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Jonathan Stroud was our Guest Editor in November 2010. Click here to see his selection of titles.
Jonathan Stroud was born in Bedford and grew up in St Albans. He studied at York university. He has a strong background in children's books - working at Walker, in their Game Book and Non-Fiction departments and Kingfisher Publications, editing children's non-fiction. He has written and edited a number of game books and non-fiction titles for Walker Books. Jonathan lives in St. Albans with his wife.
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | In a nutshell: dicing with the dead has never been so thrilling Jonathan Stroud’s Lockwood & Co series about a company of teenage psychics attempting to keep the streets of a nearly-but-not contemporary London clear of malevolent spirits is thrilling stuff. Each episode offers a first-class helping of brilliantly-written, edge-of the-seat ghostly adventure packed with intrigue, humour and even a touch of romance. The Empty Grave brings the series to its conclusion and does so in style, with the fiercest test yet for our young heroes, and some uncomfortably close brushes with death. Readers who haven’t discovered this series yet are to be envied, they have such a treat in store! ~ Andrea Reece
One of our Books of the Year 2016 | In a nutshell: spooky suspenseful unputdownable Jonathan Stroud’s Lockwood & Co series about a company of teenage psychics attempting to keep the streets of a nearly-but-not contemporary London clear of malevolent spirits is simply superb. Each episode offers a first-class helping of brilliantly-written, edge-of the-seat adventure packed with intrigue, humour and even a touch of romance, and I can’t think of another modern series that makes for quite such entertaining reading. In this book our narrator Lucy gives up freelance ghost-hunting and returns to Lockwood & Co helping them despatch the terrifying Ealing Cannibal and tackling a small army of ghosts threatening a Hampshire village. As we approach the final book in the series, plots that have been developing over the course of the series are coming together, and the suspense has never been higher. Unmissable. ~ Andrea Reece
One of our Books of the Year 2015 - Andrea Reeces's Pick of the Year 2015 - October 2015 Book of the Month Publication of a new Lockwood and Co adventure must qualify as one of the literary events of the year. Jonathan Stroud not only writes like a dream, he creates some of the most inventive, most exciting storylines around. Each Lockwood adventure raises the levels of tension, as plots thicken dangerously, and our affection for his teenage ghost hunters grows. In this story, there’s a terrifying outbreak of paranormal activity in Chelsea that leaves all the Psychic Investigation Agencies baffled. Can Lockwood & Co find the source? The appointment of a new assistant, the charming Holly, has introduced strains that weren’t there before, and after a shattering climax Stroud leaves the reader on a massive emotional cliffhanger. Book four can’t come soon enough! ~ Andrea Reece
Chosen as one of the Top Ten Best New Books for Children 2015 by Andrea Reece. Jonathan Stroud is a gifted author, and he is on very fine form with these supernatural adventure stories. Set in a Britain where wandering ghosts offer a constant threat, especially after dark, it stars three teenagers, the staff of a Psychic Investigation Agency adept at seeing off the dead. Here they are recruited to track down a stolen artefact that seems to offer phenomenal power to its owner, along with the risk of unpleasant death. Stroud skilfully keeps the tension high from beginning to end and this a really thrilling read. ~ Andrea Reece
Chosen as one of the Top Ten Best New Books for Children 2015 by Andrea Reece. Jonathan Stroud is a gifted author, and he is on very fine form with these supernatural adventure stories. Set in a Britain where wandering ghosts offer a constant threat, especially after dark, it stars three teenagers, the staff of a Psychic Investigation Agency adept at seeing off the dead. Here they are recruited to track down a stolen artefact that seems to offer phenomenal power to its owner, along with the risk of unpleasant death. Stroud skilfully keeps the tension high from beginning to end and this a really thrilling read. ~ Andrea Reece
Jonathan Stroud is a master storyteller who keeps you hanging on to every spine-tingling word. You’ll be hooked long before you turn the final page of The Screaming Staircase, the first in a chilling new series full of suspense, humour and truly terrifying ghosts. Your nights will never be the same again... Every evening the sound of the warning bell marks the beginning of curfew and people all over the city retreat to the safety of their homes. Security is of the utmost importance and salt, lavender and iron are now household staples. Adults are no longer sensitive enough to deal with the strange, malignant hauntings a part of everyday life. So it is down to the young to keep the city's residents safe. Meet the enigmatic Anthony Lockwood and his associates Lucy Carlyle and George Gubbins of A.J. Lockwood & Co. Investigators. A small agency, run without the interference of adults, they consider themselves to be the best. However, after a disastrous encounter with a deadly girl ghost, the agency is in danger of closing down. Will solving an old Missing Persons investigation and spending a terrifying night in the most haunted house in the country save them? Maybe, if of course, they are lucky enough to come away with their lives.
Shortlisted for the Costa Children's Book of the Year Award 2010. Magic and wit make perfect partners in this highly entertaining new story - a prequel to the author's Bartimaeus trilogy - about an unusually quick-witted djinni who has an uncanny way of causing chaos wherever he goes. Set in Jerusalem in the court of King Solomon, Bartimaeus is caught up in the Queen of Sheba’s mission to take control of the King’s magic ring – whatever the cost or danger! Up for anything – almost! – Bartimaeus uses all his guile and brains to succeed. The result is a thrilling, surprising and immensely readable story. The first in the Bartimaeus sequence is Amulet of Samarkand, the second is The Golem’s Eye and the third is Ptolemy’s Gate. (Click here to see the others in the series.) The Ring of Solomon is the fourth one in the sequence and the series has a loyal adult as well as young adult fan base. A message from the publisher: "Jonathan Stroud is a master wordsmith, and fans of his Bartimaeus sequence will absolutely devour The Ring of Solomon. Everyone's favourite irascibly insolent djinni is back with all of his trademark one-liners, utter disdain for everything around him (both human and spirit world) and unfortunate penchant for getting himself into seriously hot water. When Jonathan said he planned to write a new Bartimaeus book, we were delighted because everyone wanted to hear that fast-talking, cheeky, hilarious voice again. Jonathan has been clever in making the new book a prequel because it would have been hard to have followed on from the final book in the trilogy, Ptolemy’s Gate. The idea for the book came from a short story Stroud wrote for his website, but which never appeared online. These books are a great mix of high fantasy, history, horror and humour and it all hangs together.”
For non-stop action from an absolute genius of an author with razor-sharp wit then look no further than this epic trilogy. Ptolemy’s Gate is the triumphant conclusion to the trilogy and although it stands alone as a read in itself the reader will have missed out as the first two, The Amulet of Samarkand and The Golem’s Eye are equally impressive and not to be missed. All have fantastic storylines, unusual and thought-provoking characters. Without a doubt it’s inspired writing for children from a masterful storyteller. Kids who have enjoyed the challenge and the depth of Phillip Pullman’s Dark Materials Trilogy or The Lord of the Rings will be eager to get into a trilogy of this magnitude. Adults will devour it with equal satisfaction.
Three years on from the events in The Golem's Eye, the magicians' rule in London is teetering on a knife-edge, with strikes, riots and general unrest. The Prime Minister is largely controlled by two advisers, one of whom is 17-year-old Nathaniel. Meanwhile, living under a false identity, Kitty has been researching djinn; she has come to believe that the only way to destroy the magicians is with an alliance of some kind between djinn and ordinary people. Kitty seeks out Bartimaeus and embarks on a terrifying journey into the djinn's chaotic domain - the Other Place - which no human being has ever survived. But even as she does so, Makepeace engineers a dramatic coup d'etat. The outcome is a shattering of the magicians' control and all magical laws are turned upside down. Can Bartimaeus, Nathaniel and Kitty settle old scores if they are to survive and prevent the earth's destruction? The first in the Bartimaeus sequence is The Amulet of Samarkand, the second is The Golem’s Eye and the fourth one, The Ring of Solomon is recently published and is a spell-binding addition to Bartimaeus sequence.
Two years have passed since the events of The Amulet of Samarkand and the young magician Nathaniel is rising fast through the government ranks. But his career is suddenly threatened by a series of terrifying crises. A dangerous golem makes random attacks on London and other raids, even more threatening, are perpetrated by the Resistance. Nathaniel and Bartimaeus travel to Prague, enemy city of ancient magic, but while they are there uproar breaks out at home and Nathaniel returns to find his reputation in tatters. Can he rescue it from his Machiavellian adversaries in the government bent on his destruction? This title is a thrilling sequel in which the relationship between the young magician and the djinni remains as teasing and complex as ever. The first in the Bartimaeus sequence is The Amulet of Samarkand and the third is Ptolemy’s Gate. The fourth one, The Ring of Solomon, is recently published and is a spell-binding addition to the Bartimaeus sequence.
Shortlisted for the Costa Children's Book of the Year Award 2010. Magic and wit make perfect partners in this highly entertaining new story - a prequel to the author's Bartimaeus trilogy - about an unusually quick-witted djinni who has an uncanny way of causing chaos wherever he goes. Set in Jerusalem in the court of King Solomon, Bartimaeus is caught up in the Queen of Sheba’s mission to take control of the King’s magic ring – whatever the cost or danger! Up for anything – almost! – Bartimaeus uses all his guile and brains to succeed. The result is a thrilling, surprising and immensely readable story. The first in the Bartimaeus sequence is Amulet of Samarkand, the second is The Golem’s Eye and the third is Ptolemy’s Gate. The Ring of Solomon is the fourth one in the sequence and the series has a loyal adult as well as young adult fan base. A message from the author's editor: “When Jonathan said he planned to write a new Bartimaeus book, we were delighted because everyone wanted to hear that fast-talking, cheeky, hilarious voice again. Jonathan has been clever in making the new book a prequel because it would have been hard to have followed on from the final book in the trilogy, Ptolemy’s Gate. The idea for the book came from a short story Stroud wrote for his website, but which never appeared online. These books are a great mix of high fantasy, history, horror and humour and it all hangs together.” The Costa Children's Book of the Year Award 2010 Shortlist: Annexed - Sharon Dogar Out of Shadows - Jason Wallace Bartimaeus: The Ring of Solomon - Jonathan Stroud Flyaway - Lucy Christopher
This is the first in an unforgettable fantasy sequence called Bartimaeus, every one of which is full of magical intrigue, murder and rebellion. When Bartimaeus is packed off against his will by Nathaniel, a young magician’s apprentice to steal the powerful Amulet of Samarkand from Simon Lovelace, a master magician of unrivalled ruthlessness and ambition little does he realise the ramifications of it. Set in a modern-day London controlled by magicians, this hilarious, electrifying thriller will enthral readers of all ages. Stroud’s disparate collection of characters are brilliantly drawn and their actions utterly compelling as you are drawn into this incredible story. The second in the Bartimaeus sequence is The Golem’s Eye and the third is Ptolemy’s Gate. The fourth one, The Ring of Solomon is recently published and is a spell-binding addition to Bartimaeus sequence.
Interest Age 11+ Reading Age 8+. This thrilling Icelandic myth published by Barrington Stoke in their RELOADED series that introduces readers to new lands and cultures in an accessible way features some terrific characters that will bring to life a world of myth and legend. Thorhall is grateful when he hears the ferocious Glam is willing to be his shepherd. But when a fight with a wild beast leaves Glam dead, his ghost beings to haunt Shadow Vale. Who will be brave enough to confront the ghost? Grettir thinks he might be in with a chance. Will he manage to defeat Glam? To view other titles we think are suitable for reluctant readers please click here. A Dyslexia Friendly title.
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+. This thrilling Icelandic myth published by Barrington Stoke in their RELOADED series that introduces readers to new lands and cultures in an accessible way features some terrific characters that will bring to life a world of myth and legend. Thorhall is grateful when he hears the ferocious Glam is willing to be his shepherd. But when a fight with a wild beast leaves Glam dead, his ghost beings to haunt Shadow Vale. Who will be brave enough to confront the ghost? Grettir thinks he might be in with a chance. Will he manage to defeat Glam? ---------------------------------- Barrington Stoke is the foremost publisher of dyslexia friendly books and those for reluctant readers. Here on Lovereading4kids we are constantly selecting new titles and refreshing our special dyslexia friendly category. Click here to view our current selection which is broken down by age range. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | In a nutshell: dicing with the dead has never been so thrilling Jonathan Stroud’s Lockwood & Co series about a company of teenage psychics attempting to keep the streets of a nearly-but-not contemporary London clear of malevolent spirits is thrilling stuff. Each episode offers a first-class helping of brilliantly-written, edge-of the-seat ghostly adventure packed with intrigue, humour and even a touch of romance. The Empty Grave brings the series to its conclusion and does so in style, with the fiercest test yet for our young heroes, and some uncomfortably close brushes with death. Readers who haven’t discovered this series yet are to be envied, they have such a treat in store! ~ Andrea Reece
Random House presents the audiobook edition of Lockwood & Co: The Empty Grave by Jonathan Stroud, read by Emily Bevan. Want to hear a ghost story? That's good. I know a few . . .After their recent adventures, the Lockwood & Co team deserve a well-earned break . . . so naturally they decide to risk their lives breaking into a heavily-guarded crypt. A building full of unsettled souls, it's also the final resting place of Marissa Fittes, the legendary and (supposedly) long-dead ghost hunter - though the team have their suspicions about just how dead she might be. What they discover changes everything.Pitched into a desperate race to get to the truth behind the country's ghost epidemic, the team ignite a final, epic battle against the Fittes agency. A battle that will force them to journey to the Other Side, and face the most terrifying enemy they have ever known. Can everyone make it out alive?Join Lucy, Lockwood, George and Holly for one last time as they battle ghosts and humans for truth and justice in this breathtaking finale to the bestselling series.'Stroud is a genius' Rick Riordan
Five months after the events in THE CREEPING SHADOW, we join Lockwood, Lucy, George, Holly, and their associate Quill Kipps on a perilous night mission: they have broken into the booby-trapped Fittes Mausoleum, where the body of the legendary psychic heroine Marissa Fittes lies. Or does it? This is just one of the many questions to be answered in Book 5 of the Lockwood & Co. series. Will Lockwood ever reveal more about his family's past to Lucy? Will their trip to the Other Side leave Lucy and Lockwood forever changed? Will Penelope Fittes succeed in shutting down their agency forever? The young agents must survive attacks from foes both spectral and human before they can take on their greatest enemy in a climactic and chaotic battle. And to prevail they will have to rely on help from some surprising--and shadowy--allies. Jonathan Stroud once again delivers a rousing adventure full of danger, laughs, twists, and frights. The revelations will send readers back to Book 1 to start the series all over again.
