A review by nytephoenyx
Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud

adventurous dark funny lighthearted tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I first read this trilogy when I was in school, and several rereads later, I still love the characters, the comedy, the plot, the magic system and the whole thing in general. Bartimaeus is a fantastic character, and one can even fall in love with Nathaniel and Kitty. Despite knowing the ending, I was on edge waiting for the reveal, and despite knowing that no new books have been written for this character in a decade, I still went to the Internet to check for more. I cannot recommend the Bartimaeus series enough to people who like lighthearted fantasy. It feels unique, clever, and is so generally enjoyable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Classism, and Death

There is a character in flashbacks that in Egyptian. A main character frequently appears in this guise (the character is otherwise formless and the book is clear that adopting this visage is a symbol of respect).