Lady Friday

The Keys to the Kingdom #5

by Garth Nix

The fifth book in Garth Nix's blockbuster fantasy-adventure series, The Keys to the Kingdom . Arthur Penhaligon has defeated four of the seven Trustees, but his week is getting worse and worse.

The Piper's New Nithling army controls most of the Great Maze, and Superior Saturday is causing trouble wherever she can. Arthur can't even find out what is happening back home. All he knows is that Leaf is missing - and so is her family, along with Arthur's mother, his brother Eric, and thousands of other people who were transferred from regular hospitals to a sinister institution in another world.

Lady Friday makes Arthur a tempting offer. But is it a cunning trap for the Rightful Heir or a golden opportunity that he must seize - before Superior Saturday or the Piper beats him to it? Who will win the race to discover the secret of the Middle House?

Lady Friday is the fifth book in the Keys to the Kingdom series.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Adventure, Middle Grade, Magic

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2007

About the author

Garth 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.

Reviews

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of series I would have been crazy for when I was 8-10 years old. Sadly, it was not written then. Book 5 follows both Arthur and Leaf. Arthur seeks out the fifth key and the fifth part of the will, exploring the Middle House, which is Lady Friday’s domain. Leaf is stuck somewhere in the Secondary Realms (Earth), where Friday has been taking comatose hospital patients to her private retreat to “experience” them. It’s pretty weird and kind of creepy.

This is a great Middle Grade series overall. Clean content.

Book Blog

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying read, as always. Garth Nix has been a favorite ever since I picked up Shade's Children; his ability to twist away from the expected plot cliche pitfalls (i.e. story climaxes with a swordfight, story climaxes with the clashing of ultimate magic powers, etc.) has been consistently refreshing.

Of course it helps that the villains, Trustees to the Houses of Monday through Sunday, in his The Keys to the Kingdom series are modeled after the seven deadly sins. The parallels so far have been mmm-mmm good and I've gleefully taken in Arthur's reluctant triumphs over Mister Monday (sloth), Grim Tuesday (greed), Drowned Wednesday (gluttony), Sir Thursday (wrath), and at last, Lady Friday (lust--for great rainbow gobs of Key-extracted mortal memories. Upon learning this, I secretly replaced all the "Lady Friday"s in the book to "Junkie").

Two left, and only once those final books are out can we more certainly assign the sins. Lady Friday could arguably be greed or envy; this could equivocably be rearranged for the other Trustees. The whole theme could be ignored, but I felt up for a little enriching symbolism. It hasn't taken on any pretentious religious or literary overtones and so it underscores Nix's fun and energetic pace.

I enjoyed following both Arthur's and Leaf's stories until they connected into one at the end. I was also glad for the return of the Mariner, as brief as it was. The Paper Pushers, Winged Servants of the Night versus The Artful Loungers (>.<), and the Gilded Youth were vivid and exciting. Aside from the 'main battle' of Arthur as The Rightful Heir against the remaining Trustees, there is Arthur's struggle to keep his mortality. Every time he uses a Key, I immediately hold my breath afterward as he does while checking his ring to see how close its golden line has gotten to official Denizen-hood.

Also to note, I love the American book covers for this series.

[Kaylee · Rating 3 out of 5]

We're at Lust, for those playing along at home. I was wondering how Nix was going to use this sin in a children's book -- very sly indeed.

Not the most compelling storyline of them all, and the ending was much more abrupt than previous ones. Arthur is finally much more mature than his twelve (earth) years, and his friends play even more integral roles.

One of my favorite things about these books (and Nix's writing in general) is the way he cleverly uses puns and double entendres (rather similar to a Disney movie, now that I think about it...). It's probably the key to why I can enjoy these books but am disinterested in Harry Potter -- there's plenty for adults in the writing itself, and it's not all on the surface.

Three stars, perhaps simply because I didn't feel like Lady Friday was involved quite enough. There was just a small something missing from this installment...

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die Handlung verdichtet sich immer mehr. Jeder Treuhändler ist auf seine Art untreu zu sein bzw hat seine speziellen Eigenheiten oder Schwächen, die dann für gravierende Probleme sorgen. Lady Freitag hält sich für klug. Doch ist sie das?
Parallel musste ich immer wieder über einen Passanten in dem Spiel "The Witcher 3" lachen. Jedes mal, wenn man auch an ihm vorbei lief, kam ein "je mehr ich trinke, desto klüger werde ich". Diese fehlerhafte Selbsteinschätzung trifft wohl auf Alkohol wie auch auf Drogen zu.