One of our Books of the Year 2016 | In a nutshell: spooky suspenseful unputdownable Jonathan Stroud’s Lockwood & Co series about a company of teenage psychics attempting to keep the streets of a nearly-but-not contemporary London clear of malevolent spirits is simply superb. Each episode offers a first-class helping of brilliantly-written, edge-of the-seat adventure packed with intrigue, humour and even a touch of romance, and I can’t think of another modern series that makes for quite such entertaining reading. In this book our narrator Lucy gives up freelance ghost-hunting and returns to Lockwood & Co helping them despatch the terrifying Ealing Cannibal and tackling a small army of ghosts threatening a Hampshire village. As we approach the final book in the series, plots that have been developing over the course of the series are coming together, and the suspense has never been higher. Unmissable. ~ Andrea Reece
After leaving Lockwood & Co. at the end of The Hollow Boy, Lucy is a freelance operative, hiring herself out to agencies that value her ever-improving skills. One day she is pleasantly surprised by a visit from Lockwood, who tells her he needs a good Listener for a tough assignment. Penelope Fittes, the leader of the giant Fittes Agency wants them--and only them--to locate and remove the Source for the legendary Brixton Cannibal. They succeed in their very dangerous task, but tensions remain high between Lucy and the other agents. Even the skull in the jar talks to her like a jilted lover. What will it take to reunite the team? Black marketeers, an informant ghost, a Spirit Cape that transports the wearer, and mysteries involving Steve Rotwell and Penelope Fittes just may do the trick. But, in a shocking cliffhanger ending, the team learns that someone has been manipulating them all along. . . .
One of our Books of the Year 2015 - Andrea Reeces's Pick of the Year 2015 - October 2015 Book of the Month Publication of a new Lockwood and Co adventure must qualify as one of the literary events of the year. Jonathan Stroud not only writes like a dream, he creates some of the most inventive, most exciting storylines around. Each Lockwood adventure raises the levels of tension, as plots thicken dangerously, and our affection for his teenage ghost hunters grows. In this story, there’s a terrifying outbreak of paranormal activity in Chelsea that leaves all the Psychic Investigation Agencies baffled. Can Lockwood & Co find the source? The appointment of a new assistant, the charming Holly, has introduced strains that weren’t there before, and after a shattering climax Stroud leaves the reader on a massive emotional cliffhanger. Book four can’t come soon enough! ~ Andrea Reece
Chosen as one of the Top Ten Best New Books for Children 2015 by Andrea Reece. Jonathan Stroud is a gifted author, and he is on very fine form with these supernatural adventure stories. Set in a Britain where wandering ghosts offer a constant threat, especially after dark, it stars three teenagers, the staff of a Psychic Investigation Agency adept at seeing off the dead. Here they are recruited to track down a stolen artefact that seems to offer phenomenal power to its owner, along with the risk of unpleasant death. Stroud skilfully keeps the tension high from beginning to end and this a really thrilling read. ~ Andrea Reece
A thrilling new case for London s most talented psychic detection agency from the global bestselling author of the Bartimaeus Sequence.In London, a mysterious and potentially deadly ghost is stalking the halls of St Simeon s Academy for Talented Youngsters. It lurks in the shadows, spreading fear and icy cold and it carries a sharp and very solid dagger . . .The headmaster wastes no time in enlisting the help of ghost-hunters Anthony Lockwood, Lucy Carlyle and George Cubbins. Can Lockwood & Co. survive the night and save the day?
Two brothers, Michael and Stephen MacIntyre, together with their sister Sarah and the local vicar Tom Aubrey, uncover a deadly secret buried near their village. But time is short: can they prevent the awakening of an ancient evil before its powers corrupt them for ever?
Londonban a varazsloke a hatalom. Nathaniel meg csak keszul ra, hogy a kivalasztottak koze keruljon, s eli a varazsloinasok hetkoznapjait. Am elete hirtelen fordulatot vesz, amikor az egyik nagy hatalmu varazslo nyilvanosan megszegyeniti ot. A fiu bosszuvagytol hajtva idezi meg az otezer eves dzsinnt, Bartimaeust, es megparancsolja neki, hogy lopja el ellensege legfeltettebb kincset. Ezzel a tobb mint vakmero lepesevel a fiu a varazslok kozott dulo hatalmi harc kellos kozepen talalja magat, oldalan a csavaros eszu es pimasz dzsinnel.
Ketezer eve Bartimaeus meg ereje teljeben volt, es a nagy magust, Ptolemaioszt mondhatta baratjanak. Most azonban, kiteve ifju gazdaja, Nathaniel kenye-kedvenek, energiai elapadoban vannak. Idokozben egy alneven bujkalo ellenallo titkon a varazslasrol, a demonokrol folytat tanulmanyokat. Celja, hogy valamikepp vege szakadjon az emberek es a varazslok kozti orokos haboruskodasnak. A Bartimaeus sorozat harmadik kotete evezredeken repiti at az olvasot. Hoseink a magia tortenetenek legsotetebb osszeeskuvesevel talaljak szembe magukat, s ami a legrosszabb: egymassal is van elszamolnivalojuk
A varazslok uralta Londonban egyre szaporodnak a rejtelyes bunesetek, paratlan ereju magikus eszkozok tunnek el. Puccskiserlet huzodik a hatterben, vagy a magusokkal szembeni Ellenallas a felelos? Bartimaeusnak, a pimasz es talalekony dzsinnek es immar magas, allami hivatalt betolto megidezojenek - aki azonban meg mindig kamasz eveiben jar - olyan ugyeket kell felgongyolitenie, amelyek nem csupan atlathatatlanul bonyolultak, de roppant veszelyesek is
Ujra akcioban a pimasz es talalekony dzsinn, Bartimaeus, aki mar harom kotetnyi zajos esemenyen at engedelmeskedett fogcsikorgatva gazdajanak, s kozben probalt minel tobb borsot torni a varazslok orra ala. Am most nem a varazslok uralta Londonban, hanem az evezredekkel korabbi Jeruzsalemben latjuk ot viszont, ahol epp a bolcs es hatalmas Salamon kiraly uralkodik. Hozza indul Saba buszke kiralynojenek megbizasabol egy eszes, talpraesett lany, Asmira. A feladat amit kapott eletveszelyes, es nem csak az o szamara... Azt azonban almaban sem gondolna, mifele hajmereszto kalandokban lesz resze a szemfules es hetvenkedo Bartimaeus dzsinnel az oldalan.
When the dead come back to haunt the living, Lockwood & Co. step in . . . For more than fifty years, the country has been affected by a horrifying epidemic of ghosts. A number of Psychic Investigations Agencies have sprung up to destroy the dangerous apparitions. Lucy Carlyle, a talented young agent, arrives in London hoping for a notable career. Instead she finds herself joining the smallest most ramshackle agency in the city, run by the charismatic Anthony Lockwood. When one of their cases goes horribly wrong, Lockwood & Co. have one last chance of redemption. Unfortunately this involves spending the night in one of the most haunted houses in England, and trying to escape alive. Set in a city stalked by spectres, The Screaming Staircase is the first in a chilling new series full of suspense, humour and truly terrifying ghosts. Your nights will never be the same again . . .
Jonathan Stroud is a master storyteller who keeps you hanging on to every spine-tingling word. You’ll be hooked long before you turn the final page of The Screaming Staircase, the first in a chilling new series full of suspense, humour and truly terrifying ghosts. Your nights will never be the same again... Every evening the sound of the warning bell marks the beginning of curfew and people all over the city retreat to the safety of their homes. Security is of the utmost importance and salt, lavender and iron are now household staples. Adults are no longer sensitive enough to deal with the strange, malignant hauntings a part of everyday life. So it is down to the young to keep the city's residents safe. Meet the enigmatic Anthony Lockwood and his associates Lucy Carlyle and George Gubbins of A.J. Lockwood & Co. Investigators. A small agency, run without the interference of adults, they consider themselves to be the best. However, after a disastrous encounter with a deadly girl ghost, the agency is in danger of closing down. Will solving an old Missing Persons investigation and spending a terrifying night in the most haunted house in the country save them? Maybe, if of course, they are lucky enough to come away with their lives.
You'll want to leave the lights on...Stroud is a genius . (Rick Riordan). When the dead come back to haunt the living, Lockwood & Co. step in...For more than fifty years, the country has been affected by a horrifying epidemic of ghosts. A number of Psychic Investigations Agencies have sprung up to destroy the dangerous apparitions. Lucy Carlyle, a talented young agent, arrives in London hoping for a notable career. Instead she finds herself joining the smallest most ramshackle agency in the city, run by the charismatic Anthony Lockwood. When one of their cases goes horribly wrong, Lockwood & Co. have one last chance of redemption. Unfortunately this involves spending the night in one of the most haunted houses in England, and trying to escape alive. Set in a city stalked by spectres, The Screaming Staircase is the first in a chilling new series full of suspense, humour and truly terrifying ghosts. Your nights will never be the same again...
Shortlisted for the Costa Children's Book of the Year Award 2010. Magic and wit make perfect partners in this highly entertaining new story - a prequel to the author's Bartimaeus trilogy - about an unusually quick-witted djinni who has an uncanny way of causing chaos wherever he goes. Set in Jerusalem in the court of King Solomon, Bartimaeus is caught up in the Queen of Sheba’s mission to take control of the King’s magic ring – whatever the cost or danger! Up for anything – almost! – Bartimaeus uses all his guile and brains to succeed. The result is a thrilling, surprising and immensely readable story. The first in the Bartimaeus sequence is Amulet of Samarkand, the second is The Golem’s Eye and the third is Ptolemy’s Gate. (Click here to see the others in the series.) The Ring of Solomon is the fourth one in the sequence and the series has a loyal adult as well as young adult fan base. A message from the publisher: "Jonathan Stroud is a master wordsmith, and fans of his Bartimaeus sequence will absolutely devour The Ring of Solomon. Everyone's favourite irascibly insolent djinni is back with all of his trademark one-liners, utter disdain for everything around him (both human and spirit world) and unfortunate penchant for getting himself into seriously hot water. When Jonathan said he planned to write a new Bartimaeus book, we were delighted because everyone wanted to hear that fast-talking, cheeky, hilarious voice again. Jonathan has been clever in making the new book a prequel because it would have been hard to have followed on from the final book in the trilogy, Ptolemy’s Gate. The idea for the book came from a short story Stroud wrote for his website, but which never appeared online. These books are a great mix of high fantasy, history, horror and humour and it all hangs together.”
