The Keys to the Kingdom

Ok, let's kick off the second post with a book review!

The Keys to the Kingdom was a GREAT series! I would HIGHLY recommend these to anyone who asked.

What I loved about these was their clean-ness and analogies.

First of all, let me give you a brief summary.

Arthur Penhaligion is an ordinary boy, until he enters the House (analogy- House of the Lord) and has to defeat 7 Morrow Days that defy the Will. The Will is made by the Architect (analogy- Creator, God) and it is how the Architect wants the world to go. The Will has been broken into seven parts by the Morrow Days. It is presented as a frog, bear, carp, snake, beastish thing, raven, and apple tree. It is wise. In each book, Arthur regains one key and one part of the will, and defeats one Morrow Day (Mister Monday, Grim Tuesday, Drowned Wednesday, Sir Thursday, Lady Friday, Superior Saturday, and Lord Sunday). I'm not spoiling it for you, don't worry. After defeating all of them, somehow (not telling how) Arthur becomes the Architect.

These were the first books I have read in 2 years that didn't have a single vulgar word, scene, or anything at all. They are TOTALLY clean from anything.

The analogies were fantastic. Matthew 16:19 - "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." This really is the whole topic around which the plot is built.

Another example of biblical analogies is the affliction of each Morrow Day with one of the seven deadly sins that results from their choice not to obey the Will.

Mister Monday: Sloth

Grim Tuesday: Greed

Drowned Wednesday: Gluttony

Sir Thursday: Rage

Lady Friday: Lust

Superior Saturday: Envy

Lord Sunday: Pride

Nothing represents sin. Sin will consume us all if we let it, as will Nothing. The Architect stands as the Creator, God. The Compleat Atlas of the House is a book that helps Arthur throughout the series. All he has to do is ask it a question and it will give him wise knowledge on that subject. This stands as the Bible. The Architect also has three sons that could stand as the Trinity. The Incomparable Gardens represents the Garden of Eden, and Superior Saturday's tower built to reach the Gardens represents the Tower of Babel (an attempt to reach heaven).

Arthur also could be portrayed as a Jesus figure, because he saves the universe from Nothing (sin). He also was adopted (representing Jesus's "adopted" mother and father, Mary and Joseph).

The Old One represents what will happen if we sin and do not repent. He is chained to a clock, and every hour, two puppets come out and take out his eyes, which grow back. (Also a Prometheus character.)

The Denizens represent us when we have eternal life in heaven. They cannot die and fatal wounds can heal almost immediately.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something to read. Here is the information:

Series: Keys to the Kingdom

Titles: Mister Monday, Grim Tuesday, Drowned Wednesday, Sir Thursday, Lady Friday, Superior Saturday, and Lord Sunday.

Author: Garth Nix

~Ashley