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The Keys to the Kingdom #1-7
The Keys to the Kingdom
Please Note That The Following Individual Books As Per Original ISBN and Cover Image In this Listing shall be Dispatched
The Keys to the Kingdom Complete Series Books 1 - 7 Collection Set by Garth
Mister
Arthur Penhaligon is a normal teenage boy, trying to fit in at school. But when he suffers a serious asthma attack, his life is unexpectedly saved by two strange characters who appear out of nowhere - and a key shaped like the minute hand of a clock.
Grim
Arthur must retrieve the Second Key from Grim Tuesday in order to save everything - an adventure that will force him to steal a sunship, survive a very weird work camp, befriend a bearlike spirit, and fight the void Nithlings.
Drowned
Wednesday has rolled around, and Arthur Penhaligon has an invitation to return to the house that he can't refuse. Drowned Wednesday has sent a ship to pick him up from the hospital...
Sir
IT'S THURSDAY. Following their adventure on the Border Sea, Arthur and Leaf are set on heading home. But only Leaf can make it through the Front Door.
Lady
Four of the seven trustees have been defeated and their Keys taken, but for Arthur Penhaligon, the week is still getting worse. His friends have been captured by the Piper, and the New Nithling army still controls most of the Great Maze.
Superior
Arthur Penhaglion has wrested five of the Keys from the Trustees of the Will, but gaining the Sixth Key poses a greater challenge than any before.
Lord
The house is falling apart, and when it is destroyed, all existence will be destroyed with it. Arthur Penhaligon and his friends Leaf and Suzy are caught in the chaos, separated by events but drawn together in their fight to survive.
The Keys to the Kingdom Complete Series Books 1 - 7 Collection Set by Garth
Mister
Arthur Penhaligon is a normal teenage boy, trying to fit in at school. But when he suffers a serious asthma attack, his life is unexpectedly saved by two strange characters who appear out of nowhere - and a key shaped like the minute hand of a clock.
Grim
Arthur must retrieve the Second Key from Grim Tuesday in order to save everything - an adventure that will force him to steal a sunship, survive a very weird work camp, befriend a bearlike spirit, and fight the void Nithlings.
Drowned
Wednesday has rolled around, and Arthur Penhaligon has an invitation to return to the house that he can't refuse. Drowned Wednesday has sent a ship to pick him up from the hospital...
Sir
IT'S THURSDAY. Following their adventure on the Border Sea, Arthur and Leaf are set on heading home. But only Leaf can make it through the Front Door.
Lady
Four of the seven trustees have been defeated and their Keys taken, but for Arthur Penhaligon, the week is still getting worse. His friends have been captured by the Piper, and the New Nithling army still controls most of the Great Maze.
Superior
Arthur Penhaglion has wrested five of the Keys from the Trustees of the Will, but gaining the Sixth Key poses a greater challenge than any before.
Lord
The house is falling apart, and when it is destroyed, all existence will be destroyed with it. Arthur Penhaligon and his friends Leaf and Suzy are caught in the chaos, separated by events but drawn together in their fight to survive.
Unknown Binding
First published October 1, 2009
10 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
About the author
Garth Nix
236 books14.9k followersGarth Nix was born in 1963 in Melbourne, Australia, to the sound of the Salvation Army band outside playing 'Hail the Conquering Hero Comes' or possibly 'Roll Out the Barrel'. Garth left Melbourne at an early age for Canberra (the federal capital) and stayed there till he was nineteen, when he left to drive around the UK in a beat-up Austin with a boot full of books and a Silver-Reed typewriter.
Despite a wheel literally falling off the Austin, Garth survived to return to Australia and study at the University of Canberra. After finishing his degree in 1986 he worked in a bookshop, then as a book publicist, a publisher's sales representative, and editor. Along the way he was also a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve, serving in an Assault Pioneer platoon for four years. Garth left publishing to work as a public relations and marketing consultant from 1994-1997, till he became a full-time writer in 1998. He did that for a year before joining Curtis Brown Australia as a part-time literary agent in 1999. In January 2002 Garth went back to dedicated writer again, despite his belief that full-time writing explains the strange behaviour of many authors.
He now lives in Sydney with his wife, two sons and lots of books.
