Lord Sunday

I’ve finally reached the end of the series! I read this entire book in a day, and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it — the last few books weren’t my favorites, so I was dreading having just an okay ending to this series, but Last Sunday definitely doesn’t disappoint. It’s perfectly completes the series and makes those last few just-okay books worth it.

This book is basically just all action. The lines have been drawn, the war has started, and now Arthur has to figure out how to save everyone and get the will and key from Lord Sunday. Lord Sunday is the perfect “final boss” so to speak; his magic is way more powerful than the other trustees and he does not play around. He doesn’t want to give Arthur the will and does show more everything in his power to make sure he doesn’t get it. I love how Arthur is put in super difficult situations, so he needs to think of creative solutions and try his hardest. It made for a page-turning story, because I just couldn’t wait to find out how he got out of a particularly dangerous situation.

On the other side, Leaf and Suzy are fighting another war, trying to find their way to Lord Sunday’s chambers and escape from the Nothing that is quickly eating up the entire House. They come together to find their friend so they can help him with the final battle. I really enjoyed that they put their rivalry on hold to help their greater cause, though there are glimpses of it throughout their interactions.

Overall, it was suspenseful, the characters continue to be amazing and surprising, and I absolutely was NOT expecting the ending. Of course, with the description listed above and with various hints throughout the series, I knew that it wasn’t as straightforward as it all seemed, but I wasn’t expecting the entirety of it. Definitely recommend this series if you enjoy adventurous middle grade fantasies. It’s a delight.

Also posted on Purple People Readers. show less

Arthur Penhalligan was just an ordinary kid (albeit one with extraordinarily bad asthma) when he was randomly chosen to recieve the first part of the Architect's Will. Although no one expected him to be able to hang on to it (in fact, the plan was for him to expire just moments after being handed it), he not only lived, he managed to free several other parts of the Will as well. As each part is freed from its prison, the Will grows stronger and the various "trustees" of the Will grow more desperate to stop Arthur. This is the final showdown.

And what a showdown it is! Armies on the march, nuclear bombs, death-trap clocks--and Arthur has to use more and more of the Will's powers to survive it all, losing a little piece of his humanity show more every time he does. It's enthralling and enraging and fantastic.

The worlds created for this series are absolutely fascinating, from Superior Saturday's transparent and perpetually raining tower where clerks work frantically underneath umbrellas, to Drowned Wednesday's world of pirates and Raised Rats, to Tuesday's perpetual war amidst lands that move every sunrise. Arthur's world is just as interesting, because it's like an alternate universe version of our own, but with frequent pandemics and slightly futuristic tech.

The characters are another bright spot, from Arthur's solid moral center (even when it costs him and his allies) to Suzy Turquoise Blue's stubborn ability to thrive in any situation. They all felt like real people from early on, and by the end of this seven book series I felt like I knew them as well as I know anyone. In fact, I miss them. I hope Nix choses to write some short stories or something with them, because I'd snatch them up. show less

"Don't make me laugh," grumbled the Supernumerary. “You know quite well I wouldn't be here if everyone else wasn't up top, fighting
Sunday. Or down below, fighting the Piper.”
And that's only the half of it, thought Suzy, with a smile that would have annoyed the Supernumerary if he'd seen it. Superior Saturday is fighting Lord Sunday up above in the Incomparable Gardens; the Piper is fighting Superior Saturday's forces in the lower portions of the Upper House; Dame Primus is trying to hold back the Nothing that is eroding the House, while also preparing to attack Superior Saturday; Arthur hopefully by now has got Part Six of the Will and will be trying to obtain the Sixth Key...
It's all like a very complicated game, thought Suzy as show more she spun back towards the Supernumerary. I wonder if anyone really knows what's going on.

Reading the earlier books in the series I thought that things were a bit too easy for Arthur, who seemed to overcome the Morrow Days and other obstacle too easily, so I found this book a lot more exciting as Lord Sunday, the Piper and the encroaching Nothing were much stronger adversaries and Arthur and his companions really seemed to be in peril of their lives.