[AziaMinor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Rating : A-

But he had kept going before, when he had no air to breathe, when only his determination kept him moving."



Takes off right where Sir Thursday ended. Arthur is trying to hold off The Piper's forces, while his friend Leaf has found herself kidnapped along with many other humans by the beautiful Lady Friday for her own mysterious purposes. But when she sends a missive to Arthur, Piper and Superior Saturday that she is ready to abdicate her Key and the Will to whoever finds it first, it's a race against Time itself for Arthur to save everybody, all while keeping his humanity.

The way this series gets more intense and hectic, while also keeping it's youthful demographic is amazing. I felt like I was right along with Arthur, Suzy, Fred, Leaf and all other characters. Some parts were pretty brutal for a children's book, but appropriate for the situation at hand. Arthur is so close to his goal, and you feel ecstatic for his wins and sad for what he feels he's losing.

I'm sure the next book will be just as good!

[Abdollah zarei · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Michael Culbertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's encouraging to see Arthur start to take responsibility for the role he was thrust into.

Nix handles vice of "lust" very tastefully for a children's book. The vice isn't named explicitly. As denizens, Lady Friday (and those in the Middle House) lack many of the rich experiences of mortal life--joy, happiness, regret, melancholy, and the like. Desiring to share in these experiences, Friday gathers old mortals (mainly humans from earth) and sucks their experiences from them, leaving them a living but somewhat empty shell. The experiences that dribble down Friday's chin get fixed to bits of parchment and sent back to the Middle House, where denizens can vicariously experience by sticking the papers to their foreheads--yielding a reverie that can last weeks or months. Like Tuesday's thirst for material wealth and Wednesday's hunger for food, Friday is never satisfied with the experiences she drinks, always wanting to gather more.

[Jenn Mattson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love! Love! Love!

Loved this fifth book of the series - maybe that’s fitting, since Friday is my favorite day of the week. I’m fascinated and impressed by Nix’s imagination - it makes perfect sense that if the universe were run like a bureaucracy, it would be like this: with pettiness and office politics and weird traditions and rituals endemic to the particular organization. There are so many cool parts of the House, but the Secondary Realms are mostly creepy and the Morrow days are downright freakish. I love Arthur more with every book and I love Nix’s creations. I love this section of the Will and I find the Piper and the Piper’s children intriguing. I also like the emotional weight of some of these - especially as the risks increase.

[Melanie Schneider · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finde ich in bestimmten Aspekten nicht ganz so gut umgesetzt wie die Vorgänger. Vielleicht hatte ich zu hohe Erwartungen, weil es um Angst geht und Arthur zum Beispiel die ganzen Bände davor schon in beständiger Angst gelebt hat. Gut dafür fand ich, dass er in diesem Band in manchen Punkten dieser Angst gewachsen ist.

[Wealhtheow · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 Sir Thursday, 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.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The series is interesting enough that even one of the weaker installments is still pretty decent, but I would definitely rate this as one of the weaker ones. Quite a bit of the momentum that was built in the first three books stalls a bit in Sir Thursday and Lady Friday with the main characters stumping through less scenic parts of the House to confront less dynamic Trustees. Also, due to Arthur's growing maturity and strength as the Rightful Heir, his trusty sidekicks (Leaf, Suzy, and now Fred) begin to seem a little superfluous. There is every hope, however, that more (and more satisfying) adventures and conflicts await with Arthur's big confrontation with Superior Saturday, and that will keep many readers going.

[Mira Mio · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I believe Saturday's Dusk and dozen or so Internal Auditors might have flown after him ..."

"Internal Auditors?" asked Arthur.

"The most doughty soldiery of the Upper House," said Ughham. "Fell warriors, by all accounts."

"They can suck your innards out by looking at you," said Suzy.

(c)

К сожалению, это первая книга в серии, которую мне хотелось бросить.

Единственная фишка - метаморфоза Артура, в которой он все меньше похож на человека (в плохом смысле, здесь вам не ромфант).

В остальном текст смахивает на черновик, а злодейка из леди Пятницы - очень унылая.

