Book 49: The Warlock – Michael Scott

[For an updated response from when I re-read the book in 2016, click here.]

The Warlock is the fifth book (plus a short story) in The Secrets of the Immortal Nicolas Flamel series, and what a series it is. I thought I reviewed at least two of the books earlier in the series, but I’m now assuming my logic was that I would want to re-read them prior to each new novel’s release (and I should have).

It took a few chapters before I remembered enough details from the previous four novels to figure out what was happening, but I quickly jumped back in to the historical characters alive and still meddling in the affairs of the world.

Although the series is about Nicholas Flamel, it actually centers around Sophie and Josh a set of legendary twins who in the first book are awakened a world of Immortals, like Niccolo Machiavelli, Billy the Kid, Virginia Dare, Shakespeare and Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel, Next Generation and the Gods and Goddesses (I think there is another name but I can’t remember them) of Danu Talis.

More than anything this novel/series is a coming of age and a save the world drama. I may rewrite this when I re-read all five before The Enchantress is released next year, because I’ve not given much thought to this review.

The books are fun and fairly tame considering it could be the end of the world. As with most young adult series they do appear stretched out a more than they should be, but it has allowed Scott to create a much more in-depth set of characters than if he crammed the entire six book story into three.

This book was a bit of a twist and definitely ended with a shock—I cannot wait until the next one is out! As I read in a review ages ago, if you’re looking for something to fill the void as Harry Potter is coming to an end, this might do the trick if you love historical characters/references. And I would definitely recommend Rick Riordian’s Olympians series (reviewed 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5).