Two thousand years have passed since the djinni Bartimaeus was at the height of his powers - invincible in battle and befriended by the great magician Ptolemy. Now, trapped on earth and treated with disdain by his master, Nathaniel, Bartimaeus finds his energies fading fast.

Elsewhere, undercover in London, the fugitive Kitty Jones has been stealthily completing her research on magic and demons. She has a plan that she hopes will break the endless conflict between djinn and humans - but first she must uncover the secrets of Bartimaeus's past.

And time is running out. As a horrific conspiracy threatens everything, can Nathaniel, Kitty and Bartimaeus team up to save the world?

Set in an alternate London controlled by magicians, this hilarious and electrifying bestseller will enthral readers of all ages.