List of Septimus Heap characters
Encyclopedia
This article catalogs the key characters from the books in the Septimus Heap
series by Angie Sage
. These include the books Magyk
, Flyte
, Physik
, Queste
and Syren
. Some characters play a central role in all the books, while others are only central to the plot in one or two of the books. When reviewing the first book in the series, Magyk, Sabina Qazi of Dawn.com described the characters as follows:
Silas is the father of the Heap household. He is an Ordinary Wizard with wizard green eyes, curly hair and wears the traditional blue cloak of Ordinary Wizards. Silas was apprenticed to former ExtraOrdinary Wizard Alther Mella but left his apprenticeship, thus losing the title to Marcia Overstrand
. He loves his family and is on terms with everybody except with Marcia. Silas loves to play counter-feet with the gate-keeper of the Castle, Gringe. His addiction to the game makes him forget more important things like his family. He was responsible for accidentally releasing the spirit of Queen Etheldredda in Physik
.
Sarah Heap
Sarah is the mother of the Heap household. She has the similar wizard green eyes and curly hair of the Heap family. She studied with the Physik woman, Galen, about magical herbs and plants and it was there that Silas Heap met her while getting lost in the forest one day. Sarah, though she is loving and caring in nature, is somewhat forgetful and sometimes more concerned about other things rather than the well-being of her near ones. Sarah has learned physik and can also do some magic, preferably white. Like Silas she is on good terms generally with everybody, except Marcia.
Critics were surprised by Sage's portrayal of Silas and Sarah as they show least concern for the welfare of their children. The critics have written about situations where the characters' lack of affection is more pronounced:- like when Jenna was kidnapped and they are convinced that Simon cannot kidnap her or when Septimus is sent back in time.
by joining the evil necromancer DomDaniel and made a bargain with the dead necromancer—to restore him to life, if he's taken on as the next Apprentice to the ExtraOrdinary Wizard. He kidnapped Jenna
and tried to kill Marcia by a Placement on her but was thwarted by Septimus and the others. He later learnt his mistakes and reformed his ways. Simon is romantically involved with Lucy Gringe, gatekeeper Gringe's daughter. Together at present they stay in an apartment in the port. According to Fantasy Literature review, he's like the typical bad-guy who makes the mistake of not killing his enemies straight-away. His betrayal was compared to that of Percy Weasley's betrayal from the Harry Potter
series. He has now turned good and has tried to return to the castle.
and adoptive sister Jenna
dearly, and helps them in every possible way. He became romantically involved with Snorri, whom he met during events from Physik
and was lost with her in time in Queste
. He returned to the Castle during the events of Syren
and was one of the the main sailor of Milo Banda's ship The Cerys.
ous protagonist of the series, Septimus spent the first ten years of his life in the Young Army as Boy 412 after DomDaniel attempted to abduct him. As the seventh son of a seventh son
,aptly named Septimus, he has exceptional magical powers and is currently apprenticed to the ExtraOrdinary Wizard Marcia Overstrand, who he trusts more than anyone else. He shares his birthday with Jenna, his adoptive sister. He also has the legendary dragon ring that belonged to Hotep-Ra
. Benjamin saved them from a pack of Wolverines and they got to know him.
Theo Heap is the second brother to Benjamin and Zelda. Like his elder brother, he is also a shape-shifter and shifted to be a Storm Petrel
. On stormy nights in the Marram Marshes, Zelda keeps a lookout for any Storm Petrels which might be blown away to the marshes and hopes to meet her brother again one day. In Magyk
there is an instance when a Storm Petrel comes to sit around Zelda's roof one stormy night but is not clear whether it is Theo Heap although he sits on the roof and says to himself she has always had a talent for seeing the truth in the pond.
The Heaps Help their world turn Right again.
. Being an ex-ExtraOrdinary Wizard he was automatically summoned in the Gathering In Queste
. Alther has always shared romantic feelings for Alice Nettles, former Chief Customs Officer, and stays with her ghost in front of the Palace.
at night. Snorri helped to prevent Etheldredda's spirit from murdering Jenna, by summoning her father's spirit who stopped Etheldredda from pushing Jenna into the fire conjured by Marcia. In a review by Katie Dickinson of Waterstones.com, she said that the character was interesting and she hoped that Snorri and her mysterious cat would stay on in the series.
. Marcia was able to Identify him again properly and he was completely finished though his ghost endured. But ultimately he vanished into apparent non-existence after his bones were consumed by Spit Fyre. Before he dies he is an amazing villan with good ambition and power.
, Beetle has become a regular character in the series. He assists Septimus on their adventures, and has some of them of his own accord. Beetle is the General Dogsbody and Inspection Clerk in the Magkykal Manuscriptorium and Spell Checkers Incorporated and is well-loved by all. He also inspects the ice-tunnels under the manuscriptorium on his sled. Beetle is generally in awe of Marcia
but internally has developed a crush on Jenna
. He is biten by the aie-aie and affected by the plague which spread in the Castle in Physik
but recovered from it by the medicine brewed by Septimus. After he was fired from the Manuscriptorium by chief scribe Jillie Djinn for discussing Manusciptorium business in front of Jenna and for saying unflattering things about Jillie Djinn, Beetle joined Septimus and Jenna to bring back Nicko and Snorri from the House of Foryx. In Darke, Bettle is named Chief Hermantic Scribe after the death of Jillie Djinn.
Beetle got his name from his mother, Pamela Beetle, after his father, Brian Beetle, died from a spiderbite. His mother, who simply called Brian "Beetle", was forced to impromptu name her child, and all she could do was wail: "Oh, Beetle... Beetle!" Duly, the toddler's name became O. Beetle Beetle. In Syren Beetle assists Septimus and Jenna, while being stranded on the Syren islands, to take care of Spit Fyre and to save the Castle from the impending dangers. In Darke, Beetle is trapped in the Manuscriptorium after during The Great Undoing and later is picked to become Chief Hermetic Scribe.
