From the Shelf: The Magician (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel book 2)

Title: The Magician (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel book 2)

Author: Michael Scott

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Magic, Mythology

Date read: May 23-31, 2013
Dawn Rates: ★★★★ (4/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

Ashes to ashes...

California:
In the hands of Dr. John Dee and the Dark Elders, the book of Abraham the Mage could mean the destruction of the world as we know it. The most powerful book of all time, it holds the secret of eternal life — a secret more dangerous than any one man should ever possess. And Dee is two pages away from the knowledge that would bring the Dark Elders into ultimate power.

His only obstacle? Josh and Sophie Newman — who are eight thousand miles away.

Paris:
After fleeing Ojai, Nicholas, Sophie, Josh, and Scatty emerge in Paris. The City of Lights. Home to Nicholas Flamel. Only, this homecoming is anything but sweet.

Niccolo Machiavelli, immortal author and celebrated art collector, is working for Dee. He's in hot pursuit, and time is running out for Nicholas and Perenelle. Every day they spend without the book, they age one year: their magic becomes weaker and their bodies more frail. For Flamel, the Prophecy is growing clearer and clearer. 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.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

Okay so it took me another week to finish this book. I would've finished it sooner but to unforeseen circumstances I did not.

The second book compared to The Alchemyst, had more action as the group (Nicholas, Scatty, Josh and Sophie) went through the leygate off to Paris. This sequel picks up hours after they closed the gate. This grabbed the attention of another immortal who works under the dark elders, Niccolo Machiavelli (yep the's THE Magician being pertained) and alongside John Dee (which he isn't quite recognizing as his ally). There was quite a cat chase going on down the streets of Paris which was once Flamel's now being claimed by Machiavelli. There was the introduction of new allies in the form of Saint-Germain, Flamel's once student (now a self-claimed rockstar) and his wife Joan (yes, THE Joan of Arc). There Sophie would learn the elemental magic Fire. 

I was quite annoyed with Josh. I can sympathize that he feels his twin isn't his twin anymore because of the awakening and that there is a huge gap between them but he should not allow himself to think that. I think that is why John Dee got to him the last time. He is too jealous of all the attention thus making him vulnerable in the enemy's eyes which could be the trigger in controlling him and the start of his downfall. But I agree with Josh, it seems like Flamel has too many secrets. Finally, though Josh's awakening was done for the wrong reasons, him agreeing with Dee and Machiavelli, and I think there would be consequences; at last he got what he wanted. How he'll deal with it will maybe be found out during the next books. One thing I was curious though, what did Mars pass on to Josh? Oh, and I was disappointed that Mars was a human before thus he is an elder (not a god) *sigh* I've been reading too many Riordan books. Will I continue on to The Sorceress? Hell yeah! Especially that one of the reasons I loved the sequel is because of Perenelle's adventures in Alcatraz with the guardian ghost De Ayala. And I guess she's THE Sorceress.

Till the next read...