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sydazin18's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book was good! I don’t really feel like the vibes have changed too much since the first book nor has the basic structure, but I still enjoyed it!
dullshimmer's review
4.0
The Septimus Heap series has been a series I've enjoyed, but it's always been a bit different from other series I've enjoyed. The characters are kind of fun, the world is interesting to learn about, but the general plot and story lines have never been super engaging. DomDaniel who was the recurring villain in the first two books to some degree or another was always kind of an inept villain in many ways so he never completely felt like a legitimate threat. Even so I've enjoyed the books enough to look past that, at least until this book.
Physik still has the generally likable cast and the world is still interesting, but a few things just brought the book down a little in my mind. Strangely it isn't having a lesser villain in the novel. Queen Etheldredda is actually a villain that is quite formidable feeling over the course of the book, even though for much of it she is a ghost.
Part of the issue is time travel, as Septimus is sent back in time to become apprentice to Marcellus Pye a famous Alchemist and Physician, who needs Septimus' help with an elixir that will grant eternal life and eternal youth. It's not clear why, other than Septimus' status as seventh son of a seventh son coming into play again. I'm not a huge fan of time travel, but I also felt that this wasn't handled too badly either so it didn't bug me too much.
What did bug me more were a lot of stupid coincidences that just didn't really make all that much sense. Queen Etheldredda in the past is just as much of a threat as the one in the present time of the book, but she's killed off quite stupidly. I mean it's just rather ridiculous what goes on there. The silver bullet from the first book intended for Jenna or the I.P. (Infant Princess) makes a re-appearance again here. I didn't expect it to really have worked since Jenna isn't an infant any longer, it winds up taking someone else out you wouldn't expect because nobody has those initials that you knew of. I guess it makes for a good surprise, but it felt a bit cheap. There are also characters that get stuck in the past for no real good reason. The pathway back to the normal time just breaks before they're able to find everyone and go back together.
It was just a bunch of things like that in addition to the minor flaws that carry over from the other books, that brought it down a bit more in my opinion. It's already a book that tends to be a bit too heavy on having the kids being the ones who actually get stuff done, while the adults are either ignorant of the events or just don't listen to the kids to actually do anything themselves.
Physik is still an enjoyable book and I still do like the Septimus Heap series, but I couldn't help but feel that this one just had a lot more going on that was just dumb luck or stupid coincidence than the other books. I'm hoping that this will just be a momentary dip, but even if it stays at this level I'll still be enjoying the rest of the books in the series, they just won't be a top favorite.
Physik still has the generally likable cast and the world is still interesting, but a few things just brought the book down a little in my mind. Strangely it isn't having a lesser villain in the novel. Queen Etheldredda is actually a villain that is quite formidable feeling over the course of the book, even though for much of it she is a ghost.
Part of the issue is time travel, as Septimus is sent back in time to become apprentice to Marcellus Pye a famous Alchemist and Physician, who needs Septimus' help with an elixir that will grant eternal life and eternal youth. It's not clear why, other than Septimus' status as seventh son of a seventh son coming into play again. I'm not a huge fan of time travel, but I also felt that this wasn't handled too badly either so it didn't bug me too much.
What did bug me more were a lot of stupid coincidences that just didn't really make all that much sense. Queen Etheldredda in the past is just as much of a threat as the one in the present time of the book, but she's killed off quite stupidly. I mean it's just rather ridiculous what goes on there. The silver bullet from the first book intended for Jenna or the I.P. (Infant Princess) makes a re-appearance again here. I didn't expect it to really have worked since Jenna isn't an infant any longer, it winds up taking someone else out you wouldn't expect because nobody has those initials that you knew of. I guess it makes for a good surprise, but it felt a bit cheap. There are also characters that get stuck in the past for no real good reason. The pathway back to the normal time just breaks before they're able to find everyone and go back together.
It was just a bunch of things like that in addition to the minor flaws that carry over from the other books, that brought it down a bit more in my opinion. It's already a book that tends to be a bit too heavy on having the kids being the ones who actually get stuff done, while the adults are either ignorant of the events or just don't listen to the kids to actually do anything themselves.
Physik is still an enjoyable book and I still do like the Septimus Heap series, but I couldn't help but feel that this one just had a lot more going on that was just dumb luck or stupid coincidence than the other books. I'm hoping that this will just be a momentary dip, but even if it stays at this level I'll still be enjoying the rest of the books in the series, they just won't be a top favorite.
bookswithbets's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
lbuckley22's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tandewrites's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
smorrison4's review against another edition
4.0
This was an interesting book. Queen Etheldredda is a bit of a character and I enjoyed learning about her backstory while we simultaneously learned what was happening in the present.
Looking forward to reading Queste next.
Looking forward to reading Queste next.
mandykh's review
This book is the last one in the series. I liked how she tied every book up so there would not have to be another one but I'm sure glad she wrote this last one, although I wish there were more!!!
wisteriamoon's review
3.0
I love her writing style, but this one wasn't my favorite, to be honest. Her storyline is too similar to Harry Potter for my taste, and too straightforward. I do admire her writing, but she's definitely no J.K. Rowling.
makaylarosie225's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5