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Title details for The Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud - Available

The Ring of Solomon

#.5 in series

by Jonathan Stroud
Simon Jones
Audiobook
3 of 3 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
3 of 3 copies available
It is 950 B.C.E., and King Solomon rules Jerusalem with a steely hand; a hand on which gleams a magic ring of immense and unforgiving power. Solomon has just begun work on his marvelous temple, charging Khaba, a formidable magician in his royal court, to oversee its construction. The workforce is an ill-behaved bunch of demons, a particularly unruly djinni named Bartimaeus among them. True to form, Bartimaeus promptly gets kicked off the temple project and assigned the even more miserable task of hunting bandits in the desert. There he crosses paths with Asmira, a highly skilled and loyal captain of the Queen of Sheba’s guard, on a suicidal mission to save her country from Solomon’s imminent attack. Of course, Bartimaeus has no intention of helping her. That is, until Asmira makes him an offer he cannot refuse. . . .
A spellbinding addition to Jonathan Stroud’s New York Times bestselling Bartimaeus audiobooks, The Ring of Solomon brims with dazzling wit, unforgettable characters, and powerful themes of freedom and slavery, with or without magical bonds.

  • Creators

  • Series

    Bartimaeus

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    November 9, 2010

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780307738646
      • File size: 364153 KB
      • Duration: 12:38:39

  • Languages

    • English

  • Levels

    • Lexile® Measure: 820
    • Text Difficulty: 3-4

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from October 11, 2010
      In this exciting prequel set in ancient Israel, Stroud presents an early adventure of his sharp-tongued djinn, Bartimaeus. King Solomon has risen to greatness due to the unparalleled power of his magical ring, but having had his marriage proposal rejected by the queen of Sheba, he now appears to be threatening her kingdom with destruction. Young Asmira, the fiery captain of the queen's hereditary guard, is sent to Jerusalem to assassinate the great king and steal the ring. Meanwhile, Bartimaeus, as sardonic, egotistical, and mouthy as ever, perfectly capable of "devouring old magician and departing his tower with a burp and a smile," is currently controlled by the wicked Khaba, one of Solomon's court wizards, and is bitterly unhappy with his lot. When djinn and would-be assassin team up, complex court intrigues come to light and spectacular magics are unleashed. Although the Jerusalem of 950 B.C.E. is not quite as enthralling as was the London of the original trilogy, this is a superior fantasy that should have fans racing back to those books. Ages 10–up.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Listeners were first introduced to Bartimaeus, the wisecracking djinni, in THE AMULET OF SAMARKAND. In this prequel, set in ancient Israel, the cynical and outspoken Bartimaeus is forced into servitude to King Solomon. The king has risen to greatness due to the power of a magical ring. After the Queen of Sheba rejects Solomon's proposal of marriage, Bartimaeus teams up with Ashmira, the loyal captain of Sheba's guards, to defeat Solomon before he destroys her kingdom. Narrator Simon Jones gives distinct voices to the multitude of characters, each with a unique tone and attitude. Bartimaeus, with his posh British accent, is both lovable and egotistical. Jones's sense of timing for both humor and intrigue contributes to a spirited performance. L.A.C. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:820
  • Text Difficulty:3-4

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