, Merrin Meredith is a boy who was mistaken for Septimus and was apprenticed to DomDaniel. When a matron midwife stole Septimus at birth from Sarah Heap to give to DomDaniel, circumstance had it that her own son, Merrin, was taken away by DomDaniel and the real Septimus ended up in the Young Army. After his apprenticeship, Merrin is continuously looked down by DomDaniel who always expects him to do brilliant magic (thinking him to be Septimus), which he fails to do. As a whole, Merrin is an unhappy, nasty boy. He was once Consumed by DomDaniel and almost died but was Revived by Zelda. After DomDaniel is destroyed he became Simon's apprentice but ran away from the Badlands to take revenge on Septimus. He took a job in the Manuscriptorium and joined hands with a ghost, Tertius Fume, to send Septimus on a deadly Queste
. He is the main villain in Darke and wears the Two-Faced ring only to have his thumb chopped off and him reunited with his mother.
when he was sent by Sarah to give a message to Silas in the Marshes. From then onwards circumstance had it that Stanley became involved in the adventures of Septimus and his friends. This led to his separation from his wife Dawnie, who went to live with her sister. At present, Stanley is working to set up the Secret Service Message agency again by taking Jenna's permission. Stanly adopted 4 baby ratlets he found on the long walk and claims that he will love them 100 times more than he will ever love Dawnie. Jenna returned from the island of the Syren with rats available for employment. The rats were aboard the Cerys.
, Etheldredda wreaks havoc on the Castle when her spirit is accidentally released by Silas in Physik
. Etheldredda, being an ancient queen is described having the typical dressing sense and looks of a somewhat Renessaince period. Etheldredda was a tyrannical ruler during her rule. Having already murdered her two unnamed twin daughters, she was on the verge of killing her daughter Esmeralda, who was the successor to the throne, when she was thwarted by Septimus and the others back in time in Physik
. After getting released, Etheldredda makes a plan to kill Jenna and reclaim her throne again. Marcia defeats her and destroys her forever with help from Snorri Snorrlesson and her father Olaf.. Katie Dickinson of Waterstones was impressed by the character and said that "Queen Etheldredda leaves you shivering". Rebecca of Fantasy Literature said that Etheldredda is quite an unnerving villain. She is described to be "As strict and severe as the worst storybook governess and ultimately quite as evil as any fairytale stepmother".
by Etheldredda, he became Marcellus' apprentice. While coming back to their own time, Septimus promised Marcellus to prepare a youth potion so that the present Marcellus regains his youth which he did. He seems to dislike having to interact with the outside world, as he understands so little of the modern time and prefers staying at home, though he is on good terms with Septimus and Jenna, who resembles his long gone sister Esmeralda. Critics found his character to be "not the quite good guy, yet not the quite bad guy either.
. He is currently apprenticed to Aunt Zelda and is in the process of becoming the first male Keeper. In Syren
, he takes the test to become Keeper. At the Port Witch Coven, he discovers that he must feed Lucy Gringe to the Grim. The two manage to escape, but get tangled with some nefarious sailors. He gets along well with Lucy, except that he doesn't like her screaming. Later, when they meet Septimus, Jenna, and Beetle, he is wary at first. However, he becomes friends with Beetle. Aunt Zelda has grown extremely fond of him and is relieved to see him safe and sound at the end of Syren
. In Darke, it is found out that his name is actually Mandy Marwick and he has two other brothers, Matt and Marcus.
Rupert Gringe: Son of Gringe, and Lucy's older brother. He is apprenticed to Jannit Marten, so as to avoid being drafted into the young army, and works with her and Nicko Heap down at the Boatyard. However, he dislikes Simon Heap, and challenges him upon sight.
Alice Nettles: Born as Iona Pot, Alice was Alther Mella's girlfriend, but when their separate careers took off, she became Customs officer of the Port, and didn't see Alther much before his death, something she regrets. She was killed while trying to prevent Etheldredda murdering Jenna in Physik
. Her ghost at present stays in the courtyard of the Palace where she was murdered, with Alther keeping her company.
Maureen and Kevin: Mostly playing background roles, Kevin was originally the Supreme Custodian's Night servant. One night, he accidentally dropped the Royal Crown, denting it, and he was thrown into the dungeons. He was accidentally released a week later and worked in the palace Kitchens, and soon progressed to Chief Potato Peeler. Maureen was the youngest Kitchen maid at the time when she saw the Heap's dog rush past the garbage shoot during their escape. Afterward she started having nightmares about wolves, and she began having sleeping problems. It became so bad the she fell asleep, and a sheep she was meant to be watching over set aflame. Kevin managed to save her and put the sheep out, and Maureen was demoted to assistant potato peeler. Three weeks later they ran away together to start a better life in the Port. They began to start saving up for their own cafe. Kevin was taken on as a cook for a round-the-world voyage, and Maureen worked in a small inn owned by Florie Bundie, saving up tips, and living in a cupboard beneath the stairs. Kevin eventually returned with enough money to buy their own shop, and they know work in the Harbor and Docke Pie Shop.
Jannit Marten: The boatbuilder of the Castle, originally from the sheeplands. Jannit is an extremely hard-working and self-sufficient woman. Nicko Heap and Gringe's son Rupert are apprenticed to her.
Spit Fyre: Septimus' beloved dragon who is extremely lazy. He is seemingly always wanting food. Jenna found his egg in an underground cave in Magyk
and, thinking it was just an rock, gave it to Septimus, and he was hatched in Flyte
. Spit Fyre used to stay in the Wizard Tower courtyard but Marcia shifted him to the Palace gardens when the courtyard became too messy.
