Wednesday 18 November 2009

YOUNG ADULT REVIEW: Septimus Heap Day - Angie Sage

BOOK BLURB:

A baby girl is rescued from a snowy path in the woods. A baby boy is stillborn. A young Queen is taken ill. An ExtraOrdinary Wizard mysteriously resigns from his post. And all on the same night. A string of events, seemingly unconnected, begins to converge ten years later, when the Heap family receive a knock at the door. The evil Necromancer DomDaniel is plotting his comeback and a Major Obstacle resides in the Heap family. Life as they know is about to change, and the most fantastically fast-paced adventure of confused identities, magyk and mayhem, begin.


REVIEW:

Magyck by name, magic by nature as they say. This offering from Angie was my first outing with Septimus and whilst it has and can be described as a fantasy Harry Potter it’s a tale that will give the reader something different as the protagonist is supported by a whole cast of characters that are just as fascinating as he is. Other wizardly tales tend to spend too much time on one rather than allowing themselves to spread and bring these characters to the fore not only to get information out but to allow you a touch of the quirky backed up by a touch of the mystical. A great offering and one that I was glad that I picked up. It’ll be fun to see how the story develops and I have a feeling the experience will be something entirely new.



BOOK BLURB:

The evil necromancer DomDaniel has been disposed of, but something Darke is stirring. A Shadow pursues ExtraOrdinary Wizard Marcia Overstrand around, following her every move, growing stronger every day. Septimus senses something sinister is afoot, but before he can act, Jenna is snatched - taken by the most unlikely kidnapper. Septimus must rescue his sister but does not, at first, realise what he will be facing. ""Flyte" is the second of Angie Sage's engaging and energetic novels about Septimus Heap...We can't get enough. More, please!" - "The Times".


REVIEW:

The second novel by Angie and one that I really couldn’t wait to begin. So much so that I grabbed it within half an hour of finishing the first book. What I found was a welcome return to the world that I’d departed a short time after the events in the first novel as one of the Heap’s kidnaps Jenna leading to all sorts of mischief as an old foe returns from the grave. It’s fun, it’s an adventure and with a whole set of new additions to help the world grow, it’s a tale that will stay with the reader as well as firmly engraving this series into the YA readers mind.



BOOK BLURB:

When Silas Heap unseals a forgotten room in the Palace, he releases the ghost of a Queen who lived five hundred years earlier. Queen Etheldredda is as awful in death as she was in life, and she's still up to no good. Her diabolical plan to give herself ever-lasting life requires Jenna's compliance, Septimus's disappearance, and the talents of her son, Marcellus Pye, a famous Alchemist and Physician. And if Queen Etheldredda's plot involves Jenna and Septimus, then Dark adventure awaits With heart-stopping action and endless wit, Angie Sage continues the fantastical journey of Septimus Heap.


REVIEW:

Having taken a small break from Septimus I decided that it was high time to enjoy the world again. After all the adventure really is top notch, the writing unequivocally magical with a masters touch with twists woven behind the scenes that really will keep the reader guessing. Ideal for the 9-12 year old market this really is young fantasy fare at its very best with all the touches that a reader demands, love, friendship and above all triumph over adversity it’s a tale that will take the cast to the past as well as the future with far reaching consequences.



BOOK BLURB:

Septimus faces a perilous quest to find Nicko and Snorri, who have been trapped back in time. Everyone at the Castle is realising that Nicko and Snorri's chances of coming back are slim. Septimus, aided by Alchemist Marcellus Pye, learns of a place where all time meets: the House of Foryx. But how does he get there? Jenna and Septimus find Nicko's notes from the past and discover that he knows of the House of Foryx as well and has been creating a map to plot the house's hidden location. With the help of the Questing Stone and Nicko's faded maps, will Septimus be able to save Nicko and Snorri? Meanwhile, Simon Heap has taken on Merrin Meredith, former apprentice to DomDaniel, as his own apprentice, giving Merrin an opportunity he has been waiting years for. With the help of a frightening creature called a Thing, Merrin plans to reclaim the identity he used to have that of Septimus Heap.


REVIEW:

Sadly this is the last Septimus Heap book for me for now and one that I didn’t realise I was going to miss until the final page was turned and I looked for the next novel. What transpires within is a tale of love, wonderment and of course heroism of the highest degree as they seek to right what went wrong in the previous instalment. It’s been a real joy to read and one that I look forward to returning to again in the future. Add to the mix character growth on an almost epic proportion alongside a tale that binds the reader and you’ve got top notch entertainment all the way.



BOOK BLURB:
In the fifth book of this Magykal series, Septimus and his friends find themselves on an island whose secrets are as dark and dangerous as its inhabitants. Septimus Heap returns to the House of Foryx with Spit Fyre to pick up Jenna, Nicko, Snorri, and Beetle. But the journey home does not go well and when Septimus and his friends are caught in a storm, Spit Fyre crashes into the Rokk Lighthouse. They are rescued by the lighthouse keeper who is disturbingly sinister, and who has an equally sinister cat And all the while, Septimus is trying to fight the strange pull he's feeling to the island and its mysterious secrets.


REVIEW:

Well I thought that the last book was the end of my journey with Septimus but imagine my surprise when this book landed, delivered due to the postal strike by Rat Messenger.

As with the other novels it’s a cracking story and one that really doesn’t let up. However whilst the others have always been a great adventure this one takes Septimus to a new level and is now my favourite of the lot. The characterisation is still great with the growing cast members each adding different strengths into the emotional as well as psychological plot with each having traits that the reader will not only admire but adore. A great offering and one that really will have you clamouring for the next novel. Definitely worth a few gold pieces from any Messenger service.



BOOK BLURB:

This beautifully designed and wonderfully witty Septimus Heap compendium is a dazzling cornucopia of information on every aspect of Septimus's world and the creatures that inhabit it: from secret files, to journal excerpts, charm theory, the seven basic spells, dispatches from the Message Rat Office, history, maps and much more. It will be sumptuously illustrated in four-colour throughout by Mark Zug. The ultimate companion title for fans of Septimus Heap and an ideal gift for fans of magic, Wizardology and all things fantastical. Can be read cover to cover, perfect for dipping in and out of too.


REVIEW:

Septimus Heap has been described by some as the poor mans Harry Potter. I respectfully disagree with that assessment as it’s a pheomena in its own right as the hero of the series takes the reader on an adventure in a totally unique fantasy world. Here presented in this book is the accompanying guide to the series to date that adds not only interesting tip bits for the reader but also expands on some of the unique points along with giving some back history as if it were a tourist guide.

It’s a great read and addition to the series and will be something that the reader will get a real kick out of. However that said, I’ve read this without having read the series first so that I could get the feel of the world before embarking on it. What it does do as well, is unfortunately carry spoilers which might ruin the books for you as some of the twists will be ruined which whilst I don’t object to, might ruin it for the younger reader. Still it is good fun.

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