Queste by Angie Sage

Book Jacket

There's trouble at the Castle, and it's all because Merrin Meredith has returned with Darke plans for Septimus.  More trouble awaits Septimus and Jenna in the form of Tertius Fume, the ghost of the very first Chief Hermetic Scribe, who is determined to send Septimus on a deadly Queste.  But Septimus and Jenna have other plans--they are headed for the mysterious House of Foryx, a place where all Times meet and the place where they fervently hope they will be able to find Nicko and Snorri, who were trapped back in time in Physik.  But how will Septimus escape the Queste?

Queste, like all the books in the Septimus Heap series, is filled with nonstop action, humor, and fantastical adventure as Septimus continues his journey of Magykal self-discovery.

Review

If you, like me, have read the first three Septimus Heap books and loved them, then you, like me, will likely read and love Queste, the fourth book in the series.  Once again Sage writes with hilarious wit and observation.  I am always amazed by how she includes all of her many characters into each books plot, bringing some new ones to the forefront. 

Queste sees a return to poor Merrin Meredith, formerly Septimus Heap, newly Daniel Hunter.  I kind of pity and dislike him all at the same time.  Beetle is far more important in this story, and his crush on Jenna was completely adorable and very true to 13-year-old love (or at least what I experienced). 

My one complaint is that it took awhile for Septimus and Jenna to enter the story.  I love them maybe the most, (oh, but Marcia is fantastic...as is Stanley the rat...) but anyway, I wanted more of them, and quicker!  Luckily once the Queste is underway, there is plenty of them both.  I especially liked seeing Septimus use the skills he learned in his shady and sad past.

If you love the Septimus Heap books, Queste will definitely not disappoint.

Four out of five moving projections.

Release Date:  April 2008
Reading Level:  Grade 3+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: YPL SAG


Don't believe me?  Check out these reviews of Queste:

Thirst for Fiction