eldest sibling. His desire for more in his life makes him a quintessential children’s fantasy protagonist—one who will soon find his world turned upside down and responsibility forced upon him. His family’s prioritization of this responsibility for Janner ties into the family secret of their lineage.

“Blood was shed that you three might breathe the good air of life, and if that means you have to miss out on a Zibzy game, then so be it. Part of being a man is putting others’ needs before your own.”

Podo’s definition of what a man is aligns with Christian values and gender roles, where men are the providers and protectors of their families. The role of a man as a servant to others is echoed later when Janner learns about his legacy.

“But nothing ever does, he thought bitterly. Here we are at the Dragon Day Festival, and I’m a nervous mess since the minute we arrived. Over nothing at all. What could possibly happen in just a few seconds?”

Janner, Tink, and Leeli have not yet received the call to action on their hero’s journey; Janner does not suspect that anything might happen to them, and he resents his role as the protector of his siblings, which he finds to be unnecessary. This moment foreshadows the fact that their lives are about to change.

“The gold was just to get his attention, you see. Fangs have a weakness for jewelry.”

Although this may seem like a harmless enough character trait, the Fangs’ love of gold and jewelry has troubling connotations, especially when considering that the Fangs are the antagonists in The Struggle Between Good and Evil. A race of lizard people who love gold and steal children away to torture and kill has all the hallmarks of antisemitic stereotypes that demonize Jewish people.

“Again, neither spoke for a moment. Podo broke the silence. ‘Well grab my gizzard, honey, do you think it was…him?’”

Janner learns that his mother and grandfather have suspicions about who saved him and his siblings from the Fangs. Children’s fantasy protagonists often learn that their parents are hiding things from them and do everything in their power to find out the truth; Janner is different. He upholds Christian values by obeying his elders and does not attempt to find out the truth before they are ready to tell him.

“There was another dream, one in which he could almost make out his father’s face, a dream full of golden light and green fields. That bright dream filled him with the same feelings as Armulyn’s song had the night before, feelings that somehow hurt and felt good all at the same time.”

Janner feels a connection to Armulyn’s song that he will only begin to understand later in his journey. His connection ties into the theme of The Discovery of Ancestral Legacy and foreshadows Janner’s true heritage and identity.

“But if Janner had been watching closely that morning, he would have seen how often his mother peeked out the window toward the town, and he might have noticed the troubled look in her eyes. If Janner had thought about it, he might have wondered why Podo had stayed so close to both boys all morning, and why his trusty club remained at his side.”

The omniscient point of view gives the reader additional insight into non-protagonist characters and their motivations. This passage builds a sense of anticipation and tension and suggests that something terrible is about to happen.

“He had been unable to stop thinking about that mysterious warning on the map, right next to the alluring X. Besides, he told himself, Tink was going with or without him. Who else would protect his little brother?”

Janner feels the conflicting urge to solve the mystery of the map and to protect Tink. He chooses to participate in Tink’s dangerous plan on the basis that refusing to participate could actually put Tink in greater danger, which demonstrates his growing sense of responsibility.

“Only days ago, Leeli nearly died at the hands of a Fang because he hadn’t paid attention. Now this. Why can’t I be like our father, he wondered. He died in the Great War, trying to protect those he loved.”

Janner feels the weight of his legacy; though he never knew his father, the knowledge that he died in the Great War has shaped his understanding of where he comes from. As Janner embarks on his coming-of-age journey, his desire to be like his unknown father guides many of his actions.

“Hush, now. It’ll be all right. It does no good to worry over what’s already happened. What matters is now. The past and the future are both beyond our reach.”

Nia’s words here speak to her practicality and experience. She has lost a great deal in her life, including her husband, her mother, and her home. Although Janner and his siblings sometimes find Nia frustrating, they also understand that she is wise.

“At once, Janner knew that somehow beneath the stench and beyond the strangeness, Peet the Sock Man was full of goodness. His eyes were so deep and so peaceful, Janner even began to believe that maybe Peet wasn’t crazy at all.”

Janner can see through Peet’s strange exterior and recognize the truth beneath. Although it will still be some time before he learns Peet’s story and his own, the fact that he can see Peet for who he is foreshadows the connection they share. It also shows Janner to be an empathetic protagonist—a trait important for reader connection.

“‘What’s a real name?’ Peet said finally. He pointed the spoon at Janner. ‘Is Janner Igiby your real name?’

‘Yes sir.’

‘Is it?’ Peet said, turning back to his cooking.”

Peet foreshadows the reveal that Janner’s real name is Wingfeather. Names are closely tied to the theme of The Discovery of Ancestral Legacy; when the Igibys finally learn the truth about their identities, their true name will give them a firmer sense of belonging to their history.

