The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott
Series: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, #1
Publisher: Ember
 Format: Paperback
Pages: 375
Source: Purchased.

He holds the secret that can end the world.

The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life.

The records show that he died in 1418.

But his tomb is empty.

The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won't know what's happening until it's too late. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it.

Sometimes legends are true.

And Sophie and Josh Newman are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time

 

This was a strange book for me. I flew through the beginning and got stuck in the middle and by the end I was flying through it again. I don't really think it had anything in particular to do with the book itself I honestly just think it was the fact that I didn't want to read it at that point but being over 100 pages in I wasn't willing to stop.

 

The plot of this is amazing. I love anything to do with mythology and magic. Plus the fact that Harry Potter mentions Nicholas Flamel was what really made the name stick with me. I must say that this book did not disappoint. There was action and it was fast paced. The magic added a wonderful element as well as the prophecy that was hinted at throughout the novel.

 

As for the characters I loved Nicholas and his wife Perenell. They were fun and awesome and totally the kind of people you wish you could have as friends. Sophie was the twin that I actually liked. She was smart and thoughtful and didn't rush into things. Her brother Josh on the other hand really got on my nerves after awhile. He was brash and reckless and was jealous of his sister just because a certain thing didn't happen to him as well.

 

If you're a fan of magic and mythology I definitely recommend you check this out. It's a relatively quick read and will have you rooting for the characters to succeed. 

 

 

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Series: N/A
Publisher: Ember
Format: Paperback
Pages: 260
Source: Purchased

"I've left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don't, put the book back on the shelf, please."

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the bestselling authors of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a cosmic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

 

I was attempting to write the story of my life. It wasn't so much about plot. It was much more about character.

-page 198

 

This book was cute. The whole idea surrounding the notebook and the dares was really cool and quite adorable, but I didn't love this as much I thought I would. On the plus side it was an extremely quick read and left me feeling quite satisfied with how it ended.

 

With how closely Lily's grandfather supposedly keeps an eye on her why would he just go down to Florida while her parents are gone and leave her slightly older brother in charge? It didn't make much sense, I mean sure he wanted to see his girlfriend but really if he's that protective he would never have left her like that.

 

And Lily, I really was not a fan of her. She thought Dash was the coolest thing in the beginning and then when she does something that has him second guessing who she is she has the nerve to say that he's illogical when really he was nice enough to take her home? What was up with this girl? She wanted to be dangerous and go off with another guy yet when Dash finds her it's his fault he doesn't do something she wants him to the next day. She really got on my nerves and she was definitely not relatable, at least not to me.

 

"I find I very rarely live up to my words. And since you know me primarily through my words, there are oh so many ways I can disappoint."

-Dash page 219

 

Dash on the other hand was my favorite. He's bookish and well spoken and all around a good guy. No matter how disappointed he was with Lily when he first met her he still did the right thing and made sure she got home safely and then even went so far as to give her the benefit of the doubt.

 

If you want a fluffy romance I'd recommend this one, even though it wasn't the best book I've ever read it was still worth it and left me entertained and satisfied.