When I read the book blurb for Artemis Fowl, it immediately intrigued me for how many 12-year-old geniuses with a penchant for crime have you come across? This was my first and boy did I enjoy reading and re-reading the entire series, cover to cover!
Title: Artemis Fowl
Author: Eoin Colfer
Genre: Sci-fi fantasy fiction
Publication:
Eoin Colfer is an Irish author who penned this inventive mix of magic and crime where technology meets mythical lore but in the end the Good triumphs over Evil. He is basically a children’s book writer and was a school teacher before turning author. His claim to fame is the Artemis Fowl series which have been adapted into graphic novels and might be made into a film too.
Synopsis:
Artemis Fowl is a 12-year-old Irish boy whose father was the King of Irish mafia and had disappeared a few years ago, leaving his wife distraught and his son at the helm of family business. Artemis takes it upon himself to restore the family fortunes (which have dwindled in the search of his father) and also seek a cure for his mother’s dementia. He stumbles upon fairy folklore of leprechaun gold and fairy magic spells which he deigns to now lay his hands on by invading the invisible fairy world.
This world is inhabited by mythical creatures like centaurs, elves, pixie, dwarfs, goblins, etc. He makes the most audacious attempt at robbing the fairies of their gold and succeeds too, He also is granted a wish in which he begs for a cure for his mother.
The fairies are not perfect and come with their own failings. So we have an ambitious glory seeking antagonist who ultimately leads to his own downfall. Goblins with no love for kindness, their only love is for riches for themselves. A subterranean digging dwarf who can’t resist hoarding gold and falling into trouble over it. Then there is the tech smart Centaur who is a geek and makes for the perfect foil for the criminal genius in his own way. He loves to raconteur with Artemis Fowl over tech advancements and is delighted to have found an equal somewhere in the world.
Best of all is Holly – the only female RECON officer in the LEP unit who is a sharp shooter and a maverick to boot. She and Artemis initially get off on the wrong foot but end up being best of friends later on.
“If I win, I’m a prodigy. If I lose then I’m mad. That’s the way history is written”
― Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl
The story continues with Artemis Fowl evolving into a better human being, despite the criminal traits. He manages to locate his father with the help of fairy friends and goes onto many more adventures including saving the fairy world from a megalomaniac pixie.
The book series ends with the growing up of Artemis Fowl and other character in the book who forge a deep friendship which bodes well for humanity and fairy world. The ultimate message in the book is one of doing kindness without expecting any returns.
Lasting impression on me:
What I loved most about this book is the fiendish Artemis Fowl who is endearing as the little lost boy/ criminal mastermind. His quick thinking mind decodes every thing very fast and logically, leaving many adults flabbergasted with his genius brain. The premise of a fairy world living below ours is charming and Colfer has superbly woven many of the folk lore myths in this tech savvy fast paced fantasy fiction.
So we have time travel but its the demons who travel and seem to use silver to anchor themselves in their realm. There is cosmetic surgery to insert pitutary gland into a pixie who wants to become human but with drastic consequences. The fairy spell book is a code of another kind but which the mastermind decodes in a matter of days. Oh and the fairy world use blasters and other such weapons to police their citizens and any threats to their world.
The imagination and verve in the series has enchanted me as much as Harry Potter and in my mind this series stands right next to Potter world. Even though its a “childrens” book series, I loved reading and re-reading them.
My rating:
An unequivocal 5 ***** to this series as I found them as intriguing as Harry Potter!! Do pick it up for a book reading session with your child and see if you dont get hooked 😉
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What do you think of fantasy fiction? Are you enamoured by this series? Any such series you would recommend to me to check out?
P.S:
I am on a no-book-buying pact as I am pretty much broke; not to mention that I am running out of space as well!! But incase anyone wants to trade their books or send me gifts, please do check out my Wishlist on Amazon & Want to read on Goodreads.
* This post contains affiliate links and if you click to buy from here, I will earn some referral fee amount *
Coming up tomorrow is [L] for Lips touch thrice by Laini Taylor
For the uninitiated, AtoZ challenge is a blogging challenge wherein one has to write on every alphabet from A to Z and post on all days of April, except Sundays. Usually its better to devise a theme as it makes it easy to write the posts. Plus readers have a reason to stay hooked too.
