Slow to start but gets really good near the end

books:

	• Ptolemy's Gate (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 3) Jonathan Stroud Disney-Hyperion, 2005 - 512 pages average customer review:based on 146 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

AMAZING!!

I read the previous two books and loved them so as soon as I saw the third and final one was out I jumped at it. This book was expertly crafted to make one completely absorbed in it. It was literally a book I could not put down. The storyline was intricate and well thought out. In the end I felt both a sense of peace, sorrow, and happiness. This is a must read for anyone with eyes and a mind thirsty for entertainment!

Slow to start but gets really good near the end

Another outing with Nathaniel but slow to start and overwritten in places. This time he's the the Information Minister, and spends his time making up propaganda pamphlets. Three years have passed since the last book and the characters feel more jaded than ever and you almost feel sorry for the way Nathaniel treats Bartimaeus.

He does this by not allowing Bartimaeus to return to the Other Place until his essence is severely weakened. Mandrake is totally absorbed in his work and things aren't going well for the government as the commoners revolt. Kitty is back and through her the reader learns the secret behind Ptolemy and gets a look into Bartimaeus' domain. When a sinister plot unleashes an old evil, Mandrake, Kitty and Bartimaeus team up to defend the human race.

The last hundred pages or so is where it gets really good. Otherwise, it kind of moves slowly.

for more information click here

This book is the best of all three

In my review of the second book, I said "Sequels are often a disappointment, but The Golem's Eye succeeds where others have failed."

That statement is even more fitting for this third and final installment. I will go so far as to say that this book is the best of all three.

So far in the series, twelve-year-old Nathanial went from being raised by a petty and unloving wizard to defeating another rogue wizard who used the Amulet of Samarkand. A few years after that, Nathanial went on to take position at Internal Affairs, uncover yet another plot that involved a Golem and Gladstone's staff, and found himself being saved by one of the last two remaining survivors of the Resistance. All with the aid of a sarcastic djinni named Bartimaeus.

Story overview:

Nathanial is now seventeen-years-old and has grown into a young man. With this come increased responsibilities as he is now the Information Minister. As prestigious as that sounds it mainly entails putting together pamphlets and other forms of propaganda to entice civilians to join the wizard's war against America (one that is going poorly). In doing so he becomes even more cold and indifferent, especially to Bartimaeus whose essence is nearly depleted from having to stay in the human world for so long.

It seems that something deep inside of Nathanial cannot let go of Bartimaeus, who is one of the few reminders of the days when Nathanial used to be a caring lad. It takes a visit to his old school teacher and a face-to-face encounter with the supposedly dead Kitty for him to see what he has become. About the time he realizes this, Nathanial finds himself facing the man behind all the previous plots from the first two books.

The plan is to let spirits take possession of each wizard's body. This way the wizard would have limitless power. The mastermind failed to realize that this only allowed the spirit to take full control, and soon the land finds an army of angry beings wanting revenge for hundreds of years of enslavement. Nathanial acquires a good partner in Kitty as they both attempt to find a way to save the people: Nathanial to obtain Gladstone's staff and the Amulet of Samarkand, and Kitty to use Ptolemy's Gate to enter the other-place and gain Bartimaeus's favor as an ally of freewill.

My thoughts:

This story is candy for readers. I absolutely loved this series and this volume had me glued to the pages, filled with excitement, and not disappointed with the results (though I could have used a happier ending). I'm glad that Nathanial found his redemption, and that both he and Kitty developed a close bond. My only complaint is that this series has come to an end; I have grown so fond of it that this idea is a little depressing, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Things to consider:

There are some disturbing elements, but nothing beyond what is appropriate for this tale. The closest "inappropriate" situation is when Kitty summons Bartimaeus, who chose the form of a scary demon without clothing. Actually, this is done quite humorously and it is a laugh to see Kitty's response, but the scene does have potential to be a little questionable. That is, if the reader takes it beyond the lighthearted intentions. Also, parents need to be clear that the "spirit" element of this story is fictional; they need to inform their children about the differences between these fantastical elements verses real-world ones. I can see some Christians holding picket signs and yelling accusations against this, but that's the point of this blog: to thwart this kind of ignorant behavior. I stick to my series rating, preteen (tween) and older. Not gender specific.

