The Magician (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)

Thankfully, this book greatly picks up the action in the series, and I found it much more enjoyable than the first book. Instead of needing to introduce the strange, magical world of Nicholas Flamel, Scott focuses more on ramping up the stakes for his characters. The baddies who want to turn humans back into slaves are congregating to work together to bring down Flamel and the twins, but Flamel has friends of his own, who are able to help in fight back in this one.

This book mostly takes place in France, where they traveled to during the last book using a portal. Sophie is learning fire magic, and Josh is trying to remain patient about everything, but the situation of Sophie having powers and him not having any is wearing on him. Perenelle is still imprisoned, though her storyline also makes progress in this book. (That’s all I can say without revealing spoilers, sorry!) I was much happier with the plot in this one. Tons of action, and the stakes are high — Flamel and the twins are running for their lives, and up against incredible odds, which makes for a brilliant reading experience.

The only thing that brought me down in this book was Josh’s character. It’s not a writing flaw or a story flaw, he’s just incredibly whiny and unlikeable, in my opinion. I get very frustrated during his parts, because I want him to get over himself and stop being such a whiny baby! Unfortunately, I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Aside from his character, everything else is great. We meet some FANTASTIC new characters and learn even more about the mythology that rules this world, which is one of my favorite parts of reading books like this. I love all the worldbuilding and connections to myths and legends that we have.

If you’re into magic and mythology, definitely give this series a try. I was skeptical with book one, but this book is fantastic, and I’m excited to see what lies ahead. It’s a fairly easy/quick read for those who might get bored easily, too, so it might be a good fit for a reluctant reader.

The Magician is a very well written book for mostly fantasy readers, but it just may be good enough to bring over a few on the fence on this genre and may convert over a few as well. It starts out with a seemingly subtle introduction, and then before you know it, it gathers speed as the plot lines grow at a rapid pace. It is a book for all ages, as there is no adult content. The book was written in a way that it felt like it was detailing historical events, and it made you feel like the whole thing was real. Total disclosure, this is the second of a series of books with the same characters. I personally did not know this until I was already started into it, and for me, it was beyond the point of no return. Having said that, if you have the choice, pick up the first book first, The Alchemist, and then pick up this one. This book does stand on its own, but I am betting you will pick up a few things I missed my starting here.

I love this book. It’s great, and keeps me exited. Josh and Sophie were just normal kids when they became a part of a magical war between wizards. Josh and Sophie are trying as hard as they can to help. I love this book because it has lots of action, is very hard to put down, and has a good vs. evil aspect.

In this book, they are in Paris, and a man named Niccolò Machiavelli tries to imprison them, and fails. Nicholas gets in contact with his former student, and gets to safety. When Josh and Sophie are at his house, he give Josh a new computer, because his old one was destroyed.

This book has lots of action, and an example is “‘Golem!’ Sophie shouted in horror. ‘A wax Golem!’ She flung out her arm and her aura blazed. Ice-cold wind surged from her fingertips to batter the creature, but the white waxy skin simply rippled and flowed beneath the breeze.” (Pg.21) This shows how much action is in the book.

This book is very hard to put down. “The final sheet of newspaper tore as he pulled away. ‘It’s a sword,’ Josh whispered in awe, looking at the short narrow weapon nestled on the paper-strewn table.” (Pg.203) This part was very hard for me to put it down because I really wanted to find out what it looked like, or maybe where he got it.

I like this book because it has a good vs. evil aspect. For example, “‘Stop or I shoot!” Flamel knew the police wouldn’t shoot—they couldn’t. Machiavelli would not want him harmed.” (Pg.142) This part is when Flamel is running from the police, and they threaten him by shooting.

I give this book a five out of five stars! I love it. Josh and Sophie are trying to help Flamel and this book takes you through their story.

The Magician picks up immediately after the previous book of the series, The Alchemyst, left off. The plot thickens beautifully and the story flows so perfectly that it’s hard to remember the whole thing is a work of fiction.

This story brought us to Paris, France. Sadly, I haven’t been there yet… But I can easily imagine it through the immersive details given by the characters themselves. Speaking of characters, there were quite a few added to the story in this novel. Each of them is so perfectly developed that there is no room for doubt. They simply are.

The Magician was so full of action and an amazing level of storytelling. I can’t wait to continue on this journey with Sophie, Josh, Nicholas Flamel, and everyone else in this wonderfully created series.

For this review and more, please visit my blog at vicariousbookworm.wordpress.com

I did like the first book better than this but started to see things I'm not a fan of. Major historical figures just happen to be immortals. The twins, aside from being incredibly powerful, were also nearly perfect even prior to their Awakening. Also, I've seen immortals done better, mainly that they're ultimately still human and forget things just as anyone might. Not here, though. However, with that said, I do realize that this is aimed at young adults and when that was me I probably would have overlooked a lot of these things that bother me as a mature adult. I would recommend for younger readers than myself.

As young adult fiction goes The Magician is okay but needs some work. Even though it is fantasy the chances of a fifteen-year-old killing a millennia old giant lizard seems kind of slim. The weak plot is helped some by a subplot that is pretty good and characters that are interesting and funny. As a sequel it does not hold up to the first book in the series, The Alchemyst.

While the main plot is fairly weak it does pick up the story where the first book left off and continues the plot through well. The big issue I have with this book is it doesn't feel like it was really needed. It could have easily been condensed into just a few chapters. The pacing also has some issues as the action doesn't really get going until well into the story when we meet Nidhogg. When the tale finally does get going it doesn't hold up to the giant battle in Hecate's Shadowrealm from the first book. Scott would have been served better to combine this book with another installment in the series then have it stand alone.

That being said the plot with Perenelle is really pretty good. At the end of the first chapter with Perenelle I found myself wanting more of her plot and less of the main one, especially when she interacts with Areop Enap. Every appearance of Areop Enap made the plot beyond amazing. I also enjoyed the subplot with the Sphinx and how he was written to be pretty stupid.

If you like fantasy or magic in books I would say to go ahead and read this if for no other reason than later in the series there is some really good stuff waiting.

I admit it. I picked up this book because of the main character, Nicholas Flamel, who was introduced to me in the Harry Potter series. This is NOT an offshoot of Harry Potter, however, I'm glad I discovered this series.

This is the second book in a series of six. I would have preferred to start with book one, but this one fell into my hands first and holds up quite well as a stand-alone novel. Flamel has located the twins mentioned in an ancient prophesy regarding the struggle of the Dark Elders to return and rule the Earth. The teens, Sophie and Josh, have the potential to thwart the Elders' desires, but they must be protected from some very powerful minions seeking to capture and control them.

Flamel and his young charges are hounded from Ojai, California to Paris, France as they seek an immortal powerful enough to awaken their gifts and teach them to use them safely. A delightfully decadent Machiavelli turns up as an influential adversary in Paris, along with a host of creatures from myth and legend. Full of battles both intellectual and magical, the action is non-stop. I was fully engaged from start to finish.

I will be picking up the first book in the series, The Alchemyst, as well as the other volumes. I can't wait to discover how the twins fare, as well as their mentor, Nicholas Flamel.

The magician by Michael Scott is the second book in The secrets of the immortal Nicholas Flamel series. This book picked up right where the first one left off. I love this series, nicholas flame is an enigma, he srems like a good guy but you kind of wondrr if he isn't a bad guy. Perenelle is awesome and I love the couple flamel and the twins meet up with in Paris. I am fascinated with all of the legends and lore in this series and how well the wholr thing flows. I'm excited to see what the rest of the adventures of the twins and flamel have in store.

This book takes place immediately after the end of The Alchemyst, and once again finds Josh, Sophie, Flamel and Scatty on the run for their lives. Admittedly, some of the details about the first half of this book have escaped me, because I started reading it in May 2011 and just now picked it up again a week or so ago. This should probably tell you that I wasn't completely enamored with it.

Personally speaking, I didn't find this book quite as enjoyable as the first one. Much of this had to do with the constant non-stop action (which is to be expected, considering that each of these books takes place in one to two days) and also Josh's feelings towards Flamel and his jealousy over Sophie's abilities. I did like the introduction of Joan and absolutely loved Saint-Germain, but am finding myself getting really tired of Josh's constant sureness that Flamel isn't to be trusted regardless of what others' opinions are of him. I also cannot understand why on earth he'd think that Dee is to be trusted. I am not sure what to think about Machiavelli; I like that he doesn't like Dee, but he's also not exactly a great guy himself, especially at the end of the book. I will be interested to see what ultimately becomes of him and his decisions, especially since the Elder we meet in this book (no names to avoid spoilers) also cannot decide what to think of him. I fear for Josh and the debt he's going to have to pay, and also the fact that I am fairly certain he's going to end up siding with Dee. I did like that we got to see more of Perenelle, though. Talk about a fierce female character!

I am going to continue on with this series only because I own the other books in the series (of which six have been released). I fear that I am not going to like how many of them turn out, though, which is a shame since I really enjoyed the first one a lot.

I loved this book. It held so much more for me than the first. The story is really unfolding and I want more.

