The Hollow Boy

The Hollow Boy
(Lockwood & Co. #3)
Jonathan Stroud

My rating: ★★★★★

ISBN: 978-1484709689
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Date of publication: September 15, 2015
Age: Grades 5 and up
Genre: Horror

Themes: ghosts, mystery, camaraderie, 

As a massive outbreak of supernatural Visitors baffles Scotland Yard and causes protests throughout London, Lockwood & Co. continue to demonstrate their effectiveness in exterminating spirits. There is a new spirit of openness in the team now that Lockwood has shared some of his childhood secrets, and Lucy is feeling more and more at home. That is, however, until Lockwood hires an annoyingly perky and efficient new assistant, Holly Munro. Amid reports of many new and dangerous hauntings—and an un-paranormal assassination attempt during a carnival in the center of the city—the team struggles to get past their personal issues to save the day on all fronts. Because if they're not careful, the bad feelings will attract yet more trouble...

Oh man, are the ghosts back in full force! Stroud is back with a vengeance! This books was positively terrifying from the first scene and the whole book was action-packed. Strategically placed flashbacks and observations from Lucy (our narrator) still give the book the depth and intrigue needed to give the story more feeling than just utter terror. Basically, I still love all of the characters (I especially appreciated the new understanding we gain of Lockwood) and yet, I still was scared out of my wits. So fantastically done. What else would you expect from Stroud?

See my rave reviews for book 1 & book 2.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

The Whispering Skull

The Whispering Skull
(Lockwood & Co. #2)
Jonathan Stroud

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 9781423164920
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Date of publication: September 16, 2014
Age: Grades 5 and up
Genre: Horror

Themes: ghosts, haunting, black market, mystery

Anthony, Lucy, and George of Lockwood & Co. have been continuing to thrive in the ghost hunting and eradicating business--with only a few flops here and there. Or more. Really, it's because Quill Kippes and his team of Fittes agents keep interfering. Lockwood finally calls to settle the matter with a little wager: they go on the same case and whomever loses has to admit defeat in the newspaper. The investigation however? It involves the most dangerously haunted artifact Lockwood & Co. has ever encountered. And it seems as though a certain skull in their possession has something to say about it.

It's good. Of course it's good. It's amazing. Once again, I love Stroud's ability to create a situation that feels terrifyingly realistic. The characters are complex, lovable, and well written. The last page had me gasping aloud and wanting the next book already. But I may have been a little too excited and built it up too much in my mind. It was a little slow to get started, unlike the first one in the series. The first one also felt a bit more scary, more dangerous and thus, more exciting. This one definitely goes into the character's stories--their strengths and weaknesses--more than terrifying ghost battles. Which is great, don't get me wrong, just not what I expected. So now I know. And you do, too. So you should go read it.

Check out my rave review for Book 1.

Pre-order now on Amazon!
...or wait on the hold's list at your library

(Digital ARC provided through NetGalley)

Ptolemy's Gate

Ptolemy’s Gate

Jonathan Stroud
(The Bartimaeus Trilogy #3)

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 9780786838684
Publisher: Hyperion
Date of publication: January 1, 2006
Age: Grade 7 and up
Genre: Fantasy

Themes: Demons, possession, magicians

Nathaniel is now 17 years old and a trusted member of the Council. However, there is growing unrest; not only in London, but also around the world as foreign wars drag and turn for the worst. Nathaniel has kept Bartimaeus in London and on Earth for too long. His strength—and patience—and quickly diminishing. Both are at their wit’s end. Kitty has not seen Nathaniel in three years and is doing her own research into the relationship between demon and human. But there is something darker and more dangerous on the horizon that will soon bring the three back together again, for the last time.

Um. This book. It’s not for little kids anymore. Stroud goes from a bratty 11-year-old Nathaniel in book 1 to a very mature, conflicted 17-year-old Nathaniel in book 3. And the depth into which Stroud examines the complexity of each the three main characters is astounding, difficult even. But let me just get to the point: the ending. I’ll not spoil it for you, but let’s just say I’m still trying to stop my jaw from dropping every time I think about it. It’s not for the faint of heart.

