Syren by Angie Sage

I have almost missed posting in November. To put things mildly, things get hectic in November for everyone with family.

Like me, things get hectic for Septimus Heap in Syren. Having just barely made it through the fourth book in this series Queste, Now Septimus is faced with trying to please too many masters. In this book Septimus is beginning to come into his own and ignoring those persons who controlled him in past books. He is growing up. He meets a new character, who I think will appear in subsequent books. Someone who is his equal. This could evolve into more than mutual respect in one of the last two planned books in this series.
For me, this is the best book in this series thus far. It is action packed! I love the new cat like character in the lighthouse. Plus, the princess's father is shown as what I thought of him in the first book. He seems to me to be someone who shifts his duty to his family for the pursuit of what he feels is important. He seems a braggart too. Plus, he doesn't think about the long term fallout to his actions.
I love that the dragon is really an integral part of Septimus' plans for the first time. He is way more than a pet in this book. Plus, Beetle and Wolf Boy are part of a very important part of Septimus' group that he relies on for advice etcetera.
If you haven't read the other books, don't start here. Take the time to read the first four books Magyk, Flyte, Physik, and Queste.
Good luck!