Dragon-Boat: It is a real dragon who once decided to be a dragon boat to save her master, the first ExtraOrdinary Wizard Hotep-Ra. She was attacked by Simon Heap at the end of the second book and at present lays broken in Jannit Marten's boatyard. The Dragon-Boat is critically praised as one of Sage's original ideas and is used to great effect at the climax. The final ingredient to fully heal the dragon boat is found by Jenna in Physik
, but Sage (rather curiously) has yet to write a scene for it to be used.
Sally Mullin: She is Sarah's friend and runs the "Sally Mullin Tea and Ale House", which was burnt down in Magyk
but later rebuilt, near the port at the Castle. She generally fills in Sarah with the stories going round in the Castle.
Boggart:The Boggart is a Marsh creature and very close to Zelda. He stays in a mud patch just off Draggen Island in the Marram Marshes. He has a good knowledge of the marshes and wishes to be left alone during the day.
Morwenna Mould: The Witch mother of the Wendron Witches, she promised that the witches will never attack people from the Castle when Silas saved her once from wolverines, but breaks her oath when she did not get Jenna as her own in a bargain she made with Ephaniah Grebe.
Jillie Djinn: Chief Hermetic Scribe at the Manuscriptorium. She is somewhat stubborn, strict and annoyingly officious and is not on good terms with Marcia.
Milo Banda: Jenna's biological father, he appeared in Flyte
but went off for a voyage again. He returns in Syren
as a main protagonist.
Boris Catchpole:Former young Army deputy hunter, Boris is at present working as a SubWizard in the Wizard Tower. Learning later, much to his horror, that one of the Young Army, boy 412, is now apprenticed to Marcia Overstrand.
Ephaniah Grebe: The restorer of documents at the Manuscriptorium. A half-man half-rat, Ephaniah helps Jenna restore Nicko's map of the House of Foryx.
Tertius Fume: The First Chief Hermetic Scribe. Tertius Fume is disliked by all for his general unpleasantness. He is especially loathed by Marcia Overstrand. He has no respect for women and held the office as ExtraOrdinary wizard for seven days as a replacement.
Hotep-Ra: The first ExtraOrdinary Wizard. He was the one who built the Wizard Tower. The Dragon-Boat belongs to him. He resides now in the House of Foryx.
Talmar Ray Bell: Hotep-Ra's apprentice, who now resides with him in the House of Foryx.
Julius Pike: The ExtraOrdinary Wizard 500 years past. He was a good friend of Marcellus Pye, and loved his apprentice, Syrah Syara, like his daughter.
Syrah Syara: Julius Pike's apprentice. She returned his fatherly love dearly, and she even attempted to punch Tertius Fume in the face when she was appointed to go on the Queste. She spent 500 years on an island following her escape from the Questing Guards, and was possessed by a Syren, which halted her aging. When Septimus meets her, they become instant friends. He subsequently saves her from her possession, but she falls into a coma when she learns of Pike's death. Her fate is unclear, but Septimus visits her every day. She may or may not have developed romantic feelings for Septimus.
Septimus Heap
Septimus Heap is a series of fantasy novels featuring a protagonist of the same name written by English author Angie Sage. Six novels, entitled Magyk, Flyte, Physik, Queste, Syren and Darke, have been published, the first in 2005 and the most recent in 2011...
series by Angie Sage
Angie Sage
Angie Sage is the author of the Septimus Heap series which includes Magyk, Flyte, Physik, Queste, Syren, and Darke. She is also the illustrator and/or writer of many children's books, and is the new writer of the Araminta Spook series.Angie Sage grew up in Thames Valley, London and Kent. Her...
. These include the books Magyk
Magyk
Magyk is a fantasy novel by Angie Sage. It is the first book in the projected seven-book Septimus Heap series. The sequel, Flyte was released in March 2006, Physik in March 2007, Queste in 2008, Syren in September 2009, and Darke in July 2011...
, Flyte
Flyte
Flyte is the second book in the Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage. The cover is modeled after the in-story book: How to Survive Dragon Fostering: A Practykal Guide with the Flyte Charm lying on top. The book was released worldwide on March 2006...
, Physik
Physik
Physik is the third book in the Septimus Heap series written by Angie Sage. It is the sequel to Flyte. The novel was released on March 28, 2007. The sequel of Physik is Queste...
, Queste
Queste
Queste is a fantasy novel by Angie Sage. It is the fourth book in the Septimus Heap series. The book was released on 16 April 2008, in the United States. The cover of the book is modeled after the in-story Restored notes of Nicko bound by Ephaniah Grebe into a book, with the Queste stone lying on...
and Syren
Syren (book)
Syren is the fifth book in the child fantasy Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage. It was released on September 29, 2009 by HarperCollins and Bloomsbury Publishing...
. Some characters play a central role in all the books, while others are only central to the plot in one or two of the books. When reviewing the first book in the series, Magyk, Sabina Qazi of Dawn.com described the characters as follows:
These characters remind us of the different types of people around us. Sage separates the qualities that make us who we are and typecasts them into these roles. The good and the bad characteristics are accompanied by the dull and the intelligent, the silly with the mature and the unapproachable with the loving. But this doesn’t mean that her characters are not well-rounded people. They are, but by highlighting certain aspects of their personality, she makes it easy for the reader to think of real people in terms of these characters. Thus an evil principal becomes the necromancer, the dead queen loved grandparent, Septimus as the most intelligent but quiet boy in class and Jenna, perhaps, as the new best friend in the neighbourhood" - Dawn.com
The Heaps
The Heaps are the main characters in the series. Although the story revolves mainly around the protagonist Septimus and his sister Jenna, the whole family comes together in the adventures.Silas and Sarah Heap
Silas HeapSilas is the father of the Heap household. He is an Ordinary Wizard with wizard green eyes, curly hair and wears the traditional blue cloak of Ordinary Wizards. Silas was apprenticed to former ExtraOrdinary Wizard Alther Mella but left his apprenticeship, thus losing the title to Marcia Overstrand
Marcia Overstrand
Marcia Overstrand is a fictional character in the Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage. She is the current ExtraOrdinary Wizard and an extremely powerful one at that. She has Septimus as her Apprentice for the next seven years.- Description :...
