The Alchemyst (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, #1)

by Michael Scott

“Golems,” Perry gasped. “My God, he’s created Golems.” “Gollums?” Sophie asked, her mouth thick and dry, her tongue suddenly feeling far too large for her mouth. “Gollum, from Lord of the Rings?” Perry was moving toward the door. “No: Golems,” she said absently, “Men of Clay.”

Flamel glanced over his shoulder to where Josh was tapping furiously at his keyboard. “Let’s go!” “Just checking my mail,” Josh muttered, powering off the machine and closing it. “At a time like this?” Sophie asked incredulously. “Life goes on. E-mail stops for no man.” He attempted a smile, and failed.

At the heart of every legend there is a grain of truth. I suspect that much of your knowledge comes from movies and TV. Xena and Dracula have a lot to answer for.