The Magician (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)

"We are now in Paris, the city of my birth, the city where I first discovered the Codex and began the long quest to translate it. That journey ultimately led me to discover the existence of the Elder Race and revealed the mystery of the philosopher's stone and finally the secret of immortality. I love this city. It holds many secrets and is home to more than one human immortal and ancient Elder. Here, I will find a way to Awaken Josh's powers and continue Sophie's education. I must. For their sakes - and for the continuance of the human race." - from the Day Booke of Nicholas Flamel, Alchemyst Two days have passed since fifteen-year-old twins Josh and Sophie Newman set off for their summer jobs on an ordinary Thursday. Just two days, but they have been the two most extraordinary days either twin will ever live - filled with danger and magic and mythical beings so unbelievable they stagger the mind. It started when a small, dapper man - the powerful human immortal Dr. John Dee, as it turns out - showed up at the bookstore where Josh worked. Before a quarter of an hour had passed, Dr. Dee had triumphed in a battle of magics with Josh's boss, Nick Fleming - who is, in reality, the immortal human Alchemyst Nicholas Flamel - completely destroyed the bookstore, kidnapped Nick's wife and stolen all but two pages of the Book of Abraham the Mage. Also known as the Codex, Abraham's book is an ancient and dangerous book of spells, prophecies and magical formulae. Dr. Dee and the Dark Elders he serves wish to use the Codex to bring the Elder Race back to preeminence on the earth, making humanity slaves at best, a food supply at worst. Luckily, the two pages Josh managed to tear out of the book before Dee stole it are the two most vital to the Dark Elders. Without the spell of Final Summoning contained on those two pages, the Dark Elders' plans cannot go forward. Convinced that Sophie and Josh are the twins of prophecy - those Abraham said would either save the world or destroy it - Nicholas Flamel has enlisted the aid and protection of the Warrior Maid, Scathach, as he seeks those who can Awaken the twins' powers and instruct them in the five elemental magics. Sophie was Awakened by Hekate in the Elder's California Shadow Realm, but unfortunately, Dee attacked before Josh could be Awakened. After visiting the Witch of Endor in Ojai (who taught Sophie the Magic of Air and also gave her the gift of all of her memories and knowledge) the beleaguered Nicholas, Scathach, Josh and Sophie have fled to Paris, the city of Flamel's birth and the home of Dr. Dee's dangerous ally, the human immortal Niccolo Machiavelli. In just two days, it seems that Josh and Sophie have gone from being ordinary 21st century teens to having their life threatened by the unreal, the mythic and the impossible at every turn. Josh, for one, in not happy about the situation. Nicholas Flamel has repeatedly told the twins that they MUST trust him, that he is trying to protect them both, but Josh is not convinced that this is entirely true. He has witnessed Flamel putting his twin in great peril, he saw the Alchemyst risk Sophie's life at her Awakening with his own eyes. Frightened, angry, and feeling both isolated by and jealous of the changes in Sophie, Josh has decided to put his life in Flamel's hands for now, but he will not trust the man, not without knowing Flamel's full agenda. While Nicholas, Scathach and the twins seek sanctuary with one of the Alchemyst's former students in Paris, Perenelle Flamel is facing her own difficulties on Alcatraz. Dr. Dee has filled the cells of the former penitentiary with the most horrible of monsters, all of whom are a great threat to humanity. Perenelle must find out why, even as she seeks to escape and rejoin Nicholas and the twins, but for The Sorceress, as for her husband, time is running out. Without the Codex to reveal to recipe for the potion of immortality, Nicholas and Perenelle will age at least a year with each passing day. Within a month, their many centuries will catch up to them and they will wither and die. The breakneck adventure Michael Scott began in The Alchemyst continues here in The Magician. As before, Mr. Scott uses his incredible knowledge of folklore, mythology and history to populate the novel with a host of heroes, villains and beasts. The Comte de Saint-Germain, Niccolo Machiavelli and Jeanne D'Arc are all major players in this fascinating story. Varied mythical beasts and beings such as Aerop-Enap, Mars Ultor, the Valkyries and the Nidhogg all make appearances. In addition to his unparalleled grasp of the legends and histories of a myriad of cultures, Mr. Scott also uses an extensive knowledge of the settings, including Alcatraz Island and the Catacombs of Paris, to bring his story to vivid life. It's impossible to finish this book without wanting to begin The Sorceress, book three in the series, immediately and, if the successive novels in this series prove to be as wonderful as the first two, I have a feeling I'm going to devour them one after the other.