It is 950 B.C.E., and King Solomon rules Jerusalem with a steely hand; a hand on which gleams a magic ring of immense and unforgiving power. Solomon has just begun work on his marvelous temple, charging Khaba, a formidable magician in his royal court, to oversee its construction. The workforce is an ill-behaved bunch of demons, a particularly unruly djinni named Bartimaeus among them. True to form, Bartimaeus promptly gets kicked off the temple project and assigned the even more miserable task of hunting bandits in the desert. There he crosses paths with Asmira, a highly skilled and loyal captain of the Queen of Sheba's guard, on a suicidal mission to save her country from Solomon's imminent attack. Of course, Bartimaeus has no intention of helping her. That is, until Asmira makes him an offer he cannot refuse. . . .A spellbinding addition to Jonathan Stroud's New York Times bestselling Bartimaeus audiobooks, The Ring of Solomon brims with dazzling wit, unforgettable characters, and powerful themes of freedom and slavery, with or without magical bonds.
Two years have passed since the events of The Amulet of Samarkand and the young magician Nathaniel is rising fast through the government ranks. But his career is suddenly threatened by a series of terrifying crises. A dangerous golem makes random attacks on London and other raids, even more threatening, are perpetrated by the Resistance. Nathaniel and Bartimaeus travel to Prague, enemy city of ancient magic, but while they are there uproar breaks out at home and Nathaniel returns to find his reputation in tatters. Can he rescue it from his Machiavellian adversaries in the government bent on his destruction? This title is a thrilling sequel in which the relationship between the young magician and the djinni remains as teasing and complex as ever. The first in the Bartimaeus sequence is The Amulet of Samarkand and the third is Ptolemy’s Gate. The fourth one, The Ring of Solomon, is recently published and is a spell-binding addition to the Bartimaeus sequence.
For non-stop action from an absolute genius of an author with razor-sharp wit then look no further than this epic trilogy. Ptolemy’s Gate is the triumphant conclusion to the trilogy and although it stands alone as a read in itself the reader will have missed out as the first two, The Amulet of Samarkand and The Golem’s Eye are equally impressive and not to be missed. All have fantastic storylines, unusual and thought-provoking characters. Without a doubt it’s inspired writing for children from a masterful storyteller. Kids who have enjoyed the challenge and the depth of Phillip Pullman’s Dark Materials Trilogy or The Lord of the Rings will be eager to get into a trilogy of this magnitude. Adults will devour it with equal satisfaction.
Shortlisted for the Costa Children's Book of the Year Award 2010. Magic and wit make perfect partners in this highly entertaining new story - a prequel to the author's Bartimaeus trilogy - about an unusually quick-witted djinni who has an uncanny way of causing chaos wherever he goes. Set in Jerusalem in the court of King Solomon, Bartimaeus is caught up in the Queen of Sheba’s mission to take control of the King’s magic ring – whatever the cost or danger! Up for anything – almost! – Bartimaeus uses all his guile and brains to succeed. The result is a thrilling, surprising and immensely readable story. The first in the Bartimaeus sequence is Amulet of Samarkand, the second is The Golem’s Eye and the third is Ptolemy’s Gate. The Ring of Solomon is the fourth one in the sequence and the series has a loyal adult as well as young adult fan base. A message from the author's editor: “When Jonathan said he planned to write a new Bartimaeus book, we were delighted because everyone wanted to hear that fast-talking, cheeky, hilarious voice again. Jonathan has been clever in making the new book a prequel because it would have been hard to have followed on from the final book in the trilogy, Ptolemy’s Gate. The idea for the book came from a short story Stroud wrote for his website, but which never appeared online. These books are a great mix of high fantasy, history, horror and humour and it all hangs together.” The Costa Children's Book of the Year Award 2010 Shortlist: Annexed - Sharon Dogar Out of Shadows - Jason Wallace Bartimaeus: The Ring of Solomon - Jonathan Stroud Flyaway - Lucy Christopher
This is the first in an unforgettable fantasy sequence called Bartimaeus, every one of which is full of magical intrigue, murder and rebellion. When Bartimaeus is packed off against his will by Nathaniel, a young magician’s apprentice to steal the powerful Amulet of Samarkand from Simon Lovelace, a master magician of unrivalled ruthlessness and ambition little does he realise the ramifications of it. Set in a modern-day London controlled by magicians, this hilarious, electrifying thriller will enthral readers of all ages. Stroud’s disparate collection of characters are brilliantly drawn and their actions utterly compelling as you are drawn into this incredible story. The second in the Bartimaeus sequence is The Golem’s Eye and the third is Ptolemy’s Gate. The fourth one, The Ring of Solomon is recently published and is a spell-binding addition to Bartimaeus sequence.
Listen then, and I'll tell you again of the Battle of the Rock. But none of your usual wriggling, or I'll stop before I've begun . . . Halli loves the old stories from when the valley was a wild and dangerous place - when the twelve legendary heroes stood together to defeat the ancient enemy, the bloodthirsty Trows. Halli longs for adventure but these days the most dangerous thing in the valley is boredom. He tries to liven things up by playing practical jokes. But when one of his jokes goes too far, he reawakens an old blood feud and finds himself on a hero's quest after all. Along the way he meets a ruthless thief, a murderous rival, and a girl who may just be as fearless as he is . . . Jonathan Stroud has created an epic saga with a funny, unique spin, and an unforgettable anti-hero.