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really thought I'd like this book more than the others, but the plot wasn't as interesting as the blurb made it sound. For someone whose deadly sin was lust, Lady Friday was quite dull. I'm looking forward to reading Superior Saturday, since she sounds pretty bitching.

... I just wanted to use the word "bitching" in a review. :(

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The past few books have lost some of the charm :/

[Nicole Gozdek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inhalt:
Vier Schlüssel und damit auch die Herrschaft über ihre Teile des Hauses hat Arthur den verräterischen Treuhändern schon abgenommen und vier Teile des Vermächtnisses wiedergefunden. Doch Arthur muss feststellen, dass seine magische Kontamination unerbittlich voranschreitet. Erreicht sie 60%, wird er zum Bürger und kann nicht mehr nach Hause zurückkehren. Wenn er das verhindern will, darf er die Magie der Schlüssel nur noch im Notfall einsetzen. Doch wie soll er die Morgigen Tage aufhalten und die anderen Teile des Vermächtnisses finden - ohne Magie? Da erhält er eine Nachricht von Lady Freitag, dass sie abdankt und ihren Schlüssel und das Mittlere Haus dem Sieger aus dem Wettrennen von Arthur, dem Pfeifer und Samstag überlässt. Meint Doktor Freitag das ernst? Oder ist das eine Falle?

Meine Meinung:
"Listiger Freitag", der 5. Band der Fantasyreihe "Die Schlüssel zum Königreich", besteht wieder aus zwei Handlungsebenen: Einmal Arthurs Abenteuer im Haus, seine Suche nach dem Vermächtnisteil und dem Schlüssel seines Gegners, und dann den Auswirkungen des Machtkampfes und der Intrigen auf der Erde und auf Arthurs Freunde und Familie.
Diese Nebenhandlung nimmt in "Listiger Freitag" einen verhältnismäßig großen Teil ein - und das ist dieses Mal leider auch die Schwäche des Romans. Für mich war die Nebenhandlung um Blatt, die zusammen mit anderen Krankenhauspatienten von Doktor Freitag entführt wird, nicht so spannend wie die Haupthandlung. Auch steht dieses Mal Blatts eigene Familie auf dem Spiel, nicht Arthurs, der für mich die Hauptidentifikationsfigur ist und mit dem ich mitfiebere. Emotional war Blatts Erzählstrang daher nicht so mitreißend, auch hatte ich das Gefühl, dass es einige Längen durch Beobachtung und Inaktivität gab, bevor Blatt die Initiative ergriffen hat. Hier hätte man kürzen können.
Kommen wir zur Haupthandlung: Dieses Mal geht es um die Herrschaft des Mittleren Hauses, wie das Untere Haus des ehemaligen Herrn Montag, ist es eine Verwaltungsebene, in der es viel um Schriften und Ähnliches geht. So stolpert Arthur auch als Erstes in eine Wassermühle und sieht einen Fluss, der den riesigen Berg, aus dem das Mittlere Haus besteht, hinaufströmt und auf dem Flösser mit beschrifteter Kleidung aus Papier arbeiten, während die verschiedenen Ebenen des Mittleren Hauses mithilfe des Flusses oder von Flügeln bereist werden. Und natürlich ist Arthur ganz unten angekommen und muss irgendwie schnellstmöglich nach ganz oben.
Die Idee des Mittleren Hauses hat mir gut gefallen, auch dass es ein Wiedersehen mit den Pfeiferkindern Susi und Fred, Arthurs Freunden, die in die Gewalt des Pfeifers geraten waren, gab. Doch am besten fand ich dieses Mal den fünften Teil des Vermächtnisses, einen Fledermaus-Drachen, der seine Größe von beängstigend groß zu niedlich klein verändern kann und vom Charakter her von allen bisherigen Vermächtnisteilen am sympathischsten ist. Wir dürfen gespannt sein, welche Auswirkungen seine Verschmelzung auf Dame Primus hat, die ja doch etwas erschreckend wurde nach der Verschmelzung mit dem schlangenhaften vierten Teil.
Fazit: Leider bislang der schwächste Teil der Reihe, dennoch freue ich mich schon auf Samstag und Sonntag und ein Wiedersehen mit Arthur und Co.

[Dr. Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the thing I love most about this series is that with each new book, Nix finds new characters and different types of denizens to introduce, which is just awesome. In addition to that, there's a new domain of the house being explored. In this one, we see the middle house. It didn't really seem much different from the lower house, but I probably just missed the description.

