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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
GREAT READ! or.. GREAT BOOK TO LISTEN TO!!
I am finally, finally done with this book. I've been listening to this while doing a part time work, so I'm very thankful because it didn't make me feel bored. Which Harry Potter junkie doesn't know Nicholas Flamel? When I first read and watched Harry Potter, I thought that Nicholas Flamel was just someone fictional. Hell, when I first found out about this book, I thought that Michael Scott borrowed Rowlings' character. hahahaha. We could say that I was frakkin clueless! LOL. Anyhoo, I researched on it and found out that Nicholas Flamel was indeed a living french man. Great!
Anyway, the story itself is very interesting because not only does it center on the fictional Flamel, it also focuses on the lives of two very special teen twins. I love how the two were depicted. They came across as two very loyal siblings and very mature for their age. I love how they don't really whine a lot and complain about things that they couldn't change. It's like their acceptance was very a very rational and well thought of decision. It's still a mystery to me what their parents would say about their situation.. but even without them, these two teens are responsible enough for their own actions as evidenced by the scene near the end wherein Sophie came back for Josh.
Their adventures here were truly awesome, albeit heartbreaking as well since there were casualties. I hope that it gets better though on the next book. I have a lot of questions that need to be answered. :)
I am finally, finally done with this book. I've been listening to this while doing a part time work, so I'm very thankful because it didn't make me feel bored. Which Harry Potter junkie doesn't know Nicholas Flamel? When I first read and watched Harry Potter, I thought that Nicholas Flamel was just someone fictional. Hell, when I first found out about this book, I thought that Michael Scott borrowed Rowlings' character. hahahaha. We could say that I was frakkin clueless! LOL. Anyhoo, I researched on it and found out that Nicholas Flamel was indeed a living french man. Great!
Anyway, the story itself is very interesting because not only does it center on the fictional Flamel, it also focuses on the lives of two very special teen twins. I love how the two were depicted. They came across as two very loyal siblings and very mature for their age. I love how they don't really whine a lot and complain about things that they couldn't change. It's like their acceptance was very a very rational and well thought of decision. It's still a mystery to me what their parents would say about their situation.. but even without them, these two teens are responsible enough for their own actions as evidenced by the scene near the end wherein Sophie came back for Josh.
Their adventures here were truly awesome, albeit heartbreaking as well since there were casualties. I hope that it gets better though on the next book. I have a lot of questions that need to be answered. :)
A surprising and refreshing view of magic and the ever prevailing fight of good against evil.
Mr. Scott tells us that the main characters in this, the first in the series, and indeed some of the events he writes about, are indeed non-fictional. It makes me wonder just how much of this genre is imagination and how much is embellished fact.
I have to admit to having to use my own imagination to spruce up the imagery, but it is the first in the series, and the plot and story are intriguing enough for me to say I really like it and look forward to the next volumes in the series.
I highly recommend this to any lover of mysticism, magic and thrilling fantasy.
Mr. Scott tells us that the main characters in this, the first in the series, and indeed some of the events he writes about, are indeed non-fictional. It makes me wonder just how much of this genre is imagination and how much is embellished fact.
I have to admit to having to use my own imagination to spruce up the imagery, but it is the first in the series, and the plot and story are intriguing enough for me to say I really like it and look forward to the next volumes in the series.
I highly recommend this to any lover of mysticism, magic and thrilling fantasy.
This book was alright. i'll give it the benefit of the doubt and try the others in the series. What I disliked most about the book was the repetitivness. Every 20 pages they have to remind me that they age 1 year a day. Every 30 pages they make a comparison of "like a child".
He didn't include her in the conversation. Excluding her like a child.
Because they were Elder Gods, they treated him as if he were a child.
Ok I get it. Definietly written for a young young adult who can't remember what they read 20 pages ago. Other than that the plot and storyline were just ok. When I read The Magician if I find the child comparisons and repetitivness I will be forced to drop the series.
I would give it 2.5 stars, but I can't give half starts so I've given it a 3.
He didn't include her in the conversation. Excluding her like a child.
Because they were Elder Gods, they treated him as if he were a child.
Ok I get it. Definietly written for a young young adult who can't remember what they read 20 pages ago. Other than that the plot and storyline were just ok. When I read The Magician if I find the child comparisons and repetitivness I will be forced to drop the series.
