The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, Book 1 by Michael Scott
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Summary
The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won't know what's happening until it's too late. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it.
This is the first book in a series of six (according to Wikipedia)...it's an incredible blend of magic, fantasy, suspense, and mythology. Nicholas Flammel takes the lead in guiding twins who possess incredible, yet untapped, magical abilities on a thrilling journey to recover an infamous book with a history spanning thousands of years. Along the way, they receive assistance from mythological characters, a New York-accented blind witch known as the "Elder," Ware-bores, and a few others, as they bravely oppose the nefarious Necromancer Dr. Dee and the malevolent "Dark Elders."
This book had an overwhelming amount of awesomeness (it covers all the bases). Vampires, ancient deities, notable figures from history - it was all just too much. The moment the Irish lady revealed that she battled alongside Joan of Arc and happened to be a vampire, I lost interest and discontinued reading. If you enjoy that kind of storyline, then this book is perfect for you, but it simply wasn't my cup of tea.
This audiobook is a perfect blend of various mythologies, ranging from Egyptian to modern-day. The storyline is highly enjoyable and somewhat predictable. Without a doubt, I will definitely be tuning in for the next installment.
I can't be the only one who thinks that the main characters in this book are pretty clueless. I mean, seriously, when they attempted their daring escape, it was completely nonsensical and didn't advance the plot at all. I guess the intention was to demonstrate the bond between the twins, but even that fell flat. The narration suffers from a lot of repetition and redundant dialogue. Additionally, the story falls into the trap of relying too heavily on prophecies, making it feel contrived and lacking a conscious guiding force. The characters, particularly the older ones, lack depth and come across as petty rather than wise beyond mortal comprehension in their ambitions and actions. Personally, I'm struggling to connect with both the story and its characters. The sense of mystery and awe that should be present is completely lost on me.
Other reviewers will have to address the issues with character development. The book gives off a first draft vibe, cynically released in its unrefined state, with poorly conceived main characters (the twins) aimed at tapping into the massive YA market.
The author seems to have neglected to keep track of their own writing. Redundant vocabulary is a recurring occurrence. The word "countless" pops up multiple times in a brief passage, serving as the author's go-to lazy word for expressing a large quantity. The author frequently uses "countless" for things that can easily be counted (like the number of gargoyles on Notre Dame, for instance).
Even in a magical otherworld, there should be some internal consistency, but the author falls short in this regard. For example, the initial description of Yggdrassil, the world tree, contradicts what happens to it later, resulting in an absurd change in size.
I hope the author considers consulting a thesaurus and employing the services of a skilled editor in their future works.
This book is written in a fantastic way. The mix of historical and mythical elements is really enjoyable. I highly suggest it to Percy Jackson fans who are in search of a fresh series.
This audiobook offers a captivating perspective on the intertwining of magic and the real world. If you're a fan of Harry Potter, you'll definitely enjoy this choice. Personally, I found it thoroughly entertaining and was thrilled when I discovered that the sequel was available through the same service.
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