The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

I DO NOT READ TEEN FANTASY FICTION NOVELS, EVER! 

Well... until now, but it was a TOTAL accident!!!!!

It was a Friday evening and I was browsing the shelves of Barnes & Noble determined to find something different to read.  I had grown tired of the same old murder mysteries I had been reading as well as the historical nonfiction novels.  In hindsight, I realize I should have asked for recommendations based on the type of writers I like and their writing style but instead I did what any girl would do when faced with a question in which no logical answer was easily inferred.  I picked out three books based on how pretty their covers were... 

And so, I ended up with The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel.  

I want to defend myself further with how I ended up with this book.  Not only did I not chose this book based on its eye-catching cover but I also bought it not knowing it belonged in the Teen Fantasy Fiction section.  I actually didn't find this out until after I had finished the novel (**it did seem quite childishly written but I didn't know why until I went back to purchase the next book in the series and discovered, to my horror, what section I was directed too.  How embarrassing.  I'm a 26 yr old... not 16... oops!) 

Anyway, it was displayed at the END of an aisle on a table where all five or six books in the series we presented when I purchased it.  They were colorful and shiny and most definitely not labeled Teen Fantasy Fiction.  My logic also deduced that since A) the series was six books long and B) they were given such a prominent display, that they must be worth reading.  I picked it up, browsed the summary on the back and put it in my 'to purchase' pile.

Now on to the review...

I actually wrote a mini review on Goodreads right after I read the book when I removed it from my 'currently reading' folder to my 'read' folder.  I wrote this review before I knew it would be public, I thought it was just for my personal reference, and admit I might have been a bit harsh... since this review my opinions have changed slightly... here is the initial review I gave of The Alchemyst immediately after finishing the book, I am pasting it from Goodreads...

"Eh, cheesy & predictable. Very easy read. Errors in story- (on one page they say two characters have met before, on the very next page they say they have never met!- DUMB). Book used simple words and descriptions, not very impressive or elegant writing. I will probably read the rest of the series though just because I'm like that..."

I clearly realize now why the book "used simple words and descriptions" and did not contain "very impressive or elegant writing". It's written for teenagers! And maybe it is because I am used to Agatha Christie but I did find it very predictable and extremely cheesy. Like, so cheesy you get second hand embarrassment from just reading about it. The story was full of the same thing over and over again. The main characters meet an obstacle, then they overcome it, then they meet another obstacle, and guess what? they overcome it. But I mean, most stories/movies/books aren't like that. I guess my point is, now that I have just finished book three, I just wanna know what happens in the end. I am assuming they accomplish their goal and defeat the evil elders from the other worlds or whatever but I just have to see how Michael Scott ends the plight of Sophie and Josh Newman. 

The books are a very easy read.  They can be humorous and exhausting at the same time but they are, overall, entertaining and that's the point isn't it? There are a few moments where you will step outside of the book and say to yourself "Really? You have got to be kidding me.." and slap yourself in the forehead for reading such a dumb book but you won't quit. At least I didn't.  The book satisfied my craving for something new and different that I hadn't read before and I did love reading the Harry Potter series and I am a big fan of The Hobbit and the LOTR series so i'm not totally put off by fantasy novels.  These aren't as well written as The Hobbit and they are much sillier but they were good.  Not great. But good. 

I would give The Alchemyst 3/5 stars and recommend it to other readers.

If you've read The Alchemyst I'd love to know your thoughts, or your thoughts on my thoughts!