26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining, but not a stand-alone product, July 7, 2009
This review is from: Septimus Heap: The Magykal Papers (Hardcover)
The Magykal Papers is a charming compendium of "published" (Pamplets, restaurant reviews, etc) and private papers (journal entries, etc) which, together, help to increase our understanding of delightful world created by Angie Sage. The "papers" are loosely collected into chapters corresponding to different regions of the Castle, such as the Palace and the Wizard Tower.
Some Pros Include:
1. Ms. Sage's trademark gentle humor is present thoughout most of the book. I particulary enjoyed the tour pamplets by Silas Heap.
2. The book begins with a bit of the history of the Castle. Just how did the Castle come to have a Queen? You learn that here
3. Fabulous illustrations. I enjoyed seeing how mark Zug envisions the Heaps and the Wizards, especially Alther Metha.
4. While there is limited new material, the sections tend to add tremendously to the overall depth of the world being created by Ms Sage. For example, you gain empathy for Sarah Heap and difficult it must be for her to have been separated from her sons.
Cons:
1. A note of caution - this is NOT a stand-alone book. Appreciation of it requires that you read the other books in the series first.
2. Some of the material was rather redundant, others simply didn't add much backstory. For example, for this book to make any sense you will have to read Magyk. Well, in that book you cover the rules for the Message Rat Service, so it is redundant to repeat it here. The journal entries don't seem to add much backstory.
Overall, this was a pleasant, quick read. I am looking forward to the next installation of the series, Syren.
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Appetizer book, July 29, 2009
This review is from: Septimus Heap: The Magykal Papers (Hardcover)
If you are thinking (or reviewing) that this book is a sequel - forget it. If you find yourself hungry at 3 pm and dinner isn't until 6 pm and you eat a small snack -- that's what this book is about. It is a menu of the books preceeding it. It is a very GOOD menu because it reviews all the characters, their situations, the places you travel in the book and much more. If you think of it as an interim book - something to "tide you over" until the next book, then you will purchase and enjoy and not give bad reviews because it wasn't "enough". Good book and a wonderful addition to the shelf with your Sage collection.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just wonderful!, July 11, 2009
This review is from: Septimus Heap: The Magykal Papers (Hardcover)
You can tell that this book was written with love. Even the physical book itself is exceptional, with glossy pages and full-colored drawings of all the main players in the books, along with their backstories. I love books that give behind the scenes tidbits about the stories, and I have them for Artemis Fowl and Leven Thumps, and I'm glad that now there's one for Septimus Heap.
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