. He loves his family and is on terms with everybody except with Marcia. Silas loves to play counter-feet with the gate-keeper of the Castle, Gringe. His addiction to the game makes him forget more important things like his family. He was responsible for accidentally releasing the spirit of Queen Etheldredda in Physik
Physik
Physik is the third book in the Septimus Heap series written by Angie Sage. It is the sequel to Flyte. The novel was released on March 28, 2007. The sequel of Physik is Queste...
.
Sarah Heap
Sarah is the mother of the Heap household. She has the similar wizard green eyes and curly hair of the Heap family. She studied with the Physik woman, Galen, about magical herbs and plants and it was there that Silas Heap met her while getting lost in the forest one day. Sarah, though she is loving and caring in nature, is somewhat forgetful and sometimes more concerned about other things rather than the well-being of her near ones. Sarah has learned physik and can also do some magic, preferably white. Like Silas she is on good terms generally with everybody, except Marcia.
Critics were surprised by Sage's portrayal of Silas and Sarah as they show least concern for the welfare of their children. The critics have written about situations where the characters' lack of affection is more pronounced:- like when Jenna was kidnapped and they are convinced that Simon cannot kidnap her or when Septimus is sent back in time.
Simon Heap
Simon Heap is the eldest Heap son. He wanted to be Marcia's apprentice but lost to Septimus. He betrayed his family in the second book FlyteFlyte
Flyte is the second book in the Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage. The cover is modeled after the in-story book: How to Survive Dragon Fostering: A Practykal Guide with the Flyte Charm lying on top. The book was released worldwide on March 2006...
by joining the evil necromancer DomDaniel and made a bargain with the dead necromancer—to restore him to life, if he's taken on as the next Apprentice to the ExtraOrdinary Wizard. He kidnapped Jenna
Jenna Heap
Jenna Heap is a leading character in the Septimus Heap book series by Angie Sage. She is the adoptive sister to Septimus and the adoptive daughter of Silas Heap and Sarah Heap. Jenna has many friends in the book, yet also a lot of enemies...
and tried to kill Marcia by a Placement on her but was thwarted by Septimus and the others. He later learnt his mistakes and reformed his ways. Simon is romantically involved with Lucy Gringe, gatekeeper Gringe's daughter. Together at present they stay in an apartment in the port. According to Fantasy Literature review, he's like the typical bad-guy who makes the mistake of not killing his enemies straight-away. His betrayal was compared to that of Percy Weasley's betrayal from the Harry Potter
Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
series. He has now turned good and has tried to return to the castle.
Sam, Jo-Jo, Edd & Erik Heap
Sam,Edd and Erik(twins) and Jo-Jo are the second, third, fourth and fifth Heap sons respectively. They all started living in the forest after Sarah took them there for refuge at Galen's place. Wendron Witches visit them quite a lot.Generally they are quite aloof from the happenings of the outside world and have adapted to the ways and life of the Forest. Sam loves fishing and used to go with Silas for catching fish. He was the one who showed Septimus and the others the actual path to the House of Foryx. Jo-Jo has a crush on Marissa, a Wendron Witch. Edd and Erik are twins and love to joke around. Critics said the introduction of these brothers don't really serve any purpose to the story and hinders it.Nicko Heap
The sixth son of the Heap family. He has a medium-build figure, with the characteristic green eyes and curly straw-colored hair of the Heap family, and has a happy and helpful disposition. As a son of a wizard, Nicko has learned magic but is not very interested in it. He is more interested in boats and sailing, a passion which brought him and Snorri Snorrelssen closer. He is apprenticed to Jannit Marten, who owns the boatyard of the Castle. Nicko loves his brother SeptimusSeptimus Heap (character)
Septimus Heap is the main protagonist in the bestselling book series Septimus Heap, by Angie Sage. He is the Apprentice to the ExtraOrdinary Wizard, Marcia Overstrand...
and adoptive sister Jenna
Jenna Heap
Jenna Heap is a leading character in the Septimus Heap book series by Angie Sage. She is the adoptive sister to Septimus and the adoptive daughter of Silas Heap and Sarah Heap. Jenna has many friends in the book, yet also a lot of enemies...
dearly, and helps them in every possible way. He became romantically involved with Snorri, whom he met during events from Physik
Physik
Physik is the third book in the Septimus Heap series written by Angie Sage. It is the sequel to Flyte. The novel was released on March 28, 2007. The sequel of Physik is Queste...
and was lost with her in time in Queste
Queste
Queste is a fantasy novel by Angie Sage. It is the fourth book in the Septimus Heap series. The book was released on 16 April 2008, in the United States. The cover of the book is modeled after the in-story Restored notes of Nicko bound by Ephaniah Grebe into a book, with the Queste stone lying on...
. He returned to the Castle during the events of Syren
Syren (book)
Syren is the fifth book in the child fantasy Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage. It was released on September 29, 2009 by HarperCollins and Bloomsbury Publishing...
and was one of the the main sailor of Milo Banda's ship The Cerys.
Septimus Heap (Boy 412)
The eponymEponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
ous protagonist of the series, Septimus spent the first ten years of his life in the Young Army as Boy 412 after DomDaniel attempted to abduct him. As the seventh son of a seventh son
Seventh son of a seventh son
The seventh son of a seventh son is a concept from folklore regarding special powers given to, or held by, such a son. The seventh son must come from an unbroken line with no female children born between, and be, in turn, born to such a seventh son...
