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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
This book is PAINFULLY REPETITIVE. It says things over and over and over and over in only slightly different ways. First Michael Scott shows you something; then he tells you the same thing; then he includes the same information in dialog; then he includes the same information again in the description of how the characters having the dialog are acting or feeling; then (just in case you didn't already get what he was saying) he says the same thing again in a multi-paragraph block of narration. Just in case you forget it, he does the same thing with the same information in the next chapter. And the next. And the next. And the next.
Fast, interesting, fun. The story engrosses you from the beginning and keeps you sucked in the entire way. I like the characters, and am intrigued for the subplots and the different Elders. This one is worth a read, and I'm moving on to #2.
I really enjoy the world set up in this book. Fun read! Though I confess to being a little disappointed that there weren’t more elements of alchemy in it. Since the concept of alchemy is something I really enjoy, it would have been cool to have soon Flamel and Dee do more. And actually, Dee did seem to show his ingenuity more than Flamel did. I’m looking forward to what the next book holds!
I like how author Michael Scott ties in all the various mythological creatures, gods/goddesses, locations and ideas like Atlantis and Yggdrasil together. The story really appealed to me and moved along quickly. It's funny, I feel like he's left a lot of room for characters to develop in future books ... there was just so much action! Seems to be a pretty high reading level to me, especially with all the mythology and legends mixed in.
I still can't decide how much I liked this. It was easy to read and I kept returning to it in spite of the number of books I'm currently reading and yet.. I didn't love it. I did however, enjoy the historical and mythical references throughout and enjoyed the explanations for the 'oh really?!' parts but.. hmmm.. I'm still torn. Currently reading the second so.. we'll see
3.5 stars
"A mash-up of so many different lores in one book. I was honestly amazed at the number of people and figures from different periods and areas." - Me
Alchemyst is a book about twins, Sophie and Josh, who end up getting entangled in a world of mythology and danger. The alchemist Nick Fleming or Nicholas Flamel gets the twins caught up in magic they never would have imagined. Danger awaits them with the name Dr. Dee, marking a point of no return to their normal lives.
Let's start with our two dual protagonists. I won't go as far as to say that they were an itch I couldn't scratch, but honestly they were quite linear. Sophie was the classic goody-two-shoes. There wasn't much dynamism other than when josh mentions she's changed. All I see is she does exactly was is needed to be done, nothing more, nothing less.
Josh, on the other hand, he's a doozy. He's got enough personality for both of them. Although It's refreshing that he's flawed, he might just be the only one with them (and if you ask me, that is a bit suspicious). And I add that his flaws are GINORMOUS. He's the only only one who gets everyone in trouble every time and OF COURSE, he had to be left out of the awakening process so he can stew in his emotions THAT ARE UNDERSTANDABLE and he has to get in MORE TROUBLE just because he ACTUALLY HAS EMOTIONS.
The plot was predictable and made me feel a little sorry for Dee (he kept getting smooshed so many times). The characters don't really learn anything and they follow the same pattern of in trouble -> drives the car recklessly -> safe, no major injuries -> run to elder or immortal -> josh makes a stupid mistake. Perenelle was a boss, but I didn't really get to experience that side of her since much of the book she was in a prison, I'd love to see her action more. I have to say, Nicholas is barely explained in the book. The fact that he avoided so many close calls is astonishing. And he never tells anyone the whole truth??? That idea, out of nowhere, was brought up in the book's last quarter. I think Josh was allergic to that idea, he became a little too broody.
The setting was nice. It experience of an adventure outside the normal cities was a brilliant idea and deserves applause. During the entire story, you could map out the entire plot in your head. I love how Flamel has an attachment to France even though it's been years since he lived there. It makes him feel that much more human.
Overall not a bad book, it introduces some brilliant ideas, but the execution was meh.
"A mash-up of so many different lores in one book. I was honestly amazed at the number of people and figures from different periods and areas." - Me
Alchemyst is a book about twins, Sophie and Josh, who end up getting entangled in a world of mythology and danger. The alchemist Nick Fleming or Nicholas Flamel gets the twins caught up in magic they never would have imagined. Danger awaits them with the name Dr. Dee, marking a point of no return to their normal lives.
Let's start with our two dual protagonists. I won't go as far as to say that they were an itch I couldn't scratch, but honestly they were quite linear. Sophie was the classic goody-two-shoes. There wasn't much dynamism other than when josh mentions she's changed. All I see is she does exactly was is needed to be done, nothing more, nothing less.
Josh, on the other hand, he's a doozy. He's got enough personality for both of them. Although It's refreshing that he's flawed, he might just be the only one with them (and if you ask me, that is a bit suspicious). And I add that his flaws are GINORMOUS. He's the only only one who gets everyone in trouble every time and OF COURSE, he had to be left out of the awakening process so he can stew in his emotions THAT ARE UNDERSTANDABLE and he has to get in MORE TROUBLE just because he ACTUALLY HAS EMOTIONS.
The plot was predictable and made me feel a little sorry for Dee (he kept getting smooshed so many times). The characters don't really learn anything and they follow the same pattern of in trouble -> drives the car recklessly -> safe, no major injuries -> run to elder or immortal -> josh makes a stupid mistake. Perenelle was a boss, but I didn't really get to experience that side of her since much of the book she was in a prison, I'd love to see her action more. I have to say, Nicholas is barely explained in the book. The fact that he avoided so many close calls is astonishing. And he never tells anyone the whole truth??? That idea, out of nowhere, was brought up in the book's last quarter. I think Josh was allergic to that idea, he became a little too broody.
The setting was nice. It experience of an adventure outside the normal cities was a brilliant idea and deserves applause. During the entire story, you could map out the entire plot in your head. I love how Flamel has an attachment to France even though it's been years since he lived there. It makes him feel that much more human.
Overall not a bad book, it introduces some brilliant ideas, but the execution was meh.
A compelling start to the series; well-researched and builds on interesting historical details to create a fantastical story.