I loved this little Locke & Key story. I recommend reading this before the stories in the Heaven and Earth volume as it goes first chronologically and introduces the residents of Keyhouse in the 1910s a bit more thoroughly.

Without getting into the details of the story too much, as it's already short enough, this story involves a key we haven't seen before that is connected to a dollhouse. While fun the whole time, I'm left to wonder how naive Chamberlin Locke is for making this key. ( )

The only thing I didn't like about this was that it ended too soon.
I love this series, and I was excited to learn there are more Golden Age stories to come.
And a TV pilot in the works too-oh joy!
It won't make as much sense to people who haven't read the original series, so pick that up first.
Hill's imagination and Rodriguez's art still make a winning combination.
Give us more more more! ( )

A couple of things to address here.

The first is the Small World story. Art and story are absolutely lovely, as is every other Locke & Key story. Never a problem there. In this particular one, Hill is wearing his influences on his sleeve, proudly proclaiming the influence of Richard Matheson's The Incredible Shrinking Man as the basis of this story.

What's shocking is that he doesn't proclaim the other—and to my mind more obvious—influence: his mother, Tabitha King. I mean, my god, the book is called Small World. Tabitha King's first novel was called Small World, and it dealt with dollhouses and shrunken people.

And the cover for this edition is an obvious homage to his mother's book, as well. Look at this, then look at the cover of the Locke & Key book. Tell me Rodriguez isn't playing with that image.



So, all that's to the good, and buys the book a five-star rating.

What pulls a star off? The simple fact that you get about 24 pages of story—about a third of the book—and the rest is filled with notes and a short interview. Interesting, but not worth the price of the book.
( )

An extra for the Locke & Key main comic, it tells a bit of Locke family's history and successfully creates a Victorian family atmosphere. The story is fairly light but consistent with the rest of the series and fleshes out the world of the comic. A welcome addition. ( )

Welcome back to the Key House. If you thought the fun ended after book six, then prepare for a short but fun wild ride. This story takes place in the late 1800’s or early 1900’s. We are given no exact time time. The current members of the house have just had a birthday, and are gifted a special doll house. This doll house keeps track of everyone in Key house, and things that happen inside it, effect the Key House as a whole. When a little someone sneaks a play, a dangerous foe is set loose. Only the furriest of felines will be able to save everyone. This was super short and most of the book is about the TV adaptation that is in the works, or who the series came about. It was a great look into a story I love.
#LitsyAtoZGN
#booked2020 #bottomofTBR
#beatthebacklist ( )