The A to Z Challenge is created by Arlee Bird of Tossing it Out
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Jeremy Hawkins of Hollywood Nuts
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John Holton of The Sound of One Hand Typing
J Lenni Dorner of Blog of J. Lenni Dorner
Some of my previous posts you might be interested in catching up on
Hari OM
Another I had not heard of – tho’ it’s being aimed at the younger market might explain that. YAM xx
Yes this one is for the younger audience but I was very fascinated with it as you can see and therefore it got featured here!! 🙂
i had heard of Artemis Fowl but did not know it was full of mythical creatures. love the succinct review.
Thanks so much!!! Its a lovely read for me and I would recco it for peeps with kids to read out aloud to and have some fun!
This is a series I’ve not actually read even though I’ve seen the books so often at book stores. Didn’t even know what it was about until today. Thanks 🙂
I have never compared it to another fantasy series so I guess I thoroughly enjoyed it in its uniqueness. If you so get around to reading it , would love to hear your thoughts on it Doc.
Its a rare combination of Magic and crime. A rare recommendation and an interesting story line.
Yup that’s what got me hooked. it’s an unbelievable combo.
Some books are forever this is one of those…loving your picks
I know what you mean Pooja. Thanks 🙂
I haven’t read any of these. The series sounds fascinating. Adding to my TBR list.
Thanks Trisha, I am hoping you will love them as much as me.
I’m not into sci-fi much but this seems like an interesting read, especially because of your 5 stars! 🙂
Kohl Eyed Me
Something’s Cooking
I just adored it. What I love in stories are the relationships that develop and how they are explored further. This is the case in this book too where a grown man who is the Butler and is deferential to his master a 12 year old boy, yet there is no master servant relationship here. They are friends who admire wax others strengths .
I remember seeing my son reading one Artemis Fowl book, some time back. Sounds fascinating.
oh then you could probably borrow from him now Betcha he will.be thrilled to know that his mom needs to borrow a book from him.
sound very interesting. Already going to check it out on Amazon. This is my first time visiting your blog. It’s fantastic! Will be back for more 🙂
Welcome to my blog Ryan, I havent visited your yet but shall rectify that soonest! Thanks for such kind words – I am thrilled to have another reader who loves what I write. Hope to keep seeing you 🙂
Never heard of this before but love the premise of it.
TBR, check.
You might be responsible for me going bankrupt someday 😛
Aaaaah I know what you mean. My only spulrging on books is now confined to my Bday since past two years as I am going broke buying books. I need to gind a good library near my house or I will go mad for sure 😉
The range and types of books you read are so diverse. I have not read about centaurs(watched in Narnia), elves(Disney’s animated tales), pixie(tinkerbell), dwarfs(Snow white), goblins (watched in a Korean series- Goblin:The great and lonely god) much. But watched them plenty in movies.
My sister is a big fan of Artemis Fowl. But I actually never bothered. I must search these books now.. must be there somewhere in the trunk….
I am so entranced with this fantasy realm that if I had a way, I would leap into it and stay there. Unfortunately no amount of tapping on bricks or looking for a hole in the garden or an entrance in the cupboard has led anywhere – yet! My search is still on 😉
Gosh I have this book and haven’t read it, Shalini! And interestingly–I came across this book yesterday while looking for something and thought–oh, I should read this! Nice!
Well thats indeed serendipity at work Vidya- if you do get down to read it, I would love to hear what you thought of it 🙂
I really regret that I was not able to catch up with Percy Jakson and now you bring forward Armetis Fowl. I really need to tighten up my belt and read so much more.
Oh Percy Jackson didnt impress me at all; I stopped reading after I think book 2 perhaps. But Artemis Fowl is clever and well written with all loose threads tied up nicely!
A series I have somehow not gotten myself to pick. I did try reading a sample on kindle sometime back, but it failed to create an interest. So I just let it be. Looks like I must give it another try.
Oh is it? I hope you do give it another read; I was hooked from the first page of the first book and then couldnt stop scouring around for the rest!
I’ve a read a few of them. Very interesting stuff … but I didn’t get hooked enough to read all of them 🙂 Nice selection of books.
https://lonelycanopyblog.wordpress.com/2018/04/15/nothing-like-school-memories/
your review makes this 1 sound interesting. i have always walked past the series thinking it was very much the children’s section select.
Yup they are in the children’s section as is most YA / fantasy! I always do one reccee round of the kids book shelves before checking out other sections 😉 I have picked up a lot of books that ways – some good and some really bad!
I read the entire series sometime ago. I found the books at Just Books Library, and since they had the entire series, I picked them up. Finished them all in four days.
Oh thats fantastic. I wish I had a library near me as I am trying to cut down on my book spending this year!
I found this series to be quite addictive and was very hooked to it!