,aptly named Septimus, he has exceptional magical powers and is currently apprenticed to the ExtraOrdinary Wizard Marcia Overstrand, who he trusts more than anyone else. He shares his birthday with Jenna, his adoptive sister. He also has the legendary dragon ring that belonged to Hotep-Ra
Jenna Heap
Adopted by the Heap family as a baby in place of Septimus, Jenna is actually the daughter of the assassinated queen, and thus a princess. She is a small girl, with deep violet eyes, fair complexion and wears a deep red cloak with the gold circlet of the princess on her head. Although loving and caring at heart, she can sometimes be very stubborn. She loves her family dearly and would do anything for them.Zelda Zanuba Heap
Zelda Heap is actually Silas' aunt but is known as Aunt Zelda to all and greatly loved for her happy-go-lucky nature, although she and Marcia are known to have disputes regarding usage of magic without disrespecting Mother Nature. As the current Keeper of the Dragon Boat, she resides in a cottage on Draggen Island in the Marram Marshes. She is of medium-build, often wears a tent-like dress (which gives her a dumpy appearance), and has a shock of flyaway grey hair, a wrinkled smiling face, and the bright blue eyes of a White Witch. Apparently, she has absolutely no sense of taste and cooks dishes mainly consisting of cabbages and eel. The only other person who appreciates her cooking is Septimus. She has a pet cat called Bert which she transformed into a duck (they're easier to keep in the Marram Marshes) and also is friends with a marsh creature named Boggart. Zelda is the one who revealed the true identity of Boy 412 as Septimus Heap. She is generally very helpful. This is reflected many times in the series; like the time she helps Jenna when the Dragon Boat is badly damaged by Simon's thunderflash or reviving Merrin Meredith from being consumed and dying. Zelda did not appear in the fourth book Queste. In Syren Zelda sends Wolf-Boy for an errand to The Port Witch Coven, the success of which will entitle him to be a Keeper.Benjamin and Theo Heap
Benjamin and Theo are the grandfathers of the Heap household. Benjamin Heap is the father of Silas. He is a shape shifter. When he got old, he decided to permanently assume tree-form instead of becoming a ghost. Silas kept searching for his father in the forest for a long time, until when, the Wendron Witch mother, Morwenna Mould shows him his father's location. Septimus and Nicko met their Grandpa Benji while they were in the forest searching for Jenna in FlyteFlyte
Flyte is the second book in the Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage. The cover is modeled after the in-story book: How to Survive Dragon Fostering: A Practykal Guide with the Flyte Charm lying on top. The book was released worldwide on March 2006...
. Benjamin saved them from a pack of Wolverines and they got to know him.
Theo Heap is the second brother to Benjamin and Zelda. Like his elder brother, he is also a shape-shifter and shifted to be a Storm Petrel
Petrel
Petrels are tube-nosed seabirds in the bird order Procellariiformes. The common name does not indicate relationship beyond that point, as "petrels" occur in three of the four families within that group...
. On stormy nights in the Marram Marshes, Zelda keeps a lookout for any Storm Petrels which might be blown away to the marshes and hopes to meet her brother again one day. In Magyk
Magyk
Magyk is a fantasy novel by Angie Sage. It is the first book in the projected seven-book Septimus Heap series. The sequel, Flyte was released in March 2006, Physik in March 2007, Queste in 2008, Syren in September 2009, and Darke in July 2011...
there is an instance when a Storm Petrel comes to sit around Zelda's roof one stormy night but is not clear whether it is Theo Heap although he sits on the roof and says to himself she has always had a talent for seeing the truth in the pond.
The Heaps Help their world turn Right again.
Other important characters
The following are the other important characters in the series who have played a major part in the story.Marcia Overstrand
The current ExtraOrdinary Wizard. Ambitious and willful, Marcia is a very powerful wizard. Although she seems stern, bad-tempered and often intimidating, there are a number of instances when she shows she truly has a good heart. She loves her apprentice Septimus dearly and feels great responsibility to protect both him and his sister, perhaps with her life. She also has arguments occasionally with Silas Heap and Jillie Djinn, neither of whom she gets on well with. She is a tall woman, with long, dark curly hair and deep-green eyes, and generally wears a deep purple tunic with her trademark purple python-skin boots. Her symbol and source of power, an Akhu-Amulet, hangs around her neck.Alther Mella
Ex-ExtraOrdinary Wizard, before Marcia. He used to be Marcia's tutor before he was murdered in a conspiracy hatched by DomDaniel to take over the Castle. He is present in the world as a ghost and helps Septimus and the others on their adventures. Described to be wearing the purple cloak of the ExtraOrdinary wizard, he has his white shining hair styled as a ponytail at his back and wears big brown boots. In the middle of his ghostly chest he still has an impression of blood indicating the place where a bullet hit him and he died. Alther, being a ghost, can only go to places he has once visited in his lifetime. If he tries to visit some other place, he is Returned,thrown backwards off his feet by an invisible force, which he hates. But still, he can sometimes cause things to be moved about like he did to annoy DomDaniel in MagykMagyk
Magyk is a fantasy novel by Angie Sage. It is the first book in the projected seven-book Septimus Heap series. The sequel, Flyte was released in March 2006, Physik in March 2007, Queste in 2008, Syren in September 2009, and Darke in July 2011...
. Being an ex-ExtraOrdinary Wizard he was automatically summoned in the Gathering In Queste
Queste
Queste is a fantasy novel by Angie Sage. It is the fourth book in the Septimus Heap series. The book was released on 16 April 2008, in the United States. The cover of the book is modeled after the in-story Restored notes of Nicko bound by Ephaniah Grebe into a book, with the Queste stone lying on...
. Alther has always shared romantic feelings for Alice Nettles, former Chief Customs Officer, and stays with her ghost in front of the Palace.
