Reviewer: Ryan O’Boyle
Book: The Amulet of Samarkand
Author: Jonathan Stroud
England has been used for many novels of the young adult fantasy fiction variety. Its lovely scenery is an inspiration to countless authors. The Amulet of Samarkand, Book one in the Bartimaeus Trilogy, written by Jonathan Stroud, is inspired by the same. It follows a young magician, Nathaniel, who, in the name of revenge, summons a Djinn to do his bidding. This particular magical creature, named Bartimeus, is a rhapsodic tornado of whimsy, wit and perniciousness. Born over five thousand years ago in the Other Place, he is drawn into the human realm only by being summoned with magic.
His talents are vast but he is not all powerful. The witty repartee spewed by Bartimaeus, either in his mind or to others, provides a delightful glance at his intellect and self serving worldview. Guarded by strong magic, the Amulet of Samarkand lies in the clutches of an opposing magician. Nathaniel orders his Djinn to retrieve it, thus sparking a chainreaction that leads the young magician and his unwilling magical servant on a wild ride.
A key component for me is the internal monologue of Bartimeus. His quirky attitude and flaying burns make the pages turn like magic. His back and forth with Nathaniel, specifically, feels like a sibling rivalry where one sibling has over five thousand years to pick up comebacks and one liners. The setting is modern and it fits the theme quite well. One of the more interesting aspects was the storyline regarding Nathaniel’s education that seemed to demonstrate indoctrination without specifically mentioning it.
Each moment is detailed with a masterful ebb and flow that allows tension to build and culminate in a chaotically contained manner. If you enjoy a deftly penned novel with an array of emotional highs and lows, The Amulet of Samarkand is excellent.