The continuing adventures of Nickolas Flammel brings us to Paris. The twins, Nick, and Joan are playing a cat and mouse game with Machiavelli and Dee.

The best parts of the book are the ones in which they describe the feelings of what it is like to have an awakened aura. The details of memory and sensory perception really allow you to get a sense of what it feels like to be a sense-heightened human. There is also some interesting characters and a dash of historical trivia thrown in.

The bad is the repetitive nature of the dialog and narration. Topics are being retreaded often making it very slow and unrealistic. It as if the author feels he must educate the reader on the historical significance of each and every location and mythical figure (which actually turns out to be a real living creature some how). Additionally, the consistent use of smell as a narrative device wears thin. How many time must we be reminded that Nickolas' magic evokes the smell of mint? I know this device is supposed to recall other sensory feelings about the character, but it is often at odds with the action. Smell that comes from another realm has little to no effect on the action or plot.

This series is shaky, but I'm going to stick with it. The storytelling is alright, and the book seems well researched for fiction. The serialized nature of this series makes it hard to put down, despite how much you dislike the process. I will endure, since there are moments that keep my interest.