This book had so much going on, it was non-stop from the beginning for me. Nicolas, Scatty, Sophie, and Joshua go to Paris looking for another immortal, Perenelle is locked away in Alcatraz, and John Dee meets up with another villain, Machiavelli. So much is going on, my head was spinning, but in a good way. Really action packed full of magic, mythology, and some crazy monsters. I didn't think it could get crazier, but it does.

The writing is just so amazing. I love the different point of views the story is told from. It really adds to the excitement to know what is going on in everyone's head and what lies ahead for all the characters. The world building is so creative and written so vividly, I found it hard to get my head out of the book.

So many more characters were introduced in this book. This is one of the things I love about this series. The characters are just too wild. In this installment we meet Counte de Saint-Germain, Joan of Arc, and Niccolo Machiavelli. All great characters and add so much more depth to the story. The introduction of so many amazing characters is what keeps me going with these books. The character building is just phenomenal.

Michael Scott is an exceptional author who weaves together an awesome story that keeps me captivated with every word.

I think this series is based on a brilliant concept - that of figures from history, myth, and folklore being immortal and 'real', alive as the main characters in this book. In this one, the great strategist/philosopher Machiavelli is introduced as an immortal from history, as well as Mars the Warrior deity from folklore, along with several other new and fascinating characters. They join Nicholas Flamel and John Dee, from the first book, and much of the action takes place in Paris, including in the catacombs beneath the city (which are real) and that provides a rich and fascinating setting. The magic and occult ideas in the book are also fascinating and well thought out.

However, my one issue with the first book in this series was that the character development and writing were not up to par with the idea, and I think that is true in this second book too. The human teenage twins Sophie and Josh that the story centers around still feel paper thin and stereotyped to me - like they are each meant to represent certain personality traits, in a yin/yang kind of polarity, but are without real, complex human psyches. That was OK in the first book, when so much setting and backstory needed to be introduced, but I was hoping they would deepen in this one. Instead there is so much action there is no time for character development, and although the twins each have their moods and issues, there isn't enough depth to them to really make us care for them as individuals, as we do in the best of this genre. I am still hopeful that will improve in the remaining books, which I will read.

All that being said, these are still solid 4-star reads for me, because of the fascinating history, mythology, and occult concepts.

I loved the first book in the series so much, but it was before I started blogging and reviewing so I do not have a review for it. oh well, here is my review of the 2nd book.

This book was amazing! I loved it so much. It was even better than the first one, which is no easy feat. I love that the people in these books are people from history (and mythology) I am a history nerd myself, so whenever a book incorporates anything historical I swoon a bit.

The storyline is action packed and fast paced. I like how they switch of between the main characters. Each chapter is from a different perspective and they rotate through the twins and flamel and pernelle. There are also chapters from Dee and Machiavelli's perspective as well. The author goes just far enough with each storyline to keep you interested and he always stops with you wanting more. Then he switches over to another person. I found this style very engrossing.

I love the magic and the creatures you meet in this series, and I cannot wait to read the next installment.

I am so worried that something is going to come between sophie and josh, and my fingers are crossed that nothing does.

One of the best books I have read in a while

-Michelle @ bookbriefs.blogspot.com

Background: Dr. Dee is still in possession of the Book of Abraham the Mage and looking to release the Dark Elders into the world. Perenelle is trapped on Alcatraz with supernatural beasts guarding her and her husband, Nicolas, is in Paris with the twins. Now they are dealing with both Dee and Niccolo Machiavelli in Paris. As they unleash ancient monsters to gain both the twins and the last few pages of the Book.

Review: The Magician is the second installment of the Nicolas Flamel series, and the series moves a lot faster now that we have some background regarding both magic and the twins. This book has a lot more action than the first, more monsters and battles to escape, which are super fun to read. Scatty becomes even more intriguing as we learn a little more about her background, and more characters are introduced and they are awesome! Being a Humanities instructor I know a good deal about historical figures and a lot of the characters in these books are those very same historical figures, so it is great to see them being introduced in this light to more people. I am really enjoying this series, there are so many fun thing...magic, mythical creatures, historical people...I love it!

**FABULOUS!!!** I am so enjoying this entire series! :-D It is always wonderful when you read a first-in-the-series book and fall in deep like with the character. It's even *BETTER* when that deep like continues into the next book in the series. Such is my ecstatic happiness upon completing The Magician, the second in the Nicholas Flamel series. :-D

Seriously this series has all the action and adventure you could possibly want/need, coupled with truly likable characters, a twisty twisty plot, super "believability" and all the mythological creatures, villains and heros you can possibly shake a stick at! :-D I am SO looking forward to continuing the series and so very happy I bought the third book when I picked up the second! :-)

Go.. read the first, then the second and then tell me how much you enjoy them!

XXOO
~Hope

As our heroes traveled through the ley gate, they come out with an explosive start: in an old church in Paris, locked, and a giant wax monster at their nose. It is not surprising to see the storyline advance up so quickly as you just thought they were resting. The new and very thrilling section of this very original series is at its second book, and it is very, very amusing to read.
What distinguishes this book from other fictional magic related books is for its originality. That is all I can say about it. It also features a detailed description through many diverse perspectives and events that leads to descriptive and whole understanding of what is going on. The story also makes perfect sense as you go on, and there is no flaw into it as far as I am concerned.
The magician, in the title, refers to probably no other than Dee, the English wizard. Although I am not too sure about the factors that contributed the author's mind to title each books of "the secrets of the immortal Nicholas Flamel" classes of a fictional factions, but it kind of makes sense.
So, what can I say? Great Book? Definitely. Waiting for the rest? Without doubt.

If an Archetypical theorist you are supposed to be the theorist with this lens... were to examine The Magician: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, they would very strongly approve of it and recommend it. According to this theory, which is based off of the idea of social archetypes, stories can have archetypal characters, images or situations. Evidence of all three can be found in The Magician.
The archetypal characters included in this story are heroes and villains. An example of a hero is Nicholas Flamel, an immortal alchemist who is always taking care of the other heroes in his company so they can continue to work toward saving the world from villains, and the theory states that heroes work for the greater good; exactly what Nicholas Flamel and the others do. An example of a villain in the story is Dr. John Dee, an immortal magician (the man whom the book is named for), is always searching for a way to kill Nicholas Flamel along with a way to conquer the world through means of evil. The theory states that villains are the personification of evil and Dee fits that description perfectly seeing as he has very little human sentiment and emotions as well as the fact that he will destroy anything and everything that gets in the way of his conquests. Not to mention, the theory states that an example of a villain can be “the mad scientist” and to me a magician can be considered a variation of that.
The archetypal images that are included in the story are colors: gold, silver and white and the four ancient elements. According to the theory the colors gold and silver symbolize value and greatness and the twins, Sophie and Josh, have silver and golden auras that surround their bodies and give them immense power. Their auras and powers if silver and gold represent greatness and value because they are the twins of legend that are supposed to save the world. The four ancient elements are shown in the story because there are four types of magic: Earth, air, fire, and water. People use their powers to create the four different types of magic to help defeat their enemies. One of the characters is the master of fire and uses his powers to manipulate fire and heat for his benefit. Another character uses air Magic to create fog to distract her enemies. They utilize the different elemental magics to help complete their quests.
An archetypal situation that the characters encounter is the quest. According to the theory a quest can be pretty much any journey that someone is seeking fulfilment from including seeking revenge and trying to save the world from the villain. This book encompasses both examples that the theory directly states.The villain John Dee is the one who is seeking revenge. He is planning to kill Flamel and then use his friends’ power to destroy the entire world, not only because he is truly evil but also because of an event in his past that he blames Flamel for. The quest in the story of saving the world is being carried out by the heroes, Flamel, Scathach, and the twins, Josh and Sophie. They are using their powers to stop Dee and his other villainous friends from destroying the world even if it means giving up their lives.
Clearly exemplifying the archetypal theory and being approved by it, the author does an amazing job throughout the whole story to keep you on the edge of your seat, develop characters and give the reader a side to root for. This is an unparalleled book and series, and it and the rest of the books should be on everyone’s must-read list.
-Emily Goddard

This book started off exactly where the first book left. The twins are still trying to figure out who they really are and who they can trust. Their powers are growing stronger and more beings are after them. They can only trust eachother.....or can they?

I like this book alot. The beginning of the book takes you right back to where the first book dropped you off and the action is head on from there. The author did not delude you with past information that was not needed. Nothing changed!

I still think that the author has a fabulous writing style. I only gave it 3 stars because this particular addition rang a bit hallow. That does not mean I did not like it but it does mean that I do like where it is taking the reader.

I enjoyed the second installment of the Nicholas Flamel series more than the first because introductions are out of the way and the plot really moves. There are some great new historical characters, specifically the cunning Machiavelli who has joined forces with Dee, and Joan of Arc, whose powerful silver aura aids Flamel and the twins. I was relieved that Sophie and Josh finally have a one-on-one dialogue and discuss their concerns with one another, eliminating any resentment. A prehistoric monster lays waste to the streets of Paris, an immortal is awakened in the deep tunnels of the catacombs, and chaos ensues against the backdrop of this ancient and beautiful city. Josh is awakened, but at a terrible cost, which unleashes the combined force of the gold and silver auras mentioned in the prophecy, making for a great cliffhanger. Fun stuff!

