Seven days. Seven keys. Seven virtues. Seven sins. One mysterious house is the doorway to a very mysterious world -- where one boy is about to vent...
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Dec 16, 2009
katie
rated it: 
Okay, so I was all set to love this book. Like REALLY LOVE IT. I picked it up a few weeks ago but had to return it to the library, but because I was so SET TO LOVE IT etc., I went out and bought my own copy to take to New Zealand.
:|
I just didn't believe a bit of it. I thought the dialogue was rubbish. Arthur came across really nothingy to me. I loved the actual concepts, but it felt badly executed. I'm bothered, because it could've been so fantastic, and I heard an interv More...
:|
I just didn't believe a bit of it. I thought the dialogue was rubbish. Arthur came across really nothingy to me. I loved the actual concepts, but it felt badly executed. I'm bothered, because it could've been so fantastic, and I heard an interv More...
2 comments
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(7 people liked it)
Dec 02, 2007
Res
rated it: 
The one where dangerously asthmatic Arthur gains possession of a clock hand that embroils him in a conflict with supernatural agents -- one that takes the form of a strange journey in one realm, and a deadly plague in another.
This was wildly original and yet also boring, which takes some doing. Part of the trouble was the writing, which was often clunky and weighed down with unnecessary details. Part of it was the plotting; sometimes the rules and complications were just right, but o More...
This was wildly original and yet also boring, which takes some doing. Part of the trouble was the writing, which was often clunky and weighed down with unnecessary details. Part of it was the plotting; sometimes the rules and complications were just right, but o More...
3 comments
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(6 people liked it)
Jun 10, 2011
Anila
rated it: 
It's Garth Nix. Was there ever a chance I wouldn't like it?
That said, I wouldn't have read this book - let alone bought it - if not for a glowing recommendation from the great and wonderful Cillian/BB. And so here's a big thank-you to her, because while my mind wasn't (quite) blown, I am glad not to have missed out on what seems a fantastic series.
My primary reservation about the Keys to the Kingdom series is its target age group - and yes, I know that's silly, because More...
That said, I wouldn't have read this book - let alone bought it - if not for a glowing recommendation from the great and wonderful Cillian/BB. And so here's a big thank-you to her, because while my mind wasn't (quite) blown, I am glad not to have missed out on what seems a fantastic series.
My primary reservation about the Keys to the Kingdom series is its target age group - and yes, I know that's silly, because More...
10 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Dec 16, 2009
Sarah
rated it:
Mister Monday is the first book in a 7-part series (one for each day of the week). The first five books are currently available. I was dubious about reading this book because I thought it would be another Harry Potter rip-off. Its turned out to be a quite an exciting read. Young teenage boy becomes a "chosen one" of sorts, and needs to avoid destruction while gaining power over part of "The House", a place where all worlds meet and should be ruled over by laws put More...
Feb 19, 2009
Karen
rated it:
All in all a good read. With the idea that there are other realms that can and do have connection to this life isn't a new idea. The way in which it is presented however is new. As Arthur finds out that sometimes you have to do the hard things in life not only for yourself but for others, he discovers his own growth.
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Jan 14, 2011
Gina
rated it:
Had to hang on to my hat to keep up with what was happening. Very fanciful, but very fun. Quite adventurous and unique. Enjoyed the series.
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(2 people liked it)
Mar 20, 2010
Jamie
rated it:
I'm not sure what to say about this book. I liked it enough that I'm planning on reading the second in the series, but I don't really know why. It was a little bit tough to get through the first half (maybe more) but I perservered and the story seemed to grow on me. That being said, I don't feel the author did a great job of helping the reader to identify, or even care about, the main character(s). I guess the mysteriousness of "The Will" has me intrigued and I've liked other books
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Jan 08, 2012
Liz
rated it: 
Arthur Penhaligon (and that just has to be a reference to the Arthurian legend) is just an average kid with bad asthma, until he has an attack that nearly kills him and suddenly finds himself a big player in a world that exists outside reality as he knows it.
Arthur's Earth is one set in the future to begin with, which is a bit hard to follow through his reflections on previous events, but it gets even more confusing when he receives on of the Keys and finds the House that is a gateway More...
Arthur's Earth is one set in the future to begin with, which is a bit hard to follow through his reflections on previous events, but it gets even more confusing when he receives on of the Keys and finds the House that is a gateway More...
Dec 16, 2011
Harold
rated it:
The book starts off great, and then devolves into very dull and pedestrian YA fiction. I bought it from our local used book shop on the strength of the first several pages, in which the world is established. The beginning reads like a saga or a good role-playing session: there is an incredibly powerful artifact called the Will which must never be used but cannot be destroyed. So the powers that be have split the Will into seven parts, and scattered those seven parts across all of creation. We se
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(1 person liked it)
Nov 25, 2011
Stephanie
rated it:
This is the first book in a series of seven. Young Arthur Penhaligon is on the verge of dying when he is unwittingly saved and dragged into a powerplay at the center of the Universe. In the highly imaginative world created by Garth Nix a Wonderland-esque House resides at the center of the universe with its various parts be ruled over by the 7 days. Each of these rulers represents a day and also seems to somewhat loosely be linked with one of the 7 cardinal sins. Mister Monday is Sloth. There
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Sep 16, 2011
John
rated it:
I recognised the author's name, although I haven't read any of his stuff before. I didn't realise that this was intended to be a children's book, and there are some books in that genre which also appeal to adults (e.g. Harry Potter), but that wasn't the case here. It passed the time, but it's nothing special, and I certainly won't pay for the rest of the series.
