The ending didn't really exude the sense of story self-containment which the other books in this series have. Ok, it could be argued that none of the stories are self-contained. However the last page in this volume, far more than the others, felt like it was simply a cliff-hanging pause between the last two books and that Lord Sunday would pick up a moment later. The other reason I marked it down - though in some respects this is hardly fair - is that there's really no doubt anymore that Arthur is going to get the next Key by the end of the book. There's a certain level of suspense lacking.These aside, this was a very enjoyable excursion into the envious world of Superior Saturday. All her sorcerors - thousands of them in bureaucratic array - are working in an open grid tower which is steadily growing higher. They're working in the rain and each have a colour-coded umbrella, according to their station. They also each have a green-shaded banker's lamp lighting up their work.It's Saturday's desire to punch through the roof above this tower into the Incomparable Gardens of Lord Sunday, a demense she feels she should have been awarded as the eldest child of the Architect. The problem is that the rain makes the supporting drasil trees grow, pushing the Incomparable Gardens ever higher. And pushing them away faster than Saturday's minions can build the tower. But Saturday's got a plan. By allowing the Nothing to invade and get to the drasil (cute allusion to Yggdrasil) trees, then their growth will be arrested and she'll be able to punch through the bottom of the gardens with a sorcerous rocket.Yes, it's Superior Saturday who has been behind all the intrusions of the Nothing into the various parts of the House. Now, with it almost destroyed, her plan has come to fruition - to invade the Incomparable Gardens and take back that which should always have been hers by right.In fact, Superior Saturday hardly appears at all in this book: however her machinations have been so much behind all the events of the previous books, she is a dominating figure nonetheless.Arthur once more is up to the challenge of finding the Sixth Part of the Will - a clever, clever touch in hiding it this time - and the Sixth Key, Superior Saturday's quill.
This series is up there with Harry Potter, on my scale. Which is saying something.I think that this is the best book in the series so far, and Drowned Wednesday was pretty damn good, in my opinion.Superior Saturday herself has taken the place of my favourite character soon after the prologue of Superior Saturday. I believe she is as well characterized as Wednesday or Tuesday; two of the other Trustees that I felt actually had a real personality.You get the feeling that she and Sunday had known eachother at one point, even been close friends. I believe that they still might have been in contact at this point, given the note in Lady Friday that it is revealed Sunday sent to Saturday.Crazy as it seems, I'm going to throw this out there: I think that Superior Saturday once loved Lord Sunday.Now, I don't think everyone else has voiced this theory, at least in these reviews of the book. But it isn't that far-fetched, if you think about it. Wednesday and Saturday were friends, so why couldn't she have loved Sunday, as well?There were a few parts that I thought might have indicated this. One of them being how she always looked up at the sky, and the other being the quote "Sunday immures himself in the Gardens, and cares not for anything else."Well, really, that struck me as being said quickly, with a bit of venom in her voice.Am I the only one that thinks this?At the end of Superior Saturday, the question is posed that if Sunday joined the grand battle, which side would it be on? This would be the final battle between Saturday's forces, Arthur's, and the Piper's. Certainly it wouldn't be on Arthur's side, nor the Piper's.And that is what puzzles me. If you were to think it through, the most logical thing would be for him to side with Saturday, despite them being viewed as enemies.If the Sixth Key was really claimed by Arthur(we have no way of knowing yet), then Saturday would be considerably less powerful, and her defenses would not hold up for much longer.So wouldn't it be better, make him stronger to call off the beetles, rescue Saturday, and have her forces join with his?Of course, we can question Lord Sunday's motives at this point, as his book hasn't come out yet.It will be interesting to see.
Do You like book Superior Saturday (2008)?
Superior Saturday is the reason the House is collapsing. She wants to reach the Incomparable Gardens (Lord Sunday's Realm) and fight him for it, for she believes it is rightfully hers. She's building a tower in the Upper House, building it high enough to reach the Gardens. But no matter how fast she builds, the Drasil trees that hold up the Garden grow faster, and she cannot reach them. So, in order to finally reach them, she has let loose the Nothing on the House, therefore ruining the roots of the Drasil trees to slow and stop their growth so that she can finally achieve her goal.Once again, Arthur is out to free the Will and claim the Key. He has passed the point of no return with his mortality, he cannot go back home. Back at home, the East Area Hospital has been declared a Plague Nexus, and is about to be nuked. Leaf, still in Lady Friday's "hospital" is trying to save as many people as she can, since Arthur froze time at two minutes to midnight, but it's slowly going back to normal. Can she save Friday's would-be victims?I love the world of this series. I quite enjoy the creativity of the House and the Denizens, and I do enjoy the fact that it all kind of makes sense in this world. However, as Arthur is losing his identity, it's getting harder and harder to relate and cheer for him. I find myself rooting more for Suzy Turquoise Blue and Leaf than for Arthur. It seems to be the same story for him: find the will, claim the key, imprison the Trustees, who keep mysteriously dying.
—Natasha
My god. Perhaps the greatest one so far. And there was me being all scared because the last one was crap. Nix, you do not disappoint! (again)So. Our dear author has decided to dash the successful formulaic system that was one of the signatures of The Keys to the Kingdom: The Sixth Key was not claimed, Saturday was not defeated. The book ends on a real cliffhanger this time, not just leading onto the next book. I wonder at this point about Sunday's intentions. He could be like Wednesday; willing.
—Loren
August 12th 2008 by Listening Library (Audio) binding Audio CD isbn 0739373641 (isbn13: 9780739373644) description On the sixth day, there was sorcery.Arthur Penhaligan has wrested five of the Keys from their immortal guardians, the Trustees of the Will. ...more [close] On the sixth day, there was sorcery.Arthur Penhaligan has wrested five of the Keys from their immortal guardians, the Trustees of the Will. But gaining the Sixth Key poses a greater challenge than any he has faced before. Superior Saturday is not just one of the Trustees – she is also the oldest Denizen and the most powerful and knowledgeable sorcerer within the House. She has tens of thousands of sorcerers at her command, and she has been preparing her forces all along for the Will’s escape and the activities of the Rightful Heir. As Saturday’s schemes become evident, Arthur is beset on all sides. The House is being destroyed, and only the power of the Keys can hold back the tide of destruction. Arthur’s home city is under attack. His allies are unreliable. He can’t even get into the apparently impregnable Upper House . . . and even if he does, finding the Sixth Part of the Will and gaining the Sixth Key might not be enough to counter Saturday’s bid for ultimate power. Can Arthur survive? [close]
—Shippseattle