I liked that Lady Friday did things a bit differently than the other key holders, it was pretty ingenious of her to pit the Piper, Superior Saturday and Arthur against each other. It almost worked too!. Besides the normal drama of Arthur trying to outsmart the other key holders, he's worried about his family especially his mother who is missing from the Secondary Realms, Dane Primus trying to get him to be a denizen and a possible strange plot between Superior Saturday and Lord Sunday that is brewing.

I have high hopes for the last two books and I think there's about to be some crazy stuff going on in the House.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoying seeing how Arthur's different experiences are starting to come together.. also I'm really glad Suzie and Fred are all right! Aaaand I really liked Ugum.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s certainly one thing to be said about everything Nix writes, and that is that it’s rife with original creativity and completely new fantasy stories. However, sometimes the books themselves, although phenomenally imaginative, are hit or miss depending on how much Nix is able to flesh out the story. The Seventh Tower series, for instance, is deftly imagined, a two worlds drawn together through light and shadow, and the ability to use colored gemstones to create light beams that can do all sorts of interesting things. Unfortunately for whatever reason, Nix doesn’t explore the world and the story enough. It’s much more like eating watery soup than it is like consuming a good meal.

The Abhorsen Trilogy, on the other hand, is a great work, and although it’s not a classic literature sort of story, the world itself is fleshed out well, so that the reader can really imagine the world and lose themselves in it. I feel like the Keys to the Kingdom series is a mixture of both, and I’d love to see the world more fully explored. The first book, especially, seems to move toward that path, but as the books progress, they seem to become more and more formulaic and lacking in substance. Ultimately, Nix’s imagination seems to know no bounds, but if he would slow down and put more life into these books, I think they would be much better. Not to say that the books aren’t fun to read, but I believe they could be fun to read and rich. Hopefully his next fantasy series will be more like The Abhorsen Trilogy.

-Lindsey Miller, www.lindseyslibrary.com

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished my house project that kept be busy enough to get through five of these books, so I think I'm bailing here. The fifth installment ran the same path as the previous four, with my same praises and criticism. To the author's credit, I did get the sense that it all started to "come together" in this book, which was refreshing to see finally, but it ended up just kind of being a mess. When reviewing the first book, I said that I was willing to forgive some plot weaknesses given that its a children's book series, but I just couldn't get over how much the plot "happens" to Arthur. Because character development is non-existent, any given character really could have been replaced with any other character, save a few of the more interesting side characters. I have to imagine even kids would get tired of the literal divine intervention that happens over and over throughout this series.

Overall, the series (up to this point) is enjoyable. But don't expect Pendragon/Charlie Bone/Artemis Fowl.

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved how much time in this book was spent with Leaf. I think the focus on her is the first time the point of view has spent so much time with a character other than Arthur -- we don't see the adventures of Suzy Turquoise Blue in quite the same way, for example. The more inhuman Arthur becomes, the more time is spent with Leaf...

Each new book seems less and less resolved than the others, partly because the first two books make you begin to expect Arthur to go home at the end, and partly because the pace is ratcheting up.

Surprisingly enough, I liked the Fifth part of the Will, and am slightly less worried about the Will. Still. We'll see. I was entertained by Arthur simply grabbing back the keys when he needed them, even if it was unintentional. Yay Arthur!

[Jack. S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently I have read Garth Nix's Lady Friday. sadly it was not one of his best, so I'll focus on the good parts. Such as the scene setting being tremendous, I could almost feel myself watching them in my imagination, it also raises some interesting views like Denizens, being immortal and feeling less making one denizen (Lady Friday ) do some nasty things. such as kidnap Arthur's mom, or is she really just framed? Find out more in this thrilling series! Arthur is even experiencing changes, such as temper flares. Is he turning into something, something much much greater than any denizen? Fantasy lovers will enjoy this book as the action takes it up a notch.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fifth installment to the series. Nix has thought out the whole series, and it's delightful to watch old elements rise up, and to see the evolution of some of the characters progressing through each book. Only two more 'Days' to go, and though i have some ideas about how the books might end, it's still very up in the air, and there are many questions yet to be answered. I have no doubt but that Nix will deliver.

