Darke

Septimus Heap #6

by Angie Sage, Mark Zug (Illustrations)

In the sixth book of the Magykal series, Alther Mella has been Banished, a Darke Domaine engulfs the Castle, and a Darke dragon is on the loose. Septimus Heap must use all of his skills to save the Castle and the Wizard Tower from destruction: He must enter the Darke. But he cannot do this alone. With the help of Jenna, Alther Mella, Marcellus Pye, and Septimus's estranged brother, Simon Heap, Septimus and Marcia Overstrand battle the spreading Darkenesse. Will Septimus succeed in protecting his Magykal world?

Written with Angie Sage's characteristic humor, Septimus Heap, Book Six: Darke is a compelling fantasy adventure filled with surprises, thrills, and laugh-out-loud moments. Readers will revel in the action-packed story as they realize the wisdom of Magyk--that all things are meant to be part of a living whole.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Magic, Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Adventure

641 pages, Hardcover

First published June 7, 2011

About the author

Angie Sage (born 1952) is the author of the Septimus Heap series which includes Magyk, Flyte, Physik, Queste, Syren, Darke and Fyre. She also wrote the Todhunter Moon series, and the Magykal Papers, an additional book with extra information about Septimus' world. She is also the illustrator and/or writer of many children's books, and is the new writer of the Araminta Spookie series.

Angie Sage grew up in Thames Valley, London and Kent. Her father was a publisher. He would bring home blank books that she could fill with pictures and stories. Sage first studied medicine, but changed her mind and went to Art School in Leicester. There she studied Graphic Design and Illustration. She began illustrating books after college. Then she progressed to writing children stories, including toddler books and chapter books. Her first novel was Septimus Heap: Magyk. Angie Sage is married and has two daughters, Laurie and Lois.

Reviews

[Dalia Nourelden · Rating 5 out of 5]

الظلام : الكتاب السادس وقبل الأخير من سلسلة سبتيموس .فرحانة أوى انى قربت اخلصها 🤩وزعلانة جدا انها خلاص هتخلص وفاضلى كتاب واحد
😭.



الكتاب ده بالنسبالى كان كل حاجة وعكسها قمة المتعة والتشويق والاحداث الكتير اللى تخليك متشوق ايه اللى هيحصل وفى نفس الوقت كان اكتر جزء حسيت انه طول معايا وان قرايتي فيه للأسف كانت بطيئة عما أنا متعودة. وفى نفس الوقت رغم حاجات كتير كانت بتعطلنى ومزاجي الوحش أثناء القراية الا انه اكتر جزء حبيته واستمتعت بيه . كنت ساعات بحس انى بجبر نفسى على القراية وفى نفس الوقت مش قادرة اسيبه . كان بالنسبالى عامل زى بلسم ، مضايقة وماليش نفس اقرأ واما ببدأ اقرا فيه بندمج معاه وأحس انى رحت عالم تانى مختلف . خرجني بره توتري حتى لو بشكل مؤقت بس كان مفيد ومهم .

الجزء ده فعلا تنطبق عليه جملة مش هتقدر تغمض عنيك ، الأحداث فيه بدأت تقريبا علطول وكان دايما فى أحداث وحاجات مستنية اعرف هيحصل فيها ايه .

شكرا لكل ابطال الجزء وخصوصا بيتل و سبتيموس ومارسيليوس وسايمون وجينا ومارشا و صديقي واعجابي الأكبر من يوم ماظهر التنين البطل لافظ اللهب ❤❤ .


الجزء ده كل واحد فيهم أثبت نفسه وشخصيته بقت أقوى و حسيت نضجهم وتغيرهم .

