The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

I would recommend this book for both adults and children, though not young children under the age of 10 or so, due to it's dark and relatively violent nature. The story is rather predictable, but it still immerses you in an interesting magical world, not your standard fare. All in all, there is little negative to say about this audiobook. What I got was another fantastic narrator in Simon Jones. After being horribly spoiled by the phenomenal narration of people like Stefan Rudnicki (Numerous books, including most Orson Scott Card books), Scott Brick (Harry Potter, US edition I believe), and Michael Kramer (Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time), I was hoping for someone I wouldn't mind listening to.

Nathaniel's character was not as interesting, but held true to what one would expect in a child that age. The characterization of the djinni, Bartimaeus, is absoutely amazing and delightfully enjoyable to listen to. After only the opening chapter, I was in love with the writing style Stroud uses in this book. But that's all I'll say on that, as this is a review of Bartimaeus, not Harry Potter. In Harry Potter Magic itself was pure, free to be used in any way desired. The very basis of magic in this book is that magicians are evil, scheming, and enjoy enslaving other beings. Yes, they both involve magic, but that's the end of the similarity. I find it amusing how many people compare this book to Harry Potter. Following Bartimaeus and Nathaniel in turn, the story introduces us to two wonderfully memorable characters destined to go through many adventures together and bound by a spell that is nearly impossible to break.

Set in a modern-day London spiced with magicians and mystery, The Amulet of Samarkand is an extraordinary, edge-of-your-seat thriller with many unexpected twists. But summoning Bartimaeus and controlling him are two different things entirely, and when Nathaniel sends the djinni out to steal Lovelace's greatest treasure, the Amulet of Samarkand, he finds himself caught up in a whirlwind of magical espionage, murder and rebellion. With revenge on his mind, he masters one of the toughest spells of all and summons Bartimaeus, a five-thousand-year-old djinni, to assist him. When Lovelace brutally humiliates Nathaniel in public, Nathaniel decides to speed up his education, teaching himself spells far beyond his years. All is well until he has a life-changing encounter with Simon Lovelace, a magician of unrivaled ruthlessness and ambition. Nathaniel is eleven-years-old and a magician's apprentice, learning the traditional art of magic.

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud