Another good book

[bookraptor11]

Just read a great new young adult fantasy book and wanted to 
recommend it to the listies as a good read while they're waiting for 
the next Harry Potter. It's The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan 
Stroud.  

Nicholas is an eleven year old apprentice magician. When an adult 
magician, Simon Lovelace, humiliates him in public, Nathaniel decides 
to speed up his education on his own.  He teaches himself spells 
beyond his years. As part of his plot of revenge he summons 
Bartimaeus, a 5000 year old djinni, to help him steal Lovelace's 
Amulet. He quickly finds he is over his head, summoning and 
controlling are two different things. Also, the theft of the amulet 
leads to magical espionage, murder, and rebellion.

A good read. Mr. Stroud, like JKR, doesn't talk down to his audience, 
and the world isn't a HP clone.  Magic is wandless; magicians get 
their powers from their ability to summon and control various imps 
and djinn.  There is also a subplot that will probably run through 
the trilogy, about rebellious commoners, who are sick of the status 
quo. The book takes place in "contemporary" England, where the PM and 
all the lesser Ministers are magicians; the commoners are barred from 
government.

The tone of the book, though, is not overly serious. Chapters 
alternate, some written in the third person, others have the annoyed 
Bartimeous speaking (griping) in the first person.  I'd quote some, 
but am not sure it's ok.  If you're intrigued, I'd suggest checking 
Amazon or Barnes and Noble, where you can usually read excerpts.

Donna