هيعملوا ايه المرادى مع الظلام وازاى هيتعاملوا معاه ؟ وهل هينسوا خلافاتهم ولا الظلام هيبعدهم عن بعض أكثر ؟؟

استعديت لعيد ميلاد جينا وسبتيموس ، اتوترت وزعلت مع جينا وسبتيموس فى البداية ، حبيت شجاعة بيتل ، قلقت على ألثر . حسيت بالضغط مع سايمون واتوترت معاه . عشت المغامرة مع لافظ اللهب وحاربت معاه . استعديت للظلام مع سبتيموس والقلعة . قلقت مع سارة . باختصار اندمجت معاهم

و طبعا كان الغضب المستمر من الشخصية المستفزة ميرين ميريديث


شخصية مستفزة فعلا بس فى نفس الوقت كان صعبان عليا ، حسيته خسر كل حاجة فجأة وفى حاجات فى حياته كانت السبب انه بقى كده بس برضه مكانش عذر ليه او حتى لو كان له عذر انا مقدرش اسامحه على اللى كان بيعمله ويتسبب فيه بغباءه .

وشكرا طبعا لصديقتي الغالية ورفيقتي فى الرحلة من بدايتها سارة وعقبال الكتاب الاخير ويكون ختامها مسك ❤❤

١٨ / ٤ / ٢٠٢١

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roar! Flagon the Fierce and Friendly Welsh Dragon [see profile pic and other photos] here with my second Goodreads review. I reviewed The Other Wind last time.

Roar - so Robert really likes Angie Sage (he met her once) but I've gone off her a bit because of this book; there's a Pesky Dragon in it. (Angie Sage calls it a Darke Dragon but it comes to the same thing.) We Dragons have enough bad press already, without contemporary authors adding to it with their books with Pesky Dragons in! Roar! At least there is a Non-pesky Dragon, too and that Dragon has been around for several books in this series. But people mostly only remember the bad press when they meet an actual Dragon like me. We should all try to treat each other as individuals, though, and not assume folks are Pesky just because of malicious rumours! I'm much more likely to give you a cuddle than a clawing if I meet you!

Roar - but the rest of the book was fun and funny, with Sage's usual collection of entertaining and somehow down-to-Earth-despite-all-the-Magyk characters.

[Dana Salman · Rating 5 out of 5]

2021 edit:
Geez why are all my old Septimus Heap reviews so bad XD. Well, I'm reading the series again to my little sister, ten years later, and I gotta say I still enjoy it immensely; such a charming cast of characters, wonderful setting and world-building, and so many fun shenanigans! This particular installment is one of my favorites in the series, so don't believe ten-years-younger me if I sounded underwhelmed by it. This series was never about being overly dramatic or bombastic or grand and epic like most YA fantasy series are expected to be - it's a look into the lives of a wide variety of people, all with their own personalities and ambitions, and how they intertwine with each other. Darke is probably the most climactic of the series, but even then the best parts of it are just seeing our favorite characters bouncing off each other in difficult situations, and having to pool their abilities and experiences together to overcome them. I go into more detail in my old review, which I've hidden as a spoiler, but if all you want to know is if this sixth installment is just as good as or even better than the previous books, then I can give you a resounding "yes"!

2011:
Can't wait can't wait can't wait!!!
***************

Well. I finished it, and I'm disappointed. Not that the story was disappointing. It was typical Septimus Heap. Septimus, now fourteen, must undergo his Darke Week, and what he wants to do is rescue accidentally-Banished ghost, Alther Mella, from the Darke Halls. But pretty soon, an old menace finally makes his move; Merrin Merredith has besieged the Castle with a Darke Domaine, trapping everyone in a giant pool of suffocating Darke Magyk. Exciting and fast-paced, Darke takes Septimus Heap to a whole new level. I just have a few points to make.
One: Two characters introduced in the previous book Syren whom I really was looking forward to seeing more of - Syrah and Jim Knee - do nothing throughout the entire course of this story. Just a heads up for those of you who haven't read it yet. But yes, Syrah is still unconscious and Jim Knee is hibernating (which stinks because he could've been really helpful).
Two: Septimus and Jenna are down-right irritating at the beginning of the book, to the point of just plain unlikeable. Jenna especially seemed to me a real pain. She never reacts the way she should.
Three: Beetle pretty much takes over Septimus's role at the beginning of the book (which is fine by me, as he's my favorite character), then disappears later (no, he does not *ehem* *ehem*). And because he's so nice and Jenna's so mean, their relationship didn't have the ending I'd been hoping for. A second let-down.
Four: Marcellus and Simon have a lot more to do in this one. About time.
Five: *spoiler* I think Marcia should've been a lot more shocked that Marcellus had actually cut off Merrin's thumb. They treated it as no big deal. I mean, yikes!
Six: *spoiler* After all that worrying and preparing, the Darke Halls weren't nearly as bad as I'd been expecting (or hoped).
Seven: *spoiler* Beetle becoming the Chief Hermetic Scribe, though not unexpected, was a great moment.

