The Recurring Cast
Reading order · 4 books · 2003 to 2010 · Set in London

Bartimaeus Books in Order

The Bartimaeus books are set in an alternative London ruled by magicians. Bartimaeus, a sarcastic five-thousand-year-old djinni, is summoned by a young apprentice, Nathaniel, and the two are stuck with each other. Funny, clever fantasy with footnotes.

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Series facts

Books
4
Published
2003 to 2010
First book
The Amulet of Samarkand
Latest
The Ring of Solomon (2010)
Setting
Set in London

The reading order

Every Bartimaeus book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.

4 books · Set in London
  1. 1The Amulet of Samarkand2003With Bartimaeus and NathanielTwelve-year-old Nathaniel, a magician’s apprentice, summons the djinni Bartimaeus to steal a powerful amulet from a magician who humiliated him.Buy on Amazon
  2. 2The Golem's Eye2004With Bartimaeus and NathanielNathaniel, now a rising government official, hunts the Resistance, while a mysterious creature attacks London.Buy on Amazon
  3. 3Ptolemy's Gate2005With Bartimaeus and NathanielNathaniel, Bartimaeus and Kitty face the final threat to London.Buy on Amazon
  4. 4The Ring of Solomon2010With Bartimaeus and AsmiraNearly three thousand years ago in Jerusalem, Bartimaeus serves at the court of King Solomon, and crosses paths with Asmira, a young guard sent to kill the king.Buy on Amazon

Do you need to read them in order?

Read The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem’s Eye and Ptolemy’s Gate in order. The Ring of Solomon is a prequel that can be read at any time.

Who appears in which book

The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.

Who appears in each Bartimaeus book
BookBartimaeusNathanielKitty JonesAsmira
1 The Amulet of SamarkandLLeadLLead
2 The Golem's EyeLLeadLLeadLLead
3 Ptolemy's GateLLeadLLeadLLead
4 The Ring of SolomonLLeadLLead

Characters in the Bartimaeus books

4 characters from Jonathan Stroud’s chart, with the number of Bartimaeus books each appears in.

CharacterBooksFirst in this series
BartimaeusSarcastic djinni4The Amulet of Samarkand 2003
NathanielYoung magician, later John Mandrake3The Amulet of Samarkand 2003
Kitty JonesCommoner in the Resistance2The Golem's Eye 2004
AsmiraGuard sent to steal Solomon's ring1The Ring of Solomon 2010