Book Reviews - Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson

Greetings Everyone,

I have a surprise review for you tonight. This was a book I read for myself, not to review, but the book I'm about to review resonated with me so much that I was compelled to write this review.  

I've known about Andrew Peterson for some time now; my The Wingfeather Saga is a staple in our house. However, that is not the series I wrote this review about. I do not review these kinds of "Christian Living" books very often, but I do enjoy reading those types of books. But I'll leave it to the review from here.

See you in the pages, 

M.J.E.

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Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Overall Description:

Making something beautiful in a broken world can be harrowing work, and it can’t be done alone.
 
Over the last twenty years, Andrew Peterson has performed thousands of concerts, published four novels, released ten albums, taught college and seminary classes on writing, founded a nonprofit ministry for Christians in the arts, and executive-produced a film—all in a belief that God calls us to proclaim the gospel and the coming kingdom using whatever gifts are at our disposal. He’s stumbled along the way, made mistake after mistake, and yet has continually encountered the grace of God through an encouraging family, a Christ-centered community of artists in the church, and the power of truth, beauty, and goodness in Scripture and the arts.
 
While there are many books about writing, none deal first-hand with the intersection of songwriting, storytelling, and vocation, along with nuts-and-bolts exploration of the great mystery of creativity. In Adorning the Dark, Andrew describes six principles for the writing life:
 

• serving the work
• serving the audience
• selectivity
• discernment
• discipline
• and community

 
Through stories from his own journey, Andrew shows how these principles are not merely helpful for writers and artists, but for anyone interested in imitating the way the Creator interacts with his creation.
 
This book is both a memoir of Andrew’s journey and a handbook for artists, written in the hope that his story will provide encouragement to others stumbling along in pursuit of a calling to adorn the dark with the light of Christ.

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My Review of this Book:

Have you ever wanted a book on Christian living that doesn’t hand you a checklist, but instead invites you into a deeper way of seeing? Have you been searching for something that speaks to the creative life with honesty, gentleness, and real encouragement?

Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson was that unexpected gift for me. It wasn’t recommended, advertised, or even on my radar. It came up in a passing conversation — a side note, really — but sometimes the side notes are the very things the Spirit uses to get our attention.

As a writer, I’ve often struggled to find resources that feel truly relevant to the creative life. I’m quick to pick up any book that promises insight into calling, craft, or imagination, hoping it will finally speak to the tension I live in. Peterson’s reflections did exactly that. His blend of storytelling, theology, and lived experience connected with me as both a believer and a storyteller.

Throughout the book, Peterson weaves together themes of community, calling, and the mystery of who we were created to be. He reminds us that creativity is not a rare gift but a shared inheritance that God has placed within each of us, even when life feels chaotic or unclear.

What struck me most was the sincerity of his voice. As a musician and novelist, he writes from a place shaped by decades of longing, failure, growth, and grace. His stories — from childhood dreams to present‑day struggles — form something that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.

There are not many books on Christian living that have impacted me the way this one has. More than once, I found myself close to tears because of how precisely his words named things I’ve carried quietly for years. Chapters like “Art Nourishes Community” and “Community Nourishes Art” were especially meaningful, and his reflections on being a “student of the craft” were both humbling and energizing.

Theologically, the book is grounded without being heavy‑handed. Peterson draws on Scripture naturally, allowing biblical truth to illuminate his reflections rather than dominate them. Several times, I found myself turning to my Bible, not out of obligation, but because the book stirred a desire to revisit familiar passages with fresh eyes.

Adorning the Dark is a book I won’t soon forget. It met me exactly where I am as a writer, a believer, and someone trying to navigate the tension between calling and limitation. I fully expect to read it again. But first, I’ll be picking up his 2021 follow‑up, The God of the Garden, to continue the journey.