(Cover picture courtesy of Michael Scott’s website.)

California:

In the hands of Dr. John Dee and the Dark Elders, the book of Abraham the Mage could mean the destruction of the world as we know it.  The most powerful book of all time, it holds the secret of eternal life—a secret more dangerous than any one man should ever possess.  And Dee is two pages away from the knowledge that would bring the Dark Elders into ultimate power.

His only obstacle?  Josh and Sophie Newman—who are eight thousand miles away.

Paris:

After fleeing Ojai, Nicholas, Sophie, Josh, and Scatty emerge in Paris.  The City of Light.  Home to Nicholas Flamel.  Only, this homecoming is anything but sweet.

Niccoló Machiavelli, immortal author and celebrated art collector, lives in Paris and is working for Dee.  He’s in hot pursuit, and time is running out for Nicholas and Perenelle.  Every day they spend without the book, they age one year: their magic becomes weaker and their bodies more frail.  For Flamel, the Prophecy is clearer and clearer.  It’s time for Sophie to learn the second elemental magic.

Fire magic.

And there’s only one man who can teach it to her: Flamel’s old student the Comte de Saint-Germain—alchemist, magician, and rock star.

Josh and Sophie Newman are the world’s only hope.  If they don’t turn on each other first.

The Magician is a great second book in The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series, with its fast-paced plot, new and more terrifying creatures and amazing characterization.  It’s actually one of the rare second books that I like better than the first book.

Michael Scott continues his amazing characterization by introducing new and far more interesting characters like the Comte de Saint-Germain, Joan of Arc and the infamous Niccoló Machiavelli.  Sophie and Josh are given much more depth as Sophie learns new magic and as Josh grows more jealous of his Awakened twin.  We also learn more about Nicholas Flamel, Scatty and Dr. John Dee, who is one of my favourite characters, aside from Machiavelli.

What I love most about The Magician is that Michael Scott does not neglect his villains.  Dee and Machiavelli are very interesting and are given realistic motivations for following the Dark Elders.  They also think they are doing the right thing, which is better than your typical YA villain that thinks they truly are a villain.

By far the best thing about Michael Scott’s writing is that he blends mythology and legends from many cultures together.  We meet Mars from Roman mythology, Nidhgg and the Valkyries from Norse Mythology and even Dagon from John Milton’s Paradise Lost.  I love mythology, but even people with no prior interest in it will love The Magician.

I give this book 4/5 stars.