All I can say is that Darke was all I'd been expecting, and I enjoyed it. Really I did. The only problem now is that I'll be waiting on tenterhooks for the next book and after that there'll be no more. It's kinda depressing. Harry Potter all over again. But I'll worry bout that later. After all there is still the one book. Meanwhile I'll be rereading all my favorite parts in the Septimus Heap series.

Favorite Septimus Heap Moments (in case you're interested):
Magyk:
-Preparing the Sheild Bugs with Marcia.
-DeFrosting the Hunter and 'refreshing' his memory. So funny!
-Scrying in the duck pond and finding out Boy 412 is Septimus Heap. Touching moment.
Flyte:
-Getting lost in the forest and being rescued by Benjamin
-Camp Heap: meet Sam, Edd, Erik, and Jo-Jo!
-The Summer Circle, with the Witch Mother warning Nicko and Septimus not to 'go to the circus'. Lol.
-Boy 409 and Boy 412 reunite. Awesome.
-Holing up in the Doll House. Creepy.
-Trapped in the Port Witch Coven house. Creepier.
-Spit Fyre hatches!
Physik:
-Beetle helps Jenna figure out how to find Septimus. Ever the helpful friend, Beetle.
-After Spit Fyre lands on Snorri's boat. Poor Snorri.
-Septimus is dogged by Hugo Tenderfoot. Cute little boy!
-Jenna goes through the Queen's Way and meets Broda Pye and her doppleganger ancester, Esmeralda!
-Jenna, mistaken for Esmeralda, is forced to attend her 'mother's' feast, looks up to thank the servent boy who has just spooned sauce into her duckling-free bowl, and sees that it is Septimus. Wonderful moment.
-Everything from the feast until they go back through the Glass of Time.
-Septimus cures Beetle.
Queste:
-Merrin applies for the Scribe's job while Beetle is in charge. Hilarious!
-Marcia finds out Septimus has been visiting Marcellus. And then goes to visit Marcellus. Uh-oh, we're in trouble.
-Meeting Ephaniah Grebe.
-Camp Heap again. I really like Sam too.
-Jenna owns Beetle and Septimus by pulling the door of the Hut open. Lol lol lol.
-Septimus breaks the news to Hotep-Ra that the Queste has been Darkened by Tertius Fume. Oh Well.
-Finding Nicko in the House of Foryx. Happy days.
-Catchpole and the writing on the door. That man's a riot. Which reminds me, I haven't heard mention of Catchpole at all in this book. Darke I mean. Huh.
-Marcia, Spit Fyre and Sarah meet everyone outside the House of Foryx. Alls well that ends well.
Syren:
-Septimus sends a letter by Pigeon Post. Lol lol lol.
-The performance on deck the Cerys. Way to go Spit Fyre!
-Barney tries to give Septimus his SafeCharm. Cute little kid!
-Merrin mugs Barney Pot. Poor Barney!
-Merrin meets Jim Knee. Lol, lol, LOL!!
-Wolf Boy has to feed Lucy Gringe to the Grim. Yeah. Not gonna happen. You don't mess with Lucy Gringe.
-Septimus meets Syrah Syara.
-Septimus escapes the Syren.
-The Book of Syrah Syren. Creepy. Sad.
-Aunt Zelda makes Merrin appologize to Barney on an onlooker-filled street. Ha ha.
-The whole affair with trying to stop the army of Jinn. Humurously crazy.
-Syrah discovers she is over 500 years old. And faints. All I can say is, she'd better meet Julius Pike's ghost once she wakes up.
-Returning home. Everyone's okay.
Darke!:*Spoilers*
-Beetle and Jenna go out on a date! Yeah, that is what it is.
-The Boomerang Charm takes Beetle back to the Manuscriptorium.
-Gothyk Grotto, Igor, Matt and Marcus.
-The Cordon
-Simon makes a choice between saving his mother or risking the lives of the inhabitants of the castle...
-Sarah forces Septimus and Simon to get along.
-The cute ghost girl in the Darke Halls.
-Dragon Battle!
-Rescuing Beetle from the Hermetic Chamber.
-Foxy tells Beetle he is the new Chief Hermetic Scribe.
-Simon and Septimus finally call it quits.