Interestingly, I saw a review titled "the real heir to Harry Potter" - and I couldn't agree more. Ironically, I picked up the first in this series The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel at the Borders release party for Deathly Hallows. I liked it - thought it was ok. I was going to wait until the paperback version of this one - but was convinced by some other reader friends to get it now. I am so glad I listened to them. This was even better then the first - although, in my opinion, it would probably be hard to follow without having read the first. "Do-able" but better if you read them in order.

It introduces us to some great historical characters - in a totally new light - and brings in so many different aspects of so many different mythologies from around the world. But in a fun way. There's magic all over the place (some might say "duh" because of the title) and the story moves along well. There are visits to some great landmarks too. The characters are becoming more developed and complex. And there's plenty to discuss on message boards about what might come next (there are 4 more to come).

The author is well versed in mythology - which can be seen in the over 100 books he has written. This series does a wonderful job of tying all sorts of important historical and mythological events and characters and places into one big magical bow. Totally the next Harry Potter... or at least it should be! The Flamel Fansite has more helpful info on the series and the next installment - which I can't wait to read!!

Michael Scott's writing style: I liked his style, he is detail oriented but not to the point of over-kill. He knows how to pack in the action keeping your attention. However Scott needs an editor!!! Mistakes (typos) throughout the book but still a great read.

High Points, there was a prehistoric dinosaur that rampaged through Paris, that was an awesome part. Along with a fishman as a limo driver. This book introduced the magician Machiavelli that was also a wonderful high point!!! Overall the action, magic, with close calls make The Magician by Michael Scott a Magical Read.

Loved it, couldn't put it down I have finished this book as well as the next one in the series

"Two days ago Sophie Newman had been an ordinary American teenager, her head filled with normal everyday things: homework and school projects, the latest songs and videos, boys she liked, cell phone numbers and Web addresses, blogs and urls." Now, life is drastically different. Her powers have just been Awakened by the Witch of Endor, who taught Sophie the Magic of Air and made her hypersensitive to all sights, smells, sounds, touch, and taste. She's on the run for her life from the immortal magician and necromancer John Dee, and her twin brother Josh wants to be Awakened and equal to his sister. Jealousy is rearing its ugly head.

The immortal alchemist, Nicholas Flamel, leads their small band of fugitives to Paris in search of another Elder to train Sophie and awaken Josh. With them is Scathach, the Warrior, whose "fighting style is at the heart of just about every martial art." Unfortunately, Flamel's wife Perenelle is not with them. Imprisoned by a Sphinx on Alcatraz Island, Perenelle waits, powerless, for a chance to escape. She and Nicholas have less than a month to live. They're ageing fast, their immortality draining from them, and if they do not reclaim the Book of Abraham the Mage back from Dee, they will die.

If only their deaths were the worst of it.

The Book of Abraham holds more than just the formula for immortality; it contains all the history and secrets of humanity, including spells that could heal the world and return it to Paradise, along with ones that could destroy everything, or even worse, hand everything and everyone over to the power of the Dark Elders. The bad thing is that Dee has the Book and wants nothing more than Flamel's death and the rise of the Dark Elders to the rightful place of power. The good thing is that Josh has the two most important pages from the Book, and Dee can't use the book until he gets the pages.

Even better is that Josh and Sophie appear to be the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy -- "The two that are one must become the one that is all." Legend predicts that twins will be born with pure silver and gold auras, and that their powers will bring about the end of the age. Josh and Sophie have those auras, and Sophie's powers have already been Awakened. The question is: what kind of end will they bring with them? Good or evil?

It all depends on who controls the twins, doesn't it? If John Dee gets his way, the Dark Elders rule the world and humanity as we know it will end. If Nicholas Flamel gets his, he and Perenelle will survive, the twins will save the world, and the Humani will continue to flourish. But even that depends on whose story they believe.

Who is, in fact, telling the truth? Is Flamel really working for the good of humanity or does he have some other motive? Who really does he serve? After all, just a couple days ago, Josh and Sophie were regular teens and living regular lives. This whole world of magic and myth didn't even exist! How are they supposed to know who to believe?

Picking up right where THE ALCHEMYST left off, this 2nd of 6 books does not disappoint. Conspiracies, magic, and battles mix with friendships, doubts, and betrayal to make for good characters and an entertaining read. As with the first installment, this book plays with myths and legends, combining them all into a single storyline that makes sense of everything. Remember, at the heart of every myth and legend lies a grain of truth. King Arthur and Excalibur, Joan of Arc, the great battle Ragnar'k, the disappearing islands, and the dark secrets of ancient Paris, along with legendary creatures like the Sphinx, dragons, oni, vampires, trolls, wyverns, boggarts, minotaur, and more. THE MAGICIAN is a mythological thrill ride you won't want to miss. You'll want to read the first installment before picking up this second part.

Enjoy them both . . . this ride is just getting going.

--- Reviewed by Jonathan Stephens
--- Copyright 2008 TeenReads

From the minute I picked up this book I was drawn in. I'm now on the 6th and final book of this series and am really bummed out, but I also discovered, Michael Scott has a few more books that relate to this series and I can't wait to read the rest. These are not short books by any means and I've found myself not wanting to go to bed so continue reading. I have excitedly read through 5 of these books in less than a week. Great books, so well written. I really wish there were more to the series!!

Although it's not a new thing, I have noticed an increase lately in series of books of which any one in that series needs what went before and what comes after - meaning in short, no one book truly works as a standalone, and this is a problem with this book, The Magician. There's no real intro, it carries on from previous events from the previous book, and the ending is lame, really, because we / the readers, need the next to see the story through to its conclusion. For those who would say 'Well it is a series', then I would say that the likes of the individual Harry Potter books, any from the Mortal Engine series or His Dark Materials all have at least interim conclusions making them a satisfactory read on their own.

But that aside, the bulk of this book holds your interest through it being pacy, (although it needs to be as there's no depth to the characters either, not really). The book is mainly set in modern-day Paris and utilises the above (Notre Dame, Gargoyles etc) and below (The Catacombs and famed sewer system) of this great city quite well, and it is this which gives it its glue.

If a tale of magic featuring present-days kids, (Sophie and Josh Newman) who have a hidden heritage and who (carrying on from the first book) rub shoulders with the oft-used Nicholas Flamel and a hotch-potch of historical figures who here really do have the magical powers passed on through fable, as well as out and out fictional creatures from folk-lore is your thing, you will enjoy this. I apply this to kids as well as adults (although the real target is older kids, just a tad before acne and teen-grumpiness set in).

All in all, a good read just not a brilliant read.

The Magician was a great book, after I finished it I wanted to read the rest of the series. That include The Alchemyst, The Sorceress, The Necromancer, The Warlock and The Enchantress. Two twins Sophie and Josh have the powers to make the world back into the paradise it was before. They also have the power to destroy the world. The book can be scary and it can be exciting at the same time. The Magician includes Alchemy, magic, history and mythology. Sophie and Josh help Nicolas Flamel (The Alchemyst) and Perenelle Flamel Save the world from destruction.

I think the book is very good because it has lots of adventure in it and it takes you to places you have never been to before. I would recommend you to read the book because it is very eventful with lots of different events.The book has many adventures in different places and will keep you reading till the end.

the second book picks up right after the first book which was very amazing. This book is loads of fun and the action just kept coming. Even when there isnt any action their is something entertaining going on in the story.
So many amazing new characters and monsters introduced in this book that had me guessing what will happen next. Especially with Josh been jealous of his twin sister sophie who has been awakened in the first book, and now josh is jealous of her powers and wish to gain them on his own.

overall this book is simply amazing with many turn around plots, great characters and best of all amazing story.

The story opens up in Paris just after the climactic battle with John Dee in Ojai. Having used a leygate to escape the battle Sophie, Josh, Scatty, and Nicholas discover that they are in Sacre-Couer, and that there is someone approaching who wreaks of snake. That someone turns out to be Niccolo Machiavelli, the sadistic author of "The Prince" who was reported to have died centuries before. Before the battle is joined Sophie utilizes the knowledge from the Witch of Endor to conjure a thick fog that allows their escape.

This is just the beginning to a fast paced adventure novel that combines skillful writing and great character development. At once Sophie is confused by the jumble of knowledge that the Witch has bestowed upon her, trying to sort out the onslaught of information without losing the fragile grip she has on her mind. Josh, jealous of his sister's newfound abilities, keeps thinking of what Dee told him, that perhaps Nicholas Flamel is not the man to ally themselves with. This echoes throughout the book as new allies are introduced, the German superstar Comte de Saint-Germain, a former student of Flamel's, and his wife, Scatty's best friend... Joan of Arc... yes, that Joan of Arc.

Saint-Germain helps to awaken Sophie's fire abilities, but before Josh is tended to Josh escapes to the Parisian catacombs to meet his fate. His suspicions of Flamel's motives are still great and his own distrust leads him to the other side... but with the allurement of the dark side at his fingertips will Josh really be able to turn his back on the only person who he could always rely on, his twin sister?

I literally gulped this book down in about two sittings. It's that good. I had waited a year for it and was hoping it would be as good as the first book. I am pleasantly delighted to report that it is just as good, if not better. What Scott does for storytelling is fabulous to watch. He peppers his books with just enough intrigue and surprise that you read through his novels breathless with anticipation. I am astounded by the power of his narrative. I am so thrilled also that he will be coming to the bookstore that I work in for a signing in the fall. I truly cannot wait to meet this man, shake his hand, and tell him how much his work means to me.

