ANGIE SAGE was born in London and grew up in the Thames Valley,
London, and Kent. She loves the sea, spooky old houses, and time
traveling (the easy way, by reading history books). Angie has
created many books for children, including the New York Times
bestselling series Septimus Heap and Araminta Spookie. She lives in
England. Visit her online at www.angiesage.com and on Twitter
@AngieSageAuthor.
Mark Zug has illustrated many collectible card games, including
Magic: The Gathering and Dune, as well as books and magazines. He
lives in Pennsylvania.
"This first book in the Septimus Heap series is a cheerful, clever offering." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's BooksA deliciously spellbinding series opener. -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"A fresh take on the world of magic." -- Child Magazine
Gr 4-8-A wide cast of characters battle the forces of Darke Magyk in a well-realized world of fantasy. At birth, Septimus Heap is carried away for dead, and his father, Silas Heap, is entrusted with a baby girl. When the villainous Supreme Custodian tries to assassinate the now 10-year-old Jenna, who, it turns out, is the daughter of the murdered queen, the girl flees to the Marram Marshes along with some family members, the ExtraOrdinary Wizard, and a young army guard known only as "Boy 412." Pursued by the servants of the Necromancer DomDaniel, and aided by an engaging array of magical beings, they finally prevail in a satisfying and fairly exciting conclusion. Despite the hefty length, the novel is quite easy to follow. Many creative magical elements, such as the deliciously repulsive Magogs, add to the fun. Frequent point-of-view shifts give a well-rounded picture of the multiple plot threads and add many opportunities for light humor. On the other hand, with so many characters represented, it's hard to feel strong empathy for any of them. Jenna, the Queenling, and Boy 412, in particular, nearly emerge as full-blooded individuals at times, but neither quite stands out as an engaging hero. Villains are well drawn and varied, and most are more comical than truly menacing. The ease with which a once-formidable enemy like the Hunter is finally dispatched, however, detracts a bit from the eventual triumph of the protagonists. Overall, this is a fine choice for fantasy readers looking to delve into a new world with lots of magic, plenty of action, and a few neat surprises.-Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
"This first book in the Septimus Heap series is a cheerful, clever offering." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's BooksA deliciously spellbinding series opener. -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"A fresh take on the world of magic." -- Child Magazine
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