Lord Sunday (Keys to the Kingdom 7)

Jacket:
The House is falling apart, and when it is is destroyed, all existence will be destroyed with it.  Arthur Penhaligon and his friends Leaf and Suzy are caught in the chaos, separated by events but drawn together in their fight to survive.  They must use every power at their disposal - magical or practical - to defeat the enemies attacking them from all sides.
For Arthur, the biggest challenge come from Lord Sunday, the most elusive of the Trustees of the Will.  Lord Sunday's magic is unlike any Arthur has encountered before - and his secrets have the potential to destroy not only Arthur but also the people he holds most dear.
On Monday, Arthur Penhaligon was just an ordinary boy thrust into an extraordinary situation.  From Tuesday to Saturday, he emerged as the Rightful Heir to the Architect who created everything within the House.   Now, on Sunday, he will face a choice of astonishing proportions - the remarkable conclusion to the a completely unforeseen adventure.

On the seventh day, there was a choice.

He stood above Arthur, holding the writhing Keys in the net with his left hand, while his right was held tight around a small object that he wore on a chain around his neck. p.72

Monday I checked this book out at 5:30 p.m. and started reading almost right away.  I was done at 10:30.  I HAD to find out what happened.  When we last left Arthur, he was trying to wrest the Sixth Key away from Superior Saturday during a battle in the Incomparable Gardens.  Now comes the thrilling conclusion to one of the best series that I've read.  I am very happy with how it turned out.  The only I can't figure out is why the narrative was split up between Leaf, Arthur, and Suzy.  I mean, I was glad to know what was going on, but I can't figure out why it was necessary.

Anyway, a lot of the time a series will end and it will be such a disappointement.  Like I wasted so much time on this series and this is the ending I'm given.  But not with the Keys to the Kingdom.  I was very excited by the ending, surprising in a good way  Just right, I think. 


I'd like to say more but I really don't want to spoil anyone.  OK, here are few things in white.  DON'T highlight unless you want to read the MAJOR SPOILERS.*

I liked how Arthur became the New Architect and put a part of himself into a boy so that he could live out his life on Earth.  I wonder though how that will play out.  Because if Arthur is immortal, then eventually he will have to go back to the House and merge with the New Architect.

I was not surprised that Dame Primus turned out to be the Architect.  I think everyone had figured that out, but I was surprised that the whole thing was a suicide plot to release the Old One so She could return to nothing.  It was such a great twist.  And the part where she bit into the apple.  I could almost hear the crunch and the silence.  So great.  I guess if the Trustees had done what the Will said in the beginning, then it wouldn't have been such a big battle.  But who knows who they would have chosen to the Rightful Heir and thusly the New Architect?  I can't really blame them for not wanting to aid in their own destruction.

And, hahaha, I love the ending with Suzy.  She is so great.
**END SPOILERS**

Hogwarts: Charms

Cover Comparsion - Lord Sunday

U.S.U.K.Australian

The covers for Lord Sunday are out (due to be released stateside March 2010).  I really like the U.S. covers of all the books and I like Lord Sunday's a lot.  The U.S. and U.K. covers have who I imagine is Arthur in possession of the first 6 Keys and all three have him with wings.

Superior Satuday (Keys to the Kingdom 6) (audio)

Arthur Penhaligan has wrested five of the Keys from their immortal guardians, the Trustees of the Will. But gaining the Sixth Key poses a greater challenge than any he has faced before. Superior Saturday is not just one of the Trustees – she is also the oldest Denizen and the most powerful and knowledgeable sorcerer within the House. She has tens of thousands of sorcerers at her command, and she has been preparing her forces all along for the Will’s escape and the activities of the Rightful Heir.


As Saturday’s schemes become evident, Arthur is beset on all sides. The House is being destroyed, and only the power of the Keys can hold back the tide of destruction. Arthur’s home city is under attack. His allies are unreliable. He can’t even get into the apparently impregnable Upper House . . . and even if he does, finding the Sixth Part of the Will and gaining the Sixth Key might not be enough to counter Saturday’s bid for ultimate power.

On the sixth day, there was sorcery.

*spoilers*

Out of all the books this is the only one that I actually will call filler.  I say this because despite appearances not much really happens.  Arthur has to figure out how to get into the Upper House so he visits the Lower House and then the Border Sea.  The Raised Rats help him get into the Upper House and he figures out where Part Six of the Will is and rescues it.  Then he is forced into the Ram with Superior Saturday to assault the Incomparable Gardens where Sunday lives.  The thing is that Saturday had to have a book of her own or the series doesn't work, but the action only moves Arthur along and the significant events don't happen until about three-quarters of the way.

