Book Review – A Wizard of Earthsea

Rating: 4 of 5

The Book that inspires the writing of Harry Potter and Eragon

What book appears in your mind if it tells about a young wizard apprentice, unaware of his magical power, then studying in the school of wizardry? Yes, Harry Potter of course. It also appears in my mind the first time I read the synopsis of this Earthsea Cycle first book. At first, I think this book is one of the Rowling’s followers; maybe want to try to make another wizard story similar to Harry Potter, hoping to get the same popularity after the story of the wizard with the scar in his head comes to an end. But, those negative thinking vanish after I read the year when the book was published for the first time: 1968!

you won't be there if this book isn't written

It can’t copy Harry Potter, because Rowling’s first book was published in 1997, 29 years after the first publication of The Earthsea Cycle. Then, another thought strike my mind: if the book doesn’t copy Harry Potter, then it must have inspired Rowling to write Harry Potter! And my prediction is approved when I inspect the front cover of the Indonesia version more accurately. It’s written that this book not only inspires the writing of Rowling’s Potter but also Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle, one of my favorite books. Without thinking twice, I bought the book with all the money I had immediately and started to read.

Book Review – Bartimaeus Trilogy #2: The Golem’s Eye

The Golem’s Eye (4 of 5)

Another great adventure of Nathaniel the wizard and Bartimaeus the genie!

The time had passed since Nathaniel’s last encounter with his crafty servant Bartimaeus and Nathaniel now wasn’t a humiliated boy anymore. His last deed to prevent Simon Lovelace’s betrayal to the England government had made him a hero, favorite of the Prime Minister Rupert Deveraux himself. Now, he was known as John Mandrake, an assistant to Julius Tallow, the Head of Internal Affairs, and his career was quickly raised up as well as his ambition. It was in this condition where something hit his rapidly growing career.

Book Review – Bartiameus Trilogy #1: The Amulet of Samarkand

My rating: 4 of 5

“One of the liveliest and most inventive fantasies of recent years.” -Booklist

If you’re a fan of fantasy, political conspiracy, as well as sarcastic humorous character, this book is for you to read. The book’s main characteristic is the liberal using of footnote to speak out Bartimaeus’s sarcastic comment. The story combines the ambitious teenager wizard, named Nathaniel, and the cunning talkative genie, named Bartimaeus.

The story began when Nathaniel, a young ambitious genius magician apprentice, summoned 6000-year-old-genie named Bartimaeus. Nathaniel asked Bartimaeus to take Amulet of Samarkand from Simon Lovelace, a wizard, the member of England parliament, to do a revenge for embarrassing Nathaniel in front of his master, Mr. Underwood. Without realizing, his childish deed brought Nathaniel to the world of intrigue and conspiracy to bring down the England prime minister. And it was not just his life which laid in stake, but also the England government’s existence. Could he entrust his life to a tricky braggart genie who always tries to find a way to kill him?