SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY
The gate to the demon prison Zyzyxx is about to be opened. Seth and Kendra both are trying to stop it but they can't do it alone. They need the help of old allies and new friends.
CHARACTER GROWTH
Kendra is not sure she can trust anyone since what happened in the last book. Although she suddenly changes her mind when she meets Bracken. She seems more confident as the book goes on, making sure she is not left out of anything.
Seth's finally development involves him rectifying a massive mistake he makes. It happens pretty fast in the story, and a part of me was rooting for him to be right for once. But he wasn't, which is consistent with all the other books and Grandpa Sorenson's view on evil.
I encountered another familiar problem. When Seth makes the biggest mistake he has made yet, he is again, reassured that it wasn't his fault. No really. Coulter says he is a good boy and was just showing mercy (and ignoring the advice of everyone around him). While Patton says he would have done the same because apparently he's an idiot too. I was so frustrated to see nothing has changed.
NEW CHARACTERS
Bracken is a prisoner that the Sphinx keeps at his secret lair. He becomes an ally to Seth and eventually becomes close to Kendra. He is thousands of years old but appears to be in his late teens.
Nagi Luna is a demon who the Sphinx has teamed up with. But she seems to have no loyalties to him.
Vince is a new character that helps in the first mission of the book. He isn't in the story long enough to develop any personality.
PACING
Pacing is decent. We get a small chapter in the beginning before getting straight to the mission. From there there is plenty of action that eventually slows down and then speeds up again. Eventually the story splits off with the perspectives of Seth and Kendra, each on their own. This helps keep the story moving.
DEATHS OF SIDE CHARACTERS
There are a few new characters that are introduced. One is barely in the book before she leaves and then is revealed to have died. I wanted to feel awful for what could have been an amazing character but I just didn't care.
When a second new characters dies, he was in the book slightly longer, and the way he died was tragic. The affect of it horrified me...but I still didn't know the character enough to care about him personally. It was more the way he died that got a reaction out of me.
Two other characters die that we don't really know. I didn't really care.
FORGOTTEN CHARACTERS
There are plenty of characters that have been introduced throughout the series: Mara, Dale, Coulter, Trask, Warren, Elise, Tanu, ect. Some characters I felt initially had importance, and even personalities. Other didn't even have personalities to begin with. Mara, Trask and Elise come to mind. But I feel like all of them were abandoned.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF EVIL
If you remember previously, I discussed Grandpa Sorenson's view on demons and other dark creatures. He thought their nature was to be evil and they had no real free will of their own to decide to be good. I never quite liked this view because it meant the villains of the story were not really bad, they were just following their instincts.
The idea that they had no free will didn't appeal to me, especially since they are clearly smarter than animals. I shouldn't have been surprised when this idea was consistent but a part of me wanted him to rethink the whole thing. It would have made the story less predictable and Seth seem less stupid.
KENDRA'S STORY-SPOILERS
Eventually Kendra goes on a mission with a few others to protect the last of the Eternals, people who can live forever and are important to the Demon Prison. But honestly, I had to wonder why this was important to the plot. Both attempts fail so nothing is really gained in this venture. Was it so Kendra could get to know Bracken better?
Seth, in contrast actually accomplishes quite a lot, getting a new sword and finding out how to get to the demon prison. Not to mention bringing along three people as allies that otherwise would not have been there.
BRACKEN & KENDRA
Throughout the book it is hinted at that Kendra has a crush on Bracken. I get it, she had that whole thing with Gavin last time, and we want her to have a happy relationship. But Bracken is supposed to be thousands of years old. I know he is supposed to be around her age in his years, but I never quite believed he was old as he was.
There is one scene where he rallies the troops where he seems quite wise, but other than that, not so much. If he has seen centuries of life and witnessed how culture and people have changed, I would think he would have a much more detached air about him (or at least different ideas about modern culture). But he jokes and talks like an actual teenager from the same time period as everyone else.
And in the last pages, Kendra reveals her thoughts for becoming an eternal so she can be with him forever. I wanted to laugh it was so absurd. She has only known him for a few weeks.
THE SPHINX
There is a scene where we learn the Sphinx's history and where he tries to convince Seth he is not evil. I found it interesting, although his arguments for opening the prison were not very convincing to me. I don't quite care for the scene where the villain tries to convince the hero to join him. There is never any chance the hero will and the reader never buys it if the character even considers it.
I liked learning about the Sphinx, so I found it puzzling that later on he is a mere side character, even in the climax. And I didn't find his fate quite believable. I get it, this is a kids book, but it just came off as naive and stupid to me.
AMAZING PLACES
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the originality of the many places that Seth and Kendra visit. The various parts of the Dreamstone were interesting and unique. The giant wall of totem poles was a cool concept. The room of zombies was creepy.
In one scene, when Kendra has to go through an area with dangerous fruit that tempts her, the rationalizations she uses are actually convincing. I had to wonder if she was really going to give in.
We get to see new creatures as well, like leprechauns and harpies. There are things I really enjoyed.
LOOSE ENDS
Some loose ends are tied, such as who sent Kendra the knapsack and the stingbulb when she was kidnapped by the Sphinx. But a lot of things feel awkward. It's randomly mentioned that Vanessa and Warren have a relationship now. No mention of when or how that happened. Or even why. It's just thrown in there. Newel and Doren's constant joking is funny, until we get to the climax when it just makes the gravity of the situation disappear.
CLIMAX-SPOILERS
It all accumulates in an all out battle as the demons pour out of zyzyxx. I felt that Seth defeated his opponent far too fast and the discussion they had beforehand was shallow and short. Also, it bothered me that Kendra was able to wield his sword. I know she needed to have her own role, but I felt that being fairy kind should have given her some abilities. Did she need to fight too? Maybe her role should have been something other than a warrior.
The twist at the end was interesting, as no one but Bracken and the fairy queen were in on it.
CONCLUSION
I love Mul's humor and I was smiling so many times throughout this book. The places we visit and the missions are often rather unique. But Seth refuses to develop, and others still make excuses for him. Kendra's mission felt like a waste of time and her relationship with Bracken felt unreal to me. Not to mention new characters and old ones alike seem to have no importance or presence at all. I give “Keys to the Demon Prison” three stars.
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