 | |
| Author | Angie Sage |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Mark Zug (illustrator) |
| Language | English |
| Series | Septimus Heap (Book 3) |
| Genre | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | HarperCollins (US) Bloomsbury Publishing (UK) |
Publication date | March 2007 |
| Publication place | England |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 576 (paperback edition) |
| ISBN | 0060577398 (UK paperback edition) |
| OCLC | 70174870 |
| Preceded by | Flyte |
| Followed by | Queste |
Physik is a fantasy novel byAngie Sage. It is the third book in the seven-bookSeptimus Heap series. The story focuses primarily on the 500-year-old spirit ofQueen Etheldredda, who attempts to useSeptimus Heap to attain immortality.
The book begins withSilas Heap and Gringe accidentally releasing the spirit ofQueen Etheldredda - while Unsealing a room for Silas's Counter- Feet Colony - from a painting that she had been trapped in for 510 years. Her release also releases her petAie-Aie, which causes a Sickness by biting people. Once released, she drowns Septimus Heap, only to save him for blackmail. She sends Septimus to meet her sonMarcellus Pye who drank an incomplete potion of immortality. Marcellus uses a magical mirror to send Septimus back in time to learn Physik from a younger version of Marcellus, in an attempt to complete the potion. Septimus stays with Marcellus for what seemed one hundred and sixty-nine days 500 years ago but was only two days in the present time, he decides to send a message toMarcia finds a note from Septimus in Marcellus' bookI Marcellus.
Jenna Heap andNicko Heap enlist the help ofAlther Mella to attempt to travel back in time to find Septimus. Alther takes them to seeAlice Nettles, who happens to be housingSnorri Snorrelssen. In Alice's warehouse, they find a Glass that allows them to travel back in time 500 years. Snorri, Jenna, and Nicko fall through the glass, but it's shattered when Spit Fyre attempts to follow them through it. Jenna is confused for the lost princess and is taken to see Etheldredda, separating her from Snorri and Nicko. She escapes when she meets Septimus by chance at a feast thrown to honor the return of the princess.
Septimus, Jenna, Snorri, and Nicko attempt to pass through theDoors of Time to return to their time period, but the arrival of Etheldredda and Marcellus stop their attempt. They hide in a closet, where they witness Marcellus tell his mother that the potion is not yet completed and she therefore cannot drink it. She insists on drinking the incomplete potion. She and Marcellus then discover Septimus and the others in the closet that they were hiding in. Etheldredda drags Jenna to the Moat to attempt to drown her, but is herself drowned in the process. Due to her having drunk an incomplete potion she is reincarnated as an incomplete spirit. Septimus, Jenna, and Nicko decide to travel through theDoors of Time to return to their own time period, but Nicko leaves in search of Snorri, who had herself gone in search of her cat, Ullr. Septimus and Jenna return to the present without Nicko or Snorri.
Back at the castle, the ghost of Etheldredda attempts to kill Jenna using theIP (Infant Princess) bullet fromMagyk, but the bullet instead hits Alice, who throws herself in front of Jenna to protect her. Marcia then uses Spit Fyre's fire to destroy Etheldredda's portrait, which in turn destroys the ghosts of Etheldredda and the Aie-Aie. Septimus then uses his newfound knowledge of Physik to create an antidote for theSickness.
Reception forPhysik was positive[1][2] receiving favorable reviews from ALA Booklist,Publishers Weekly andSchool Library Journal.[3] It was included byThe Washington Post in their list of books that inspire a love of reading in kids.[4]