Sports stories are usually about success and failure! But those two terms are differently defined in this exciting, unusual collection that will spark the mind of all readers, whether you like sports or not! For these are real stories told about something in each experience that moves the hardest of head and/or hearts! "Ignore the definitions and follow the impulse every inch of the way it leads," might be a most appropriate motto for each character in these terrific stories. You'll meet a guy who can't play basketball for beans until he has a larger vision of why he wants that ball to land in that swishing hoop! And maybe you'll enjoy the "large" girl who can't even come close to excelling in sports until she's fueled by one single, pulsing thought. Or maybe you'd like to meet a shy girl who finally starts being proud about being a BMX punk-girl after a visit from a very old friend. How easy can it be to impress a girl with one's kayaking skills when you lose a loosely strung piece of memorabilia? Lay-Ups and Long Shots works so well because the stories are real living experiences that focus on the most proud, and yes even embarrassing, moments a teen can experience in this high end, glossy world that celebrates six-figure paid athletes but far too often ignores the spirit behind sports that makes real heroes and heroines, the kind who never make to the press. The authors convey the plot-driven tension, dreams and memories behind courageous, all to human men and women like you and me! These are just some of the quickly readable stories that will propel you through these pages quicker than you can blink your eyes! And when you're done, you'll be able to say there's not one dud in the entire 112 pages. That's quite a feat for the collector and even more of a feat for the 9 authors whose tales will stick in your mind and heart for many, many days after you've turned the last satisfying page! Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on October 19, 2008

I guess that one problem with this whole genre is that it runs in a straight line. After a while it gets predictable -- there's a steady state, more or less, then there's a crisis, and the crisis looks like it is going to be the end of the line for one or several major characters, but you know there's still half the book to go, so you just look for what kind of miraculous thing is going to bail them out this time. And then it repeats, over and over. Okay, it is exciting, and you do get caught up in the crises. And it's a good travelogue, And I appreciate the historical characters (everyone in the book except for the twins can be found via Google and the character portrayed in the book is believable based on the historical character, if you cut the author a little slack). Where it really breaks with history (e.g. the idea that Joan of Arc was married at Sunset Beach, Hawaii, where I got the worst sunburn of my life) it breaks with sufficient absurdity that you would never confuse the historical character with the event portrayed. Okay, that's good too. Well, I just gave it another star. What I wish the book had: (1) a little more in the way of sub-plots -- checking back with Perenelle in Alcatraz every so often doesn't really qualify there and (2) a little more in the way of character development on the part of the twins. They're pretty one-dimensional, and neither of them ever even thinks about sex, which is just peculiar for normal people fifteen years old.

As the action in this sequel to The Alchemyst begins, the immortal Nicholas Flamel, the twins Sophie and Josh, and the ancient but young-looking Scathach have escaped the devastation and danger in Ojai for Paris, arriving instantaneously through a leygate located in the Witch of Endor's house. They soon join up with another immortal, the Fire Master and rock star Saint-Germain. But Niccolo Machiavelli, soon to be joined by the evil magician Dr. John Dee, is in relentless pursuit of them. Meanwhile, Nicholas' wife, Perenelle, is imprisoned by Dee in Alcatraz. Like the first book, this one is a first-rate fantastical, magical thriller, filled with nonstop action and mythological references from diverse cultures. In addition to being enthralled by the story itself, readers can use it as a starting point for learning more about these characters of myth, such as Nidhogg, the Valkyries, the Celtic warrior maiden Scathach, Mars, the spider Elder Areop-Enap, Dagon, plus legendary artifacts like the swords Excalibur and Clarent. And then there are the historical characters: Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel, John Dee, Niccolo Machiavelli, the Comte de Saint-Germain, and Joan of Arc. It seems to me that a great deal of today's best fantasy is being written for middle-grade and young-adult readers, and these wonderful books shouldn't be missed by grown-ups who love a good, fast-paced fantasy thriller written by someone with a thorough knowledge of mythology and folklore. I also recommend this series to those who enjoy Brandon Mull's Fablehaven books. We are really fortunate to have two such fun, imaginative fantasy series appearing at the same time.

