For whatever reason this is probably my least favorite of the books. I think I just don’t find the Middle House as interesting, and it feels a bit like stalling for the final showdown. That said still enjoyable! ( )

It's interesting throughout the whole series, Nix has managed to combine a relatively formulaic story with new twists and weird new worlds in each and every book.

The House just keeps getting weirder. I'm not sure how it's even really a 'House' at all. I think originally it was going to be and the Tuesday and Wednesday happened...

We don't actually see much of Lady Friday; the least of any thus far. So it goes.

It's interesting to see Arthur finally accept that he's going to finish this and, to do that, he has to use the Keys. Given how narrow a margin he was on before, I was curious how long that would take.

The Will is going to be a problem...

Five down, two to go. ( )

Lady Friday has decided to give up her key to whomever gets to it first. Those involved in the race are our reluctant hero, Arthur, Superior Saturday and the Piper who entered the picture in the last book as the leader of the New Nithlings. Meanwhile, Leaf is trying to rescue her aunt and keep Friday from sucking life experiences out of elderly humans.
This wasn't my favorite. Seemed like a filler. ( )

This was kind of a strange volume of the series, as Garth Nix is starting to touch on darker subject matter and increase the danger that surrounds Arthur's quest. Arthur has to personally slay some Denizen's who attack him, and Lady Friday's addiction to "experiencing" mortal emotions show the deadly uses that the Keys can be put to. Her addict-like behavior might be considered frightening to some readers, but with Arthur's passage through the army in the previous novel is seems that he has begun to becom an adult, and must deal with increasingly adult situations. His sense of responsibility for the greater good of the universe has overridden his selfish desire to not use the keys so that he may remain human (and return home to live a normal life with his family). This might seem like a strange and sharp change from his attitude previously, but it was almost inevitable as the story is thematically a journey of growing up, and being an adult is often equated with personal sacrifice. ( )

Eons ago, the Architect of the worlds left, willing her power to whosoever was the Rightful Heir. She left behind seven of her most trusted children behind as Trustees of her Will. But the Trustees did not see any need to relinquish their power, and so they hid the Will away and kept the Keys to the Kingdom for themselves. The Trustees, also known as the Morrow Days because each controlled a single day of the week, were slowly twisted by the Keys, and their foibles and weaknesses became magnified. The House that the Architect built was slowly destroyed by their greed, sloth, and single-mindedness.

Eventually, the first part of the Will tore itself free from its binding place and forced itself upon young Arthur Penhaligan, a mortal boy from a slightly futuristic Earth. With its power and guidance, Arthur has been able to gain the keys from four of the seven Trustees. But in using the Keys, Arthur has become closer and closer to becoming a Denizen.

Having just vanquished [b:Sir Thursday|47618|Sir Thursday (The Keys to the Kingdom, #4)|Garth Nix|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1304528609s/47618.jpg|805793], Arthur recieves a letter from Lady Friday: she's abdicating, and her Key goes to whoever can find it first. It's a traaaaaap! Her plan was to have the Piper, Saturday and Arthur fight it out, and then whoever wins will get sucked into an abyss of Nothing. It almost worked, too, except that Arthur figures it out and warns the Piper. Meanwhile, she retreats to a far off planet to devote herself to her favorite hobby: sucking out the life experiences of mortals. While Leaf tries to stop her, Arthur tries to find Friday's portion of the Will. Friday's realm is a lot of fun: it's where all the paperwork happens in the House, with rivers made of parchment and a printing press so massive that Denizens take their tea time on it.

Arthur is a fantastic main character. He starts out as a very ordinary little boy, constantly asking questions and wishing he could just go home. With every book, he loses more of his naivete and innocence. After years of chronically, nearly fatally, poor health, Arthur has incredible strength of will and determination. And his parents' influence and his own empathy make him polite and fair-minded, always treating his defeated enemies well. His determination to save everyone puts him in a great deal of danger and trouble, but it makes him a joy to read. I really like the morality system underpinning this series. ( )