Customer Reviews
An interesting fantasy 
2008-02-24
This book was very good, even if the ending wasn't totally perfect. I liked the fact that Nathaniel stopped being a total political stooge at the end. And that Bartimaeus and his essence was preserved. Kitty parts in the story weren't as good as previous and I didn't like the fact that she started to like Nathaniel. I think it would have been better if she had just thought of him as a acquaintance. Also, you get two chapters set in the Other Place, the world of spirits, which was interesting. This book brings the trilogy to a close, and even though I assumed what would happen in the end. A good read for all ages.
An Intoxicating End to the Ride! 
2008-02-11
The final installment makes the whole journey worth it. PTOLEMY'S GATE, the third part of the BARTIMAEUS TRILOGY, wraps things up in a satisfying, exhilarating way that won't leave Jonathan Stroud fans disappointed.
A new character is introduced in this novel. Sure, we've still got Nathaniel -- A.K.A. John Mandrake, youthful magician and Information Minister, Kitty -- outcast rebel of the Resistance, Bartimaeus - fun-loving demon of sarcasm who is stuck as Nathaniel's servant, but now our story jumps back to Alexandria, Egypt in 125 B.C. to weave the necessary backstory of Ptolemy and his legendary gate between the Other Place and Earth. The connection between the past and present is the infamous Bartimaeus.
We soon learn that the relationship Bartimaeus and Ptolemy had was incredibly close, filled with trust and loyalty, something Nathaniel knows nothing about. Kitty, however, has been studying magic with the hope of learning more about Ptolemy. Even though commoners aren't supposed to be able to, she hopes to summon Bartimaeus and learn about Ptolemy's Gate. Her theory is that the Gate is the way to bridge the gap between demons and humans, somehow ending the forced servitude and hatred between them and creating peace and equality.
The tensions really get going in this one. The overseas war with America is going poorly. The Resistance is still at large. A traitor high up in government is plotting an inconceivable takeover of the country. Bartimaeus has been on Earth so long his essence is fading and he's close to death. If Nathaniel doesn't squelch the Resistance, his job and prestige will all be lost. And if Kitty's plan doesn't work, she just might disappear into the spirit world forever like Ptolemy. So much is at stake. And none of the players even know about the "rebellious faction of demons"!
Get ready for an intoxicating end to the ride. What THE AMULET OF SAMARKAND began in the first book, PTOLEMY'S GATE finishes up gloriously. Go Bartimaeus!
--- Reviewed by Jonathan Stephens
Great Book and Series 2007-12-31
This was an excellent book, as was the whole series. I just came on to look for more Jonathan Stroud books and decided to give my first book review! I love Bartimaeus and all the sarcasm. Give it a try if you haven't already.
Wonderful, imaginative, a great read! 2007-11-10
I was leary when I picked up the first of this series. But the imaginaive scope and the multiple voices were very refreshing. I found myself devouring all three books in rapid succesion. I highly reccomend this series to anyone.
An incredible ending for the trilogy 2007-10-03
A fantastic last book for a fantastic trilogy. After joining the adventures of Bartimaeus and Nathaniel's (and Kitty's after the second book), it was high time to say goodbye. But this book was more than a goodbye. Every page from the start is full of mystery and agony and finally they come to the climax. This time , we see a softer side of Nathaniel and his try to help others while Kitty decides to follow Ptolemy's dream and complete it. Bartimaeus is again in the middle of a great battle to come but he willfully decides to help without being ordered to. His most important moments of his past are revealed so to understand him deeper and is managable. The last scene takes everyone by surprise but after thinking, it's understandable that it was inevitable and so a great ending to Bartimaeus trilogy. Want to know what happened? Buy the book and discover it!
Terrific Ending for a Great Series 2007-09-13
Three years have passed since the magician Nathaniel helped prevent a cataclysmic attack on London. Now an established member of the British Government, he faces unprecedented problems: foreign wars are going badly; Britain's enemies are mounting attacks close to London; and rebellion is fomenting among the commoners. Increasingly imperious and distracted, Nathaniel is treating Bartimaeus worse than ever. The longsuffering djinni is growing weak and vulnerable from too much time in this world and is nearing the end of his patience.Meanwhile, Nathaniel's longtime rival Kitty has been stealthily completing her research on magic, demons, and Bartimaeus's past. She has a daring plan that she hopes will break the endless cycle of conflict between djinn and humans. But will anyone listen to what she has to say?In this glorious conclusion to the Bartimaeus trilogy, the destinies of Bartimaeus, Nathaniel, and Kitty converge once more. Together the threesome faces treacherous magicians, a complex conspiracy, and a rebellious faction of demons. To survive, they must test the limits of this world and question the deepest parts of themselves. And most difficult of all-they will have to learn to trust one another.