This is the first of 6 books. I have simply not been able to put these books down. I am now on book 5 and have been accused of taking way too much time in the bathroom. It's not the bowels it's the books. The author Michael Scott knows how to create tension and drive you from one chapter to the next. There is a cliff hanger waiting for each group of characters at the end of most chapters and you feel compelled to trade sleep for the need to find out what happened to them 1 or 2 chapters deeper into the book. I love that Scott takes real people from history and gives them immortal status and somehow weaves their actual history into the alternate universe with a slightly different explanation for the historical outcomes. My favorite thing to ask people I meet is name some of the books you simply couldn't put down. This whole series full fils that promise. My only negative series comment is about the character Josh, he's a bit stupid and stuck in a narrow set of responses. Great read none the less. If you like this book you may also love Orson Scott Card's Alvin Maker series. starting with The Seventh Son. - well written and a real page turner, uses US history with firctional characters. Seventh Son (Tales of Alvin Maker, Book 1) My only beef is that I paid close to $2.00 more for my kindle version of the Magician then what I paid for the printed version of the same book, new in a retail store! We are talking more for the digital book without all the costs of production of Pulp from trees, Oil to transport, Print and binding, brick and mortar to sell etc. an unpleasant trend.

I usually gauge a book by when I open it and start reading, how far it takes me in a sitting. I literally couldn't put this one down, starting to read around 11 am and done by 10 pm! I have rarely done that since Harry Potter - I love this premise and the series. Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel, who have had the forumla for eternal life, meet prophecized twins who have the power to either save the world or destroy it. The Codex which holds all the spells needed to do so, including the recipe for the the elixer of life, was taken, but Josh, one of the twins, had the foresight to tear out the last 2 pages, saving the bad guys, Dr. John Dee, from Elizabethan England fame and his minions, from destroying things. Perenelle is captured and is in Alcatraz. Nicholas and the twins, and Scatty, the vampire warrior flee to Paris. There they encounter Macchiavelli and Dee. They do find allies there - St. Germain - and his wife - will not spoil the fun by saying who it is. Sophie, who has been Awakened receives more training, leaving Josh with mixed feelings his twin has more power and is now different with that knowledge - the book deals with those feelings. Although over 460 pages, the book flies by, and like Harry Potter, leaves you wanting more. It is great fun for everyone. If you are remotely interested or knowledgeable in history, or historical figures, you will love this book as much as I do. I had made a notation in the review of the premier book how come the Flamels don't remember the recipe for the elixer for immortality after all this time, and the answer is given in this book. It is an inventive explanation and it works. Fun for all ages -

These books are so good. I was drawn to this series while putting together a summer reading list for my class project. I ended up buying the whole series of books. Currently on the fifth book

I'm probably a third of the way of book 2, and while I like the story and am enjoying the book/series, there are a couple things that bother me. One, the amount of times that the brother and sister "squeeze eachothers arm" is absurd... the author could think of no better ways to describe their adoration for one another? Also, the author does repeat himself quite often. I just read "it was impossible to tell her age" twice within 3 kindle pages of one another (about the same person)... this series is a good length and I'm hunkered into reading it through but stuff like that bothers me lol. Lastly, I was hoping the magic would align more with how it works in Harry Potter, considering the alchemist is the famous Nicholas Flamel (inventor of the Sorcerer's Stone), but it's completely different than in HP. I wasn't really expecting that either. Anyway, as I progress through the series I am sure to update or leave more reviews, but figured I would prepare those who may read this for those couple of observations.

This previously used book came promptly, exactly as seller stated; the book is in excellent condition. My husband is very happy with this book!

This is the 2nd book of 6, in The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, series. The Magician is a great read. I enjoyed reading this and am happy suggesting them to you.

This book is simply fantastic. The connection to mysteries in the real world, step by step explenations about Golems, Disir, Old Spider etc, discovering new bits of enhancing information about characters and reading about people like Joan of Arc connects to lots of stories we hear. This book is filled with adventure, humour and fascinating information. This book is wonderful to read and I can't wait to read the next book in this series. Maëlle Mathilde 9 years old

Este es el segundo libro de la saga de 6 de Michael Scott y es fantástico. Muy recomendado para los amantes de la fantasía. Mezcla hechos históricos con la historia de la saga de una forma brillante.

I loved the storyline! Very good.