SUMMARY
A more detailed, spoiler filled examination of the series and the ending.
CHARACTER LIKABILITY
Arthur's likability initially started with sympathy. He became a victim when he was given the key and then was thrust into an adventure that he never wanted.
He feels real because he constantly doubts himself and worries that he is going to mess up. Eventually he becomes more confident and takes charge not just in his own situations, but standing up to Dame Primus as well.
Suzy was actually the most likable character when I first met her. She was funny and inventive. I loved her interactions with Arthur. She was like a big sister sometimes (looking out for Arthur), while other times she felt like a little one, not really thinking but just acting. Someone that Arthur had to look out for and explain things to.
Leaf was a character that I didn't know well but eventually became indifferent to her. Yes, she was brave, but I never go to see her develop. I assumed she became brave during “Drowned Wednesday”. So when I saw her revealing it in “Sir Thursday” I couldn't really feel any admiration for her. Her motivation is never quite clear either. I wish I could have seen her interact with her family. Perhaps that would have made her more likable to me.
CHARACTER GROWTH
Arthur starts out scared and unsure, just fumbling his way through. Although he becomes brave, he still doubts himself and freaks out sometimes. He feels real.
By “Lady Friday” he feels confident and sure of himself. From there he develops more, having to fight his new nature and struggle with the idea that he probably will never go home.
But his motivation is unclear, as he gets multiple scenes with different perspectives. One where he asks about how to turn back into a human and another where he says that he was supposed to be dead, and his time in the House is a bonus. So he is just happy about that.
Because of that his development came to a halt. Not to mention his lack of conflict with the character he spends the most time with, Suzy.
Suzy learns about her past in the first book, but never speaks of it again. It was such a waste, as it could have been the one thing needed to help her develop.
She is rather reckless in the beginning of the book and this doesn't really change. In fact, she develops much more selfish behavior, like when she forces Arthur to use his key. It made her come across unlikable and selfish. And the fact that Arthur didn't even feel that mad at her proved their relationship was nonexistent.
Leaf supposedly grows from scared to brave. I say supposedly because we don't see her much in “Drowned Wednesday” and by the time we do she is already brave. Also, the only relationship she developed that may have added depth was one we never got to see for ourselves: Albert.
From then on she pretty much stays the same. Although she shows a desire to save a relative, it's one we never meet. We are simply told about her in one scene.
CHARACTER RELATIONSHIPS
Arthur and Suzy have an interesting relationship at first. Mainly because Suzy is so different than Arthur. She is blunt and bold, but also rather ignorant about what it's like to be human. So their interactions in the first few books are amusing.
Unfortunately, their conflict fades away and they no longer have any disagreements. Arthur seems to give up on explaining things to her. Perhaps realizing she will never change.
Arthur and Leaf don't really spend much time together. They meet in the first book for a very short time, and then she gets a longer scene in the second book. But she isn't in “Drowned Wednesday” much at all. And I think she should have been because by the end of the book, she is willing to put her life on the line to help Arthur. And yet they have no real relationship.
In “Sir Thursday” she is important, but her and Arthur never meet. Same thing in “Lady Friday”. Leaf gets a prominent place in each book, getting her own stories, but she and Arthur don't ever spend any time together.
Arthur and his family was perhaps one of the most important relationships in the story. It's this that ties him back to earth. As he doesn't really have any friends. And yet their time in the series is minuscule. I never got to see any relationships happen, I just got told about everything.
Told about how Arthur had been adopted. Told how he and his step-siblings all felt like real siblings. Told how Arthur once made a song to play for his parents to thank them for adopting him.
THE WORLD
The detailed world is definitely one of the best features of the series. The morrow days and their deadly sins, the vast different beings, from regular denizens to the pipers children. Not to mention the raised rats, which I rather loved.
There were the unique tools like the paper wings and the cool way to travel through the bottles. And the different methods of sorcery are unique and Doctor Scamandros had interesting talents.
Each part of the will had a different personality and unique form. I found the carp amusing and lordly, while the Raven was probably my favorite. The fact that it was always raining provided a hint to the location of that part of the will.
There were oceans, trains, glass towers of treasure, and a huge office building like something a child would build.
Although I felt certain things were not expanded upon. Like the gilded ones and the servants of the night.
THE ENDING
Objectively, I wish there were more hints to the ending. Arthur never got to be suspicious (although he was vaguely suspicous of Dame Primus) and he never got to investigate anything. I found it unbelievable that the Morrow days were all cast in such a bad light, when in reality they were trying to save all of existence.
I should have been skeptical of the idea that they were the bad guys. But instead I was only ever skeptical of Dame Primus. And there was no aha! Moment when we found out she was the one killing all of the morrow days. Because we never get to confront her. We just get to sit back and watch the world end. The passivity bothers me.
Arthur should have learned the truth and then had to gamble if this was indeed the truth, or a ruse to stop him by Lord Sunday. Bu the revelation happens and we have to sit back and watch it all. Arthur is the hero but ultimately he is passive. There is no choice to be made. He remains in ignorance until the end.
I felt similar in “Sir Thursday” when Arthur played an instrument, playing a song he wrote for his parents. I had wanted a little hint beforehand, so when this happened, I could have said: "I'm glad this came in handy". Like a puzzle piece. But instead it came out of the blue.
Subjectively, I think remaking the world as it was had the purpose of being like a rebirth, but it just felt like a loss to me. I kept thinking, the real people you knew are dead. You just made copies and put in the memories of the others. You failed. You're living in a fake world. And you never stood a chance.
Arthur makes a happy version of himself, and lies to him, telling him he is human. And then he gets to be the new Architect and have tea with the copy of Suzy. Hardly a satisfying ending.
Also, the lack of interaction with his mom was like a nail in the coffin. I wanted his family to know what he had done and who he had become. I wanted him to be able to say “goodbye” if need be, and “I love you”. I waited the whole series for that, and instead we only get Michaeli (his sister) learning something about him, and then we never see her again.
CONCLUSION
The characters are likable enough, but eventually their shallowness became apparent. As well as the lack of relationships between the characters.
The strong point is the world itself which is detailed and unique. Although near the end it felt like we lost the plot, as the seven deadly sins theme vanished in puff of smoke and Arthur's family is permanently obscure.
If you love stories and fantastic worlds more than characters then I think you'll love the series. You might even like the ending. It really had potential, it just never lived up to it. I give the series as a whole, three stars.
