Darke: Septimus Heap Book 6
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Praise for Septimus Heap: 'Warm, funny and humane, Sage takes care with the destiny of even her smallest characters, and is a real discovery' The Times 'Sage navigates her complex setting with suspenseful and well-structured plotlines ... These books open an array of dazzling worlds. It's worth hopping aboard this bus, and I'm eagerly waiting at the stop' The Times Praise for Magyk: 'Wonderfully imaginative ... Children of all ages will relish this' Waterstone's Guide to Kids' Books Praise for Syren: 'This is another incident-packed mass of reading pleasure' School Librarian
Review
Praise for Septimus Heap: Warm, funny and humane, Sage takes care with the destiny of even her smallest characters, and is a real discovery The Times Sage navigates her complex setting with suspenseful and well-structured plotlines ... These books open an array of dazzling worlds. It's worth hoping aboard this bus, and I'm eagerly waiting at the stop The Times Praise for Magyk: Wonderfully imaginative ... Children of all ages will relish this Waterstone's Guide to Kid's Books Praise for Flyte: An immensely powerful and imaginative adventure, full of surprises, with good and bad magic and it moves at a rattling pace ... You will not want to leave this imaginary world The School Librarian
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have read all this series in ebook form, and for once that worked greatly to my advantage as I had not realised, when my preorder became available, that I was getting the kindle edition long before the hard back hits the shelves in the UK. Why we in the UK should be made to wait so long is not clear to me, as this is a perfect summer read for children and young adults, as well as adults who enjoy a thoroughly engaging tale, with a huge cast of wonderful characters.
If you found Darke first, please note that this is part of a series that starts with the book "Magyk". Magyk is a wonderful piece of writing and you should go and buy it now. No seriously, right now!
If you are still reading this review it is either because you ignored my advice (shame on you) or you have enjoyed this series so much that like me you are still reading it as quickly as you can. If that is the case, I am wasting my time telling you how good a story it all is, so here are some thoughts on the latest book.
Darke begins on the eve of Septimus and Princess Jenna's 14th birthday. They are on the brink of adulthood as measured in their society, and things are changing. Septimus is also about to embark on yet another extraordinarily dangerous parts of his apprenticeship - Darke Week. Add to that a banishing accident with poor Alther, and the return of some other shady characters and you have all the elements of another page-turning tale. Your only regret reading this is likely to be that the story is over, and you have to wait so long for the next installment.
I give the story five stars. It is as good as ever. If I have some minor criticisms, these would be that maybe the humour was not quite so quick coming as earlier books. And yet the quirky humour is still very much in evidence. There are also some literary references that may or may not suit the story (depending on your mood). A refernce to "Their and Back Again lane" pays homage to "The Hobbit" and the character Bertie Bott will certainly have everyone thinking of every flavour beans.
This series bears some resemblance to Harry Potter of course. It is about a student in magic (or magyk at least). It is to span 7 books, and the quirky humour is reminiscent of JK Rowling's style. But these books are anything but derivative or formulaic. This is a very different tale in a very different world, and is in no way a Harry Potter clone. So I am not quite sure why we have Bertie Bott! But like all the other characters, Bertie is interesting.
I particularly like Angie Sage's endings (and the epilogues), and this book is no exception.
A first class read. It may not be the best book I have ever read in my life but it richly deserves five stars.
If you found Darke first, please note that this is part of a series that starts with the book "Magyk". Magyk is a wonderful piece of writing and you should go and buy it now. No seriously, right now!
If you are still reading this review it is either because you ignored my advice (shame on you) or you have enjoyed this series so much that like me you are still reading it as quickly as you can. If that is the case, I am wasting my time telling you how good a story it all is, so here are some thoughts on the latest book.
