I have been reading so much crapola, that a good YA fantasy goes down well. ( )

This series maintains its appeal in this second book. It is solidly full of all the things I love about Harry Potter: teamwork, magical goodness, ghosts, bad guys, kooky magical ladies and a dragon. ( )

A good light read, if not slightly forgettable. The characters pull you in and you ride along with Septimus and Jenna as they try to save the people they love, and themselves, from the dark forces. Add a delightful new pet and the fun just keeps going. Who wouldn't want to fly? ( )

Fun children's fantasy series. Jenna is kidnapped by Simon. Septimus must rescue her. They face dangers, reunited with people, the dragon boat and Septimus acquires a dragon. ( )

After listening to Flyte, I think I’d still recommend this series as a good middle grade alternative to the Harry Potter series, but it is becoming abundantly clear that there are a lot of very convenient things that happen in the Septum’s Heap series. It’s entertaining enough, and somehow, the characters do feel like they have a few struggles, but everything is resolved so easily. But yes, it is entertaining. Middle school me would have loved this so much.

A lot has changed for the Heaps since the beginning of Magyk. Jenna and Septimus’s lives have dramatic changed, the assorted Heap boys have all gone their different ways, and one of those ways happens to be into dark magic and villainy. Simon Heap, eldest of the Heap boys, doesn’t love that his world has changed. In fact, Simon wanted to be the Extraordinary Wizard’s Apprentice… and he hasn’t taken kindly to the fact that his long lost baby brother has usurped his dreams. Which is what leads him to dark magic and kidnapping. No big deal.

Let’s talk characters. The shifts in behavior are dramatic and unfounded between books. Sage had a story and wanted to keep writing it, so the characters are twisted to fit the vision rather than letting the story guide itself. Simon’s development in particular felt forced. For whatever development there was in Magyk, the quick, chaotic pacing of Flyte did not allow for subtleties and slow reveals. Sage relies on her readers being hooked by book one and wanting to continue.

The plot is all over the place. Flyte exists to forward a couple events and set up a villain, but I didn’t feel like it was really a standalone story. There was no new world building and generally just a lot of movement. Even difficulty Septimus and Jenna faced was easily overcome, generally just by the text announcing it was overcome. It’s not great writing.

All that said, it’s a middle grade magic story and if you’re not looking for deep epic fantasy, it’s decent. It’s fun. It’s got magic and mythical creatures and complicated sibling relationships and a princess. I’ll probably listen to the next book because it is entertaining, but I’m not going to go so far as to say it’s high quality literature. ( )