Customer Reviews
The Tale of the Whale 
2006-07-03
Wednesday being the third day of the week (if you don't start at Sunday of course), there are no prizes for guessing that this is book three of The Keys to the Kingdom series. If you haven't read Mister Monday and Grim Tuesday, please look no further - without the two preceding books you'll be up a creek without a paddle if you try this one on its own.
Arthur is still recuperating in hospital from his adventures in book two when he is summoned for lunch by Lady Wednesday, Trustee of the Architect and Duchess of the Border Sea. A ship is dispatched to pick him up, which is an unusual mode of transport seeing that he is in a hospital far away from any major body of water. Arrangements are made to resolve this minor inconvenience, and soon Arthur is adrift on his steel bed accompanied by his friend Leaf who was visiting at the time.
Unfortunately the crew of the Flying Mantis picks up the wrong passenger, and Arthur is left adrift, broken leg and all, and with sinking bed and spirits. His spirits are "buoyed" in the nick of time when he discovers a convenient flotation device, but this turns out to be a not a blessing in disguise, but a disaster in the making.
Caught red-handed fooling around with pirate treasure, he is picked up by the crew of a ship named the Moth, and barely escapes being captured by the dread pirate Feverfew (owner of said treasure) and his ship of bone, the Shiver. Soon it's time for lunch with Lady Wednesday, who is cursed with the sin of gluttony, and has been transformed into a creature worthy of her voracious appetite. Barely escaping being a part of the menu, Arthur agrees to an alliance for ownership of the third key and sets off on his third quest of the week in the name of the Will. This proves to be a huge pill to swallow, and gives him a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
The most exciting adventure of the series so far, this one is heavily laden with sea-faring rats with both two and four legs, sorcery and heroic deeds, and the humor is at its very best. It will be very difficult for Garth Nix to top this one.
Amanda Richards, July 3, 2006
Arthur Penhaligon Goes Down Deep 
2006-06-06
For all you Garth Nix fans, Drowned Wednesday is has 3rd book. This is an exciting sequel to Grim Tuesday. In this book Arthur meets old friends like Suzy Turquoise Blue and new people like some pirates and Drowned Wednesday. As you most likely know, Arthur is a mortal boy like us, but takes trips to the "House", a magical world run by the 7 days of the week (as they call themselves.) arthur goes on another exciting adventure and gets to sail with pirates and rats. Meeting Drowned Wednesday is another story. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys his books and likes adventure and fantasy.
A family experience 2006-05-19
I have been a fan of Garth Nix since picking up Sabriel a few years ago on a whim. With the Keys to the Kingdom series, I have been able to share the experience as it goes along with my two daughters, age 10 and 12.
It's been great to be able to read the stories as the come out, one at a time, and then discuss the ongoing plot. We trade theories about the future and favorite parts of the books.
As for Drowned Wednesday itself, I can only say that I enjoyed it immensely. Arthur's adventures in the house are rivetting and well imagined.
Drowned Wednesday, a good book!!! 2006-05-18
"My name is - look ou -!
Lookow?
Sorry, I got distracted. My name is Arth.
Lookow sounds better than Arth"
"I am a mortal from earth. A pretty dumb mortal.
Yet you speak.
I mean dumb like stupid."
"Old Primey wouldn't let me go excepting I swear to be all ladylike and proper on the border sea. So I swore, but we ain't on the border sea anymore, are we? We're under it."
The author for this book is Garth Nix. He is an author who mainly writes fantasy novels. He is mostly known for his The Old Kingdom series which is also know as the Abhorsen Trilogy. Some series other than the Keys to the Kingdom are the Seventh Tower series and the Very Clever Baby series. He has worked as a bookseller, book sales representative, publicist, editor, marketing consultant and literary agent, among other jobs.
Drowned Wednesday is the third book in the Keys to the Kingdom series. The whole series is about a boy named Arthur Penhaligon and he is the rightful heir to the whole kingdom. The kingdom he is the heir to is a kingdom that is called the House. It is the only realm where time runs truly. In this book, Arthur was merely sitting in a hospital bed when suddenly he sees ocean all around him. He sees a buoy and he climbs onto it but he pulls the wrong thing and the buoy puts an irremovable red mark on his hands. Luckily, a boat called the Moth picks him up but it turns out that the red mark is the mark of Feverfew's mark and Feverfew would come to take his revenge on Arthur for trying to steal his treasure. The crew members of the Moth eventually figure out that Arthur is Lord Arthur, Master of the Lower House and Lord of the Far Reaches. He needs to see Drowned Wednesday in order to get the third key. Arthur finds out that Drowned Wednesday is a huge, huge whale with a never ending appetite, but she will give him the key willingly if he gets the third part of the will from inside her stomach. He now goes to a ship of Raised Rats and tells the crew about the journey he's going to take into Drowned Wednesday. Dame Primus sends help so Arthur goes into Drowned Wednesday in hopes of retrieving the Will and getting the third key. However, there is something inside Drowned Wednesday that Arthur does not expect.
