Review: The Enchantress by Michael Scott

The Enchantress by Michael Scott
Book Six of The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
Published May 22, 2012


Review: 3/5

Cross reviewed on Goodreads

Our journey with this series began in 2007 with The Alchemyst. Six years later, the series comes to an end with The Enchantress. I fell in love with this series from the first book and I craved each summer for the next one to be released.

I realized however that I never posted reviews of the first three books, so for those who might just be entering the series, take this review with an extra grain of salt because it will have a slew of things I was bothered by at times and then all my praise, too.

There is so much terminology in this series that, after the second book, I started becoming confused at times. Here is your run down of characters in terms of hierarchy: Earthlords, Archons, Great Elders, Elders and Dark Elders, Immortals and Humani. Whew! And that doesn't even touch on some on the insanity that comes with trying to pronounce these character's names. So, with all of these big players throughout the series, you continuously read about Immortals and Elders. We never meet a Great Elder or an Archon, and only at the very end, do we meet an Earthlord. It's pretty cool, but it's also very much a cop out. You meet them, they turn out to be the big bad of the whole series (No spoiler there. Trust me!), and then they die just like that from a well placed sword strike from one of the protagonists, Josh Newman. Yeah, so huge disappointment there. I wanted more epicness, as the whole last book essentially takes place on the equivalent of Atlantis (called Danu Talis in the series).

Aside from a few grammatical errors I ran into, I can't help but wonder why there were so many plot hitches in this book. In the other books, there were few if none. Here, a lot of things are left unanswered at the end, such as the Archon and Great Elder thing I touched on. Other things include the future of some of the characters. When a series ends, it must wrap up. And here, there were just a few things that bugged me. I can't say too much for the sake of keeping this spoiler free.

That said, the book is also very slow. This is primarily because of what happened in the fifth book, The Warlock, leading into The Enchantress. Now, because most of the book takes place on Danu Talis, we have to be brought back to modern day San Francisco where the city is about to be run over by the darkest and most feared mythical monsters in legend. Two of the other big heroes of the series, Nicholas Flamel and his wife, Perenelle, are trapped in San Francisco with some Elders and other Immortals that have sided with them to stop the monsters and by time for Josh and his sister, Sophie, to figure out their destiny back in Danu Talis. I really, TRULY expected them to eventually get back to Danu Talis toward the end of the book and assist Josh and Sophie in the final conflict, but that also doesn't happen. Again, sort of a let down.

The final revelation in the book, which in Kindle time is in the last 10% of the book (because it's lame and this book didn't have page numbers) is pretty cool. It's actually very cool and I didn't foresee it at all. I read other reviews on the book and some wrote that they weren't surprised at all by Josh's fate. Uh, sorry. I was very surprised. From The Alchemyst, we learned of the prophecy that involved Josh and Sophie as the Twins of Legend, the fabled Gold and Silver, who would be "One to save the world, One to destroy it." As the series progressed, most of us got the idea that either Josh or Sophie might go Dark Side on everyone and become an enemy. Again, not true and the exact meaning behind the prophecy is deeper than the surface leads to believe.

So, I feel like I ranted a lot of negativity on this book, but don't get me wrong: I LOVED EVERY BIT OF THIS SERIES. Do not let the rating at the top fool you. Could it have been better? Yes. Could I have done better? Probably not. So kudos to Michael Scott for finishing off this series with a touching ending. For those of you who are looking for a great YA read, this is the pick for you.

Peace and Writing Love,

JWP

Review: The Warlock by Michael Scott

The Warlock
Book Five in the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
Published May 24, 2011
ISBN-10: 0385735332
ISBN-13: 978-0385735339

Review: 4/5

In the fifth installment of The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, Nicholas, the Alchemyst, is minutes from death. In a desperate attempt to have him for one more day, his wife, Perry, gives one day of her life to revive Nicholas to health. At this point in the novel, I was more connected to the Flamels as a couple than ever. Perry would truly do anything for Nicholas and this was a fantastic example.

Dr. John Dee is moving ahead with his plan to unleash monsters on the city of San Francisco, all in an attempt to have the people run in fear. He then plans to save the humans from the monsters by summoning the Elders to the city. They will all be worshipped as gods. The plan is foiled to an extent however as the separated twins, Josh and Sophie, miraculously reunite under strange circumstances. However, it is not a happy meeting. They blame each other for choosing the wrong side -- Sophie with the Flamels and Josh with Dr. Dee.

The end of the novel does not, however, leave a hint to the title character as it did in the previous five books. The last chapter of book four had something to the effect of: "The world is in need of a warlock again."

Nothing at the end of this novel. Makes me excited to learn who The Enchantress (title of the sixth book) will be.

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In other news, my good friend and (occasional) blogger Tara is hosting a blogfest for her one year blogiversery. You can sign up at her blog, Aleatoire. It takes place Saturday, June 18. It's a rather simple contest challenging you to write a scene while taking inspiration from a song. More details are on her page.

Finally, I'd like to give a huge flyby congratulations to my critique partner, Steph (at Scribbler to Scribe) for receiving her first short story publication!

That's all for now.

Peace and Writing Love,

JWP

Now Reading: The Warlock by Michael Scott

The Warlock
Book Five of The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
Published May 24, 2011
ISBN-10: 0385735332
ISBN-13: 978-0385735339

The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series will easily go down as one of my favorite YA series to date. This is the fifth book of the series and in the next installment, The Enchantress, the war of Nicholas, the Twins of Destiny, and other famous Immortal warriors will end. They've been battling Dr. John Dee since the first book as the he grew an army of Immortals, Elders and baddies from all corners of mythology.

In this installment, we discover Nicholas Flamel is dying and fast. He will not live out the night. The Twins of Destiny, Josh and Sophie Newman, have been separated -- Sophie who has remained loyal to Nicholas and his wife, Perry, -- and Josh, who was taken and seduced by Dee and his minions to believe Flamel is evil.

What I know so far is that this novel will not take place in only one era. I'll say no more. Just know that time traveling is on the list of things to do.

These books are an easy and addicting read. If I haven't mentioned it in the original review of the first novel, my favorite part of the series is that it all takes place in the course of a week (so far). DANG! That's talent.

To send you off, here's a sketch I did of good ole' Nicholas Flamel. Yeah, I do remedial sketching when writing gets me down. It's nice to have a fall back.

Peace and Writing Love,

JWP

Review: The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

THE ALCHEMYST

Book One of the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel

Published: May 22, 2007

ISBN-10: 0385736002

ISBN-13: 978-0385736008

Review: 4.5/5

Cover: 4/5

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. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life if hidden within the book he protects -- the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won't know what's happening until it's too late. 

The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel is a superbly imaginative tale brought to us by Irish author, Michael Scott. The back flap calls him the authority on myth and folklore in his country.

After reading the first four books in the series, with the final two still forthcoming, I do not doubt such a claim. Scott has a fantastic reach in his words that brings myth right to your front door. Literally, as in the opening pages of The Alchemyst shows. Keeping any and all spoilers absolutely contained here, because if you do pick up reading this series, I want you to be as surprised as I was.

Now, the series is young adult and I've never read young adult before this. I am telling you, it is an absolute page turner. I remember nights reading this where I needed to be in the next chapter. The chapters are relatively short at times, but it's all part of the fun that makes you want to know more. Scott sometimes uses only a few paragraphs to a chapter, but it's a huge deal in the progression of the story arc.

What I really love best about this, aside from the bombardment of myth (from all cultures, I'll add), is the pacing. Never before have I seen pacing so perfect. In the course of the four books that have been released so far, the characters have only progressed a little over a week's time. Four books -- hundreds of pages combined -- all telling a story contained within days. That's talent.

I'm only ranting, but it's worth picking up. The main characters, Josh and Sophie Newman, are called the twins of legend. They have silver and gold auras, which not many others have. It's the sign of prophecy coming to a head. While you run through legends with them, from Aztec to Arthurian and Greek to Roman, it's all blended nicely.

Immortals do roam the modern world (in Scott's series), some of which are sided to bring about the return of the Dark Elders, a race of immortals who want to punish humankind, and some of which are sided to the witty and loving Nicholas Flamel, who wishes to prevent the return. You'll meet famous literary characters, all of which are immortal, and the fun only begins there.

I urge any who are interested in young adult, and also any who are looking for a new read, to pick up in this series. It's well worth the buy and read.

Peace and Writing Love,

JWP