Magyk
The Septimus Heap series, Book 1
Angie Sage
HarperTrophy
Fiction, MG Fantasy
Themes: Dragons, Ghosts and Spirits, Wizards
*****
Description
Ten years ago, Septimus Heap - the omened seventh son of a seventh son - was born to the Ordinary Wizard Silas Heap (once in line to become the
powerful ExtraOrdinary Wizard of the great Castle) and his wife Sarah... only to be taken away, apparently dead, by the midwife. Coming home that
winter evening, Silas happened upon an infant girl abandoned in the snowy woods. The timing seems oddly coincidental, him losing a baby and finding
one the same day, but the Heaps aren't the kind to turn away a person in need.
Young Jenna was raised in the hectic Heap household, learning wizardry with her brothers. While their eyes turned a piercing shade of green like most
gifted children exposed to Magyk, her own remained violet, further proof of a question she hasn't yet found the words to ask. Now, on her tenth
birthday, the time has come for the truth to emerge. The Supreme Custodian, a petty, corrupt ruler, has slowly but surely pushed the once-venerated
Wizards out of power, banning Magyk from the schools and turning the lively Castle into a dark, oppressed, and joyless world. The current ExtraOrdinary
Wizard, Marcia Overstrand, comes to collect young Jenna - who has royal blood in her veins - and ends up on the run when agents of Darke Magyk close in
for the kill. With her are the entire Heap family and a nameless boy from the Custodian's Young Army, whom they saved from freezing to death on
watch.
The Darke Magyk agents work for an old foe of the Castle and its Wizards. DomDaniel, once ExtraOrdinary Wizard of the Castle himself, has
long been banished by the power of the Wizards and the presence of the lost princess. Thanks to his spies and loyal servants, his plans to return are
nearly complete - for he has with him a most extraordinary Apprentice, a seventh son of a seventh son... the long-lost Septimus Heap himself.
Review
Ever since Harry Potter cracked the bestseller charts, almost every young adult fantasy book on the market claims boldly to be "perfect for fans of
Harry," some even going so far as to claim to be the "next Harry Potter." This one is no exception: "Heads up, Harry, there's a new young wizard on his
way up," warns one enthusiastic review (Kirkus) on the back cover. I take these recommendations with several grains of salt; in my experience, the more
times a blurb compares a book to another, far more popular story, the less like that story (and the less original in general) the book is. This time,
however, I must say that they hit fairly close. Magyk is not an attempted clone of Harry Potter, but for some reason this book reminded
me of Harry's first book, when magic was a fun, wild world to discover, yet with shadows to hint at darker things to come. Both stories have distinctive
characters, absorbing and fast-moving plots, fun incidentals, and a whimsical overtone to the magic mingled with shades of true danger. The very fact that
Sage isn't desperately trying to copy Rowling is why I can recommend her book to those who enjoy Rowling's style. Given the overall lighthearted nature of
the story, my only real complaint is that the illustrator had no idea what a wolfhound looks like and instead drew a wolf dog. I have no idea whether or
not Magyk will end up spawning as grand a tale as Harry Potter's first adventure did, but I thoroughly enjoyed this first book and look forward
to future adventures.
This paperback edition includes several extras, including follow-ups on several incidental characters and a sneak-preview of the second Heap book,
Flyte. I haven't read the extras thoroughly, but the parts I've read are fun and maintain the feel established in the story.