VOYA: Twin magicians-in-training Josh and Sophie Newman return in this sequel to The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel (Delacorte, 2007/VOYA June 2007). After fleeing California at the conclusion of the first book, they end up in Paris, accompanied by their allies, the immortal magician Nicholas Flamel, and vampire/warrior-extraordinaire Scatty. In hot pursuit of Flamel and the twins is the sinister Dr. John Dee, aided by some powerful new allies. Although Sophie's magical powers have been awakened, Josh has not had a chance to arouse his own powers, leading to his growing jealousy of Sophie. This conflict brings him closer to Dee, who hopes to unleash Josh's powers and then manipulate him into working against Flamel. Add a scattering of plot twists and turns, some horrifying otherworld monsters, and an all-out battle between good and the result has the makings of a highly entertaining fantasy. To his credit, the author successfully weaves together the many plot threads that go into this intricate and skillfully written fantasy. Although the novel is essentially plot driven, the book's characters are well developed and engaging. The addition of historical figures in the story, such as Niccolo Machiavelli and Joan of Arc, add an appealing intrigue to the book. Teens who like fast-paced fantasies with lots of action, like Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl books or Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series are sure to enjoy this new addition to the genre. Reviewer: Jan Chapman