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The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

I got this book from Audible, read by Simon Jones.

Simon Jones' most interesting voice makes this book so good. The story itself is wonderful.

Poor Nathaniel is sold to the government because he is a magician. At a young age he is given new parents and told to forget his former life. He has a master magician who is to teach him everything. Nathaniel is very smart, and very much in a hurry to grow up and learn everything there is to be a magician and to one day work in the government.

One day, he's offended by magicians, and his master did nothing to help save him from their cruel tricks. Out for revenge, Nathaniel learns how to summon demons and genies to do his bidding. He summons Bartimaeus, a self absorbed genie, to steal the Amulet of Samarkand. With it, Nathaniel will be the cause of his own worst nightmare coming true, and he must find a way to fix it.

It is a very clever book, with the standing ovation going to Bartimaeus. Even though he's a genie who thinks roses bloom just for him, he's so entertaining, you simply don't care. He's funny and witty.

Extra points for Nathaniel for putting up with such a genie. He gets himself into a heap of trouble, but he is bold enough to make up for it.

Strong characters and a very interesting world make this one of the better books I have read (or listened to) this year. With Simon Jones narrating this one, wow. Makes it even more fun.

I am truely impressed and give it a thumbs up. I eagerly await to listen to the second and third books in this trilogy.