Snorri Snorrelssen
Snorri is an independent and somewhat mysterious young Northern Trader, who comes to the Castle to trade her goods and to find her father. Born to Olaf and Alfrun Snorrelssen, Snorri is a pale complexioned girl with white blonde hair and pale blue eyes with an air of mystery around them. She helps the Heap family, and is especially friends with Nicko, with whom she shares a love of sailing and who she has romantic feelings for. As a Spirit Seer, she can see all spirits, even if they have not chosen to reveal themselves to others. She has an orange pet cat named Ullr who turns into a deadly Black pantherBlack panther
A black panther is typically a melanistic color variant of any of several species of larger cat. Wild black panthers in Latin America are black jaguars , in Asia and Africa they are black leopards , and in North America they may be black jaguars or possibly black cougars A black panther is...
at night. Snorri helped to prevent Etheldredda's spirit from murdering Jenna, by summoning her father's spirit who stopped Etheldredda from pushing Jenna into the fire conjured by Marcia. In a review by Katie Dickinson of Waterstones.com, she said that the character was interesting and she hoped that Snorri and her mysterious cat would stay on in the series.
DomDaniel
A Necromancer and ex-ExtraOrdinary Wizard, he is the main antagonist of the first novel. His main purpose is to regain control of the Wizard Tower from Marcia and tries a number of times to do so. DomDaniel is described as a tall man wearing the black robes of dark magic. On his head is a tall cylindrical black hat which denotes him as a necromancer. DomDaniel is generally described as a conniving, power-hungry and cunning man. He once Consumed his apprentice's body so that he can trick Marcia into giving him her Akhu-Amulet. Marcia banished him but he tried to take revenge through Simon's help in FlyteFlyte
Flyte is the second book in the Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage. The cover is modeled after the in-story book: How to Survive Dragon Fostering: A Practykal Guide with the Flyte Charm lying on top. The book was released worldwide on March 2006...
. Marcia was able to Identify him again properly and he was completely finished though his ghost endured. But ultimately he vanished into apparent non-existence after his bones were consumed by Spit Fyre. Before he dies he is an amazing villan with good ambition and power.
Beetle
Actual name O. Beetle Beetle, he is Septimus' best friend from the Manuscriptorium. Introduced in FlyteFlyte
Flyte is the second book in the Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage. The cover is modeled after the in-story book: How to Survive Dragon Fostering: A Practykal Guide with the Flyte Charm lying on top. The book was released worldwide on March 2006...
, Beetle has become a regular character in the series. He assists Septimus on their adventures, and has some of them of his own accord. Beetle is the General Dogsbody and Inspection Clerk in the Magkykal Manuscriptorium and Spell Checkers Incorporated and is well-loved by all. He also inspects the ice-tunnels under the manuscriptorium on his sled. Beetle is generally in awe of Marcia
Marcia Overstrand
Marcia Overstrand is a fictional character in the Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage. She is the current ExtraOrdinary Wizard and an extremely powerful one at that. She has Septimus as her Apprentice for the next seven years.- Description :...
but internally has developed a crush on Jenna
Jenna Heap
Jenna Heap is a leading character in the Septimus Heap book series by Angie Sage. She is the adoptive sister to Septimus and the adoptive daughter of Silas Heap and Sarah Heap. Jenna has many friends in the book, yet also a lot of enemies...
. He is biten by the aie-aie and affected by the plague which spread in the Castle in Physik
Physik
Physik is the third book in the Septimus Heap series written by Angie Sage. It is the sequel to Flyte. The novel was released on March 28, 2007. The sequel of Physik is Queste...
but recovered from it by the medicine brewed by Septimus. After he was fired from the Manuscriptorium by chief scribe Jillie Djinn for discussing Manusciptorium business in front of Jenna and for saying unflattering things about Jillie Djinn, Beetle joined Septimus and Jenna to bring back Nicko and Snorri from the House of Foryx. In Darke, Bettle is named Chief Hermantic Scribe after the death of Jillie Djinn.
Beetle got his name from his mother, Pamela Beetle, after his father, Brian Beetle, died from a spiderbite. His mother, who simply called Brian "Beetle", was forced to impromptu name her child, and all she could do was wail: "Oh, Beetle... Beetle!" Duly, the toddler's name became O. Beetle Beetle. In Syren Beetle assists Septimus and Jenna, while being stranded on the Syren islands, to take care of Spit Fyre and to save the Castle from the impending dangers. In Darke, Beetle is trapped in the Manuscriptorium after during The Great Undoing and later is picked to become Chief Hermetic Scribe.
Merrin Meredith
Introduced in MagykMagyk
Magyk is a fantasy novel by Angie Sage. It is the first book in the projected seven-book Septimus Heap series. The sequel, Flyte was released in March 2006, Physik in March 2007, Queste in 2008, Syren in September 2009, and Darke in July 2011...
, Merrin Meredith is a boy who was mistaken for Septimus and was apprenticed to DomDaniel. When a matron midwife stole Septimus at birth from Sarah Heap to give to DomDaniel, circumstance had it that her own son, Merrin, was taken away by DomDaniel and the real Septimus ended up in the Young Army. After his apprenticeship, Merrin is continuously looked down by DomDaniel who always expects him to do brilliant magic (thinking him to be Septimus), which he fails to do. As a whole, Merrin is an unhappy, nasty boy. He was once Consumed by DomDaniel and almost died but was Revived by Zelda. After DomDaniel is destroyed he became Simon's apprentice but ran away from the Badlands to take revenge on Septimus. He took a job in the Manuscriptorium and joined hands with a ghost, Tertius Fume, to send Septimus on a deadly Queste
Queste
Queste is a fantasy novel by Angie Sage. It is the fourth book in the Septimus Heap series. The book was released on 16 April 2008, in the United States. The cover of the book is modeled after the in-story Restored notes of Nicko bound by Ephaniah Grebe into a book, with the Queste stone lying on...
. He is the main villain in Darke and wears the Two-Faced ring only to have his thumb chopped off and him reunited with his mother.
