Bibliography: Scott, Michael. (2009). The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel: The Sorceress. New York: Delacorte Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 978-0385735292 (hc) 978-0385735308 (pb)
Plot Summary: Leaving a destroyed Paris behind them, Nicholas takes the twins Josh and Sophie (and the pages of the codex) to London, dangerous territory of Dr. John Dee, in hopes of finding Gilgamesh the King to awaken the twins’ elemental magic of water. With Pernelle trapped on Alcatraz and Scatty missing, the group will need all the help they can get. Thank goodness London is also the home of Francis’ friend Palamedes and Shakespeare. The twins and Nicholas will need all the help they can get to fight their way out of London to the location of the ley lines that will hopefully take them to California and Pernelle.
Critical Analysis: Usually I don’t have patience for long books that are part of longer series that seem to go on and on. For some reason, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel is a rare exception. I think it is partly because of its basis in legend and mythology. There is something so elemental in these creatures and their powers that speaks to Jung’s archtypes and collective unconscious. It takes a real skill in crafting a plot to make these ideas and creatures both new and familiar. Secondly, I love the historical figures. If Nicholas and Pernelle can be immortal, then it makes sense that others might be as well. And I like the fact that people become immortal for different reasons in different ways.
I find the twins to be perhaps the least interesting part of the story–they exist to drive the plot and to be acted upon. For me, the characters that interest me most are Nicholas and Pernerlle. I like that we get even more glimpses of who they are, their past in this entry in the series. I would like even more of that, or perhaps a prequel. I think this book has great appeal to both boys and girls, and while a bit violent in places, I think could go down into upper elementary. I highly recommend the audio version, as it makes the action seem even more realistic.
Review Excerpts: ”This book is a must-read for fans of the series, but even they will tire if the author doesn’t get to the point with reasonable dispatch.”–School Library Journal
“The intricacy of weaving so many legends into one complicated contemporary conglomerate is a fascinating juggling act, though plot is sometimes sacrificed for simply piling on new characters—which leads to some narrative bloat. Immersively imagined, this series remains a great choice to fill the post-Potter vacuum.”–Booklist
“Master yarnspinner that he is, Scott expertly cranks up the suspense while keeping his now-large cast in quick motion…this page-turner promises plenty of action to come.”–Kirkus Reviews
“Teens familiar with the previous two books or fans of adventure fantasies like Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series will eat this one up.”–VOYA
Reviewed from public library audiobook. Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.
