It's almost over, isn't it? After all, Nicholas Flamel is dying, and Perenelle will soon follow. Dr. John Dee has stolen the Codex, the twins Josh and Sophie have been alienated from each other, the Shadowrealms are crumbling, and Dee plans to destroy the world. Readers of the intelligent, complex series The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel will be delighted that folklorist and mythologist Scott still has plenty of plot twists and magic in store. Replete with familiar and new characters and even a trip back to Danu Talis, this next-to-last installment will not disappoint.--Bradburn, France. Copyright 2010 Booklist

In this fifth book, Josh, going against his twin Sophie, has chosen sides with wicked Dr. Dee. The action-driven installment relies heavily on prior knowledge of the series and of the historical figures it has introduced (sometimes to the detriment of character development). Fans of the series will appreciate this adventure's shifting alliances and surprise twists. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.