Arthur, Leaf and Suzy had equally large roles in the struggle against Lord Sunday and the Piper, which I liked, and new characters such as Giac, Daisy the wortbeast and especially Elephant brought a lot to the story. But once Arthur wrested the seventh key from Lord Sunday and became the New Architect, everything seemed to be wrapped up extremely quickly if rather sadly, and Arthur left what remained of the House without a backwards glance. The ending to Arthur's adventures in the House is bittersweet and downbeat rather than triumphant, and although he returns to his everyday life, nothing will ever be the same again. show less

This seventh and concluding volume in the Keys to the Kingdom series has two tasks: To wrap up the action of the first 6 books, and to depict adolescent struggles with identity and responsibility.

As to the former, there is plenty of swashbuckling, giant pointy bugs, explosions, and the like. The plot points are resolved, though some characters and their motives remain a mystery. Why, for example, have none of the Trustees done more than allude to what they fear will happen when the Will of the Architect is re-assembled?

The thematic business is captured by Arthur's shift from a human boy to an otherworldly Denizen as he uses his power. Who is Arthur, and who is Lord Arthur? This question, which has recurred throughout the series, is show more answered in Lord Sunday. As the mortal children Arthur and Leaf take on more burdens and responsibilities, they are both nostalgic for the sense of safety they experienced before these events, and willing, though not always glad, to take on adult roles. I was pleased that this included real choices and sacrifices, both developmental and interpersonal. show less

Arthur is falling to his inevitable death from Saturday's ludicrously tall tower. Saved at the last moment by the Improbable Stair, by a trick of the mind, he winds up in Sunday's garden. He is quickly captured and must figure a way to escape and find the last key and piece of the will.

Meanwhile, Nothing is invading all points of the house and soon only the Gardens will be left. War is raging between the various parts of the house as everyone tries to make their way above. Leaf is back in the realms after being acquired as a hostage by Sunday. Luckily, she is freed and joins together with Susie to do her part in the fight.

Ultimately Arthur gets the last key and the Architect finally appears. I guess the true "Will of the Architect" is show more to destroy everything. Arthur becomes the new Architect and manages to restore things to the way they were, more or less. He splits himself in two so that one part of him can return to his normal life while another part remains in the House to be "God", I guess.

I don't know what I expected but this ending is pretty disappointing. It was abrupt, unclear, and left a lot of questions unanswered. This book has always had a pretty minor sense of danger as Arthur gets more and more all-powerful. At no point is there any suspense or question about what is going to happen. Perhaps the only thing I was wondering is what Arthur was going to do once he completed his mission. The book had made in VERY CLEAR that he was a full denizen now and couldn't return to earth. But, I guess when you're the creator of the entire universe, you get to do as you like. Once again, all problems can be solved by magic! Oh well. show less

Finishing this series was kind of a relief. Towards the end, I began to wish I'd started reading it with my nephew. Initially, I thought I'd read it to see if it would be good for us to read together, but even though I think it would be and that he would like it, I don't really want to go through it again. Contrast that with a series like Harry Potter or Chronicles of Narnia, that I've read through multiple times and probably would again (you know, if Lewis wasn't a bigot and Rowling wasn't a TERF)
The series ended satisfyingly enough, but wasn't really intended for a middle-aged female reader and though I liked it for the most part, I'd recommend it more for younger readers.

The final book in the Keys to the Kingdom series starts where Superior Saturday left off - Arthur, having just wrested the sixth key from Saturday, is falling, while Leaf is still in East Area Hospital after a nuclear strike. Not fully a denizen nor mortal any longer, Arthur must battle only one more trustee to complete the Will of the Architect.

As exciting as the rest of the series, Lord Sunday wraps up everything in a fitting way that still took me completely by surprise. The ending in particular is staying in my head as I think through the implications. I think I'm going to have to go back and read the last few chapters to make sure I understood, and didn't miss anything. In retrospect, it makes the whole story arc more complicated show more than I realized. show less