Magyk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Author | Angie Sage |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Mark Zug (illustrator) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Septimus Heap (Book 1) |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| Released | March 2005 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 564 (+32) (paperback edition) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-06-057731-2 (hardback edition) |
| Preceded by | NA |
| Followed by | Flyte |
Magyk is a fantasy novel by Angie Sage. It is the first book in the Septimus Heap series. The sequel, Flyte was released in March 2006 and the third book for the series which is called Physik [1].
Contents |
[edit] Plot introduction
Septimus Heap, the seventh son of the seventh son, is pronounced dead by the midwife on the night he is born. That same night, his father, Silas, finds a newborn girl with violet eyes in the snow. The Heaps take the baby girl into their home, name her Jenna after Sarah Heaps mother, and raise her as their own.
[edit] Plot summary
The book begins outside of a castle, also known as "The Ramblings". Here, we find Silas Heap trudging through the snow with some herbal medicines for his wife Sarah Heap. Just outside the castle Silas finds an infant baby girl with violet eyes, stranded in the snow. He hides her in his cloak and takes her with him. He learns about the succession of Marcia Overstrand as "The ExtraOrdinary Wizard". Along the way to his room, he meets her and she tells him to keep the baby he found, raise her as his own and if anyone asks, acknowledge her as his daughter. Just as he is out to enter his house, the matron midwife runs out carrying his newborn son Septimus Heap (who has been predicted to have extraordinary powers as he is the seventh son of the seventh son, Silas Heap) and pronouncing him dead. He names the baby girl Jenna and does exactly what Marcia had told him to do. The story revolves around the events of the time ten years after this incident. Some of the main events which make the base of this story include the revelation to Jenna of her being the "queenling", Marcia taking Jenna away, henchmen of the Supreme Custodian chasing them to her Aunt Zelda's house in the marshes.
[edit] Characters in Magyk
Warning: Big spoiler ahead!
The main characters are listed in bold.
- Marcia Overstrand, ExtraOrdinary Wizard
- Stanley the Long-Distance Confidential Message Rat (Rat 101)
- Zelda Zanuba Heap (The Keeper)
- Silas Heap, the Patriarch Heap and seventh son of Benjamin Heap
- Sarah Heap, the Matriarch Heap
- Simon Heap, 1st son of Sarah and Silas
- Sam Heap, 2nd son of Sarah and Silas
- Erik Heap, 3rd son of Sarah and Silas
- Edd Heap, 4th son of Sarah and Silas
- Jo-Jo Heap, 5th son of Sarah and Silas
- Nicko Heap, 6th son of Sarah and Silas
- Jenna 'Heap', Princess
- DomDaniel's apprentice, supposedly the dead (seventh) son of Sarah and Silas or "Septimus Heap", His name is in actuality Merrin Meredith, the Midwife's son
- Boy 412, of the Young Army - The protagonist of the series. Is the actual Septimus Heap.
- DomDaniel, The Necromancer and ex-Extraordinary Wizard.
- Alther Mella, The Ghost of the old Extraordinary Wizard.
- Galen, Sarah Heaps friend in the woods who is a vegetarian.
[edit] Major themes
The novel has a large focus on Magykal (sic) ability, family, and belonging.
[edit] Literary significance & criticism
Magyk has received mostly positive and generally praiseful reviews and comments from Publishers Weekly, and The Times who stated that it was 'A real discovery'.
Publishers Weekly also commented:
| “ | The author introduces several subplots, summarized rather than dramatized then eventually reveals the real Septimus in a clever, if predictable, turn of events, making way for the next installments. Ages 9-up[2]. | ” |
There were some negative points raised by VOYA commenting the two things about the book that were most annoying was: the lack of a map inside the book and overly coincidental events [3]. Other reviews from The Daily Telegraph and Kirkus Reviews commented the novel was "Full of hurtle-paced humour" [4] and "A quick–reading, stand–alone, deliciously spellbinding series" [5]. Author Clive Barker also commented that:
| “ | Septimus Heap: Magyk is a book full of wonders, charms, and surprises. Beautifully written and richly imagined, it invites us into a world we never want to leave. Marvelous[6] | ” |
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books said "This first book in the Septimus Heap series is a cheerful, clever offering." [7]
[edit] Trivia
The author includes a section about the number 7 in the "Extras" section of the paperback edition. This includes a list of hidden sevens. For example:
- There are 49 chapters: 7 times 7 = 49
- Boy 412 (4 + 1 + 2 = 7)
- The Heap's new address: Corridor 223, Room 16 (2 + 2 + 3 = 7, 1 + 6 = 7)
- In Chapter 28 (which itself is a multiple of 7), the Apprentice learns up to 13 times 7. Thirteen is the number that is one away from fourteen, which is also a multiple of 7.
- Rat 101 is used to give "homage" to George Orwell's "1984" (see Nineteen Eighty-Four).
[edit] Release details
- March 2005, North America, HarperCollins ISBN 0-06-057731-2, hardcover
- March 2006, North America, HarperCollins ISBN 0-06-057731-2, paperback
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Physik, 3rd book in the Septimus Heapseries was released in March 2007 says [1]
- ^ Publishers Weekly's review of Magyk available at [2]
- ^ YOYA's comments (Voice of Young Advocates), retrieved from: [3]
- ^ Blurb printed on Magyk the paperback edition
- ^ Kirkus Reviews comments readable at [4]
- ^ Clive Barker's comments of Magyk available at [5].
- ^ The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books review of Magyk [6]
