[.uk] Ptolemy's Gate (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 3) (ISBN 0807219819)

Very good end to the trilogy:
After the 2nd book, I went straight into the 3rd but my hopes weren't high. The 2nd book was really good, but I didn't think it would be topped. However, the 3rd book truly is the best in the series. By the end of book 2, I had the strong impression that the 3 main characters lives would converge and they would end up working together. This happens and in a way I wouldn't have expected. To sum up the finer points of the book, Kitty is alive and acting as an assistant to an old magician. Here, she learns the fundamentals of summoning, and a brief history of bartimeaus. It's obvious where this is going. Nathaniel is still power-hungry but there is an internal battle of morality ensuing. He begins to see the flaws of the government he has admired so greatly, and to a much larger degree, the flaws within himself. He discovers Kitty is alive and that Bartimeaus knew of this. With this, their paths converge. It should be noted that in the previous 2 books, I hated Nathaniel...and for good reason. This book changes my entire opinion of him, as I think it will most everyone else who dislikes his character. It isn't called 'Ptolemy's Gate' for no good reason. We learn in depth why Bartimeaus takes the appearance of the egyptian boy, which is quite an interesting story. We learn about the Other Place, even though the idea is very difficult to wrap your mind around. There have been plenty of reviews describing the plot. I would rather not give away too much. The experience of reading the book without knowing what will happen is much better than getting the details. It's a great book with a solid ending. I, as well as many others, was a HUGE fan of the Harry Potter series. I was however, less than thrilled, at the 7th book. In my opinion, it killed the story. The ending to this series was quite the opposite. It lives up to it's expectations. It was a refreshing story all around. I've never read anything quite like it. I recommend this story to everyone...especially those suffering "potter withdraws"...but keep in mind, it's nothing like the potter story.

great book:
This is the last in a wonderful trilogy by Jonathan Stroud. I purchased it to listen to with my 9 year old son during long car trips. I have enjoyed it as much or more than he has! Get the other two books first as they build on one another.

Slow to start but gets really good near the end:
Another outing with Nathaniel but slow to start and overwritten in places. This time he's the the Information Minister, and spends his time making up propaganda pamphlets. Three years have passed since the last book and the characters feel more jaded than ever and you almost feel sorry for the way Nathaniel treats Bartimaeus. He does this by not allowing Bartimaeus to return to the Other Place until his essence is severely weakened. Mandrake is totally absorbed in his work and things aren't going well for the government as the commoners revolt. Kitty is back and through her the reader learns the secret behind Ptolemy and gets a look into Bartimaeus' domain. When a sinister plot unleashes an old evil, Mandrake, Kitty and Bartimaeus team up to defend the human race. The last hundred pages or so is where it gets really good. Otherwise, it kind of moves slowly.

An amazing end to a great trilogy:
I will admit to not having read this book in a little while, but I have read it multiple times because of how much I liked it. The whole book struck me as a bit sad as the trilogy came to a close and the problems that the characters were facing did as well. Stroud's narative was as ingenious in this book as it was in the first as it switched back and forth between three very different personalities. Bartimaeus did a good job of lightening up what could have otherwise been an overly serious story. His characters continued to grow and I felt that they had gotten much farther along as individuals by the end. I thought that this was an entertaining original book that gripped and surprised me long after the last page was turned.

AMAZING!!:
I read the previous two books and loved them so as soon as I saw the third and final one was out I jumped at it. This book was expertly crafted to make one completely absorbed in it. It was literally a book I could not put down. The storyline was intricate and well thought out. In the end I felt both a sense of peace, sorrow, and happiness. This is a must read for anyone with eyes and a mind thirsty for entertainment!