The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud (by Nirav Gandhi)

If you're into fantasy and books such as Harry Potter and Eragon (like me), then you'll love The Amulet of Samarkand. It's the first book in the Bartimaeus Trilogy, which also consists of Part II (The Golem's Eye) and Part III (Ptolemy's Gate). The books take place in present times, but in an alternate universe, where sorcery and magic has developed rather than technology, rather like the anime FullMetal Alchemist. In this world, the government is run by the power-hungry and corrupt magicians that summon demons from the Other Place to do their bidding. There are several thousand different kinds of demons (they prefer the term "spirits") summoned by magicians, who are forced to do their master's will, or suffer such punishments as the Stipples, the Uncomfortable Hug, or, worst of all, the Shriveling Fire. They are sorted into six categories, in order of increasing power: imps, foliots, djinn, afrits, marids, and Other Beings. The most interesting thing about these spirits is that they can transform themselves into anything and anyone because they have no definite shape on Earth. The story follows the adventures, exploits, successes, failures, and maturing of a young boy named Nathaniel, and the djinni Bartimaeus. His legal name is John Mandrake, because, as a magician's apprentice, he is not allowed to keep his birth name. Another magician cannot do much to you without knowing your birth name. Therefore, it is every magician's most guarded secret.

Nathaniel is apprenticed to a low-ranking government official named Arthur Underwood. Underwood treats him harshly and is a fool, for at the age of 6 Nathaniel already surpasses his magical abilities. Mrs. Underwood, on the other hand, treats him like a mother would treat a son. One day, a few years later, a high-ranking magician, Simon Lovelace, visits the Underwood home and subsequently humiliates Nathaniel. Nathaniel, wishing to get back at him, summons the djinni Bartimaeus in secret, a feat which most find inconceivable for any adolescent. Bartimaeus himself is a witty djinni with a sharp tongue who provides the comic relief for the story. The book is an interesting book because every chapter it switches the point of view from Nathaniel (in 3rd person limited) to Bartimaeus (in 1st person). Bartimaeus leaves us little anecdotes at the bottom of the page to explain things of a magical nature, and, mostly, just to give us a laugh. The adventure continues as Nathaniel asks Bartimaeus to retrieve and object known as the Amulet of Samarkand from Lovelace. After a long and successful operations, Nathaniel hides the Amulet in Underwood's study, where he mistakenly thinks it will be safe. He commands Bartimaeus to spy on Lovelace, and he discovers that the Amulet was stolen and Lovelace intends to overthrow the entire British government with it at a party that his girlfriend is holding that weekend. Lovelace realizes the Amulet is missing and then pays them a visit, and Nathaniel admits to everything when Lovelace decides to kill Underwood. Lovelace then summons and instructs a giant jackal-headed demon, Jabor, to burn down the house and kill all its inhabitants. With help from Bartimaeus, Nataniel barely escapes with his life while the Underwoods are killed. Nathaniel is determined to stop Lovelace's coup and take revenge for his foster mother. He and Bartimaeus arrive at Heddleham Hall disguised as cooks, sneak in, and find themselves at the mercy of the strongest force in the Other Place. You'll have to read to find out the rest, but I'd highly recommend this book for anyone at all that enjoys a good story.