An In"genie"ous Fantasy Trilogy ✩✩✩✩✩

Don't let this (in my opinion) creepy cover stop you or your reader from picking up the first book in this exciting magical adventure series! The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud, is the first book in the Bartimaeus trilogy.  The fast-paced story's narration alternates between the two main characters. Nathaniel is a 12-year old magician living in London who has been neglected and underestimated by his magician caregiver. Bartimaeus is a 5,000 year old djinni (genie) who has been summoned by Nathaniel to aid him with a plot of revenge, after an evil magician humiliates and hurts the boy.

Bartimaeus' wisdom lends itself to funny and interesting footnotes that are inserted into his chapters. Readers may cheer for Nathaniel's plot of revenge; however, some may feel his character is a little too quick to rush into action without thinking of the consequences. I will be interested to see if Nathaniel does some growing up and if his relationship with the djinni develops more fully in the next two books in the series. If you are searching for another great series to read after Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl and The Alchemyst, your wish has been granted!