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Artemis Fowl

Book 1 in the series:Artemis Fowl

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Who Would Like This Book:

If you love fast-paced adventures, clever plots, and a dash of wicked humor, Artemis Fowl is for you! Eoin Colfer mixes high-tech espionage with magical creatures, creating a world where a young criminal mastermind - but with an evolving moral compass - faces off with smart and resourceful fairies. Fans of imaginative fantasy, complex antiheroes, and witty dialogue (think Ocean's Eleven meets modern fairy folklore) will find a lot to love. Perfect for middle graders, teens, and adults who enjoy seeing a 'villain' grow before their eyes.

Who May Not Like This Book:

Some readers are put off by Artemis’s initial personality - he starts out cold, arrogant, and unapologetically manipulative. If you prefer instantly likable main characters or more traditional 'heroic' leads, you might not click with Artemis right away. Others have felt the style can be frenetic, with frequent scene shifts and a focus on action over character emotions, especially early on. And, if you’re looking for a straightforward good vs. evil tale or dislike bathroom humor, this series might not vibe with you.

A clever, breathless, and original blend of techie heists and fairy mayhem, Artemis Fowl is a must-try for anyone who thinks fantasy should be smart, funny, and full of mischief. Artemis may not be lovable at first - but you’ll want to follow his every move!

About:

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer is a captivating fantasy book that follows the story of a twelve-year-old criminal mastermind, Artemis Fowl. After his family falls into financial ruin, he devises a plan to kidnap a fairy in order to restore his family's wealth. The plot is quick-paced and filled with clever twists, as Artemis navigates the technologically advanced world of fairies and their underground society. Throughout the series, readers witness Artemis's moral evolution from a self-serving villain to a more complex anti-hero, reflecting themes of friendship and empathy.

The writing style of Colfer is engaging and witty, often peppered with humor that appeals to both children and adults. The narrative features well-developed characters and a rich world of magical creatures, blending elements of classic fairy tales with modern technology. Colfer respects his readers' intelligence, using an advanced vocabulary that challenges young readers while keeping the story accessible. The combination of action, humor, and a touch of darkness creates a gripping reading experience.

Characters:

The characters are diverse and well-developed, featuring a morally ambiguous protagonist alongside strong female leads and whimsical side characters.

Writing/Prose:

Eoin Colfer's writing style is engaging and witty, using humor and sophisticated vocabulary to appeal to young readers while maintaining a cinematic quality.

Plot/Storyline:

The story features a young criminal mastermind embroiled in heists involving fairies, combining personal growth with high-stakes plots.

Setting:

The setting combines a contemporary world with an intricately crafted underground fairy society, using Irish folklore as its foundation.

Pacing:

The pacing is fast and maintains high energy, interspersing action with moments of character development.
HO Chi Minh City in the summer. Sweltering by anyone’s standards. Needless to say, Artemis Fowl would not have been willing to put up with such discomfort if something extremely important had not been...

Notes:

The Artemis Fowl series is written by Eoin Colfer and starts with the first book published in 2001.
The main character, Artemis Fowl, is a 12-year-old criminal mastermind.
The series blends fantasy and science fiction elements, featuring technologically advanced fairies.
Artemis initially kidnaps a fairy to restore his family's fortune.
The character evolves from a villain to an antihero throughout the series.
The series includes humor, action, and intricate plots involving heists and fairy politics.
Artemis Fowl has strong female characters, such as Holly Short, who is a fairy police officer.
The series has a total of 8 books, with various standalone spin-offs.
Colfer's writing is praised for respecting the intelligence of young readers and using advanced vocabulary.
A graphic novel adaptation of the first book captures the story with illustrations.

From The Publisher:

When twelve-year-old evil genius Artemis Fowl tries to restore his family fortune by capturing a fairy - Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit - and demanding a ransom in gold, the fairies fight back with magic, technology, and a particularly nasty troll.

1999
303 pages

Ratings (391)

Incredible (44)
Loved It (129)
Liked It (107)
It Was OK (76)
Did Not Like (22)
Hated It (13)

Reader Stats (750):

Read It (426)
Currently Reading (3)
Want To Read (105)
Did Not Finish (17)
Not Interested (199)

8 comment(s)

Loved It
5 months

Fajna książka :)

 
Loved It
7 months

Reread as palate cleanser for how damn awful the movie was tbh

 
Did Not Like
12 months

This book started out promising for me but it grew boring as I kept reading. The fantasy aspects to was funny and I can see a younger audience enjoying this but just not for me :/

 
It Was OK
1 year

Not bad! I'm bummed I read this now, and not 10 years ago, when I could have appreciated it. It was really quite funny at times.

 
Loved It
1 year

This is a fantastic young adult book series. I was very leery of the Artemis Fowl books, afraid they were just another unimaginative take on the HP formula, however I was dead wrong. These books are witty, insightful, and great for kids. They aren't too violent, don't have any bad language, and even at age 26 I find them to be a very fun read.

**Potential Spoiler!***

Although the main character starts out as a "criminal", the series is really about him reforming and becoming a good person.

 
Hated It
1 year

Lei este libro buscando algo que recomendar a mis sobrinos. Gran decepcion

Es dificil saber para que edad es esto.

Por la trama, 4 años.

Por las peleas quiza 10?

Por los errores en conceptos, 2 años?

 
It Was OK
1 year

A pretty good start to this series.

 
Loved It
1 year

It's been awhile since I've read Artemis Fowl and I had forgotten how good it was. It was an action packed adventure. I'd forgotten though how unlikable Artemis is. Even Holly and that aren't really very likable. Still, it was an enjoyable read and it moves very quickly. And there were some funny lines throughout.

3 stars from me. 4 stars for target audience. And I do remember that I would've rated this around 4 when I initially read this.

 

About the Author:

Eoin Colfer (pronounced Owen) is a former elementary school teacher whose Artemis Fowl series has become an international bestseller. He is also the author of The Wish List and the New York Times bestseller The Supernaturalist. He lives in Ireland with his wife and two…

 
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