When I first started this Book I was really wondering if I would like it or not, and I only started reading it because it was related to the Harry Potter series, but By the end of the second Book I have come to realize that this series is not anything like the Harry Potter series. In fact, I would have to say that it is better... Yes, I said it is better than Harry Potter. I Praise Mr. Scott's ability to twist a magical wonderful tale and am very excited to read the next book.

Riley, 13 years old

I'm liking the series I just find that at times it rambles. I think the author goes into historical details at the wrong times. It always seems to be when something action packed is about to happen. It slows down the story when at that moment the author should have ran with it. At the same time some of the action packed details are kind of chaotic and you can't really understand or picture what is happening at the moment. All in all I'm glad I'm done with the book and on with the next one.

I happened upon this and the first book in the series (The Alchemyst) just before July 4th and have quickly polished them off. For me the use of real historical characters alongside well-researched mythology is nigh irresistible.

The books move along smartly with plenty of action and a narrative that is propulsive and unrelenting. In many ways these feel more like Jim Butcher's Dresden Files books than Harry Potter.

Note that these books are clearly written to be "safe" for a younger audience. No sex, and fairly restrained violence. These are exciting and tense books, but still PG (or maybe barely PG-13).

I am intrigued by the ambiguity around several of the main characters including Machiavelli and Flamel and am eager to see where these books go. Highly recommended.

I am a fan of magic/fantasy, i.e. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings. In my search for something new and make-believe I ran into these stories. They are fun and exciting. By the way I am a grandma not a pre-teen or teenager. I think I connected with these stories is because my daughter lives in San Francisco and I have been there many times on business or to visit. And I have a college degree in the medical profession, I just enjoy reading make believe, if I want blood and gore I can watch the tv.

Sophie, Josh, Nicholas, and Scatty retreat to Paris after the disaster on the West Coast. They arrive inside the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur. For Nicholas, he's returning home, but he hasn't been there for hundreds of years. Everything's changed.

Dr. Dee hasn't wasted any time; he immediately called for reinforcements - Machiavelli is already in Paris and waiting for them. With Sophie's newly awakened powers, they are able to escape. Nicholas leads them to the home of his old student. There, they regroup, rest, and recharge.

Once Dr. Dee arrives in Paris things begin to happen. He wants to capture the twins plus the last two pages of the codex, and he's willing to do anything to catch them.

The twins fight back, along with Nicholas, Scatty, Francis, and Joan of Arc. Together they make a stand, but is it enough to stop the powerful Magician?

Michael Scott blends mystery, fantasy, and history perfectly together into an adrenaline-filled, addicting novel.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

The series picks up a bit here in the second book but still need some more in the character development area. The people don't seem to be fully there and Sometimes I care about them and at other times not so much. Not a bad read for a early young adult since they are unlikely to be as interested in the character growth but not necessarily a great read for an adult unless you are just looking for something quick.

I think that The Magician, by: Michael Scott was a very good book, with a great style, but it's a fiction book that is borderline on fantasy, and if you don't like those type of books, you will die plot wise. The story has too many fantasy elements to be likable by anyone who thinks that is dumb. If you like that stuff, you will love this book, and it is definitely worth the read.
Michael Scott's style in writing is one of my favorites. The point of view is third person selective, in present tense. He shows the thoughts of only one person at a time, and only changes the focus through double spaced paragraph breaks or chapters. It's easy to tell who the focus is on in that segment of the story because of this. For his sentences, he never uses a non-dialog sentence under four or five words. In short, he's mostly a compound or complex sentence writer. This is pretty much true in all of the books he's written and that I've read. In diction, he uses words appropriate for our age group. Nothing stupidly out there with vocabulary, but it isn't like Doctor Souse, were you can't find a real word over five letters. Average population vocab.
I think that, all in all, if I were to describe his style, it would be clean, precise, yet not at all formal. Its how all books should be, I think. It's right in the middle, interesting and easier to understand than some vocabulary textbook with enough paragraphs to put you to sleep, and sentences to match the fourteen letter words..
Some of the main characters are the twins: Josh and Sophie Newman, the alchemist and Sorceress: Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel, The bad guy (the European magicians): Dr. John Dee and Niccilo Machavelli, and the warrior maiden: Scathach. The main Bad guys are the Dark elders, evil beings older than humans, immortal, and super powerful.
I think that the characters are well constructed, they are believable. Sophie and Josh are exactly like regular teenagers. They are even weird like fifteen year olds. Josh collects fossilized poop, and Sophie thinks he is weird. Josh, with his only saying: "Life goes on, e-mail stops for no man." and Sophie is constantly annoyed by that.
Nicholas Flamel is a sketchy character, even if he is a main good guy, but for a 700 year old immortal human, he's good enough to be believable, and the same with Scathach, for a 2,500 year old vampire, she is believable, considering the circumstances. Dr. John Dee and Machavelli are believable evil people, Dee is a Fanatic, and Machavelli is a more subtle, yet more dangerous person, as the head of Paris' security system, he, being immortal and a powerful Magician, he can control almost anything.
Dee and Machiavelli are well constructed too. They perform their actions with the precision expected of them. Machiavelli is a careful Italian, and Dee is a reckless and ruthless Englishman. Also, while Dee is present from the very beginning, Machiavelli is introduced to the second book, this one, so we get a new villain with a different way of dealing with things, a much more precise, dangerous and powerful way not to mention Machiavelli holds control over all of France's secret service.
I believe that this story is made interesting by the actions of the characters and the frequent strokes of cleverness, witticism, and action. If I were to make a comparison, I thing that the plot would be most like Harry Potter. It fits, the magic, teenage heroes, mentors, the schooling. But, that's only if I had too. I really think that this book is really on it's own. It made it's own completely different world that also ties into reality. It makes it possible. In Harry Potter, ninety eight percent of the time, they're in an imaginary place. All of this book takes place in Paris, and things happen in Paris that technically could have happened. Paris is real, you can't deny that. That's what I really like in books like this, for a while, I could at least pretend it's real, right? It makes the book easier to get into, easy to just keep on reading, you get into it, and unfortunately, it's like a dream, it's hard to remember details. I love when that happens, it's enjoyable, the best part is when Josh pursues the Nidhogg, I was in dream mode reading then.
For a last judgment, the style was very effective for the story. If it wasn't, the story would fall apart. The plot is not interesting enough for it to be a plot reader. Besides, plot readers are for small children who enjoy when things are spelled out and simple. (If you don't know plot readers are books you read for the story one hundred percent. Usually they are short and hard to get into.)
As I said in the beginning, the style may be one of the best I know, but if you don't like fantasy or deep fiction, you shouldn't read this book, it will get tiring to those with a love for books like John Adams So, if you like that stuff, good luck liking the plot of this book

While I gave it's predecessor a three star rating, The Magician gets a five star. This is probably my favorite so far, I'm not quite done the fifth one yet, but I think this will still be my favorite. I've always pictured Josh as a crybaby and found him so annoying, with his constant nagging and mistrust. This book finally let me see him in a new light that was much needed. Machiavelli is a great addition to the line of characters, I wish there would have been more of a back story for him in this book. There is such a contrast of villains and well I guess protagonist. The lines start to blur between good and evil at least for the twins, which is interesting, but I could have done without all the paranoia the twins gain. The good guys have their dark side and the bad guys have their lighter side. This makes it almost real, because thats actually how people are, both good and bad. I love the Catacombs of France being a setting along with Notre Dame. The coward's blade and it's mysterious power is enthralling. This book has it all; Valkyries, ancient swords, catacombs, numerous chase sequences, new characters and magic, ancient monsters running wild, and if you know your mythology it has some pretty interesting "elders". Bravo to Michael Scott for writing a book that in my opinion is better in every aspect than Harry Potter. Read this book.

This book, the second in the series of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, dove deeper into the backgrounds of our main character, his wife, and the man who is trying to bring about the return of the Dark Elders, Dr. Dee. I also loved the fact that Mr. Scott introduced my patron saint, Jeanne D'Arc into the story...the fact that she was a pupil of Scathach, the Warrior was an added delight. Also the addition of Machiavelli as a not so bad villain was ingenious. Michael Scott really shows that evil doesn't always have an ugly face and that he really knows how to write an intelligently, evil villain in the main antagonist of Dee. I cannot recommend this series highly enough, as it is the first series since HP that I can really sink my teeth into so to speak. I eagerly await the arrival of the third book in the series, the Sorceress. Should be arriving shortly...

I read the first book at a book club with some friends and Im so glad they introduced me to this. I couldnt put it down!!!! It is a very fun read for someone who is looking for a good book to read. But just a word of advice you should read the first book before you read this one. I love the way the author tied history into this sires. I hope you love this book as much as me.

Amazing imagery and thoughful writing for this second book. I am looking forward to The Sorceress next...bring it on! Just the right balance of action, fear, intensity, and hope for what is to come. The imagery of Paris and the places that exist beneath the city are creepy intense which adds to this story. Not frightning, but compelling - Josh and Sophie have to learn quickly, but also get to learn a thing or two that the elders didn't know and that makes me wonder what else they will discover that the elders weren't prepared for...

