nightshade_novels's review against another edition
5.0
2020 - I re-read this book to remind myself just how good the Artemis Fowl story is after watching the disgrace of a Disney adaptation. It didn't disappoint. It is just as funny and clever and exciting as I remembered. I love all of the characters and the way they interact with each other. It's amde me want to carry on re-reading the rest of the series.
myweirdnormal's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I wasn’t sure that I would love this as much as I did when I was a child. But I’m so glad I gave it a chance. It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed every second the audiobook. It definitely reminds me of a mass market adventure book but fantasy, which is better than it sounds! I’m glad this childhood favorite holds up. I wish the other audiobooks were available!
ryanjamesburt's review against another edition
3.0
This book was only ok. I like the idea they were trying to go with but didnt really like how it went. Maybe the other books are better so I might give the next one a try.
bee26's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
paragraphsandpages's review against another edition
3.0
“Confidence is ignorance. If you're feeling cocky, it's because there's something you don't know.”
Stars (Out of 10): 6/10 Stars
Overall Thoughts: While I’m not the biggest fan of this book, it was still pretty good. I enjoyed reading it, but it by far was not one of my favorite books/children books. I have the next few books in the series though, so I might end up continuing it just because the books are easily accessible. But overall, I just was kinda bored by it.
The Good: Decent plot, and I liked how there wasn’t really a good or bad side, and you could’ve honestly supported either side and been happy with the outcome. I also liked the humor in this novel, and overall it wasn’t as “childish” as I thought it would be!
The Bad: Didn’t actually connect with any of the characters, and while yes I could support either side, I ended up not liking either. Also, nothing of the plot was really “surprising,” and I’m not usually the biggest fan of the main character being overly powerful/smart in a way that almost doesn’t make sense.
SPOILERS BEGIN HERE
The Characters: I didn’t end up caring for any of the characters, honestly. Artemis, while kinda cool, just felt kinda shallow and inhuman, but I do see the author trying to create a path of development (showing Artemis joke more), so I’m curious to see where that goes. The fae, on the other hand, weren’t focused on in a way that would make me like separate characters, but I did end up liking Holly, even if some decisions or facts weren’t fully explained, like why she never bothered to refill her magic if she was so ambitious to grow in her career.
The Plot: This part was fairly interesting, and was mainly the reason I kept reading, I wanted to know how it all ended! I actually was quite happy how it ended in a way to keep both sides happy (but still wanting to take more from the other), and I love how Artemis was made a bit more human by using his wish to save his mother, which will definitely be an interesting dynamic (her influence) to see played out in the rest of the series!
The World Building: The fae were depicted in a curious way, as an underground race of people with magic. It was definitely different, and made the story very unique in it’s own right, but I do feel it could’ve been developed a bit better. But I can hope for that for the rest of the series!
The Favorite Character: Holly Short
This review can also be found on my blog: https://paragraphsandpages.wordpress.com/
Stars (Out of 10): 6/10 Stars
Overall Thoughts: While I’m not the biggest fan of this book, it was still pretty good. I enjoyed reading it, but it by far was not one of my favorite books/children books. I have the next few books in the series though, so I might end up continuing it just because the books are easily accessible. But overall, I just was kinda bored by it.
The Good: Decent plot, and I liked how there wasn’t really a good or bad side, and you could’ve honestly supported either side and been happy with the outcome. I also liked the humor in this novel, and overall it wasn’t as “childish” as I thought it would be!
The Bad: Didn’t actually connect with any of the characters, and while yes I could support either side, I ended up not liking either. Also, nothing of the plot was really “surprising,” and I’m not usually the biggest fan of the main character being overly powerful/smart in a way that almost doesn’t make sense.
SPOILERS BEGIN HERE
The Characters: I didn’t end up caring for any of the characters, honestly. Artemis, while kinda cool, just felt kinda shallow and inhuman, but I do see the author trying to create a path of development (showing Artemis joke more), so I’m curious to see where that goes. The fae, on the other hand, weren’t focused on in a way that would make me like separate characters, but I did end up liking Holly, even if some decisions or facts weren’t fully explained, like why she never bothered to refill her magic if she was so ambitious to grow in her career.
The Plot: This part was fairly interesting, and was mainly the reason I kept reading, I wanted to know how it all ended! I actually was quite happy how it ended in a way to keep both sides happy (but still wanting to take more from the other), and I love how Artemis was made a bit more human by using his wish to save his mother, which will definitely be an interesting dynamic (her influence) to see played out in the rest of the series!
The World Building: The fae were depicted in a curious way, as an underground race of people with magic. It was definitely different, and made the story very unique in it’s own right, but I do feel it could’ve been developed a bit better. But I can hope for that for the rest of the series!
The Favorite Character: Holly Short
This review can also be found on my blog: https://paragraphsandpages.wordpress.com/
livruther's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
dutchlee's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book back in elementary school and now again as a young adult. An easy read but still a great book. There are two things I love about this book:
1) it's about a 12 year super genius. We are often tempted to dismiss children as too young or too inexperienced, yet this book shows that children too can do great things.
