why you should read the bartimaeus trilogy by jonathan stroud:

• snarky, hilarious first-person narrator who is also thousands of years old
• footnotes for extra humor
• really great worldbuilding (of the “this world but with certain key elements changed so that the course of history has been altered) variety
  
• explores themes of oppression, privilege and rebellion, as well as history as a cycle
• the magic system is complex and fascinating and ties directly into the abovementioned themes
• also explores the redeeming power of love, but NOT in the ~*~magical hetero romance~*~ way
• (seriously the series focuses on love outside the usual definitions of strictly romantic, and while there’s no explicit lgbt romance some of it can certainly be read that way)
• (also have i mentioned that the “power of love” storyline is utterly heartbreaking)
  
• main character as well as a bunch of others are all otherworldly shapeshifting nonhumans with weird morality systems and various grudges/friendships/issues going back for centuries
  
• ot3 potential
• yes it’s one of those YA novels about rebellion against a dystopia but the subject is played out far more thoughtfully and realistically, and the originality of the setting gives it a nice unique feel
• main character is implied not to give a shit about gender (of course it’s one of those “nonhuman = agender” kinds of representation but. what can you do)
• unconventional, super bittersweet ending
• fandom is small but also really great in the way small fandoms are
  
• seriously it’s so good. please read it