SIR THURSDAY
(The Keys to the Kingdom, Book Four)
by Garth Nix
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0439700876
Ages 9-12
352 pages

On the first day, there was mystery.
On the second day, there was darkness.
On the third day, there were pirates.
On the fourth day, there was war.

It is Thursday. After their thrilling, high-seas adventure on the Border Sea, Arthur and Leaf are eager to return home to their families in the Secondary Realms. When they arrive at the Front Door, they discover that only Leaf can come home since someone --- or something --- has taken Arthur's place. Just when things couldn't seem to get any more complicated, Dame Primus holds a council of war in Monday's Dayroom. Mister Monday and Grim Tuesday have been assassinated by sorcery!

Arthur is stunned by the news but is in for another surprise when he's tricked by Sir Thursday and forced to join the Glorious Army of the Architect. Suzy Turquoise Blue offers to go with Arthur, much to the disapproval of Dame Primus, but is told by the recruiting officer that volunteers can't join. Arthur doesn't want to go and leave his family in danger, but luckily Leaf decides to go back through the Seven Dials and try to banish the Spirit-eater (Skinless Boy) herself until Dame Primus and the rest of Arthur's staff can figure out a way to shorten his proposed stint of a century.

Arthur and Leaf each must rely on magic and their wits to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks. Leaf has to banish the Spirit-eater while saving herself and Arthur's families from being mind-controlled. (Fortunately, she has a bit of help from Suzy and an unlikely thrill-seeker.) Meanwhile, Arthur has to go undercover and survive his basic training, avoid getting posted to the Front, and work out how he can free Part Four of the Will and retrieve the Fourth Key from the psychotic Sir Thursday. All this while battling a couple of his own personal demons, a mysterious new force, and a few thousand New Nithlings in the Great Maze.

There is much suspense and action-packed adventure both in and outside the House. Many old and new characters are introduced in SIR THURSDAY who are sure to make the rest of the series even more interesting. There are a few violent scenes that some younger readers may find scary, but rest assured the book is definitely worth reading.

Unfortunately there's no tidy ending, so readers may have to take their time reading SIR THURSDAY (or reread the first three books in the series first) because it's going to be a while until we find out what happens next when LADY FRIDAY makes her presence known.

   --- Reviewed by Sarah Sawtelle (SdarksideG@aol.com)

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