Flyte (Septimus Heap, Book 2) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Mark Zug (Illustrator)
Key Phrases: lawn lizards, carnivorous tree, message rat, Aunt Zelda, Dragon Boat, Wolf Boy (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8–Septimus Heap, Apprentice to the ExtraOrdinary Wizard, is back in this sequel to Magyk (HarperCollins, 2005). The defeated, but not destroyed, DomDaniel is still bent on ruling the Castle as ExtraOrdinary Wizard by removing Jenna, the rightful heir to the throne. This time it's Simon Heap who, as the necromancer's new Apprentice, pursues Jenna through both new and familiar territory. Meanwhile, a sinister plot unfolds at the Castle to banish the current ExtraOrdinary Wizard, Marcia Overstrand, by means of a Darke Shadow that follows her around and grows ominously more visible by the day. Readers will find themselves quickly immersed in this imaginative world, moving from one well-crafted adventure to another at a suspenseful pace. While some intricacies of the plot may be lost due to the ungainly cast of characters (listed at the end of the book), others are simply not logical, such as when the good characters allow Simon to escape without so much as a second thought despite his many attempts to murder them. This seems to be an obvious lead-in to the next book in the series, though other questions surrounding Jenna's parents will nag at readers' minds. Those who have been waiting for Flyte to see Septimus Heap grow into his role as Apprentice will not be disappointed and are likely to return for more.–Emily Rodriguez, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. At the close of Sage's Magyk (2005), Necromancer DomDaniel had his bones picked clean by Quake Ooze Brownies--but fantasy evil-doers are a rather resilient lot. Indeed, the dark wizard has recruited weak-minded Simon Heap, still smarting over brother Septimus' claim to the ExtraOrdinary Wizard's apprenticeship, to dispatch future queen Jenna and assist in the villain's resurrection. A cat-and-mouse chase ensues, encompassing a legendary charm that confers true flight and a baby dragon that imprints upon Septimus, and deepening Sage's zealously particularized magical culture (which still involves distracting pepperings of bold-faced lingo). In the absence of the identity mix-up that propelled book one in the Septimus Heap series, similarities to Harry Potter stand out even more baldly--from the presence of benign talking ghosts to asides about enchanted sweets ("FizzFroot," "Mint Blasts"). Purists will scowl, but many readers, won over by Sage's confiding, whimsical tone and tightly interlocking plot elements, will welcome Septimus Heap as their second-favorite wizard... Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 532 pages
• Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (March 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060577363
• ISBN-13: 978-0060577360
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,448 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 2 in The Septimus Heap Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Take 'Flyte' With Septimus Heap ..., May 21, 2006

By	T. J. Jones "TJ" (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Flyte (Septimus Heap, Book 2) (Hardcover)

Angie Sage continues her best-selling and enjoyable Septimus Heap series in 'Flyte', and while it is not as good as the first book, it still continues the series quirky charm and 'magykal' prose.

One year after the events of book one, Septimus Heap has easily slipped into his new life as Apprentice to the ExtraOrdinary Wizard, the ever-dignified Marcia Overstrand. But the 'darkeness' still lingers as a menacing shadow follows Marcia constantly. Meanwhile, Jenna also has easily adjusted to her new life as Princess and ejoys the freedoms the Palace offers. But one day, when the mysterious and revengeful Simon Heap shows up, no one understands why he suddenly kidnapps Jenna. Septimus, agitated that no one believes him when he says Simon is now evil, goes off on his own to rescue Jenna from Simon's plot to return the evil Dom Daniel back to life.

In 'Flyte', Sage continues Septimus' story with her trademark offbeat humor and quirky magic. All the little details that readers have come to love about her writing are abundant in this sequel, and all old favorite (and not quite so favorite) characters make reappearences. However, the middle book in a trilogy always suffers from some problems. The adventure feels very loosely created, with no defenite climax. The characters wander around from place to place in the supposed big finale for the last hundred pages, meeting and overcoming new obstacles just like a video game. The villain Dom Daniel was defeated so quickly with about a hundred more pages to go, that I felt confused about what was the climax and what wasn't. Also, in the first book, you felt like your were actually there with the characters on their adventure, but in 'Flyte' Sage sometimes opens chapters with brief descriptions of what happened to her characters simply so she can get them to their next destination. But, seeing as this is light fantasy meant for younger readers, 'Flyte' still is consistent and ejoyable enough to hold on to young and older readers' attention. And how can anybody not fall for Sage's wonderful characters, quirky magic, and fantastical world full of swimming bogarts and pet dragons?

While somewhat sloppy in its plotting, 'Flyte' is still an enjoyable entry into the Septimus Heap series. I highly reccommend it to all readers who enjoy a little 'magyk' when it comes across them, and a good, solid read that entices their imaginations. I look forward to book three, and hopefully Sage will return to the more consistent plotting techniques that made the first book shine above the second.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Flyte, May 22, 2007

A Kid's Review

This is a wonderful book full of fun and adventure in which the Heaps are caught up in the stream of magic and the evil plot of evil wizard DomDaniel trying yet agian to become king and the Extra ordinary wizard. Along with some help from one of the Heaps (which one is it?), DomDaniel almost succeeds. Anyone who likes adventure and magic will like this story because of its amazing storyline and happy ending.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impossible to put down!, March 24, 2006

By	Kidsreads.com (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flyte (Septimus Heap, Book 2) (Hardcover)

It's been a year and a half since Septimus discovered his true identity. In the second book of Angie Sage's Septimus Heap series, he is now learning the arts of Magyk as Apprentice to ExtraOrdinary Wizard Marcia Overstrand.

Although Marcia Overstrand ousted necromancer DomDaniel from his reign as ExtraOrdinary Wizard, spiders linger in the Tower, a sign that Darke Magyk remains there. In fact, an ominous Darkenesse follows Marcia constantly.

When Septimus and his adopted sister, the reinstated princess Jenna, visit their mother, their brother Simon charges up on a dark horse, still furious because he believes Septimus usurped Simon's rightful Apprenticeship. Simon swoops up Jenna and carries her away, despite her protests and Septimus's efforts to stop him.

As Simon kidnaps Jenna and heads toward the Badlands, Septimus pleads for help from others but no one will believe that Jenna is actually in true danger. So Septimus packs a bag and starts his quest to save his adopted sister from their evil brother.

Septimus meets up with his brother Nicko, who not only believes Simon has kidnapped Jenna but also has information about an ominous "dark stranger" asking questions about the young princess. Could it possibly be that DomDaniel, assumed to be dead, is actually alive after all?

Septimus is relieved when Nicko joins his quest to locate Jenna. The brothers travel into the forest to find the wild Wolf Boy, who they hope to recruit for his amazing tracking skills. However, all they have is a poorly-drawn map, and soon Septimus and Nicko are lost in a forest full of carnivorous trees, vicious beasts and evil spirits --- and night is falling.

Meanwhile, Jenna learns of Simon's plans for her. She's desperate to escape but is locked in a cell in an underground observatory. Can she overcome impossible odds?

As in the wonderful MAGYK, Angie Sage gives us characters to care for, danger, high adventure, surprising plot twists, and irresistible humor. Again, the book is full of endearing friends (such as Stanley the Messenger Rat) and amazing magykal items: a floor of changing colors and written messages, a chocolate Taste Charm that can turn anything into chocolate, an ingenious lawnmower powered by grass-eating lizards, game pieces with feet and minds of their own, and much more.

The richly rewarding FLYTE fully lives up to the promise in MAGYK. Both books are impossible to put down and are absolute must-reads for Harry Potter fans. Highly recommended.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon ([e-mail])