The Golem's Eye   by Jonathon Stroud Doubleday, 2004, 570 pages, ISBN 038560615X

How easy was it to get stuck into this book?
The Golem's Eye returns to the enticing world created by The Amulet of Samarkand, divided between 'magicians' and commoners, with everything being controlled by the former. The magicians gain their power from the demons which they enslave and force to do their bidding. This time the aspiring young magician Nathaniel, anti-hero of the last book, is attempting to climb his way up the governmental ladder in a complicated web of political deceit and mistrust.

Who are the main characters?
The main character is Nathaniel, or John Mandrake, as he is supposed to be called, due to a policy magicians have of never letting demons know their birth names, and so giving each other alternate names instead. After stopping a murder plot to the prime minister, he has been awarded a job in a government department, and so an opportunity to make a name for himself. Other important characters include his most powerful demon servant, Bartimaus; his master, to whom he is apprenticed, Jessica Whitwell; the government chief of police named Duvall, who is a constant enemy to all of Mandrake's proposals, and the prime minister himself, Rupert Devereaux.

What's the storyline?
Basically, when a strange magical beast starts rampaging throughout London, Mandrake has an opportunity to prove his worth to the government. He summons his reluctant demon Bartimaeus, and puts him on the case. However, it is not as easy as it might seem, and when a group of angry commoners, furious at being underdogs to the resistance for so long, raid a valuable tomb and release a furious demon into London, he has a second problem to contend with. There is furious action throughout the book, and weighing in at 570 pages it ought to be enough to keep most people satisfied.

How's it written?
The book is probably better suited for middling and older readers.

Other books by the same author that Tim knows about?
The Amulet of Samarkand in this series.

The overall verdict is
A cool-read

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