History YMMV / TheBartimaeusTrilogy

* HesJustHiding: Some readers insist that [[spoiler:Nathaniel]] somehow survived the end of the third book, possibly by using the seven-league boots he was wearing at the time.

** At ''Ptolemy's Gate'', after Kitty [[spoiler:goes the Other Place]] to get help from Bartimaeus against Nouda's conspiracy, Nathaniel says her aura makes her look like if her hair is flaming. Just one month after the release of the book, [[Literature/ShakuganNoShana an anime series about a flame-haired girl and her caged spirit who protect mankind from otherworldly creatures]] aired in Japan.

** Arthur Underwood crosses it when he's perfectly willing to let [[spoiler:Lovelace kill Nathaniel to save his own skin]]. He may have crossed it even earlier when he [[spoiler:catches Nathaniel with summoning equipment, and suggests that he's thinking of ''killing'' him on the spot, and only doesn't do so because Nathaniel has just been officially registered with the government, meaning that "forms would have to be filled out" and "his judgment would be called into question."]]
*** It's especially scummy, since it happens immediately after [[spoiler:Nathaniel admits he stole the Amulet instead of just letting Underwood take the blame.]]

* TearJerker:
** Really Bartimaeus' relationship with Ptolemy.
--->"It's two thousand, one hundred and twenty-nine years since Ptolemy died. He was fourteen. Eight world empires have risen up and fallen away since that day, and I still carry his face. Who do you think's the lucky one?"
** The death of [[spoiler: Nathaniel]] at the end.
--->'''Kitty:''' [speaking at the ruins where [[spoiler: Nathaniel]] died] So much for your promises.
%%** [[spoiler:The ending of book three.]]
%%%** Kavka in ''Golem'', and a good chunk of ''Gate'', particularly Nathaniel's meeting with [[spoiler: Ms. Lutyens]].

* BadassDecay: Bartimaeus throughout the trilogy. Justified in that he has weakened severely due to staying in the mortal world for far too long, to the point where he starts to ''literally'' decay due to his failing essence.

* NightmareFuel:
** Honorious [[spoiler:slaughtering the entire Resistance as Kitty is desperately trying to escape]].
** In the third book when [[spoiler:all the members of Makepeace's conspiracy have been taken over by the demons they summoned and all start laughing in a completely emotionless way]].
** "[[FamilyUnfriendlyDeath Bones]] [[StrippedToTheBone in]] [[DiedStandingUp black]] [[ImplacableMan clothes.]]" [[spoiler: The best description for the death of [[MysteriousMercenaryPursuer Verroq]], found right in the book itself.]]
** The description of just what exactly is in Khaba's vaults. Mummies, multiple skeletons (of both animals and humans), tortured spirits...
** Gezeri's final attack on Asmira - he's mentioned as having lots of sharp teeth and claws, as well as skittering with "horrible speed" like some sort of demonic spider.
** The most powerful spirits are enslaved for ''thousands'' of years and if lucky get only a few years in-between periods of captivity. Imagine being cursed with a potent combination of raw physical strength, cunning and intelligence and being forced to serve as a slave for thousands of years.
** In general, the spirits all declare ImAHumanitarian. They will ''eat'' people every chance they get, as well as each other. What ''happens'' after one is eaten by a spirit in material guise is left to the reader, but the screams aren't very encouraging. In a rare moment of real darkness, Bartimaeus shows exactly what happens to magicians who screw up:
--->'''Ezekiel''' ''(having been blown out of his protective circle)'': Bartimaeus--\\
'''Bartimaeus''' ''(showing MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily)'': That's my name. Now are you going to get up, or shall I come to you?\\
''The answer he made was incoherent. The pretty maiden shrugged. Then she bared her pretty teeth and fell upon him, and [[GoryDiscretionShot any further sounds he made were swiftly stilled.]]''

* HoYay: Uh. Ptolemy, the few times he and Bartimaeus interact. Can also be seen as IntergenerationalFriendship - after all, it's YMMV. At least, the subtext is there to be seen that way.

** At ''Ptolemy's Gate'', after Kitty [[spoiler:goes the Other Place]] to get help from Bartimaeus against Nouda's conspiracy, Nathaniel says her aura makes her look like if her hair is flaming. Just one month after the release of the book, [[LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana an anime series about a flame-haired girl and her caged spirit who protect mankind from otherworldly creatures]] aired in Japan.

* FunnyAneurysmMoment: Bartimaeus' aside halfway through book 3 about the impracticality of lions' manes in combat seems like just another of his regular doses of snark at the time. [[spoiler:Cue the final Ptolemy chapter, and we discover he was speaking from rather tragic experience.]]

** Commoners aren't even seen with conventional weapons like guns. Think of how a metal bullet would affect a demon, considering it's their main weakness.

%%% "A good deal of the series is dedicated to subverting, lampshading, playing with, and examining this trope." what does that mean? Designated Hero is about the story presenting someone as heroic when they are not.

%%%%* DesignatedHero:

---> '''Ezekiel''' ''(having been blown out of his protective circle)'': Bartimaeus--
---> '''Bartimaeus''' ''(showing MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily)'': That's my name. Now are you going to get up, or shall I come to you?
---> ''The answer he made was incoherent. The pretty maiden shrugged. Then she bared her pretty teeth and fell upon him, and [[GoryDiscretionShot any further sounds he made were swiftly stilled.]]''

-->"It's two thousand, one hundred and twenty-nine years since Ptolemy died. He was fourteen. Eight world empires have risen up and fallen away since that day, and I still carry his face. Who do you think's the lucky one?"

-->Kitty: [speaking at the ruins where [[spoiler: Nathaniel]] died] So much for your promises.

* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids: Mildly so. It's rather surprisingly dark for a children's book series.

* FoeYay: Nathaniel and Kitty in Book 2. ''Ptolemy's Gate'' makes it more obvious; Bartimaeus is most amused by it.

*** Honestly, they seem more like ''brothers'' than lovers. Calling them "sibling rivals" with Farquarl the big (and stronger) brother and Bartimaeus the weaker (but snarkier) little brother just ''fits''.

* BadassDecay: Bartimaeus throughout the trilogy. Justified in that he has weakened severely due to having stayed in the mortal world for far too long, to the point where he starts to ''literally'' decay due to his failing essence.

** Arthur Underwood crosses it when he's perfectly willing to let [[spoiler:Lovelace kill Nathaniel to save his own skin]]. He may have crossed it even earlier when he [[spoiler:catches Nathaniel with summoning equipment, and suggests that he's thinking of ''killing'' him on the spot, and only doesn't do so because "forms would have to be filled out" and "his judgment would be called into question."]]