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| The Magician: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel | 
 enlarge | Author: Michael Scott
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Category: Book
List Price: $16.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  39 reviews
Sales Rank: 426
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 496
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.7
ISBN: 0385733585
EAN: 9780385733588
ASIN: 0385733585
Publication Date: June 24, 2008
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Product Description
After fleeing Ojai, Nicholas, Sophie, Josh, and Scatty emerge in Paris, the City of Lights. Home for Nicholas Flamel. Only this homecoming is anything but sweet. Perenell is still locked up back in Alcatraz and Paris is teeming with enemies. Nicollo Machiavelli, immortal author and celebrated art collector, is working for Dee. He’s after them, and time is running out for Nicholas and Perenell. For every day spent without the Book of Abraham the Mage, they age one year—their magic becoming weaker and their bodies more frail. For Flamel, the Prophesy is becoming more and more clear.
It’s time for Sophie to learn the second elemental magic: Fire Magic. And there’s only one man who can teach it to her: Flamel’s old student, the Comte de Saint-Germain—alchemist, magician, and rock star. Josh and Sophie Newman are the world’s only hope—if they don’t turn on each other first.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 34 more reviews...
 Not much better than its predecessor and more disappointing as a result July 11, 2008
22 out of 39 found this review helpful
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 cafe, "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 Amazon 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.
The real heir to the Harry Potter books July 17, 2008
21 out of 24 found this review helpful
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 read this book in one day - love it! June 26, 2008
20 out of 25 found this review helpful
I usually gauge a book by when I open it and start reading, how far it takes me in a sitting. I literally couldn't put this one down, starting to read around 11 am and done by 10 pm! I have rarely done that since Harry Potter -
I love this premise and the series. Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel, who have had the forumla for eternal life, meet prophecized twins who have the power to either save the world or destroy it. The Codex which holds all the spells needed to do so, including the recipe for the the elixer of life, was taken, but Josh, one of the twins, had the foresight to tear out the last 2 pages, saving the bad guys, Dr. John Dee, from Elizabethan England fame and his minions, from destroying things.
Perenelle is captured and is in Alcatraz. Nicholas and the twins, and Scatty, the vampire warrior flee to Paris.
There they encounter Macchiavelli and Dee. They do find allies there - St. Germain - and his wife - will not spoil the fun by saying who it is.
Sophie, who has been Awakened receives more training, leaving Josh with mixed feelings his twin has more power and is now different with that knowledge - the book deals with those feelings.
Although over 460 pages, the book flies by, and like Harry Potter, leaves you wanting more.
It is great fun for everyone. If you are remotely interested or knowledgeable in history, or historical figures, you will love this book as much as I do.
I had made a notation in the review of the premier book how come the Flamels don't remember the recipe for the elixer for immortality after all this time, and the answer is given in this book. It is an inventive explanation and it works.
Fun for all ages -
Action, Legends, Conspiracies, Betrayal, & Friendship...Basically, everything you want in a novel June 28, 2008
10 out of 13 found this review helpful
"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 Ragnark, 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
Even better then first!! June 29, 2008
7 out of 10 found this review helpful
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.
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