Common Sense Media Review
Witty and sharp fantasy with complex characters.
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Why Age 11+?
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Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 15 kid reviews
Kids say the first book in the trilogy serves primarily as an introduction to Nathaniel and his world, with many readers finding it less engaging compared to the subsequent installments, yet it lays the groundwork for deeper themes of greed and honor throughout the series. Many reviews praise the humor, character dynamics, and creativity, describing the story as a captivating mix of fantasy elements and a unique spin on wizardry that appeals to a broad age range.
- engaging characters
- humorous writing
- deeper themes
- captivating story
- series progression
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In an England in which magicians are the aristocracy and run the government and ordinary people are beginning a revolt, apprentice magician Nathaniel is humiliated by a powerful government official, Lovelace, and devotes his life to revenge. Finding his master, Mr. Underwood, weak both in character and magic, he teaches himself from books and finds in himself a level of talent that no one else suspects.
To begin his revenge, he calls up a powerful djinn, Bartimaeus, and orders him to steal the powerful amulet of Samarkand from Lovelace and hide it in Underwood's study. But he's underestimated both the power of his opponent and the complexity of the politics involved, and he soon finds himself in far over his head, with only his captive, restive, and contemptuous djinn to protect him.
Is It Any Good?
This heir to the Potter mantle is a worthy successor, combining a rich, complex story, a delightfully acerbic voice, and an original protagonist. Among many pleasures here is a very different system of magic, detailed by the snide and chatty Bartimaeus in a series of footnotes.
As with many other Rowling wannabes, the author has learned that children love reading fat books, but he still has something to learn about pacing. Tighter editing could have produced a book 100 or so pages shorter without sacrifice. But it's a witty, fun ride nonetheless, destined to be popular and have fans waiting eagerly for the next installment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the magic in this series. How does it compare with the use of magic in the Harry Potter series?
What do you think about Nathaniel? Even though he's naive and ambitious, do you root for him? Is he a hero or an antihero?
Will you read the next book in the series? What do you think will happen with resistance? How do you think this subplot in Book 1 will be handled in the sequels?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Hyperion Books for Children
- Publication date : June 9, 2004
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 14
- Number of pages : 464
- Available on : Paperback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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