Ashes to ashes ...California: the book of "Abraham the Mage" holds the secret of eternal life - a secret more dangerous than any one man should possess. Dr. John Dee is two pages away from the knowledge that would bring the Dark Elders into ultimate power - and could mean the destruction of the world as we know it. Two people stand in his way: Josh and Sophie Newman. In Paris time is running out for Nicholas Flamel and his wife Perenelle. Every day they spend without the book, they age one year: their magic becomes weaker and their bodies more frail. Niccolo Machiavelli, immortal author and celebrated art collector, works for Dee and is in hot pursuit of them - Flamel knows there's no time to lose and Sophie must learn about Fire Magic ...Josh and Sophie are the world's only hope. If they don't turn on each other first.
Reviews
"The headlong magical adventure begun in The Alchemyst (2007) shifts from California to Paris. There the gifted but untrained twins Josh and Sophie meet a further array of immortal friends and foes-"human, inhuman, and abhuman"-from history and legend, including but not limited to Joan of Arc, Niccolo Machiavelli, valkyries, the giant reptilian Nidhogg and all of the gargoyles and grotesques of Notre Dame brought to life. Though Scott's efforts to blur the line between Bad Guys and Good seem occasionally labored (particularly Josh's stubborn suspicions about Flamel's motives in the face of continual evidence to the contrary), readers will be swept up by a plot that moves smartly along, leaving a wide trail of destruction and well-timed revelations. Uncharacteristic in a middle volume, things are looking up at the end for the twins: Sophie has learned Fire Magic, Josh's powers are Awakened at last (though at an ominously unspecified price) and back in California Flamel's brilliant wife Pernelle has escaped imprisonment. Stay tuned." Kirkus Reviews
".. the author successfully weaves together the many plot threads that go into this intricate and skillfully written fantasy. Although the novel is essentially plot driven, the book's characters are well developed and engaging. The addition of historical figures in the story, such as Niccolo Machiavelli and Joan of Arc, add an appealing intrigue to the book. Teens who like fast-paced fantasies with lots of action, like Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl books or Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series are sure to enjoy this " VOYA
About the Author
Dublin-born Michael Scott began writing eighteen years ago, and has published such diverse works as a critically-acclaimed fantasy trilogy entitled Tales of the Bard, the best-selling historical novel, Seasons, the non-fiction An Irish Herbal, the definitive Irish Folk and Fairy Tales series, and a number of highly successful books for children. He writes for all ages, from very young readers (Fungie and the Magical Kingdom) to Teenagers (Judith and the Traveller and Vampyre). Michael was a writer in Residence during Dublin's tenure as European City of Culture in 1991, and has conducted workshops and writing courses in libraries and schools in Ireland and America. He is a Trustee of the Children's Book Trust, sits on the Board of Governors of the Irish Writers Centre and is chairman of the Irish Copyright Licensing Agency.
