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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
This was a fun read with some unique aspects.
There were a lot of things I liked. The magic system and the politics (which I'm guessing we'll see more of in future books) we're all interesting. The plot was okay for the most part and I did end up liking both the characters (although I know that is not the case for everyone, their cleverness and the good in Nathaniel, small though it is, made me root for them).
My main problem with the book was the pacing. I felt the pacing was with the ending, making it drag out a little too long for me.
The other thing I noticed was that Bartimeus did feel really clever, but honestly, Nathaniel didn't. He made so many poor decisions and relied on Bartimeus' cleverness to get them out of nearly every problem they encountered. Sure, he could remember things quickly, but I got the feeling he was supposed to be some sort of prodigy; I just didn't feel that.
I will mention, too, that there wasn't really much character growth in this book. I've heard it's good over the series though, and if that's the case, I can forgive it here.
Overall, if you enjoy middle grade fantasy, this is a good one to try.
There were a lot of things I liked. The magic system and the politics (which I'm guessing we'll see more of in future books) we're all interesting. The plot was okay for the most part and I did end up liking both the characters (although I know that is not the case for everyone, their cleverness and the good in Nathaniel, small though it is, made me root for them).
My main problem with the book was the pacing. I felt the pacing was with the ending, making it drag out a little too long for me.
The other thing I noticed was that Bartimeus did feel really clever, but honestly, Nathaniel didn't. He made so many poor decisions and relied on Bartimeus' cleverness to get them out of nearly every problem they encountered. Sure, he could remember things quickly, but I got the feeling he was supposed to be some sort of prodigy; I just didn't feel that.
I will mention, too, that there wasn't really much character growth in this book. I've heard it's good over the series though, and if that's the case, I can forgive it here.
Overall, if you enjoy middle grade fantasy, this is a good one to try.
DNF at 60%
Es war nicht schlecht, aber hat mich auch nicht wirklich abgeholt.
In vielen Bewertungen wurde es mit Harry Potter verglichen, deshalb hatte ich große Erwartungen aber ich bin mit der Story einfach nicht warm geworden.
Vorallem nicht mit Nathanael.... Alles was er gemacht und gesagt hat war so naiv und teilweise auch echt arrogant und aggressiv. Ich fand ihn extremst unsympathisch.
Bartimäus hingegen war echt witzig und cool. Ich hatte die Hoffnung dass alles besser wird wenn die beiden aufeinander treffen und Partner werden, aber ist irgendwie alles nicht so gelaufen wie ich es mir vorgestellt hat. Nach dem Feuer hab ich dann aufgegeben und das Buch weggelegt.
Also es war nicht schlecht und die Welt war gut aufgebaut aber der angebliche Harry Potter Verschnitt hat mich echt nicht abgeholt
Es war nicht schlecht, aber hat mich auch nicht wirklich abgeholt.
In vielen Bewertungen wurde es mit Harry Potter verglichen, deshalb hatte ich große Erwartungen aber ich bin mit der Story einfach nicht warm geworden.
Vorallem nicht mit Nathanael.... Alles was er gemacht und gesagt hat war so naiv und teilweise auch echt arrogant und aggressiv. Ich fand ihn extremst unsympathisch.
Bartimäus hingegen war echt witzig und cool. Ich hatte die Hoffnung dass alles besser wird wenn die beiden aufeinander treffen und Partner werden, aber ist irgendwie alles nicht so gelaufen wie ich es mir vorgestellt hat. Nach dem Feuer hab ich dann aufgegeben und das Buch weggelegt.
Also es war nicht schlecht und die Welt war gut aufgebaut aber der angebliche Harry Potter Verschnitt hat mich echt nicht abgeholt
After, like, 12 years, I've finally finished this book! And I loved it so much. Reading it almost gave me the same experience I used to have reading fantasy as a kid. This book gave me such a feeling of wonder. I love the worldbuilding so much. I'm not even into England anymore like I was as a kid, but I still loved how British it was. Since I'm not a kid I did notice all the places where there could have been commentary on colonization and there wasn't, but also, this is a book for kids and maybe I'm overthinking it. Still, it would have added an extra layer of meaning that would have been really cool. There was definitely commentary on social class, so it wouldn't have been a stretch to talk about how all these Asian amulets and other magical objects ended up in Britain.
Whatever, colonization aside, this book made me so happy to read. I was so invested in Nathaniel's story. When you're a kid you have so little agency, and the book captures so well how bad that feels. Also, the book has so many great parallels. Yeah, it's simple, but I still love how the book starts with Nathaniel summoning Bartimaeus and ends with him releasing him. And Nathaniel's moment where he saves the day felt earned, if super obvious. But it's a kid's book, so it was perfect.
This seems to me like the beginning of Nathaniel's villain origin story, which I'm obsessed with. I have the next two books right here and I can't wait to read them and see how much worse he gets.
Whatever, colonization aside, this book made me so happy to read. I was so invested in Nathaniel's story. When you're a kid you have so little agency, and the book captures so well how bad that feels. Also, the book has so many great parallels. Yeah, it's simple, but I still love how the book starts with Nathaniel summoning Bartimaeus and ends with him releasing him. And Nathaniel's moment where he saves the day felt earned, if super obvious. But it's a kid's book, so it was perfect.
This seems to me like the beginning of Nathaniel's villain origin story, which I'm obsessed with. I have the next two books right here and I can't wait to read them and see how much worse he gets.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Можда сам превише великодушна, али ово је било духовито и опуштајуће, и јако добро написано, а баш то ми је у овом тренутку требало.
Stroud writes a colorful, well-paced story with engaging characters and wonderful worldbuilding. Also, Bartimaeus. Sassy little shit. Loved every footnote and dialogue line!
Kenya, I think you (and Natalie) might like this book. It's kind of the anti-HP--a sarcastic take on "magicians" and a plug for the dark arts as the ones that really count.
Watch where you leave your victims! I stubbed my toe on that.
Bartimaeus is a delight! I loved his snarky attitude! He was definitely the best part of the book. Nathaniel was annoying. I kept hoping he would see the error of his ways, or at least grow as a person as the book progressed. Neither occurred. I also kept hoping that Nathaniel and Bartimaeus would start working together, which they sort of did by the end.
This is a long book for a children's book. It seemed at times to go on and on. It would have been better shorter. It looks like the rest of the books in the series are just as long or longer.
I wasn't planning on reading the rest of the books but I enjoyed the end of this one so much that I think I'm going to give the next one a try.
Bartimaeus is a delight! I loved his snarky attitude! He was definitely the best part of the book. Nathaniel was annoying. I kept hoping he would see the error of his ways, or at least grow as a person as the book progressed. Neither occurred. I also kept hoping that Nathaniel and Bartimaeus would start working together, which they sort of did by the end.
This is a long book for a children's book. It seemed at times to go on and on. It would have been better shorter. It looks like the rest of the books in the series are just as long or longer.
I wasn't planning on reading the rest of the books but I enjoyed the end of this one so much that I think I'm going to give the next one a try.
Like most people I'm sure, I couldn't help but to compare this novel to Harry Potter. Our magician, Nathaniel, being a mixture of the noble Harry and ambitious Malfoy, plays the straight man to our cheeky and brass djinni Bartimaeus, the true star of show. Stroud creates a magical world with many similarities to that of Harry Potter, but he also builds heroes who we look back on not with reverence but with a chuckle and a shake of the head.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes