Septimus Heap: Magyk (Book One)

On the journey home to see his newborn son, Silas Heap finds a baby girl in the forest. She is all alone, wrapped in blankets. He brings her home and finds out that his son, Septimus, the seventh son of the seventh son, is pronounced dead. Silas and his wife Sarah decided to bring up the baby girl as their own. Ten years later, they receive a strange visitor who turns their life upside down and raises lots of questions. Who is their daughter? Why is their family not safe? What happened to their son? 

BTSYA / Teen Reader:
My tastes do not really run to Magyk’s type of novels, so I did not enjoy the book much. Silas Heap and Marcia Overstrand’s rivalry seemed somewhat immature and certainly unfitting two supposedly accomplished individuals. At one point Silas essentially gives away the group’s position to the dangerous Hunter and his accomplices but shows no remorse about it and attempts to take Jenna out of Marcia’s custody, showing astonishing pettiness that does not fit well with his personality and is a jarring moment of out-of-character. I did, however, enjoy the slow building of bonds between the younger characters as they learned to live together and found out more about each other.

Though I did not like it, Magyk is a well-written story and its fantasy setting will undoubtedly appeal to many younger readers. Those who enjoyed the Harry Potter series would most probably like this one as well. In general, people who like wizards, magic, royalty, and plots should find this book a pleasing read.

Parent Perspective:
I liked this book, especially because it is the first in a series. The author did a great job of introducing the reader to the characters and setting the stage for many more adventures. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Even wrapped in mystery and magic, the book offers important lessons about helping people, the importance of family, and doing what’s right.

I can always find a con in a book, and I’m stumped on this one.