The Golem's Eye: Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book Two (Bartimaeus Trilogy #02)
by Jonathan Stroud



Synopses & Reviews
Publisher Comments:
At only fourteen, Nathaniel is a rising star: a young magician who is quickly climbing the ranks of the government. There is seemingly nothing he cannot handle, until he is asked to deal with members of the growing Resistance movement who are disrupting London life with their thefts and raids. It's no easy task: the ringleader Kitty and her friends remain elusive, and Nathaniel's job — and perhaps his life — are soon at risk. As the pressure mounts, he is distracted by a new series of terrifying attacks on the capital. But is it the Resistance again, or something more dangerous still? To uncover the perpetrators, Nathaniel must take desperate measures: a journey to the enemy city of Prague and, worse, summoning once again the troublesome, enigmatic, and quick-witted djinni, Bartimaeus. A thrilling sequel to the best-selling The Amulet of Samarkand.
Review:
"The sharp-witted shape-shifting djinni returns in Stroud's second volume of the Bartimaeus Trilogy, this time dealing with a mysterious attacker that is terrorizing London. Nathaniel (aka John Mandrake), now 14, is apprenticed to Jessica Whitwell (as established at the close of the first book), 'one of the four most potent magicians in the government.' When several terrorist attacks take place, the ruling party blames the Resistance, the young commoner idealists introduced in the previous title. Nathaniel, rapidly rising through the ranks and serving as assistant to the Internal Affairs minister, Julius Tallow, suspects something larger at work. He once again summons Bartimaeus; the djinni's charge: 'Pursuit and identification of an unknown enemy of considerable power.' When it appears that a golem is behind the attacks, the duo's mission takes them to Prague to uncover the magic behind the creature's appearance. Readers learn more about Kitty, previously met as a member of the Resistance, as the narrative shifts among her, Bartimaeus and Nathaniel. Kitty aids Mr. Pennyfeather, leader of the Resistance, in the group's effort to rob the grave of the legendary magician Gladstone to gain power. Bartimaeus once again steals the spotlight; his pages are the most entertaining (one of his signature footnotes points out that his guise as a feathered, winged serpent 'used to bring the house down in Yucatan'). Although the thrill of discovery of Stroud's magical realm may have worn off slightly, fans of book one will enjoy revisiting this delectably uneasy bond between boy and djinni. Bartimaeus's pointed humor makes for a story worth savoring. Ages 10-up. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information, Inc.)
Review:
"[T]his sequel continues the original's fast-paced excitement and is enriched by a broader moral view and a third main character....Stay tuned for more thrills." Kirkus Reviews
Review:
"The story...retains all of the strengths of Stroud's first installment and adds many more details to his already vivid fantasy world. The characters are well developed and the action never lets up. A must-purchase for all fantasy collections." School Library Journal (Starred Review)
Review:
"A dark, intriguing offering in a highly original fantasy series." Booklist
Review:
"[T]op of the class....For all its supernatural complexities, Stroud's book might be strongest for what it reflects of our world....As the author confidently tilts the narrative point of view, he magnifies the ambiguity and multiplies the thrills." Elizabeth Devereaux, The New York Times Book Review
Synopsis:
The second adventure in the Bartimaeus trilogy finds Nathaniel working his way up the ranks of the government, when crisis hits. A seemingly invulnerable clay golem is making random attacks on London. Nathaniel and Bartimaeus must travel to Prague to discover the source of the golem's power.
Synopsis:
In their continuing adventures, magician's apprentice Nathaniel, now fourteen years old, and the djinni Bartimaeus travel to Prague to locate the source of a golem's power before it destroys London.
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About the Author
Jonathan Stroud is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Amulet of Samarkand, The Leap, and Buried Fire. He lives in England with his family.