Stanley (Rat 101)
Stanley is an ex-Secret Service Message rat. His association with the Heaps began in MagykMagyk
Magyk is a fantasy novel by Angie Sage. It is the first book in the projected seven-book Septimus Heap series. The sequel, Flyte was released in March 2006, Physik in March 2007, Queste in 2008, Syren in September 2009, and Darke in July 2011...
when he was sent by Sarah to give a message to Silas in the Marshes. From then onwards circumstance had it that Stanley became involved in the adventures of Septimus and his friends. This led to his separation from his wife Dawnie, who went to live with her sister. At present, Stanley is working to set up the Secret Service Message agency again by taking Jenna's permission. Stanly adopted 4 baby ratlets he found on the long walk and claims that he will love them 100 times more than he will ever love Dawnie. Jenna returned from the island of the Syren with rats available for employment. The rats were aboard the Cerys.
Queen Etheldredda
The Substantial Spirit of an ancient queen with a history of filicideFilicide
Filicide is the deliberate act of a parent killing his or her own son or daughter. The word filicide derives from the Latin words filius meaning "son" or filia meaning daughter and the suffix -cide meaning to kill, murder, or cause death...
, Etheldredda wreaks havoc on the Castle when her spirit is accidentally released by Silas in Physik
Physik
Physik is the third book in the Septimus Heap series written by Angie Sage. It is the sequel to Flyte. The novel was released on March 28, 2007. The sequel of Physik is Queste...
. Etheldredda, being an ancient queen is described having the typical dressing sense and looks of a somewhat Renessaince period. Etheldredda was a tyrannical ruler during her rule. Having already murdered her two unnamed twin daughters, she was on the verge of killing her daughter Esmeralda, who was the successor to the throne, when she was thwarted by Septimus and the others back in time in Physik
Physik
Physik is the third book in the Septimus Heap series written by Angie Sage. It is the sequel to Flyte. The novel was released on March 28, 2007. The sequel of Physik is Queste...
. After getting released, Etheldredda makes a plan to kill Jenna and reclaim her throne again. Marcia defeats her and destroys her forever with help from Snorri Snorrlesson and her father Olaf.. Katie Dickinson of Waterstones was impressed by the character and said that "Queen Etheldredda leaves you shivering". Rebecca of Fantasy Literature said that Etheldredda is quite an unnerving villain. She is described to be "As strict and severe as the worst storybook governess and ultimately quite as evil as any fairytale stepmother".
Marcellus Pye
Etheldredda's son, Marcellus is a renowned Alchemist, who has drunk the potion of immortality. He is over five hundred years old and lives in the Castle near Snake Slipway. When Septimus was sent back in time in PhysikPhysik
Physik is the third book in the Septimus Heap series written by Angie Sage. It is the sequel to Flyte. The novel was released on March 28, 2007. The sequel of Physik is Queste...
by Etheldredda, he became Marcellus' apprentice. While coming back to their own time, Septimus promised Marcellus to prepare a youth potion so that the present Marcellus regains his youth which he did. He seems to dislike having to interact with the outside world, as he understands so little of the modern time and prefers staying at home, though he is on good terms with Septimus and Jenna, who resembles his long gone sister Esmeralda. Critics found his character to be "not the quite good guy, yet not the quite bad guy either.
Wolf-Boy (Boy 409)
Better known as Boy 409, he is a friend of Septimus from the Young Army who got almost drowned one night in an expedition to the Forest, and was left for dead. He was later adopted by a wolverines, and left when he got too big. Septimus later met him in his brother's camps in the Forest, where he had been found and re-christened as Wolf-Boy. He attempted to help Jenna find Septimus in PhysikPhysik
Physik is the third book in the Septimus Heap series written by Angie Sage. It is the sequel to Flyte. The novel was released on March 28, 2007. The sequel of Physik is Queste...
. He is currently apprenticed to Aunt Zelda and is in the process of becoming the first male Keeper. In Syren
Syren
Syren is a small town in the commune of Weiler-la-Tour, in southern Luxembourg. , the town had a population of 416.Syren is the source of the Syre river, which flows down to the Moselle, through some of Luxembourg's wealthiest districts....
, he takes the test to become Keeper. At the Port Witch Coven, he discovers that he must feed Lucy Gringe to the Grim. The two manage to escape, but get tangled with some nefarious sailors. He gets along well with Lucy, except that he doesn't like her screaming. Later, when they meet Septimus, Jenna, and Beetle, he is wary at first. However, he becomes friends with Beetle. Aunt Zelda has grown extremely fond of him and is relieved to see him safe and sound at the end of Syren
Syren
Syren is a small town in the commune of Weiler-la-Tour, in southern Luxembourg. , the town had a population of 416.Syren is the source of the Syre river, which flows down to the Moselle, through some of Luxembourg's wealthiest districts....
. In Darke, it is found out that his name is actually Mandy Marwick and he has two other brothers, Matt and Marcus.
Minor characters
Gringe the gatekeeper: The gatekeeper of the North Gate, who is initially very wary of Magyk, including everything to do with the Heaps. However he shares a passion for Counter-Feet with Silas Heap, and when this common interest is found, hostilities end. Simon Heap is still a sore spot for them.Rupert Gringe: Son of Gringe, and Lucy's older brother. He is apprenticed to Jannit Marten, so as to avoid being drafted into the young army, and works with her and Nicko Heap down at the Boatyard. However, he dislikes Simon Heap, and challenges him upon sight.
Alice Nettles: Born as Iona Pot, Alice was Alther Mella's girlfriend, but when their separate careers took off, she became Customs officer of the Port, and didn't see Alther much before his death, something she regrets. She was killed while trying to prevent Etheldredda murdering Jenna in Physik
Physik
Physik is the third book in the Septimus Heap series written by Angie Sage. It is the sequel to Flyte. The novel was released on March 28, 2007. The sequel of Physik is Queste...
. Her ghost at present stays in the courtyard of the Palace where she was murdered, with Alther keeping her company.
