SOLVED. YA Medieval Fantasy Book, sort of contemporary, ppublished maybe 90s or early 2000s, fantasy about knight with humour, a quest, a mathematical sidekick? [s]

[Sumayyah]

ok so this book, i read it early 2000s, like 2003-04 but it was published before that because i got it from the library (in toronto, canada, in english). it had a 90s feel to me, and it was a standalone. it was medieval but had a contemporary (for then) feel to it. i thiiiink there was a prince on a quest?

i definitely remember a sidekick character who might have been named septimus and all his brothers had names that matched their birth order in latin (so septimus is sibling #7). he invented glasses? and was very mathematically inclined, which i think his father didn't like and wanted him to be more warrior like.

and there was a girl who was awesome and might have been a princess? they were friends who all went on a quest together. i don't remember anything else, except for this feeling that it might have been connected to the arthurian mythos.

i remember the cover image being pretty simple, sandy yellow and green, maybe a castle on the horizon, and two or three small figures on the road leading from the castle? but i might have just conjured that image up.

it was NOT the Septimus Heap books or any of the Squire's Tale books (by Gerald Morris), so please don't suggest them (though thank you for helping me!)

[Holly]

List of quest books?

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

I started sifting through it, clicking based on title, but then thought you might recognize any book quicker :)

[Sarah]

Is it possible that you're thinking of Stardust, by Neil Gaiman? There is a character named Septimus, with brothers named Secundus, Quintus, Quartus, Sextus, Primus, and Tertius.

[Sumayyah]

Sarah wrote: "Is it possible that you're thinking of Stardust, by Neil Gaiman? There is a character named Septimus, with brothers named Secundus, Quintus, Quartus, Sextus, Primus, a..."

Thank you, but it's not Stardust! (Though I've read it, it's awesome).

[Holly]

The sidekick info doesn’t match, but maybe The Fire's Stone? It has a very similar plot

[Sumayyah]

Holly wrote: "The sidekick info doesn’t match, but maybe The Fire's Stone? It has a very similar plot"

Ooh this is very similar (and looks really interesting) but I believe it was meant for middle-grade or young y/a. This seems almost new adult-ish?

[Sumayyah]

Bump

[Elizabeth ♛Smart Girls Love Trashy Books♛]

Most likely a long-shot, but it reminded me of this:

The Ugly Princess and the Wise Fool

[Rainbowheart]

My first thought was Magyk, but that was pubbed too late.

There's also a list for Seventh Sons and Daughters, but I don't see your book on there.

[Sumayyah]

Elizabeth ♛Smart Girls Love Trashy Books♛ wrote: "Most likely a long-shot, but it reminded me of this:

The Ugly Princess and the Wise Fool"


it's not that one, but thank you!

[Sumayyah]

Rainbowheart wrote: "My first thought was Magyk, but that was pubbed too late.

There's also a list for Seventh Sons and Daughters, but I don't see your book on there."

that's not it, but i'll check the list! thanks!

[Sumayyah]

boost

[Genesistrine]

Merlin's Mistake by Robert Newman?

One of the protagonists is called Tertius, because he's a 3rd son, and Merlin's mistake was giving him knowledge of future science. At one point he makes gunpowder in an alchemist's lab to blast them out of trouble.

[Sumayyah]

YES oh my goodness thank you this is the book I was looking for! gosh I love this thread. thank you so much!!!!

[Genesistrine]

Hooray!