Darke begins on the eve of Septimus and Princess Jenna's 14th birthday. They are on the brink of adulthood as measured in their society, and things are changing. Septimus is also about to embark on yet another extraordinarily dangerous parts of his apprenticeship - Darke Week. Add to that a banishing accident with poor Alther, and the return of some other shady characters and you have all the elements of another page-turning tale. Your only regret reading this is likely to be that the story is over, and you have to wait so long for the next installment.
I give the story five stars. It is as good as ever. If I have some minor criticisms, these would be that maybe the humour was not quite so quick coming as earlier books. And yet the quirky humour is still very much in evidence. There are also some literary references that may or may not suit the story (depending on your mood). A refernce to "Their and Back Again lane" pays homage to "The Hobbit" and the character Bertie Bott will certainly have everyone thinking of every flavour beans.
This series bears some resemblance to Harry Potter of course. It is about a student in magic (or magyk at least). It is to span 7 books, and the quirky humour is reminiscent of JK Rowling's style. But these books are anything but derivative or formulaic. This is a very different tale in a very different world, and is in no way a Harry Potter clone. So I am not quite sure why we have Bertie Bott! But like all the other characters, Bertie is interesting.
I particularly like Angie Sage's endings (and the epilogues), and this book is no exception.
A first class read. It may not be the best book I have ever read in my life but it richly deserves five stars.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The Septimus Heap books have to be one of my favourite children's series and definitely go a long way towards filling my Harry Potter hole. I never buy hardback editions of books - I can't afford to spend over £10 on one book! - but for Angie Sage's books I make an exception because each tome is just such a beautiful item and the pages deserve to be thick and crisp. Each chapter has a beautiful pencil drawing on the first page which gives me huge green eyes of jealousy that I can't draw like that but really add a magical, tangible dynamic to the story.
I have to specify when and where you need to read a Septimus Heap book: on a chilly winter's evening, preferably with a howling wind outside, when there's no on else at home and you can curl up in the comfy chair by the fire complete with duvet. OK, that setting is not essential but that is definitely where you can feel the full benefit of the wonderful warming sensation you get from reading Angie Sage. It's like reading a big mug of hot chocolate with a generous serving of whipped cream and marshmallows. Darke is especially in need of a duvet because Septimus and in fact the entire Castle find themselves swallowed up by a terrifying Darke Domaine. This is what I love about Angie Sage, she always manages to conjure up something completely different for each book, putting her characters in new situations so they are always developing in new ways. That, in my opinion, is the true skill of a great series writer. Septimus' world is just so stuffed full now with engaging settings, fascinating mythology and colourful characters, it really feels like you are stepping into Angie's world every time you open a new book. It's always a thrill to meet with old characters again and discover some new ones. In Darke, you actually get to know a lot better many of the other characters apart from Septimus as the story divides between several character groups. Sep's sister Jenna blossoms into a courageous leader, selfless Beetle takes heroism to a new height while the wayward Simon redeems himself.
I think the strongest message in the Septimus Heap books is definitely that of family which is perfect for the middle grade/young teen age group it's aimed at. Very often Angie Sage introduces a lost soul character who struggles through the book but in the end is either rewarded or redeemed by finding his lost family. Quite a few characters end this way in Darke, which is actually a nice resolution at the end of the Darkest book in the series. Angie Sage has really struck a great balance between the looming threat of the situation and lighter moments. She pushes her characters to the edge but always reins in the tension with characteristically witty moments, making the characters more flawed and endearing - even the baddies!
I cannot urge you enough to explore this series, even if you don't usually read books geared more towards younger teens. It's definitely one of those Harry Potter moments where anyone can read them to enjoy a brilliant story and a big grin session. They are not overly "young" to read and have a decent level of complexity both in the world Angie Sage has created and in her stories to make them engaging whatever age you are. I'm in my mid-twenties and I just love them - and I can't wait for more!
