All twin siblings Sophie and Josh wanted to do was find summer jobs to earn money to buy a car. But when an evil-looking man and his creepy grey henchmen blow up the bookstore where Josh works, the 15-year-olds come face-to-face with a world they never knew existed.
Nick Fleming, the bookstore’s owner, is not what he appears; in fact, he’s a 670 year-old alchemyst—the immortal Nicholas Flamel—who has spent the last six centuries protecting the secrets contained within the Book of Abraham. And he has succeeded…until today.
Now with both the book and his wife Perenelle (herself a powerful sorceress) in the hands of the enemy, the Alchemyst must rely on Sophie and Josh to help him defeat an ancient evil. But one can’t possess a book for centuries without learning about its contents. And one of the prophecies in the Book of Abraham just happens to revolve around a set of twins…
A fantastic beginning
The Alchemyst is the first in the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott, but it doesn’t have the same issues as other firsts in a series. Characters are introduced quickly and well, and the story doesn’t dawdle. It actually nearly sprints; Sophie and Josh Newman go from normal teens to possible pawns of an ancient prophecy in what seems like the blink of an eye, and I spent half the book trying to catch my breath.
Scott is a great storyteller, descriptive without being overly prosy. The seemingly unbelievable situations in which the characters find themselves come across as true, and I love the history and mythology that is integrated into the story.
I was worried that Perenelle would be a side character, one created solely to be kidnapped and victimized. But she kicks more butt than Nicholas, despite being a prisoner. I like her.
I’m excited to see which characters (good and bad, historical or fictional) make their appearance next, as well as where the series goes.
Has anyone read further into the series? Does it continue being awesome?
Good to know it’s awesome. I have this one on my shelves waiting to be read.
It’s definitely worth a read, and I’m excited to see how things progress in the next book.