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chamomiledaydreams's review against another edition
5.0
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
I enjoyed this trilogy very much! The protagonists grew on me rather quickly, and this last book does a great job of completing their character arcs. The pacing caught my attention rather quickly, because it feels as though the first two books in this series spend the last 25 to 35% of the story focusing on the big, climactic event. However, "Ptolemy's Gate" really gets into the concluding action about halfway through. It reminds me of "The Last Olympian," which devotes most of its pages to the final battle to which the previous books build up. In both cases, I was glad to see the action beginning early on, because it meant that there would be more time for resolution.
Unfortunately, "Ptolemy's Gate" does end rather abruptly, despite all the time and attention it gives to the climax. But I forgive the book completely for this, because symbolically, it feels like the right decision (even if it leaves me sad and broken as a reader). "The Amulet of Samarkand" begins with Nathanial summoning Bartimaeus, and "Ptolemy's Gate" ends with Nathaniel dismissing him. The symmetry is worthy of a chef's kiss, and although I wish the characters had happier endings, I cannot deny that it feels right to conclude their stories this way.
Another element in this book that I love is the way the writing style morphs to accommodate and accentuate the story. Bartimaeus' chapters are the only ones written in the first-person and the only sections to feature footnotes. When he and Nathaniel decide to work together in the last half of the novel, Stroud very cleverly merges the writing style for each of these characters. Nathaniel gets footnotes in his chapters and actually responds to them in real time. This is fascinating, because not only do I think this style of writing with footnotes is neat, but it also has a satisfying, in-world explanation: Bartimaeus thinks differently than humans, with multiple thoughts branching off at once, and that is difficult for Nathaniel to keep up with.
Nathaniel's sense of disorientation and Bartimaeus' non-human way of thinking is underscored by the way Stroud describes the Other Place. That was another one of my favorite chapters, since it was equal parts creative and chilling. The moment when Kitty realizes that she's only been present in the Other Place for several seconds, though we as readers have been living in it for several pages, was jarring in the best of ways.
Not only does this series tell a great story, but it explores the unique ways in which literature can function, experimenting with alternating tenses and styles of narration. "Ptolemy's Gate" leaves me wanting more content with these characters but convinced that this series was told just as it was meant to be, in the perfect amount of space. It helps to know that there are gaps in the timeline, adventures that the protagonists had together when the narrative wasn't following them. And I'm certain that if those anecdotes were included more fully in the books, then they would've made me alternate between laughing and crying, too, just like the entirety of the main story did. Kudos to Jonathan Stroud for balancing drama and humor so well and for crafting such a compelling and well-written series!
I enjoyed this trilogy very much! The protagonists grew on me rather quickly, and this last book does a great job of completing their character arcs. The pacing caught my attention rather quickly, because it feels as though the first two books in this series spend the last 25 to 35% of the story focusing on the big, climactic event. However, "Ptolemy's Gate" really gets into the concluding action about halfway through. It reminds me of "The Last Olympian," which devotes most of its pages to the final battle to which the previous books build up. In both cases, I was glad to see the action beginning early on, because it meant that there would be more time for resolution.
Unfortunately, "Ptolemy's Gate" does end rather abruptly, despite all the time and attention it gives to the climax. But I forgive the book completely for this, because symbolically, it feels like the right decision (even if it leaves me sad and broken as a reader). "The Amulet of Samarkand" begins with Nathanial summoning Bartimaeus, and "Ptolemy's Gate" ends with Nathaniel dismissing him. The symmetry is worthy of a chef's kiss, and although I wish the characters had happier endings, I cannot deny that it feels right to conclude their stories this way.
Another element in this book that I love is the way the writing style morphs to accommodate and accentuate the story. Bartimaeus' chapters are the only ones written in the first-person and the only sections to feature footnotes. When he and Nathaniel decide to work together in the last half of the novel, Stroud very cleverly merges the writing style for each of these characters. Nathaniel gets footnotes in his chapters and actually responds to them in real time. This is fascinating, because not only do I think this style of writing with footnotes is neat, but it also has a satisfying, in-world explanation: Bartimaeus thinks differently than humans, with multiple thoughts branching off at once, and that is difficult for Nathaniel to keep up with.