The problem with intensive books such as the Magician is that you run out of information quickly and the books tend to lack depth. This is clearly not the case with the Magician. By using history, natural human instinct, and mythology, Scott takes what could be a 500 page story and translates it into a whole new world. Very well written book; it expresses everything and leaves little to imagination.

This book is 464 pages of fun, action-filled adventure. There is not a single dull moment in the book. Even without the fight scenes, something interesting is happening.

Serious kudos to Scott, what a hell of a book.

The Magician does not disappoint as a continuation from the first book, The Alchemyst. Scott really does a remarkable job of blending history and mythology and magic all into one amazing adventure.

In this installment Sophie and Josh run into more trouble and adventure while both of their powers' grow stronger, while Nicolas and Pernelle grow weaker by the hour. I'm so looking foward to the third installment of this series!

Ok I have to write this review, for the simple fact I read the first book and all though I didn't hate it, I was disappointed because of all the elements that the book possess. The book promised magic, unearthly creatures, gods and goddess, and a powerful pair of twins. But I felt that the first book didn't reach it's full potential, still I was intrigued enough to continue the series for at least the second book... AND OMG IM GLAD I DID! This book surpassed my expectation and beyond. I'm going to rush to read the next in the series.

Michael Scott has done it again! Book 2 definitely doesn't disappoint. This series is poised to become the next big thing. The cast of characters and quick paced writing will not allow you to put this book down. The book is wonderfully imaginative and not like anything else I've read. I learned so much about Mythology while reading this book because I felt compelled to research the origin of each of the characters. Its a great read and if you're anything like me it will leave you craving more.

There was a time where books like Harry Potter and The Inheritance books were the last type of novels I liked to read. I love books that I considered more adult, like Da Vinci Code. When I read Harry Potter started my addiction to reading good fantasy novels. Then I heard of this book, The Alchemist and that there would be a total of nine books. So I had to read the first one, after the first one I told all my brothers and friends about what a great concept the novel really was. I just got to say the merger of history and fantasy was great. I love history and I love it so much I wanted to study history and anthropology. Well history to me is the ultimate soap opera and finding a book who took that myth and soap opera idea and merging into a coming of age story made this series a definite read and a definite buy.

The Magician is the continuation of The Alchemist. This book had more twist and turns then any other book i have read since Harry Potter. At times it had me laughing at Scatty's comments or Josh's comments. I can't go into talking about the book to much, but all you need to know is that you will read about facing some new characters from history's past. I can't wait until the next book comes out. I am willing to bet that its going to get even better.

I had been waiting for the Magician since I read the Alchemyst. The author has captured my attention. History, fantasy, and mythology are seamlessly blended into a story that pulls you along in an exciting, action-filled plot.

The author rarely wastes our time, every chapter he brings to us new developments, some answers, and yet more questions to be answered in the next novel. The characters are all utterly believable, and the questions that surround characters like Flamel and Dee kept me hooked.

It is rather hard to believe that Scott managed to cram this book in a short time (a day or two,) but living through every second with the characters makes the story, their actions, and everything else more credible.

I simply cannot wait to get my hands on the next book.

Michael Scott has proven himself to the writing community as a respected and known author for both the young readers minds as well as the adult's because of how well described and imaginitive he was while writing this series.

When I first read the first book I was just speechless for the research and imagination that Michael Scott had, I mean, I'm a faster reader than most children my age, and when I finished it I was hating every second of not having the second one.

When I read the second one I couldn't believe that he could mold that first book into something even better.

And I have one thing to say to the reviewers of the store: STOP COMPARING BOOKS TO HARRY POTTER.

I couldn't finish this book. The author obviously knows an awful lot about history and mythology, but there is so much of his knowledge on each page that I got the feeling he just wants us to know how much he knows. And what is with the bad guys constantly changing their minds about whether or not they are trying to kill these kids?

I enjoyed the scene (a tele-conference) in which one of the bad guys plays his superiors against each other. I can't go through a book feeling like every character in it is the most impressive and feared and legendary being in the history of the world, though. The bad guys are bad, the good guys are good, and everyone in the book is just too impressive. The author needs to pick favorites. He also needs to include some pages in the book that are an intentional release from the tension so that it has a chance to build again. After a bit I couldn't remember why I was sitting on the edge of my seat - it was not comfortable, but it was certainly where the author thought I would be. I put it down when I found this inner dialogue to be more interesting than the story.

It is a book full of imagery and epic battles set in modern day and I know a lot of people will enjoy it far more than I did. Generally the author's voice is what makes or breaks a book for me. This is probably a good story, but I couldn't get beyond the geeky lecture tones. It's patronizing and distracting.

I started with The Alchemyst and had to keep reading. There are 3 books in the series with a fourth coming. I like how the author created a series of books that keep the reader hanging on so they must read the next book. The story does not end with each book. I started reading the first book, The Alchemyst, to my 6th grade class. They were enthralled with the book. It was funny to look up from reading and watch the students with their mouths agape, hanging on every word. Once school was out, I had to keep reading the series to find out what happens to Sophie and Josh. I read The Magician and The Sorceress and still don't know the fate of the twins! The Necromancer is the next book. Love this series!

this story intrigued me when i found it on the my local libarys bookshelf a year after i read the first book. after reading the back cover i was fascinated on the main charactistics of the book. the setting was a good choice being it in paris france but after reading about the problems in the first book i felt he shouldnt have changed it in that way. then i started reading and found with michael scotts juicy writing style the author actually made this book a fast paced thrill ride. he even kept up with the three sides of the story. I felt that he is truly a master writer and i am very excited for the next book the sorceress.

Overall, I'd say this book is very similar to the first one. Enjoy one, enjoy the other.

One of my big problems with the book is poor editing. Were the children originally supposed to be from Britain and the American edition changed to California? (Sort of like HP and the Sorcer's Stone instead of Philosopher's Stone)
Page 28-29 in my copy describes what the author calls ASL (American Sign Language). However, based on the description, it's nothing like how the alphabet is done in ASL; it's the English-orign way of spelling things out by touching various parts of the hand. If the author knew of the connection between French and American sign languages, I'm surprised that he didn't do enough research to know what they look like.

this series of books by Michael Scott is sold in the teen section of your bookstore. I'm no teen but get sick of all the smut in books these days, so i tend to veer over to the teen section for my reading. this series of books written by author Michael Scott was interesting, exciting and fun. i recommend The Magician, and the other books in this series, to anyone who likes some adventure and a clean read. Try it!

The first book was great. This one, however, is even better. Sophie begins developing her powers, while Josh learns some new tricks with a mystical sword. I love the monsters, the magic, the mythology, and how characters from history that are suppose to be dead are in this story! A great read.

With this second entry in the series, Scott has marvelously succeeded in maintaining the feel that was introduced in the first while simultaneously bringing it to the next level. The exploration of the cities that he chooses (which are natural on many levels), adds a great deal to the atmosphere as well as grounding the historical and ahistorical figures he chooses to introduce. I'm looking forward to new entries in this series as well as to explore his other works in the future.

Action, and more action in Book 2. The Magician carries the story forward but it is not predictable. Twists and turns, new characters and surprises. Onto Book 3! I can not wait to see what comes next.

So I had given the The Alchemyst 3 stars because I had generally enjoyed, and though I intend to finish this series I had to give The Magician a 2 star review. It just had too many problems for me not to.

First off, Scott has a huge problem with telling and not showing. I don't know how many times I was told how "extremely powerful" a character was, yet never shown proof of this. I think we're meant to see Dee and Machiavelli as formidable enemies of Flamel, but I certainly don't, what with Flamel and his gang escaping them several times a day. The same can be said about other objects, creatures, and "people" that are supposed to be "incredibly powerful" in this series. It feels like Scott keeps introducing a new object that is "powerful" to trump the last object that was "powerful". Like kids who say "Not it", "Not it times infinity", "Not it times infinity infinity!" It just keeps going to the point where the word "powerful" is basically meaningless, rendering new characters or new objects uninteresting for the most part.

If you did not like Josh in the last book, you probably won't like him in this book. His insecurities are still intensely annoying, he is still a completely unlikable character in my opinion, but I'm still hoping this will change in the next book.

I wish Scott would work up a better system for what is possible in his magical world and what isn't. I have no real sense in what kind of danger these characters are in because it seems as though they can always magic themselves out of that danger. This is one reason Harry Potter fans may not be absolutely in love with this series. Part of enjoying Harry Potter was the understanding that if you lost your wand, you were in serious trouble, and if you were a 14 year old boy dueling against the most feared wizard in history, chances are you were going to die unless you got really, really lucky a second time around. That's what happened to Harry, and you genuinely get the sense that the poor kid barely escaped with his life. In these books, we're given the idea we're supposed to fear Elders like Mars, but he gets taken out of the picture so easily that it seems silly. The twins also manage to thwart off their enemies in the last battle in this book pretty easily, so that it feels extremely anti-climactic and almost pointless.

