A year ago, I turned the final page of The Book of the Dead. I don't feel young any more

A year ago, I turned the final page of The Book of the Dead. I don't feel young any more

A year ago, I turned the final page of The Book of the Dead, the last installment in Garth Nix's critically acclaimed series, The Keys to the Kingdom. As I closed the book, a wave of bittersweet nostalgia washed over me. I had been following the adventures of Arthur Penhaligon, the reluctant hero tasked with saving the world from the evil forces of the Architect, for years. And now, with the conclusion of the series, I couldn't help but feel a sense of loss.

The Keys to the Kingdom series had been a constant companion throughout my teenage years. I had grown up alongside Arthur, facing challenges and overcoming obstacles right alongside him. The intricate world-building, complex characters, and gripping plot twists had kept me hooked from the very first page of Mister Monday to the final showdown in The Book of the Dead. And now, with the series coming to an end, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the thought of saying goodbye to these characters who had become like old friends.

But as I reflected on the journey I had taken with Arthur and his companions, I realized that the end of The Keys to the Kingdom also marked the end of an era for me. I had started reading the series when I was just a wide-eyed teenager, full of dreams and aspirations. But now, as I turned the final page of The Book of the Dead, I couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy at the realization that I was no longer that same young, naive girl.

The themes of growing up, facing challenges, and accepting responsibility that ran throughout The Keys to the Kingdom series had resonated with me on a deep level. And now, as I closed the book for the last time, I couldn't help but feel a sense of kinship with Arthur as he faced the end of his own journey. Like him, I had grown and changed over the years, and the closing of this chapter in my life marked a new beginning.

So, as I set The Book of the Dead back on my bookshelf, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for Garth Nix and the world he had created. The Keys to the Kingdom had been more than just a series of books to me – it had been a journey, a companion, and a teacher. And as I looked towards the future, I knew that I would always carry the lessons I had learned from Arthur and his adventures with me, no matter where life took me next.