Series

Magyk by Angie Sage: A Children’s fantasy tale that wove me in! @HarperCollins @AngieSageAuthor

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Magyk (Septimus Heap #1)

Hardcover, 564 pages
Published May 11th 2005 by Harper Collins

Synopsis:

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.

Review:

A+

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?

About the Author:

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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.

Links to Check out:

Angie’s Facebook Page

Book Slut Challenge: Day 1 – Top Three Must Read Series!

So, in line with our theme for August, I’m starting Day 1! Let’s dive right into it! 🙂

Three Must Read Series!

This is tough, as I’ve done so much reading in the last year, both mainstream and indie writers!

(You can click the photos to head to their websites!)

In no particular order…

1. “The Boy” series by Meg Cabot

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These books are basically your favorite romantic comedy, put into book form ,which you can take with you and read throughout your day! 🙂 I went on a big kick earlier this year, reading all of Meg Cabot’s adult and YA books. I wanted to prove I could do it, and I always wanted to reach my goal of reading 300 books this year (Though I think I’ve got more than that on my Kindle currently!) I loved these books, Meg has a sassy, comedic style in her adult writing, and just the right amount of smart humor. Her leading ladies have real jobs and aren’t looking for a man to take them away. They love their careers, and the are just living life. I highly suggest this series to any women out there, because they are funny, smart, and cute, and just the perfect summer fun read 🙂

2.  Branded (A Sinners Series) by Abi & Missy

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So technically, this will be a series.. the second one is coming! They have promised me. I adored this book, which you can read about here.

This dystopian novel falls in a long line of similarly set novel, futures too disturbed or shocking to be real, but where society has degraded to. Abi & Missy do an amazing, wonderful, outstanding job of creating a horrible future, and making it so real and so raw and enticing. The plot centers around the 7 Deadly Sins, the way the society now convicts their criminals. In the current society, if you were accused of one of the 7 sins, you were branded, and thrown in the prison camp, The Hole. Lexi, accused of lust, has been thrown in the hole, with her personal guard Cole. This story about overcoming your reality and finding grace and hope. Lexi is a stunning character, and a real triumph of human spirit and hope. You need to start this series now so you won’t be left out when book two has us all talking! 🙂

 

3. All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness

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Not only do these books have the most wonderfully intricate covers, but the story is incredible. Don’t get me started on the whole vampire/ human thing, but this story, which has a witch/vampire love story involved. The first book is a bit slow, and has more descriptions of food then are completely needed. (Always talking about food, wine, food, wine) It’s set in Oxford, which is the most perfectly beautiful setting to imagine. But it’s the second book that really made me love this series and eagerly wait for the third one! History buffs, pay attention, they travel in time! They go and visit Queen Elizabeth I!! This for me made the book. I am a lover of Elizabethan fiction and non-fiction and enjoy seeing Elizabeth portrayed in books. This book has her cast as the jealous, vain queen that by some accounts she really was. But Matthew (vampire) and Diana (witch) really develop as characters in this second book, and give the readers waiting pains for the third one!! 🙂

If you wanna see a different take on this Day 1 Challenge, check out Tiffany’s Book Hangover, as she’s fighting her way through this challenge as well! 🙂

Love to see your thoughts in the comments as well! What are your three top series!? This one was hard, as I love so many, Harry Potter, Lord of The Rings, Hunger Games, so so many! 🙂