Nathaniel's sense of disorientation and Bartimaeus' non-human way of thinking is underscored by the way Stroud describes the Other Place. That was another one of my favorite chapters, since it was equal parts creative and chilling. The moment when Kitty realizes that she's only been present in the Other Place for several seconds, though we as readers have been living in it for several pages, was jarring in the best of ways.
Not only does this series tell a great story, but it explores the unique ways in which literature can function, experimenting with alternating tenses and styles of narration. "Ptolemy's Gate" leaves me wanting more content with these characters but convinced that this series was told just as it was meant to be, in the perfect amount of space. It helps to know that there are gaps in the timeline, adventures that the protagonists had together when the narrative wasn't following them. And I'm certain that if those anecdotes were included more fully in the books, then they would've made me alternate between laughing and crying, too, just like the entirety of the main story did. Kudos to Jonathan Stroud for balancing drama and humor so well and for crafting such a compelling and well-written series!
catethegreat03's review against another edition
5.0
I thought this conclusion was well done and I'm genuinely sad that the only other book in this universe is the prequel.
I got everything I wanted, Nathanial realized his wrongs and grew, Kitty made a change, and Bartimaeus was free (at least for a while). It just wasn't how I expected. I also think this story can be used to introduce children (or people in general) to how absolute power corrupts absolutely.
I would love to suggest this trilogy to others and I plan on reading the prequel and Stroud's other work in the hope that they will scratch the itch that this book left me with. (I would also love suggestions of books like this or with a similar magic system)
I got everything I wanted, Nathanial realized his wrongs and grew, Kitty made a change, and Bartimaeus was free (at least for a while). It just wasn't how I expected. I also think this story can be used to introduce children (or people in general) to how absolute power corrupts absolutely.
I would love to suggest this trilogy to others and I plan on reading the prequel and Stroud's other work in the hope that they will scratch the itch that this book left me with. (I would also love suggestions of books like this or with a similar magic system)
beans_and_books0509's review against another edition
5.0
The ending of this trilogy was bitter sweet, but left me satisfied. I'm happy I revisited and finished this series (I read the first book as a kid and never finished it)
yuusasih's review against another edition
5.0
great conclusion for a great trilogy. This story ending made me jump in my bed and cried "Whaaaaat? How could this happen to Nat?" and yes, open ending--which made my heart broken since I couldn't find a perfect ending for this story unless this open ending one.
I just mope until now. Naaaaaaaaaaateeeeee~ *huggles*
I just mope until now. Naaaaaaaaaaateeeeee~ *huggles*
cameronkc's review against another edition
3.0
I wish there were half stars.
This book is a 3.5. A good end to the series, with some excellent characters. The demons/djinni seemed like the most interesting part of this entire book and we only got to see one of them with any depth. I would have loved a little bit more of a look into some more vaired spirits. They were all witty and fun, where the main characters were OK, but nothing to 'write' home about.
This book is a 3.5. A good end to the series, with some excellent characters. The demons/djinni seemed like the most interesting part of this entire book and we only got to see one of them with any depth. I would have loved a little bit more of a look into some more vaired spirits. They were all witty and fun, where the main characters were OK, but nothing to 'write' home about.
stressedspidergirl's review against another edition
4.0
Weirdly, my copy goes to page 344, then repeats pages 313 to 344 and then skips to 374. So I missed a good chunk of the important part of the climax, but re-reading it was still a pleasure. One of my favorite books, no questions asked.
gldnhaze's review against another edition
4.0
Die erste Hälfte des Buches hat mich nicht so überzeugt, da war ich eher so bei drei Sternen. Die zweite Hälfte und das Ende waren dafür umso besser, daher kommt ein Durchschnitt von 4 Sternen zustande. ;) Vor allem die Kapitel mit Ptolemäus fand ich auch sehr interessant. Und das Ende hat mich irgendwie traurig gemacht, auch wenn es insgesamt schön spektakulär war.