The Alchemyst
by Michael Scott
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Read in April, 2008
Okay. I liked this book a lot more than most people who have written reviews. I feel that it's because I didn't go into it with many preconceived notions. I had hoped it would be related to Harry Potter, but when I realized it wasn't I moved on. I also didn't read the book because I was a huge fan of the real Flamel. If you read it for either of those reasons, you will most likely be disapointed.
15 year-old twins Sophie and Josh have gotten summer jobs in San Franciso. Josh works at a bookst...more
15 year-old twins Sophie and Josh have gotten summer jobs in San Franciso. Josh works at a bookst...more
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Read in October, 2007
Book 1 - The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
Twins Sophie and Josh are having a very normal summer working very normal summer jobs to earn money for a car. At least they were until the bookstore where Josh works is attacked. Nick Fleming, the owner, is in fact Nicholas Flamel, the famed alchemist, and his nemesis Elizabethan spymaster John Dee has tracked him down to take the Codex, the key to immortality and wealth.
Now with Dee plotting to raise the Dark Elders and put an end to...more
Twins Sophie and Josh are having a very normal summer working very normal summer jobs to earn money for a car. At least they were until the bookstore where Josh works is attacked. Nick Fleming, the owner, is in fact Nicholas Flamel, the famed alchemist, and his nemesis Elizabethan spymaster John Dee has tracked him down to take the Codex, the key to immortality and wealth.
Now with Dee plotting to raise the Dark Elders and put an end to...more
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Read in August, 2008
I was first interested in this book for the same reason I'm sure it made the New York Times bestseller list...because it is about Nicholas Flamel, who is mentioned in the Harry Potter books, specifically in the first book about the Sorceror's Stone, as being a friend of Professor Dumbledore. Flamel was a real historical figure though who lived in the 1300's, was a scientist who practiced alchemy, and supposedly discovered the secret to eternal life (related to the sorceror's stone) as well as tu...more
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Read in August, 2008
I love the story, but the writing was disappointing. The use of the characters' last names every other page, the overemphasis of incredibly obvious details ( such as when the goddess Hekate appeared in her third form--the form of an old woman--and the two main characters had NO IDEA who she was, despite several features that identified her as the same person and an earlier reference to her as the "Goddess with Three Faces"),and the constant stream of pop culture references and mysterio...more
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Read in February, 2008
recommended to Kelly by:
~*mandy*~
(this book was a gift and i really appreciate it!)
i liked the story
i didn't like the writing.
i will read the continuation.
things i didn't like:
- using nicholas flamel's full name very single time
- the word cell phone
- all the pop references
- continuously reminding us of the archeologist parents
- attributing every single thing that had ever happened to flamel's secret world
i don't know. i like description when it has a point. when it gives you insight to the story ...more
i liked the story
i didn't like the writing.
i will read the continuation.
things i didn't like:
- using nicholas flamel's full name very single time
- the word cell phone
- all the pop references
- continuously reminding us of the archeologist parents
- attributing every single thing that had ever happened to flamel's secret world
i don't know. i like description when it has a point. when it gives you insight to the story ...more
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recommends it for:
No one
This book was awful. So awful, it warrants me actually putting in a review.
First of all, there isn't enough Nicholas Flamel. There is far too much of the twins that kind of become Nic's apprentices, and attatches way too much teenage exposition to them. And we don't need the two of them mentioning that their parents are archaeologists every other page. We got it the first time. Move on. And even if their parents are archaeologists, they're not necessarily going to know as much a...more
First of all, there isn't enough Nicholas Flamel. There is far too much of the twins that kind of become Nic's apprentices, and attatches way too much teenage exposition to them. And we don't need the two of them mentioning that their parents are archaeologists every other page. We got it the first time. Move on. And even if their parents are archaeologists, they're not necessarily going to know as much a...more
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2 comments
Read in May, 2007
recommends it for:
Grades 5-10
Any Harry Potter fan worth his or her salt will recognize the name Nicholas Flamel from Book 1 of the series. Some serious fans of the genre may even know the name from the pages of history, as Nicholas Flamel, the legendary alchemyst, really lived. And according to legend, maybe he still does.
This exciting debut fantasy, the first in a planned series, will satisfy many a Harry Potter fan. Featuring a great adventure, powerful magic, legendary creatures, interesting characters with complex re...more
This exciting debut fantasy, the first in a planned series, will satisfy many a Harry Potter fan. Featuring a great adventure, powerful magic, legendary creatures, interesting characters with complex re...more
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
fans of Harry Potter like fiction
The Alchemist. Nicholas Flamel was known by many names but The Alchemist is by far is most famous. He was a Frenchman born in Paris in1330 at the time of kings, queens, lords, ladies and grand courts. His legendary skills were sought by common men and nobles alike, all seeking the power of wealth and immortality. His death was recorded as 1418 yet his tomb raided by robbers was discovered to be empty.
