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Summary and Reviews of Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud

Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud

Ptolemy's Gate

The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 3

by Jonathan Stroud
  • BookBrowse Review:
  • Critics' Consensus (6):
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  • First Published:
  • Dec 19, 2005, 512 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Jan 2007, 512 pages
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About This Book

Book Summary

In this thrilling conclusion of the Bartimaeus trilogy, the destinies of Bartimaeus, Nathaniel, and Kitty are thrown together once more as they face treacherous magicians, unravel a masterfully complex conspiracy, and defeat a formidable faction of demons.

Three years have passed since the magician Nathaniel helped prevent a cataclysmic attack on London. Now an established member of the British Government, he faces unprecedented problems: foreign wars are going badly, Britain’s enemies are mounting attacks close to London, and rebellion is fermenting among the commoners. Increasingly imperious and distracted, Nathaniel is treating Bartimaeus worse than ever. The long-suffering djinni is growing weak and vulnerable from too much time in this world, and his patience is nearing its end.

Meanwhile, undercover in London, Kitty has been stealthily completing her research on magic, demons, and Bartimaeus’s past. She has a plan that she hopes will break the endless cycle of conflict between djinn and humans. But will anyone listen to what she has to say?

In this thrilling conclusion of the Bartimaeus trilogy, the destinies of Bartimaeus, Nathaniel, and Kitty are thrown together once more. For the first time, we will learn the secrets of Bartimaeus’s past, and get a glimpse into the Other Place -- the world of demons -- as together, the threesome must face treacherous magicians, unravel a masterfully complex conspiracy, and defeat a formidable faction of demons. And worst of all, they must somehow cope with one another....

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Reviews

BookBrowse Review

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Ptolemy's Gate is a very interesting book with many unexpected twists and turns in the plot. It is an excellent end to the series that still leaves just enough questions unanswered for your mind to continue puzzling over them for a long time to come. It stands out from other books because it gives more details on the spirits themselves, such as their personalities and the conflicts that exist between them caused by bitter feuds dating back thousands of years.

Will Kitty's strength and intelligence combined with the good that still lies somewhere in the heart of Nathaniel/John Mandrake, plus Bartimaeus's magic, wit and wisdom be enough to save the day? Readers will have to find out for themselves in the final, exciting volume of this entertaining saga. I highly recommend this series! - Thomas, aged 13...continued

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Beyond the Book



Jonathan Stroud was born in Bedford, England and grew up in St Albans. For many years he had a burning desire to write a full-length work of fiction which he would have wanted to read when he was younger. After graduating from York University he embarked on a publishing and writing career in the game book and non-fiction department at Walker Books. He moved to Kingfisher Publications to edit children's non-fiction, and for a time juggled working with writing; but is now a full-time writer.

He got the idea for the Bartimaeus Trilogy during a 20-minute walk home in the rain. As he trudged along it occurred to him that most fantasies feature heroic wizards battling against evil and he wondered whether it would be ...

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