Darke

Starred review from May 1, 2011

The penultimate episode in this well-crafted series pits apprentice wizard Septimus and allies against a relentless tide of Things bent on overwhelming the Magyk that protects the town of Castle and establishing a penumbral Darke Domaine.

Their 14th birthdays become more battles for survival than celebrations for Sep and Princess Jenna when she is captured by the powerful Port Witch Coven. His planned visit to the deadly subterranean Darke Halls takes on special urgency after the Darke finds an opening in the palace and begins pouring out in a deadly tide through the streets. As usual, not only is the cast, particularly the large and tumultuous Heap family, sharply drawn both in the tale and in Zug's finely detailed character studies at the chapter heads, but the danger and the spellcasting alike seem vividly real and credible. Lightening the load with humorous byplay and tucking in plenty of ghosts, strong-willed characters, deft literary references—a character named Bertie Bott, a house on There And Back Again Row—and a particularly exciting dragon battle, Sage expertly weaves multiple new and continuing plotlines together. An appendix ties up what loose ends it can while leaving the door open for the conclusion.

A memorable, edge-of-the-seat escapade that will enthrall confirmed fans and newbies alike. (Fantasy. 10-12)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

May 15, 2011
Grades 5-8 Jenna and Septimus fourteenth birthday celebration is pushed aside when a creepy former Manuscriptorium clerk unites the legendary power of the Two-Faced Ring and the Darke Index book to create a Darke Domaine that even the ExtraOrdinary Wizard and all her allies may be unable to overcome. More twists, turns, humor, and wizardry fill this sixth installment of the popular Septimus Heap series. The focus splits between Jenna, Beetle, and Septimus, although plenty of other familiar characters make welcome appearances. Sage proves again that she has an inventive feel for fantasy adventure.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2011
Just as Septimus is learning about the dark side of magic during his wizarding apprenticeship, a figure from his past returns to destroy his world. Though fans of the series may enjoy seeing so many of the characters together, their sheer number occasionally slows the pacing and hinders character development. Nevertheless, the story is well plotted.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)