The Amulet of Samarkand is a fantasy novel written by Jonathan Stroud. It is the first book in the Bartimaeus trilogy. The story is set in a parallel version of London, where magicians rule the government, and commoners are treated as second-class citizens. The main character is Nathaniel, a young magician's apprentice who possesses great potential. He is ambitious and dreams of becoming a respected member of the magical elite. However, his career takes a turn when he is humiliated by a powerful magician named Simon Lovelace.
Lovelace would expend much effort to retrieve the amulet, even going so far as sending two of his strongest Djinn to break into the Tower fo London to break Bartimaeus out. Lovelace's agents would track Bartimaeus to the home of Underwood, and subsequently kill Underwood and his wife after retrieving the amulet from an intimidated and bewildered Underwood.
Lovelace would expend much effort to retrieve the amulet, even going so far as sending two of his strongest Djinn to break into the Tower fo London to break Bartimaeus out. Bartimaeus isn t sure what demon or demons are stuck inside the amulet; all he knows is that they are extremely powerful and that it makes the wearer invulnerable to magical attack.
However, his career takes a turn when he is humiliated by a powerful magician named Simon Lovelace. Determined to seek revenge, Nathaniel secretly summons the powerful djinni Bartimaeus and orders him to steal the Amulet of Samarkand from Lovelace. The amulet is a mysterious and powerful artifact that has the ability to control spirits and magic.
The Amulet of Samarkand — “Bartimaeus Trilogy”
Arthur Underwood, an average wizard working in England’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, reluctantly takes charge of 5-year-old Nathaniel in order to raise him up as a magician. It is magicians, and the demons they control by their spells, that run the governments of the world. Throughout the years, Underwood barely tolerates the boy, doing only the barest essential teaching necessary to instruct him in magic. But Nathaniel is smarter than Underwood believes, and over the years, he learns spells and magic on his own from books. When another magician embarrasses Nathaniel in front of others, the boy seeks revenge.
It takes Nathaniel a year to learn the spell necessary and gain the confidence needed to conjure a demon or djinni, known as Bartimaeus. When Bartimaeus arrives, he can’t believe he is to be enslaved to a 12-year-old child. Nathaniel orders Bartimaeus to steal the Amulet of Samarkand from Simon Lovelace, the magician who humiliated him.
Bartimaeus succeeds but informs Nathaniel the amulet is more important than the boy realized. Lovelace and his accomplices are desperate to retrieve the talisman before an important event takes place the following week. When Nathaniel orders the djinni to hide the amulet in Underwood’s study, Bartimaeus overhears the boy’s name. It weakens Nathaniel’s ability to control him. So the boy has to make Bartimaeus his hostage. If the demon fails to perform his duty and Nathaniel is harmed in any way, that would prevent him from canceling the spell, and Bartimaeus will have to spend 100 years as the prisoner of a tobacco tin filled with rosemary (an herb detrimental to a demon’s health).
Underwood brings Nathaniel to his first Parliamentary affair. While listening to a speech by the prime minister, Nathaniel sees a youth sneak in from the balcony. Before Nathaniel can shout a warning, the intruder throws an elemental sphere into the audience, releasing elemental imps of fire, water, air and earth, and creating chaos in Parliament. The prime minister escapes unharmed, and Nathaniel learns for the first time of a feared “resistance” to the magicians’ rule by non-magicians within the cities.
Over the next week, Bartimaeus and Nathaniel are embroiled in political intrigue as they discover Lovelace has stolen the amulet in a plot to overthrow the prime minister (also a magician.) The boy and the demon must work together to foil the plot — Nathaniel, because he wants to stop Lovelace, and Bartimaeus because he will be stuck in a tobacco tin if Nathaniel fails. After Bartimaeus escapes from a trap set by Lovelace, he is followed to Underwood’s house. Lovelace confronts Nathaniel’s master, who has no idea that his safe holds a powerful talisman.
Nathaniel confesses his crime to Lovelace in order to save his master and his master’s wife from certain death. He hopes to convince the magician that he knows nothing of the amulet’s true powers (the ability to block its owner from any magical attack). Lovelace takes no chances. Once the amulet is again in his possession, he uses his powers to kill Underwood and his wife. Nathaniel escapes with Bartimaeus’ help, and Lovelace implicates him in the murder.
Bartimaeus and Nathaniel disguise themselves so they can infiltrate a special Parliamentary conference being hosted by Lovelace. Before they can stop him, Lovelace begins his attack. He summons a creature from the Other World, the most powerful of demons, to attack the other magicians. The Amulet of Samarkand protects him from the power of the beast. Bartimaeus and Nathaniel manage to steal back the amulet. Without its protection, the demon turns on Lovelace and eats him. The beast then turns to attack the other magicians, leaving only Nathaniel to recite the complex dismissal spell to banish it back to the Other World. Bartimaeus doubts the young boy’s abilities, but he has no choice but to stand back and watch Nathaniel try as the other magicians fight for their lives. The boy succeeds and returns the Amulet of Samarkand to the hands of the prime minister, where it rightfully belongs.
Nathaniel tells the authorities that it was his master, Underwood, who originally suspected that Lovelace had the amulet. Before he could act on his suspicions, Lovelace attacked and killed Underwood and his wife. Nathaniel is hailed as a hero and sent to live with a new magician master. Bartimaeus insists the boy keep his promise and set the djinni free since he helped stop Lovelace. Nathaniel worries that Bartimaeus will tell other demons his “true” name, but the demon pledges to keep it secret. Besides, if the boy doesn’t set him free, Bartimaeus will tell his new master about Nathaniel’s real role with the amulet. The young magician agrees to send the demon back to his home. Before he leaves, Bartimaeus warns Nathaniel to be wary of his new master and to be careful not to let the powerful magicians rob him of his morality.
Adults drink wine and champagne. Nathaniel, 12, gets one swig of champagne. Quick mention of a woman smoking.
It is said to grant its possessor immense power and influence. Nathaniel believes that by obtaining the amulet, he will be able to outshine his rivals and gain the respect he desires. As the story progresses, Nathaniel and Bartimaeus become embroiled in a dangerous web of political intrigue and magical battles. They encounter various enemies, including demons, other magicians, and even the British government itself. With each new challenge, Nathaniel faces the consequences of his choices and learns about the true nature of power and responsibility. The Amulet of Samarkand is an exciting and fast-paced novel that explores themes of ambition, power, and morality. It delves into the complex dynamics between magicians and commoners, highlighting the disparities in their roles and treatment within society. The main idea behind the story is that power and ambition come with consequences, and one must be careful in their pursuit of it. Overall, The Amulet of Samarkand is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that will keep readers engaged from start to finish. It offers a unique blend of fantasy, adventure, and social commentary, making it a must-read for fans of the genre..
Reviews for "the amulet of samrkand"
1. Emily - 2 stars
I found "The Amulet of Samarkand" to be quite disappointing. The story felt slow and dragged on, lacking the excitement and intrigue I was expecting. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard for me to connect or care about their struggles. Additionally, the world-building was lacking, and I felt like I was constantly left with unanswered questions. The writing style was also underwhelming, lacking the descriptive language that would have brought the story to life. Overall, I was left wanting more from this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Jake - 3 stars
While "The Amulet of Samarkand" had an interesting premise and concept, I felt that the execution fell flat. The pacing of the story was inconsistent, with parts feeling rushed and others dragging on unnecessarily. I also found the magical system to be confusing and poorly explained, making it hard to fully grasp and appreciate the magical elements of the story. The main character, Nathaniel, was unlikable and lacked development, making it hard to root for him or care about his journey. Overall, I think this book had potential, but it didn't live up to my expectations.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I didn't enjoy "The Amulet of Samarkand" as much as I thought I would. The plot was predictable and lacked excitement, failing to hold my interest throughout. The characters felt flat and lacked personality, making it difficult for me to become invested in their stories. The writing style was also mediocre, lacking the descriptive prose that would have brought the world and its inhabitants to life. Overall, I found this book to be a forgettable read and wouldn't recommend it to others looking for a thrilling and immersive fantasy novel.