Despite a wheel literally falling off the Austin, Garth survived to return to Australia and study at the University of Canberra. After finishing his degree in 1986 he worked in a bookshop, then as a book publicist, a publisher's sales representative, and editor. Along the way he was also a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve, serving in an Assault Pioneer platoon for four years. Garth left publishing to work as a public relations and marketing consultant from 1994-1997, till he became a full-time writer in 1998. He did that for a year before joining Curtis Brown Australia as a part-time literary agent in 1999. In January 2002 Garth went back to dedicated writer again, despite his belief that full-time writing explains the strange behaviour of many authors.
He now lives in Sydney with his wife, two sons and lots of books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 17, 2012
This is without a doubt my favorite book series. I read the first four books in middle school and when I got to high school they were no where to be seen. I could no longer check them out from the middle school library and they were available nowhere else where I live. Finally managed to get the 5th book through booksamillion and ordered the 6th online. By the time the 7th was released they had finally begun greater circulation and I got mine at a regular store. Great series for anyone. Has complex words and concepts but if you like it enough it's easy to figure out. Great supernatural story with all the attraction of the Percy Jackson series:)
January 10, 2013
Garth Nix has GOT to be one of my most favorite storytellers of all time (I do have a long list of favorites.. But he is exceptional) this series made me non-stop devour these books and swallow them whole.
His characters are often very believable and he writes with humor. His worlds are often creepy and intriguing, and the plots are often so well developed, you wish you were there.
This series just made me want to keep on reading one after the other just so I could find out what comes next even though I've read them numerous times.
I know this isn't much for a review.. But they are honest thoughts. Any fantasy enthusiast really MUST read Garth Nix, he will probably be right up your alley.
His characters are often very believable and he writes with humor. His worlds are often creepy and intriguing, and the plots are often so well developed, you wish you were there.
This series just made me want to keep on reading one after the other just so I could find out what comes next even though I've read them numerous times.
I know this isn't much for a review.. But they are honest thoughts. Any fantasy enthusiast really MUST read Garth Nix, he will probably be right up your alley.
May 17, 2022
Great books there are seven of them and each is named after a day of the week. The main plot has a 13 year old boy who lives a very normal life getting sucked into the place where all was created this place is known as the house. After he almost died of asthma mister monday accidently gave him half of the first key to the house. As Arthur (the main character) battles his way through the house and collects all the keys. He becomes the master of the universe. Then knowing what he truly wants he recreates a destroyed world back to the way it was. Then he released a part of himself so he could live a normal life on earth, lying to this part of himself that was mortal.
December 10, 2021
En concreto, está saga de libros es de las más epicardas que me eh leído en toda mi vida, la llevo en mi corazón con un recuerdo dulce , y con un final magistral, a todos los que estén leyendo, no paren, tuve que leermelo todo 2 veces para quedar satisfecho, en general, me identifico con Arthur, y es uno de los personajes más inspiradores ( a pesar de ser ficticio) con los que me eh topado. Grácias Garth Nix, ahora solo faltan las pelis.😃
March 12, 2019
This is not the best Garth Nix. I was pretty tired by Thursday. Oddly, I remember quite a few details, so it must be vividly written -- and I'm still mourning a lost elephant.
Read with twizzlers.
Read with twizzlers.
July 9, 2019
These were fun, light, reads.
April 6, 2023
I need to he washed between the ears so I can enjoy reading them all again without knowing the end
September 13, 2023
Greatly enjoyed this series as a kid
August 14, 2024
mister freaky.... moral of the story is dont have asthma???? i liked it
August 15, 2024
Favorite series growing up, incredible world building and beautiful metaphor for creation building.
January 23, 2025
UNDERRATED SERIES!!!!
April 20, 2013
I am currently reading another series that my son Lucas has read, and I can tell you this is the most complex series that I've ever read for a child and I've never read anything quite like it. There are references to myths (including creation myths), the Bible, history, with allegory and symbolism thrown it. It is packed with stuff!
But first, a bit about the series.
The story is about a boy, Arthur Penhaligon (reminiscent of what legend again?), who, in the midst of an asthma attack is handed a key. He finds out he is the rightful heir to a will which has been broken into 7 pieces by it's 7 trustees, each of whom wields a key and a piece of the will. Arthur has to retrieve the keys and the pieces of the will one book at a time. Garth Nix has put no limit to his imagination.