So Potter fans should read this series because of the magic and mythology and all that, but don't go in assuming it's anywhere near Harry Potter in overall greatness. The writing isn't as good, the characters aren't as good, and the events aren't as interesting. Some characters here and there are cool, but they don't receive much of the spotlight, so prepare for disappointment. Otherwise, it's good for when you've got nothing else to read.

I love how the author uses figures from mythology and history as characters in his books. This book was one of my favorites along with Eldest and the Harry Potter series. I can't wait to see what will happen. Will the Dark Elders come to rule the planet or will Nicholas Flamel's plans succeed? I will never get enough of this book series and I highly recommend it to anyone, child or adult.

The second book of the fenomonal series "The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel" continues the contagious excitement. Now that the twins Josh and Sophie Newman fled the U.S. to France, they are unsure who to trust any more. They encounter monsters of legends and of their wildest dreams as they are hunted by one of the most powerful magicians ever. They also meet some allies of their traveling partner, Nicholas Flamel, which does include one of the greatest warriors in the world. I really love this series.

This is a fun series. It follows a set of teenage twins as they unlock their magical powers and fight against ancient forces who threaten to destroy humanity. It has all the drama of popular fiction with the monsters you have come to expect, but is done smartly without all the young girly lust and teen angst.

I bought my first two books of this series when I was on Holliday in the USA.
Liked it and good to improve my English (native dutch)

What I do not like is that with every new book the first ??? pages go of what happened in the other books. I really do not like that fact.

But the story is allright ...
Nice VERY NICE is that the story takes place in places I know Like PARIS!
It all will end in 2012 ... but I do not know if the autor of this books did that on purpose. ;)

Michael Scott is a genius. I will say it again, Michael Scott is a genius. He has captured the essence of Young Adult fantasy better than J.K. Rowling and, dare I say, J.R.R. Tolkien. Bravo, I am truly hooked on Flamel!

Loved every word in this book! I miss the Harry Potter books terribly, and picked up the first book in this series simply because it mentioned Nicholas Flamel, a name I recognized from the first Harry Potter book. I was hooked and waited impatiently for the next book to come out, was so happy to see it! I just finished reading it, and found it better than the first!! I love the inclusion of historical places, and characters! I get thrilled "meeting" characters from the past! It is such a great series!!! I CAN NOT wait for the next one! Great story.

I am a Potter fan and was having geek withdrawals and needed a new adventure type series to get into and I found these on the store and I love them. All of the characters exist in real mythology so it's fun to learn about them and study them separately. A great adventure, I have already pre-ordered the Sorceress.

This book was a roller coaster of action from beginning to end. I was very impressed with the first book and I'm amazed the author succeeded in making the second book even better. I highly recommend it for all ages, adults included!

Enter a different world where mythology comes to life. This series is such a great time for me to read. It has great characters with awsome stories. The only thing I would have to say is that the books are short in a way, or I read to fast. Im not sure if its for a younger audience, but I love mythology and love this series.

Dear Michael,
i thought nothing could keep off the edge of my seat with the Alchemyst, now with The Magician, you have gone to a new level of the written word. You paint your word pictures the way a great painter paints the canvas. Your canvas is the book and I can't beleive that at my age I have discovered your books, what a gift you and your books are. I eagerly await the Sorceress.

I may finally write my own folk tales......who knows.

Kindly,
Robb Packer, author.

this is the type of book where you totally expect this to happen and you have how it goes completely planned out. then it does the unexpected but you later find out that the way it went was absolutely brilliant and your way would have been horridly boring. this keeps the story going so you never get bored. you cant even figure out his style. its amazing

Scott continues in the second book of his series by introducing even more historical characters and keeping the scenes moving while not sacrificing character depth, as sometimes happens in this genre. The conflict potential between the twins grows and has an ominous foreboding for the next book. Scott's knowledge of historical and mythical figures is encyclopedic and he constantly uses it to great effect in both books. Highly recommend for young readers of all ages.

The story is very interesting and enjoyable. However, the characterization of the main protagonists(the twins) is so awful that it kills the book. The twins have no redeeming noble quality. Worse than that, their thoughts and feelings don't even make sense most of the time. It makes me really dislike the characters since I feel no connection to their persona, unlike Harry Potter.

"The Magician" is a sequel to "The Alchemist". More accurately, it is a continuation. I strongly suggest reading "The Alchemist" first.

In the series, the American teenage twins Sophie and Josh Newman are trained in magic by Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel, aided by vampire Scathach, Joan of Arc, and many other characters. They are opposed by John Dee, Niccolo Machiavelli, and others acting as agents of the "elders".

Unlike many reviewers, I do not find the historical characters, taken completely out of historical context to be appealing. In this series, aimed at an adolescent audience, most readers will encounter the fictional John Dee, Francis Bacon, Joan of Arc, and many others, long before they encounter the real historical characters (if they ever do). As a historian, I detest t the corruption of history.

Comparisons to the Harry Potter novels are inevitable. The Scott books are unrelentingly fast-paced--essentially one long chase scene, with little left to the imagination. The hundreds of monsters (of every description) are nightmares of no substance.

The Rawlings novels create a universe in the mind of the reader, quite independent of the story, per se. In many ways, the vivid "world of magic" Rawlings creates is more engrossing than the stories. Her plots are repetitive and predictable--but who cares? You can read a Rawlings novel to the end, and start again at page one, and it is just as good the second time, or third time.

The "magical world" of the Rawlings novels is roughly 17th-18th Century English in technological terms, on the premise that the modern world has nothing to offer to the magical world. Obviously, that has limits which are sometimes glaringly obvious. In a real world--the world in which most Rawlings readers are growing in which technology has exceeded the science fiction of a few decades ago, the question of what magic is, and whether it is of (even imaginary) value, is highly pertinent.. Rawlings neatly sidesteps the question. In contrast, in the fully modern world of the Scott novels, in which even the monsters blog, the magic is "primitive" --mostly just raw largely-undefined power, mostly superceded by technology. As such, the magic is less appealing.

The magical world of Rawlings is a tightly defined world, albeit expanding in every novel, which is actually appropriate as the real world expands at the same time for the young readers. In part, this allows readers to "grow" with Harry, to encourage him, to perceive danger approaching, and to anticipate possible solutions to problems. In the Scott novels, "anything goes". The reader is not a participant.

I would not be surprised to learn that the premise of Scott's series was created as a thesis for a "Marketing 101" course, a proposal for a novel to appeal to 13 year old boys and girls. You want marshal arts?--we've got marshal arts. You want monsters?--we've got over 200 kinds. Do you like vampires?--a major character is a vampire. Want a female hero?--the most powerful characters in this series are female. Do spiders creep you out?--we've got spiders. Are you a Joan of Arc fan?--she's a major character. Do you like magic swords?--we've got Excalibur. Does Paris sound romantic to you? How about San Francisco? Parts of the story are set in both. Scott might have been advised to study Rawlings and Tolkien in greater detail.

That said, the books are very entertaining and worth a read.

Recommendation: buy Rawlings novels in hardcover, Scott novels in paperback.

> Click on “Stoney” just below the product title to see my other reviews, or leave a comment to ask a question.

This book was awesome. I loved when finally Josh got Awakened by Mars Ultor(Ares,Nergal), who i feel sorry for because of his everlasting curse on him. It leaves yet on another cliffhanger, and i cant wait till the sorceress comes out.

I am so enthralled by this series that I cannot put them down. The inclusion of historical details with the magical elements is enchanting. The twins are fun to follow and feed off of each other well. The series reminds me of The Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage.

i am 18 and cant read the best, i read the first one and couldnt put it down, most novels the second one isnt as good, not true with this one it pulled me into the storie and didnt let go, loved it.... exept when the killed scathach :( the best charactor, well they didnt kill her but shes gone, oh just read it haha

The roller coaster begun in the alchemyst continues. Once again it's a nonstop read that never lets up on the action. The introduction of Machiavelli as a major anarchistic character is brilliant. More obscure gods and mythological creatures once again reveals the author's depth of knowledge of his craft in this genre.

Fun read. If you read the first book, you must read this. If you didn't read the first book, The Alchemyst, do so. Then read this one.

My 12 year old granddaughter loved this book (and the 1st book in this series). It arrived in 2 days with the store Prime! She couldn't wait for it to arrive. When it did, she sat down and read it in one day! She is disappointed that the sequel to The Magician isn't due out until the spring of 2009.

AWESOME BOOK. IF YOU LIKE ADVENTURE AND ACTION, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU! I'm not going to spoil anything for those of you who don't want to know but read the whole series if you like Rick Riordans books. THIS IS THE SECOND BOOK!

Totally got lost in this book! I would take it to work and my coworkers would be yelling at my to get my attention. I love how it takes ordinary people and puts them into an extraordinary world. Thats how I always feel whenever I read any fantasy/fiction books! Great read!

The magician can only be described as AMAZING. i picked up this book expecting greatness and was still surprised that what a great book this was. A word of advice keep your computer close you will want... i take that back..NEED to look up the different things the author put into this book. its crazy how much detail was put into this book and those that have read lots of fiction will find themselves recalling facts that they have one read before. A must read

Once again the writer has done a fantastic job not keeping the readers guessing as well as done their homework when is comes to history and the characters that were used though the book... I Have been waiting almost a year for the 3rd book, I wish it was May 26th already...

wow... this book was better than i thought it would be!!! some of the people in this book i learned about in my history class! (Machiavelli!) overall i loved this book and intend to read the sorceress! love you michael scott!