James D. Maxon

Author of, The Cat That Made Nothing Something Again

Manga and speculative fiction reviewer:
[...]

for more information click here

Reviews from Brizmus Blogs Books

Jonathan Stroud totally did it. After starting to get (VERY) minimaly bored with the second part of this trilogy, I was worried that Stroud wasn't going to be able to pull of the boom of an ending that the first book deserved and made the reader expect. But he did, and this is an AWESOME book! It is laugh out loud hilarious, it sometimes makes you step back and say whoa, and I think there was even a point where I cried (not for long, though, because Bartimaeus's snarky comments were just too funny for sadness). Kitty and Nathaniel became the characters I thought that they should have been in the second book. It was great to see both of them grow up and watching their relationships develop. Bartimaeus was back and even whittier than he was in book number 1.
It was also exciting to get to learn more not only about Bartimaeus, but also about Ptolemy, about whom we had heard little snippets in the previous two books, and his relationship with Bartimaeus. It's awesome the way that, over the course of the book, the reader really comes to understand Bartimaeus and how he developed his personality.
While being an incredible page turning fantasy, Ptolemy's Gate also broaches head on class issues, acceptance of those that are different, pride, and war.
This book is sheer awesomeness, a total success, and possibly and probably even the best of the trilogy.
Who Should Read It?Anyone into fantasy, only after having read and enjoyed (which of course you will) the first two.

for more information click here

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Three years after the events of The Golem's Eye, the young magician Nathaniel is an established member of the British Government.

But he faces unprecedented problems: foreign wars are going badly and Britain's enemies are mounting attacks close to London.

Increasingly distracted, he is treating Bartimaeus worse than ever: the long-suffering djinni is growing weak from too much time in this world, and his patience is at an end. Meanwhile, undercover in London, Kitty has been stealthily completing her research into magic and Bartimaeus' past. She hopes to break the endless cycle of conflict between djinn and humans -- but will she be able to get anyone to listen?

Before any of these problems can be resolved, disaster strikes London from an unexpected source and the destinies of Bartimaeus, Nathanial, and Kitty are thrown together once more. They have to face treacherous magicians, a long-fermented conspiracy, and an enemy from 'The Other Place' that threatens London and the world. Worst of all, they must somehow cope with each other . . .

Bartimaeus fans will be entranced by Stroud's brilliantly conceived finale to the series -- sure to be a major best seller.

for more information click here

hot or not? What's your opinion? Write a review and share your thoughts!

recommendations

Harry's gone but we have Arty: YA Books that adults will love!
La Creme de la Creme of Paranormal / Urban Fantasy
korkys best books 4
Books 2 Read Part 4
Favorite YA Reads

trilogy

Gone (Wake Series, Book 3) (Wake Trilogy)
The Maze Runner (Maze Runner Trilogy (Hardback))
Green (The Circle, Book 0: The Beginning and the End)
All the Pretty Horses (The Border Trilogy, Book 1)
The Border Trilogy: All the Pretty Horses, the Crossing, Cities of ...

ptolemy

Ptolemy's Gate (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 3)
Daughter of the Crocodile (Ptolemies Quartet)
The Pot Thief Who Studied Ptolemy
History: Fiction or Science? Astronomical methods as applied to ...
Antique Maps and Their Cartographers (First Edition)

gate

Golden Gate Trailblazer: Where to Hike, Stroll, Bike, Jog, Roll in ...
Emptiness Dancing
Legacy of Honor: The Values and Influence of America's Eagle Scouts
The Bondwoman's Narrative
Getting Lucky: How One Special Dog Found Love and a Second Chance at ...

search for books
ptolemy's gate, bartimaeus, book, gate, ptolemy, trilogy

Impressum / about us