I liked it, but found the world very complex and confusing and I couldn't believe that my son actually read through the detail on this. I liked that Arthur had doubts but kept trying to do the right thing even though it was hard. Some reviewers found that so much time was spent developing the world that the characters suffered and I agree to some extent. I would recommend this as YA.
Why is it complex? Here is a smidgeon (from books one and two)
The House was created out of Nothing by the architect and time works differently in the House
Mister Monday (one of the trustees), has a Dawn, Noon and Dusk that can do his bidding
Monday's Noon has a silver tongue and is very persuasive
The Old One is the enemy of the Architect (perhaps God vs Satan or good vs evil?)
There exists the improbable stair - you only have to imagine that one exists where there is none, except it may stop at any point(in place or time) and you can't get on again. Normal writers would have stopped at just having to imagine the stair. Garth Nix gives us a history lesson.
Not only are the trustees the 7 days of the week, it seems they represent the 7 cardinal sins (right now I am reading Drowned Wednesday which looks like it is about the sin of gluttony).
Avoirdupois. I don't think I need say any more. And if you've heard that word before, then you have to be over 40.
So to all my readers who may be doing a Master's or PhD thesis/dissertation in children's literature, this is definitely a series that should be on your list.
But first, a bit about the series.
The story is about a boy, Arthur Penhaligon (reminiscent of what legend again?), who, in the midst of an asthma attack is handed a key. He finds out he is the rightful heir to a will which has been broken into 7 pieces by it's 7 trustees, each of whom wields a key and a piece of the will. Arthur has to retrieve the keys and the pieces of the will one book at a time. Garth Nix has put no limit to his imagination.
I liked it, but found the world very complex and confusing and I couldn't believe that my son actually read through the detail on this. I liked that Arthur had doubts but kept trying to do the right thing even though it was hard. Some reviewers found that so much time was spent developing the world that the characters suffered and I agree to some extent. I would recommend this as YA.
Why is it complex? Here is a smidgeon (from books one and two)
The House was created out of Nothing by the architect and time works differently in the House
Mister Monday (one of the trustees), has a Dawn, Noon and Dusk that can do his bidding
Monday's Noon has a silver tongue and is very persuasive
The Old One is the enemy of the Architect (perhaps God vs Satan or good vs evil?)
There exists the improbable stair - you only have to imagine that one exists where there is none, except it may stop at any point(in place or time) and you can't get on again. Normal writers would have stopped at just having to imagine the stair. Garth Nix gives us a history lesson.
Not only are the trustees the 7 days of the week, it seems they represent the 7 cardinal sins (right now I am reading Drowned Wednesday which looks like it is about the sin of gluttony).
Avoirdupois. I don't think I need say any more. And if you've heard that word before, then you have to be over 40.
So to all my readers who may be doing a Master's or PhD thesis/dissertation in children's literature, this is definitely a series that should be on your list.
May 2, 2011
The keys to the kingdom is one of the series by Garth Nix who is also the author of Sabriel.It is about a boy called Arthur Peha---(Forgot how the name is spelt)one day a handsome man and his sevant came to his school when he was having a asthma attack.They gave him what looked liked a minite clock hand object and then the asthma was gone-for the moment.It was what they called the keys.In the story,Arthur was suppose to suffer an early death.But the power of the keys had saved him somehow.He than finds him self in danger when the person in the wheelchair before,Mister Monday wants it back.Now he will do anything to get the keys back.Including destroying Earth and all the people in it.He finds out about the house.The true and the first unniverse created by a god(or a person)called the Artchitect.The earth was the secondary realms.But now his friends and family is in danger,Arthur must defeat Mister Monday,get the hour hand and get back to earth as if nothing has happened.But a deadly plague is spreading on earth by magic and he must acheive his goals before a pandimic occurs after the epidamic.This series is one of my favourite series because there is lots of actions and characters.Even though I really liked it,I gave it 4 stars because it always didn't have a twist end in the end of the books.But it is still pretty good.I recommend this book for 10+ because there's digusting scenes like blood and sludge,but it is a good series.