There's nothing like turning world history on it's ear in such a believable way. Every chapter ends on a cliff-hanger and you have to keep going! The only disappointment is this second book isn't read by the same person as the first and it's a bit of an adjustment, but it certainly doesn't detract from the story itself.

This was an excellent sequel to the first book. It was such a quick and easy read but always left me wanting more. Michael Scott did an unbelievable job with this one. If you like Harry Potter books, you'll love this series. I can't say enough!

I am a huge fan of Percy Jackson & Harry Potter. It is hard to compete with books like those. This series is just as good. All 3 series are similar yet they all have their niche. Great books, highly recommened.

Michael Scott is one of those rare writers who is able to keep you turning page after page, hours after you intended to go to bed, without trimming the fat. The book is filled with facts and interesting historical information while being thoroughly entertaining. I think he is the magician. SOLD! I urge you to read this book and The Alchemyst as well if you haven't already.

In reviews for this book, I`ve heard a lot of claims that it is 'as good or better than the Harry Potter series'. Those of you who are considering buying it because of this opinion: DON`T. The author, Michael Scott`s writing ability is about as good as a first grader`s. Normally, I will read a good book in 1 to 4 days (yes, even the last Harry Potter book). This one took me FOUR WEEKS! The plot had the potential to be great, but the author ruined it by explaining every tiny little detail so that there was not a tiny little speck of mystery left in the book and depriving the main characters of any personality. Also, the twins were like teenage robots, doing whatever Flamel asked them to. The only intersting characters (Flamel`s former student,Joan of Arc, and Perenelle Flamel) were given little attention while the story revolved around the 'heroic' twins and the 'powerful' Nicholas Flamel. The best books are ones where readers can fully relate to and understand 3-D characters, like the ones in the Potter books. But these characters are about as realistic as unimportant cartoon characters on some babies` cartoon. Ones that are only on the show to look funny. If you have ever experienced great literature like the Potter series,within minutes of reading you`ll toss this book into where it belongs: the trash can.

While the general reception of this volume appears to be quite positive, I couldn't help but notice that many of the reviews aren't much more than plot summaries. Aside from the plot, very few reasons are provided to explain why this book is a must read. Plot ideas are important, but so is the execution of those ideas. There really isn't much to dislike when the plot focuses on figures from history vying for the fate of the world. That's downright interesting. The execution of the plot is where all of the failings lie. From the writing style, to the development of characters, and to the distortion of history, very little in this book has improved from the previous volume.

One of the most common attributes of the book's writing style deals with how fast it allows the book to be read. Throughout the narrative, the reader can often face difficulty in ever getting a concrete sense of time and place during a scene. Just as in the last installment, this is the result of much of the story being presented in a very summary-like format. Usually one event happens, and within a very short time the characters are off to their next task or destination. Because of this, it becomes very difficult to feel sympathy for a character as "suddenly, her eyes filled with tears" (67). When a threat faces the twins virtually no fear is felt as Scathach fails to give any details of what the Dark Elders plan to do to them and simply says, "`Trust me when I tell you that it would not be pleasant'" (63). At one point the narrator attempts to create a bold image of Nicholas Flamel but doesn't really succeed when the most he can say is that Flamel had outsmarted "monsters that had no right to exist outside of nightmares" (133). This quote is particularly disappointing due to the fact that, with exception to the word "monsters," the quote is written verbatim to a passage in the previous book (See the second paragraph of my review of The Alchemyst). Because little time usually gets invested in imagery and detail, the reader has very little to think about and will of course be able to fly through the story.

Another drawback the writing style suffers from is Scott's noticeably limited range of adjectives. I mostly ignored this while reading the previous volume but simply could not do so this time. The characters themselves are the most difficult to ever get a vivid image of because most of the time, they are simply shocked, horrified, or, most commonly, terrified. Terror fills the pages early on as the reader is bombarded with "terrifying images and incomprehensible sounds" (33). Josh moves slowly while helping Sophie escape because he was "terrified he was going to drop his twin" (40). Scott reminds the reader that Flamel is in a centuries-old battle against John Dee and the "terrifying creatures he served" (45). As the story continues, Sophie remains plagued by images that "were chaotic and terrifying" (55). She and her twin attempt to escape the terror at a café, "terrified and exhausted" (59). But even here no solace is found as "Scathach's smile was terrifying" (62). Even well into the story Josh still can't help feeling scared. No, he was "more than scared--he was terrified" (120). But this can't be helped with the sight of Scathach's vampire teeth now "suddenly--terrifyingly--visible" and the sound of her scream which was "the most terrifying sound they had ever heard" (141). Soon even Sophie can't do anything but scream, "the sound raw and terrifying" (179). The twins are not alone as even the villains share in this sense of terror. While Dee may not fear a certain Elder Machiavelli declares, "`She terrifies me'" (257). At the midpoint of the story, Josh is beginning to wear down, "too terrified and breathless even to scream" (262). When he later regains the breath to scream, Sophie hears him and thinks it's "the most terrifying sound she had ever heard" (267). Although frightened of the monster that has attacked him Josh doesn't have to be terrified for long since the monster flees, causing Machiavelli to realize that "something had terrified Nidhogg" (282). Josh, however, outdoes Nidhogg when Scott brings the fear to a crescendo beneath the streets of Paris where Josh "had gone beyond frightened, past terrified, and straight to petrified" (384). At one point or another, nearly everybody is horrified and terrified of everyone and everything else. As always, though, relatively little time gets spent on proving most of these statements. One might begin to wonder if Scott has ever heard the saying "show, don't tell."

One of the most credited yet most flawed elements of this series is the history and mythology that get carelessly thrown into the narrative. The issue isn't that these figures and monsters continued to live and even influenced the major events across the centuries. The problem is that Scott can't provide any convincing arguments to make these claims plausible. Angry at Dee, Flamel raves that Dee had nearly "burned London to the ground in 1666, had devastated Ireland with the Great Famine in the 1840s, [and] had destroyed most of San Francisco in 1906" (77). That's it. There are no follow up details in this particular chapter or in any of the following pages. Flamel mine as well have thrown in a few more claims such as Dee being the one who destroyed Pompeii 79 CE or that he had led the final assault against Constantinople in 1453 CE. These are simple dates one can look up in less than a minute on Wikipedia, one of Josh's primary sources of information in the previous volume. Later on Machiavelli broods over his past clashes with Scathach, recalling how they had "last met in the frozen ruins of Stalingrad in the winter of 1942. If it hadn't been for her, his forces would have taken the city" (90). Nevermind that the Germans had made a plunder in going after the strategically useless city simply to give it to Hitler as a birthday present. Nevermind that they were losing nearly 20,000 soldiers a week fighting an army of desperate, battered, and angry Russians. The claim could be entirely credible if the author simply had enough creativity to explain that statement. Most of the historical claims made in this book lack credibility even when a background story accompanies the event. Scathach reputedly saved Joan of Arc from her death at the stake by storming through the garrison guarding Joan. The reason history argues otherwise is simply that nobody "`neither English nor French--was going to admit that the Maid of Orleans had been snatched out from under the noses of perhaps five hundred heavily armed knights, rescued by a single female warrior'" (152-3). Essentially, nobody wants to admit that a girl beat them. While somewhat believable one might think that given the period in which this event happened, the Catholic Church would have been all too happy and ready to pounce on this occurrence as undeniable proof that Joan was consorting with the Devil and had aims to usurp the power of the Church. Scott appears to possess very little logic when attempting to mold events, history or future, to his plot. Dee recounts the many promises of hope made by the Elders: "The Elders would use their powerful magic to return the planet to that paradise. They would reverse the effects of global warming, repair the hole in the ozone layer and bring the deserts to life. The Sahara would bloom; [and] the polar ice caps would melt away" (164). While I'm no Al Gore, reversing the effects of global warming while melting the ice caps seems a bit self-defeating in my view.

Although plenty of action fills the pages of this volume, the author never convinces the reader that the protagonists face any real danger or challenges. Nearly every time a new threat faces one of the characters, a new power or weapon conveniently appears. Early on, when the group cannot seem to beat a wax tulpa, Sophie suddenly has the ability to melt the creature with a simple touch of her hand (23). While one can assume that Sophie somehow managed to use fire magic, Scott never bothers explaining why someone who has only just "learned" wind magic a few hours ago can now generate scorching heat from her hands. While she does later receive "training" in fire magic, the Comte de Saint Germain spends roughly 20 minutes between pages 236 and 242 teaching her some trivial things about fire. In the end, all Sophie really needs is a tattoo on her wrist that acts as a trigger for her to use her fire magic. She requires absolutely nothing else; she is now a master. Even Sophie seems unable to believe the disappointing simplicity of this, asking the Comte, "`That's it . . . That's all?'" (242). She later confesses to her brother that it really "`was almost disappointing'" (250). The real challenge lies in determining which twin has to do the least amount of work. Although earlier in the evening Josh can barely hold the magical sword that Flamel conveniently decided to retrieve from his old residence, the twin still manages to fight off a legendary warrior known as a Disir. He can't beat her on his own skill and is on the verge of being struck down. But that doesn't matter since, all on its own, Josh's "sword jerked, shooting out to meet the Disir's metal blade, turning it aside at the last moment" (335). At nearly every turn of this series, the twins have almost never actually had to do any real work in obtaining and controlling their powers. The constant mental anguish Sophie endures from having the Witch of Endor's memories inside her head are alleviated effortlessly when Joan of Arc decides to do all the work for her: "`While Sophie slept, I spoke directly to her unconscious mind. I taught her how to control the Witch's memories, how to ignore the voices, to shut out the images. I taught her how to protect herself'" (197). The real underdogs are the Dark Elders and their immortal servants. After so many instances of convenient appearances of powers and weapons, the reader might actually be tempted to root for them instead of the twins. With seemingly no restrictions on what powers, weapons, and abilities the protagonists can possess, what chance do the Dark Elders really have?