We do find out Saturday's plan though.  She was the first Denizen made by the Architect and envies Lord Sunday high in the Imcomparable Gardens as she thinks that is where she belongs.  He taunts her with glimpses of the floor of the Gardens, further enraging her.  So she makes a plan to get the lower parts of the House to fall in order to reach the Gardens and defeat Sunday.  She doesn't seem really worried about Arthur, using him like a tool instead (well, until that last bit anyway).

So most of this book is a set-up for the seventh book, Lord Sunday, which I can't wait for.  Hopefully, all the questions about Arthur and the Will and the Architect will be answered.

Lady Friday (Keys to the Kingdom 5)(audio)

Jacket:
Four of the seven Trustees have been defeated and their Keys taken, but for Arthur, the week is still getting worse. Suzy Blue and Fred Gold Numbers have been captured by the Piper, and his New Nithling army still controls most of the Great Maze. Superior Saturday is causing trouble wherever she can, including turning off all the elevators in the House and blocking the Front Door. Amidst all this trouble, Arthur must weigh an offer from Lady Friday that is either a cunning trap for the Rightful Heir or a golden opportunity he must seize - before he's beaten to it!

On the fifth day, there was fear.

Arthur continues his almost relunctact quest through the House, claiming the Keys and finding the Parts of the Will.  This time he is tricked into the Middle House by Lady Friday who claims she is abdicating her position in the House.  But Arthur must race the Piper and Superior Saturday's minions to claim the Fifth Key and he must also free the Fifth Part of the Will.  Sadly, I think that this is one of the filler books in this series.  Lady Friday never seems to poise a real threat and isn't even really present in this book.  Her vice is suppose to be Lust and I can see that, but addiction should be added to that given what she lust after (mortal feelings).  And the Will is much more bearable in this book.  While the book alternates between Arthur and Leaf, I was much less interested in Leaf's adventures this time, though she is an excellent character.

Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case

*spoilers for any of the Abhorsen books if you haven't read those first*

In this novella, Nicholas is still recovering from his possession by Orannis, the Ninth Bright Shiner.  He is brought his uncle, the Chief Minister, to a secret facility studying the Old Kingdom.  All Nicholas wants to do is return to the Old Kingdom and Lirael so he agrees to answer any questions the researcher might have.  But when a dangerous creature escapes, Nicholas does all he can to stop it before it reaches the Wall and the Old Kingdom.

"Who would not fear the power of the Nine Bright Shiners, highest of the high?"

I loved all of the Abhorsen series so when I found out about the short novella that continued the story of Nicholas Sayre, I really wanted to read it.  There is very little of Lirael and the Old Kingdom as all the action takes place in Ancelstierre, the non-magical part of this world that Nix has created.  But it was nice to see what became of Nicholas.  He was one of my favorite characters.  Even though it is short, it is amazing how well developed all the characters and the world are, but I guess that this is because the world has been explored at length in three full novels.  It was an action packed adventure with all the hallmarks of this series.  I wish there would have been more Lirael, but it was good to explore more of Nicholas' character.

Sir Thursday (Keys to the Kingdom 4)(audio)

From the book jacket:
Following their adventures in the Border Sea, Arthur and Leaf head for home. But only Leaf gets through the Front Door. Arthur is blocked because someone . . . or something . . . has assumed his identity and is taking over his life. Before Arthur can take action, he is drafted by Sir Thursday and forced to join the Glorious Army of the Architect. While Leaf tries to banish Arthur's doppelganger on earth, Arthur must survive his basic training, avoid getting posted to the Front and work out how he can free Part Four of the Will....

On the fourth day, there was war.

It's rare for a long  series to maintain a great storyline through the whole thing.  A Series of Unfortunate Events suffers from this, at 13 books not all of them are great, but the Keys to the Kingdom holds up really well.  Sir Thursday, though good, is not my favorite of all of them.  Maybe because Sir Thursday's sin  is wrath and the Will's virtue is justice and I find both Sir Thursday and Part Four of the Will to be really annoying.  I do like the exploration of the military mind and the different results of following orders despite common sense or because of it.

This is also the book where the point of view switches between Arthur and Leaf.  On my first reading, I wasn't too fond of that, but recognized that there was no other way to get the story across.  It didn't bother me this time though and I enjoyed Leaf's adventures with the Skinless Boy.  The ending is a little abrupt which will be the hallmark of the rest of the series from here on out, but there is at least some closure by the end and a great lead-in for Lady Friday.

Drowned Wednesday (Keys to the Kingdom 3) (audio)

Book jacket:
Everyone is after Arthur Penhaligon. Strange pirates. Shadowy creatures. And Drowned Wednesday, whose gluttony threatens both her world and Arthur's. With his unlimited imagination and thrilling storytelling, Garth Nix has created a character and a world that become even more compelling with each book. As Arthur gets closer to the heart of his quest, the suspense and mystery grow more and more intense. . . .

On the third day, there were pirates.

