The Magician: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, Book 2

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

"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, AlchemystTwo 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.

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.

I'm very fussy - I am an adult that enjoys QUALITY fantasy. I don't do silly underdeveloped awkward YA reading! This has been a delight.

Got this for my nephew for his birthday & he loved it!

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

Fue un regalo de navidad y le encanto a mi sobrina.

The magician is an amazing book, the second part of a series. It is so much better than the first book, the Alchemyst, which was already an amazing book. If you are 9 or above, you will like this book. If you've read Percy Jackson or Harry Potter, this is a MUST READ.

I loved the storyline! Very good.

This copy of the book is sturdy, of good quality and durable. It’s content one of the wonders of the world.