Angie Sage’s bestselling Pathfinder is the first book after the Septimus Heap series. The series to which “Pathfinder” belongs to (TodHunter Moon) takes place seven years after the events of the original Septimus Heap series. It is a thrilling book, which takes hold of the reader from the first page until the end, no matter if they’re an established fan of the Septimus Heap series or a new reader like me.
PathFinder tells the story of Alice ‘TodHunter’ Moon, a young, brave and resilient girl who is about to have her world turned upside down. She prefers to be called Tod and also has a natural affinity for magic. She is very adventurous, so she leaves her seaside village in search of her best friend Ferdie. Rumour has it that Ferdie has been taken by mysterious creatures called Garmin under orders from “the Lady,” so Tod has to follow a magykal path to rescue her. Tod is not afraid to do what she thinks is right in order to save her friend!
As Tod becomes accustomed to her new role and she learns more about her responsibilities as a Pathfinder, she must also deal with her father’s sudden and mysterious disappearance.
Soon after returning home with Ferdie, she finds her Pathfinder town is completely obliterated. Now, with both her parents gone, she leaves everything behind and goes to a mythical place her mum had told her about – a Wizard’s Tower.
Tod eventually makes her way there and meets Septimus, now 21 and ExtraOrdinary wizard. Together with many others characters, they must save the snow kingdom from an evil wizard called Oraton-Maar.
Throughout the story’s development, relationships between family members are tested and new relationships form, which enables Tod to develop a fascinating new skill: the path finder within…
This inspiring book is a great addition to any fantasy reader’s library. Once I started reading, I kept turning the pages until the very end. Angie Sage’s writing is very clear and flows well.
My favourite character is Septimus Heap who is the Extra-Ordinary wizard. He is a loving and caring man and he is very important to the book, as he helps Tod, Ferdie and Oskar find their lost parents and all of the Pathfinder villagers. He is the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (Silas Heap). Therefore, he is gifted with extreme magical powers.
Overall, I would say the power and solidarity of family and friendship is the essential theme in this book. Family is always the most important, more than your destiny, no matter how strong, how gifted or how weak you think you are. Without them you cannot manage or fulfil your dreams. In the end, the spirit of solidarity is the main power which eventually beats the dark.
Speaking of darke powers, as a German reader, the only issue I had with the book, is that Alice insists on being called “Tod”, which is the German word for “death.” Although the English probably don’t realise, I just kept reading it as the German word and I found it a bit distracting!!
This breathtaking novel mixes magyk and adventure which still grips me tightly; it’s why I love this book so much, as well as its outstanding ability to tense the reader and make them feel as though they are inside Tod’s world, fighting for existence.
I would definitely recommend this book to all magyk lovers and those who are keen to start a new adventure inside a new world far, far away outside of reality.
- Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop
