I was more pleased with this story than I thought I would be. It's been on my to read list for quite a while and, each time I skimmed the description, I thought to myself "it looks like such a great book, but it probably doesn't live up to the hype" so I kept putting it off. I finally started it the other day and it is definitely a keeper!

Bartimaeus is a delightfully sarcastic character - I love him! I also love his footnotes! It's nice that his train of thought isn't interrupted to clarify a previously unknown concept; it is usually added after a thought ends with a footnote so that you get a bit more context with the explanation.

I'm not sure how to feel about Nathaniel, though. I'm reminded a bit of Artemis Fowl in his deviousness, but while Artemis knew he was a criminal, Nathaniel thinks it's his birthright as a magician to treat spirits/demons like slaves - which, granted, is what they are - but I had hoped for a bit more growth out of his character. Maybe in the next book...