I have to specify when and where you need to read a Septimus Heap book: on a chilly winter's evening, preferably with a howling wind outside, when there's no on else at home and you can curl up in the comfy chair by the fire complete with duvet. OK, that setting is not essential but that is definitely where you can feel the full benefit of the wonderful warming sensation you get from reading Angie Sage. It's like reading a big mug of hot chocolate with a generous serving of whipped cream and marshmallows. Darke is especially in need of a duvet because Septimus and in fact the entire Castle find themselves swallowed up by a terrifying Darke Domaine. This is what I love about Angie Sage, she always manages to conjure up something completely different for each book, putting her characters in new situations so they are always developing in new ways. That, in my opinion, is the true skill of a great series writer. Septimus' world is just so stuffed full now with engaging settings, fascinating mythology and colourful characters, it really feels like you are stepping into Angie's world every time you open a new book. It's always a thrill to meet with old characters again and discover some new ones. In Darke, you actually get to know a lot better many of the other characters apart from Septimus as the story divides between several character groups. Sep's sister Jenna blossoms into a courageous leader, selfless Beetle takes heroism to a new height while the wayward Simon redeems himself.
I think the strongest message in the Septimus Heap books is definitely that of family which is perfect for the middle grade/young teen age group it's aimed at. Very often Angie Sage introduces a lost soul character who struggles through the book but in the end is either rewarded or redeemed by finding his lost family. Quite a few characters end this way in Darke, which is actually a nice resolution at the end of the Darkest book in the series. Angie Sage has really struck a great balance between the looming threat of the situation and lighter moments. She pushes her characters to the edge but always reins in the tension with characteristically witty moments, making the characters more flawed and endearing - even the baddies!
I cannot urge you enough to explore this series, even if you don't usually read books geared more towards younger teens. It's definitely one of those Harry Potter moments where anyone can read them to enjoy a brilliant story and a big grin session. They are not overly "young" to read and have a decent level of complexity both in the world Angie Sage has created and in her stories to make them engaging whatever age you are. I'm in my mid-twenties and I just love them - and I can't wait for more!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Both my youngest daughters love this series. They disappear into their rooms hardly emerging without it tucked under their arm to sneak a few more pages in over dinner or in the car. The Septimus Heap series has turned my reluctant youngest daughter into an avid reader - I highly recommend.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Darke
Oh I think this has got to be my favourite Septimus Heap book so far. I think they have been gradually getting less childish. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Lucybird
THE DARKE
ALTHOUGH I HAVE JUST CELEBRATED MY 70TH.BIRTHDAY I LIKE CHILDRENS BOOKS.I HAD TO WAIT A LONG TIME TO GET THIS LAST BOOK IN THE SEPTIMUS HEAP SERIES BUT IT WAS WELL WORTH THE... Read more
Published 3 months ago by BOOK LOVER
Fantastic! As ever!
Septimus Heap novels rattle along and drag you with them. I read this book in two big dollops, as putting it down was out of the question. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Marie Lambert
audible version
I bought this via Amazon's Audible service- trying to be environmentally friendly, and avoid the production and postage of CD's which could just be bought and downloaded. Read more
Published 5 months ago by njh
As usual, this is a brilliant story and I can't wait for the next one....
Excellant. Brilliant. Nerve racking and in places quite unexpected. I also have this in audio and as usual Angie Sage hasn't let her readers down.
Published 6 months ago by E. J. Phillips
New Angie Sage book
Amazon make it easy to find on the internet. Received on time,well packaged.A really good read,cant wait for the next one!
Published 6 months ago by Ginny
Septimus Heap
I really do like reading books that carry on from the last edition and this author does just that, this book is aimed at the 11+ age group so at 61 i think i fit into that, i have... Read more
Published 7 months ago by actionman023
AWESOME!
My daughter has got all the Septimus Heap books and when she read Darke, she said that it was EXCELLENT!!!!! Read more
Published 10 months ago by Lourdes Castillo-baly
Another fab read from Angie Sage
I am sorry I could not wait until October - got my imported first edition from the book depository - but my daughter stole it from me!! Read more
Published 11 months ago by D. Cooper
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