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This article is about the book by Michael Scott. For the titular character of The Alchemyst, see Nicholas Flamel.

The Alchemyst is a 2007 novel by Irish author Michael Scott, the first part in the six-book series The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. Scott draws on a wide knowledge of world mythology to stage a battle between the Dark Elders and their hired gun—Dr. John Dee—against the forces of good. The series is divided into parts, with "The Alchemyst", "The Magician", and "The Sorceress" making up the First Codex, and "The Necromancer", "The Warlock", and "The Enchantress" making up the Second Codex.

Blurb[]

The truth: Nicholas Flamel's tomb is empty.

The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives.

  Nicholas Flamel is the greatest Alchemyst to ever live. The records show that he died in 1418, but what if he's actually been making the elixir of life for centuries?

   The secrets to eternal life are hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed, and in the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. And that's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it.

   There is one hope. If the prophecy is true, Sophie and Josh Newman have the power to save everyone. Now they just have to learn to use it.

Titular character[]

The book's title, The Alchemyst, refers to Nicholas Flamel, as stated by Michael Scott in his Fan Forum.

Plot Summary[]

When the necromancer and immortal magician Dr. John Dee steals the ancient book, the Codex, from its keeper, Nicholas Flamel, two teenagers named Sophie and Josh Newman are caught up in the danger and magic. Dee also captures Nicholas Flamel's wife, Perenelle, but Josh manages to snatch the last two pages of the Codex before Dee leaves. These pages turn out to be the most important two, and Flamel realizes that he must train the twins as they are from the prophecy, which tells that they will save the world. Flamel takes the twins to a magical warrior and Next Generation Elder named Scathach (also known as Scatty), who travels with them to another Elder's Shadowrealm. They believe that this Elder can Awaken the twins, which is the first step in training them. This Elder is known as Hekate and has remarkable magical power.

Detailed Plot Description[]

Josh is looking for a book in the bookstore he works at when Dr. John Dee comes for the Codex. His sister, Sophie, smells sulfur and rotten eggs as well as mint, and goes into the bookstore with Perry Fleming. Here, the twins witness Nick and Perry using magic, and learn about Golems. They help out, and Josh grabs the last two pages of the Codex. Unfortunately, Dee captures Perry and takes off. In the aftermath of the and discover that Nick and Perry Fleming's real names are Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel, respectively. In addition, they learn that Nicholas is not a bookseller, but an ancient alchemyst who stays alive by making the Elixir of Life (a secret from the Codex) for him and Perenelle. He needs the Codex back to make the Elixir of Life again, or he and Perenelle will die before the month's end. Also, if Nicholas does not retrieve the Codex, Dee will summon the Dark Elders to destroy the world and return to an age in which humans are but slaves and food.

Flamel quickly takes them to a dojo to enlist the aid of Scathach, an extremely powerful ally and Next Generation Elder. Meanwhile, Dee realizes that he is missing the two pages that let the Dark Elders take over the world, so he assaults the dojo, but is thwarted by Flamel and Scathach. Flamel then leads the twins and Scathach to attempt to secure the aid of Hekate, an Elder who can awaken the twins' magical potential. Dee discovers this, and along with the help of the Morrigan, otherwise known as the Crow Goddess, enlists the aid of Bastet, who has the power to defeat Hekate. The trio mount a massive assault on Hekate's Shadowrealm, attempting to destroy the Yggdrasill, the heart of Hekate's power.

While at Hekate's Shadowrealm, the twins learn that Scatty is not part of the humani; instead, she is a vampire. Although this initially frightens Josh, she explains that her Clan feeds on emotions and feelings, not flesh and blood. She later uses her power to numb Sophie's feelings when Sophie felt overloaded.

While the Yggdrasill is attacked, Hekate Awakens Sophie; however, she can't Awaken Josh, as the Yggdrasill is then lit on fire. She rushes to defend her home, and after a long, gruelling battle, Scathach clears a path for the twins and Flamel. While escaping, they encounter Dee, and witness the power of the ancient sword known as Excalibur, which he draws. They see him transform a Torc Allta into pure ice, then shatter the statue. Flamel remarks that he thought that Excalibur had been lost when Artorius (King Arthur) died.

