Syren (Septimus Heap Series #5) »

Angie Sage was born in London and grew up in the Thames Valley, London, and Kent. She now lives in Somerset in a very old house that has a secret tunnel below it. The first four books in the Septimus Heap series are international bestsellers. She is also the author of the Araminta Spookie series.

In this fifth book in the Magykal series, Septimus ends up on a captivatingly beautiful island, one of seven set in a sparkling sea. He's stranded there with his badly injured dragon, Spit Fyre, along with Jenna and Beetle. There are some strange things about the island, including a Magykal girl named Syrah, a cat-shaped lighthouse that has lost its Light, and an eerie presence that sings to Septimus—can he escape the persistent call?

Trouble is also brewing for Lucy and Wolf Boy, who have become entangled with some nefarious sailors at sea, and for Milo Banda, Jenna's father, who is harboring a mysterious treasure chest in his ship's hold.

Charismatic storyteller Angie Sage continues Septimus Heap's Magykal journey with more laugh-out-loud adventures, more enchanting charms and spells, and an ever-deepening understanding of the interior life of a young hero.

VOYA

New stripes on the sleeves of Septimus Heap's wizard robe denote that Extraordinary Wizard Marcia Overstrand has made him Senior Apprentice in honor of surviving the Queste in this seventh series book. But another challenge waits. When he and Spit Fyre return to the Trading Post to take Jenna, Beetle, Nikko, and company back to the Castle, Jenna has run into her father, Milo with mysterious cargo aboard his ship. Meanwhile Wolf Boy, on a mission for Aunt Zelda, runs into Lucy Gringe, who has run afoul of witches. When Septimus tries to fly himself, Jenna, and Beetle home, Spit Fyre is struck by lightning near a cat-shaped lighthouse, and the four find themselves on an island where a mysterious voice lures Septimus into peril. A jinnee with attitude and a penchant for yellow helps ensure that Septimus and friends are able to save Syrah, an apprentice on the island, and to avert a deadly plot hatched by Tertius Fume. As always, there are multiple threads throughout the story, but all intertwine to create an appealing, enjoyable plot. Septimus continues to mature both in his powers and as a person, while assembled cast members also become more fleshed out, from the impetuous but strong Lucy Gringe, to the quiet Wolf Boy, and the clever Beetle, who is smitten with Jenna. Whether he is flying on a dragon, zipping through Ice Tunnels, Seen or Un-Seen, Septimus is a thoroughly engaging young hero-in-training whose accompanying friends and enemies are downright fun. Young teens are already lined up and waiting for the continuation of this delightful series. Reviewer: Mary Ann Darby