by The WandererAuthor: Jonathan Stroud
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Series: Bartimaeus Book One
Pages: 462
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The Amulet of Samarkand may be one of the most cynical middle grade fantasy books out there. The story focuses on eleven year old Nathaniel, who is trying to get revenge on an elite magician who publicly humiliated him. He goes over his head when he summons Bartimaeus, a smart ass demon, to help him.
Pairing the naive eleven year old Nathaniel with the sarcastic djinni Bartimaeus creates one of the most dysfunctional partnerships I’ve ever seen. All though the book is anchored with a traditional good vs. evil style plot; the prose, strong characters, and biting humor make this a great story that doesn’t feel like another fantasy knock off.
