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A review by 12dejamoo
Darke by Angie Sage, Mark Zug
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As always I have to start my Septimus Heap reviews by saying these are my FAVOURITE magical series of all time so all my thoughts are glowing.
I love Darke. It comes after Syren which is genuinely so scary and it retains some of those scary elements but feels a little less relentlessly scary which I like. However maybe that's because I know that it's all going to be okay. The idea of the Darke Domain is actually horrifying, and all the little bits that are going on around the castle have you so stressed.
Literally the only bad word I have to say about this book is that Jenna is kind of annoying sometimes, but it bothered me less on this reread than last time. It doesn't dent the overall quality but it's worth noting.
I cry real tears every time I read Beetle getting Chief Hermetic Scribe. And then again when he's sitting at the banquet table and so comfortable and happy. I love him so much and he deserves the WORLD.
Okay and also I had forgotten about Marissa and Jenna together in the basement and that whole scene. I will always in my core be a Jenna and Beetle shipper but I will also have to say the POTENTIAL for Marissa and Jenna is unmatched.
When Septimus sychronises with Spit Fyre. That's it. That's the post.
Marcia's evaluation of Septimus' Darke week at the end always makes me so happy. I love her so much and she also deserves the world.
Merrin is literally the worst and Angie Sage writes him so well because I hate him so much.
I am in love with Simon Heap. Just thought I'd put that in here too.
The thing that Angie Sage is such a master of is creating this rich, believable world. There are so many characters and yet none feel underdeveloped or thrown in randomly. You dip into so many stories and get snippets of the whole castle so by these later books, the entire universe is this rich tapestry of real-feeling people and lore. Everything that is introduced seems logical and leads on from other facts. Yes, Septimus is this powerful seventh son of a seventh son etc, but he doesn't dominate the stories, leaving space for everyone to have their moment in the sun. I think the omniscient narrator is really effective - allowing us to step into the worlds of minor and background characters to get their thoughts and emotions. The end parts with all the notes and wrapping ups really helps with this and I look forward to them when I finish each book.
Overall I love Angie Sage and Septimus Heap and Darke :))
I love Darke. It comes after Syren which is genuinely so scary and it retains some of those scary elements but feels a little less relentlessly scary which I like. However maybe that's because I know that it's all going to be okay. The idea of the Darke Domain is actually horrifying, and all the little bits that are going on around the castle have you so stressed.
Literally the only bad word I have to say about this book is that Jenna is kind of annoying sometimes, but it bothered me less on this reread than last time. It doesn't dent the overall quality but it's worth noting.
Okay and also I had forgotten about Marissa and Jenna together in the basement and that whole scene. I will always in my core be a Jenna and Beetle shipper but I will also have to say the POTENTIAL for Marissa and Jenna is unmatched.
When Septimus sychronises with Spit Fyre. That's it. That's the post.
Marcia's evaluation of Septimus' Darke week at the end always makes me so happy. I love her so much and she also deserves the world.
Merrin is literally the worst and Angie Sage writes him so well because I hate him so much.
I am in love with Simon Heap. Just thought I'd put that in here too.
The thing that Angie Sage is such a master of is creating this rich, believable world. There are so many characters and yet none feel underdeveloped or thrown in randomly. You dip into so many stories and get snippets of the whole castle so by these later books, the entire universe is this rich tapestry of real-feeling people and lore. Everything that is introduced seems logical and leads on from other facts. Yes, Septimus is this powerful seventh son of a seventh son etc, but he doesn't dominate the stories, leaving space for everyone to have their moment in the sun. I think the omniscient narrator is really effective - allowing us to step into the worlds of minor and background characters to get their thoughts and emotions. The end parts with all the notes and wrapping ups really helps with this and I look forward to them when I finish each book.
Overall I love Angie Sage and Septimus Heap and Darke :))
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Death
Being trapped with limited oxygen