SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY
Three years after the last book, at seventeen years old, Nathaniel is in charge of making propaganda for the war against the American colonies. He still employs Bartimaus, along with other demons but finds Bartimaus the most reliable. But someone else has an interest in Bartimaus, and he may not reciprocate.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Nathaniel is looked up to by some, but still looked upon as a rival by most. For for most part, he seems to have completely changed, no longer Nathaniel but completely John Mandrake. A series of meetings cause him to fall rock bottom, causing him to question what he believes.
Bartimaus feels the weight of his age. He has been away from the Other Place too long, and is exhausted. He also feels that Nathaniel has changed for the worse. All the while he shifts into Kitty to annoy his master.
Kitty has remained in London, and she has three different identities. She works at a bar while also working for free for an elderly magician. Her goal is unclear but eventually revealed.
PACING
Just like the last book, we go from Nathaniel, to Bartimaus to Kitty. This helps the story retain it's speed. There are plenty of cliffhanger endings for the chapters as well.
STRUCTURE-VAGUE SPOILERS
In Part one Kitty gets a new job while Nathaniel tries to catch the resistance. Basic introduction into their new lives.
In Part two Nathaniel sends Bartimaus to investigate a lead on suspicious activity. Kitty investigates Bartimaus and learns more about magic. We learn about Ptolemy and Bartimaus' investigation almost costs him his life. Nathaniel rescues him. Since we are still learning about our characters it is still slightly introductory.
In Part three, Nathaniel goes to visit an acquaintance on a whim, where crucial information is revealed. Kitty and Bartimaus are reunited; Nathaniel meets someone who causes him to doubt his beliefs. Then he learns about the truth about Kitty and confronts Bartimaus; Kitty finds out about “Ptolemy's Gate” while Bartimaus and other djinn are sent on a retrieval mission. Kitty and Nathaniel are reunited. All the pieces to the climax are put into place.
In Part four, Kitty and Nathaniel are captured. We learn more about Ptolemy (that helps the ending of the book to become cemented). Bartimaus is dismissed but Kitty goes to find him. Nathaniel and Kitty separate but eventually meet back up. Nathaniel and Bartimaus fight back and Nathaniel reveals his drastic change in character. Loose ends regarding Kitty are wrapped up. Story is completed.
KITTY'S NEW JOB
Kitty ends up working for a magician where she learns a lot about magicans and magic. She ends up traveling to the library to get books for him, using that time to learn more about Bartimaus. Her goal is rather unclear at first but when she succeeds it's rather surprising.
SACRIFICES, PRIDE & HATRED
One theme of the book is making sacrifices. Both Kitty and Nathaniel make huge sacrifices, although Kitty had no idea what she was about to sacrifice, and Nathaniel perhaps didn't until the last second.
Another theme ends up being that pride goes before the fall. Because of their belief in their absolute power, the magicians eventually end up not only killing themselves, but letting in a great evil that could destroy the human race.
Lastly, a theme that becomes quite clear because of Bartimaus (surprisingly enough) is to not let hatred swallow you up. He also notes that hatred has distorted the djinni.
THE MEMORY OF PTOLEMY
Throughout the story, we get flashbacks of Bartimaus when he knew an egyptian boy named Ptolemy. We learn how their relationship formed and why Bartimaus always takes this boy's form. Kitty suspects as much and this pushes her forward. Because of her beliefs, she has faith that things can change between humans and djinni.
KITTY & NATHANIEL
When two of the characters meet again, they bring out the best in each other. Kitty reveals the truth about Ptolemy, causing Nathaniel to reveal how dense he has been. And that there is clearly more to the djinni than meets the eye. Also, unlike Nathaniel, Kitty is curious about djinni, where they live and what they are.
Kitty slowly softens Nathaniel and he starts to see things differently. But it didn't feel rushed or unnatural, because this had been coming a long time. Kitty was just the last part of his evolution.
BARTIMAUS & KITTY-SPOILERS
Kitty spends a large part of the book wanting to learn about Bartimaus. Ever since she met him he left a lasting impression on her. She used to think that demons were just as bad as the magicians, but Bartimaus proved she was wrong. Because of this, when she finally sees him again, she has high expectations.
The scene was interesting because it revealed a completely different side of Bartimaus (he had never had anyone inquire about his past). I was excited for Kitty and really impressed with her. It made the ending of their meeting all the more hard to bear.
DJINNI'S PHILOSOPHY
When Kitty finally finds Bartimaus, he reveals the difference between humans and djinni. He says they are all the same in the Other Place. This was kind of confusing, because if they were all the same why did it take so long for Bartimaus to come to her? And why didn't he stop her from being bullied?
Also, he says they have no desires, no need for a purpose. That's just how humans think. But this doesn't seem to reflect the reality that Bartimaus has displayed in these three stories. He admits that Ptolemy let him be free and explore earth and he saw amazing things. And Ptolemy clearly became dear to him, leaving a mark that would stay with him thousands of years later. Clearly he had found a purpose and found freedom on earth. And he couldn't have done that unless he was an individual who made his own choice and had his own personality.
He paints the Other Place like a collective, socialist utopia. And yet the relationships he has formed on Earth (even if they were only a few) are clearly more important than the other djinni. Even if they are all one being in one place, the fact that they can separate speaks volumes. It felt more like a place to regain your strength than anything else. Merely existing is better than being a slave I suppose but Bartimaus' explanations sounded hollow to me.
A HINT?
After Bartimaus is dismissed, Kitty thinks he left a hint, saying that their relationship has limitations. She thinks he meant it was her job to bypass those limitations. (I thought this was kind of vague.) But when she finds him, he never addresses if this were true and he wanted to be found. He actually seemed surprised she was there. But I guess that was because he thought she would fail, not that she didn't get the hint.
A SECRET REVEALED
After the ending of the last book, Bartimaus told a lie to Nathaniel in order to protect someone. Nathaniel eventually finds out and his reaction isn't just anger, he feels betrayed.
Bartimaus has been his one companion since he was twelve. He lost his teacher and Martha Underwood. He thought that he had someone who at least would tell him the truth. I thought it was insightful because it revealed that Nathaniel feels more then a begrudging respect for his captive.
CLIMAX-VAGUE SPOILERS
Kitty and Nathaniel are taken prisoner, along with many others. Eventually they evade their captors and separate. Kitty goes to free the others while Nathaniel and Bartimaus go after the main problem. Eventually Kitty and Nathaniel meet two more times before the story ends.
AN ENDING TO REMEMBER
When I first read the ending, it left a huge impression on me. I remember walking around at my job (I had finished it before I started my shift) and an hour later I was still thinking about it.
I didn't dislike it, but apart of me wanted it to end otherwise. I was shocked. That was it? There was no more? Another, more rational part of me knew it could end no other way.
It was the last arc of a character, that although it felt sudden, actually made perfect sense. All of the other Stroud books had ended too soon for me too (I wanted to see the characters' reactions). As soon as the action was done, the story was done. But this ending felt like a puzzle piece. It had to be this way. As much as I wanted otherwise.
CONCLUSION
The last story in the Bartimaus Trilogy finally reveals the mastermind who influenced Lovelace and the owner of the Golem. The story is fast paced and the humor is still there.
Both Kitty and Nathaniel fully evolve, both playing roles they probably never dreamed of. Kitty soften's Bartimaus' heart while Nathaniel finally decides once and for all who he wants to be. And the climax isn't to be missed.
My only criticism is rather subjective, as I didn't really find plausible Bartimaus' explanation of The Other Place. I give “Ptolemy's Gate” five stars.
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