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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
2020 upd - I don't know why I thought this was okay... I loved this book this time around! Simon Jones' narration of the audio version is brilliant, and honestly, I think Jonathan Stroud is one of my favourite authors.
It's so witty
[2017] it was good. Bartimaeus is funny, Nathaniel is a little piece of... but is ok. Stroud is a great storyteller. I liked Lockwood and Co. more, but I can't deny that the writing is good, and the author definitely achieves his goals.
It's so witty
[2017] it was good. Bartimaeus is funny, Nathaniel is a little piece of... but is ok. Stroud is a great storyteller. I liked Lockwood and Co. more, but I can't deny that the writing is good, and the author definitely achieves his goals.
This was a free summer audio-download from SYNC... I actually found this quite enjoyable being told from two POVs: the young magician, Nathaniel, and his reluctant, button-pushing djinni, Bartimaeus. A story of magical espionage and more retribution than revenge...
Though I've been a bit disgruntled with so many stories today that are purposely written as part of a series, this one can be considered complete on its own but you'll find yourself still excited to know that there is another following up.
I'm thinking of looking for a copy of this book to give to my 12yo nephew as I'm sure that he would enjoy it.
Though I've been a bit disgruntled with so many stories today that are purposely written as part of a series, this one can be considered complete on its own but you'll find yourself still excited to know that there is another following up.
I'm thinking of looking for a copy of this book to give to my 12yo nephew as I'm sure that he would enjoy it.
Ja mám túto sériu strašne rada. A teda hlavne kvôli Bartimaeovi. Mám rada jeho hlášky a poznámky pod čiarou. A aj to, že sa prezentuje ako najlepší na svete, no jeho taktikou prežitia je útek z boja. Nathaniel je namyslený chalanisko, no jeho povaha dáva zmysel. Nečakajte dobráka od kosti.
Excellent 're-read.' I listened to this one on audiobook as the narrator's voice is just amazing.
Jonathan Stroud's The Amulet of Samarkand was quite a novel for me. It was the first novel that dealt with demonic spirits outside of a spiritual sense. It also was the first novel I encountered that switched between first and third-person POV based on the narrator.
Nathaniel and Bartimaeus' relationship started off on the wrong foot, to say the least. But the humor Stroud was able to inject, and the fun plot kept it going. Also, avoiding most of the incantation information eases my conscience nowadays. I count this trilogy as part of what helped me delve deeper into the fantasy/Sci-Fi books I would come to love later on.
Nathaniel and Bartimaeus' relationship started off on the wrong foot, to say the least. But the humor Stroud was able to inject, and the fun plot kept it going. Also, avoiding most of the incantation information eases my conscience nowadays. I count this trilogy as part of what helped me delve deeper into the fantasy/Sci-Fi books I would come to love later on.
These books were fun - but better for children than for adults. It's interesting how so many bad guys in children's books are fascists! I now understand why.
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I first read this as a kid, & it holds up fairly well. The story is notably well-constructed - nothing is ever made easy for the characters, and from what I remember of the rest of the trilogy, some future character development is foreshadowed in this book. There's a bit of a magical heist element to the story, which is fun, & the footnotes are very funny. I'm not usually one for audiobooks, but I enjoyed Simon Jones's reading of it, and I thought his acting was quite good (and the footnotes are kept in, don't worry).
I would like to note, though, that the way cultures from outside England are incorporated into the worldbuilding is... not particularly respectful, as far as I can tell. Bartimaeus makes a few offhand mentions of places he's been summoned in the past, and some of it comes off as very stereotypical. None of it is really in-depth or relevant to the main setting or plot, though.
I would like to note, though, that the way cultures from outside England are incorporated into the worldbuilding is... not particularly respectful, as far as I can tell. Bartimaeus makes a few offhand mentions of places he's been summoned in the past, and some of it comes off as very stereotypical. None of it is really in-depth or relevant to the main setting or plot, though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Grief
Minor: Body horror, Confinement
I really loved the character Bartimaeus, for me the story was good but not great. Still seems worth it to go to the next book in the series.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes