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The Sorceress: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, Book 3
- By Michael Scott
- Genre: Fantasy
Common Sense Media says
Third book in mythological mashup series still excites.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the third installment in this popular fantasy series has plenty of mythological beasts and battles, with teenage twins at the center of the conflict. Lots of spiders, poisoned insects, and mythological dogs and wolves meet their demise in tense battle scenes, but it's clear that the twins won't be harmed -- though there are mentions of twins in the past that didn't survive. There's lots of talk of magic, auras, and mythological gods and goddesses, and some recognizable historical characters make appearances as immortals.
What's the story?
After leaving Paris for London, newly awakened twins Sophie and Josh and their mentor/protector, Nicholas Flamel, can't seem to shake their pursuers, who've been set upon by elders from the ancient world (with dangerous magician John Dee acting as principal minion). Just in time, they're scooped up by knight/taxi driver Palamedes and hidden in his junkyard fortress. Meanwhile, Flamel's wife, Perenelle the sorceress, is still stuck on abandoned Alcatraz, hiding from the sphinx and desperately looking for allies, especially when she realizes the cells are teaming with slumbering ancient beasts who only need the right spell to be awakened. When the two parties make magical contact, auras flare up, alerting all manner of nasty creatures to their presence and putting the twins' newly awakened powers to the test.
Is it any good?
Consistent with the rest of the series, creatures and characters plucked from a number of mythologies and historical eras abound. For the most part, these creatures fascinate and send chills down the spine when they're sent to battle the twins and Perenelle. But in this installment, the author sometimes overdoes; it's almost impossible to keep them all straight. Also, Palamedes isn't nearly as charming and ruthless a protector as Scatty, who only makes a brief appearance (and a disappointing disappearance).
What does work just as well in this book is the pacing of the action -- Scott always opens with a good chase and closes with an against-all-odds escape, and everything takes place in just a couple of days. Plus, in keeping with the title THE SORCERESS, we finally get to see more of Perenelle's powers, and for girls who like fantasy reads, this story again features powerful female characters.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the myriad mythological and historical characters that pepper this series. What did you know about them before?
How does the author use them for his story?
Does it make the story more intriguing, the way these characters are "repurposed"?
What else can you find out about Billy the Kid, the Archon, Palamedes, Gilgamesh, and other characters?
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Kid, 12 years old
August 14, 2009
AGE
So far... THE BEST IN THE SERIES!!!!!!!
LOVED IT! I think this is a good book for kids aged 10+ and it is also very good for boys and girls. In this book it gets a little more violent as there is more treachery.
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AGE
Awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This series is one of the best i've ever read!!!!!!!!!
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy |
| Author: | Michael Scott |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Publisher: | Delacorte Press |
| Publication date: | May 26, 2009 |
| Number of pages: | 502 |
| Hardcover price: | $17.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 17 |
| Read aloud: | 12 |
| Read alone: | 12 |
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