The Sorceress (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel) (original 2009; edition 2010)

After completing The Magician, book 2 of Michael Scott’s young adult fantasy/adventure series “The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel,” I dove in to book 3, The Sorceress, to find out what Nicholas and the twins would encounter next. I ended up with a knight in shining armor, the Old Man of the Sea, Billy the Kid and the Bard of Avalon himself – William Shakespeare. Throw in Gilgamesh, the oldest living immortal who was as mad as a hatter, and I was in action-adventure heaven.

I am having a blast reading this series, which is geared to the middle-grade crowd but has more than enough to keep adults entertained as well. The historical and legendary figures that show up are written in such a way that they are completely accessible to readers. So far my favorite character has been Machiavelli, and there is nothing in The Sorceress to change my mind. There is just something about his cool, strategic thinking that draws me in, so I loved the fact that he has now been assigned by the Dark Elders to destroy Perenelle. The most dangerous man in Europe taking on the most dangerous woman ever is a titanic battle I am aching to see. While it doesn’t happen here, it’s coming.

But wait! There’s more!

This series is chock-full of magic, mystery, battles and legendary characters, but there are also some really thought-provoking concepts introduced. In The Sorceress, the idea that all our thoughts and memories make up who we are as individuals is explored. But what if your head is full of someone else’s memories? Who are you then? This is the struggle Sophie and Josh face. The Witch of Endor “gifted” Sophie with millenniums-worth of thoughts and knowledge, and Josh has also been given a mental gift from the Elder who Awakened him. Not only do the twins have to learn to control five magical elements, they now need to learn how to control their own minds.

If thoughts and memories define who we are, then the belief expressed by William Shakespeare in The Sorceress should scare you silly. Shakespeare, a former apprentice of Dee’s who has seen the error of his ways, remains a little too in favor of the Elders’ return for my peace of mind. His statement in Chapter 14 that he believes the Dark Elders should return so they can save the planet at the cost of humanity was a bit unsettling.

Josh: “But Nicholas said the Dark Elders want humans as food.”

Shakespeare: “Some do. But not all Elders eat flesh; some feed off memories and emotions. It seems a small price to pay for a paradise without famine, without disease.”

That actually seems like a very HIGH price to me! Other than this and his unfortunate aversion to bathing, Shakespeare was actually a pretty cool character with his self-taught magic, loyalty to friends, and boundless imagination. Yep, Shakespeare rocked.

We also take a look at the price of immortality. Perenelle describes immortality as a curse when she discusses it with the ghost of de Ayala who has been helping her on Alcatraz. Gilgamesh is the oldest immortal human still around who has forgotten more than most people will ever know – and his mind has fractured because of it. Dee is threatened by his Dark Elder master with a punishment involving being allowed to age to the point of death – and then being left there. Is immortality really worth more than living every day of a limited life to its fullest?

While all these questions simmered at the back of my mind, my imagination was gripped by the package they were presented in – magic and action, this time taking place in Merry Ole England. There is quite a contrast between the battles fought in this book by Nicholas and Perenelle. Everything involving Nicholas, Sophie, and Josh is huge – the battles, the magic, the chase sequences – while Perenelle’s fights are on a more personal scale, as she repels attacks from Billy the Kid and the Old Man of the Sea. Her battles may be small, but they are just as pivotal as those fought overseas. I think an even more dangerous battle is on the horizon, however, and it is going to involve the dark sword Clarent – twin to Excalibur. With its past shrouded in mystery and its powers growing, Clarent may just have an agenda of its own and an incredible destiny to fulfill.

Michael Scott’s The Sorceress manages to keep the action coming, the pace brisk, and the concepts and characters intriguing. Mythology, legends, magic and mayhem abound. With the twins trained in only three of the five elemental magics – and three books to go – there is a lot of adventure yet to be had. ( )

Another great work in the flamel series. I was surprised by the addition of a couple supporting characters - would never have guessed who some of them would be, but once they were introduced, they made sense. It was a pleasant surprise, and I am looking forward to seeing who else (or what else) the next book brings into the series of Elders, Next Generation, and Immortals. ( )

Lots of action in this third volume, plus some character development for Machiavelli, Dee, and Perenelle Flamel. There's also a reasonable amount of foreshadowing of what the implications of being the legendary twins may be for the twin Sophie and Josh.

More than the action, however, this installment is about maturing and questioning authority; in this case, Flamel. It is about seeing authorities/adults as human and fallible, balancing contempt for their weaknesses and faults against their good deeds and intentions. It is about balance, which parallels the books' pervasive concern about and symbolism reflecting the ideas of balance and harmony.
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This is book 3 of the Nicholas Flamel Series. And if you're planning to read this then you've probably have already read books 1 and 2 (if not please go do so.... it's pertinent to understanding the overall plot). I am continually pleased by this series and this author. Can't wait to read the next book. I liked this book especially because Perenelle was in it more and you get to meet Joan and her husband. There were plenty of moments that I found outright hilarious. Well done Mr. Scott. On to the Necromancer! ( )

Paul Boehmer's narration is much less enjoyable than either Erik Singer's or Denis O'Hare's. His accent and individual voices are less distinct and less apt. I didn't notice that The Alchemyst and The Magician were narrated by different people. But I found Paul Boehmer's narration of The Sorceress distracting from the text of the story. ( )