First off, let me say that Drowned Wednesday is one of my favorite in the Keys to the Kingdom series.  I love the cover for some reason, all the blues and Arthur on the bed and the whale and ship.  It all looks so mysterious.  I always love the character of Drowned Wednesday and what has happened to her.  I guess it is because she is a more sympathetic Trustee than any of the others.  I like the sea and sailing aspect of this book and the pirates too, of course.  I love how the Parts of the Will embody a virtue but also how annoying they are without something to temper their fervor such as Part Three, who embodies Faith.

More and more of the mythology and mystery to the House and the Architect is revealed although just enough to tantalize.  And Arthur is becoming a stronger, more decisive character.  This is probably an influence of his adventures as well as his contact with the Keys.  Leaf has a more active role in this one though not as much as the other books.  And Suzy is a treat as always.

Grim Tuesday (Keys to the Kingdom 2) (audio)

After defeating Mister Monday, Arthur expects 5 or 6 years of rest.  But soon he finds himself back in the House after the wily Grim Tuesday tries to use Arthur's family to obtain the First Key for himself.  So Arthur decides he had better defeat Grim Tuesday and put his world back to rights.  But to do that, he must face the Nothing of the Pit in the Lower Reaches and Grim Tuesday himself.

On the second day, there was darkness.

*highlight spoilers in white*

So the formula was set in Mister Monday and continues in Grim Tuesday.  Arthur must go into the House and find the Will that belongs to that Trustee and then defeat the Trustee to gain the Key of that part of the House.  And Suzy Turquoise Blue will show up and help at some point.  But the fun is in the details and they are so many awesome details. 

I noticed the hints and foreshadowing this time around, especially about Dame Primus and Arthur's nature in the House with the wielding of the Keys.  The introduction of the Mariner is very good and I love the literary references thrown in about him.  I did get a little tired of Arthur whining about going home, blah blah, only because I know he has to get all 7 Keys and there is no way around that.  But he acts very much like a 12 year old boy should and he is very brave and reliable and good.  And Suzy is a treat as always.  She comes through for Arthur and sticks with him and so is a very good friend.

Nix is an amazing world builder and it shows in the Keys to the Kingdom series.  I like how each part of the House is explored by Arthur so we learn more and more about the House.  And hints are dropped about the Architect and the Old One and their sons in Grim Tuesday.   But Lord Tuesday, much like Mister Monday, is sort of a throwaway villain.  He is not the real danger, but rather it is the mismanagement of the House and the breaking of the Trustees' promises and their failure to live up to the Will that is the true danger.  And I find that to be a very interesting concept especially regarding the mythology of the House and who I suspect Dame Primus to be.

Mister Monday (Keys to the Kingdom 1) (audio)

Arthur is an ordinary boy until he is chosen to become the Rightful Heir to the House, a place from which all other realms originated.   Armed only with the Lesser Key of the Lower House, Arthur must defeat Mister Monday, the Trustee who holds the power over the Lower House in order to go back to his own home and saved his world from a mysterious plague.

On the first day, Arthur should have died.

"Clearly the Old One had the capacity to kill -- or easily deliver some sort of final ending that sounded remarkably like death." 

Now I've already read what's out of the Keys to the Kingdom, but I wanted to go back and do a re-read for Lord Sunday which comes out next year (March?).  And what better way than to do an audio listen.  Allan Corduner is the narrator and he does a fantastic job.  He is also the narrator of The Book Thief which he does a great job reading as well. 

I really like Arthur.  He is a smart and sensible 12 year old boy.  He has one goal in mind: to save his town from the "Sleepy Plague" and finds that in order to do that he has to defeat Mister Monday which sets forth a chain reaction throughout the House and with the other Morrow Days.  So one action leads to many other adventures.  And I also like Susie Turquoise Blue.  She is so scrappy and funny and a good companion for Arthur.

So I'm not sure if I found any extra added details or anything but I certainly notice hints of what is to come, especially with the Will.  There are a lot of unanswered questions at the end and it sets up the series quite nicely.  There is also the beginning of the mythology of the series which is my favorite part.  The House was created by the Architect as the epicenter of the universe.  The Architect goes away and leaves parts of the House in the charge of the Trustees (collectively referred to as the Morrow Days). The Trustees were suppose to find a mortal to become the Rightful Heir of the Architect, but instead split the Will of the Architect into seven pieces and hid them throughout the House and the Secondary Realms and kept the Keys of power for themselves.  Because of this the House has fallen into disrepair until Part One of the Will escapes and makes Arthur the Rightful Heir.   And that is just the beginning.  There is much more and all kinds of literary references that make the series so fun.

Garth Nix Mini-Challenge Completed List

Post your completed lists here.  Thanks for joining!

Garth Nix Mini-Challenge Reviews

 Post your reviews here.  Enter name and title of the book + your direct url.  Thanks and happy reading!

ETA: I'll be closing this at the end of March.  I'm done and no one else seems to be participating which is fine. 

Garth Nix Mini-Challenge - My List - COMPLETE

For my part of this challenge, I'm going to re-read all the Keys to the Kingdom books.  The challenge only calls for 3 books, but I want to prepare for Lord Sunday.








1. Mister Monday
2. Grim Tuesday
3. Drowned Wednesday
4. Sir Thursday
5. Lady Friday
6. Superior Saturday

Garth Nix Mini-Challenge

One of my favorite series of all time is the Keys to the Kingdom series.  The last book, Lord Sunday, is out in March so I thought now is a good time to do a Garth Nix mini-challenge.  The challenge is to read any 3 Garth Nix books by April 30, 2010.  Easy, right?  It starts today.
To join enter your name in Mister Linky below and your challenge post.   I'll have another post for reviews.

Abhorsen - The Old Kingdom series (Audio)

The continuation of Lirael finds Lirael and Sameth, the prince of the Old Kingdom, coming to terms with their new roles. Both have set out to track and find Sam's friend Nick who is possessed by a magic being older than can be conceived. With the help of the Disreputable Dog and Moggot, two mysterious "animals," they try to prevent an unspeakable power from rising and destroying them all.

This was such a good book, such a good series. Tim Curry does an excellent job narrating and adding to the voices of all the characters. There was a little more Sabriel and Touchstone in this book, but I wish there was more. I know that there is a short story in Across the Wall and I will be reading that soon.

I am intrigued by Moggot and the Disreputable Dog and their history. Things like that always make me wish for more. And the ending was so good. It was just right and I had a couple of tears in my eyes when they make their last stand. So far I've liked everything I've read by Garth Nix (one of my absolute most favorite series is the Keys to the Kingdom) and so I'll have to read more.

Lirael - The Old Kingdom series (Audio)

It's been 20 years since the events of Sabriel and the Old Kingdom has been prosperous under the rule of King Touchstone and his Queen, the Abhorsen Sabriel. Their youngest child, Sameth, is at school in Ancelstierre when he and his cricket team are attacked by the dead. Sam is suppose to be the Abhorsen-in-waiting but the attack and his subsequent fight with the necromancer Hedge has left him unwillingly to venture into death anymore. But now his good friend has enter the Old Kingdom and Sam decides to find him and lead him through the kingdom, but dark forces are now at work.

Meanwhile, Lirael has grown up with the Clayr, the Charter mages who live in the glacier and have the gift of Sight, to see into the future. Lirael is different among the Clayr and doesn't have the Sight no matter how hard she wishes. Aided by the Disreputable Dog, Lirael begins a journey that leads to her ultimate destiny.

Told in alternating voices, I really enjoyed Lirael even more than I did Sabriel. I did find it frustrating when the point of view would switch and you'd be left hanging, but that's an old trick so I forgive it. The ending has no real resolution so I have to read Abhorsen to find out what happens and get my questions answered. I want to know about the Disreputable Dog and Mogget. What are they and what is buried under the Lightning Trap? I found that the beginning before either Sam or Lirael really got going on their journey a little boring and I wanted it to move a little quicker but the set-up turned out to be necessary for later. Also there is a lot of land descriptions which I glazed over a little. But all in all an awesome book and I immediately started on the next one.

Sabriel - The Old Kingdom series (audio)

Sabriel lives in a world divided in two, one is Ancelstierre where there is no magic and the other is the Old Kingdom which is full of magic and the dead. Her father is Abhorsen whose life purpose is to send the dead back to death and make sure they stay there. Sabriel is at boarding school in Ancelstierre when she receives her father's bells and his sword. She knows this means something has happened to him so she ventures into the Old Kingdom to find his body and try and save him. Along the way she is joined by the servent of Abhorsen, Mogget, a mysterious cat whose identity and power is unknown, and Touchstone, a free magic mage whose past is also myterious. Together, they travel deeper into the Old Kingdom to rescue Sabriel's father and defend an old evil.


One of the reason I wanted to listen to this book was because Tim Curry is the narrator. There are some people I would be willing to listen read the phonebook and he is one of them. I am also a big Garth Nix fan so I figured the combination would be a good one and I was right. I really liked Sabriel although the landscape descriptions were a little long for an audiobook. I especially liked Mogget, the cat who knows everything, and I'm interested in learning his true background which I'm sure will be explained in the sequels. Sabriel was really cool too, a strong independent woman.

This is just a side note, but when I read I tend to "see" the action in my head. It's like a little movie that plays in my head. Most books play out like live action movies but, for some reason, Sabriel was an anime in my head. The tone and style of the book just feel anime to me and I wish that if they made it a movie, they would make it anime. It would be spot-on.