With all the positive reviews, I thought this would be a guaranteed winner. I was wrong.

The first chapters, as told from the perspective of the charmingly sarcastic Bartimaeus were an enjoyable read. But then in trudges Nathaniel.

Nathaniel, the 2nd narrator, a bratty child who, unlike most child heroes, seemed to learn nothing from being treated poorly by his master except an overabundance of pride. Seems counter-intuitive, does it not?

The only character I found likable in the story was the very minor Mrs. Lutyens, who promptly disappears before half the book is over. Mrs. Underwood, the only character that Nathaniel liked, was an empty headed twit who was more like a maid than a Wife to the insufferable Arthur Underwood.

The characters, besides the demon Bartimaeus, were so shallowly developed that I frankly didn't care what they did. I raced to finish the book because I assumed at the end there would be a moral turnaround--Bartimaeus would grow a little kinder, Nathaniel would lose some of his snotty pride and disdain for "common people" and his ambitions to be part of a cruel authoritarian regime run by magicians.

Instead he ends up gleefully participating in the disgusting Bureaucracy and learns nothing from all the corruption he has witnessed.

What a waste of time! ( )

This is a thoroughly entertaining read, even if the metaphysics is a bit silly. My husband, who is no great novel reader, tore through the whole trilogy in about a week and a half. High on action, suspense, and snarky remarks; low on emotional tension. ( )

Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus Trilogy is exceptional children's literature. While part of the djinni vogue that appears to have been the craze at the start of this century, Stroud's writing is gripping, moving quickly and keeping you engaged. The trilogy's three main characters - a magician, a "commoner", and a djinn - are constantly in rotation as you follow the story from each point of view.

Discrimination and Machiavellian politics are mixed with magic and fantasy, but always within the framework of the story. Like J.K. Rowling, Stroud is an excellent story teller but, unlike the Potter series, his books are tightly written, with no extraneous plot lines. The language is challenging but not overwhelming; the footnotes for Bartimaeus' asides are hysterical. Anyone who is looking for something a bit more challenging than Harry Potter, or Angela Sage's Septimus Heap (Magyk) books, will find a lot to love in this trilogy. ( )

Meh, I wasn't too thrilled about this one. Again, it has all the elements I would normally love, but I just didn't. Perhaps I was in the wrong mindset again. I might pick up the sequels, but only if I can get them from the library. ( )

Unique plot, entertaining and well written ( )