The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel

by Michael Scott

Book Overview

Nicholas Flamel appeared in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter--but did you know he really lived? And his secrets aren't safe Discover the truth in book one of the New York Times bestselling series the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385736002
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Ember
• Length: 375 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.9" x 5.2"

Customer Reviews

Complex and intriguing

I loved the mashup of mythology. Michael Scott casually and seamlessly incorporates myths, facts, legends and hints of history from all over the world.

Not really in a good condition

There's a big coffee stain on the cover all the way to the first 2 pages :(

Love this book just arrived so did not read yet...

I just received it and arrived weirdly but will read soon.. book in great shape.. a bit musty but very nice book.. love it... Recommend...

One to save the world. One to destroy the world.

This amazing novel is an action packed adventure of two 15 year old twins. In the span of 2 days, their everyday teenage world turned into something otherworldly. They discover they have powers, set out on a life altering adventure, and see an army of the dead. Mythology comes to life in a hopeful tale of good versus the forces of evil. It gets you from the beginning and leaves you ready for more. Truly a delightful read.

Page turner

This book has the best characters. Its filled with action, excitement and wonders.

Love the series!

Really love the excitement of the stories, the magic, the mixture of human and magical beings... and if you like magical worlds, you'll probably like this series!

Chapter Sampler

I ordered this expecting it to be an actual full length book. I received a chapter sampler instead! I've ordered from this website multiple times and have never had this happen before so I'm a little bit disappointed. And no where in the description did it say that it was a sample.

Great book!

Well to be honest i read the book way back when i was in middle school, and it is hard to remember what happened in all the books but i do know that is was a very good book and loved the rest of the books. i only need to finish the last book after buying it form this website a couple of years ago. but i can say that it is a good book and you will be sitting at the edge of you seat not knowing what magic or what supreme being that Nicholas shows the kids. there is mention of a warlock which was a really exciting thing for me since warlocks are hardly ever mentioned in the fantasy books i could get my hands on.

An amazing start to a truly incredible series

I love the characters and how it’s always keeping you guessing. Definitely a page turner front start to finish and a great way to kick start an amazing series

Awesome!

This book is great. It's not super complex like some books and it is a really easy read. I read this book in less than 12 hours (even though it's over 300 pages) and after the first two chapters I ordered the rest of the series. I'm a little angry at myself because they won't be here for another week! If you really like fantasy or books like Harry Potter, then this is a must read. I really like that Scott used actual historical figures and it made it all that more believable. I can't wait to get started on the rest of the series.

Amazing!

Great book, pure and simple. Before I say anything further, I have a very, very short attention span and normally can't retain information from anything. I picked this up almost a week ago and couldn't put it down for long. I finished it 2 days later. This is the first book I've read, since my brain surgery 15 years ago, in which I haven't forgotten a single chapter. The Alchemyst is vivid, magical (literally) and there's plenty of adventure for those seeking it. I'll be getting the next book in the series soon!

What a find!

They say that out of the mouths of babes...etc. In this case, I borrowed a book from a grandson. He was right. This is a terrific story and a great family adventure. I see that some of these reviews, in fact, most were not necessarily written by young adults. It's always clear. And though I kept in mind as I was reading that this was not specifically addressed to my generation, still I fell under the considerable spell of a really good story which transcended age. When I see a review getting very very literal and probing,even"erudite" I must say, I have my doubts as to the reviewers intentions. I was up for a good read, plain and simple and I got it. The ability for young readers to Google every single character except the twins is unparalleled in fiction. My grandson showed me how and what could be more engaging. It lends a life beyond the story. Great!

The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the BEST book you haven't read!

Sophie Newman is at work when the world changes forever. Across the street from her, a sleek black car pulls up outside the book shop where her twin brother Josh is working over summer for Nick and Perry Fleming. Moments later the shop appears to explode, sending Sophie racing across the road to her brother and directly into the pages of history. For the owner of the shop isn't Nick Fleming but Nicholas Flamel, better known as the Alchemyst, and the Codex he has been guarding for centuries has been stolen by Dr John Dee, former magician to Queen Elizabeth the First. Except this is happening in modern day San Francisco and Sophie and Josh have never dealt with magic before. The Alchemyst doesn't stop, right from the very first pages the characters are given no opportunity to rest and neither is the reader. From meeting a 2000 year old Warrior Maiden who looks like a 17 year old girl to meeting the Goddess Hekate living inside the World Tree, the book keeps going and every page bring an ever increasing sense of danger and urgency to the storyline. Characters from mythology and history are bought to life and fleshed out and set loose on the modern world, some hell bent on bringing about the destruction of humanity and some desperate to save it. Could Josh and Sophie be the twins of legend, the two that are one and the one that is all? Could these two teenaged humans have enough magical power within them to prevent Armageddon? Only time will tell, but the next instalments of this book will not come out soon enough. It's rare to find a book that sucks you in so completely, even stranger to find one that sends you racing into other books to find out everything you can about the people in it. Every single character in The Alchemyst is real, apart from the Twins. From millennia ago to the recent past, names you've heard, names you'll know will leap out at you. If you like mythology, history, danger, drama, death, sadness, love and above all, magic, you need this book in your life. Now.

Magic, mystery, and mayhem

Many compare Michael Scott's The Alchemyst to Harry Potter, and that is a fair comparison. Both books contain well-developed characters, mystical environments, and a completely entrancing plotline. The book protagonist, Nicholas Flamel, must struggle with good and evil in a modern society where magic exists, but hidden, throughout the world. Nicholas Flamel and his wife are the guardians of a magical book called the Codex -- this book holds the secrets to ever-lasting life. One can only imagine the number of people after this book. Well, it doesn't take long for the book to be stolen. After the attack, Flamel suspects something odd about the mysterious twins he just met. Are they the ones the Codex referred as the ones who will destroy the world? Or are they here to save it? The action ensues as the four are of to discover the answers to these and many other questions. The story flows smoothly and engages the reader at every turn. There are some low points, however. The book does get tedious at times, and makes the story predictable, but overall it is a great novel for the young-at-heart.........I also would highly recommend reading "Ashes Divide" by Clarence Cage: Ashes Divide I just finished reading it and it was spectacular...don't miss it.

OUTSTANDING

This series has offically taken over my top spot as my favorite series. Previously the Harry Potter series and the Foundation Series by Issac Asimov were at the top. For that matter either, the Magician and the Alchemist books stand alone as my favorite two individual books. Just outstanding.

Fun, Fun, Fun.

This book is the most fun read I've had in a long time. It's geared for the young adult, but no matter, it's even fun for old adults. The plot and the characters will grab you by the neck and not let go until the end, which leaves you gasping for more. I read it in one sitting, just because I couldn't stop. Mr Scott's interweaving of multiple mythologies is amazing. I've been reading fantasy/SF for over 30yrs, and still had to look up a couple of characters. The use of actual historical characters is brilliant, and opens up a huge context for the future. Darker, stronger, perfect for the graduate of the Potter books. Takes it to the next level in fantasy. Highly recommended for everyone. I want the sequel now. I wanted the sequel right after I finished.