2) the main character is a criminal. Not many books follow the villains. Colfer makes us sympathize with Artemis throughout the novel and shows even villains experience sympathy and have struggles in life.
1) it's about a 12 year super genius. We are often tempted to dismiss children as too young or too inexperienced, yet this book shows that children too can do great things.
2) the main character is a criminal. Not many books follow the villains. Colfer makes us sympathize with Artemis throughout the novel and shows even villains experience sympathy and have struggles in life.
brewsacks's review against another edition
5.0
So I was subjected to Artemis Fowl second hand, through closed bedroom doors and across tents with no doors whatsoever. I caught chunks and snippets here and there without really listening long before I finally decided to dive in for myself. My oldest (18) chose Artemis as her last read-aloud to her younger sisters (13 and 15) before she left home. They would steal away at wild times of the day and night and the Irish accent would be brilliantly deployed. Giggles and snorts were a given. There was a lot of yelling. Which is actually a great deal funnier in an Irish accent.
The tiny bits and pieces I had garnered over the last year of their journey into the Lower Elements were enough to tip me off that Eoin Colfer was a pretty good writer, and had a ridiculously prolific imagination, but it wasn't until I was stuck in the tent with these goons in the midst of their Fowl-fest that I realized just how good he was. Admittedly, the eldest's professional-grade Irish may have tipped the scales, but I could imagine that even without a creative escort, the story was worth the effort.
I must also state upfront, that my delving into the abandoned bedroom's bookshelves may possibly have been a way for me to keep the fledgeling child close, even as she made her way out there in the big, bad, world, but it wasn't long before Colfer took over, and any attachments of sentimentality were washed away. I think I can review Artemis without any mushy biases clouding my sight.
Book One (of 7?) was excellent. I'm not a big fantasy fan, but there was enough rooting in the real world here to keep me anchored and happy, and maybe even enough to make me long for a few more tastes of fantasy world, just to make sure I'm not missing something. The child prodigy/villain/protagonist/antagonist/snotnosed kid was endearing, in his own horrible way, and Colfer's world building is indeed nothing short of brilliant. The action was fast-paced and the plot was believable (as believable as leprechauns and centaurs can be). It sucked me in and drug me along, firmly invested in each and every one of Colfer's articulately-drawn characters. The clincher is most definitely his comedic vein, though. He's brought every character into sharp relief from the others by imbuing them with their very own hilarious quirks and personal versions of humor and humanity. Quite the cast; I love them all. And the guy really does have an astonishing imagination. Wowza.
This is no emotional barnstormer, but it is a good story well-told, and for that I greatly appreciate it. The art of telling a story for the sake of telling a story--and doing it well--is endangered, but Colfer keeps it alive magnificently.
The tiny bits and pieces I had garnered over the last year of their journey into the Lower Elements were enough to tip me off that Eoin Colfer was a pretty good writer, and had a ridiculously prolific imagination, but it wasn't until I was stuck in the tent with these goons in the midst of their Fowl-fest that I realized just how good he was. Admittedly, the eldest's professional-grade Irish may have tipped the scales, but I could imagine that even without a creative escort, the story was worth the effort.
I must also state upfront, that my delving into the abandoned bedroom's bookshelves may possibly have been a way for me to keep the fledgeling child close, even as she made her way out there in the big, bad, world, but it wasn't long before Colfer took over, and any attachments of sentimentality were washed away. I think I can review Artemis without any mushy biases clouding my sight.
Book One (of 7?) was excellent. I'm not a big fantasy fan, but there was enough rooting in the real world here to keep me anchored and happy, and maybe even enough to make me long for a few more tastes of fantasy world, just to make sure I'm not missing something. The child prodigy/villain/protagonist/antagonist/snotnosed kid was endearing, in his own horrible way, and Colfer's world building is indeed nothing short of brilliant. The action was fast-paced and the plot was believable (as believable as leprechauns and centaurs can be). It sucked me in and drug me along, firmly invested in each and every one of Colfer's articulately-drawn characters. The clincher is most definitely his comedic vein, though. He's brought every character into sharp relief from the others by imbuing them with their very own hilarious quirks and personal versions of humor and humanity. Quite the cast; I love them all. And the guy really does have an astonishing imagination. Wowza.
This is no emotional barnstormer, but it is a good story well-told, and for that I greatly appreciate it. The art of telling a story for the sake of telling a story--and doing it well--is endangered, but Colfer keeps it alive magnificently.
brinastewart's review against another edition
2.0
I was curious to read this because of the movie that is coming out and I have heard about this series for a while. It was a quick read for me and very simple little story. I think children around 9-13 years will enjoy this much more (mainly because it was written for that age group). I haven't decided if I am going to read the rest of the series yet. Maybe if my children get into it.