This book involves a stock plot: a young boy discovers that he's "The Chosen One", so he now has special talents w More...
This book involves a stock plot: a young boy discovers that he's "The Chosen One", so he now has special talents w More...
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Aug 29, 2011
Kelly
rated it:
This was a weird book. I wanted to like it--it was recommended by a friend who I'd asked for fantasy/urban fantasy/male narrator. He delivered. I just wasn't sold. It happened so fast. Beginnings, novels that are a transition between normalcy into "yer a wizard, Harry," moments seem to move too fast for me. Arthur was like BOOM in this world all of a sudden and he never stopped. Literally, he moved constantly. All the dialogue was rushed, the action was rushed. I did like the actual wr
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Aug 04, 2011
Amanda
rated it:
My relationship with Australian author Garth Nix is an odd one. My first introduction to Nix was in middle school when I attempted to read his famous Sabriel novel after being relentlessly urged to do so by friends. I couldn't get further than one hundred pages. It was so excruciatingly boring that I had to stop -and I rarely give up on books that after I've begun them. Considering my taste in literature, Nix's books should fit perfectly with my preferences, but something about them just falls s
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Aug 04, 2011
Jen
rated it:
This was an interesting bag to me. My 10-y-o brought this audiobook home, and I ended up listening to it in the car. While this has a fast-moving, exciting plot, it also has some disturbing and dark elements. Is it a YA or a children's novel? There were some really scary parts and also a character who is tortured daily that just didn't jibe in a book for these audiences. The fact is that I am the only one of all the listeners in the car who thought it was worth finishing.
There are More...
There are More...
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Jul 04, 2011
Jenleigh
rated it:
The Good:
Mister Monday took me into a unique world. As a crooked trustee and ruler of Monday, Mister Monday was a well developed bad guy. As a boy hero, Arthur is unsure of himself, his position as heir to a kingdom he'd never heard of and always on the brink of death due to his asthma. Nix breathes life into a fantasy realm with established rules governing it and a contemporary/futuristic world that is falling apart due to trustee interference. Absolutely loved this book and didn't put it More...
Mister Monday took me into a unique world. As a crooked trustee and ruler of Monday, Mister Monday was a well developed bad guy. As a boy hero, Arthur is unsure of himself, his position as heir to a kingdom he'd never heard of and always on the brink of death due to his asthma. Nix breathes life into a fantasy realm with established rules governing it and a contemporary/futuristic world that is falling apart due to trustee interference. Absolutely loved this book and didn't put it More...
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Mar 24, 2011
Kaitlyn
rated it: 
I've been a fan of fantasy books since I was little, and I kind of picked this book up on an impulse. The description sounded interesting, and I thought it would be something I liked. Of course, I did. The entire series mystifies me, I just love it.
The protagonist, Arthur Penhaligon, is a normal kid with asthma. He's pretty much an outcast, totally new to the school he has just transferred to. Unfortunately for him, just before lunch every day there is a marathon run that the entire schoo More...
The protagonist, Arthur Penhaligon, is a normal kid with asthma. He's pretty much an outcast, totally new to the school he has just transferred to. Unfortunately for him, just before lunch every day there is a marathon run that the entire schoo More...
Mar 04, 2011
Eric
rated it:
king to te kingdom is about a boy named Arthur penhaligon who just moved to a ne town. He has to go to a completely new school, he's adopted, and hes very asthmatic and has serious asthma attacks.One day at his new school he was attending p.e Arthur collapses from an asthma attack. when two students from his class Ed and Leaf go to get help he is visited by two men. Mr. Monday and his servent sneezer, who have come to Arthur to give him a object only because by doing so because Mr. Monday can so
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Oct 08, 2010
Ryn
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Sep 15, 2010
Mr
rated it:
hey hey hey book worms
i heart grim tuesday, well not the grim but the book soo much. accualy i do heart him hed be so hot. except i hate ather he wont take the key and he thinks eh has to.
but i dont see how every thing is nothing. thinking about it hurts my head.
allwell
if u had nothing to make any thing u want wat would u do with it??
if i had nothing to do wat ever i had with it id build a city out of it and it would have a giant water fountain in the heart More...
i heart grim tuesday, well not the grim but the book soo much. accualy i do heart him hed be so hot. except i hate ather he wont take the key and he thinks eh has to.
but i dont see how every thing is nothing. thinking about it hurts my head.
allwell
if u had nothing to make any thing u want wat would u do with it??
if i had nothing to do wat ever i had with it id build a city out of it and it would have a giant water fountain in the heart More...