Footnote: on second thought, I'll give this 3 stars and Syren 4: Syren was a bit better than this.
nother footnote: on third thought, this is as good as Syren. So four stars.

[سارة سمير · Rating 5 out of 5]

رحلة جديدة ولكن هذه المرة في قلب الظلام ننطلق مع ابطالنا في رحلة لزجة مظلمة تسبب الاختناق والمتسبب الرئيسي وسيد الظلام الجديد هو ميرين ميريديث القمئ

[Sara Saif · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm getting dangerously close to the end of this series and frankly, since I've come to love and appreciate it, I wouldn't have minded if it had 15 more books. Sticking to a series can be hard but once you get over the hesitation it feels amazing to keep visiting the same world over and over again. Provided the books are good, of course.

-I would say that the sixth Septimus Heap book was darker than the rest, not only would it be a pun but it'd also be true. The whole Castle was at serious risk this time and not everyone survived in the aftermath.
-I loved Simon's turnaround. The actual redemption arc started two books ago but now he was officially accepted.
-Three people infuriated me so much their stupidity drove me to muttering under my breath; Jenna, Sarah and Merrin.
-Finally, Wolf Boy has a known past. And a name!
-The book was a little too long.
-Nicko and Snorri. What's the deal?
-Septimus was a bit ungrateful when it came to Marcia. She cares about him greatly and he always under-appreciates it.
-Will the rest of the Heap brood ever come out of the forest?

It'd be awesome if everyone has grown up significantly in the last book.

[Dion Yulianto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mengikuti serial Septimus Heap karya Angie Sage, kita ibarat turut mengikuti pertumbuhan tokoh-tokoh utama di dalamnya, sekaligus menikmati perkembangan ceritanya, yang semakin ke sini semakin seru untuk dibaca. Terdiri dari total 7 buku, seri Septimus Heap berkisah tentang kehidupan seorang penyihir anak dalam sebuah dunia antah-berantah tapi oleh penulisnya masih berada di Bumi, walau setting waktunya juga kurang jelas pada zaman apa. Kelima seri ini telah terlebih dulu diterjemahkan oleh Penerbit Matahati (Magyk, Flyte, Physick, Queste, dan Syren), sementara dua seri terakhir (Darke dan Fyre) diterbitkan oleh Mizan Fantasy. Jadi, jangan takut di PHP jika kamu ragu mau membaca atau mengikuti serial ini karena dari total 7 bukunya sudah diterbitkan dalam bahasa Indonesia. Sayangnya, mungkin buku-buku awal yang sudah susah didapatkan di toko buku. Kayaknya butuh Sleuth untuk bisa mencarinya. #eh

Dalam Magyk, aroma Harry Potterian masih terasa cukup kuat, dan pembaca yang masih belum bisa move on dari Hogwarts kemungkinan hanya akan memandang seri ini dengan sinis sambil berkata, “Another Harry Potter series wannabe, huh?” Tapi, teruskanlah membaca seri-seri ini sampai buku ketiga atau buku keempat, aroma Harry Potterian niscaya sudah Menguap dan tanpa sadar, kita sudah terseret dalam petualangan Septimus Heap dan kawan-kawan dalam dunia ciptaan Angie Sage yang benar-benar segar dan kaya akan Humor. Seperti air yang mengalir pelan tapi stabil, Sage membangun dunia Septimus Heap dengan penuh kesabaran. Mengenalkan satu per satu karakternya, menguak sedikit demi sedikit Magyk dan dunia dalam buku karangannya, memasukkan karakter-karakternya dalam petualangan yang semakin lama semakin berbahaya, dan ujung-ujungnya pembaca akan Terjerat dalam pesona seri ini ketika mereka sampai di buku ketiga atau keempat.