January 27, 2014
I'll be honest. I haven't read Lord Sunday yet. I almost grabbed it at Half Price Books last week and now I kind of wish I had? Anyways, I love these books. They were a bit confusing at times though, especially when everyone is talking over Arthur's head about things they expect him to just KNOW about the house. That got a bit irritating, for me and for Arthur. I did find that as a new book came out, I had to go back and re-read the previous ones in order to remember everything that's going on. Maybe that's why I haven't read Lord Sunday yet. It's been 5 years since I read Superior Saturday and that's six books to re-read again when I've still got a stack of books that I haven't even read yet... ANYWAYS.
July 20, 2014
I read this when I was in middle-school/elementary school (horray for reviews by the targeted age group!) and I LOVED IT. Which isn't to say it didn't freak me out. Don't get me wrong, this entire series is on drugs. The main character has a conversation with Grim Tuesday's sentient eyebrow, and if you don't think that's trippy, get out.
But seriously, the ambiance for this series is lovely. It's dark and intriguing, especially to young readers. The way the atmosphere and plot builds and concludes pretty much blew my twelve-year-old mind. I don't know how I would like it now, but for juvenile fiction it's pretty amazing.
But seriously, the ambiance for this series is lovely. It's dark and intriguing, especially to young readers. The way the atmosphere and plot builds and concludes pretty much blew my twelve-year-old mind. I don't know how I would like it now, but for juvenile fiction it's pretty amazing.
December 2, 2011
We're working our way through the series, now on Lord Sunday. Terrific series about a boy on Earth who is drawn into another world--one that controls our world in some ways, and other "Secondary Realms" elsewhere. Arthur Penhaligon is only 8 when the series begins, but he grows up in a hurry. We love Suzy Turquoise Blue and Leaf and The Captain.
It's a wild ride from start to finish, this series.
It's a wild ride from start to finish, this series.
December 20, 2011
the series is great, i havent finished Lady Friday yet, but i am enticed with the entire idea, and the plot is both gripping and ideal. the characters are alive and real, and the circumstances are wonderfully thought out. however i think that the seires as a whole lacks the magic and feel of an adventure series. the reluctant hero, the best friend, and the witty sidekick are good characters, and i recommend it to anyone looking for a ride.
February 1, 2013
This series is about Arthur, the boy chosen by the will of the Architect of the universe to liberate the keys from their current trustees, who have become corrupted by the power of running the universe.
The books are surreal and well-written, and the story is original, fast-paced, and full of plot twists. While the series does not compare to Nix's Abhorsen trilogy, it is very good, and I enjoyed reading it.
The books are surreal and well-written, and the story is original, fast-paced, and full of plot twists. While the series does not compare to Nix's Abhorsen trilogy, it is very good, and I enjoyed reading it.
September 28, 2012
I heard of the book on a Sunday, and I started reading it on a Monday. IT WAS SOOOOO GOOD!!!!! Still have to find Lord Sunday and my purse........ :(. My favorite character is Leaf.
Finished it- the ending was AWESOME!! Happy for arthur, and so happy that I finished
Finished it- the ending was AWESOME!! Happy for arthur, and so happy that I finished
July 20, 2012
I liked the concept, but did wonder how much of a midddle grade book this was. Arthur was a good character, but by Wednesday he was a bit whinny. And the endIng was not very satisfactory. But I won't spoil it for anyone else.
Read
June 30, 2011Epicness! They have something for everyone!
August 21, 2011
Just finished the series. Fun books. I was most impressed by how uniquely different each book was. Really showed off the craft of the author.
April 9, 2012
I think this series is one that not everyone will like. But, I definitely enjoyed it thoroughly. It's one of those series that folds neatly into itself.
May 4, 2012
This was a fun ook to read. You have to have a huge imagination if you want to appreciate this book.
February 22, 2013
Visually stimulating , entertaining and fun to listen to since I do only audio books.
February 25, 2013
Love this series and highly recommend it.
June 25, 2013
Just finished listening to the last book - listened to the others years ago. The reader is very good. Garth Nix is an excellent storyteller.
May 3, 2014
8/10
Read
June 4, 2014I've read all these books, but not the collection as a whole in one fell swoop. I think this qualifies.
January 10, 2015
I loved this series it was so fun and kind of like brain candy i would defiantly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews