The Amulet Of Samarkand (Jonathan Stroud)

29 November 2017

The Amulet Of Samarkand

When the 5,000-year-old djinni Bartimaeus is summoned by Nathaniel, a young magician's apprentice, he expects to have to do nothing more taxing than a little levitation or a few simple illusions. But Nathaniel is a precocious talent and has something rather more dangerous in mind: revenge. Against his will, Bartimaeus is packed off to steal the powerful Amulet of Samarkand from Simon Lovelace, a master magician of unrivalled ruthlessness and ambition. Before long, both djinni and apprentice are caught up in a terrifying flood of magical intrigue, murder and rebellion.

Set in a modern-day London controlled by magicians, this hilarious, electrifying thriller will enthral readers of all ages.

Average Rating:

Sean Aaron (24 December 2017 13:51)

The next two in the series build nicely upon this first one. Funny without descending into farce, but with a pointed commentary on British class structure and traditional views of magic that is greatly expanded upon in later volumes. Well worth a read.

Graham MacDonald (1 December 2017 19:33)

Really enjoyed this - doesn't patronise the reader despite being aimed at the young adult market. Some nice social commentary on the nature of class and a good counterpoint to Harry Potter showing a world where the possession of magic divides the world and those with the power to do magic use it to further their own ends rather than for the good of all. And a damning indictment of the British class system to boot.