Title : The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy , Book 1)
Author : Jonathan Stroud

This book has been around awhile I guess, and it’s kinda late to read it now, but nevertheless, I picked up a copy of it while I went to Plaza Indonesia the other day, and start reading. And I’m hooked

If you ever read Harry Potter series book and see how the magic world there works, with this book it all goes upside down. Jonathan builds up a fantasy world of magician who rule the world (London, for that matters) and actually live together with non-magicians or commoners, both aware each side actually exists and live together side by side. However, magicians in Jonathan’s book is different. They don’t own the power themselves by casting spells or do other sort of tricks, but they summon and controls demons from the other world who actually do the job, i.e. by themselves they’re actually powerless :) . There are many types and many grades of demons of course. One of them, the focus of this book is Bartimaeus, a five-thousand year old djinni who posses knowledge, abilities, and experience ( it is 5,000 years, yes, so might be aware know what this djinni has gone through :p).

Bartimaues is summoned by an apprentice 11-years-old magician, Nathaniel, who wants revenge after being humiliated in public by another magician. Nathaniel, raged by the humiliation, order Bartimaeus to steal The Amulet of Samarkand, a very powerful amulet with outstanding protective charm. The story switches back and forth from Bartimaues and Nathaniel points of view, where Jonathans writes the twist, conspiracy, and politics, of his magical world.

The best part, of course, is Bartimaeus character. Sharp-tounged, witty, sarcastic, and hilarious with his foot-notes, he’s just something you can’t stop read until you’re finished :D

Totally recommended