Second book in and Nathaniel as a main character doesn't do a thing for me. He is highly annoying and his hair is too long. The only thing that kept me reading through this book is Bartimaeus and Kitty, and the reluctant friendship in the latter part of the book. The second book is not as satisfying as the first, and the character development for Nathaniel is minimal. Sure, I see the development from being Nathaniel to being John Mandrake, as Bartimaeus commented in the last few chapters, but it makes him infuriating. All I see him as is a poser. This book also raises the question of free will of the demons, and I'm glad that Kitty is going to explore this aspect in the third novel, hopefully. More Kitty, less Mandrake!