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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
Hmm, how come I've read yet another "young adult" book?
Three word review? Realistic Harry Poter.The beginning of the book *tries* to be not that straightforward, but sooner or later the plot gets rather simple. Bartimaeus' fanfaronades are what saved the book for me. If you've ever spent some longer time on an Usenet newsgroup... you'd feel certain familiarity :D I had a very good time, flipping between main story and the set of cynical footnotes.
The world painted in the book is rather interesting, but the painting isn't exactly detailed. I think I'm inclined to try next book of the cycle, to see what kind of turn has the narration taken from here.
Three word review? Realistic Harry Poter.The beginning of the book *tries* to be not that straightforward, but sooner or later the plot gets rather simple. Bartimaeus' fanfaronades are what saved the book for me. If you've ever spent some longer time on an Usenet newsgroup... you'd feel certain familiarity :D I had a very good time, flipping between main story and the set of cynical footnotes.
The world painted in the book is rather interesting, but the painting isn't exactly detailed. I think I'm inclined to try next book of the cycle, to see what kind of turn has the narration taken from here.
So much fun! Love this alternate London where magicians command djinn, afrits, and all other manner of supernatural creatures. We get to follow the first couple of years of a precocious young magician and hear the story from 2 points of view. There’s informative (and funny and charming) footnotes on the sections from Bartimaeus. Definitely will continue the series.
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hell yeah! classic YA fantasy to start out the year. Made me laugh out loud several times, and I loved how every character didn't magically fix all their problems by the end of the book. There were real consequences for actions, which I feels is missing in so much modern fantasy (which needs characters to be palatable throughout or "reformed" by the end of the story). For fans of Pratchett and Riordan. Don't skip the footnotes!
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Full of memorable quips. The magic system has a sense of "hacker spirit" in it, where demons one summons follow the letter of their instructions, and not the spirit. Leads to interesting situations eventually.
A page-turning romp with nice world-building and good characters.
In this world, magicians are the ruling elite. Nathaniel is a young magicians apprentice. He makes an enemy of the powerful magician Simon Lovelace - or rather - Lovelace makes an enemy of him. Because a year later, when Nathaniel is ready, he summons Bartimaeus, a witty, cynical Djinni to take revenge on his enemy.
The writing was suited to the task. Both Nathaniel and Bartimaeus are fully developed, three-dimensional characters. The world that Stroud creates is interesting and addictive.
In this world, magicians are the ruling elite. Nathaniel is a young magicians apprentice. He makes an enemy of the powerful magician Simon Lovelace - or rather - Lovelace makes an enemy of him. Because a year later, when Nathaniel is ready, he summons Bartimaeus, a witty, cynical Djinni to take revenge on his enemy.
The writing was suited to the task. Both Nathaniel and Bartimaeus are fully developed, three-dimensional characters. The world that Stroud creates is interesting and addictive.
Einfach klasse! Alles passt; der Schreibstil, die Habdlung, die Hauptcharaktere! Kommt auf mein Regal der fulminanten Bücher
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I liked the author's writing style and use of contrasting points of view, however the story itself didn't hold my interest. I already had the second book out from the library, but I decided to return it unread.