Book 3, Ptolemy's Gate: A Bartimaeus Novel

Ptolemy's Gate was a great conclusion to the trilogy. Bartimaeus is aging which gives insite to his more "human" side. The first part was a bit wordy but necessary to understand the rest of the story. This book wasn't nearly as dark as the first two which I don't consider appropriate for children under 15.

Absolutely heart-rending. I wasn't expected the ending, especially since the previous two books - although entertaining - came off as juvenile. This book peeked in maturity where the other two fell short.

Spoiler alert

In book number one, a poor child is taken from his parents and this begins a three book struggle between his nature to be kind and caring and the magician's nurturing to be cold and heartless.

Readers are given enough clues to realize that in the end, nature will win out--and indeed Nathanial saves Bartimaeus and is redeemed in the eyes of Kitty.

And then he dies.

So what, exactly, was the point of Nathanial's journey from evil magician back to caring citizen? To save his soul? An afterlife wasn't even hinted at here. No, instead this is a three book series that explores the adage "life sucks and then you die."

We need a moratorium on sequels. Publishers are obviously not inclined towards such decency, but perhaps retailers like the store could make this happen by refusing to carry sequels. Another misguided hope.

The author himself appears tired of his characters, the endless footnoting just seems a gimmick that the author cannot escape from. Everyone sees the light and everything turns out right, of course.

The real world and the one where Bartimaeus ordinarily lives are supposed to be symmetric, but making things completely symmetric wouldn't serve the author's cliched purposes, so its only symmetric whenever it suits.

Save your money. Borrow it from your public library if you feel you must read the last part.

Interesting idea for a magic system and alternate earth. The problem with this book, and series, is the lack of truly enjoyable main characters. Could have been a much more enjoyable story if the characters were like able.

"Ptolemy's Gate" is the least favorite of my books in this trilogy. Poor Bartimaeus has been on Earth so long, he is almost too pooped to pun. Kitty has been leading a quiet, anonymous life in London's seedier districts, ever since the Resistance was destroyed by a nasty afrit in Gladstone's tomb. She lives in hope of contacting the djinn, Bartimaeus in spite of the fact that she is a commoner and not a magician.

Meanwhile, in spite of his youth, Nathaniel is climbing higher and higher into the magician-controlled government. He has become arrogant, peevish, and insecure.

Very, very insecure. He plopped himself into some deep doo doo when he suggested to the paranoid Prime Minister that Gladstone's staff should be taken out of hiding and used to fight the American War.

The current government consists of mediocre, political suck-ups with no vision of governing, beyond oppressing the commoners. Although he doesn't know it, this attitude is slowly driving Nathaniel nuts. He uses his djinni, Bartimaeus recklessly, almost to the point of killing him. When Bartimaeus is reduced to a small puddle of frog, Nathaniel finally dismisses him to the mysterious Other Place to regain his essence.

Imagine the djinni's shock when he is summoned back to Earth by someone other than his Master!

Although this book has some static, talky stretches, it also sizzles with magic once the boring government types are out of the way, and the afrits and djinn take over. Hold onto your hats, and never, ever get on an elevator with a delegation claiming to be from the mythical Kingdom of Sheba.

Title: Ptolemy's Gate
Author: Jonathan Stroud
Age Group: Teen/Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Bartimaeus Sequence, book three
Star Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

I borrowed this book through my local library and reviewed it.

My husband and I have a little routine when it comes to books. Either I read to him aloud so we can experience the story together, or he reads it first, and I read it after him, so we can talk about it. This was the Bartimaeus Sequence for us most recently, thanks to the lovely people of the Reddit-sphere. It took me a little while to get to it, but when I did, I was drawn in immediately, and when I had to put it down, there were times when I was irrationally angry. But Stroud closes this hilarious, heartfelt trilogy with surprising tenderness and skill. Honestly, I really feel like I've lost a new set of friends, finishing this series. That ending though! Just stomp on my heart, why don't you?! (Authors and endings are going to be the death of me, I swear...)

Ptolemy's Gate picks up where The Golem's Eye left off, and I don't want to give any details away, for my readers that haven't read it yet. But what I will say is that this trilogy closes with beautiful, dazzling prose that had me laughing and crying, sometimes at the same time. Action and adventure abound as Nathaniel and Bartimaeus embark on their final quest. Kitty also shows up, trying desperately to save her country from brewing unrest and rebellion. All three of their heroes' fates collide, and none of them will make it unscathed...

I loved this book. Every crazy, hilarious moment of it. Sequels usually make me anxious, but this one delivered in every way. Breakneck pacing, twists and turns, tying up loose ends, lovable characters, old and new, all the tension that I could handle, and some that I couldn't bear, and that ending! Gah, I couldn't take it! I also loved the way the author shifted from one point of view to another, giving a fully rounded perspective on the events happening in the book. This series closer took my heart and guts and stomped all over them, and I have to say that it was worth it. I loved the way the trilogy ended, though it broke my heart and made me cry. Bartimaeus's wry, humorous commentary had me laughing and screaming in frustration. (I don't want it to end, so I ordered the prequel from my library. All the Egyptian shenanigans!) And Kitty! I loved the way she got a leading role in this book, instead of a supporting character. And Nathaniel! I loved the character development! What a book! The bottom line: The final book in the Bartimaeus Sequence, I loved Ptolemy's Gate! What a series closer! I can't wait for The Ring of Solomon! Next on deck: The Definition of Indefinable Things by Whitney Taylor!

Nathaniel, Bartimaeus and Kitty are back for another amazing adventure.

Ptolemy’s Gate picks up things three years after the events of The Golem’s Eye. Nathaniel is now a member of the council. He is also placed close to the minister and as such we can say that he has established himself as an influential magician. At the same time, we also come to discover that not everyone admires the man that Nathaniel has become. Kitty is now an assistant to a magician and is secretly continuing her research on magician and demons alike.

Baritmaeus is the character that gives this series the level that it is at. I love his wit and sarcasm. They are so hilarious that it brings in a slightly lighter note to the books. There’s never a dull moment when Bartimaeus is around.

The plot goes deeper into the world in this book. We discover a lot more about magic, demons and the relationship between magicians and demons. The winner for this book is certainly the climax and the turn it takes. It absolutely surprised me. Not to give out any spoilers, but if you pick this book up with an expectation of rainbows and happily ever afters, you will be sorely disappointed. In fact, once my surprise wore off, I feel that the book has a very realistic and appropriate ending. No other ending could have done justice.

The three books satiated my want for some good fantasy after a long long time. This is now my second favourite fantasy series, after Harry Potter. This book was a brilliant conclusion to a brilliant series. FANTASY LOVERS… MUST READ!

Fantastic final book to the Bartimaeus Trilogy. I actually give this a 4.5 stars. *Warning spoilers ahead if you have not read the previous books!*

In this book, Bartimaeus, Nathaniel (John Mandrake) and Kitty are back. Its three years after the events with the golem from the second book. Nathaniel is now a member of the council and one of the closest magicians to the minister and holds substantial power. Kitty had been working as an assistant to a magician in order to gain knowledge on Bartimaeus and his past. Bartimaeus....well he is much as he has been in the previous books.
We get a good look at the relationship between Bartimaeus and Ptolemy in this novel. As Kitty works to unravel his mysteries, Nathaniel is busy with the war effort but is met with opposition from many ends. When Nathaniel's career is put on the line, it draws our three characters together to unravel the dark mystery of Mr Hopkins and the relations between magician and 'demon.' Nathaniel of forced to learn that many, including his former teacher, are disappointed in the person he has become and just how hated the magician rule really is. As he questions his loyalties, Kitty is put to the test of drawing 'demon' and human closer together.
This book had a much more mature viewpoint and style. While the others were lighter in general, this one is darker. More language, violence and a unexpected ending. Mind you, Bartimaeus is cynical as ever, so you won't be disappointed there. A great book for older youth and adults of all ages.

He's back! But this time around, the smart-mouthed djinni, Bartimaeus, is exhausted from too much work and not enough time to recover in his netherworld home. It's like they always say, "All work and no play makes Bartimaeus a dull supernatural being." Although, in this case, he's anything but dull. He's tired, weak, sharp-tongued, homicidal, and insulting. But definitely not dull.

In this third installment of THE BARTIMAEUS TRILOGY, the hero is again a djinni who has little respect for humans and even less interest in their petty wars and government squabbles. The magicians who rule England in this series of books insist on summoning Bartimaeus and scores of other demons to fight their wars, provide magical assistance of all sorts, and generally do their bidding. The demons see this treatment as slavery, and for good reason. What would you call forced servitude for no pay under threat of intense pain?

PTOLEMY'S GATE opens to find poor Bartimaeus stretched to the breaking point by his magician master, Nathaniel. A war in America is going poorly, the commoners of London are growing tired of the ruling class of magicians, and young Nathaniel is looked upon with jealousy and mistrust by his co-workers. As a result of all of these threats, Nathaniel rationalizes the need to keep Bartimaeus around to help him deal with the many problems that he faces. After a long association with the djinni, it is almost as if Nathaniel trusts his reluctant servant. And it is almost as if Bartimaeus has a shred of concern for human dealings. Almost.

PTOLEMY'S GATE is an excellent capstone to the extraordinary Bartimaeus series. I enjoyed all of these books immensely and recommend them to anyone who enjoys young adult fantasy. Like the first two books, The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1) and The Golem's Eye (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 2), this one is filled with humor and excitement. These books also offer some social commentary for those who want to pay attention to such things. For example, the ruling class of magicians in these books take extreme measures to maintain their own positions, while claiming that they are really just interested in keeping the masses safe. There are resistance groups that oppose the government, and they engage in acts of terrorism to free themselves from the magicians' oppressive yoke.

The entiretrilogy is a fun-filled pleasure to read. Doubtless it would be possible to read PTOLEMY'S GATE without having read the previous two books, but I would not recommend it. There is quite a bit of background that would be missed, and the story would definitely suffer. While the first book in the series, The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1), could probably stand alone, the second two (The Golem's Eye (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 2) and PTOLEMY'S GATE) should be read together. And once the last page of PTOLEMY'S GATE is turned, readers will undoubtedly wish they could summon Bartimaeus back for more.

Reviewed by: K. Osborn Sullivan

I reread this series once a year. I recommend these books over Harry Potter, Dark Materials, Ender's Game, etc.

In Ptolemy's Gate, Bartimeaus is worn out and spent, and Nathaniel, whose chapters now all go by John Mandrake, is abusing him worse than ever, justifying the slavery by telling Bartimaeus that other magicians would send him to war.

Kitty, in the meantime, is busy studying. Her encounter with Bartimaeus intrigued her, and a life of exile means she cannot go back home. She works for a library magician and slowly but surely reads how to summon a demon. But she has only one in mind: Bartimeaus.

Her interest in Bartimeaus is not to enslave him, but to get him to help her against the magicians. In reading about him, she learns of Ptolemy, a magician Bartimaeus actually loved. She uses this knowledge to gain Bartimaeus' loyalty, which helps set up the conclusion to the series.

In encountering Kitty again, whom he believed dead, Nathaniel reevaluates his motivations and the world he resides in. And for once, he chooses not to be selfish.

Bartimeaus and Kitty have an amazing rapport with each other. So much so that I always tear up during their interactions. Bartimaeus is as wise-cracking as ever, but this book establishes that he is essentially good, but enslavement has forced him to put that goodness aside. This book also gives Nathaniel a chance for redemption and gives Kitty resolution regarding her friend Jacob.

Kudos to Jonathan Stroud for creating such a marvelous series.

The third part of The Bartimaeus Trilogy, "Ptolemy's Gate" finishes the story began in "The Amulet of Samarkand" and "The Golem's Eye". Like the first two instalments, the majority of the action is set in a mostly recognisable London - admittedly, with a few noticeable changes. The Empire (which still exists), having already defeated the Czech Republic, is now bogged down in a difficult war with the North American colonies. However, French and Czech spies are apparently operating in England, and there is trouble throughout mainland Europe. Magicians have been the ruling class since Gladstone's time, holding all positions of power. Rather than wands and potions, these magicians derive their power from their ability to summon and control a variety of demons - for example, afrits, djinn and imps. Meanwhile the non-magical human masses are referred to as commoners. Despite the fact that the Resistance formed by some 'militant' commoners) was defeated a few years previously, an increasing number of commoners in England are becoming restless.

Three years have passed since the events of "The Golem's Eye". Nathaniel (more widely known as John Mandrake) is now the Information Minister - although he still, unofficially, keeps an eye on things at Internal Affairs. His old rival Jane Farrar, the Deputy Police Chief, is the closest thing he has to a friend on the Council - both are favourites of Rupert Devereaux, the Prime Minister. On Devereaux's instructions, the pair have been working closely together. Following the actions of Lovelace and Duvall - two high ranking, treacherous magicians - Nathaniel and Farrar the pair have been monitoring other magicians. Their surveillance catches a very interesting conversation between two minor Civil Servants - the main point if interest being the mention of a 'Mr Hopkins'. This appears to be the same Hopkins who not only taught the treacherous Duvall how to control his Golem, but also worked with the commoners' Resistance. Nathaniel had searched for Hopkins following the incident with the Golem, but with no success. He also has suspicions there is a traitor within the government. Now, he believes he has found a path to his prey.

Bartimaeus, Nathaniel's favourite fourth-level djinini, is caustic, irreverent and hopelessly vain - he boasts about the walls he built at Uruk and Karnak, but never mentions his work at Jericho. While he was never too fond of Nathaniel, things have now gone too far. Two years have passed since Bartimaeus was allowed to go 'home' and, without a rest, he will die. As it is, he is much slower, weaker and is easily distracted from his duties - a mere fraction of the impressively talented djinn he once was. However, he has lost none of his wisecracking abilities. While he once favoured taking the form of a former master, Ptolemy, he has recently been appearing as Kitty Jones. Kitty, a commoner and former member of the Resistance, saved Nathaniel from Duvall's Golem. Although she escaped, Nathaniel believes she died - largely because Bartimaeus bent the truth beyond all recognition. Seeing Bartimaeus appear as Kitty always makes Nathaniel uncomfortable; as a result, it's one of the few pleasures Bartimaeus has.

Kitty, meanwhile, is still living in London - although she is operating under a number of false identities. (Luckily, she has the papers to support those identities thanks to a friend's father who runs a printing business). While she works some evenings in a pub, she has also started working for a magician called Button. Her new boss is a retired librarian who is interested in research, reading and writing. Unusually, for a magician, he has no interest in playing the political game. Kitty, despite her past in the Resistance, is determined to learn as much from him as possible; she is particularly interested in learning more about Bartimaeus.

Stroud has produced another very enjoyable book, though I am sorry it's the end of the trilogy. As with the previous books, the focus from one chapter to another switches between the characters. Stroud writes Nathaniel's and Kitty's stories ("Nathaniel grasped Kitty by the arm, drew her to one side."), while the djinni tells his own ("I delicately rearranged the fragments of cloth"). It also - finally - becomes clear why Bartimaeus remains so devoted to Ptolemy, his former master, as some of his chapters deal with his time in Egypt.

After reading Ptolemy's Gate, it really makes me look back on the Bartimaeus trilogy and become a little disappointed with the series as a whole. The only reason I say that is because Ptolemy's Gate is such an amazing book, that it makes me wish the other two books were as good as it is.

Ptolemy's Gate follows the exploits of the same characters we have come to know: Nathaniel, Bartimaeus, and Kitty. This novel starts about 3 years after The Golem's Eye, with all the characters having changed quite a bit from the previous novels. Nathaniel is now a high-up within the government, Bartimaeus is as weak and inefficient as he has ever been, and Kitty Jones, known as Clara Bell, is living in hiding, not really involved with what is left of the Resistance. In fact, Ptolemy's Gate really starts out with no plot at all. We are just re-introduced to all the character, and the story sort of fleshes itself out as the book progresses, with new, shocking developments at every turn.

Ptolemy's Gate is by far the most powerful book of the trilogy, and it might be one of the most powerful books I've ever read. Nathaniel and Bartimaeus's relationship is really fleshed out in this book, with some of Bartimaeus's past being revealed in tasty, small chapters at the beginning of the book's five parts. The bond formed between the 3 main characters is one of the best relationships in any book I've ever read, as well. Kitty supplies the reason for the bickering master and slave combo that we have come to love. And let's just say that Nathaniel and Bartimaeus become a lot closer during the final chapters, and this part is the best of the trilogy.

The ending to the book is absolutely perfect. Jonathan Stroud could not have written a better ending if he had tried a thousand more times. I found myself sitting there speechless after the final paragraph, which closes the book out in amazing, profoundly emotional fashion. I wish there were more of these books coming out, but I guess I will just have to look forward to Stroud's works outside this trilogy...

He's back! But this time around, the smart-mouthed djinni, Bartimaeus, is exhausted from too much work and not enough time to recover in his netherworld home. It's like they always say, "All work and no play makes Bartimaeus a dull supernatural being." Although, in this case, he's anything but dull. He's tired, weak, sharp-tongued, homicidal, and insulting. But definitely not dull.

In this third installment of THE BARTIMAEUS TRILOGY, the hero is again a djinni who has little respect for humans and even less interest in their petty wars and government squabbles. The magicians who rule England in this series of books insist on summoning Bartimaeus and scores of other demons to fight their wars, provide magical assistance of all sorts, and generally do their bidding. The demons see this treatment as slavery, and for good reason. What would you call forced servitude for no pay under threat of intense pain?

PTOLEMY'S GATE opens to find poor Bartimaeus stretched to the breaking point by his magician master, Nathaniel. A war in America is going poorly, the commoners of London are growing tired of the ruling class of magicians, and young Nathaniel is looked upon with jealousy and mistrust by his co-workers. As a result of all of these threats, Nathaniel rationalizes the need to keep Bartimaeus around to help him deal with the many problems that he faces. After a long association with the djinni, it is almost as if Nathaniel trusts his reluctant servant. And it is almost as if Bartimaeus has a shred of concern for human dealings. Almost.

PTOLEMY'S GATE is an excellent capstone to the extraordinary Bartimaeus series. I enjoyed all of these books immensely and recommend them to anyone who enjoys young adult fantasy. Like the first two books, The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1) and The Golem's Eye (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 2), this one is filled with humor and excitement. These books also offer some social commentary for those who want to pay attention to such things. For example, the ruling class of magicians in these books take extreme measures to maintain their own positions, while claiming that they are really just interested in keeping the masses safe. There are resistance groups that oppose the government, and they engage in acts of terrorism to free themselves from the magicians' oppressive yoke.

The entiretrilogy is a fun-filled pleasure to read. Doubtless it would be possible to read PTOLEMY'S GATE without having read the previous two books, but I would not recommend it. There is quite a bit of background that would be missed, and the story would definitely suffer. While the first book in the series, The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1), could probably stand alone, the second two (The Golem's Eye (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 2) and PTOLEMY'S GATE) should be read together. And once the last page of PTOLEMY'S GATE is turned, readers will undoubtedly wish they could summon Bartimaeus back for more.

Reviewed by: K. Osborn Sullivan

The last installment of Jonathan Stroud's enticing nerve-scrambling trilogy kept me addicted to the point of psychotic obsession. Despite the fact that the book is set in England during the 1700's, where magicians rule and enslave spirits to do their bidding, we observe an assortment of modern issues, like war, injustice and revolution. It is powerful, awe-inspiring and, most of all, electrifying.

This story marks the end of the trilogy that has captivated millions. We learn about the effusive Bartimaeus' past in Ancient Egypt and his unique affiliation with the prominent human Ptolemy. Our much loved freedom fighter, Kitty, is still determined to bring down the magician's government, and acquires potent skills which help her do so. The war in America is going downhill, causing unpredicted problems for the ignorant magician's regime. And finally, Nathaniel, our main character, has been promoted to Information Minister within the ranks of the government, and, with the help of his supernatural salves, promotes lies and deception amongst the commoners. These three individuals are thrown into a snare of conspiracy, treason and subversion, and, worst of all, they have to bear with one another.

What is fascinating to observe whilst enjoying the story is the evolution of the characters. Kitty starts out a teenager struggling to find a job and slowly grows into an experienced summoner, and finally makes the terrifying trust-based decision of crossing Ptolemy's Gate. Nathaniel, after going through the events of the plot, has a total personality change, right before sacrificing himself. The most obvious "self-development" is Bartimaeus'. He finally realizes that after a 10,000 year long life, his essence has completely decomposed and that he can't go on.

I highly recommend this book. It has a prosperous plot, and the various settings could not satisfy the readers more. If you begin to read this book and you really enjoy it, you will find yourself reading every chance you get. It takes sudden twists, it keeps you wanting to know what happens next, and, best of all, it makes you wish you were actually part of the story. It is great leisure!

Having read and absolutely loved The Amulet Of Samarkand and The Golem's Eye, I was delighted when Ptolemy's Gate was released, particularly as Simon Jones was still the narrator. Stroud's fascinating trilogy is definitely one of the most original modern fantasies around today. The story is told from the multiple view points of the young magician Nathaniel, the feisty commoner Kitty, and of course everyone's favourite djinny Bartimaeus. In these creations Stroud has given his readers three delightful, strong and deeply human (even though one is a spirit) characters. Right from the opening sentence Stroud draws you in with his wonderful, atmospheric language, and you are not released until the end, and perhaps not even then. I haven't been so utterly unable to put a book down since Harry Potter. Perhaps the author's greatest talent though, and the thing that for me makes the books such a joy to read, is Stroud's superb use of dialogue. Every word is just so perfectly chosen, timed and placed, and the book is shot through with the author's dry, sardonic humour. Even sentimental moments have a certain sharp-tongued charm, which, far from ruining the effect, makes it even more poignant, and no more so than during Bartimaeus and Nathaniel's final conversation.

Ptolemy's Gate has everything it's predecessors had and more. Intrigue, suspense, twists and turns, plots within plots, and of course the warmly delightful narration of Bartimaeus. His wit is as keen as ever, even when he himself is in pretty bad shape. And if you've been sitting there awaiting your copy, smugly satisfied that you've got it all worked out, then think again!

Simon Jones once more gives a perfect narration. The cynical, dry tone he adopts for Bartimaeus fits him perfectly. If they ever do movies of these books (and what books don't they try and film these days) then Simon Jones should definitely go for the part.

The only downside is that this was a trilogy, so we probably won't ever see the characters again. I'm missing them already.

Ptolemy's Gate is the final (sob) instalment of the Bartimaeus Trilogy and by far the best! Taking place about three years later than the Golem's Eye, all is not well in London. Nathaniel is under increasing stress with the American war and (another) threat to the government both from magicians and the protesting commoners, Bartimaeus the wonderful djinni has been stuck on Earth for two years now and barely has the strength to lift a paintbrush, while Kitty Jones the commoner is currently hiding in London learning all she can about magic.

Bartimaeus is (as always) charming, witty and utterly loveable but now we learn about some of his history with Ptolemy giving even more depth to his (already) fabulous character.

Nathaniel has definitely grown up and while still determined, ambitious and arrogance is starting to learn some of his own faults and correct them, making him a much more likeable character than in the previous books.

I must admit that I didn't think a lot of Kitty in the last book and mostly ended up skimming through her parts but in Ptolemy's Gate she's definitely grown up and become much more interesting and not quite as depressing as before. I found myself looking forward to reading her parts almost as much as Bartimaeus'!

Ptolemy's Gate is just (if not more) fast paced and exciting as the last two but with added bonuses of more character development and many ends tied up, with a couple of plot twists thrown in too. I enjoyed every moment (except perhaps the very ending, and the fact that it did). Mr. Stroud, you have outdone yourself!

If you've not read the Trilogy yet, I strongly recommend it for anyone who likes fantasy and magical type stories with a bit of bite and a GREAT lead character (I'm talking about Bartimaeus here!). If you've already read the first two but not Ptolemy's Gate, what are you doing hanging around reading reviews?? Go and buy it!

Jonathan Stroud has finished the Bartimaeus Trilogy splendidly with "Ptolemy's Gate." There is a mixture of action, description, characters, and a storyline that made it enjoyable and even a touch sad. I can even see many more books stemming form this series. Who knows?

Nathaniel, or John Mandrake, continued with his pompous, arrogant, and self-righteous attitude and it really turned me off in the beginning. It took a while but Stroud does please the reader by bringing him down to earth, although not completely. Even in the last few pages I still didn't fully enjoy Nathaniel's character.

Nathaniel is now the Minister of Information in England. There is a war raging in the United States and Nathaniel needs to keep England cognizant of the positive and dull down the negative. Every one of his rivals has tried to find a weakness, but outwardly he shows none. The only problem is that h is finding his position very lonely and thinks of one person often.

Kitty has been pronounced dead to the magical world but continues to live and work in London under aliases. She has a newfound determination to discover the importance of Bartimaeus's favorite human form and is an assistant to a magician who gives her access to the information she needs.

Bartimaeus has been in the world for nearly two full years and his essence is suffering because of it. Even minute tasks tax him and his powers. He is still as funny, as likeable, and as clever of a character and the reason why I would love this series to continue on, but I know it has to come to an end sometime.

Stroud has woven his characters, storylines, and settings together beautifully, and the ending is very satisfying. I always worry about fantasy trilogy's conclusions, especially with the bad ones I have read, but I couldn't have enjoyed the more than 100 pages of it. I congratulate Jonathan Stroud and I heartily encourage readers to read this book and the others (Amulet of Samarkand, Golem's Eye, and Ptolemy's Gate). Everyone enjoy!

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.

This, as almost everybody who hasn't been living under a rock for the past couple of years knows, is the third and final book in the Bartimaeus Trilogy. For those who don't know, here's a quick plot summary of the prior books before I get on to the review itself. WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Nathaniel [last name not known] is one of the many children apprenticed to a magician, they learn all the master's secrets and the art of gaining power. In this world, there are three social classes. Magicians, the ruling class, who rule not by wands or potions but with their ability to summon demons from the chaotic other place. These demons are extremely powerful, and they are the ones who do everything the magician seemingly does. If the magician slips up on a summoning or on a command, the demon in question will tear them to shreds. The second and third classes are, respectively, commoners and prosperous commoners. Both perform services for the magicians, but the latter does a more skilled trade, like book creating and is generally slightly wealthy. Fine so far? Good. It gets more complicated. Nathaniel is apprenticed to a magician named Underwood, who treats Nathaniel so cruelly Nathaniel summons an extremely high level Djinni [third highest class of demon] named Bartimaeus. However, after Nathaniel uncovers a plot by the powerful magician Simon Lovelace to overthrow the government using the titular Amulet of Samarkand, he [and the slightly more relucdant Bartimaeus] go to stop him. I'll stop before I give away anything totally major in that book, and move on to #2, "The Golem's Eye".

Two years after the Simon Lovelace incident, Nathaniel, now known as John Mandrake, is a rising star in the magicians' world and a favorite of the Prime Minister ever since he saved the government from Simon Lovelace in the first book. But he has a bit of a problem. The resistance, a group of commoners with a resillience to magic and hatred of all magicians, are wreaking havoc in London and unfortunately it's Nathaniel's job to stop the attackers. The problem is, all of Nathaniel's other demons have failed and, even though he hates Bartimaeus, he is forced to summon him again. However, a golem is loose in London, for no one can seem to stop it, and the resistance is gearing up for an atttack that will shake London to its core. Toss in the tremendously powerful Gladstone's Staff and an afrit trapped in a skeleton on the loose, and you've got the amazing novel that is "The Golem's Eye". Finally, on to the review of "Ptolemy's Gate".

Three years after the events that take place in "The Golem's Eye", Nathaniel is seventeen and one of the most powerful magicians in the government. Since destroying the golem, he has become information minister for the state, which means that it is his job to spread propaganda throughout the empire, mainly dealing with the American wars that were mentioned in the second book. Bartimaeus has been in his service for two years now, and his essence is growing thin and weak. No longer powerful as before, Bartimaeus is tired of his constant service to Nathaniel, whom he dislikes with a passion. Kitty Jones, the young ex-resistance member, was deeply affected by Bartimaeus's words about the repeating of the downfall of civilizations. But she aims to put a stop to that. Bartimaeus's past is revealed and all the zig-zagging plot twists come to a head in this last, best, truly awe inspiring volume of one of the greatest fantasy series in the past decade. Up there with Harry Potter and His Dark Materials. A must read with anyonw with patience, spare time, and a sense for good, imaginative children's fantasy.

A+

Kudos To Jonathan Stroud for creating this series. He deserves every penny [or pence] of the royalties.

The last book of Bartimaeus trilogy, "Ptolemy's Gate", brings back the breathtaking action and twist we adored in the first book "The Amulet of Samarkand".

Nathaniel here is grown up and tired of the politics, he is in search of his old self and what better connection does he have than his lovely djinni?

Kitty is looking into the magic trying to put an end to people's sufferings from the magicians, her last encounter with Bartimaeus gave her insights and new ideas to approach the resistance. I found her role here more interesting than the second book, which was a bit boring for me.

Bartimaeus essence is getting weaker and weaker by the time, the earth is exhausting him and his need to return to the Other Place is crucial for his surviving. This may sound disappointing for many who love him for his lively character, but believe me you are going to be overwhelmed by what's hidden between the pages!

The best part in this book, in my opinion, is Ptolemy's past. You get to know the person who Bartimaeus mentioned in countless occasions in the first and second books. The Bartimaeus we know is the witty djinni who respects no human being, not to mention a magician, bows with the utmost respect and truthfulness to this young boy. I could never believe how such a thing could happen or for what reasons or circumstances, but few pages of this book will do magic in answering this.

All secrets and questions are going to be answered in this book. The ending is heartbreaking and most astonishing; I still fight my tears back every time I remember it.

The last book of Bartimaeus trilogy, "Ptolemy's Gate", brings back the breathtaking action and twist we adored in the first book "The Amulet of Samarkand".

Nathaniel here is grown up and tired of the politics, he is in search of his old self and what better connection does he have than his lovely djinni?

Kitty is looking into the magic trying to put an end to people's sufferings from the magicians, her last encounter with Bartimaeus gave her insights and new ideas to approach the resistance. I found her role here more interesting than the second book, which was a bit boring for me.

Bartimaeus essence is getting weaker and weaker by the time, the earth is exhausting him and his need to return to the Other Place is crucial for his surviving. This may sound disappointing for many who love him for his lively character, but believe me you are going to be overwhelmed by what's hidden between the pages!

The best part in this book, in my opinion, is Ptolemy's past. You get to know the person who Bartimaeus mentioned in countless occasions in the first and second books. The Bartimaeus we know is the witty djinni who respects no human being, not to mention a magician, bows with the utmost respect and truthfulness to this young boy. I could never believe how such a thing could happen or for what reasons or circumstances, but few pages of this book will do magic in answering this.

All secrets and questions are going to be answered in this book. The ending is heartbreaking and most astonishing; I still fight my tears back every time I remember it.

Jonathan Stroud pulls of an impressive (ok ... AMAZING!) three for three with "Ptolemy's Gate", the third and final book in the Bartimaeus Trilogy. His mastery of words and characters is apparent once again as he intertwines the stories of Bartimaeus, Nathaniel, and Kitty, for the final time, offering a conclusion that few will forget. Three years have passed, and Bartimaeus's essence is waning thin as he yearns to return to the mysterious Other Place. But, Nathaniel, his master, grows increasingly stressful as he duties as the progaganda minister grow larger and more futile due to commoner riots and foreign wars gone bad. Meanwhile, Kitty is secretly studying magic in London, hoping to achieve her plan of summoning Bartimaeus, and uniting dijjin and humans once and for all. All three characters are united as a magical conspiracy plunges London into crisis, and Nathaniel, Kitty, and Bartimaeus, must work together, despite their differences, to save all of humanity. A complex plot ensues, and Stroud pulls it off brilliantly, pulling the reader along deeper into the character's emotions, the realm of the Other Place, and the secrets of Bartimaeus's past and his strange connection with the boy-magician Ptolemy. Stroud's trademark humor is present, despite the ever-looming climax, but a certain sophistication with this volume elevates the series to new heights, and I can confidently say this is one of the best high fantasy series out there for adults and children to date. Brimming with humor, action, magic, sadness, and sheer sophistication, I highly reccommend the Bartimaeus trilogy to any reader who enjoys true fantasty when it summons them.

The third and final installment of the Bartimaeus Trilogy (*1) picks up three years after the "The Golem's Eye" with Nathaniel a.k.a. John Mandrake now the Information Minister, and spending his time making up propaganda pamphlets about the supposed successes of the war in America (*2) He has been increasingly mistreating Bartimaeus, not allowing him to return to the "other place" until his essence is so severely weakened that the puns stop flowing. (*3) Mandrake is now cold and unfeeling, totally absorbed in his work and his own self importance, and has few friends. In order to hang on to whatever little favor he has left with the Prime Minister, he maintains cordial relations with Quentin Makepeace, who has composed a must-see (*4) musical about the life of the Prime Minister.

Things aren't going so well for the government either, and the commoners are revolting. (*5) Some have learned to spot magical beings, and some have developed magical resistance, and this book sees the return of Kitty Jones, who is sneakily learning about the other world, and especially Bartimaeus' past. (*6) Through Kitty's research we learn the secret behind the whole Ptolemy thing, and get a look into Bartimaeus' domain.

When a sinister plot (*7) unleashes the most powerful beings who ever existed to wreak havoc and cause mass destruction, Mandrake, Kitty and Bartimaeus team up in ways none of the three would have before this thought possible, and using the magical artifacts from the first two books, they represent the last line of defense of the human race. After a heart-stopping and pulse-racing (*8) last quarter, the grand finale may not be to everyone's liking, but the redemption of Nathaniel more than makes up for it.

A bit lengthy and somewhat plodding at the start, but never-the-less a totally gratifying conclusion to a great series.

(*1) - Yes, yes - trilogies often mean three stories - get on with it!

(*2) - Mostly rubbish, I might add

(*3) - Egads!

(*4) - If you wanted to keep your job, that is

(*5) - Most of the magicians would agree whole heartedly

(*6) - Trust a woman to have an enquiring mind

(*7) - What other kind is there?

(*8) - Desirable yet unhealthy conditions I would think

Amanda Richards, June 19, 2006

Most of my reviews have alot of stars. Why? Because I choose books carefully although I have gotten some duds.

This isn't one of them.

For this series, if I could, I would give it 10 stars.

Simply put, it's good reading. Character development is at its highest. The story is off the charts. To me, this series is at a higher reading level than Harry Potter. To me, it's better than Harry Potter and any other popular series out there.

Jonathan Stroud is a genius like no other.

You have to read all the footnotes. Some of the best reading ever in all of fiction history is in the footnotes. The humor is fantastic -- sophisticated at times but downright raw at times. It's light at times. It's dark at times. It moves you to tears, to laughter. You cannot but crave to read more. It's not a super fast story -- but it builds gradually. There are different story lines and they are interwoven and build on each other. It's always exciting. Never boring. Never slow. Always moving. The three story lines then smash together and create a mindblowing, exciting explosion that left me ....speechless.

I cried at the end of the series. Not a tear or 2, but I cried. I don't want to give anything away, but a part of me was laid to rest at the end of Jonathan Stroud's trilogy. I wrote to him and begged him to continue the series. He didn't. I wish I could take these books and the story into the next life with me.

You must read all three.

136 thumbs up. 242 gold stars. 8 smiley faces. 1 kiss good bye.

The Bartimaes Trilogy was, and will always be on of my favorite series. It is a mixture of magic, action, friendship, humor, and suspense.

Although each and every book in this series is must read, the one that moved me the most was the third one, Ptolemy's Gate. It tells the story of Nathaniel(John Mandrake)the magician, Kitty the brave, strong and the unforgettable commoner, and Bartimaes the witty, fun, and lovable djinn.

Nathaniel, is a young magician, hungry for power. He is the master to Bartimaeus, the long suffering djinn. But when he finds out Kitty, the girl you haunts him, is not dead, but alive, and still in London, things go topsy turvy. All the long while, lowly magicians plan to rebel and take London for themselves. They capture Nathaniel and Kitty, who by now are becoming friends.(or maybe even more than just friends)

We learn more about Bartimaeus's past and get a glimpse of the mysterious Other World. Near the end, the unthinkable happens: Bartimeaus and Nathaniel(i kid you not), get along!

The ending, I must admit, shocked me. ( I cried and cried. There was a little bit of anger in me, truth be told.) But none the less, I enjoyed the book very much. I strongly recommend this book and the other books in Jonathan Strouds' Batimaeus Trilogy. (If you are a sensitive person, I recommend having a box of tissues at hand for the ending)

Reccomended Series, read Amulet of Samarkand, and Golem's Eye first. Ptolemy's Gate is the best of the three.

The positives(without giving away spoilers):

+ We finally get the story behind Ptolemy, and his characterization lives up to expectations.

+ The main characters (Nathaniel, Kitty, Bartimaeus) continue to evolve and develop, while remaining true to their nature.

+ Very well realized ending, the high point of the series

The negatives( i'd give it 4.5 stars if I could):

- As in previous books, many secondary characters (even some who get considerable screen time) remain one- dimensional

- General plot follows same general structure as previous two books: Unsteady circumstances in the beginning, threat of incarceration, a betrayal, final battle involving a higher djin and magical artifact(s).

- magical explanations become somewhat repetitive (mostly at the beginning, and if you read all three books over a short period of time)

Overall, the story is fast paced and character driven. The ending ties in the numerous plot threads and themes from the trilogy, for a fitting conclusion to the series. I would certainly rate Ptolemy's Gate higher than either books 1 or 2. If you enjoyed the first books of the series, by all means read Ptolemy's Gate, as it adds to, rather than detracts from, the story.

Ptolemy's gate is a magical book full of adventure, and suspense. It takes place in modern day England where the people are getting restless. In it Nathaniel has become obsessed with power, and politics. He manages the propaganda about the war with America trying to get commoners, people who aren't magicians, to join the army. He has lost almost all touch with his childhood values. Kitty, a revolutionary eager to overthrow the government, despises Nathaniel although in the earlier book saves his life. Bartemius, a magical middle class demon has gotten weaker by his slavery in this world. In this book, magicians enslave demons and force them to do their dirty work. Jonathan Stroud (the author) uses a ingenious way to write the book. He uses Kitty, Nathaniel, and Bartemius as the narrators of the story in different parts of the book. In the chapter with Bartemius as the narrator, Jonathan Stroud uses footnotes to explain certain things or just to make someone laugh. In this book no one can ever guess the ending (unless some dinklebird tells him/her) if their life depends on it. As soon as the book looks figured out it turns right on its back. I hope that the person reading this will read Ptolemy's Gate and the rest of the Bartemius Trilogy.

Oh, this series really dug itself deep into my heart, all because of Nat.

You start out with little Nat living in his insanely-cruel and slanted wizards world, trying to figure out how to gain enough power to control his life and get back at those who have hurt him. You watch him make bad decisions, feel the flutters of conscience and the beginnings of his first friendship all in the first book. You wonder where he will go from there, and then book two takes you further in his journey. But it is not until book three that Nat's personality crystallizes and he becomes all that you hoped and feared he might come to be--a good, brave and selfless wizard whose example changes his world.

Bartimaus, the genii who befriends Nat is a spectacular creation--witty, wise and devilishly clever. A demon, yet an enormously appealing version. I can't explain it. You must read.

Stroud's magic is not only in his characters and their development, but is in his use of language. Here he is in top form, and uses his power to its utmost to take the reader on one of the finest and most satisfying climaxes ever.

Haunting. Powerful. Thrilling. Read this book, but only after reading books one and two.

I found this third volume as gripping and enthralling as the first two. To my surprise I was even moved to tears in the final chapters. I am impressed with the imagination and planning that has gone into the creation of this series. I thought that the description of “The Other Place”, home of Bartimaeus and his fellow spirits, gave this book an unexpected depth. Any nitpicking reservations that I have about this alternate universe (such as the total lack of true magical understanding of the magicians) is rendered irrelevant because the storyline moves forward so effectively, that I do not have time to dwell on any criticisms.

if you've read my other reviews about the barimeas trilogy, then you'll see i think its a fresh series and this last novel brings a great end to the trilogy with a ending honerable for this type of book. three years after the golem affair, we find nathaniel working endlessly to try to keep britian together. as the american wars go badly, his servent bartimeas is growing weak from all his time on earth. meanwhile, kitty is still laying low as she learns magic to summon bartimeas herself. the book covers a lot of questions we had about the book by learning more of bartimeas's past and everything from the first and second book are explained as a new force comes to take over britian. we also see nathaniel is now completly turned into a cold magician and through the book he rediscovers his old self while kitty will see how magicians deal with there servents. bartimeas still retains his old self and people will be glad that the book gives more chapters to him then back in the second book. so a great ending, read it and take one last trip with bartimeas.

Jonathan Stroud was the author I opted to present in my fiction author assignment because I felt that he had a great story to tell. And I, as a hunter of great stories in the science fiction and fantasy genre of wizards and magic, had found a priceless treasure in his trilogy of the fast mouthed djinni, Bartimaeus, and the boy magician, Nathaniel. But wait, it is also the story of the commoner, Kitty Jones. The triumvirate has proven to be the strongest focal point from which the story has been able to twist and turn more than a winding road. Stroud is an OUTSTANDING storyteller. But most of all, he wrote this story with his heart. The book covers a lot of world issues in the guise of magicians versus commoners. Social injustice, government oppression (reminded me of the oppressive regimes in society which smite the rights of the masses) and social classes were some issues that Stroud was able to imply as important in his stories. The ending surprised me so much that I was in denial of the prediction that I was making, the direction the story was taking as the last book. But in the end, after ten minutes of quiet thinking and acceptance, I put the book away and wrote this review immediately. This will be the first book that I will be recommending to everyone aside from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. It is a MUST READ for all sci-fi and fantasy book lovers! If you love these kinds of stories, it is a crime not to read the stories. I dare you not to fall in love with Bartimaeus.

The final installment makes the whole journey worth it. PTOLEMY'S GATE, the third part of the BARTIMAEUS TRILOGY, wraps things up in a satisfying, exhilarating way that won't leave Jonathan Stroud fans disappointed.

A new character is introduced in this novel. Sure, we've still got Nathaniel -- A.K.A. John Mandrake, youthful magician and Information Minister, Kitty -- outcast rebel of the Resistance, Bartimaeus - fun-loving demon of sarcasm who is stuck as Nathaniel's servant, but now our story jumps back to Alexandria, Egypt in 125 B.C. to weave the necessary backstory of Ptolemy and his legendary gate between the Other Place and Earth. The connection between the past and present is the infamous Bartimaeus.

We soon learn that the relationship Bartimaeus and Ptolemy had was incredibly close, filled with trust and loyalty, something Nathaniel knows nothing about. Kitty, however, has been studying magic with the hope of learning more about Ptolemy. Even though commoners aren't supposed to be able to, she hopes to summon Bartimaeus and learn about Ptolemy's Gate. Her theory is that the Gate is the way to bridge the gap between demons and humans, somehow ending the forced servitude and hatred between them and creating peace and equality.

The tensions really get going in this one. The overseas war with America is going poorly. The Resistance is still at large. A traitor high up in government is plotting an inconceivable takeover of the country. Bartimaeus has been on Earth so long his essence is fading and he's close to death. If Nathaniel doesn't squelch the Resistance, his job and prestige will all be lost. And if Kitty's plan doesn't work, she just might disappear into the spirit world forever like Ptolemy. So much is at stake. And none of the players even know about the "rebellious faction of demons"!

Get ready for an intoxicating end to the ride. What THE AMULET OF SAMARKAND began in the first book, PTOLEMY'S GATE finishes up gloriously. Go Bartimaeus!

--- Reviewed by Jonathan Stephens

The entire family enjoyed the series. It is a great exercise in how life's situations can change even the best of us to someone we might not want to be. And then again all is not lost. We can evaluate ourself and change again to a better person.

The book is a great story for those that don't delve into the philosophy behind the writing. Perhaps that is why ALL the members of the family enjoyed this series. I won't give away anything (you have to read the book).

Bartimaeus is as always one of the best parts of this book. The footnotes are wonderful and entertaining. The 'Other Place' is well thought out. Bartimaeus's history is really my favorite part of things.

So Nathanial has become like the rest of the Magicians seemingly uncaring and callous. Kitty has stayed in London and takes up a job where she has access to all kinds of 'Books' and information. Heh, heh, heh.... The evil plot that has been brewing through the other two books comes to fruition and it is really NOT good. It winds itself like a snake and is found out seemingly too late.

The thing I regret is that this really seems to be the last book. And I was not happy with the resolution although it is well thought out and well written.

I recommend this book. I further recommend that parents read this book and talk about the loss of Nathanial's character and what he has to discover to redeem himself... for the rest it is a fun and interesting read.

My fear of this excellent series having a late inning letdown were unfounded. PTOMELY'S GATE is definitely the best book of this trilogy, which is no small accomplishment. In addition to retaining the other tales' terrific action and atmosphere, PTOMELY'S GATE is also the series most deeply realized story.

Stroud manages to believably expand on his titular djinn's background and wise-cracking ways. And in the course of revelations about the djinn, Stroud weaves in satire and social commentary on serious matters such as servitude and slavery, history, and politics. (Unfortunately, the magicians-in-power are as unbelievably foolish as ever, but I was willing to forgive these books their straw men.)

In short: A great close to a very good series.

SIDENOTE (SPOILER ALERT): As with many young adult fantasy stories, this is a remarkably chaste tale. Nathaniel is now in his late teens, but although he takes note of Kitty's magnificent aura, that's about as far as his youthful ardor gets. What gives? Bodies litter the landscape, but we Nathaniel doesn't even get a peck on the cheek?

Gone are the somewhat tedious descriptions of the Golem's eye: the three strands of the story, told through Bartimaeus, Nathaniel and Kitty, are tightly woven together. By far this is the best book of the trilogy.

We find out who masterminded the Golem and what other powergrabbing schemes he/she is up to now; we go back in time to learn about the relationship between Bartimaeus and his master Ptolemy; and Kitty learns magic to visit the Other Place in Ptolemy's footsteps and request Bartimaeus' help for one final encounter with the enemy.

Apart from all the adventure and fun, this is a sad and profoundly anti-war book. Through Nathaniel, we get a glimpse into the government's propaganda machine, which creates the ideas that people give up their lives for. Bartimaeus' opinion of heroes at the end of the book puts the finishing touches on the author's case against war.

