FLYTE: Septimus Heap, Book Two
by Angie Sage
Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0060577347
ISBN-13: 9780060577346
Ages 9-up
544 pages

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 (terryms2001@yahoo.com)

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