The Magician by Michael Scott (author) (UK edition)

Ashes to ashes . . . California: The book of Abraham the Mage holds the secret of eternal life – a secret more dangerous than any one man should possess. Dr. John Dee is two pages away from the knowledge that would bring the Dark Elders into ultimate power – and could mean the destruction of the world as we know it. Two people stand in his way: Josh and Sophie Newman. Paris: Time is running out for Nicholas Flamel and his wife Perenelle. Every day they spend without the book, they age one year: their magic becomes weaker and their bodies more frail. Niccolo Machiavelli, immortal author and celebrated art collector, works for Dee and is in hot pursuit of them – Flamel knows there’s no time to lose and Sophie must learn about Fire Magic… Josh and Sophie are the world’s only hope. If they don’t turn on each other first.