The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, Book 1

Harry Potter fans would like this book, I think. There's the magic of Potter, but most of it takes place in present day California. Lots of action mixed with a mystery about the past. The narrator's ability to create different voices is amazing!

I thought this sounded like a great book since I am into fantasy and mythology like Lord of the Rings and Eragon. Not that I would compare this book to any of those titles but when I heard "Welcome to Audible Kids" when I started the book on my MP3 player I may have blushed just slightly (I'm 49). Turns out the book is fantastic and so is the reader. I like to think I am of above average intelligence and this book entertained me and left me wanting more and just did not seem at all to be a children's novel. It is rare that a writer can write something that appeals to old and young alike but that is what you will find here. I love the characters and the voices are handled nicely by the narrator. I highly recommend it and the two that follow it as well.

Somewhat typical messaiahs to save the world from evil theme but with some original characters, some imaginative villians, and page turner action. Fun but nothing that feels really new or to original.

This series may or may not be intended for teenagers or the youth. It is a nice fun series. I am a seriously avid reader, and finish a novel per week. I picked up the first book in the series for my daughter. I ran out of books and picked it up. I have read all of them now. They are fun.
The series has characters that are well wrritten and believable. The goals and problems are very truthful. Michael Scott has to have or had a few teenagers because he has them down pretty well in the books.
Now don't think you are about to read a literary masterpiece but the stories have heart, soul, well planned themes and flow, and realistic well described characters. I love a good book and these are just that. GOOD BOOKS

I enjoyed the book, but felt that it was geared more toward a younger reader (young adult/teenager). Perhaps that's because two of the major characters are themselves teenagers. I greatly preferred the George RR Martin "Song of Ice and Fire" series - which is definitely geared to adults, and I've preferred (so far) the John Twelve Hawkes "Traveler" series. The Alchemyst reads too much like a fairy tale (so far). I do plan to listen to the next one to see if my opinion changes.

I could have rated it as a 4 if they had mentioned the book was written for 10-year olds. It was just too silly/childish for me to enjoy. However I do enjoy books like Harry Potter, CS Lewis's Narnia adventures, Eragon, and L.A. Meyer's Bloody Jack series, so I am not a young-adult-fiction snob. So out of loyalty to my fellow Audible book listeners I felt inclined to warn you of my assessment of this book's intended audience.

I will leave the problems with character development to other reviewers. The book reads like a first draft, cynically published in this unpolished form with badly conceived main characters (the twins) to sell to the huge YA market.

The writer could not bother to keep track of his own writing. Redundant vocabulary is common. He uses the word "countless" several times in a short passage, his favorite lazy word for great quantity. He often employs "countless" for things readily counted (the number of gargoyles on Notre Dame, for example).

Even a magical otherworld must have some internal logic, but the author has lazy inconsistencies. Such as the description of Yggdrassil, when we are first introduced to the world tree, compared to what happens to it later, indicating an absurd change in size.

I hope the author uses a thesaurus, and a good editor, in the future.

Wonderfully written. The combination of historical and mythical features is entertaining. Highly recommend Percy Jackson Fans looking for a new series.

Really interesting take on magic and reality. If you like Harry Potter this is a good choice. I found it very entertaining and was glad when Audible got the sequel!

This book has you on the move from the first page, and doesn't stop to the last page. Michael Scott, Keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole book. And when you're driving, that's not a bad thing. I'd recommend this book to anyone of any age. I await more audible books from this author.