Keys to the Kingdom, Book 1: Mister Monday by Garth Nix

[katekintailbc]

Keys to the Kingdom, Book 1: Mister Monday
by Garth Nix
(Audio)

This is a book I've had cross my path a few times and it's always looked good, but I only just got out of the library to read.

There were a number of times while earreading this book that I felt like I could have written it myself. It had a lot of elements I enjoyed and the execution was enjoyable and engaging. It was a fun story about a kid who suddenly finds that he is the weilder of a powerful tool that not only allows him to heal and breathe, but does amazing things that might save the world.

While his town is suffering from something called the "sleepy plague," Arthur is one of only a few who can see what the real threat is and he is, apparently, the only one able to do anything to stop it. He manages to escape quarentine and venture into a house that is mysterious and stands as sort of a doorway to another realm where time is different and magic is very real. The result is a cleverly created world, an important quest, and a series of plot twists where you just can't help but root for the guy's success. There is some clever wordplay, as the concept of the archetect's will actually comes to life and starts dictating the world. It's a little bit mythos, a little bit magic, and a lot of cleverness. I really enjoyed all the elements from the Improbable Stair to the keys, which are the hands of a clock.

Seven days. Seven keys. Seven virtues. Seven sins.
This story seems to have wrapped up in quite a satisfying way. I can't imagine how the rest of the series is even possible. But I'm definitely going to track down the others in this series and read them.

Comments

[melydia.livejournal.com]

Nix is one author I've been meaning to check out but just haven't gotten around to. Sounds like this is a good one to start with.

[katekintail.livejournal.com]

I remember I had two or three from this series that I released on the book buffet at our convention, in hopes that the high school music competition kids might take them. I was tempted to keep them for myself, but I enjoyed this on audio, so it's just as well. I definitely liked it. Wasn't as epic or clear a quest as some JFIC or YA out there, so there were a couple slower moments. But the creativity made up for it. It was fun :-)