Maureen and Kevin: Mostly playing background roles, Kevin was originally the Supreme Custodian's Night servant. One night, he accidentally dropped the Royal Crown, denting it, and he was thrown into the dungeons. He was accidentally released a week later and worked in the palace Kitchens, and soon progressed to Chief Potato Peeler. Maureen was the youngest Kitchen maid at the time when she saw the Heap's dog rush past the garbage shoot during their escape. Afterward she started having nightmares about wolves, and she began having sleeping problems. It became so bad the she fell asleep, and a sheep she was meant to be watching over set aflame. Kevin managed to save her and put the sheep out, and Maureen was demoted to assistant potato peeler. Three weeks later they ran away together to start a better life in the Port. They began to start saving up for their own cafe. Kevin was taken on as a cook for a round-the-world voyage, and Maureen worked in a small inn owned by Florie Bundie, saving up tips, and living in a cupboard beneath the stairs. Kevin eventually returned with enough money to buy their own shop, and they know work in the Harbor and Docke Pie Shop.
Jannit Marten: The boatbuilder of the Castle, originally from the sheeplands. Jannit is an extremely hard-working and self-sufficient woman. Nicko Heap and Gringe's son Rupert are apprenticed to her.
Spit Fyre: Septimus' beloved dragon who is extremely lazy. He is seemingly always wanting food. Jenna found his egg in an underground cave in Magyk
Magyk
Magyk is a fantasy novel by Angie Sage. It is the first book in the projected seven-book Septimus Heap series. The sequel, Flyte was released in March 2006, Physik in March 2007, Queste in 2008, Syren in September 2009, and Darke in July 2011...
and, thinking it was just an rock, gave it to Septimus, and he was hatched in Flyte
Flyte
Flyte is the second book in the Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage. The cover is modeled after the in-story book: How to Survive Dragon Fostering: A Practykal Guide with the Flyte Charm lying on top. The book was released worldwide on March 2006...
. Spit Fyre used to stay in the Wizard Tower courtyard but Marcia shifted him to the Palace gardens when the courtyard became too messy.
Dragon-Boat: It is a real dragon who once decided to be a dragon boat to save her master, the first ExtraOrdinary Wizard Hotep-Ra. She was attacked by Simon Heap at the end of the second book and at present lays broken in Jannit Marten's boatyard. The Dragon-Boat is critically praised as one of Sage's original ideas and is used to great effect at the climax. The final ingredient to fully heal the dragon boat is found by Jenna in Physik
Physik
Physik is the third book in the Septimus Heap series written by Angie Sage. It is the sequel to Flyte. The novel was released on March 28, 2007. The sequel of Physik is Queste...
, but Sage (rather curiously) has yet to write a scene for it to be used.
Sally Mullin: She is Sarah's friend and runs the "Sally Mullin Tea and Ale House", which was burnt down in Magyk
Magyk
Magyk is a fantasy novel by Angie Sage. It is the first book in the projected seven-book Septimus Heap series. The sequel, Flyte was released in March 2006, Physik in March 2007, Queste in 2008, Syren in September 2009, and Darke in July 2011...
but later rebuilt, near the port at the Castle. She generally fills in Sarah with the stories going round in the Castle.
Boggart:The Boggart is a Marsh creature and very close to Zelda. He stays in a mud patch just off Draggen Island in the Marram Marshes. He has a good knowledge of the marshes and wishes to be left alone during the day.
Morwenna Mould: The Witch mother of the Wendron Witches, she promised that the witches will never attack people from the Castle when Silas saved her once from wolverines, but breaks her oath when she did not get Jenna as her own in a bargain she made with Ephaniah Grebe.
Jillie Djinn: Chief Hermetic Scribe at the Manuscriptorium. She is somewhat stubborn, strict and annoyingly officious and is not on good terms with Marcia.
Milo Banda: Jenna's biological father, he appeared in Flyte
Flyte
Flyte is the second book in the Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage. The cover is modeled after the in-story book: How to Survive Dragon Fostering: A Practykal Guide with the Flyte Charm lying on top. The book was released worldwide on March 2006...
but went off for a voyage again. He returns in Syren
Syren (book)
Syren is the fifth book in the child fantasy Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage. It was released on September 29, 2009 by HarperCollins and Bloomsbury Publishing...
as a main protagonist.
Boris Catchpole:Former young Army deputy hunter, Boris is at present working as a SubWizard in the Wizard Tower. Learning later, much to his horror, that one of the Young Army, boy 412, is now apprenticed to Marcia Overstrand.
Ephaniah Grebe: The restorer of documents at the Manuscriptorium. A half-man half-rat, Ephaniah helps Jenna restore Nicko's map of the House of Foryx.
Tertius Fume: The First Chief Hermetic Scribe. Tertius Fume is disliked by all for his general unpleasantness. He is especially loathed by Marcia Overstrand. He has no respect for women and held the office as ExtraOrdinary wizard for seven days as a replacement.
Hotep-Ra: The first ExtraOrdinary Wizard. He was the one who built the Wizard Tower. The Dragon-Boat belongs to him. He resides now in the House of Foryx.
Talmar Ray Bell: Hotep-Ra's apprentice, who now resides with him in the House of Foryx.
Julius Pike: The ExtraOrdinary Wizard 500 years past. He was a good friend of Marcellus Pye, and loved his apprentice, Syrah Syara, like his daughter.
Syrah Syara: Julius Pike's apprentice. She returned his fatherly love dearly, and she even attempted to punch Tertius Fume in the face when she was appointed to go on the Queste. She spent 500 years on an island following her escape from the Questing Guards, and was possessed by a Syren, which halted her aging. When Septimus meets her, they become instant friends. He subsequently saves her from her possession, but she falls into a coma when she learns of Pike's death. Her fate is unclear, but Septimus visits her every day. She may or may not have developed romantic feelings for Septimus.