Customer Reviews:
Finshed too early July 25, 2008 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I have loved every single other Keys to the Kingdom book. However i was disapponited by this one after the heights reached in Thursday and Friday. My main problem was that the novel doesn't have a proper ending. There should be at least three more chapters. Also the epic battle between Saturday and Arthur fails to occur. Questions are still left unanswered. A few plot lines from the previosu books are ignored. Still it is still a good read and i'm defiantly still looking forward to reading the final instalment.
Not superior, but still pretty good July 24, 2008 "Now that it's raining more than ever Know that we'll still have each other You can stand under my umbrella You can stand under my umbrella (Ella ella eh eh eh)" - Rihanna
Book Six of the series "The Keys to the Kingdom" has the young hero Arthur Penhaligon taking on the oldest Trustee and first Denizen who just happens to be the third oldest entity in the Universe. Superior Saturday is a powerful sorceress who rules the Upper House with the help of thousands upon thousands of lesser sorcerers who do her bidding while stacked in iron framed cubicles with wire meshed floors and no ceilings.
Working conditions suck big time, what with the perpetual rainfall and all, and the job is even tougher for the "grease monkeys" who have to keep the chains and gears in working order. Promotions and demotions are physical moves, sometimes accompanied by projectiles and heckling, and job perks usually mean not much more than a different colored umbrella (ella, ella, eh eh eh)
Superior Saturday is afflicted with the sin of envy, and her sole ambition is to infiltrate the domain of Lord Sunday, through the "Incomparable Gardens". It's up to Arthur, with a little help from his friends, to rise to the top of her Babel-like Tower and secure the Sixth Key.
With this series, you need to read the books in order so as to understand what's going on. This one is very short, but is one of the least complicated as far as the convoluted links that exist between the House and its parts, namely The Lower House, The Far Reaches, The Border Sea, The Great Maze, The Middle House, The Upper House and the Incomparable Gardens. Many sub-plots are left hanging, but the major bummer is the cliff-hanger ending that leaves the reader suspended in mid-air awaiting the final book of the series.
A must-buy for fans of the series in preparation for the final showdown, but a bit lacking in substance on its own.
Amanda Richards
Worth buying July 11, 2008 3 out of 5 found this review helpful
Superior Saturday is the sixth in Garth Nix's "Keys to the Kingdom" series, so I had high expectations for it. However, whilst certainly a good book, it was perhaps a slight let down after the brilliance of the other five. As Superior Saturday as been made to seem the all-powerful enemy in the previous novels, her defeat seemed a little too easy and less dramatic than expected. The plot followed the same line as the other five, which, although undoubtedly good, has become just a little repetitive: retrieve part of the Will of the Architect, defeat the Trustee and gain the Key, and so lacked a little novelty, apart from the cliffhanger ending that, admittedly, really made me want to know what happened. Another interesting development is that Arthur finally becomes more immortal than mortal and starts struggling with thoughts of superiority, which added a new level to the story and will probably have even greater implications in the final installment. I would recommend this book to bookworms aged about eleven and above who enjoyed the other "Keys to the Kingdom" books.
Worked my way through them - for younger kids great July 11, 2008 1 out of 8 found this review helpful
I read through the Keys to the Kingdom series and would advice tehse books for would-be Darren Shan fans, they are slightly seventies/eighties in style. Not as good as the Sabriel triology I ahve to say but as I got past Monday, through to wednesday (like Craig David) I started to enjoy these books. I think Garth Nix wanted something simpler than Sabriel annd that is what he has created. These books are very cheap and can be read easily in an afternoon, enjoyable but could they be read again, I doubt it, but that's upto you. If you have read Superior Saturday or the otehrs I would suggest these products for your further reading: Sabriel Lirael Culmintaing in Abhosen, I have signed first editions of these books and re-read them in the intwer onths, as the snow beats down I am readyf or my adventures with Sabriel and especially look forward to the Disrepuatble dog. Lord Loss (Book One of The Demonata) For Keys of the Kingdom fans this shold be the next step, these books are very gory and have great descriptive parts. the demonata is actually one of the scariest foes ever. The Elements of Lore - Volume 1 of The Books of Lore: 1 As readers progress through Nix they should check out this little gem, full of magic and mayhem ready for readers after the Sabriel triology I think. I got a signed edition off one of the private sellers too!
OK July 9, 2008 0 out of 3 found this review helpful
I am a big fan of Garth Nix and this series however this book did not fully meet my expectations. It took a long time to get going and the ending did not follow the pattern of the other books, which i perceived 2 be a bad thing. The book finished too soon in my opinion.
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