The Sinister Booksellers of Bath

This sequel to The Left-Handed Booksellers of London may be even better than the first book. The Sinister Booksellers of London by Garth Nix is set primarily in Bath, plus some time in London, and their alternate magical worlds. When Merlin is transported into an alternate world through the remnants of a magical map, Susan Arkshaw is summoned to Bath to assist Veronica in his rescue. This leads to the discovery of a plan of an Ancient Sovereign to cause destruction on the night of the Winter Solstice.

As the magical booksellers group together to prevent this plan eventuating it is discovered that Susan is the immediate target so all efforts are required to protect her from danger. Through her dreams Susan has also been contacted by her father, The Old Man of Coniston, and realises that she is gaining some of his magical powers, which she tries to resist.

Once again the author takes the reader into a world of  magic with the tension increasing as the hour of the Solstice approaches. Throughout the book there is an array of weird underworld characters, including Bath stone sculptured creatures, that threaten anyone or anything in their path. As time is running out Susan realises what she has to do. You might also discover the titles of books that you might like to read or reread scattered throughout the book. Another great book by Garth Nix.

Awarded the 2024 Ditmar Award for Australian Science Fiction.

Terciel and Elinor

Since discovering the book, Sabriel, (originally published in 2005) many years ago I have also read the other books in the Old Kingdom series by Garth Nix. Terciel and Elinor, the sixth book in series, tells how Sabriel's parents, Terciel and Elinor, met.

Terciel, the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, is receiving training from Tizanael, his great aunt and the current Abhorsen. They live in the Old Kingdom and use powerful necromancy, including the bells, to ensure that the Dead do not return to this world. Meanwhile Elinor lives on the other side of the Wall and although she is aware that she has some unusual powers she is unaware that the mark on her forehead is a chartre mark and that she she has family connections to the Old Kingdom, especially to the Clayr who have special powers of their own.

Terciel and Elinor meet when Elinor's home is attacked by an enemy from the Old Kingdom which has crossed the wall into Ancelstierre followed by Terciel and Tizanael who hope to defeat it. Elinor learns the power of her charter mark and becomes determined to learn more, eventually arriving in the Old Kingdom where she joins forces to work with Terciel and Tizanael to help defeat the evil power threatening the kingdom.

Terciel and Elinor is a prequel well worth reading by those who have enjoyed the other books in the Old Kingdom series.

Keys to the Kingdom continued

 Sir Thursday is the fourth volume in the Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix. Additional information about the series can be found in these posts.

At the end of the previous book, Drowned Wednesday, Arthur and Leaf had planned to return home to check what was happening in their world until they discovered that a spirit eater had found a way through the door of the House and was impersonating Arthur back home. Leaf volunteered to return to Earth to locate the item belonging to Arthur that the spirit eater was using to feed its power. Meanwhile Arthur and Suzy remained to try and sort out some of the problems occurring in the House. However when Lord Thursday drafted Arthur into the army for one hundred years, life became even more complicated for Arthur.

In the first half of this novel Garth Nix tells the story by alternating chapters explaining what is happening to Leaf, Arthur or Suzy interspersed with an occasional general chapter. In the second part of the book a chronological occunt of events is provided focussing on Arthur and his encounters with Sir Arthur, part four of the Will and the Piper. Another exciting installment in the series.

Lady Friday is the fifth volume in the Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix. 

The story this time starts when Leaf returns home only to discover that her aunt, along with hundreds of other people, has been transferred to a different world by Lady Friday who has enjoys experiencing the memories of people from Earth. Leaf has to return to at least rescue her aunt. 

Meanwhile Arthur is watching what The Piper is doing to avoid further battles. He also needs to rescue Suzie and Fred who, as former Pipers Children, find themselves once again under his power.

Much of the action of the novel occurs in various parts of Lady Friday's Scriptorium and there are many references to old style binding of books and printing methods. Eventually Arthur locates part five of the Will and also locates the Fifth Key. Arthur plans to return home to ensure that his mother is safe, however he knows that he also has other issues to resolve in the House.

The sixth book in the keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix is Superior Saturday.

In this book we meet Superior Saturday who has ordered her denizens and Piper's children to build a tower of cubes so that she can reach the Incomparable Gardens, commanded by Lord Sunday, situated above the tower. Sorcery is her main tool and she has lookouts to ensure that no other sorcery enters her world to threaten her plans. She is also intent on destroying the sections of the house below the Upper House and causing havoc in the other realms.

Meanwhile the sleepers had returned to Earth, guided by Leaf and Arthur. Not long after their arrival Arthur receives a message from his brother alerting him that part of the city is about to be attacked by the army. Arthur places a shield around the hospital but knowing that this is not a permanent solution returns to the Kingdom to finish his quest and save his family. Leaf stays to try and save the sleepers.

