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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
It's over. The seven trustees have been defeated, the seven parts of the Will freed and the seven Keys claimed. Arthur is now all powerful, and he is the New Architect. The Original Will was to have the entire House and the Secondary Realms to be dissolved in Nothing, so that the New Architect can rebuild the House. Arthur chooses to create a copy of the old universe, but he separates himself from... Ahh it's too complicated. Just read the goddamn series. Really good.
Better than I remembered, but not as good as I hoped. I think the ending is a little too... deus ex machina, which yes, I realize is funny considering the subject matter and what happens to Arthur.
I guess I just wanted a little ... more? Something more at the end, to tie it together more, or end it in a more satisfying way? Something.
Elephant is a marvelous detail to the story tho. Still do love him.
The kidlet liked it and wanted more. Can't say I blame him.
I guess I just wanted a little ... more? Something more at the end, to tie it together more, or end it in a more satisfying way? Something.
Elephant is a marvelous detail to the story tho. Still do love him.
The kidlet liked it and wanted more. Can't say I blame him.
A more or less satisfying conclusion to a exiting series.
The series started out more or less conventionally (boy gets special powers and get a quest he must follow, he slays the villain and return home and receives another quest etc... etc..etc...).
But around volume three Nix starts mixing things up and we see a gradual development on many levels at once which emphasizes each other:
-Arthur matures with the tasks and hardships he's exposed to, going from a self absorbed little boy to a considerate mature human, which is ironic considering he at the same time becomes less and less human.
-The side characters gains flesh and blood and takes on more and more of the narrative.
-The structure of the story becomes more complicated and blows the simple one quest at a time format, up to where volume 6 and 7 is one continuous story. This corresponds with the "house" dissolving more and more as well.
-The trustees of the keys, each afflicted with one of the 7 deadly sins, becomes more complicated and less and less stupid villains to defeat.
In the end Arthur defeats his enemies, but the victory is hollow even if it's inevitable.
The series started out more or less conventionally (boy gets special powers and get a quest he must follow, he slays the villain and return home and receives another quest etc... etc..etc...).
But around volume three Nix starts mixing things up and we see a gradual development on many levels at once which emphasizes each other:
-Arthur matures with the tasks and hardships he's exposed to, going from a self absorbed little boy to a considerate mature human, which is ironic considering he at the same time becomes less and less human.
-The side characters gains flesh and blood and takes on more and more of the narrative.
-The structure of the story becomes more complicated and blows the simple one quest at a time format, up to where volume 6 and 7 is one continuous story. This corresponds with the "house" dissolving more and more as well.
-The trustees of the keys, each afflicted with one of the 7 deadly sins, becomes more complicated and less and less stupid villains to defeat.
In the end Arthur defeats his enemies, but the victory is hollow even if it's inevitable.
It was interesting revisiting this series, about a decade after my last read, and almost 20 years since my first read. Aspects of these books have aged really well. I loved the world of the House, the various deranged characters, and the examination of power and its ability to corrupt.
That said, this book is firmly in the *junior* fiction genre. There was very little time to delve very deeply into anything before we were off on the next adventure, which has its merit (these books are very readable) but I guess I've just grown up and I need a bit more from my fantasy now.
That said, this book is firmly in the *junior* fiction genre. There was very little time to delve very deeply into anything before we were off on the next adventure, which has its merit (these books are very readable) but I guess I've just grown up and I need a bit more from my fantasy now.
Spoiler: The end is a combination of the Dark Crystal and The Never Ending Story. I was not surprised by this.
I finally finished the series. It was okay. The mom died.
I'm not sure what I think about the ending. It matches the story well enough, but I'm not sure if I fully like it or not. But, I do want more, so that's a good thing. :D
Great ending to a very good series. This book definitely felt like part 2 of book 6, and I still think they should have been combined into one, but it was still wonderful especially since I read them back to back.
Good conclusion but I had predicted some of it. Good series for young adult fantasy lovers out there.