Customer Reviews
The Bartimaeus Trilogy 
2008-01-20
Note: Potential spoiler warning in my descriptions of the books.
You know, it really is hard to find well-written, well-characterized, well-plotted, witty books nowadays. Surprisingly hard. But I finished the Bartimaeus Trilogy a few months ago, and not only has it got all of the above characteristics, it's also one of the all-around best series I've read in a long time.
I'm puzzled by those who call it a knockoff of Harry Potter. Having a boy magician as the main character doesn't make something a Harry Potter knockoff. Especially when that magician is Nathaniel, as different a character from Harry as you can imagine.
Nathaniel is bitter, ambitious, naïve, and hugely precocious. At the beginning of the first book, he is under the tutelage of inferior magician Arthur Underwood, who treats him terribly. Nathaniel puts up with it, though - until he is humiliated by a man named Simon Lovelace in public, and Underwood is too afraid to help him.
Nathaniel, furious, throws himself into a task that no one expected he could accomplish - summoning a powerful middle-ranking djinni to exact revenge on Lovelace by stealing the Amulet of Samarkand.
But Bartimaeus, the djinni, is not a docile creature. Sarcastic and hilarious, it is his part-narration - and the footnotes that go along with it - that really make the books.
In the second book, THE GOLEM'S EYE, Nathaniel must summon Bartimaeus again when he is put in charge of hunting down the source of a devastating attack. The Prime Minister is certain that the Resistance, a group of commoners rebelling against the magicians' unfair regime, is behind the attack, but Nathaniel is not so sure. Meanwhile, Kitty Jones, a commoner at the head of the Resistance, is searching with the others for magical weapons they can use to overthrow the magicians and regain London.
The third book, PTOLEMY'S GATE, is arguably the best of the trilogy, where we learn the most about Bartimaeus's past. Nathaniel has been abusing the djinni to the point where he is almost dead, until, in an act of compassion that surprises even him, Nathaniel sends him back temporarily to the Other Place to regain his strength.
But Kitty hasn't been idle, either, and she finally decides to try something that has never been tried by anyone like her before. And as the fates of Nathaniel and Kitty and Bartimaeus intertwine again and again, and the government begins to crumble - but *not* in the way you were hoping it would - it's impossible to tell what will happen. You will be racing to reach the finish - but, beware: You might find yourself crying in the end.
I can't recommend this trilogy highly enough, and I can't wait to read some of Jonathan Stroud's other work.
Rating: Masterpiece
Colorful and entertaining book set 2008-01-12
I bought this set as a gift for my 12-year-old nephew, who is an avid reader of fantasy fiction. He loves the books. The boxed set of hardcover books is beautifully packaged and makes a very impressive gift.
Enjoyable for Parents to read, too 2008-01-02
I bought this trilogy for myself after finishing the Harry Potter series.. it was suggested by a young-adult fiction fan here on Amazon. At 40+, I was a bit skeptical in reading young-adult fiction at this age; Harry Potter seemed to have cured me of any doubts, however. This series gripped me from the start, it is a very interesting story and the ending is perfect. Absolutely perfect. I was impressed by the language, being that it was intended for young adults and children, (actually on Amazon it says 'ages 9-12').
There isn't much information regarding the upcoming movie based on the first book - I am hoping that it is done well, and well enough for the series to continue in movie format.
Highly recommended for the adult who enjoys young-adult fiction; also as the 'pallet cleaner' series to read after reading the Potter series.
OUTSTANDING 2007-12-30
This is an excellent set. A great read! Entertaining and amusing and I did not go near my chew bone til I had read all three books!!!
I give this series my top rating of 5 Milk Bones!!!
Wonderful story 2007-12-21
What a great series. It was hard to put the books down and I was sorry to see it end.
Nicely done It is a very entertaining trilogy. A young man magician (Nathaniel) is looking for guidance and when he doesn't find 
2008-06-25
This is a very entertaining trilogy. A young man magician (Nathaniel) is looking for guidance and when he doesn't find it with those close to him, he summons a Djinni and finds himself in a different and witty adventure as he tries to keep the Djinni under control.
On the second book Nathaniel is sent to find the culprit of an horrible attack. He needs to find him before the non-magical resistance finds their own weapon and overthrows the magicians.
The third book is as good as the other two as the characters lives intertwine with each other throughout the story to bring a surprising ending to the series. Very good reading.
Anna del C.
Author of "The Elf and the Princess"
The Elf and The Princess: The Silent Warrior Trilogy - Book One (The Silent Warrior Trilogy)
I wish there were more than 3 books 2008-05-31
Yep, my only complaint about the Bartimaeus trilogy is that there are only 3 books of Bartimaeus-goodness. He made me laugh, and the entire set was very well written. I'm in my late 20s, and didn't realize until after I'd read them that they were for "young adults". Oops. Well, I hadn't noticed, honestly. It's a great read for any adult.
I loved this trilogy. Highly recommended!
In this gown-up's opinion: The Best 2008-05-01
I, like the rest of the known universe, started by reading the Harry Potter books. When I was done, well, frankly, in the gaps between #'s 6 & 7, I started looking around for other similar items. I was looking for interesting story-telling without too much of a challenge (for example: easy enough to follow in audiobook form which is very disjointed depending on your driving habits).
I tried them all and found some good ones: The Golden Compass books, the Spook's Apprentice books -- some "ok" ones: the Artemis Fowl books and the Septimus Heap books -- and, well, some others I won't tout.
But the Bartimaeus books are the BEST. Like all these books the "world" created is delightful and interesting and equalled only by the Golden Compass. But it is Barty himself -- a wise-cracking and sarcastic demon who is trying to find technical mistakes in the ways in which his human summoner has operated to give him the excuse to devour same! -- who really makes the books.
I don't want to give away the plots but all three stories are interesting, exciting, and fast-paced. Further, they are woven together skillfully and the gradual evolution of Barty and Nathaniel from antagonists, to reluctant allies, to friends is great fun. I always KNEW he was a demon with a heart of gold!
I really recommend these. Great Stuff. A great pity that there aren't more of them!
Fantastic fantasy! 2008-04-12
I absobultely loved this trilogy. Every part is better and better, and I was genuinely sad when the adventure was over. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy.
Fun for kids and grownups 2008-02-24
In Bartimaeus the "djinni," Stroud has created a truly magical character. The entire trilogy is a gem.