[Micheline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual rating: 2.5 Stars

I actually put this book on hold for a long time and I wasn't sure I'd ever get back to it. I very rarely put books on hold but I was struggling hard. It pained me though because Garth Nix is one of my absolute favorite authors, which is what prompted me to give it another go. At this point in a series I feel like I WANT to see it through...

The truth is, this series does have some solid positive aspects! The world is exceptionally imaginative but somehow the plot is still easy to follow. It was also easy to fall back into after a long break, which is impressive.

I also genuinely feel curious about how things will resolve at the end of the series. The plot certainly is compelling enough to keep my attention...

I think where this series is lacking for me, is the characters - especially Arthur, the protagonist. In the begining, he was likeable and it was easy to sympathize with his plight. Five books in though, I find him less sympathetic. It seems like he stays the same in terms of development...though objectively I know that's not true. He's grown a lot but despite that, it seems like he has the same problems/issues book after book.

I do quite like Suzy Turquoise Blue but honestly, the rest of the characters, including Arthur sort of blend together and lack any stand out qualities that would make them memorable down the line.

The books are quick reads though, and the audiobook narrator, Allan Corduner is BRILLIANT. I'll definitely be finishing the series with two books remaining. Hopefully the series ends on a high note!

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leaf has her own part to play in this book. She's been kidnapped by Lady Friday and we learn what Lady Friday does to all the people she kidnaps--okay, this one creeped me out a bit. Meanwhile, Arthur is in search of the fifth part of the will and Lady Friday's key.

This series has been thoroughly researched and meticulously planned out. Besides the seven days of the week, Nix has incorporated the seven deadly sins with each of the days of the week as well as the virtues with each part of the will. I'm not sure how it will all work out, but I also suspect that the Mariner mentioned here is a nod to the Ancient Mariner, the Piper is obviously the Pied Piper, and the Old One is, I think, a nod to Prometheus.

I do think that readers of Rick Riordan would enjoy this series. It has more of a British feel to it, but although the plot is intricate and full of nods to other stories and mythologies, this is a relatively straightforward adventure that middle school students would enjoy.

[ems_bookshelves · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Lady Friday" by Garth Nix is a captivating installment in the "Keys to the Kingdom" series. The story's imaginative world and intricate plot kept me thoroughly engaged, blending adventure and whimsy seamlessly. Arthur Penhaligon's journey through the House continues to unfold with rich character development and surprising twists. Nix's writing is both accessible and richly detailed, immersing readers in a unique fantastical landscape. The introduction of Lady Friday adds depth and complexity, making the stakes higher than ever. Overall, this book reinforced my love for the series, leaving me eager to continue Arthur's quest in the next installment. Highly recommended!

[James Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a great addition in the series. It picked up immediately after Sir Thursday with Arthur in the Great Maze. He gets a strange letter that literally whisks him into his next adventure to take the 5th key. Lady Friday is like the other Trustees, hiding under a calm behavior but with sinister plans to keep her key. Arthur also finds out his mom is missing. Did Friday take her away as leverage? I guess you will have to read the book to find out.

[Baal Of · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a stall compared to the previous couple volumes, with a bit less action and creativity, but then there is some progression in Arthur's character, as he matures and becomes less whiny. I'm still annoyed that he keeps handing over keys to Dame Primus, but at least now we know he can reclaim them at will. Also, there is some good progress on building up Leaf and Suzy.

[Wolf (Alpha) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like this book at all. I felt like I was reading a book meant for a 5th grade. It was slightly confusing and all over the place. I liked Argue and how he was determined to do what he had to. I was glad he saved Suzy and Fred from being slaves. I liked Leaf but the whole sleeper thing was weird. It kinda reminded me of Divergent. I guess it was good that Arthur got all 5 keys. 2 stars.

[MargaretDH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably my least favourite of the series so far, though I still enjoyed things. Nix is still inventing cool new worlds, and that remains my favourite part of the series. I'm also impressed with his careful development of Arthur, and how he's changed and grown over the series.

[Brooke Bitzan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series reread is going really well. I'm honestly super pleased that it's lived up to my memory as well as it has. Most often childhood favorites become disappointing upon reread but that's not the case here.

There are so many levels to the underlying lore of this universe and I'm honestly obsessed with trying to figure out if our MC ever realizes something I noticed in book one that has been slowly confirmed by every book hereafter