Scan barcode
A review by is_book_loring
Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud
5.0
“Much has happened since last we met, Bartimaeus," he went on. "Do you remember how we parted?"
"No." I did.
"You set light to me, old friend. Struck a match and left me burning in a copse."
The crow shifted uneasily beneath the cleaver."That's a gesture of endearment in some cultures. Some hug, some kiss, some set each other on fire in small patches of woodland...”
Ptolemy's Gate is an excellent conclusion to this splendid trilogy. It is the best in the series with the strongest characters development -Nathaniel's arc is especially satisfying, the most explored human-magical being relationship, the finest plot and very neat, smartly wrapped up ending. In addition to the most terrific feature in the series which is Bartimaeus and his humorous wit of course, Stroud inserted Bartimaeus' backstory with the wonderful ancient Egyptian magician, Ptolemy, which has become the prominent highlight in the entire trilogy for me. Stroud, very skillfully also resolved the most problematic element in his world: the irritating stereotypes of human magicians by simply cutting back their scenes, replacing them with Kitty Jones' strong characterization and her unique, particular circumstances. He was still terrible with the execution of final battle, mind you, and the funny way he never gave readers the explanation to the supposed historical "pattern" of the out-of-the-blue epidemic resilient DNA in commoners somehow had become not that significant- at least to me, because of that great, marvelous ending.
All in all, it was very fitting conclusion with extraordinary clean slate -which might or might not felt good to other people but it was to me- to a fantasy series that I seldom comes across and I will definitely miss Bartimaeus and his endearing snide comments a lot. (“The mercenary finished his coffee in a single gulp, It must have been piping hot, too. Boy, he was tough.”)
"No." I did.
"You set light to me, old friend. Struck a match and left me burning in a copse."
The crow shifted uneasily beneath the cleaver."That's a gesture of endearment in some cultures. Some hug, some kiss, some set each other on fire in small patches of woodland...”
Ptolemy's Gate is an excellent conclusion to this splendid trilogy. It is the best in the series with the strongest characters development -Nathaniel's arc is especially satisfying, the most explored human-magical being relationship, the finest plot and very neat, smartly wrapped up ending. In addition to the most terrific feature in the series which is Bartimaeus and his humorous wit of course, Stroud inserted Bartimaeus' backstory with the wonderful ancient Egyptian magician, Ptolemy, which has become the prominent highlight in the entire trilogy for me. Stroud, very skillfully also resolved the most problematic element in his world: the irritating stereotypes of human magicians by simply cutting back their scenes, replacing them with Kitty Jones' strong characterization and her unique, particular circumstances. He was still terrible with the execution of final battle, mind you, and the funny way he never gave readers the explanation to the supposed historical "pattern" of the out-of-the-blue epidemic resilient DNA in commoners somehow had become not that significant- at least to me, because of that great, marvelous ending.
Spoiler
Imagine to finally get your long awaited character development of the hero in the story, only to have the writer kill him afterwardAll in all, it was very fitting conclusion with extraordinary clean slate -which might or might not felt good to other people but it was to me- to a fantasy series that I seldom comes across and I will definitely miss Bartimaeus and his endearing snide comments a lot. (“The mercenary finished his coffee in a single gulp, It must have been piping hot, too. Boy, he was tough.”)