MAGYK

Heads up, Harry, there’s a new young wizard on his way up. Ten years after a complicated bit of baby-switching, young Jenna learns that she’s not a member of the tumultuous Heap household (six boys, just imagine), but a hidden Princess. The revelation comes as she’s being swept to safety, her life forfeit to a crew of thoroughly knavish baddies headed by Necromancer DomDaniel. Along the way, she and her protector, ExtraOrdinary Wizard Marcia Overstrand pick up not only an assortment of fugitive Heaps, but an orphaned pipsqueak dubbed “Boy 412”—who gradually exhibits stunning powers of Magyk, as the local brand of spellcasting is dubbed. Tongue firmly in cheek, Sage creates a vividly realized world in which pens and rocks can display minds of their own, and a forest “still had a bad wolverine problem at night, and was infested with carnivorous trees.” Ultimately, Jenna and Co. overcome all such obstacles, as well as their sly, dangerous, but bumbling adversaries, and Boy 412’s (thoroughly telegraphed) true identity comes out. A quick-reading, stand-alone, deliciously spellbinding series opener. (Web site) (Fantasy. 10-13)