User:Mr. Absurd/SH

Reception
The series has been generally been well-received, with critics calling it "well-crafted," "delightful," and "a fine choice for fantasy readers".

Sage's writing has been praised as "fluent" and "smooth", as well as her

and the plot as "well-paced," "arresting," and full of action.

Comparisons to Harry Potter
The series has often been compared to J. K. Rowling's

Magyk
"Fantasy fans on the younger side of Harry Potter will find a good jolt of action, mystery and humor in Corduner's light and swift reading of this magyk-filled adventure. [...] lively scenery and action throughout [...] Though a broad cast of characters threatens to become unwieldy"

"A wide cast of characters battle the forces of Darke Magyk in a well-realized world of fantasy. [...] they finally prevail in a satisfying and fairly exciting conclusion. [...] Despite the hefty length, the novel is quite easy to follow. Many creative magical elements, such as the deliciously repulsive Magogs, add to the fun. Frequent point-of-view shifts give a well-rounded picture of the multiple plot threads and add many opportunities for light humor. On the other hand, with so many characters represented, it's hard to feel strong empathy for any of them. Jenna, the Queenling, and Boy 412, in particular, nearly emerge as full-blooded individuals at times, but neither quite stands out as an engaging hero. Villains are well drawn and varied, and most are more comical than truly menacing. The ease with which a once-formidable enemy like the Hunter is finally dispatched, however, detracts a bit from the eventual triumph of the protagonists. Overall, this is a fine choice for fantasy readers looking to delve into a new world with lots of magic, plenty of action, and a few neat surprises."

"Septimus Heap is more Harry Potter than Artemis Fowl. [...] Many will dismiss this first novel, put off as much by its obvious parallels to existing blockbusters as by elements of affectation (like placing all Magykal spells in distracting bold type). But scores of less-jaded youngsters will lose themselves happily in Sage's fluent, charismatic storytelling, which enfolds supportive allies and horrific enemies, abundant quirky details, and poignant moments of self-discovery."

Flyte
"Fans of Sage's smooth storytelling, imaginative spell-casting and intricate fantasy world will flock to this volume, which promises more arresting action, humor and enchanting characters, as Septimus hones his burgeoning skills while Jenna learns to enjoy life as a princess. "I think Magyk caught the imaginations of children because it is so funny," says Katherine Tegen, the book's editor. "It's very unusual to find a lighthearted fantasy that also features an affectionate and realistic family at its heart.""

"Sometimes sequels don't live up to the hype, but Book Two of the Septimus Heap series, Flyte, soars above the author's first book, Magyk. [...] This book is so good I brought it everywhere and I highly recommend this amazing story for anyone of any age who likes magic."

"The plot moves quickly [...] magical kingdom with its large cast of characters and creatures. Although Flyte stands on its own, fantasy fans will want to read/listen to the first book. Listeners waiting for J.K. Rowling's last installment of Harry Potter will be well satisfied with this delightful fantasy."

"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."

"Sage's zealously particularized magical culture (which still involves distracting pepperings of bold-faced lingo) [...] 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-favourite wizard."

Physik
"The wide-ranging plot, the many characters, and the assumption of familiarity with the previous books make this a challenging audiobook for young listeners to follow"

"I have just finished reading the best book I have ever read - in my whole life!

Author Angie Sage scored a magical hit with the third instalment in the Septimus Heap series, Physik, which follows the escapades of Jenna Heap, the miracle princess. The story continues to relate the adventures of the title character, Septimus Heap, the extraordinary apprentice to Marcia Overstrand, the real extraordinary wizard. [...] Anyone who loves 'magyk,' mysteries or adventure will love this book. Illustrator Mark Zug makes the book even more enjoyable."

"Few fans of the best-selling Septimus Heap series will be disappointed by this excellent third adventure, which counters the fraying novelty of the DomDaniel plotline with a brand new villain—a former queen whose malevolent spirit is accidentally released from an enchanted portrait. [...] The time-travel elements are head spinning, but moments of faltering logic will go unnoticed as readers savor the quirky storytelling, marked by a sprawling, omniscient purview and plenty of entertaining tangents. With entries as strong as this one, Sage’s eﬀorts will continue to stand strong within the crowded young-wizard niche."

"Explanations of time travel are wisely avoided: "at that point, Septimus' brain refused to think anymore," and many other plot elements are juggled successfully. There are too many characters to keep track of, however, including lesser figures who are not presented with enough background information. Readers will quickly warm up to the stars of the book, sketched with liberal doses of humor, and all back in top form. Chapters alternate points of view, keeping suspense high, while lots of vivid details portray a palace life humming with Magyk. Fans of the series will enjoy the secrets that are revealed as Physik delves deeper into the labyrinthine palace walls and will eagerly await the next installment."

"Showing no signs of reaching a climax, this Potter-esque series ambles past its 1,500th page with another escapade [...] Sage trots in several colorful new additions to the already-bewilderingly large supporting cast [...] Readers unfamiliar with the two previous episodes will flounder--but stay entertained nonetheless, thanks to the speedy pace of events and, boosted by expressive vignettes at many chapter heads, strong-minded characters."

