My name is Beetle, and our trip to bring Jenna back to the Castle has gotten complicated. Septimus and I found her on her father's ship, and he has a secret cargo below deck. Jenna chose not to return home on her father's ship and got aboard Sep's dragon Spit Fyre with us. However, we're now stranded on an island, and Spit Fyre is struggling for his life. Something strange is going on here, and Sep thinks he's heard someone calling his name. I'm loving spending time alone with Jenna, but Sep's always worried. We didn't know it at the time, but several of our friends will reunite on this island in a fight to save the Castle's future.
You will need to read the previous books before this one. The plot leads to a thrilling climax, although the actual conflict wasn't clear until you're halfway into it. The events in the first half seemed a bit disjointed. It wasn't clear how Merrin and Lucy fit in, as their characters were introduced and then forgotten for awhile. However, it all made sense in the end. The author has done a nice job of reusing characters from earlier in the series, so it's easy to quickly understand their personalities. Septimus is the one holding all of the books together. His wizarding skills are superior, Marcia made him a senior apprentice years early, but he still has wonderful humility and compassion. His concern for his friends and family is a driving force. Somehow, he always manages to find himself in the middle of terrifying situations, but the safety of others is still at the forefront of his thinking. On a side note, I still haven't figured out why the author chooses to capitalize certain words. It's not a big deal. Overall, I recommend you give this series a chance.
My name is Septimus, and my brother Nicko is lost five hundred years in the past. Jenna and I have been given letters and a map written by Snorri and him, but the ExtraOrdinary Wizard Marcia has confined me to the castle. She wants me to prepare for the Projection, but neither one of us was ready for the sudden Gathering called by the ghost of Tertius Fume. Most of the past ExtraOrdinary Wizards voted for me to draw a Queste. It's usually assigned to apprentices with seven years experience (I only have one), and none of them have ever returned alive. Snorri's map and my Queste seem to be leading to the same destination, the House of Foryx where All Times Do Meet. I still have hope that I can save Nicko and Snorri, if only I can survive my Queste.
You should read the previous books in the series, since this book involves a number of past relationships between characters. As always, Jenna is determined to save Nicko, no matter what, and she hates to be treated like royalty. Septimus's Queste amps up the tension in the plot's conflict, since all of the past apprentices have died trying to complete it. It's clear from the Queste Stone's colors that Septimus is on the right track, and it becomes clear that Nicko's destiny is part of it. Merrin's character returns to the series to stir up trouble, but Simon's character was a surprise. Simon is Septimus's brother and tried to kill him in an earlier book; he was a major antagonist. Now, Simon seems to have repented and wants to change his Darke ways, but other characters are not so forgiving. It will be interesting to see what becomes of him and if he has actually become a good character. The series continues to be entertaining, and the plots manage to travel to different realms and times. This book moves from the past and present day Castle, the forest, and into the House of Foryx. Many interesting characters, new and old, await. I've already checked out the next book in the series Syren.
My name is Quinnie, and there are vampires living in my best friend's house! They are Ella's famous aunt and uncle, but I need to tell her what I've noticed. Her aunt is pale and sickly, won't come out in the sunshine, insists that all the mirror's in the house be covered, walks the beach at night, and looks healthier the day after a cat was killed. Ella probably won't believe me, but what if her life is in danger? Dominic and I have also noticed the fishermen from Ohio snooping around Ella's house. What's that about? Are they vampire hunters or paparazzi, because they sure aren't fishermen? My mom is the sheriff in this Maine town (and mayor, and real estate agent, and mail carrier...), but I'm not sure if she can help. Things seem to be getting more serious, so I'm going to need to do something soon.
This book is a nice introduction for young readers interested in vampire stories, but more mature readers won't care for it as much. You should expect to read this book as a mystery, not a vampire story. The whole plot read like a mystery, as Quinnie and friends tried to discover what was going on. All of the evidence could be viewed from different angles, so readers are never quite sure of the truth until the end. I enjoyed the small-town feel of the story, as most of the action occurred around two homes and the local restaurant, all located along a beach. Quinnie was a caring young girl with a vivid imagination, but she wasn't an impulsive character, mostly. She enlisted the help of friends, and it was cool how quickly Dominic was accepted. Overall, this story is a fun mystery involving world-famous authors of vampire books.
My name is Septimus, and I'm afraid I'll never be able to return to the Castle. I've been pulled through the Glass and find myself trapped five hundred years in the past with the alchemist Marcellus Pye. He's created a tincture for eternal life, but his evil mother Queen Ethelredda wants it for herself. Her spirit caused my dilemma, and some people believe she's killed her other children. I know my sister Princess Jenna will try to find a way to travel to this time to free me, but it seems impossible. The only positive is that I've learned is a remedy for the deadly Sicknesse plaguing the realm. However, what good is the cure if I can't return to my time to help the people?
