Jonathan Stroud: The Ring of Solomon

Bartimaeus is back, only this time we follow his adventures in antiquity, rather than in modern England. Solomon is the King of Israel, and possesses a mighty Ring that can summon thousands of spirits from the Other World at a single touch. As he gains power, he commands mighty magicians, who happen to summon Bartimaeus to achieve their goals.

Asmira is a hereditary Guard to Balkis, Queen of Sheba. As Solomon's empire expands, smaller nations like Sheba are threatened. As a last-ditch effort to preserve the nation, Balkis sends Asmira to Jerusalem on a dangerous quest to save her land.

The Ring of Solomon is the sequel to the popular Bartimaeus Trilogy by British author Jonathan Stroud. As before, the djinn Bartimaeus is the main character in the novel, and the highlight of the story. The footnotes, comprising Bartimaeus' sarcastic, cheeky commentary are interspersed throughout his narrative arc, and remain as refreshing as ever.

That's not to say that this is a derivative copy of the original series. Despite being set in ancient Israel, rather than in London, Stroud's worldbuilding remains as convincing as ever. His depictions of Jerusalem, if it were ruled by magicians wielding powerful spirits from the Other World, is thought-provoking and highly interesting. The Ring is essentially a nuclear weapon, and just as powerful - the alternate timeline portrayed through the use of the Ring remains an engaging depiction of what could have happened.

The characters are new too, and just as multi-dimensional as those in the original. Although Nathaniel, Kitty, and the others are gone, new characters enter the fray: Asmira, Khaba, and Solomon, to name a few. On the spirits' side, Bartimaeus and Faquarl carry over from before, with a plethora of new spirits that are just as complex as their human counterparts. As before, Stroud utilizes a POV method of storytelling, shifting primarily between Bartimaeus and Asmira's perspectives.

A primary strength of the Bartimaeus Trilogy was the tight and focused plotting, combined with a breakneck pace that left the reader wanting more. The Ring of Solomon continues this tradition, combining exhilarating action scenes with unforeseen plot twists that never start to get boring or repetitive. The novel does lack the powerful climactic scenes of the Bartimaeus Trilogy, although that is to be expected, since it is (as of now) a standalone novel.

The Ring of Solomon is an excellent addition to Stroud's ongoing Bartimaeus novels. The characters are as layered as ever, and the worldbuilding and plot remain convincing and engaging. As a young adult novel, it succeeds very well, constructing a alternative timeline revolving around fantasy elements that draw the reader in with its meticulously detailed magic system and imaginative ideas.

Rating: (8.5/10)