Sihir dalam seri ini tidak sama dengan sihir dalam buku-buku fantasi lain, eh basiknya sama sih ada penyihir, ada mantra, ada alkemi, ada sihir baik dan sihir gelap. Tapi, keunikan seri ini adalah penggunaan huruf Kapital dan cetak besar (bold) untuk menunjukkan sesuatu yang berbau Magyk. Jadi, jangan kaget kalau membaca serial ini pembaca akan sering menjumpai satu kata yang dicetak tebal di tengah kalimat, kata itu biasanya menandai adanya sihir atau magyk yang tengah bekerja, seperti ruang alkemi Tersegel atau Marcia menggunakan mantra Sibak untuk membuka selubung gelap. Satu kualitas unggulan lain dari seri ini adalah humor si penulis yang menyisip perlahan di sepanjang cerita. Humor ala Sage adalah jenis humor yang ramah, simpel, yang biasanya memancing senyum simpul. Tidak heran jika pas lagi seru-serunya, pembaca sering kali tertawa sendiri atau paling tidak tersenyum simpul. Atau, jangan-jangan, Angie Sage sedang menerapkan Humor kepada kita?

Sekarang kita bahas tentang ceritanya. Dari enam seri Septimus Heap yang sudah saya baca, Darke adalah yang paling seru (yang kemudian disusul oleh Queste dan Syren). Bakal sangat panjang kalau harus menjelaskan cerita buku 1 sampai 5, tapi percayalah, membacanya tidak akan membuat Anda menyesal, sungguh rugi kalau Anda melewatkan seri ini. Pokoknya, dalam buku keenam ini, petualangan dan cerita yang disajikan ibarat puncak serangan yang sesungguhnya karena Kuasa Gelap sudah mulai menyerang kastil, istana, dan menara penyihir. Bertepatan dengan pekan gelap ketika Septimus Heap harus menjalani ujiannya sebagai Murid Luar Biasa, dia harus menyentuh Kegelapan agar bisa menyeimbangkan penggunaan Magyk dan Gelap secara seimbang. Dia yang kuat adalah dia yang mampu menggunakan apapun yang ada secara seimbang dan sepantasnya. Tapi, pekan gelap adalah ujian yang berisiko, Septimus harus mendatangi Aula Gelap, salah satu tempat paling berhantu di bumi.

Belum selesai dengan pekan gelapnya, masalah lain muncul. Merrin Meredith yang memegang cincin bermuka dua milik DormDaniel membuat ulah dengan mendatangkan Zona Gelap di kastel. Malam terpanjang musim dingin yang seharusnya menjadi malam perayaan berubah menjadi malam penuh kepanikan ketika perlahan tapi pasti seluruh bangunan kastel mulai ditelan oleh Zona Gelap. Dengan datangnya Gelap, datang juga banyak Mahkluk gelap yang menyebarkan sulur-sulur kegelapan ke penjuru kastel. Septimus dan Marcia harus berjibaku dengan waktu untuk Memunahkan Zona Gelap.

Septimus tidak memiliki pilihan lain selain harus segera menuntaskan pekan gelapnya agar dia bisa membantu Marcia dan kawan-kawannya menghadapi Zona Gelapdan berbagai Makhluk mengerikan di dalamnya. Sementara dia berputar-putar di Aula Gelap, di kastel teman-temannya berjuang untuk melarikan diri sekaligus mencari cara untuk melawan zona gelap tersebut. Seluruh penyihir dan penyalin manuskrip di kastel berjuang menahan perluasan Zona Gelap sebelum kejahatan menyebar dan menelan seluruh kastel. Berhasilkah Septimus Heap kali ini?