Aug 15, 2010
Aeslis
rated it:
I have to admit that after reading the Abhorsen series, I was looking forward to this series. Sabriel was great and sucked me in, no problem. Keys to the Kingdom, on the other hand, not so much.
One of my first issues with the book is that it over-explained. I wasn't shown the information, I didn't gather it as I read: it was just plopped down for me. The most obvious example of this was chapter two. There was a paragraph about his mother's background, then one about his father's More...
One of my first issues with the book is that it over-explained. I wasn't shown the information, I didn't gather it as I read: it was just plopped down for me. The most obvious example of this was chapter two. There was a paragraph about his mother's background, then one about his father's More...
Jul 18, 2010
Frishawn
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jun 11, 2010
Sitti
rated it:
I was wary of picking up a different book series written by Garth Nix (I've completed The Abhorsen Series quite some time ago) because I have had experiences where other authors disappoint after attempting to write an entirely new series after ending a previous one. I was mentally prepared for a little bit of a let down and undergo more Old Kingdom like storyline.
What I wasn't prepare for was the fact that I got completely blown off my feet by Mister Monday. I did not expect such a f More...
What I wasn't prepare for was the fact that I got completely blown off my feet by Mister Monday. I did not expect such a f More...
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Jun 08, 2010
The one where dangerously asthmatic Arthur gains possession of a clock hand that embroils him in a conflict with supernatural agents -- one that takes the form of a strange journey in one realm, and a deadly plague in another. Arthur gets involved in the supernatural doings in a way that's even more accidental than it usually is in these kinds of books -- the object is quite literally put in his hand by someone he doesn't know, and after that happens, he lets us know that he's often gotten in tr
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Jan 29, 2010
Rachael
rated it:
Arthur Penhaligon is the kind of boy who doesn’t ordinarily stand out except for his medical condition. That’s precisely why he’s picked. So on the day he suffers from what’s supposed to be a fatal asthma attack, he receives a strange visitation and an even stranger gift—a key shaped like the minute hand of a clock. It’s because of the key that Arthur doesn’t die, but not all is well in the world anymore. Arthur is being pursued by strange and otherworldy creatures that cause a puzzling malady e
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Nov 24, 2009
Molly
rated it:
I'm not exactly the one that picks up a fantasy novel and thinks I'm going to enjoy it. When I first started reading the book, I was bored and didn't think I would find myself getting through to the ending. I had to change my maturity level and pretend that I was younger and involved in the fantasy of the book.
The book tells about a young kid, Arthur, that has posession of a key that looks like a clock hand. Throughout the book, he is being naive and giving in to other characters and Arth More...
The book tells about a young kid, Arthur, that has posession of a key that looks like a clock hand. Throughout the book, he is being naive and giving in to other characters and Arth More...
Jun 18, 2009
Maureen
rated it:
Mister Monday - Book One of the Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix. (Fantasy; Young Adult)
Reason for Reading? After not really enjoying Jim Butcher's work, I wanted to read something that was both light and that I knew I'd enjoy. I knew this book fit the criteria. Also, I read this book almost five years ago now, in my first year of university. I have not, however, read the following books in the series, despite the fact that books two and three have been sitting neglected More...
Reason for Reading? After not really enjoying Jim Butcher's work, I wanted to read something that was both light and that I knew I'd enjoy. I knew this book fit the criteria. Also, I read this book almost five years ago now, in my first year of university. I have not, however, read the following books in the series, despite the fact that books two and three have been sitting neglected More...
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Jun 13, 2009
Hilarie
rated it:
This was not my first Garth Nix novel. I whole-heartedly enjoyed the Abhorsen Trilogy. So I was very intrigued when this book came to my attention. I immediately checked it out from the library and gave it a whirl. After a complete reading, I have decided that this series isn't for me. To provide another viewpoint, I am posting a link to the review that got me interested in the book in the first place, here.
Mister Monday (the first in the Keys to the Kingdom series) is the story More...
Mister Monday (the first in the Keys to the Kingdom series) is the story More...
Jun 04, 2009
Taco
rated it:
The Keys to the Kingdom
By: Garth Nix
Reviewed by: Terran Cox
I have never been to high school. I’ve never been through a horrible plague that threatens to kill everyone in my city. I have never held a magic key before. And I have never traveled in a fantasy house that depends on me to save all the people that inhabit the house from an evil king while tying to find a cure for back home. But Arthur Penhaligon has in this fictional book called The Keys to th More...
Apr 24, 2009
Marsha
rated it:
A fun and interesting first book of seven in a series. Kind of a science fiction/fantasy type. Arthur Penhaligon is an asthmatic seventh grader who is suddenly visited by beings from another dimension and given part of a key--the minute hand of a clock--and an atlas. Mister Monday, who has usurped power and taken over the rule of Mondays, had been tricked into giving up this key to Arthur, and starts sending his minions to try and get it back. Arthur is charged with the responsibility of taking
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