The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel (review)

It is fortunate that fifteen-year-old twins Sophie and Josh have learned adaptability and more than a bit of history from their archaeologist parents: after witnessing a brutal magical battle involving golems, an immortal alchemist, and an evil man working to secure an Earthly home for the banished Elder Race (incredibly powerful and millennia-old beings), they will need any advantages they can muster. Since Josh grabbed two pages out of the Codex (an ancient text that alchemist Nicholas Flamel has been guarding for over 700 years) before it was stolen, the twins are now irrevocably involved in this epic transdimensional battle between good and evil. The entire novel, complete with vampires, were-creatures, mythical gods and goddesses, and, of course, prophesied twins who will determine the fate of everything ("The two that are one will come either to save or destroy the world"), takes place over only two days. It all adds up to an extraordinary amount of plot, even for a lengthy novel with an obviously planned sequel, but Irish author Scott ably succeeds in juggling cross-genre horror, fantasy, and mythology elements while never losing focus on developing his core protagonists as distinct individuals with whom readers will empathize. The novel ends abruptly with Sophie the only twin awoken into her powers, Nicholas aging rapidly without access to the immortality formula in the Codex, and the stage set for the end of civilization as it is known if the evil forces succeed. Happily, the author has created such an engaging and multilayered novel that enthusiasts can content themselves with a second read while waiting for the next installment.