Tidak seperti seri-seri sebelumnya yang baru seru menjelang pertengahan buku, Darke mulai bergerak seru bahkan sejak seratus halaman pertamanya, aroma Bahaya sudah menggantung gelap sejak halaman-halaman awal, yang kemudian semakin intens ketika cerita berlanjut. Bahkan sepanjang 400 halaman, pembaca akan diajak berlari, bersembunyi, memalang pintu, menembus kabut, mendayung menghindari batu, melompat ke pusaran air tak berdasar, naik naga, menyaksikan pertempuran di udara, hingga terjebak di ruang ahli kimia. Sangat seru sampai-sampai seri ini terasa cepat sekali dibacanya, sepertinya buku keenam ini memang sudah dimantrai dengan mantra Seru karena tahu-tahu sudah selesai ceritanya, dan pembaca akan menutup buku ini dengan perasaan penuh kepuasan.

[Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story filled with wonderful adventures of great characters whom one can't help but love. Throughout each book you get to see the characters grow and that is what makes this series interesting.

[Laila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, though Angie Sage must have been a little scatter brained. It seems as though, with all the minor plots she has made, she can't keep up with them. Still, part of one of my favorite series.

[Aidan Elliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this one, the problem was clear and what must be done/motivations were understandable which bring you into their plight as characters. It seemed that potentially the story might run into the last book, but it resolved. Looking forward to the final installment.

[Seamaiden · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was good. During the first half of the book, I was really annoyed by Jenna and Septimus' behaviors. I was so annoyed that I didn't want to read anything about them. I actually wanted to read more about Syrah and Beetle. I am glad there was more Beetle in this book and he had such a good ending. Also, I would like more Wolf Boy.
I am not sure what I think about the plot. I mean...I was interested in seeing what would happen, but I rolled my eyes more than once while reading the story. Merrin was annoying as hell. However, what was more annoying is that in every book no one let's another person finish their sentence when something dangerous happen. I mean, after so many times that the whole Heap family was in danger, you, people, should know to shut up when someone tries to tell you there is danger somewhere. Just shut your mouth, do what you are told to do, and if it was not as it appeared to be, just let the person explain to you what made them do such a thing. For God's sake! And give Marcia some credits. During her time, everything Darke seems to happen and her Apprentice is not the most normal person ever. Geez.

Anyway, one more book to go and I am kind of sad they are over, yet I don't think they can stretch further. Therefore, let's walk out of the Darke and into the Fyre.

[Juey · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW
I THINK THIS WAS THE BEST BOOK ANGIE SAGE HAS EVER WRITEN!!!!!!!!
EVERYTHING IN THE STORY WAS SOOOOOOOO WELL PLANNED OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I CAN'T WAIT TO READ FYRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IF YOU DIDN'T READ THE SEPTIMUS HEAP SEIRES, GO AHEAD AND GRAB THOSE BOOKS RIGHT NOW.
I PROMISE YOU THAT YOU WILL LLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEE IT!!!!!
PLEASE RRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD IT!!!
😁😁👍😁👍😁👍😁👍😁👍👍👍😁😁👍😁👍👍👍😁👍😁😁👍😁😁👍👍😁😁👍👍👍😁😁😁👍😁👍😁👍👍😁👍😁😁👍😁👍😁😁😁😁👍😁👍😁👍😁😁👍😁👍😁😁👍👍👍😁👍😁👍👍😁👍😁👍😁👍😁👍😁👍👍😁👍👍😁👍😁👍😁👍😁👍😁👍😁😁😁😁👍😁😁😁😁👍👍👍👍👍😁😁👍👍👍😁👍😁😁👍😁👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😁👍😁👍😁👍👍😁😁😁👍👍😁👍😁👍👍😁👍👍👍👍😁😁👍👍👍😁👍😁

[Michelle Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

To get right to it, I think Darke was a whole lot more padded than it needed to be. There was too much time spent on people just hiding out in the dark, with very little plot to drive the book forward. I'm still excited for the final book, because I knew the 5 previous books to be much better than this, but this is definitely a low point for the series.

[Stephanie | Books_and_Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

{Rated PG} Ugh! This series should have stopped about 2 books ago. I felt this one was quite boring, when it could have been so much more fun if certain parts of the book were longer and were more immersed in the parts with the Darke dragon or when Septimus is wondering around trying to find his way to Dungeon Number One. Oh, well. 2 stars it is.

