Having just come off the latest Harry Potter film adaptation (Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince) there has been a renewed interest in the series and any related books that might have been given half a chance at the magical empire JK Rowling has wrought upon readers of all ages.
The Magician follows the first novel The Alchemyst in the series The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott. Although some series (like Harry Potter) are relatively easy to pick up in the middle of the series with little impact on ones understanding of the overall plot and characters, this series is more difficult. Now, this is entirely a presumption on my part, since I read them in sequence (and indeed in relative short order), however the quick pace of both texts and lack of narrative break between the two books creates fewer opportunitites for review or summarization of plot in order to "catch" the wayward reader up to snuff. And since I am only reviewing the second book in the series, this would make far more sense if The Alchemyst was at least somewhat familiar.
Now the name Nicholas Flamel is not a name unknown to those readers who paid careful enough attention to the first Harry Potter book (Flamel being the creator of the Philospher's Stone and all) and the power of his immortality was a legend that was spoken of in hushed understated tones. Scott takes that hushed reverence and breathes new life into Flamel and his own fight against the darkness that threatens the world.
Josh and Sophie, the twins of legend who possess awesome and terrible powers that have yet been fully unkindled and controlled, remain caught up in a maze of intrigue that causes them to face a new addition to the archvillian Dark Elder crew, creating an impressive force that must be reckoned with if they are to save the the world.
Literary archetypes and familiar mythological and historical creatures and figures help to spin a tale that is provoking and intense. A word of caution, the world of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel may be only a page turn away and the maelstrom that is Michael Scott's world is not settled and continues on in Book 3: The Sorceress. Unless you are a masochistic reader I recommend buying them altogether to avoid the knotted pit of waiting for the next installation. Although, perhaps, that may occur anyway.
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