When the 5,000-year-old djinni Bartimaeus is summoned by Nathaniel, a young magician's apprentice, he expects to have to do nothing more taxing than a little levitation or a few simple illusions. But Nathaniel is a precocious talent and has something rather more dangerous in mind: revenge. Against his will, Bartimaeus is packed off to steal the powerful Amulet of Samarkand from Simon Lovelace, a master magician of unrivalled ruthlessness and ambition. Before long, both djinni and apprentice are caught up in a terrifying flood of magical intrigue, murder and rebellion. Set in a modern-day London controlled by magicians, this hilarious, electrifying thriller will enthral readers of all ages.
Hilarious older children’s fantasy with extra sarcasm
I remember laughing out loud when I first read this. The story swaps between Bartimaeus and his summoner, the lonely, precocious Nathaniel. Bartimaeus is very funny, jaded by millennia of servitude and determined to get the last word. His indignation at being enslaved by a twelve-year-old, and the misadventures that follow, are genuinely entertaining. Nathaniel pulls you in with his struggle between self-interest and the desire to do the right thing. The series does get darker, but this first book is a hilarious odd-couple romp.
Reviewed by 33as
QBD, 13/11/2014
Hilarious older children’s fantasy with extra sarcasm
I remember laughing out loud when I first read this. The story swaps between Bartimaeus and his summoner, the lonely, precocious Nathaniel. Bartimaeus is very funny, jaded by millennia of servitude and determined to get the last word. His indignation at being enslaved by a twelve-year-old, and the misadventures that follow, are genuinely entertaining. Nathaniel pulls you in with his struggle between self-interest and the desire to do the right thing. The series does get darker, but this first book is a hilarious odd-couple romp.
Amy, 09/11/2014
