Book review
Written by Jonathan Stroud
Doubleday hardback
Release date Out now

While running an errand for his fearsome master (one of King Solomon’s personal magicians), Bartimaeus meets a young assassin with an eye on the king and the ring of power he wields. Through an unfortunate chain of events Bartimaeus finds himself bound to the girl and embarking on one of his most dangerous missions yet...

Jonathan Stroud’s dastardly demon, Bartimaeus, returns in this prequel to the author’s original trilogy. Still causing chaos and exercising his fierce wit on anything with ears, Bartimaeus terrorises his masters in 10th century BC Israel rather than London this time around.

The shape-shifting djinni is as satirical as ever, and shines in this exotic new setting. Still struggling to escape back to the bliss of the ‘otherworld’, he sees his chance when he meets the ambitious yet troublesome Asmira. But nothing is ever straightforward for Bartimaeus, and the ensuing adventure makes for an eventful, if not always engaging, new addition to Stroud’s series.

The fun premise ultimately makes this sound better than it is. Some sections drag (in particular Asmira’s journey to Israel) while others compel (Bartimaeus and Asmira’s meeting with Solomon). But despite the well-paced action sequences and quick-witted, charming protagonist, the book often feels more of an effort to read than it should. Bartimaeus’s humour eventually becomes repetitive, and will probably be best appreciated by younger readers. Alice Wybrew

VERDICT: 6/10
With a vibrant setting and charismatic protagonist, Stroud’s latest addition to his popular series is readable enough; you just can’t help feel it could’ve been better.