| Ordinary magician Silas Heap and his wife Sarah are about to have their seventh child - the seventh son of the seventh son, a very magical circumstance. Unfortunately, the midwife tells Sarah the baby is dead and whisks away the body. On the same night, Extraordinary magician Marcia Overstrand presents Silas with a baby girl, telling him to raise it as his own. It is only later that they learn that this very night the queen has died, the old Extraordinary magician has been murdered, and the baby Princess has disappeared.
Ten years later, the Heaps are discovered, and an assassin is sent to kill the Queenling. With the help of Marcia and the ghost of former Extraordinary magician Alther, the Heaps whisk Jenna away, first to the Wizard's tower and then to the island home of Silas's Aunt Zelda, a white witch. During the course of their adventures they find the sentry, a ten year old member of the young army who calls himself boy 412, nearly dead and bring him with them. He is at first reluctant but finds himself growing ever attached to the Heap family. At the same time, believing the Queenling to be dispatched, Alther's former mentor evil necromancer DomDaniel returns to the castle to finish what he started ten years before and take over the kingdom. DomDaniel brings with him a ten year old apprentice who claims to be the lost boy, Septimus Heap, but who constantly frustrates his master with his lack of power. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book - very upbeat FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past Political power play Yes Political plotlets - saving govt/kingdom from external overthrow Is this an adult or child's book? - Kid's book (ages 7-14) Descript. of chases or violence - 10 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 60 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10 % Main Character Identity: - Male Profession/status: Age: - 40's-50's If magical mental powers: - can cast many different spells Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 40's-50's Profession/status: Has magical powers? Yes Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can cast all sorts of spells How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some How sensitive is this character? Intelligence - Genius (really!) Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog |
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