The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
So, here is the first review I said I would do. I hope it goes well. The series is called, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott. There are four books in the series so far, but there are two being released in the next two years. The four out are called:
The Alchmyst
The Magician
The Sorceress
The Necromancer
I won’t lie; I found the beginning of the first book really boring. The dialogue was slow. The action was slower. And I was not feeling it. To be fair, this is because I came off a nine hour flight and had not slept for over 24 hours.
So I put the book down and got a few days rest. Then I came back to it.
It was like my eyes were opened. I couldn’t put it down. The book suddenly became much more interesting. Scott introduced so many different elements of mythology that I was pleased to realize I could recognize. There was Greek, Egyptian, Celtic etc. All those years of having an interest in mythology were paying off. Granted, some of the names he did drop sent me running to google.
Then, I noticed all sorts of other little nuances. The author uses little scenes that make you both trust and distrust the main character, Nicholas Flamel. My view of him was twisted so many ways that I didn’t know how I felt about him. I also like the growth of Josh and Sophie, the twins who are dragged on this adventure. They seemed really simplistic in the beginning, acting and thinking like normal teenagers do. But they are given powers that make them view the world differently. And in turn, they act differently. They act more like adults, but still have the temptation of these amazing powers. It is interesting to see them acting on and resisting temptation.
I also like the notion that once you experience magic, your world is changed forever. Each person has a specific magical scent i.e. vanilla icecream for Sophie and oranges for Josh. Just like each person as an uniquely coloured aura. I don’t know why, but I like elements that are unique and personal to each character.
So, this series kept me engaged. Even though it is meant for a younger audience (no sex and the violence is kept to a minimum), I enjoyed it. Mythology buffs will also enjoy it. Heck, history fans will enjoy it. Look out for Joan of Arc and William Shakespeare. They just make it even cooler.