The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order

To experience the epic battle between the legendary alchemist Nicholas Flamel and the dark Elders in its most coherent and suspenseful form, you should read the core novels in their original publication order. The main storyline takes place over a remarkably compressed period of just a few weeks, meaning that jumping out of sequence will severely spoil the plot twists and character developments.

Here is the recommended reading path for the main series:

1. The Alchemyst (2007)
2. The Magician (2008)
3. The Sorceress (2009)
4. The Necromancer (2010)
5. The Warlock (2011)
6. The Enchantress (2012)

Once you finish the main six-book journey, you can dive into the supplemental material and short stories to explore the rich history of the universe's immortal characters.

The Core Novels: A Closer Look

1. The Alchemyst (2007)

The saga begins in modern San Francisco, where teenage twins Sophie and Josh Newman are working ordinary summer jobs. Their lives are upended when a mysterious book dealer, Nick Fleming, is attacked by the dark magician Dr. John Dee. Nick is actually the immortal alchemist Nicholas Flamel, and the stolen book is the Codex (the Book of Abraham the Mage). This artifact contains the recipe for the Elixir of Life, which keeps Nicholas and his wife, Perenelle, young. Without it, they will age and die within a month. Sophie and Josh learn they are the prophesied twins of legend who must awaken their magical powers to save the world.

2. The Magician (2008)

Immediately following the events of the first book, Nicholas Flamel takes Sophie and Josh to Paris. In the French capital, they must find an ally to awaken Josh's elemental powers. They cross paths with the brilliant but dangerous Niccolò Machiavelli, an immortal working for the dark Elders. The stakes rise as John Dee continues his relentless pursuit of the twins, and readers are introduced to legendary historical figures and ancient deities who shape the magical underworld of Europe.

3. The Sorceress (2009)

The adventure moves to London, where the twins are pushed to their limits. While Nicholas Flamel attempts to find a master to teach the twins Water Magic, his wife Perenelle is trapped on Alcatraz island, fighting off a horde of mythical monsters. This book introduces characters like the immortal Billy the Kid and the legendary Gilgamesh, showing the vast historical scope of Michael Scott's world.

4. The Necromancer (2010)

Back in San Francisco, Josh and Sophie are growing increasingly powerful, but their trust in Nicholas Flamel begins to fracture. Dr. John Dee plots to raise the dead and summon the dark Elders back to Earth. The line between ally and enemy blurs as the twins must choose who to believe: the alchemist who has kept secrets from them, or the dark forces promising them absolute power.

5. The Warlock (2011)

With the end of the world drawing near, the twins are separated. Josh has aligned with John Dee, while Sophie remains with Nicholas and Perenelle. The narrative shifts across multiple locations, including ancient shadowrealms, as the characters prepare for a final battle. The true motives of the Elders and the destiny of the twins begin to crystallize in this penultimate volume.

6. The Enchantress (2012)

The dramatic conclusion to the main series brings all the plotlines together in a final showdown at Alcatraz. The twins must fulfill their destiny, and the ultimate secrets of Nicholas Flamel, the Codex, and the ancient Earth Lords are revealed. It is a fast-paced and emotional ending that ties up the main character arcs while leaving a legacy of lore behind.

Companion E-Shorts and The Lost Stories

In addition to the main novels, Michael Scott published several short stories that expand the lore of his universe. These stories highlight the backstories of the series' most popular immortal characters, spanning different historical eras.

In 2021, these stories were compiled into a physical omnibus titled The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel: The Lost Stories Collection. The compiled collection includes the following stories, ordered by their historical setting:

• Aoife of the Shadows (500 BCE) – Follows the shadow twin Aoife as she battles prehistoric monsters.
• Scathach the Shadow and the Clan of Eriu (500 BCE) – Explores Scathach's ancient struggles alongside her sister.
• Nicholas Flamel and the Codex (1382) – Shows how Nicholas Flamel first acquired the mysterious Book of Abraham in medieval Paris.
• The Death of Joan of Arc (1431) – Explains the historical mystery of Joan of Arc's fate, revealing how Scathach rescued her from the stake.
• Machiavelli: Guardian of Paris (1793) – Set during the French Revolution, depicting Machiavelli's efforts to protect the city from dark forces.
• Virginia Dare and the Ratcatcher (1833) – Follows the first English child born in the Americas as she encounters a mythical threat in London.
• Nicholas and the Krampus (1945) – Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel deal with a winter nightmare at the end of World War II.
• Billy the Kid and the Vampyres of Vegas (2005) – A prequel set two years before the main series, showing how Billy the Kid and Scathach first met and fought vampyres in Las Vegas.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

For first-time readers, chronological order is not recommended. The stories set in the past rely heavily on the reader already knowing who the characters are, what their powers are, and how they relate to the broader plot of the main series. Reading about Scathach's or Joan of Arc's past before reading The Alchemyst will lessen the impact of their introductions in the main novels.

However, if you are planning a re-read, navigating the series chronologically provides a fascinating look at how the immortal characters lived through history before meeting the Newman twins in 2007.

Practical Reading Guidance

If you want to read the short stories alongside the main series rather than saving them for the end, the safest points to insert them are based on their initial digital publication dates:

• Read The Death of Joan of Arc after The Necromancer (Book 4).
• Read Billy the Kid and the Vampyres of Vegas after The Warlock (Book 5).
• Read the remaining stories in The Lost Stories Collection after finishing The Enchantress (Book 6).

Note on Missing Stories: Two advertised stories, The Bard and the Knight (featuring William Shakespeare and Palamedes) and The Ballad of Black Hawk and Billy the Kid, were announced as part of the digital releases but were excluded from the physical 2021 collection. Fans should look for these as standalone digital purchases if they want to read absolutely everything in the Flamel universe.