Ptolemy's Gate: Summary and book reviews of Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud, plus links to an excerpt from Ptolemy's Gate and a biography of Jonathan Stroud.
Ptolemy's Gate The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 3
by Jonathan Stroud
Hardcover: Dec 2005,
512 pages.
Paperback: Jan 2007,
512 pages.
Three years have passed since the magician Nathaniel helped prevent a cataclysmic attack on London. Now an established member of the British Government, he faces unprecedented problems: foreign wars are going badly, Britain’s enemies are mounting attacks close to London, and rebellion is fermenting among the commoners. Increasingly imperious and distracted, Nathaniel is treating Bartimaeus worse than ever. The long-suffering djinni is growing weak and vulnerable from too much time in this world, and his patience is nearing its end.
Meanwhile, undercover in London, Kitty has been stealthily completing her research on magic, demons, and Bartimaeus’s past. She has a plan that she hopes will break the endless cycle of conflict between djinn and humans. But will anyone listen to what she has to say?
In this thrilling conclusion of the Bartimaeus trilogy, the destinies of Bartimaeus, Nathaniel, and Kitty are thrown together once more. For the first time, we will learn the secrets of Bartimaeus’s past, and get a glimpse into the Other Place -- the world of demons -- as together, the threesome must face treacherous magicians, unravel a masterfully complex conspiracy, and defeat a formidable faction of demons. And worst of all, they must somehow cope with one another....
Ptolemy's Gate is a very interesting book with many unexpected twists and turns in the plot. It is an excellent end to the series that still leaves just enough questions unanswered for your mind to continue puzzling over them for a long time to come. It stands out from other books because it gives more details on the spirits themselves, such as their personalities and the conflicts that exist between them caused by bitter feuds dating back thousands of years.
Will Kitty's strength and intelligence combined with the good that still lies somewhere in the heart of Nathaniel/John Mandrake, plus Bartimaeus's magic, wit and wisdom be enough to save the day? Readers will have to find out for themselves in the final, exciting volume of this entertaining saga. I highly recommend this series! - Thomas, aged 13. (Reviewed by BookBrowse Review Team).
Publishers Weekly
Pestilence, Detonations, shields, charms and countercharms-for a potent ending that is at once unexpected and wholly earned. Ages 10-up.
KLIATT - Heather Lisowski
Fantasy fans who have not yet picked up this series should do so at once. They are in for a treat! Exceptional book
Children's Literature - Susie Wilde
This is a fast-paced, involving read!
VOYA - Cindy Dobrez
Hard to imagine it being any better written.
School Library Journal
Buy all three at once for readers who want something that is literate, entertaining, and exciting
Recent Reader Reviews
Rated of 5
by Irene Chan (A) Stunning end to an equally stunning book Gosh! Where do I start. Its hard to write without giving the story away. What happens to Kitty towards the end was totally unexpected. Stroud uses a lot of foreshadowing, but I was so sidetracked by the witty endnotes that I didn't think so much of... Read More
Rated of 5
by Hanta Ptolemy's Gate It's not very good it's genius! When I sat down and read it, at first it was a bit confusing. It's a book that you have to go with the flow otherwise your lost.
The perfect ending for a wonderful trilogy. This is the second best series I have... Read More
Rated of 5
by Valerie Excellent tale I am an adult, most of the time I even act like one, and I found this book series excellent. The final book of this trilogy is engrossing, and the leaves you wanting more.
Jonathan Stroud was born in Bedford, England and grew up in St Albans. For many years he
had a burning desire to write a full-length work of fiction which he would have
wanted to read when he was younger. After graduating from York University
he embarked on a publishing and writing career in the game book and non-fiction
department at Walker Books. He moved to Kingfisher Publications to edit
children's non-fiction, and for a time juggled working with writing; but
is now a full-time writer.
He got the idea for the Bartimaeus Trilogy during a 20-minute walk home in the
rain. As he trudged along it occurred to him that most fantasies feature
heroic wizards battling against evil and he wondered whether it would be
interesting to turn this upside-down and instead make the human magicians the
villains. As he continued to splash his way home he next wondered
who would be the hero? If the humans were the villains, then it stood to
reason that a demon/spirit would have to be the hero. He then decided that
the book would be set in a...
Set in the world of the Half-Continent—a land of tri-corner hats and flintlock pistols—the Monster Blood Tattoo trilogy is a world of predatory monsters, chemical potions and surgically altered people. For ages 12+
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by Irene Chan
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