Angie Sage, Septimus Heap Book 1 Magyk

Magyk is a wonderful tale of Juvenile fantasy and it will make children of 10-12 years lose themselves in a wonderful universe, where Wizards rule and wizadry is the chief occupation. The story opens in The Castle, which is a circular land surrounded by the river. There Silas Heap finds a girl lying in the woods and at the same time his own seventh son Septimus supposedly dies after his childbirth. From there the story goes in motion. This girl is the daughter of the assasinated queen of the Castle. The heaps name her Jenna and raise her as own. She turns out to be a beautiful girl with violet eyes and a lovely nature. When she is discovered by the same people who killed her mother, the ExtraOrdinary Wizard Marcia Overstrand takes her away and escapes along with Silas Heap, his son Nicko, wolf Maxie and a young Army boy (Boy 412) to a White Witch called Zelda Heap in a mysterious marshland called Marram Marshes. From there the story is about how they fight off their enemies and regain control of the Castle.

Interesting facts which i would like to stress are:

Firstly, the universe where the story is situated. It is a completely different universe, unlike Harry Potter which is between our world. The Castle is a homely place where almost everybody knows anybody. Angie Sage's description makes the Castle seem so real and a bustling place full of people. There are movie halls, wizards, shoe makers, tea-shops, ports..everything. The Wizard Tower is a fascinating structure. The description will make you feel the greatness of the structure, and its ancientness.

The characters are wonderfully funny and vain. Marcia Overstrand, the great wizard, is so bad-tempered and ambitious.. but she has moments of frailness and is basically a good-natured funny lady but quite dominating. Similar is Silas Heap, who is at loggerheads with Marcia. He is like the forgetful but loving dad we all have. And that wolfhound Maxie, is like one hell of a dog! Someone with a mind of his own. Nicko Heap, the elder brother to Jenna is also a loving boy who may not be that interested in magyk but surely loves Jenna and has the presence of mind to stay cool in situations. The two protagonists really intrigued me - Jenna Heap, who atfirst i thought will be a shy little girl, but gradually transformed into a strong level headed girl, who has a mind of her own and clearly, princess like qualities. The other one is Boy 412, who is mysterious and not sociable but possesses a strong disposition and power which runs in his body.

I liked the Marram Marshes. It is such a mystical place with the Quake Oozes, Brownies, the python.... and the different sounds and Zelda's cottage on Draggen Island. Seriously, this place would be so good for a quiet holiday. Did remind me of old Kent though.

Overall, a wonderful book.. can't wait to read the next book Flyte. Wait for my review of it :)

Septimus Heap is an amazing story of a seventh son of a seventh son-who, supposedly has extraordinary powers. Jenna Heap has to get away from the Custodian Guards and travels to the Marram Marshes along with Marcia Overstrand, ExtraOrdinary Wizard, Silas and Nicko Heap and Boy 412. I I highly recommend this book for lovers of magic.

There are currently three books in this Septimus Heap series, Magyk, Flyte and Physik. All are great, and they are a great read for those hooked on Harry Potter.