The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
February 17th 2009 02:17
The Alchemyst, Nicholas Flamel and his wife Perenelle died in 1418. Or so it was supposed to seem. Centuries ago, the Book of Abraham; a book filled with long-forgotten lore came into the Flamels’ possession. It was in this book that they discovered the secret of immortality, and it was for this book that they’d gone into hiding.
The Elder Race once ruled the Earth. Their frightening powers saw them worshipped as gods by the early humans. But as human-kind flourished, the power of the Elders waned. Some retreated into Shadowrealms of their own making, and others blended into the human world. The Dark Elders, however, intended to return.
The Book could be used to bring the Elder Race back into power. If that was to happen, humans would again be slaves... or food.
Agent of the Dark Elders, Dr John Dee tracks the Flamels to San Francisco. Caught in the ensuing cross-fire are teenage twins, Sophie and Josh Newman. When Dee captures Perenelle and seizes the Book, it was Josh who inadvertently tears out the critical pages.
Knowing Dee would stop at nothing to claim the pages; Flamel enlists the help of an old friend Scathach, an Elder and a formidable warrior who has the appearance of a teenage girl.
As though the sudden shock of being plunged into a world of magic and nightmarish creatures aren’t enough, Sophie and Josh are told that they are the twins prophesied to ultimately decide the fate of the world.
Nicholas Flamel must find a way to Awaken the children’s powers and train them in the magical arts while evading Dee, and also recover the Book and save Perenelle. And he has one month. If Nicholas does not prepare the elixir of life afresh using the Book within the full cycle of the moon, he and Perenelle will wither and die.
The Alchemyst is the first book of a young-adult series of six by Irish author, Michael Scott. The second book, The Magician was published in 2008 and the third, The Sorceress will be out in May 2009 (in the UK, June 2009 in Australia).
Stories which involve prophecy, mythical figures and entwining the lives of immortal characters with real historical events are nothing new. What makes this tale a page-turner are the intriguing characters, Scott’s lively imagination and highly descriptive style. The creatures of myth, magical spells, the action and the adventure will ensnare any child, whatever their age.
ADDITIONS
- The Alchemyst takes place between Thursday, 31st May and Friday, 1st June.
- Scott had intended John Dee to be the twins’ mentor.*
- With the exception of the twins, all the characters in the book are based on real people in history or mythological beings.*
- The cover design by Michael Wagner is based on Nicholas Flamel’s description of the Book of Abraham.**
LINK:
Michael Scott’s Website
The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
by Michael Scott
Double Day Edition 2007
Corgi Edition 2008 (cover shown)
*Author’s Note in The Alchemyst
**Michael Scott’s Website
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Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Hey this looks good enough to read! *lol* as soon as I polish off 'Breaking Dawn' in the Twilight series... onyl a few nerve wracking chaptrs to go, as everyones fates are decided .. *be still my beating heart* ..
L.
Comment by The Rusty Can
Everything
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by The Rusty Can
Everything
Glad you enjoy it. You must be happy that it's part of a series.
Thanks for stopping by!
Rusty.