The Ring of Solomon (audio) by Jonathan Stroud

Bartimaeus is back with another thrilling adventure!  The wisecracking djinni is in service to one of the great Solomon's magicians.  Unfortunately it is to Khaba the Cruel.  Sent to the desert to patrol for bandits for his insubordination,  Bartimaeus meets Asmira, a hereditary guard to the Queen of Sheba, who has been sent to kill Solomon and steal his magical ring. 

First, there was very little chance I wasn't going to like this book.  I am a huge fan of the Bartimaeus books and I was so happy to see that there was another book.  I seriously love Bartimaeus.  He is such a great character and such a great djinni.  I love how they underestimate him because he is only a fourth level djinni, but he is so clever that it is a gross underestimation.  I love how he can't see his own faults and all his boasting.  Oh and all his footnotes! 

This book takes place about 3,000 years before the Amulet of Samarkand and we learn the details of one of Bartimaeus' greatest achievements, one that he boasts of later.  I love when the books start out with Bartimaeus.  I hate waiting for him to appear.  And he starts off with a bang.    The book alternates POV with Asmira so we learn what motivates her and her side of the adventure.  Asmira was a great pair for Bartimaeus, moving him closer to the attitude we see in him in the trilogy.  I loved their adventure together.  And it was great seeing Faqarl and seeing more of his interactions with Bartimaeus and how they really have known each other a long time and makes the events of the trilogy a little more poignant.  I have nothing but good things to say about this book and if you are a fan of the Bartimaeus trilogy, then definitely read this one.  And if you haven't read any of them, then try them!

12 hours 39 minutes

Simon Jones is honestly one of my favorite narrators.  He narrated the trilogy as well as some of the Charlie Bone books and I love listening to him.  He really makes the series even better and I love how he handles the footnotes and Bartimaeus' whole tone.  Jones really adds that something extra to the Bartimaeus books and I recommend listening to this book or any narrated by him.

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