I am on the last book of the series and so far I highly recommend these books.
Garth Nix is one of my favorite authors primarily because of his ability to create creatures, worlds, and environments, that feel truly unique. Many other YA Fantasy authors usually only build upon old myths or present retellings of old classic creatures - (Percy Jackson, Twilight, and dare I say Harry Potter). In Keys to the Kingdom you never know what to expect. The descriptions are filled with unique visual imagery that are not boring.
This series is definitely geared more towards a younger audience (11-17 years??), although that did not deter me nor my 33 year old husband from enjoying the books.
Two critiques I have of the series:
1: they are somewhat episodical. Although, not as episodical as Lemony Snickets; more like the first 3 books of Harry Potter. This might be done in order to keep the attentions of a younger audience??
2: the characters do not experience extreme emotional depths. There is enough emotion to keep you concerned and rooting for the characters, just not as much as Nix's other books like Sabriel or Abhorsen.
----
IF you get the first book with the "Afterwords" section I recommend reading it. It give useful insight into the story. Specifically it talks about the impetus for creating the series and shares how a passage from Dante's Inferno and even C.S. Lewis influenced the series.
Garth Nix is one of my favorite authors primarily because of his ability to create creatures, worlds, and environments, that feel truly unique. Many other YA Fantasy authors usually only build upon old myths or present retellings of old classic creatures - (Percy Jackson, Twilight, and dare I say Harry Potter). In Keys to the Kingdom you never know what to expect. The descriptions are filled with unique visual imagery that are not boring.
This series is definitely geared more towards a younger audience (11-17 years??), although that did not deter me nor my 33 year old husband from enjoying the books.
Two critiques I have of the series:
1: they are somewhat episodical. Although, not as episodical as Lemony Snickets; more like the first 3 books of Harry Potter. This might be done in order to keep the attentions of a younger audience??
2: the characters do not experience extreme emotional depths. There is enough emotion to keep you concerned and rooting for the characters, just not as much as Nix's other books like Sabriel or Abhorsen.
----
IF you get the first book with the "Afterwords" section I recommend reading it. It give useful insight into the story. Specifically it talks about the impetus for creating the series and shares how a passage from Dante's Inferno and even C.S. Lewis influenced the series.