[Negin · Rating 5 out of 5]

فقط میگم عالی بود:/ بقیه رو بعدا میگم

[Yoosef esmaeeli · Rating 5 out of 5]

خیلی از جلد های قبلیش پر هیجان تر بود

[Abigail]

'begin with Magyk, finish with Fyre.'

this book was one of my most anticipated of the series: the culmination of Merrin's journey, the greatest threat the Castle has yet seen, Jenna's acceptance as Queen... the list goes on.

there are some genuinely scary moments in this book - things that shock me - but Angie never loses her warmth and wit. the book also sets up some incredible growth for Sep as he continues to follow both Magyk and Alchemie (although I still thoroughly dislike Marcellus).

I think the biggest challenge towards the end of the series is giving all of the (many, many) characters enough page time, hence why gems like Zelda, Wolf Boy and Snorri were kept out of the story this time. I'm not mad about it! I think it makes sense, but I do love seeing my faves.

now, for Fyre. this is the book I remember least - I think I've only read it a couple of times, but I'm sure it will all come flooding back soon enough. see you at the end of it all...

[Yolanda Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun and lovable series.

[Labeba Salameh · Rating 3 out of 5]

مازلنا نحتاج لمحرر يحذف فقرات من هذا العمل

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

as if I couldn't love this world more, "dingbat" being an absolutely scathing insult is iconic

this was the best of the series so far, I'm obsessed. it kept punching me in the throat with feels and I'm 100% okay with that.

[ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is so cute!

[Brayden Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book in the series so far!

[Ruth Donigian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and quirky. My only issue with this book is that it took me too long to finally pick it up…so long that I had forgotten some characters. Still a comfort book though.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the whole series

[Aashish Sood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read the first five books of the series earnestly, it was for quite some time that I have been waiting for Darke to come out.

I wouldn’t say that the long wait was a wasted effort; though the book fell short of expectations. At least in my case.

In this volume, Merrin Meredith, apprentice to necromancer Domadaniel and now wearing his two faced ring has decided upon himself to setup a Darke Domaine in the castle and overcome even the Wizard Tower, with the help of his faithful THINGS. This Darke Domaine grows outward from the palace and is now threatening to overwhelm the entire city. Septimus is worried about his Darke Week where he must encounter the Darke and successfully avoid being lost in it. Unfortunately, the ghost of Ex-extraordinary Wizard, Alther Mella, has been banished Marcia Overstrand, the current Extraordinary Wizard, in a mistake and is not present to help. On the other hand is Princess Jenna in a tiff with the Port Witch coven. Beetle, on the other hand, involved in the entire charade in more than one ways: Having a crush on Jenna, past association with Manuscriptorium, association with Marcia etc.

Positives of the book:
The character of Beetle has been developed a lot with a good ending for him, for a change.
Since both Jenna and Septimus are coming of age, 14 years, in this volume; they both are coming to terms with the expectations that they have to fulfill – Jenna as the queen to be and Septimus as the possible candidate for Extraordinary wizard.

Negatives of the book:
While a lot of talk and impression were given as to Septimus having to go into Darke Halls to retrieve Alther, that bit went off fairly quickly and I felt that it could have been developed on at all. Especially since it seemed that visiting Darke Halls was all the more urgent for the removal of Darke Domaine.
More than usual detailing on Darke Domaine; at times felt it to be too lengthy and kept on going on and on.
At times Jenna and Septimus seemed a bit more childish. But I guess that can be explained as being a part of adolescence.
I was kind of looking forward to see more of Syrah and Jim Knee but they both were absent throughout.

A very surprising element was when Marcellus did something which I would have never expected him to do. That was a real nice bit.

Though, all in all a nice read and I will give it a 3.5 out of 5 rating.