As uninspired as their background stories are the historical figures themselves. Flamel already proved to be a disappointing character in the first volume with his lackluster abilities and inconsistencies in his background (See the fifth paragraph of my review of The Alchemyst). His presence becomes even less significant in this book. He lies mostly in the background while the battles rage, reduced to doing nothing but pick a lock while the others battle the wax tulpa. His rather dull trick of using sugar to send a swarm of ants against his police pursuers (146-7) leaves him utterly exhausted to the point where he appears to be nothing more than a "confused-looking old man standing in the doorway" (267) who does absolutely nothing while Dee and Machiavelli launch their assault on the Comte's home. While perhaps unintentional, the book portrays Flamel as being very impotent without his wife, Perenelle, around to tell him what to do: "`I just wish Perenelle were here; she'd know what to do'" (93) & "Nicholas wished Perenelle were with him now; she would know what to do" (143-4). As the narrative progresses his poor demeanor only worsens to the point where he cannot do anything to help a pleading Sophie and simply declares, "`There is nothing I can do'" (338). While Flamel does finally manage to defeat a rather powerful enemy towards the end of the book, the manner in which he accomplishes this feat takes away any sense of heroics: "He snapped his fingers and dust motes of glittering emerald drifted to the bone floor . . . And then he turned back to the corridor and disappeared into the shadows" (434). In a single paragraph of barely nine lines, one is simply expected to buy into Flamel's outsmarting an Elder known for his violent and turbulent reputation. One could argue that Flamel's weakness results from his no longer having the Codex to give him the "recipe" for his immortality "potion" (69-71). The problem is that only 5 days have passed, and Flamel has already experienced a devastating loss of strength despite not having done all that much. When the effects of the "potion" can wear off that quickly, it becomes difficult to believe that the Flamels could have fought off Dee for so many centuries. Flamel could have been a far more interesting and potent character if Scott had allowed for the effects of the "potion" to begin wearing off after thirty days instead of fading from day one.

Other characters suffer from the same problems as Flamel. The Comte de Saint Germain fulfills his role as the one who "trains" Sophie but otherwise proves to be little more than an American Idol figure. Obsessed more with his music career than with anything else, the Comte doesn't actually take part in the battle at his house and instead spends this time upstairs. Joan knows the Comte's habits all too well and tells Sophie that he is probably in the attic with "`his headphones on and the bass pumped up'" (268). While he does show concern for his friends during the aftermath of the battle, the Comte seems more excited about what the publicity of his house being destroyed can do for his record sales (296). Although known for his musical talent, the dominance of this single trait obscures the many other intriguing and enigmatic characteristics he was known for in the past. Seeing as how this is probably the best spot to mention this, the exponential increase in the presence of pop culture things such as mp3 players, Google, and the World of Warcraft can greatly distract one from focusing on the story at hand.

Machiavelli fares no better than his rival Flamel. From the first pages Scott attempts to paint the political philosopher as a man to be feared, noting how even members of his own staff "were so terrified of him" (5). As the story progresses, however, one finds difficulty in discovering just what makes Machiavelli so terrifying. When Machiavelli first corners Flamel and the others, the immortal shows no fear of Sophie's display of fog and unleashes the first terrifying weapon in his arsenal: "Machiavelli pulled out his cell phone and hit a speed dial number" (35). Such displays of power always leave a lasting impression as Mrs. Witcherly from Ojai vividly remembers that "`Machiavelli is more dangerous than you can imagine. He is even more cunning than Dee'" (78). Only a few such as the Disir show no fear of Machiavelli, and, when they meet him, "looked at him blankly . . . [and] ignored him" (224). Perhaps the Disir simply don't fear those who have manicured nails (254). The cunning immortal does face a few frustrations in the book such as being outwitted by Sophie's fog, beaten by the Comte's fireworks display over the Eifel Tower, failing to realize that sending a few unorganized police officers against the legendary Flamel would be rather useless, launching an unsuccessful surprise attack on the Comte's home, as well as his inability to drive a car. Such mishaps make it understandable why Machiavelli would need to simply take a moment to sit down and run "his hand across his short snow white hair" in bitter frustration (158). After all this the reader might still be able to fear Machiavelli despite his having a bad day that gets topped off by Joan shooting him in the leg with an arrow, causing him to collapse to the ground as "tears rolled down his cheeks" (450). Despite these few instances of bad luck, Machiavelli can still be somewhat viewed as a fairly fearsome fellow if one simply accepts Scott's repetitious statements. In Machiavelli's defense Dee never had the common sense to actually lock Perenelle's cell door at Alcatraz, allowing her to simply walk on out and escape once the Sphinx decides to wander off from guarding her (171).

The book isn't without its strengths. Dee's continued efforts to tempt Josh away from Flamel's side remains the most interesting aspect of the book. Although, strangely, during the aftermath of the final battle, Josh appears to be mostly unaffected by his time with Dee and continues to go along with Flamel as if nothing ever happened. Dee himself also continues to be portrayed as a callous and unmoving person. Even Machiavelli points out to Dee how his lack of compassion makes him seem less human (324). Machiavelli's henchman, Dagon, has a fairly convincing history behind his character that allows for some intrigue in his hatred of Scathach. The Comte's giving a gift to Josh stands out as one of the few times where one of the historical figures remains true to their reputations (185-6). The Comte had been known for giving out expensive gifts with extreme liberality. Although ultimately a disappointing enemy, the initial appearance of the monster Nidhogg is executed with a good air of suspense (261-4). While they only have a minor role, the satyrs Phobos and Deimos manage to have a very menacing nature during their confrontation with Josh (410). Strengths like this do occur at various points in the book but can often be overshadowed by the other weaknesses throughout the story.

One aspect the reader may have particular difficulty in dealing with has to do with the fact that both volumes of this series cover the timeframe of only a few days. While a lot certainly can happen to a person in just a matter of days, this series stretches that possibility to the breaking point. If one chooses to believe the assertion that Flamel spent many years studying the elemental arts (See the fifth paragraph of my review of The Alchemyst) and yet never really seems able to display his abilities, the reader may take issue with the fact that another character can master both wind and fire magic in just a couple of days. The only explanation the book ever really offers is that such things are part of the "prophecy." In Sophie's own words: " This is all happening for a reason--remember the prophecy" (96). Referred to as the "24" of books, some may find the pace of this book enticing regardless.

Undecided readers may simply want to wait for the movie to be released. The rights to the film were purchased by Mark Burnett even before the first book was released. That little fact gives some credibility to one reviewer's assertion that the entire story reads like a movie script. The idea may simply be to copy the marketing strategy of the Harry Potter franchise. I'm no expert on that series. But I do know enough about it to point out that the characters in that work of fiction had real backgrounds, real problems both external and mental, and real challenges to overcome. This series lacks all of those things.

Why should you read it? Despite the flaws I've critiqued, the overall story still isn't the worst around. The writing style allows one to progress through the book fairly quickly if you have the time and will at least save you from feeling as if you've wasted one or two weeks if it turns out you dislike the book. I would recommend this to younger audiences, especially since the store categorizes this series mostly in the Children's section.

Why should you let this one pass? It depends on what you're looking for. If you're searching for a story where the author seems to truly have a grasp on his characters' (fictional and historical) backgrounds, the actions they took during their times, and the very thoughts that may have passed through their minds, your search will have to continue. Many of characters presented here often seem as if their purpose is to push the plot forward in a way that any other myriad of characters could have done. If you're looking for more development on Alchemy, the book offers this only in a limited sense. While words like "transmutation" and other terms do appear in this volume, Scott's discourse on the subject belies what he seems to actually know about the Magnum Opus. A few other reasons can be found above.

Why did I choose to engage this series again? After seeing so many five-star reviews, I gave in to the possibility that the author may have really developed and improved his style. I never intended on having so much to write. I simply read the book when the time allowed for it and decided to use a pencil to mark anything that caught my eye. The citations are just a few examples that I chose to include to help emphasize my particular view. I chose this star rating so that curious readers would be drawn to it as a way of getting an opposing perspective on the book.

Why would I continue to read this series? For the sake of closure and the possibility that something worthwhile might still come of it are two reasons. Also, Scott's use of one particular word in the text grabbed my attention enough to want to search for it in the succeeding volumes. Whether finding that word again or not will be a good thing has yet to be seen.