I would give it 2.5 stars, but I can't give half starts so I've given it a 3.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I read this book for the first time almost a decade ago and I really, really loved it then. Over time, I completely forgot the entire series and decided to reread it.
It was not as good as I would have hoped for how much I enjoyed it...
There's just a lot of story going here, with a lot of conflicting mythologies that maybe weren't sewn together as neatly as one might hope. The pacing is mostly right, but it speeds up a little too much towards the end. It just felt a little juvenile, for some reason.
There are a few fact checking things that were also inaccurate. This story is set in San Francisco, which is a chilly, foggy, damp place. (A lovely chilly, foggy, and damp place, but still.) Not being an American, I got the impression Scott simply said, "Ah yes, San Francisco is in California. California is hot and dry," and wrote it that one. The golems rely on it being damp and cold, and they dry up when it gets too warm - that's not a problem one might have in San Francisco. The fog and chill would be perfect for golems.
In fact, Scott describes SF as 82 degrees and sunny, which almost NEVER happens in May!
Also, Sophie and Josh's parents are supposed to be archeologists, but I couldn't tell if they were specialized in bio anthropology or paleontology because they seemed to talk about both, which is not really a crossover that would happen.
I was just... very disappointed in how this turned out. I can see why it wasn't necessarily the most memorable plot, but I did see an EXTREMELY significant impact on my early writing from just reading this story. I haven't decided yet whether I want to continue reading or end my time with theses books. But you'll know as soon as I do what I decide!
It was not as good as I would have hoped for how much I enjoyed it...
There's just a lot of story going here, with a lot of conflicting mythologies that maybe weren't sewn together as neatly as one might hope. The pacing is mostly right, but it speeds up a little too much towards the end. It just felt a little juvenile, for some reason.
There are a few fact checking things that were also inaccurate. This story is set in San Francisco, which is a chilly, foggy, damp place. (A lovely chilly, foggy, and damp place, but still.) Not being an American, I got the impression Scott simply said, "Ah yes, San Francisco is in California. California is hot and dry," and wrote it that one. The golems rely on it being damp and cold, and they dry up when it gets too warm - that's not a problem one might have in San Francisco. The fog and chill would be perfect for golems.
In fact, Scott describes SF as 82 degrees and sunny, which almost NEVER happens in May!
Also, Sophie and Josh's parents are supposed to be archeologists, but I couldn't tell if they were specialized in bio anthropology or paleontology because they seemed to talk about both, which is not really a crossover that would happen.
I was just... very disappointed in how this turned out. I can see why it wasn't necessarily the most memorable plot, but I did see an EXTREMELY significant impact on my early writing from just reading this story. I haven't decided yet whether I want to continue reading or end my time with theses books. But you'll know as soon as I do what I decide!
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I know this is a teen/YA novel, but I seemed to be more pre-teen/tween than anything. The story took forever to get going and I did not develop an attachment to any character. It took me two tries to finish this book; the first time I started it I got to chapter 3 before deciding that I did not want to waste my time on it and putting it away. The only reason I finished it the second go round was because I refused to not finish it. However, it was not very enjoyable and I do not believe that I will finish the series. I am not only disappointed with the writing and the story, but also that it feel so short of expectations. It had the potential to be a good, engaging story and it just wasn't.
Edit: I have exactly zero memory of reading this book. None of it was familiar and I am convinced that the review belongs to a different book, but I cannot figure out what book that may be. Artemis Fowl maybe? Anyway, this time reading (or re-reading) I was not impressed. It took way to long to get started. It should have been good, it had all of the elements: twins, a prophecy, magic, magical fights, zombies. But, by the time it got good I was over it. I may read the next book, but I will be borrowing it from the library instead of wasting my money on it.
Edit: I have exactly zero memory of reading this book. None of it was familiar and I am convinced that the review belongs to a different book, but I cannot figure out what book that may be. Artemis Fowl maybe? Anyway, this time reading (or re-reading) I was not impressed. It took way to long to get started. It should have been good, it had all of the elements: twins, a prophecy, magic, magical fights, zombies. But, by the time it got good I was over it. I may read the next book, but I will be borrowing it from the library instead of wasting my money on it.
This was just OK. I don't feel attached to the characters. Also, I didn't like that the author threw in famous characters from various time periods and mythologies. It's one thing to have a bunch of Egyptian gods in a book, or Roman, or something like that, but using them all feels a bit like a cheat.