[Non Ratchanon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is so much better than Syren. It’s exciting and very intense, not boring at all. I enjoy the core story very much but I really annoyed Jenna and Septimus’s interaction at first. Some characters have illogical and stupid thinking like they are in soap opera (Sarah and Silas Heap to be specific). The unique writing technique of Angie is the timelines between chapters are overlap which is fascinating. Although, it’s also a weak point (e.g. Jenna and Nicko pop up themselves from very far place, side characters were left behind almost instantly after they have finished their job). I think Angie is not good at handling many characters and she just tossed those interesting characters away like she ditched Sep’s four brothers into the wood. It would be so much fun if she can use those characters more. Furthermore, there are sooo many conflicts (even on the same page) that would definitely irritate the reader. Angie has not planned well before she write. She made many limitations in the first half of the book but in the second half she completely forgot about them or wrote something carelessly to break those limitations. For example, Sep got something that cannot be in the wizard tower but in the final arc he is standing in the room on top of the tower, Marcia desperately want to get out of the tower but cannot do that because of the shield(nothing can go in or out) - just a couple of chapters after that Simon easily get into the tower by secret door which is obviously a sloppy writing. Overall, this book has the most serious Darke’s plot, it’s getting more dangerous and closer to the ending. Both rising action and falling action are more intense than any previous books even though the climax is a bit messy. Darke has the same addicted vibes like many books before. I’ve finished Darke in two days.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading these books with my son early this year and though he has lost interest, I have gained. I’ve genuinely enjoyed all the books so far, but this one is my favorite. I loved the action and the multiple plots coming together in the end. I can’t wait to read the next in the series.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book, #6 in the Septimus Heap series. I like Septimus Heap. I like the crazy concoction of characters that inhabit the Castle and the the world surrounding it. I like the intricacy of the plot and multiple steps required to solve the problem of the story, which in this book is a spreading fog of Darknesse spurred on by that trouble-making apprentice of the deceased Dom Daniel. I like how the characters evolve and change and new things happen to them.

However, I think I might be growing slightly bored with this wonderful cast of characters. I think that I want more of Septimus himself. Septimus is the title of the series, yet his actions are not even the most important ones of this particular story. He simply is not in enough of the plot.

I would still recommend it if you are a Septimus fan. However, if you have not read any of the earlier books in the series, I suggest starting at the beginning with Magyk. This story really does not make a lot of sense without the background of the earlier books.

[Denicemarcell]

have been notified today, April 1, i am a winner of a copy of this title, YAY!
Wow!! rec'd a store copy this week in addition to the advanced reading copy. I am amazed.

started reading this on my vacation. Generally not an issue its book 6 and i never finished chapter 1 of book 1. Necessary knowledge from the previous books is woven into the story without disruption to the plot reminders for those who have read books 1-5 and info for those of us who haven't.
I am not finding myself attaching to any character. (Princess) Jenna is likeable and given what i know so far I am sympathic toward her.

[Mohammad Mahdi · Rating 5 out of 5]

بله درست دیدین ... پنج
:))

هرچقدر جلدای دو و پنج کسل کننده بود این جلد هیجان انگیز بود ... که البته پشت جلد کتابم نوشته هیجان انگیز ترین جلد
:-"
این جلد داستان دارک شده بود ... سیاهی ( صیاهی :) ) کل قلعه رو گرفته
و برعکس جلدای اول که انگار نویسنده دلش نمیومد برای کاراکتراش چالش ایجاد کنه تو این کتاب اینقدر مشکل ایجاد کرد که من هی داشتم فکر میکردم چجوری تا آخر کتاب میخواد اینا رو حل کنه

در کل خیلی عالی بود :)
نشر افق قرار بود نمایشگاه کتاب قبلی جلد آخر رو بیاره ولی هنوز که هنوزه از جلد بعد خبری نیست :/ :|

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am now in the middle of Darke and it is just what the summary is about. Alther Mella has been banished in the prologue. Marcia makes a safety curtain and it has been broken. I am now at chapter 38 and Septimus and Jenna decide to take Spit Fyre, Septimus' dragon, up to the sky because it is the only place that is safe. This book is intriguing and has action and excitement on every page. Even though I have not finished the book yet, I would rate this book a 3 out of 5 stars because it is not my favorite book in the seris.