The twins, Scathach, and Flamel escape the Shadowrealm after, but not before the destruction of Hekate, the Yggdrasill, and the entire Shadowrealm. As they escape, Dee uses Excalibur to freeze the Yggdrasill, and Hekate, whose life and power is linked to the tree, transforms to ice as it does. As this occurs, Dee is informed that Flamel and Scathach have escaped with the twins. In his rage, he shatters the Yggdrasill, which crushes Hekate into dust, effectively killing her forever. At this point, they travel to visit Scathach's grandmother, the Witch of Endor (also called "The Mistress of Air"), who agrees to teach Sophie the Magic of Air. Josh is kicked out as he cannot witness the process, and the Witch teaches Sophie about the Magic of Air and infuses Sophie with all of her memories. Josh slowly becomes embittered as he realizes that he is losing the one person he knows best, and cannot join them as he is only a human, with dulled senses.

While they are there, Dee has found out that the prophecy in the Codex speaks of Sophie and Josh. He goes to Ojai, where Flamel, Scathach, and the twins are, and attempts to sway Josh to his side. He uses his necromancy to raise thousands of corpses to attack the Witch, Flamel, Scatty, and Sophie. Josh almost agrees, but at the last moment he realizes he will lose Sophie if he agrees, and distracts the Necromancer long enough to escape with Scathach, Sophie and Nicholas using a leygate (where lines of energy, or ley lines on the globe cross) to escape to Paris. The book ends with the conclusion that the Witch has survived and Dee is still searching for them. From her prison in Alcatraz, Perenelle smiles as she realizes that Nicholas, the twins, and Scatty are in Paris, where there are other Elders who can Awaken Josh. The Sphinx tells her that the end is coming, and Perenelle responds with, "This is only the beginning." The book ends, opening the way for the second book: The Magician.

Characters[]

  • Sophie Newman - One of the twins. Sophie worked at a coffee shop, The Coffee Cup, before Dee attacked. Her aura is pure silver (very rare aura).
  • Josh Newman - Younger than his twin sister by only 28 seconds. Josh's pure gold aura is slightly rarer than Sophie's aura. He worked at a book store, The Small Book Shop, with Nicholas Flamel before the encounter with Dee.
  • Nicholas Flamel - Disguised as "Nick Fleming," Nicholas owned a book shop while he protected the Codex (a.k.a. The Book of Abraham the Mage).
  • Perenelle Flamel - Disguised as "Perry Fleming" until she was kidnapped by Dr. Dee.
  • Dr. John Dee - For centuries, Dee had been chasing Nicholas and Perenelle to get his hands on the Codex and awaken the Dark Elders. His master is unknown in this book.
  • Scathach - Nicknamed "Scatty". Scathach has trained many warriors over the past millennia. She is also a vegetarian vampire. She is commonly known as the Warrior Maid or the Shadow. She is an excellent soldier who has few enemies due to her reputation. She feeds on emotions and feelings.
  • Hekate - The Elder whose life depended on a Yggdrasil that grew in her Shadowrealm. She Awakened Sophie's powers. She was also one of the most powerful elders until Dee turned her into ice and shattered her with the ancient and mythical sword of Ice, Excalibur.
  • The Witch of Endor - A Witch who lives in Ojai (pronounced Oh-hai) and was alive for millennia. She gave all her knowledge to Sophie after Sophie was Awakened. Also Scathach's 'grandmother'.
  • The Morrigan - A Next Generation winged Dark Elder - she had the ability to control any type of bird. Niece of Bastet.
  • Bastet - The Dark Elder with a cat head - had the ability to control felines. Aunt of the Morrigan.


Books in the Main series
The AlchemystThe MagicianThe SorceressThe NecromancerThe WarlockThe Enchantress
Other books in the Flamel universe
Billy the Kid and the Vampyres of VegasThe Death of Joan of ArcThe Earthlords (Unreleased)
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