This review is for the entire trilogy... not just Plotmey's Gate.

While I think some people might have a problem with the basis of this book (magicians who draw penticles and conjure deamons to do their dirty/good deeds). Rest assured however that there is nothing offensive in this series of books. Unless you are offended by whitty characters, cool action scenes, great plot development etc.

This book is ultra entertaining with very enjoyable characters, Bartimeous, Farquel and some of the other deamons are a hoot!

Just a really good, well developed, entertaining story line, a lot of wonderful characters and if you can get over the conjuring deamon thing a good trilogy to have your young adult children read as well. This book however is not just for young adults, this book can be read and enjoyed by anyone of any age.

Next to Harry Potter it is the best young adult series of books I have ever read and one of the best fantasy series I've ever read!

A must read for anyone who enjoyes good fantasy/action books!!!!!!

I finished this book about 30 minutes ago and the ending is so powerful I sort of needed to recover from it. This trilogy is amazing and so well told it should not be missed.

When the main character encountered his boyhood art teacher and was shown what he had become I felt an intense sadness for him. In a sense the entire series leads to that one moment which then starts Nathaniel's redemption process, which is not easy and never fully completed until his last act in the books.

This series is one of those rare stories that is powerful enough to feel more real than real people. Thanks Jonathan for writing this story. It was worth all you obviously put into it.

Warm Regards

Matt Baker

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.

I started reading the Bartimaeus trilogy shortly after finishing Harry Potter book 6 just to fill the void of waiting for the last HP book. I must say I feel very fortunate to have stumbled across these books, they are a great read. Very much in the same vein as HP but different enough to not feel like a clone. So many takes on the story have been written already so you know the gist of the book. All I can say is this is a superb ending to the trilogy, I am in no way disappointed. It was well worth the time to read all three and has made time fly while waiting for the last HP book. I just hope, as others have stated, that he plans for more books within the same realm and with some returning characters b/c the way the trilogy ended that option is available.

A good fantasy read.

I liked the first book, found the second a little disappointing but I must say this was a good conclusion to this series. Nathaniel has matured somewhat (thankfully) and this allows us a story that is not quite so painfully adolescent as the middle book. Kitty has a more substantial role and Bartimaeus is, of course, his usual cynical self.

The book was well written, easy to read and had a good flow to it. An interesting tale (to me) will have me looking to find time to read it, and this story certainly qualified in this regard. In addition, I was pleasantly surprised by the ending; I'd expected some feel-good-saved-at-the-last-minute-by-an-unexpected-occurrence-and everyone-lived-happily-ever-after, but much to my surprise, such was not the case. Thanks to Mr. Stroud for giving us a good conclusion.

All in all, a satisfying ending to this interesting trilogy.

Stroud's conclusion to his outstanding Bartimaeus trilogy has all the elements that made the series great. As a capstone book should, it also ties together all the loose ends and follows up all the unresolved clues from the earlier books, while remaining true to the spirit of the series. The signature element of an Orwellian understanding of power cloaked in a humorous and dramatic tale of magicians and demons is fully realized. While I was reading this series with my son, I was separately reading [...] and [...] on my own, and the truth is that it was always hard to turn from Bartimaeus back to my adult books, and the Bartimaeus Trilogy is the one I finished with regret.

Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud is a great book about magic and demons that I would recommend to everyone who likes exciting fantasy books.

The action starts in London were John Mandrake the information minister/ magician sends his demon

Bartimaeus to follow a minor magician named Jenkins. Jenkins sees a fly flying around his head, but he dosent know that its really Bartimaeus. Even so he sends his imp a weak subclass of demon out to make shure that nobody is following him. The imp sees Bartimaeus but, Bartimaeus eats the imp and runs away. While following Jenkins he learned of a conspiracy to take over the government. He tells John Mandrake about the conspiracy, and Mandrake works furiously to find the leader of the conspirators, but little does he know that the leader has been a friend of his for a long time...

Bartimaeus a middle ranking demon of about 500 years old is a cheeky and annoying demon who is angry about having to stay in a material world. Staying in a material world for long periods of time weakends the demons, and Bartimaeus has been in the world for a long time. Also silver, iron, and gas affects their essence and weakens them. Bartimaeus is a genie a powerful subclass of demon that has fought many wars and overseen many castles and pyramids being built. Bartimaeus is a cool character and my favorite one in the book.

All in all this is a really good book about magic, demons and politics and I suggest that you read it.

I have read many trilogies, and few, no matter how enveloping in the middle, would leave a lasting impression when I closed the covers of the last book. With this trilogy, however, it is different.

I highly anticipated the release of Ptolemy's Gate, knowing that it would be a worthy ending for an amazing trilogy. I was not disappointed. The characters that were slightly cliche and Barty-less in the Golem's Eye, return in their previous brilliance.

In this highly sensetive and masterful conclusion, Nathaniel, a high-ranking official in the government, and Kitty, presumed dead, start off the book by continuing the activities they were busy with before. Bartimaeus, sapped from an everlasting summoning, is struggling to cope with the tasks Nathaniel orders him to do, but is still full of the wry humor you have come to take for granted.

Stroud carefully balances the relationships in this book, not making any too garish or crowd-pleasing, just the simple feelings that one would expect.

And then there's the ending. Beleive it or not, I actually cried. While I knew that there was no hope for a totally happy end, I nevertheless wished it wouldn't end the way it did. When I closed the book in disbelief, I knew though, that Stroud had done right and ended the books on the proper, hopeful note.

A great read for anyone, especially adults over the ninth-grade reading level. This book offers more than what meets the eye!

After coming across this series I am in love with the character Bartimaeus. His dark sarcastic humor is too good.
From the multiple seres I have read, I found this one the best. Especially the conclusion....not following the usual happily ever after rhythm.
There is revelation of djinni's fav respectfully master Ptolemy. Also how Bartimaeus finds glimpses of history repeating with himself just like what Ptolemy did for him.
There is drastic character transformation of Nathaniel from been Mandrake to been Nath.
Also, same can be said about Kitty.
The book, I find, shows analogy with the real world affairs of cyclic repetition of history.

I love the book. Best of the three. Epic End to the series....keeping us for wanting more.

Definitely read this book and the series.

Summoning a djinn is a complicated feat that only magicians dared to attempt... that is, until Kitty Jones

The third book of the Bartimaeus Trilogy, Ptolomy's gate, takes twists and turns as it tells the story of three main characters: Bartimaeus,a forth level djinn with contempt for magicians; John Mandrake, a magician in a high place with a soft spot for his lowly servants; and Kitty Jones a supposedly dead commoner with a not so common ability to do magic.

The characters struggle to uncover (and foil) a plot by demons to destroy Great Brittain.

An interesting fantasy plot with action,adventure,and a sarcastic djinn makes this book a must read.