I'm enjoying the series very much and recommend it to you. The book provides adventure and suspense, as Septimus and Jenna try to solve the problem from different points in time. This book doesn't have a bunch of spell-casting. Pye seems to be a nice alchemist and takes Septimus on as his apprentice, but he was the one who pulled Septimus through the portal in the first place. His mother is an evil queen, and he is the one creating a potion that might make her live forever. The queen is a detestable character, as she rules through fear and is obsessed with power and living forever. A couple new characters are introduced to the series, mainly the Spirit-Seer named Snorri and her companion. The companion is a Night-Ullr, an orange cat during the day that changes to a fierce black panther when the sun sets. Ullr comes to the rescue on more than one occasion. Some readers may not like the language used by characters in Pye's time; even Septimus commented it was hard to understand them. However, you should be able to get used to it, just like Septimus did, without much trouble. The author throws in a bunch of extra e's and has the characters speak in a form of Old English. You can probably read this book on its own, since the conflict is totally separate from the events in the previous two books.
My name is Simon, and I just learned that I am an Animalgam, a human with the ability to change into an animal. Actually, I'm a Hybred, since my parents were from different animal kingdoms. I haven't been able to morph yet, so I don't know what animal I will become. I never would have believed this if I hadn't been able to speak to animals for years, and I witnessed my mom changing into an eagle and my uncle changing into a wolf! My grandfather rules over the bird kingdom, and my mom has been taken captive by the mammals and is being held in the L.A.I.R. at the Central Park Zoo. I've been allowed in, since my grandmother is the Alpha, ruler of the mammals. I've learned that she is trying to get all five pieces of a scepter that will allow her to take the powers of animals from other kingdoms. I'm even more surprised to discover I have a twin brother, and one of us may be killed for being the heir to the Beast King.
This book is the first in the series, although I read the Simon Thorn and the Viper's Pit first. I actually preferred the second book more, but this one helped me understand Simon's situation better. I now understand why Simon is helped by a black widow spider, a dolphin, and a cottonmouth snake. Unlike most other books where characters are discovering new powers, Simon doesn't display any abilities until the book's climax. Other characters take turns helping him, but he doesn't really have one sidekick, except for Felix. Felix is a tiny mouse who is also Simon's best friend, although one character describes him as a bloodthirsty rat. Action is spaced throughout the plot, and mystery is included too. The secrets of the scepter, Simon's father, and the conflicts between the kingdoms are slowly revealed. Simon's brother has a hard time accepting this relationship, but the big question is which boy might have inherited abilities of the Beast King. The truth is surprising and leads directly into the sequel.
My name is Simon, and no one, not even my twin brother Nolan, the King Beast heir, knows that I'm able to transform into any animal. Other Animalgams believe my brother is the only person to have that ability, so he has great power over the different animal kingdoms. Which is why they'll have no problem killing him, and it's a reason why I keep my abilities secret. My mother is being held captive by Orion, the bird king, in Arizona, and I will not stop until I've rescued her. My uncle, Alpha of the mammals, is trying to bring me back to the L.A.I.R., and Orion is determined to have the birds capture me too. And my friends have reminded me that Orion is trying to assemble the five parts of the Predator, which he will use to kill my brother and take his powers. My friends have agreed to help me, but the chances for my stupid plan to be successful are slim.
I didn't read the first book, and it probably would have helped to understand relationships and motivations. I wish I knew more about how Simon became an Animalgam and why he wasn't raised with his mom and twin brother. Simon's partners had different talents: Winter became a poisonous snake, Ariana a Black-widow spider, and Jam could change into a dolphin. It would seem that Jam's talents might be useless on land, but it turned out that a dolphin's keen sense of direction is handy when traveling cross country. The plot contained ample adventure, but I wish there had been more action. There were animal fights, but they felt more like skirmishes until the story's climax. I forgot to mention that Orion also happens to be Simon's grandfather, so it's unusual that he wants to capture and kill his grandsons. Overall, the book was entertaining, and I expect I'll probably go on and read Simon Thorn and the Wolf's Den, the first book in the series.
My name is Peter, and I'm supposed to save the Vanished Kingdom, whatever that might be. The only clues I've found about its existence come from a short, cryptic rhyming poem. This quest is pretty momentous for a young thief who happens to be blind; my eyes were pecked out by ravens when I was a baby. I have a box containing three pairs of eyeballs, and the golden ones have transported me to a strange world. I've met a brave knight, Sir Tode, to be my eyes, but a witch changed him into a horse/cat. He's become the first friend I ever had. Our journey has taken us across a desert full of banished criminals, and we fought for our lives against an army of ravens. We've now met a princess who has been hiding from her evil uncle for the past ten years. It seems like our destinies are linked, but the full truth of our futures remains to be discovered.
I enjoyed this book more than I expected. The eyeballs had different "powers", and the black ones were used the most. They allowed Peter to become whatever creature he last touched, whether it be a raven, beetle, or sea monster. Predictably, Peter's character had an important connection to the Vanished Kingdom. The most intriguing part of the plot was how his character's blindness seemed to have advantages over everyone else. He could sense elements of the setting that others missed using his senses of touch, smell, and hearing. Rather than pity him, other characters tended to see him as a leader. Sir Tode was an entertaining character, as he was more exaggeration than actual hero. However, he was extremely loyal to Peter, and they worked well as a team. The story sends a message that people may be more than they seem, and faith and loyalty will be rewarded. It's a fun book!
