Hardcover, 564 pages

Published May 11th 2005 by Harper Collins

The seventh son of the seventh son, aptly named Septimus Heap, is stolen the night he is born by a midwife who pronounces him dead. That same night, the baby’s father, Silas Heap, comes across a bundle in the snow containing a new born girl with violet eyes. The Heaps take this helpless newborn into their home, name her Jenna, and raise her as their own. But who is this mysterious baby girl, and what really happened to their beloved son Septimus?
The first book in this enthralling new series by Angie Sage leads readers on a fantastic journey filled with quirky characters and magykal charms, potions, and spells. Magyk is an original story of lost and rediscovered identities, rich with humor and heart.

I don’t often read children’s books, I’ve moved on to YA now.. at 23, no, that’s a lie, I love children’s books. Occasionally the cover of a children’s book will catch my eye, and I’ll have to pick it up. That’s what happened here. Browsing our local used book shop, my boyfriend and I came across Magyk just sitting on the shelf.. The cover looked cool, the synopsis was interesting. It fit the bill and I bought it.

What I didn’t except was for my inner child to adore this book, this world, and these characters! This is an amazing fantasy series, and I’m honestly surprised I haven’t heard more about it. It’s not just for little kids, honestly, I think it’s a little too scary for young kids.. maybe 8+ would be fine, but there were some parts that even creeped me out! This series is wonderful. It’s honest, refreshing, full of fantasy and cool names and magic spells and shield bugs and dragon boats! There’s evil too, very evil, dark magic, but this series has it all.

I grew up on Harry Potter, and Lord of The Rings, and I’m just so bummed I didn’t discover this series sooner! Septamus Heap is such a wonderful character, even if you don’t meet him right away, and the story is unbelievable catching! There’s the chase scenes, and the action, but there’s the humor and the jokes between siblings. The Heap family would rival the Weasley family for most entertaining group of siblings. There were times when I seriously laughed out loud at this book and the situations. I was also drawn into the action, the suspense and the dark magyk that they had to keep away from.

This is just the first book, and I’m on the second as I write this and I’m still in love. I love the way Angie Sage writes. It’s got wit, humor, and some seriously good action scenes! I love Septamus, Jenna, and the dragon boat! These characters stick with you, even when you’re not reading! I find myself thinking about it and wishing it was right next to me so I could just keep reading, just to find out a little more!Check this series out, you won’t regret it. Yes, it might be a bit kiddie, but don’t we all need a bit of kiddie now and then?

Angie Sage (born 1952) is the author of the Septimus Heap series which includes Magyk, Flyte, Physik, Queste, Syren, Darke and Fyre, the final book which is scheduled to come out later in 2013. Also, she wrote The Magykal Papers, an additional book with extra information about Septimus’ world. She is also the illustrator and/or writer of many children’s books, and is the new writer of the Araminta Spookie series.Angie Sage grew up in Thames Valley, London and Kent. Her father was a publisher. He would bring home blank books that she could fill with pictures and stories. Sage first studied medicine, but changed her mind and went to Art School in Leicester. There she studied Graphic Design and Illustration. She began illustrating books after college. Then she progressed to writing children stories, including toddler books and chapter books. Her first novel was Septimus Heap: Magyk. Angie Sage is married and has two daughters, Laurie and Lois.

Magyk on IndieBound