THE GOLEM’S EYE

Picking up two years after The Amulet of Samarkand ended, this sequel continues the original’s fast-paced excitement and is enriched by a broader moral view and a third main character. Nathaniel, ambitious teenage magician (politician), works furiously to gain power and credence in London’s magician-run government. Slave-djinni Bartimaeus, bound to follow Nathaniel’s orders, retains his ultra-sardonic voice (including trademark commentary footnotes). The third viewpoint is that of Kitty, a teenaged member of the Resistance tormenting London’s seat of government. Unlike headstrong Nathaniel (never questioning the British Empire’s repressive power) and sarcastic Bartimaeus, the fierce, fiery Kitty is easy to root for. Grave-robbing, international spying, a city-smashing golem, exploding demons, and fearsome Night Police all figure in before the end—which of course isn’t the end at all. Is there hope for resisting the Empire? Might enslaved djinn be involved? Stay tuned for more thrills. (character list) (Fantasy. 10-14)