I expected these to be more about the changes to the planet, but they're more about how humans are. To some extent, how we remain the same.

This one was interesting in how the obscenely rich might "help" in regards to climate change.

What is allowed when a community is flooded and then completely abandoned? Do the ruins become public property? Is it finders keepers? Maybe...

This is a good ending story for this short story series. The animals are in control and humans are pests.

"What do we want to want?"

This book was thought-provoking, impressive, and incredibly well written. I'm looking forward to reading "Homo Deus" next.

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...

I loved this book. Bartimaeus is as delightfully witty and sarcastic as ever, but I'm disappointed in Nathaniel/John Mandrake. I just know that there's still a heart in there, but he's not showing it too well.

Why would you do this to me!?! Really?

Spoiler

How could you let Nathaniel die?!

I love Nathaniel and I love Bartimaeus and I love Kitty and WHY??!!?!?

Four stars for not disappointing me, and the fifth star was mostly withheld for:
1. not doing anything truly unpredictable
.....(note: Unpredictable based on the previous books, not necessarily based on the genre. I was pleased with some of the twists in this conclusion.)
2. continuing the switching point-of-views when the characters sound too similar
.....(note: I'm not upset that the characters sound similar, it's what I would expect from people that have grown up in an almost completely controlled environment and groomed to be exactly what Society wants. I'm disappointed that Ally Condie didn't take this into account when choosing to write each chapter from different points of view. Thankfully she included who was "talking" as the chapter name each time.)
3. going with the

Spoiler

happy ending

.

All in all, this is a book (trilogy) that I wouldn't mind putting on my shelves (they're actually already there) and will potentially read again in the future just in case I missed some interesting little tidbit. I would also auto-read any short stories that she might choose to put out in this series and this author, while not on my auto-read list for all books, is definitely on my watch list in case something looks interesting. :-)

My full review is here on my personal website. I'll post a few excerpts here, though:

4.5 out of 5.0 stars

The very worst thing about this book is that, at times, Ender’s actions, thoughts, and behvaiours seem somewhat fantastical. Granted, genius children often mature faster on the outside, their thoughts would usually betray their age. Not so much in what they are thinking, but how they are thinking. Does that make sense?

The very best thing about this book is how much better it was than I expected. I’ve been seeing this book/series around for years and never read it. Why? Because honestly, based on the teasers on the back I thought I was going to be reading a book about a rebelious child who miraculously succeeds against the giant evil government in spite of all the adults trying to kill him. Yeah… Boy was I wrong! ^_^