Arthur realises that it is too late to worry about turning into a denizen. He understands that he must use his powers to complete his quest to retrieve part six and part seven of the will and the two remaining keys. Arthur and Susy must find a way into the tower unseen and once again receive help from the Raised Rats. Once in the tower Arthur and Susy encounter a world of bureaucracy and sorcery. In each section of the tower the denizens carry umbrellas of different colours indicating their rank. Arthur and Leaf have to avoid the Sorcerous Supernumeraries and especially the Internal Auditors if they are to be successful in their quest. The book ends with a series of cliff hangers which lead the reader into the final volume of the Keys to the Kingdom.

Lord Sunday 

The seventh and final volume of the series, The Keys to the Kingdom, by Garth Nix continues where book six finished. In the previous books Arthur has rescued the first six keys and parts of the Will but the seventh key and final part of the Will remain to be located and it is unlikely that Lord Sunday will give in easily.

Meanwhile Suzy and Leaf are also involved in the battles that are systematically destroying the Lower and Middle houses, trying to save what is left of the House and the Outer Realms, including Arthur and Leaf's home and families back on Earth. Initially they carry out the orders of Dame Primus, with the help of Dr Scamandros and Giac, to open and enlarge elevators to take the troops to the Incomparable Gardens and into Lord Sunday's domain.

As the story draws to a close Arthur continually strives to remember that he is a boy with feelings and compassion and has to resist the urge to destroy his enemies which occasionally surges through him as his power increases.Once he gains part seven of the Will and the seventh key there are still hard decisions to be made.

NB: March 2022

My eleven year old grand-daughter and I have just finished sharing the reading this series which we started at the beginning of 2021. She became totally involved as the story evolved and identified with the characters, particularly Suzy and Leaf as well as Arthur. As we read the books we discussed how the author created different settings in each book, explored new vocabulary, enjoyed the cliff hangers and talked about what might happen next. When we came to sections primarily with dialogue spoken by Susy or Leaf or both of them, my grand-daughter would make sure that she read those sections. As well as all the action and plot twists we enjoyed the humour throughout the books and how characters or events in earlier volumes reappeared as the story progressed. During this time my grand-daughter has developed from someone who read because she had to into an enthusiastic reader. Thank you Garth Nix.

When we were unable to read together in person due to COVID-19 lockdowns or weekends or holidays, we continued the reading via online sessions.

Meanwhile my nine year old grandson (almost ten), who has occasionally listened to his sister reading parts of the books, has now decided that he also wants to read The Keys to the Kingdom series. We began Mister Monday this week.

The left-handed booksellers of London

Another great book by Australian author, Garth Nix. This time the book is set in two worlds, the New and the Old, which can merge into each other when magic, good or bad, is afoot. Those guarding the borders are the booksellers of two London bookshops - the left handed booksellers have powers to detect and defend against the forces of evil while the right-handed booksellers have their own special powers. There are, of course, users of both hands with powers of their own.

In 1983 Susan Arkshaw has come to London to discover who her father is. She brings with her a few clues including an address. Visiting the house Susan encounters evil forces and magical powers for the first time. She also meets Merlin who helps her escape from the house and finds safer accommodation for her. 

Merlin and his sister, Vivian, introduce Susan to the world of the booksellers and offer to help her in her quest to locate her father. It soon becomes obvious that an evil force from the past is determined to prevent Susan from fulfilling her quest. As the danger to Susan and her friends increases it becomes obvious that someone from within the band of booksellers is working to sabotage the quest.

This is a story of a dangerous quest with plenty of suspense and magic as Susan and her allies endeavour to conquor an evil force. Throughout the book there are references to other book titles, most of which I recognised. The comment was also made that events described in some fantasy books revealed secrets that that made it more difficult for the left-handed booksellers to do their work. The story is interlaced with humour making this book a most enjoyable read.

Mister Monday

Currently my granddaughter and I are reading Mister Monday by Garth Nix, the first book in the Keys to the Kingdom series. Recently I found two summaries that I wrote in 2004 about Mister Monday and the second book in the series, Grim Tuesday. We have also read Drowned Wednesday (book 3)

Mister Monday

Arthur Penhaligon is not supposed to be a hero. He is supposed to die an early death. But then his life is saved by a key shaped like the minute hand of a clock. Arthur is safe – but his world is not. Along with the key comes a plague brought by bizarre creatures from another realm. A stranger named Mister Monday, his avenging messengers with bloodstained wings, and an army of dog-faced Fetchers will stop at nothing to get the key back – even if it means destroying Arthur and everything around him. Desperate, Arthur escapes to the mysterious House that has appeared in town – a house that only he can see. Maybe there he can unravel the secrets of the key – and discover his true fate.

 Grim Tuesday

Arthur is summoned back to the House to retrieve the second key and release the second part of the will. He and Suzy continue their adventure venturing into Grim Tuesday's deep pit, scaling the glass pyramid, sailing to a sun to rescue the second part of the will and finally repairing the breach in the wall to stop Nothing entering the Kingdom. Lots of action and tension in this adventure.

There are seven books in the Keys to the Kingdom series.

 

 Drowned Wednesday

Leaf is visiting Arthur in hospital when a large wave carries them both out to sea and many adventures.