Check out my reviews for the other books in the series: Book 1, and Book 2.

The Golem's Eye

The Golem’s Eye
Jonathan Stroud
(Bartimaeus Trilogy #2)

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 9780786818600
Publisher: Hyperion
Date of publication: August 23, 2004
Age: Grades 6 and up
Genre: Fantasy

Themes: demons, magicians, resistance

At age 14, Nathaniel is quickly going up the ranks in the government, handling most problems with ease. However, there is a growing Resistance that keeps eluding Nathaniel’s grasp. In addition, massive destruction is occurring throughout London in the wake of a seemingly invincible stone Golem. Are the two possibly related? At the end of his rope, Nathaniel once again calls on the completely irreverent and snarky Bartimaeus. With his job at stake—and quite possibly his life—the two journey from London to Prague to try and solve these problems.

Let's just get straight to the point: this book is as good as the first. I simply enjoyed it and I loved the characters. This time, the author introduces a 3rd perspective from which to tell the story (after Bartimeaus and Nathaniel) in the form of Kitty, one of the participants of the Resistance. While it is adds fantastic depth to the story, it can get confusing from time to time. But still. Totally worth it for Stroud's awesome characters.

Check out my reviews for the other books in the series: Book 1, and Book 3.

The Amulet of Samarkand

The Amulet of Samarkand

• by Jonathan Stroud
• (Bartimaeus Trilogy #1)

My rating: ★★★★

•  
• ISBN: 9780786818594
• Publisher: Hyperion
• Date of publication: September 30, 2003
• Age: Grades 5 and up 
• Genre: Fantasy
•  
• Themes: demons, magicians, London
•  
• Sold to the government at the age of 5, Nathaniel is an apprentice magician. Since powerful magicians are who rule Britain and its empire, it's an honor. But with a condescending master and cruel tormentor, Nathaniel speeds up his education and summons the all-powerful djinni, Bartimaeus. But summoning and controlling are two very different things. While trying to gain revenge over another particular cruel magician by stealing the Amulet of Samarkand, Nathaniel finds himself in deeper trouble. Power struggles, espionage, betrayals, and other such mayhem are only the beginning. Can Nathaniel find a way to be the hero? Even with a snarky djinni trying to break his every command?
•  
• I must admit, the concept behind the story is a little weird. See, magicians aren't really magicians: all they can do is summon demons to do the magic for them. Which makes the whole book seem rather devilish... However, Bartimaeus is one the best-written characters I've ever read. The story on a whole was definitely fantastic.

Check out my reviews for the other books in the series: Book 2, and Book 3.

The Screaming Staircase

The Screaming Staircase
(Lockwood & Co. #1)
Jonathan Stroud

My rating: ★★★★★

ISBN: 9781423164913
Publisher: Hyperion
Date of publication: September 17, 2013
Age: Grades 5 and up
Genre: Horror

Themes: Ghosts, haunting, mystery,

A Problem has popped up in London: a plague of violent ghosts have overrun the city. However, only kids have the ability to see them--and deal with them. They work for Psychic Detective Agencies to handle the ghosts. Lockwood & Co. is one such agency, though rather ramshackle and tiny. Plus, they are not even supervised by adults. Fifteen-year-old Lucy has just been hired on, but the first job the company tackles goes horribly wrong. The only way to save the business is to work on Combe Carey Hall, the most haunted building in England. Will they be able to survive, let alone eradicate the ghosts?

From page 1, this book was AMAZING. And I don’t go all caps for just any book. This was so well written that I was jumping in fear every time someone interrupted me. I don’t even know what else to say about it, you just have to go read it for yourself! Unless you don’t like ghost stories. Because that would kind of ruin it for you.