This book reminded me a lot of the Children of the Lamp series. However, I think Michael Scott did an amazing job incorporating myths and legends as well as the story of Nicholas Flamel. You can tell a lot of work was put into creating this "world within a world". But the story was typical - some twins happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, they saw something they shouldn't have, and it just so happens there is a prophesy about them, AND they have very powerful magic that will help save the world. And (slight spoiler***) one twin may be the doom of the world. I know that all of that may steer someone away from reading this series, but I for some reason enjoyed it enough to be curious about what happens next. I'm about to start the second book - The Magician - so I guess I'll have to wait and see whether the rest of the series is worth reading.