The books follows 15 year old twins Sophie and Josh Newman who have traveled to San Fransisco to work for the summer.
Sophie works in a coffee shop across from the bookstore where Josh works owned by Nick and Perry Fleming.
The action begins right away as armed goons rush into the bookstore, kidnap Perry, and steal an old, rare book which Josh rips two pages out of before it is taken.
The two most important pages of the book of course.
The book is the Codex, containing magical knowledge and is guarded by Nick Fleming, who is really Nicholas Flamel.
Sophie and Josh learn that they are mentioned in the codex, in a prophecy declaring that they will unite and either save or destroy the world.
The Dark Elders, who arranged the stealing of the Codex, desperately need the pages ripped out and desperately search for Nicholas, Sophie & Josh.
The twins and Nicholas flee to Hekate, who lives in a large tree house north of San Fransisco, and Sophie's powers are awakened.
The group tries to come up with a plan to retrieve the Codex - it is desperately needed for it contains the instructions for brewing the immortality potion that is keeping the Flamels alive.
More historical and mythological characters (including Joan of Arc) are brought in through later books, and Josh comes into his powers but the overall focus remains on the Codex.
This series takes place over a short period of time, days compared with one book represents one year in Percy Jackson & Harry Potter.
It is hard to digest that so many things could happen in a short time (averages about two days per book), but it keeps the books moving and engaging.
Overall, the series was enjoyable and entertaining although I prefer the Percy Jackson series & Harry Potter.