The Amulet of Samarkand

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud, art by Lee Sullivan

This is the graphic novel adaptation of The Amulet of Samarkand, and I have to admit that at first I was skeptical of such an undertaking, but I have to say Stroud has adapted and condensed the story with finesse. the humor of Bartimaeus still comes through loud and clear. The art work has a wonderful clarity for what could have become an overly dark work.Characters are fully recognizable and distinctive (a feature that can sometimes be confusing with manga and some graphic novels). I'm hoping that the graphic novel will lead readers into this magical trilogy.

Here's the summary from the back:

Nathaniel, a twelve-year-old magician in training, thinks he's ready to take on more challenging spells. With revenge against the proud and ambitious Simon Lovelace on his mind, he masters one of the toughest spells of all and summons Bartimaeus, a 5,000-year-old djinni, to assist him. But summoning a djinni and controlling him are two different things entirely. When Nathaniel sends Bartimaeus to steal Lovelace's greatest treasure, the Amulet of Samarkand, he finds himself caught in a whirlwind of espionage, murder and rebellion.

The magic comes to cinematic life in The Amulet of Samarkand. This is Bartimaeus as you've never seen him before.