Drowned Wednesday is a great book with lots of excitement and action. The story of the whole series is pretty cool since the books go through each day. The idea of the real time of the House and the time of the secondary realms is a little confusing. For example, a week in the secondary realms could be only a few minutes in the House. This book reminds me of Harry Potter because they are both magical. The keys in the Keys to the Kingdom are like the wands in Harry Potter. Also, Arthur is a lot like Harry because they both don't know much about the new magical world and they discover. Out of the three books in this series, I have read, this by far is my favourite because the ending for this one is more possible. In the first book, Arthur just defeats Mister Monday in a duel with the help of Suzy. Really, Suzy was the one who defeated Mister Monday. In the second book, Arthur claims the key through a contest where they had to create a work of art with the key. He only wins because Grim Tuesday copies an art piece from Rome. In this third book, Arthur has to escape from Drowned Wednesday's stomach along with many, many Denizens (they're like the people of the House) without the key. Arthur has to actually use his own abilities to escape. I recommend this book to fantasy lovers and people who like magical events. If you aren't into fantasy, this is not a book for you. I would rate this book an 8/10 because it is a great book but not the best I've read. I eagerly await the next book in the series.
hmmm 2006-05-07
a spun tale with the finest ingredients and it's one of the best tales i've read (ex. like eldest and eragon, anything written by eoin colfer and anything written by garth nix) awesome work on this tale i can't wait to get my hands on sir thursday!!!!!
Great Imagination, Very Good Book To Read 2008-07-16
In Drowned Wednesday, Arthur has major problems to deal with. It doesn't get any easier for him. Arthur has to rescue his friend, Leaf, from pirates. Find the Third Part of the Will and get the Third Key from Drowned Wednesday. Also, Arthur must free the Will's followers that are trapped in Wednesday stomach and deal with a new enemy name Feverfew. It seems so much for a boy to deal with, but Arthur handles it, always with a bit of relunctance - at least, to me.
The character I liked the most, of course, was Suzy. She came later into the book and with a surprising entrance, but she did not disappoint me. I felt sorry for Drowned Wednesday. Just reading about what she did during her meeting with Arthur, and how she couldn't help herself, I felt so sad for her. It was jaw dropping, almost horrifying how she had no control over her hunger for food. The character I do not like the most is Dame Primus, but she wasn't in this book, only mentioned. I do not trust Dame Primus, even though, Arthur has made her in charge of the first two keys. I'm sure I may be wrong, but I feel as though Arthur has given the Will too much.
Overall, I liked this big sea adventure that Garth Nix created. It was a lot of fun to read, and the imagery was well written. I had no confusion as to what was going on. It is one of my favorite books out of the Keys To The Kingdom series that I've read so far.
Thanks.
parental advise 2007-10-20
This series gets better with each book. The book has a scary feeling but remains positive in outlook. The character's are well conceived and well rounded.
Not A Surprise That It Was Also Good 2007-07-19
What's the point of going on and on trying to convince people to get this book?
IT'S GOOD PEOPLE! IF YOU'RE THINKING OF GETTING IT, YOU WON'T BE WASTING YOUR MONEY!!
Drowned Wednesday is WONDERFUL!!!! 2006-08-21
Drowned Wednesday, the 3rd book in The Keys to the Kingdom series, by Garth Nix, is a fantastically original read. (It is the 3rd book in the series, so you do have to start with the first book in the series, Mister Monday.) The characters are very well developed, and it is just as exciting as the previous books in the series. This book is a great blend of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Adventure that you will not forget! I can't wait to get my hands on the 4rth one in the series!
Plot: Along comes Wednesday, and Arthur Penhaligon knows that soon enough he will be summoned back to The House to deal with Lady Wednesday, the third Morrow Day. Unfortunately, when a giant ocean wave comes to do the job, his friend Leaf is with him, and she is forced to come along for the ride.
Arthur and Leaf will have their fair share of adventure this Wednesday: Leaf is mistook for Arthur and picked up by a ship with fluarescent green sails, leaving Arthur afloat alone in the ocean until he is picked up by a ship full of rather incapable 'Salvagers.'
Along with his salvager friends, Arthur will narrowly escape the wrath of Feverfew (a horrible pirate), Learn of the fall of Lady Wednesday, and her transformation into Drowned Wednesday, and eventually be found by Wednesday's Dawn, who takes him to Wednesday herself.
There he learns of how he must find the 3rd part of the Will, and save Wednesday from her horrible fate, A process which will not be easy! But he will be aided by friends old and new, so he might just make it!!
Read this great book to find out what happens!
a great bedtime adventure 2006-08-03
I have read each of the Keys to the Kingdom books to my [...] every night before bed. We just finished Wens. and are looking forward to starting Thurs. I think the books are a great read even for younger kids who enjoy adventure books, if the parents are willing to help out the reader with the tougher words. I would strongly reccomend these books to children of any age, but also caution that some situation might be a little too scary if your child isn't used to "older" books. We read the Harry Potter series first and it is no scarier then that series.