“Yet Nia’s strength still emanated from her like a candle in a dark room. Janner noticed that she was steady and graceful, and even with blood dried at the corner of her mouth and hair askew, she was beautiful.”

Nia embodies Christian ideals of womanhood. She is stoic and brave but beautiful and regal at the same time. She is capable of protecting her children through her inner strength rather than physical strength, which is reserved for men.

“‘Tink,’ Podo said, ‘you know the feller’s crazy in the head. A crazy old fool, that’s all.’ Janner shuddered at the bitterness he heard in his grandfather’s voice.”

Podo’s scorn and disdain for Peet often come across as unwarranted and extreme. It is a mark of Janner’s obedience to his elders that he does not confront his grandfather about his unkindness or ask too many questions about where Podo’s anger comes from.

“Janner kept waiting for Nia to intervene, to talk some sense into Podo’s unfair treatment of Peet, but she was silent, her expression unreadable in the dark.”

Again, Janner defers to his elders’ judgment about Peet, even if he does not agree with it. He recognizes that there must be more to the story but also accepts that it is not yet time for him to learn more. These interactions foreshadow the revelation about Peet’s connection to the Igiby family.

“But for some…all they had and all they ever wanted was right there in Glipwood. They had nowhere to go and aimed to die fighting for their home.”

In The Struggle Between Good and Evil, some people refuse to give up their homes, even if they risk certain death. This trope is also present in works like The Lord of the Rings, where the people of Rohan and Gondor are willing to face death rather than flee when armies attack.

“‘Listen up. I need you to be men, do you hear?’ They both nodded. ‘There’s strong blood in yer veins, and if ye trust me and let the Maker guide ye, we might live to see the sun lift this mornin’.’”

Podo’s charge for the boys to behave like men marks a significant step in The Process of Self-Discovery and Coming of Age. In order to prove their maturity, they must prove that they can be brave, trust in the Maker (God), and do battle against their enemy. These are all masculine ideals in Christianity.

“And none of this would have happened if Podo and Nia hadn’t been trying to keep them hidden. Janner felt his anger turning toward Podo and his mother for caring more about the Jewels of Anniera than he and his siblings. Why hadn’t they just given up the jewels? Were these jewels really worth the price of losing their home? worth dying for?”

Janner’s inner conflict is ironic in hindsight. He is upset with Nia and Podo for protecting the Jewels of Anniera and endangering him and his siblings as a result, not yet realizing that they are the Jewels. As it turns out, it is very reasonable that his mother and grandfather believe the Jewels to be worth dying for.

“Janner bristled. He was tired of hearing about the jewels that had ruined their lives. Tired of not knowing what they were and why Gnag the Nameless wanted them so badly. Janner was sick of adults and their secrets, and though he was glad his grandfather was alive and glad they had made it through the night, he had a squall of resentment in his chest that was building into a storm—a storm he could hold in no longer.”

Janner finally reaches a breaking point in his coming-of-age journey. He is no longer willing to be treated as a child and is now ready to know the truth. He has earned answers by proving himself to be mature and capable of both protecting his siblings and navigating conflict.

“‘To begin with, yer not asking the right question.’

His statement hung in the air for a moment.

Tink squinted at his grandfather. ‘Uh…what’s in the bundle?’

‘Nope. The real question is…’ Podo paused dramatically. ‘What are the Jewels of Anniera?’”

Janner and his siblings have spent much of the book operating under the assumption that the Jewels of Anniera are literal jewels. In drawing out the reveal, Peterson gives readers the chance to make their own conclusions and recognize that the Igiby children are the Jewels of Anniera.

“The eldest son, upon the birth of the younger, becomes the protector of the king. It is his life’s duty to serve and defend the younger from all harm. He is trained in battle, and his name is praised in every home in the kingdom.”

Janner has struggled with his role as protector of his younger siblings for much of the book, but now accepts his role as Throne Warden with dignity and grace, proving that he has matured over the course of his adventure. This structure subverts typical fantasy novel expectations, where the eldest son is the heir to the throne.

“I’ve never been so afraid, and I tell ye I felt like the Maker had cursed us sure. But when the storm cleared, I saw we were better off than before.”

Podo suggests that although the Maker (God) may throw challenges at the protagonists that seem like curses, they must place their faith in him, as his actions are ultimately good, and he will protect them. Similarly, as the characters represent the good in The Struggle Between Good and Evil, they can always expect to be rewarded for their virtue.

“Legend says there’s a power to protect Anniera in the music of a Queen Sister who knows the right songs.”

Leeli’s connection to music is no coincidence. Nia has been teaching her music all her life because she knows that one day, Leeli will have to use her music to protect her family and her people from evil. As with the importance of Janner’s ability to physically defend his siblings, Nia has ensured that Leeli is prepared for her eventual role.