Septimus Heap, Book One: Magyk by Angie Sage

It took me several tries to get far enough into this book to get hooked on the story, but once I did, I couldn't put it down! The book reads sort of like it's set in medieval times, except there are wizards, magical creatures (many of them disgusting or frightening), and of course a struggle between good and evil. Septimus Heap is born the seventh son of a seventh son, and in the wizard world that makes him very special. But the midwife pronounces him dead soon after birth and whisks his body away before his poor mother can see him. Around the same time, Septimus's father finds an abandoned infant in the forest. He brings her home and she grows up as the only girl in a family of 6 boys, living a happy, hectic life until her 10th birthday. On that day, the ExtraOrdinary wizard knocks on the door of the Heap house with a shocking revelation, and this is when the real story begins. Even though this is the first book in a trilogy the ending doesn't leave you hanging. Book Two is due out next April. Review by Stacy Church