The premise is simple enough;. young boy escapes his fate when it is revealed he is heir to unwelcome destiny. Enter The House. Arthur, upon whom the story centers, is definately your average selfish & dull little schoolboy, and when he has adventure thrust upon him it is most definately not welcome. When danger stares him in the face he reaches for his inhaler. When a journey beckons he steps behind someone else - all well played out themes for Nix newest hero. His world faced with plague & destruction, Arthur finds the courage to enter the unknown House and try to discover the origins of the mysterious key he was bequeathed, and which rather threatening characters are trying to take from him. Grim Monday's Noon is a wonderfully likable villian and his master, Mister Monday (after whom this first book is named)is a slothfully entertaining fellow, with his victorian clothing & die-away-airs. I would not say this book is strictly limited to a pre-teen audience, as I have found it to be very enjoyable. Upon entering The House Arthur discovers all sorts of oddities in what appears to be a parallel universe, and also meets up with The Old one, in what appears to be a play upon Prometheus shackled to the mountain. Which is interesting in ways which will be revealed once you read the book, remembering that "Prometheus" means "Forethought". He also makes a friend, in Susie Turqouise Blue & we learn what really happend to the Pied Pipers children, and why it wasn't such a bad thing. To much information would give away the storyline, suffice to say Arthurs adventures will continue, this being the first of 7. Seven days of the Week?. Arthur's last name is Penhaligon - another pun by the author on ruling the world & destiny? (kids look up the reference to King Arthur). Nix makes some interesting speculations upon the origins of the universe. This is also very enjoyable as read by Allan Corduner, and is available from amazon. com in audio book format. kotori 2004
Arthur's last name is Penhaligon - another pun by the author on ruling the world & destiny? (kids look up the reference to King Arthur)