This is a trilogy I read if I need cheering up, because the main character always adds some hilarious little side note that will make you smile. Definately one of my all-time favorites. This is a darkly tantalizing tale of djinn, and the art of summoning them. Very intriguing, with characters that are wonderfully alive and hilarious jokes/notes/all around sarcasm given by Bartimaeus. The end of the third book is wonderfully bittersweet.