Drowned Wednesday had summoned Arthur to ask for his assistance but in the meantime he encounters the Raised Rats, the crew of the ship (The Moth) including Dr Samandros, Sunscorch and Captain Catapillow and learns of the dreaded pirate, Feverfew, who wants to rule the seas. 

In order to restore order as well as assist Drowned Wednesday who has been turned into an extremely large, very hungry whale, Arthur needs to find the third part of the will and the third key.

Goldenhand

Many years ago I read the first four books, Sabriel, Clariel, Lirael and Abhorsen, in the Old Kingdom series by Garth Nix. Recently I came upon the latest title in the series, Goldenhand, and thoroughly enjoyed revisiting this magical, and often dangerous, world.

Lirael now has the title Abhorsen-in-Waiting and is living at the palace at Belisaere with her half sister, Sabriel, the Abhorsen. Lirael mourns the death of her best friend the disreputable dog and carries of small model of the dog in her possessions.  When Sabrriel and her husband are on holiday Lirael is called to deal with a sinister magical sighting some distance away and while rectifying the situation she once again discovers a friend, Nicholas Saye, who has been injured and needs to be taken to safety. Meanwhile Ferin from a clan in the North arrives at Belisaere with an urgent message for Lirael. However as she is being pursued by dangerous beasts the guards will not allow her entry to the palace.

The reader then follows the story of Ferin as she attempts to avoid her pursuers and carry out her mission plus the story of Lirael's attempts to to find a safe haven for the injured Nicholas. Once Ferin's message is delivered it  is revealed that they are all in great danger and Lirael must travel into Death to finally dispatch The Witch with no Face who is threatening to destroy the kingdom.

A story with many twists and turns plus lots of powerful magic. It is also a story with characters questioning their past and hoping for a new future.

Angel Mage

I love the way that Garth Nix transports the reader into his wonderful world of fantasy. I have read a number of his books previously and this one lives up to all expectations.

Angel Mage is set in the seventeenth century in an alternative world where angels with varying powers can be summoned as required by those with the power to do so. It is into this world that Liliath, who 'died' more than a century earlier when the kingdom of Ystara was destroyed, returns to complete a quest. However assistance is required for this task as she may need to use the powers held unknowingly by others.

In the kingdom of Surance, four young people - Agnez, a musketeer; Simeon, a doctor; Dorotea, a mage and icon maker; and Henri, a clerk - travel to Lutace where they meet and gradually discover the common power that binds them. Lutace is a centre of magic struggling to survive from a growing outside threat emanating from some of former citizens of Ystara - the Reclusers. There is also a struggle for power among the branches of the defence forces defending the Queen and the kingdom. It soon becomes obvious that a new force has arisen releasing the beastlings and causing a threat to the citizens of Surance.

When the Queen orders an expedition into Ystara to be undertaken to locate lost treasure, the full powers of evil threatening the power of the mages in Surance is revealed. Another great book from Garth Nix.

Clariel

In 1995, Sabriel, the first book in the Old Kingdom series, was written by the Australian author, Garth Nix. This was followed in 2001 by Lirael and in 2003 by Abhorsen. This trilogy of books take the reader into a wonderful work of fantasy, Charter Magic and Free Magic and the world of Abhorsens. In 2014 the fourth book in the series, Clariel, was published. This book is a prequel to the trilogy and is set 600 years before the story of Sabriel.

Clariel and her family move to Belisaere where she was to attend the Belisaere Select Academy though, in reality, all she wants to do is to return to the forest and live her own life. Soon after their arrival her mother tells Clariel that they are to meet the King who has withdrawn from society and is waiting for his daughter to return and become ruler. In a short time Clariel discovers that all is not well in Belisaere and that Kilp, the leader of the Gold Guild, plans to overthrow the King. At the Academy she meets Kargrin and Ader, powerful Charter Mages who recognise that Clariel has special powers which may help them save the kingdom.

What follows is a fast moving story of magic and intrigue, treachery and power struggles as Clariel strives to discover the extent of her powers, avenge the death of family members, rescue her aunt and return to the life she really wants to live. Those who enjoyed the first three Old Kingdom books will welcome this addition to the collection.

In the author's note, Garth Nix mentions that he is working on sequel to the original three books, continuing the story of Lirael. I suspect that, in the future, we may also learn more of Clariel and her story.

The keys to the kingdom

A fantasy series - Mr Monday, Grim Tuesday, Drowned Wednesday, Sir Thursday, Lady Friday, Superior Saturday and Lord Sunday - written for older children and teenagers by Garth Nix - introduces the reader to another realm, the House, plus a mystery involving the Architect, the Trustees, the seven Keys and the Will. Arthur Penhaligon, Suzy Blue, Leaf and a host of other extraordinary characters battle many forces of evil, enabling Arthur to collect the seven Keys and the seven pieces of the Will needed to save not only the world of the denizens but also Earth which is being invaded by evil forces from the House. An exciting series with many gripping adventures.