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magicbookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
im not sure if i liked this series or the original better. both are great. i think my only complaint is that it was over too quickly
natep's review against another edition
3.0
While I enjoyed the expansion and explanations of the world, I felt that this didn't have the Magyk of the first series. I felt that some of this was forced, and I certainly don't think Marcia would have resigned so young to travel the world. The new characters were not ones that I cared for like I did for Beetle, Nicko, Zelda, or Septimus. I kept getting low-key fanfiction vibes. Small other issues included the ridiculousness of the villains and the fact that the map didn't show where the Castle was in the world or in comparison to the Pathfinder village.
melanieraush's review
5.0
I'm so freaking glad this spinoff series exists because there is no way I was going to say goodbye to Septimus, Jenna, Beetle, and my other favorite characters! It took a little bit to get used to being seven years in the future, but I really loved seeing more of the Magykal world than we got to see in the main series. Also, I love Tod and I literally squealed out loud when she became Septimus's apprentice at the end. Can't wait to read SandRider!
journeythroughthechapters's review against another edition
2.0
So this gets a 2.5 for me and that's solely because of the action in the last 3/4 of the book. This book was very slow and long winded if I'm being honestly. The friendships and family aspects were really nice and I enjoyed that but otherwise this was a book about the adventures of a 12 year old which I found a little unrealistic. Not just because she was 12 but everything that happened to her was very convenient. There was very little barriers. Everything magically worked out so that's why for me this was just boring. I don't like sad books but I find it hard to believe that nothing really went terribly wrong. I also began to skim read this towards the end so I could just get it over and done with.
elizabethwig's review
5.0
Another amazing Angie Sage addition!
I worried that the spin-off series would over focus on the plot of the old characters while the new ones had to be pushed aside to fit the new world... But my fears were unfounded. The blend of old beloved characters and new characters that quickly became beloved was effortless.
Neither dominated the plot, and the new twists on Magyk ensured a captivating read.
I got to the point where, when reading in public, I gasped so loudly at a plot twist that someone asked if I was choking. I think they ignored my sobs and laughter after that as the story continued.
A masterfully created book, an expansion on Sep's world and an exciting book on its own as well.
I worried that the spin-off series would over focus on the plot of the old characters while the new ones had to be pushed aside to fit the new world... But my fears were unfounded. The blend of old beloved characters and new characters that quickly became beloved was effortless.
Neither dominated the plot, and the new twists on Magyk ensured a captivating read.
I got to the point where, when reading in public, I gasped so loudly at a plot twist that someone asked if I was choking. I think they ignored my sobs and laughter after that as the story continued.
A masterfully created book, an expansion on Sep's world and an exciting book on its own as well.
sauvageloup's review against another edition
4.0
highly enjoyable!
Pros:
- the story just whips along at a fun pace, staying tense and dramatic all the way through
- the characters are all unique and interesting
- the plot was a fun mix of tropes (princesses, coming into a magical power just in time) and originality
- its funny - the dialogue is light and realistic
- it has a lovely general message of helping others
- I loved the focus on friendship - obviously this is a kids book so it isn't going to focus on romance, but the depth and complexity of the friendships was great
- I liked that Alice got to be known by her chosen name, Tod (but it was a shame she was called a 'tomboy' at one point and that people don't always stick to her chosen name)
cons:
- this is a problem with advertising, not the book itself, but I didn't realise how much the book would draw on Sage's other series. Because I had read her other series when I was a kid, I had quite a good idea who all the Heaps were and how the castle worked. I'm not sure how a person would have faired if they didn't have that background knowledge. This could have done with being more prominent on the cover, I think
- some of the plotting in the book was a little unbelievable, what with running across Heaps all over the place and finding just the right clues at just the right time (but its still great fun)
- the adults!! in this book!!! are so silly!! Don't let 12 year olds go running around after evil sorcerers!! honestly. the amount of times poor little Tod could have died hmfpt.
- some of the descriptions of people's emotions did seem somewhat simplistic. Trauma and PTSD wasn't, perhaps understandably, addressed at all, despite kidnapping, slavery, near-death, etc.
Anyway! it's a great book and i'm overthinking it. I really enjoyed it
Pros:
- the story just whips along at a fun pace, staying tense and dramatic all the way through
- the characters are all unique and interesting
- the plot was a fun mix of tropes (princesses, coming into a magical power just in time) and originality
- its funny - the dialogue is light and realistic
- it has a lovely general message of helping others
- I loved the focus on friendship - obviously this is a kids book so it isn't going to focus on romance, but the depth and complexity of the friendships was great
- I liked that Alice got to be known by her chosen name, Tod (but it was a shame she was called a 'tomboy' at one point and that people don't always stick to her chosen name)
cons:
- this is a problem with advertising, not the book itself, but I didn't realise how much the book would draw on Sage's other series. Because I had read her other series when I was a kid, I had quite a good idea who all the Heaps were and how the castle worked. I'm not sure how a person would have faired if they didn't have that background knowledge. This could have done with being more prominent on the cover, I think
- some of the plotting in the book was a little unbelievable, what with running across Heaps all over the place and finding just the right clues at just the right time (but its still great fun)
- the adults!! in this book!!! are so silly!! Don't let 12 year olds go running around after evil sorcerers!! honestly. the amount of times poor little Tod could have died hmfpt.
- some of the descriptions of people's emotions did seem somewhat simplistic. Trauma and PTSD wasn't, perhaps understandably, addressed at all, despite kidnapping, slavery, near-death, etc.
Anyway! it's a great book and i'm overthinking it. I really enjoyed it
eyed's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book. It was a very quick read and brought back the characters from the Septimus Heap series and introduced a few new ones. I liked that it continued to build on the already existing world. It was not as good as the Septimus Heap books but still a good read.
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