Glam killed the monster of Shadow Vale-but he also died in the fight.Now Glam's ghost has come back and he's worse than the monster ever was...Barrington Stoke specialise in books for reluctant, struggling and dyslexic readers.
YALSA Best Books for Young AdultsA thrilling and original adventure from the bestselling author of the Bartimaeus Trilogy.Halli Sveinsson has grown up a peaceful society where the violence of the past has been outlawed and disputes are settled by the Council. But young Halli has never quite seemed to fit in with the others and when a practical joke goes too far, he sets in motion a chain ofevents that will forever alter his destiny. Part hero' s saga and part coming-of-age, HEROES OF THE VALLEY is a surprising look at what bravery really means.Praise for Jonathan Stroud:';Stroud is a masterful storyteller, balancing touching sentiment with humor,explosive action scenes with philosophical musings on human nature.'The Horn Book, starred reviewFrom the Compact Disc edition.
Listen then, and I'll tell you again of the Battle of the Rock. But none of your usual wriggling, or I'll stop before I've begun ...Halli loves the old stories from when the valley was a wild and dangerous place - when the twelve legendary heroes stood together to defeat the ancient enemy, the bloodthirsty Trows. Halli longs for adventure but these days the most dangerous thing in the valley is boredom. He tries to liven things up by playing practical jokes. But when one of his jokes goes too far, he reawakens an old blood feud and finds himself on a hero's quest after all. Along the way he meets a ruthless thief, a murderous rival, and a girl who may just be as fearless as he is. Jonathan Stroud has created an epic saga with a funny, unique spin, and an unforgettable anti-hero.
Listen then, and I'll tell you again of the Battle of the Rock. But none of your usual wriggling, or I'll stop before I've begun ...Halli loves the old stories from when the valley was a wild and dangerous place - when the twelve legendary heroes, led by his ancestor Svein, stood together to defeat the ancient enemy, the bloodthirsty Trows. Halli longs for adventure but it seems these days the most dangerous thing in the valley is boredom. He tries to liven things up by taunting his siblings and playing practical jokes. But when one of his jokes goes too far reawakening an old blood feud Halli finds himself on a hero's quest after all. Along the way he meets a ruthless thief, a murderous rival, and a girl who may just be as fearless as he is. Halli may be about to make his own last stand and discover the truth about the legends, about his family, and about himself...Jonathan Stroud has created an epic saga with a funny, unique spin, and an unforgettable anti-hero.
When the 5,000-year-old djinni Bartimaeus is summoned by Nathaniel, a young magician's apprentice, he expects to have to do nothing more taxing than a little levitation or a few simple illusions. But Nathaniel is a precocious talent and has something rather more dangerous in mind: revenge. Against his will, Bartimaeus is packed off to steal the powerful Amulet of Samarkand from Simon Lovelace, a master magician of unrivalled ruthlessness and ambition. Before long, both djinni and apprentice are caught up in a terrifying flood of magical intrigue, murder and rebellion. Set in a modern-day London controlled by magicians, this hilarious, electrifying thriller will enthral readers of all ages.
Two years have passed since young apprentice magician Nathaniel became famous by foiling the ruthless Simon Lovelace. Now fourteen, Nathaniel is ambitiously climbing the ranks of the magicians government. The Prime Minister himself has placed Nathaniel in charge of capturing the Resistance, a group of unruly commoners working to undermine the magicians empire. But after several failed attempts, Nathaniel is forced to admit he cant do it alone. With his career on the line, he reluctantly summons his only hope for successthe 5,000-year-old .The duo is reunited just in time: the Resistance is growing more audacious than ever. And to make matters worse, a seemingly invulnerable clay golem is wreaking destruction throughout London, sending the entire city into pandemonium. With time running out, the young magician and his uncontrollable djinni must find the source of the golems power, a task they quickly learn will involve much more than they ever anticipated.In the ensuing chaos, Nathaniel and Bartimaeus will be chased through the streets of Prague, hunt a dancing skeleton across Londons skyline, encounter the horror of the dreaded Night Police, and meet a surprising new ally. Together, these three will have to go heah-to-head with the fearsome golem before the mysterious identity of its master is finally revealed.
Three years have passed since the magician Nathaniel helped prevent a cataclysmic attack on London. Now an important member of the British government, he grapples with numerous problems: foreign wars are going badly, Britains enemies are mounting attacks close to London, and rebellion is growing among the commoners. Increasingly imperious and distracted, Nathaniel is treating Bartimaeus worse than ever. The long-suffering djinni is growing weak and vulnerable from too much time in this world, and his patience is nearing its end.Meanwhile, undercover in London, Nathaniels longtime rival Kitty has been stealthily completing her research on magic, demons, and Bartimaeuss past. She has a daring plan that she hopes will break the endless cycle of conflict between djinn and humans. But will anyone listen to what she has to say? In this glorious conclusion to the Bartimaeus Trilogy, the destinies of Bartimaeus, Nathaniel, and Kitty converge once more. For the first time, we will learn the secrets of Bartimaeuss past, and catch a glimpse into the mysterious Other Placethe world of demonsas together, the threesome faces treacherous magicians, a complex conspiracy, and a rebellious faction of demons. To survive, they must test the limits of this world and question the deepest parts of themselves. And most difficult of allthey will have to learn to trust one another.