Queste
"Characters are almost overly abundant and many crop up in a chapter called "Endings and Beginnings" without making an appearance in the rest of the book. But fans looking for enjoyable characters, a well-paced plot, and the author's customary use of humor and verve will not be disappointed in this newest chapter in Septimus's life."

"thanks to generous wads of breezy charm, gusts of spectacular Magyk and a buoyant plot combining drama and comedy in just the right proportions [...] Among the teeming cast, which is further swollen by crowds of ghosts and malicious Things, Sep's erstwhile stand-in Merrin Meredith takes on new prominence as a hilarious touchstone for trouble, with an infuriating gift for escaping the worst consequences of his actions. Zug provides finely detailed portraits or spot art at each chapter opening"

"The Septimus Heap series remains one of the best outcomes of the young-wizard furor catalyzed by Harry Potter. In Sage’s solid fourth outing [...] The coincidence of the overlapping quests is a little hard to swallow, but everything else goes down easily thanks to vibrant storytelling and inventive flourishes."

General
"FOR years, the story of a child wizard languished in Angie Sage's desk drawer, but the commercial success of Harry Potter made her realise he too could have mass appeal.

Now Sage, a book illustrator living in Milverton, Somerset, is Britain's latest Hollywood success story, with a deal for the screenplays of all seven books in her series about the wizard, Septimus Heap. He writes spells on slices of toast and can turn anything to chocolate.

Warner Brothers finances the Harry Potter films and considered hundreds of fantasy books before signing the deal with Sage, in preparation for the end of the Potter movies in the summer of 2010.

JK Rowling will launch the seventh and final book in her series at the Natural History Museum at midnight on Friday. She will sign copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for 1,700 competition winners.

So far, the first six books in the series have sold more than 325m copies worldwide, generating a fortune for Rowling calculated at Pounds 545m in The Sunday Times Rich List. The sixth, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, sold 2,009,574 in the UK on the first day of its release, a record.

Sage, 55, admits she is surprised by her fame in America where her novels of magic and mayhem have soared to the top of the book charts, driven by the internet and word of mouth. She is currently writing the fourth book and the film deal could potentially be worth millions.

The author, who also has a home in Mylor on the Cornish coast, the atmosphere of which pervades much of the books, will be an executive producer on the Warner Brothers films so she can preserve the British tone of her magical saga.

"We have been talking for more than a year, but I was not able to say anything until now," Sage said this weekend. "It still does not feel real. I am in shock really, but it seems to be moving very fast."

The first book, Magyk, tells how the infant Septimus was kidnapped from his family and replaced by a princess. It will be adapted for the screen by Karen Rosenfelt, who produced last year's hit The Devil Wears Prada.

Sage started writing the Septimus Heap books in the late 1990s, before Potter became a global success, but kept hiding her work away in the bottom drawer of her desk. "I just kept pulling it out, working on it a bit, and then putting it away again," she said.

"I really need to thank JK Rowling for showing us all that children will read magical stories and giving me the confidence to send my manuscript off to the publisher. But, as far as I can tell, although it's also set in a kind of magical England across seven books, that is as similar as the books get."

She saw the first Harry Potter film and then stopped taking notice of the Rowling phenomenon to avoid being influenced. She has also avoided reading His Dark Materials, the trilogy by Philip Pullman, to whom she has also been compared.

Films of the trilogy are now in progress with Nicole Kidman as the villain Marisa Coulter.

Although Septimus Heap does have a skeletal bogeyman in the shape of Dom Daniel, a necromancer, the books are characterised by a gentle humour expressed through spells such as the Reverse, which turns objects into their opposite, or the Shield Bug, which creates a tiny insect armed with a sword to defend the spell caster.

Sage hopes to finish the series by 2012, when she turns 60. She has the end already in mind, but still occasionally gets stuck. Then she writes all the names of the characters on slips of paper, shakes them up in a matchbox and takes inspiration from the order in which they fall out.

Other Hollywood deals for British writers include the purchase by Disney of children's books from Clive Barker, a horror novelist from Liverpool. Neil Gaiman, a fantasy author, has written the script for a version of Beowulf to star Angelina Jolie. Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl books, described as "Die Hard with fairies", is under consideration at several studios.

"Nobody does goblins like the Brits," said one Warner executive. "I am not sure it's healthy. But the world sure love those wizards and ghoulies. It's your biggest export since the Beatles."

"Flyte, book two of the projected five-volume Septimus Heap series, owes some of its appeal to its trim size, according to its editor, Katherine Tegen. "It's a trim size I invited," she explains. "I went to our production department and asked them what's the shortest and widest a book can be and still be economically feasible"--she wanted to make them look like books of magic spells. Tegen recently got back from author Angie Sage's wedding, held in a castle in Cornwall that was built by Henry VIII."

"Suggests Septimus Heap as a choice for readers who liked Harry Potter."