The Warlock: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, Book 5

The series "The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel" is probably the next Harry Potter. Taking historical characters, Michael Scott writes an interesting story of two twins, Josh and Sophie, who take different paths as predicted by Abraham the Mage, the writer of a codex that contains all the secrets of the world. If you expect historical accuracy, then this book might irritate you, especially Scott's knowledge of early human history (Sumerian and Greek history falls short. I also don't know what to think about the witch of Endor. Scott may use historical figures, but definitely not in character as discribed in early sources.) However, if you are ready for an interesting adventure with some New Age/ eastern religious concepts binding fun, adventure and expectation together, you might just like this series. One thing I find irritating of Scott's writing style is his repetition of certain ideas almost ad infinitum, as if someone is going to jump in at the last book and not listen or read the others, or as if you are putting the book aside to read for two or three years, just to pick is up and read it again. I am not sure if young people has such a short memory span, though I think that might be an insult. Yet, when you travel with Josh and Sophie up to this point where even their aunt doesn't seem to be who she was all along and time travel brings a new dimension to the story, you would be interested in how it is going to end. I recommend this book for its fun and adventure but not for its historicity and sometimes sloppish writing.

I loved the first four books and assumed the 5th would be the last but no Michael Scott continues to milk this cash cow. I got the feeling from this book that when Michael started writing he did not know how the story would end and is now making it up as he goes along. I found following multiple story lines confusing and the ending was totally implusable given the rest of the story. I may listent the 6th book but am starting to lose patience.

I listened to the first books of the series; finishing 1 and immediately starting the next. I have been listening to this one on and off for about 2 months now. The storyline is getting bogged down with too many characters and simultaneous parts of the whole story that somehow are going to tie together. I planned to finish just cause I hoped to know the end, but after reading that this is only the beginning of the end, I may just scrap it. It is really dragging. I am no longer certain as to who is a protagonist and who is an antagonist. And honestly, right now important characters from the beginning are less important and minor characters have become important. At one point there were 6 different groups of people/ storylines to keep track of. I thought this was juvenile fiction, but I don't think my kid's could keep track of all of this. Even when I was listening regularly I kept wishing it was a book so I coul go back to remember,

Not sure, like someone else said, I think he is milking his cash cow and hoping to pull another few stories out of this series without a clear picture of where he is going.

The actor did a nice job. He has a nice voice to listen to.

Unlike Potter where 7 books became 8 movies, this story would need to be 5 - 8 books becoming 1 - 2 movies. Too much repetition and not enough action. You know the movie people would cut out huge chunks of the back story and half of the characters. Really not even sure who to care about anymore.

Yes - the story is good, but Paul reads it a little more slowly than I'd like

That it repeats the details a little more than necessary in order to keep new readers in the loop. The story should have had an ending by now but it keeps going and going and....

Not unless it was the next (and hopefully the last) in this series. His reading style is too slow for me. His voices are excellent, though.

I have to say no. Had it ended, then I would have said yes. I feel tricked.

I understand trying to make the series last and a good story isn't usually complete in one book. However, I think by book 5, I'm getting a little tired and will consider ending my listening with this book.

You have to read the first 4 books but I did love the ending. 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 Love the series, and i listened to the last two books every moment i can because it was fast paced. Now it seems like the story is almost going a different direction. Some twists i was willing to accept because i know i was wondering how they would do this or that, but the ending cliff hanger is un acceptable to me. This book could have gone another direction, although there are still many good points to it. If you enjoyed the fast paced of the last books because they were on the run, then you might be disappointed with how its slowing down and they instead try to keep your interest with plot turns and "Wait, What?" moments. What brought me to the series is still there though, the mystery's of real life being explained in mythological ways which makes me enjoy it all and keeps me reading/listening.

This series is interesting and fun. The writing skill of the author is unquestioned and the narrator was superb, but when does this saga end? I've invested in 5 books and there is no conclusion to the story in sight. It's time to stop milking this "cash cow" and move on. I'm finished! Enough, already!

I have read all the previous books, and they were pretty good, but, how this one ever got the rating it did I'll never know. Hoping that it would get better, I listened to the entire first half and, well, it never did. The narrator is very good which is probably the only saving grace. I feel cheated that I wasted a whole credit on this book and would not recommend it to anyone.

The writer has gotten totally lazy with this series. I enjoyed the first two books as the author was building the world and drawing in various mythologies. With this installment, I found myself just hoping that the male sibling would just be killed off as the author lazily just had him "be confused" into switching alliances. The author should have written true uncertaintly into the series to make it difficult to know which side was "right." I will not be buying the rest of the series as I just don't care about the characters anymore.

Poor plot choices

First time with this reader. I prefer narrators who use more inflection and emote more with their voice. As a reference Wil Wheaton is one of my favorite narrators.

ambivalence and indifference

This is a solid story about a variety of mythological figures. The narrator is able to utilize varying voices which help to bring the characters to life.