Queste is the fourth installment in Angie Sage's beloved Septimus Heap fantasy series, perfect for middle-grade readers aged 10-14. This book plunges Septimus into a high-stakes quest to rescue his brother Nicko and friend Snorri, who have been lost in time. Guided by ancient alchemy and faded maps, Septimus, along with his adoptive sister Jenna and friend Beetle, must navigate the treacherous path to the House of Foryx, a place where all time converges. The narrative also features a sinister subplot involving Merrin Meredith, who seeks to usurp Septimus's identity with the help of a 'Thing.' Parents will appreciate the strong themes of family loyalty, friendship, bravery, and perseverance, all wrapped in an imaginative world of magic, wizards, and subtle hints of advanced technology. It's an engaging, fast-paced adventure that continues to build on the rich lore of the series, often compared to Harry Potter for its immersive world-building and magical apprenticeship.
Septimus faces a perilous quest to find Nicko and Snorri, who have been trapped back in time. Everyone at the Castle is slowly beginning to realise that Nicko and Snorri's chances of coming back are slim. Septimus, aided by ancient Alchemist Marcellus Pye, learns of a place where all time meets: the House of Foryxx. But how does he get there? Jenna and Septimus find Nicko's notes from the past and discover that he knows of the House of Foryxx as well and has been creating a map to plot the house's hidden location. With the help of the Questing Stone and Nicko's faded maps, will Septimus be able to find the House of Foryxx, and save Nicko and Snorri? Meanwhile, Simon Heap has taken on Merrin Meredith, former apprentice to DomDaniel, as his own apprentice, giving Merrin an opportunity he has been waiting years for. With the help of a frightening creature called a Thing, Merrin plans to reclaim the identity he used to have … that of Septimus Heap.