Septimus Heap, Book Four: Queste

The ENTIRE Septimus Heap is wonderful! Multi-Book series can be daunting for a variety of reasons. This series is not one of them. While many of the main characters are quite young, like Harry, Hermione, Ron, Luna et al, they are very bright, individually skilled in ways that compliment one another, extraordinarily brave and quite personable. Angie sage has done an excellent job developing AND evolving the story line(s). I would be hard pressed to identify any part(s) of the story that lagged (bored out of my mind) in any way. While it is difficult, as well as reasonable, to please every reader; there is little, if any, risk in buying or borrowing (friend, library) these books.

As an adult, I enjoy good juvenile fantasy and science fiction. The Septimus Heap series is well written and does not have the tendency to restate activities and character actions multiple times. Readers who enjoy references to passing gas and dragon poo will find plenty of that throughout the books. I particularly like the fact that Angie Sage always ends each book with a wrap up about all the characters and/or events that were encountered throughout the story.

This is the fourth book in the Septimus Heap series, and also the biggest at 596 pages. The first three books, in order are: Magyk Flyte Physik In order to fully appreciate book four, I would recommend reading the three preceding books first, to make sure that you don't miss a thing.The main character is Septimus Heap, the seventh son of a seventh son, apprenticed to the Extra-Ordinary Wizard, and always finding himself in the middle of perilous adventures. Septimus and his friends are usually found battling against DARKE magyk, and this book is no exception.One of his enemies has returned, bringing the nasty old remains of the evil DomDaniel, and with it the DARKE magyk plus all the creepy things that come with the package.But that's not all.This fast-paced book also has Septimus, his adopted sister Princess Jenna and his friend Beetle trying to save his brother Nicko and his friend Snorri, who are trapped five hundred years in the past. While all this is going on, Septimus is tricked into embarking on a QUESTE, from which no apprentice has ever returned. With the help of the alchemist Marcellus Pye and restoration expert Ephaniah Grebe, the QUESTE leads them to the House of Foryx where all time meets.Angie Sage has created a wonderful fantasy series for readers from around ten years old, and I'm looking forward to 2010, when the movie based on Magyk is due to be released.Note: This book also includes one of those cute little CD-ROMs, and when you play it through your computer, you get a choice of eight "questing stones" leading to information and activities, as follows:1. About Queste2. About the Author3. Ice Tunnel Sledding (a game)4. Trading Cards for supporting characters Lucy Gringe, Ullr, Ephaniah Grebe, Tertius Fume and Boris Catchpole, with a link to the interactive website where you can find all the characters.5. Spells for "Pure water" and "Darkening"6. Tips for traveling to the House of Foryx7. Top selling sweets at Ma Custard's All-Day-All-Night Sweet Shop8. QUESTE screensaver for PC and MACWorth the money and then someAmanda Richards, May 19, 2008

“Queste” book four in the Septimus Heap Series, is one of the most adventurous in the series. The amazing storyline has drama and comedy in just the right proportions. The book is about Septimus and his friends embarking on a Queste, but on their way there, who knows what will happen. The story is consists of 49 chapters, all very intriguing. As Septimus embarks on his Queste, he is also on a quest of his own. The treacherous adventure will take you on the greatest Queste you have ever experienced. The fourth book is truly, THE very best in my opinion.

I started reading this series just after Magyk came out in paperback. As an adult reader of fantasy novels, I started broaden my horizons with well-written young adult fantasy. Magyk fell squarely in that category.Angie Sage is a talented, and apparently very hard-working, author. This series has well written characters that she is interested in building on as she builds the series. Characters that were introduced in the first and second books keep coming back - the way you would expect to run across people more frequently in a relative small environment.I have enjoyed this whole series. I have really appreciated that fact that some of the questions she left us with and the ends of the books - questions that truly reflect on the character of her characters are addressed in the subsequent novels. The 'kids' are growing and this growth is in their decisions and actions in the novels - as well as in the wonderful chapter illustrations (and collector's cards) by illustrator Mark Zug.This is an exciting addition to the series. There is quite a bit of action in this novel - almost enough to warrant a second read to make sure you didn't miss any of the subtleties. Well worth picking up.By the way, the hardback version of this book includes a mini CD with games, printable collector's cards and a link to the fun (and safe) Septimus Heap website.

I got the first book for free but quickly decided I would be buying the whole series. I love it!

If you've read the rest of the series, you will read this one.

I own the first 3 and I wanted to finish the series so I bought them used for a great price. I'm 58 years old and this is a wonderful story if you liked Harry Potter you just might like this story. And if you don't buying them used you're not out much and you can donate them to your local library.

What should be a very special time for young Septimus Heap, is about to become very bad indeed. The quest is supposed the be a wonderfull thing that marks the end of his apprenticeship. But a bitter boy and an evil ghost have stepped in and changed things. The quest comes years early and is darkened by evil magic. There is no telling what will happen to him, Jenna and Beetle. Septimus has to escape the evil questing guards and they have to travel a very long way by ancient magic, across the sea, to the land of ice and snow and follow an ancient map, which is nearly lost forever to find a very special building, guarded by some rather unpleasant creatures, with some long lost friends inside, waiting to be rescued. All the while they are persued by a very dark and dangerouse creature, under the command of Tertius Fume, the evil ghost. Angie Sage is a very talented author!

read these with my son and we both loved them - a story to rival harry potter epic intrigue that will keep you hooked till the last pages great characters and thrilling ride highly recommend this series

I have the complete set in hardback of this series which really tells you all about the books of Angie Sage and i will get the next instalment later this year in 2011, if you have not read anyof her books start at the begining and read about Septimus Heap

A+++

A good read.