The Golem's Eye by Jonathan Stroud

Title: The Golem's Eye

Author: Jonathan Stroud

Genre: Fantasy, second in a series

Summary: Nathaniel reneges on his promise to never summon Bartimeaus again when political pressures mount from the Resistance. Nathaniel is two years old, and has been appointed as the assistant to Internal Affairs. When he doesn't produce results fast enough, he summons Bartimeaus to bail him out again.

The Take-Away: Nathaniel turned from a likeable little kid to an obnoxious teenager. His political development is astounding; he plays office politics like a fiddle. Nathaniel even manages to annoy Bartimeaus. Given the number of masters he has known, annoying Bartimeaus is not an easy task.

My alliance shifted to Bartimeaus in this title. Nathaniel was sympathetic in the last book, but any redeeming quality he had then has vanished now. Three characters return, members of the Resistance with whom Nathaniel had brief run in last time. The story is also told from their point of view, and gives the reader a complete picture, along with the ability to put clues together faster than Nathaniel.

Recommendation: Start with Book One, The Amulet of Samarkand, and have Book Three, Ptolemy’s Gate, on hand.

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