Three years on from the events in The Golem's Eye, the magicians' rule in London is teetering on a knife-edge, with strikes, riots and general unrest. The Prime Minister is largely controlled by two advisers, one of whom is 17-year-old Nathaniel. Meanwhile, living under a false identity, Kitty has been researching djinn; she has come to believe that the only way to destroy the magicians is with an alliance of some kind between djinn and ordinary people. Kitty seeks out Bartimaeus and embarks on a terrifying journey into the djinn's chaotic domain - the Other Place - which no human being has ever survived. But even as she does so, Makepeace engineers a dramatic coup d'etat. The outcome is a shattering of the magicians' control and all magical laws are turned upside down. Can Bartimaeus, Nathaniel and Kitty settle old scores if they are to survive and prevent the earth's destruction?
Nathaniel is eleven years old and a magicians apprentice, learning the traditional arts of magic. All is well until he has a life-changing encounter with Simon Lovelace, a magician of unrivaled ruthlessness and ambition. When Lovelace brutally humiliates Nathaniel in public, Nathaniel decides to speed up his education, teaching himself spells way beyond his years. With revenge on his mind, he masters one of the toughest spells of all and summons Bartimaeus, a five-thousand-year-old djinni, to assist him. But summoning Bartimaeus and controlling him are two different things entirely, and when Nathaniel sends the djinni out to steal Lovelaces greatest treasure, the Amulet of Samarkand, he finds himself caught up in a whirlwind of magical espionage, murder, and rebellion. Set in a modern-day London spiced with magicians and mystery, The Amulet of Samarkand is an extraordinary, edge-of-your-seat thriller with many unexpected twists. Following Bartimaeus and Nathaniel in turn, the story introduces us to two wonderfully memorable charactersdestined to go through many adventures together and bound by a spell that is nearly impossible to break.
Many years ago, Viking chief Magnus Ironjaw had a magical banner that brought him victory in battle. But the banner was stolen by a dragon. Readers can relive Bristlebeard's adventures as he tries to recover the banner, solving puzzles along the way.
This is a title in a series of books full of entertaining puzzles, activities and adventures. Join Mam Spamme and her crew aboard the Spotted Dog as they search for treasure and free the eponymous Captain and find the loot!
Two years have passed since the events of The Amulet of Samarkand and the young magician Nathaniel is rising fast through the government ranks. But his career is suddenly threatened by a series of terrifying crises. A dangerous golem makes random attacks on London and other raids, even more threatening, are perpetrated by the Resistance. Nathaniel and Bartimaeus travel to Prague, enemy city of ancient magic, but while they are there uproar breaks out at home and Nathaniel returns to find his reputation in tatters. Can he rescue it from his Machiavellian adversaries in the government bent on his destruction? This title is a thrilling sequel in which the relationship between the young magician and the djinni remains as teasing and complex as ever.
Two years have passed since the events of The Amulet of Samarkand and the young magician Nathaniel is rising fast through the government ranks. But his career is suddenly threatened by a series of terrifying crises. A dangerous golem makes random attacks on London and other raids, even more threatening, are perpetrated by the Resistance. Nathaniel and Bartimaeus travel to Prague, enemy city of ancient magic, but while they are there uproar breaks out at home and Nathaniel returns to find his reputation in tatters. Can he rescue it from his Machiavellian adversaries in the government bent on his destruction? A thrilling sequel in which the relationship between the young magician and the djinni remains as teasing and complex as ever.
When the 5,000-year-old djinni Bartimaeus is summoned by Nathaniel, a young magician's apprentice, he expects to have to do nothing more taxing than a little levitation or a few simple illusions. But Nathaniel is a precocious talent and has something rather more dangerous in mind: revenge. Against his will, Bartimaeus is packed off to steal the powerful Amulet of Samarkand from Simon Lovelace, a master magician of unrivalled ruthlessness and ambition. Before long, both djinni and apprentice are caught up in a terrifying flood of magical intrigue, murder and rebellion. Set in a modern-day London controlled by magicians, this hilarious, electrifying thriller will enthral readers of all ages.
When Emily, Simon and Marcus discover the deserted castle, it seems like an escape from the midwinter snows and their individual loneliness. But their occupation of the ruin quickly takes on a momentum of its own, and soon threatens their friendship, their freedom and their lives.
Two brothers, Michael and Stephen MacIntyre, together with their sister Sarah and the local vicar Tom Aubrey, uncover a deadly secret buried near their village. But time is short: can they prevent the awakening of an ancient evil before its powers corrupt them for ever?
Everyone says that Max is drowned, but Charlie thinks differently: she was in the mill-pool with him, and knows exactly what she saw. When she begins to see him in her dreams, her hopes are raised. It seems the reunion she craves is possible. But where exactly is Max leading her? And will she be able to return?
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