Magyk (Septimus Heap, Book 1) is a fun tale of wizardry and enchantment. Unlike the Harry Potter series, this series takes place in an imaginary time and place. The plot revolves around the Heap family, Silas, Sarah and their six green-eyed boys. On the night of the birth of their seventh son, Septimus, the midwife arrives, pronounces the baby dead, and takes him away. Later that same evening, Silas finds an abandoned infant girl in the forest and takes her home to Sarah to raise as their own child, Jenna. Other mysterious events have taken place on this fateful night. The Queen has been murdered as well as her infant princess, and the evil Necromancer has taken control of the kingdom.
The rest of the story takes place ten years later. The henchmen of the Necromancer are figuring out the true identity of the violet-eyed Jenna Heap. In their escape to Aunt Zelda's hidden home in the marshes, Jenna, her brother Nicko (the sixth son), and former ExtraOrdinary Wizard Marcia Overstrand bring along a young castle guard who identifies himself as Boy 412.
Angie Sage has kept clear distinctions between good and evil in the first book of the Septimus Heap series. Boy 412 quickly learns which is the wrong side, once he is removed from the service of the Supreme Custodian. Family is an important theme in this book, and like the Harry Potter series, large families are shown to be places of love, security, support and happiness. I recommend Magyk for strong readers 4th grade and up, with the following advisory message.
This book is a fantasy novel and deals with themes of magic, ghosts, and spells. Children's literature has used these devices for millennia. The world of fiction is a truly magical place but must be explored with caution. Parents know best when and if their child can grasp the nuances between fictional magic in books and occult magic in the real world. I recommend Alan Keyes' comments from his wise but short-lived program, "Alan Keyes is Making Sense," for more insight.
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Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Magyk by Angie Sage
Magyk (Septimus Heap, Book 1) is a fun tale of wizardry and enchantment. Unlike the Harry Potter series, this series takes place in an imaginary time and place. The plot revolves around the Heap family, Silas, Sarah and their six green-eyed boys. On the night of the birth of their seventh son, Septimus, the midwife arrives, pronounces the baby dead, and takes him away. Later that same evening, Silas finds an abandoned infant girl in the forest and takes her home to Sarah to raise as their own child, Jenna. Other mysterious events have taken place on this fateful night. The Queen has been murdered as well as her infant princess, and the evil Necromancer has taken control of the kingdom.
The rest of the story takes place ten years later. The henchmen of the Necromancer are figuring out the true identity of the violet-eyed Jenna Heap. In their escape to Aunt Zelda's hidden home in the marshes, Jenna, her brother Nicko (the sixth son), and former ExtraOrdinary Wizard Marcia Overstrand bring along a young castle guard who identifies himself as Boy 412.
Angie Sage has kept clear distinctions between good and evil in the first book of the Septimus Heap series. Boy 412 quickly learns which is the wrong side, once he is removed from the service of the Supreme Custodian. Family is an important theme in this book, and like the Harry Potter series, large families are shown to be places of love, security, support and happiness. I recommend Magyk for strong readers 4th grade and up, with the following advisory message.
This book is a fantasy novel and deals with themes of magic, ghosts, and spells. Children's literature has used these devices for millennia. The world of fiction is a truly magical place but must be explored with caution. Parents know best when and if their child can grasp the nuances between fictional magic in books and occult magic in the real world. I recommend Alan Keyes' comments from his wise but short-lived program, "Alan Keyes is Making Sense," for more insight.
The rest of the story takes place ten years later. The henchmen of the Necromancer are figuring out the true identity of the violet-eyed Jenna Heap. In their escape to Aunt Zelda's hidden home in the marshes, Jenna, her brother Nicko (the sixth son), and former ExtraOrdinary Wizard Marcia Overstrand bring along a young castle guard who identifies himself as Boy 412.
Angie Sage has kept clear distinctions between good and evil in the first book of the Septimus Heap series. Boy 412 quickly learns which is the wrong side, once he is removed from the service of the Supreme Custodian. Family is an important theme in this book, and like the Harry Potter series, large families are shown to be places of love, security, support and happiness. I recommend Magyk for strong readers 4th grade and up, with the following advisory message.
This book is a fantasy novel and deals with themes of magic, ghosts, and spells. Children's literature has used these devices for millennia. The world of fiction is a truly magical place but must be explored with caution. Parents know best when and if their child can grasp the nuances between fictional magic in books and occult magic in the real world. I recommend Alan Keyes' comments from his wise but short-lived program, "Alan Keyes is Making Sense," for more insight.
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Angie Sage is awesome
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