For centuries Nicholas Flamel and his wife Perenelle, guardians of the Book of Abraham the ...more
For centuries Nicholas Flamel and his wife Perenelle, guardians of the Book of Abraham the ...more
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Read in February, 2008
This work is a blend of high-fantasy meets traditional fast-paced action adventure. When 15 year-old twins Sophie and Josh find themselves working quiet summer jobs in their grandmother's San Francisco neighborhood, their world is suddenly turned upside down when Josh's bookstore boss, Nicholas, and his wife Perry, are robbed by mysterious, unearthly beings. Quickly, people and places are revealed to be more than what they seem as the twins are caught up in a race against time - and themselves ...more
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Read in January, 2008
I just finished The Alchemyst Book one in Michael Scott's series The Secrets of The Immortal Nicholas Flamel. I can't wait for book two. In all seriousness, the book is not that fantastic, the beginning reads like a movie, and there are too many specific references to current pop culture, (for example, Green Day, blue tooth, iPod, etc,) but I really enjoyed reading it. I thought it brought up some interesting theories and mythology. First off its fiction, but according to the plot, every myth is...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommended to Tea&licaeks by:
Borders. I guess I'm just guillable :' (recommends it for: People who enjoy high school musical
Alright confession time. I didn't actually finish this book, but it's not like I didn't try. At first blush a book about Nicholas Flamel sounded promising- I'd never read any book focusing on his (although he has been mentioned here and there in several books I've read), and I was curious.
From the get go, I was repelled by the book. To me, the story seemed to be an assortment of cliches and unlikeable, two-dimensional characters, but I'd heard good things so I kept going. The two twins in t...more
From the get go, I was repelled by the book. To me, the story seemed to be an assortment of cliches and unlikeable, two-dimensional characters, but I'd heard good things so I kept going. The two twins in t...more
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Read in November, 2007
Apparently, there's a sequel to this. I had wanted it to just be one book, but it isn't...a bit disappointed.
One of my favorite genres, fantasy, I can't say that I didn't like the book, although I had hoped there was more alchemy involved than magic.
As mentioned in the title, this book is about Nicholas Flamel, the man who's been said to have the sorcerer's stone and is immortal. This book wasn't what I was really expecting, although I should've expected it to go that way. I had thought ...more
One of my favorite genres, fantasy, I can't say that I didn't like the book, although I had hoped there was more alchemy involved than magic.
As mentioned in the title, this book is about Nicholas Flamel, the man who's been said to have the sorcerer's stone and is immortal. This book wasn't what I was really expecting, although I should've expected it to go that way. I had thought ...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
fans of Neil Gaiman and Jonathan Stroud
If there could be a YA equivalent to Neil Gaiman's American Gods, this may be it. The Alchemyst is more grown-up than Riordan's Percy Jackson books but has the extra benefit of uninterrupted action, unlike Stroud's Bartimaeus series. A brother and sister discover their respective bosses are actually the immortal couple Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel. This revelation is next to nothing compared to what follows as the twins encounter a variety of fair and foul mythological beings and strugg...more
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Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone who is interested in fantasy meets reality
Nicholas Flamel owns a book shop in San Fransisco. He and his wife, Perenelle have been in hiding for several years under the names Nick and Perry Fleming. One day, the bookshop is attacked by a man named Dr. John Dee. He is after a very powerful book that has kept Nicholas and Perenelle alive for more than 700 years. Josh Newman, who works in the bookshop, helps Nicholas against the evil creatures that Dee has brought to the shop. Josh's twin sister, Sophie, helps also. Perenelle is kidnapped a...more
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Read in May, 2008
The Alchemyst:The Secrets of The Immortal Nicholas Flamel
Michael Scott
Fantasy
372 pages
copyright: 2007
ISBN: 978-0-385-73357-1
He holds the secret that can end the world.
The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life.
The records show that he died in 1418.
But his tomb is empty.
The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. Bu...more
Michael Scott
Fantasy
372 pages
copyright: 2007
ISBN: 978-0-385-73357-1
He holds the secret that can end the world.
The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life.
The records show that he died in 1418.
But his tomb is empty.
The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. Bu...more
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Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
Two twins can change the world, but little do they realize their whole lives are about to change when Dr. Dee walks into the bookstore where Josh works. Sophie, who works across the street, senses something suspicious after watching the strange man.
After a magical fight that involves both siblings, they discover Josh's boss isn't exactly who he's claiming to be.
He is in fact the famous Nicolas Flamel, whose tomb lies empty. He and his...more
Two twins can change the world, but little do they realize their whole lives are about to change when Dr. Dee walks into the bookstore where Josh works. Sophie, who works across the street, senses something suspicious after watching the strange man.
After a magical fight that involves both siblings, they discover Josh's boss isn't exactly who he's claiming to be.
He is in fact the famous Nicolas Flamel, whose tomb lies empty. He and his...more
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Read in January, 2008
This is a very unusual, but rather simplistic take on the history of alchemy. It is a twist on the story of Nicholas Flamel, or the man who discovered the world's first elixir to eternal life. The main plot however focuses on these two teenagers who will somehow aid this man on his journey to recover the sorcerer's book from the villain.
This book begins like a regular fantasy novel, with a boy who did not believe in magic and alchemy until he witnessed a battle between his boss, Nicholas, the ...more
This book begins like a regular fantasy novel, with a boy who did not believe in magic and alchemy until he witnessed a battle between his boss, Nicholas, the ...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
"Kool Katz"
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
not Harry Potter fans
Gotta say I was really kind of disappointed in this book. I'm not sure if it was written after the Harry Potter books (but since it's about Nicholas Flammel, I'm going to guess yes), but the author didn't at all follow Rowling's world. I know there is literary license & all that, but if you're going to follow a character from someone else's book, you'd think you'd at least continue the world so that you don't disappoint big fans. I was disappointed.
It was a pretty good book, in & ...more
It was a pretty good book, in & ...more
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4 comments
This novel was pretty interesting personally because I've always been interested in some sort of magical happenings in this strict world. I found that in this book, I was able to envision that mystery of life and that maybe in this world, there are things beyond life that we as individuals are far from discovering. I thought that this novel was cool because it depicted teens on an adventure to stop the destruction of mankind if this "magical elixir" of life were to be found. This is...more
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