Bartemaus

In a genre that's collapsing under the weight of cloned Tolkien worlds, hackneyed plots, and stick-thin characters, it's hard to find something new and interesting. That is until you read Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus, a clever take on the young adult fantasy genre.While the books are geared towards Young Adults, don't be fooled by this label  the book will appeal every bit as much to adults as it does to kids. Bartimaeus is a much darker work of fiction than others in the genre, a far more complex novel than the Harry Potter fiction that's ubiquitous now. The protagonist, Nathaniel dwells in a world where magicians are the ruling class of society and who maintain power by harnessing the power of enslaved spirits (genies, imps, etc). Everyone (including the protagonist) is driven by the unquenched thirst for absolute power, wealth and revenge and will do anything and everything to achieve it.Despite the darkness of the world and the characters, Stroud manages to create a compelling world and cast of characters fighting to survive and even prosper  in it. The plot is very strong with this one and the pacing moves along very fast. You won't ever get bored. Plenty of action, mystery, and twists to keep you on the edge of your seat.Bartimaeus touches on several other works in the genre including Harry Potter, Lord Darcy and Atemis Foul; but the tale is fresh, and the themes darker, deeper, and more complex. This series is a classic in the making and stands in as perhaps one of the best young adults fantasy series out there, going head to head with other greats in the genre like Susan Coopers The Dark is Rising and Pullman's His Dark Materials. If you thought Harry Potter was a dark read, you'll be hiding in the closet after reading this one  Bartimaeus makes Harry Potter seem like a light Jane Austen novel.