The ending surprised me a lot... left me dumbfounded 2007-08-11
Jonathan Stroud was the author I opted to present in my fiction author assignment because I felt that he had a great story to tell. And I, as a hunter of great stories in the science fiction and fantasy genre of wizards and magic, had found a priceless treasure in his trilogy of the fast mouthed djinni, Bartimaeus, and the boy magician, Nathaniel. But wait, it is also the story of the commoner, Kitty Jones. The triumvirate has proven to be the strongest focal point from which the story has been able to twist and turn more than a winding road. Stroud is an OUTSTANDING storyteller. But most of all, he wrote this story with his heart. The book covers a lot of world issues in the guise of magicians versus commoners. Social injustice, government oppression (reminded me of the oppressive regimes in society which smite the rights of the masses) and social classes were some issues that Stroud was able to imply as important in his stories. The ending surprised me so much that I was in denial of the prediction that I was making, the direction the story was taking as the last book. But in the end, after ten minutes of quiet thinking and acceptance, I put the book away and wrote this review immediately. This will be the first book that I will be recommending to everyone aside from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. It is a MUST READ for all sci-fi and fantasy book lovers! If you love these kinds of stories, it is a crime not to read the stories. I dare you not to fall in love with Bartimaeus.
Courtesy of Teens Read Too 2007-07-17
He's back! But this time around, the smart-mouthed djinni, Bartimaeus, is exhausted from too much work and not enough time to recover in his netherworld home. It's like they always say, "All work and no play makes Bartimaeus a dull supernatural being." Although, in this case, he's anything but dull. He's tired, weak, sharp-tongued, homicidal, and insulting. But definitely not dull.
In this third installment of THE BARTIMAEUS TRILOGY, the hero is again a djinni who has little respect for humans and even less interest in their petty wars and government squabbles. The magicians who rule England in this series of books insist on summoning Bartimaeus and scores of other demons to fight their wars, provide magical assistance of all sorts, and generally do their bidding. The demons see this treatment as slavery, and for good reason. What would you call forced servitude for no pay under threat of intense pain?
PTOLEMY'S GATE opens to find poor Bartimaeus stretched to the breaking point by his magician master, Nathaniel. A war in America is going poorly, the commoners of London are growing tired of the ruling class of magicians, and young Nathaniel is looked upon with jealousy and mistrust by his co-workers. As a result of all of these threats, Nathaniel rationalizes the need to keep Bartimaeus around to help him deal with the many problems that he faces. After a long association with the djinni, it is almost as if Nathaniel trusts his reluctant servant. And it is almost as if Bartimaeus has a shred of concern for human dealings. Almost.
PTOLEMY'S GATE is an excellent capstone to the extraordinary Bartimaeus series. I enjoyed all of these books immensely and recommend them to anyone who enjoys young adult fantasy. Like the first two books, The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1) and The Golem's Eye (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 2), this one is filled with humor and excitement. These books also offer some social commentary for those who want to pay attention to such things. For example, the ruling class of magicians in these books take extreme measures to maintain their own positions, while claiming that they are really just interested in keeping the masses safe. There are resistance groups that oppose the government, and they engage in acts of terrorism to free themselves from the magicians' oppressive yoke.
The entiretrilogy is a fun-filled pleasure to read. Doubtless it would be possible to read PTOLEMY'S GATE without having read the previous two books, but I would not recommend it. There is quite a bit of background that would be missed, and the story would definitely suffer. While the first book in the series, The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1), could probably stand alone, the second two (The Golem's Eye (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 2) and PTOLEMY'S GATE) should be read together. And once the last page of PTOLEMY'S GATE is turned, readers will undoubtedly wish they could summon Bartimaeus back for more.
Reviewed by: K. Osborn Sullivan
I hate goodbyes... 2007-06-27
Ugh, the end of another wonderful trilogy.
I tried to read this one slooooowly and make it last, but I just couldn't. I loved it, I loved the ending. Although, I do not love that it has ended.
Mr. Stroud, please give us more fantastic tales to rival Bartimaeus!
Truly Enchanting. 2007-03-25
One of the best books I've had the pleasure of reading. While I originally was a little hesitant to buy the book because of the recommended age and section, I will always be happy I did. This story, while rated for younger audiences, is definitely for everyone and anyone who enjoys a complete and intriguing fantasy tale that will have you hoping and worrying about each character you meet.
Highly recommended.
Lupus
