Product Description

Three years on from the events in The Golem's Eye, the magicians' rule in London is teetering on a knife-edge, with strikes, riots and general unrest. The Prime Minister is largely controlled by two advisers, one of whom is 17-year-old Nathaniel. Meanwhile, living under a false identity, Kitty has been researching djinn; she has come to believe that the only way to destroy the magicians is with an alliance of some kind between djinn and ordinary people. Kitty seeks out Bartimaeus and embarks on a terrifying journey into the djinn's chaotic domain - the Other Place - which no human being has ever survived. But even as she does so, Makepeace engineers a dramatic coup d'etat. The outcome is a shattering of the magicians' control and all magical laws are turned upside down. Can Bartimaeus, Nathaniel and Kitty settle old scores if they are to survive and prevent the earth's destruction?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4274 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 528 pages

From the Inside Flap
'Once, long ago, I was second to none. I could bore through mountains... fell forests with a single breath...'
Two-thousand years have passed since Bartimaeus was at the height of his powers - invincible in battle and befriended by the great magician Ptolemy.
Now, trapped on Earth and treated with disdain by his master, Nathaniel, his energies are fading fast. With Nathaniel preoccupied by the problems of a failing empire, and more rigid and insensitive than ever, the long-suffering djinni's patience is finally at and end.
Meanwhile, undercover in London, the fugitive Kitty Jones has been stealthily completing her research on magic and demons. She has a plan that she hopes will break the endless cycle of conflict between djinn and humans - but first she must uncover the secrets of Bartimaeus's past.
This extraordinary conclusion to the Bartimaeus Trilogy moves across the centuries and into unknown worlds. With disaster threatening everyone in London, the destinies of Bartimaeus, Nathaniel and Kitty are entwined for a final time. Together, they must defeat treacherous magicians, uncover a chilling conspiracy and face the most dangerous threat in the history of magic.
Worst of all, they must contend with each other...

From the Back Cover
‘The triumphant conclusion to a fantastic trilogy’ Daily Mail

Two thousand years have passed since the djinni Bartimaeus was at the height of his powers – invincible in battle and befriended by the great magician Ptolemy. Now, trapped on Earth and treated with disdain by his master, Nathaniel, Bartimaeus finds his energies fading fast.

Meanwhile, undercover in London, the fugitive Kitty Jones has been stealthily completing her research on magic and demons. She has a plan that she hopes will break the endless conflict between djinn and humans – but first she must uncover the secrets of Bartimaeus’s past.
In this extraordinary conclusion to the Bartimaeus Trilogy Nathaniel and Kittymust defeat treacherous magicians, uncover a chilling conspiracy and face the most dangerous threat in the history of magic . . .

About the Author
Jonathan Stroud lives in St Albans, Hertfordshire, with his wife and small daughter, Isabelle. While writing his earlier novels, Buried Fire, The Leap and The Last Siege, he worked as an editor in a London publishing firm. Now, with world-wide interest in the best-selling Bartimaeus Trilogy, he devotes himself to full-time writing.He travels extensively, promoting his books

Customer Reviews

Engaging, satisfying, easily the best of the three.
The final volume of the Bartimeus Trillogy, 'Ptolemy's Gate' is an absolute gem of a book. As well as possessing the same qualities that made the previous books so succesful, Ptolemy's Gate is made all the more satisfying by the wonderfully poignant climax it builds to, answering many accumulated questions along the way.

This series is a must-read for anyone who likes a good story (children and adults alike), and Ptolemy's Gate is easily the best of the three - once you've opened it, putting this book down simply isn't an option.

Another American who could not wait...
A well crafted, and fitting end to a wonderful Trilogy. There is a sense of foreboding through the book (intentional I am sure) and an ending that is surprising and fitting. No ending with a whimper.. no "I just don't know how to stop.." it is done right. There is a LOT of Bartimaeous, which is a joy. And there is hope and redemtion in the poignant prose.

Others have reviewed this book to greater success than I could ever hope to achieve- but I wanted to add that it is WELL worth the read and among my favorite series. Some of the best fiction these days is disguised as "children's" books.

And I wanted to add that if you have not LISTENED to this story as read by Simon Jones.. then you are missing a real treat. He gives great voice to the characters- especially the wicked, sarcastic and heartfelt Bartimaeous. I highly recommend that you give the stories a listen, as well as a read.

A superb ending to the Bartimaeus trilogy
Having immensely enjoyed The Amulet of Samarkand and Golem's Eye, the first and second books of this most unusual trilogy, I had high expectations for this final chapter. I am pleased to say that I haven't been disappointed. Ptolemy's Gate is by far the best in the series and must go down as Stroud's finest work to date.

The novel is both engaging and exciting. Stroud's moves the focus of the storyline from Nathaniel to Kitty to Bartimaeus in flawless fashion. His employment of the first-person style of story telling from Bartimaeus to the more usual narrative when featuring Kitty or Nathaniel adds a dimension to this series that you'll rarely find in the work of others.

I won't ruin the plot by describing the action here - you'll have to buy the book if you want to know what happens. Suffice it is to say that Stroud beautifully ties up all the strings left dangling in Golem's Eye; and he does so most satisfactorily. You'll wind up caring for each of the three main characters and wondering whether Mister Mandrake is the magician, or whether the real wizard is Stroud himself.

Trouble is, I am now left wanting much more of Bartimaeus. Can we have some more, please, Mister Stroud?