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greenskydragon's review against another edition
3.0
I have no idea why Colfer decided to force that phrase (deny all charges) throughout the book. Perhaps it has some significance, besides being the book's title, that I'm ignorant of, but as it stands, it just got shoved in randomly and stuck out awkwardly.
The ending was okay. Nothing to write home about, although it did set up one character to be a wild card Colfer can drag in at a later date whenever. Another character from the first book is set up as a Moriarty of a sorts, which might turn out okay for the series as a whole (re: not setting opal koboi as the power ceiling in the first series then crashing and burning because of it). So hopefully he's learned his lesson in that arena.
That book could've shed at least 40% of its published content and been fine, that's how much filler there was. He also had this annoying habit of summarizing right before a thing happened, then resummarizing shortly thereafter if not right after. He was going for funny and it just got annoying. The omniscient narrator jumping in everyone's head also felt like "I need to fill a word count" more than "I'm doing this for character development/story reasons" due to the extent of thoughts shown, and restated, and resaid again. Did I mention he repeats things a lot?
All in all, solid 3 out of 5. Maybe a 3.5 on a generous day, but nowhere near a mercy round up to 4. The serial cast wasn't really meaningfully expanded, unless the parents are going to be larger players and stick around. (Heaven help Colfer's characterization of them, though. They're supposed to be ex-criminal masterminds who've birthed tgree criminal masterminds of their own? And yet they're that pathetically incompetent? Please.) The boys have mostly established themselves, but while I understand the literary limitations for mixing Artemis with the twins I really hope he brings them together. The "Artemis is in space" excuse feels lazy at this point, and if we're three books down the road and Artemis is still up there, I'm gonna yeet something
The ending was okay. Nothing to write home about, although it did set up one character to be a wild card Colfer can drag in at a later date whenever. Another character from the first book is set up as a Moriarty of a sorts, which might turn out okay for the series as a whole (re: not setting opal koboi as the power ceiling in the first series then crashing and burning because of it). So hopefully he's learned his lesson in that arena.
That book could've shed at least 40% of its published content and been fine, that's how much filler there was. He also had this annoying habit of summarizing right before a thing happened, then resummarizing shortly thereafter if not right after. He was going for funny and it just got annoying. The omniscient narrator jumping in everyone's head also felt like "I need to fill a word count" more than "I'm doing this for character development/story reasons" due to the extent of thoughts shown, and restated, and resaid again. Did I mention he repeats things a lot?
All in all, solid 3 out of 5. Maybe a 3.5 on a generous day, but nowhere near a mercy round up to 4. The serial cast wasn't really meaningfully expanded, unless the parents are going to be larger players and stick around. (Heaven help Colfer's characterization of them, though. They're supposed to be ex-criminal masterminds who've birthed tgree criminal masterminds of their own? And yet they're that pathetically incompetent? Please.) The boys have mostly established themselves, but while I understand the literary limitations for mixing Artemis with the twins I really hope he brings them together. The "Artemis is in space" excuse feels lazy at this point, and if we're three books down the road and Artemis is still up there, I'm gonna yeet something
rowan21's review
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
stormywolf's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Read by Nathaniel Parker
Unabridged Length: 8.1 Hours
Listened at 2x Speed
Not much more to add from the first audio's review.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, another greatly entertaining production by Mr. Parker and the Listening Library crew. With just as high quality as the first story, fans are good to go in continuing the series. Which I will be doing myself as I continue to the 3rd book!
Unabridged Length: 8.1 Hours
Listened at 2x Speed
Not much more to add from the first audio's review.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, another greatly entertaining production by Mr. Parker and the Listening Library crew. With just as high quality as the first story, fans are good to go in continuing the series. Which I will be doing myself as I continue to the 3rd book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Death, Gun violence, and Blood
fleurofthecourt's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
aini12aian's review against another edition
5.0
This is so good than the first book. I love how Eoin Colfer included the Fowl parents in this
adjak's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
litwtchreads's review against another edition
3.75
appropriately humorous for young kids, but I do miss the Artemis Fowl series.
cpcabaniss's review against another edition
4.0
"Unfortunately for him, Beckett Fowl specialized in the preposterous, had a degree in the ridiculous, and was a doctor of the unbelievable."
Many thanks to the lovely Twila for buddy reading this with me!
This is the second installment in the Fowl Twins series, which follows the younger brother of Artemis Fowl. The series is similar but decidedly different than the original, which is very much appreciated. It allows for nostalgia without being disappointing.
Neither Beckett or Myles on their own would be a very likable or enjoyable main character, I don't think, but together they are a lot of fun. If you want a good laugh while you're reading, this is an excellent book for that.
I don't know how many books are going to be in this series, but I'm interested to see where things are going for the Fowl Twins.
ninetalevixen's review against another edition
3.0
FRTC.
(As an aside, is not nearly as compelling a Recurring Big Bad as Opal Koboi. And I say that as someone who preferred the odd-numbered Artemis books, i.e. the ones that didn't involve Opal.)
(As an aside,
Spoiler
Teddy What's-his-faceonceuponarachel's review against another edition
4.0
in my defense it's a harper book and i read this in like 2 hours and also have you ever tried to read simon sinek??? cmon guys
i have a deep-seated fascination for character comparison/contract, particularly when a book/franchise launches a successful formula and then has to repeat or differentiate from it in the next iteration. This might be very specific but I got to do it twice in the same month with artemis fowl and mass effect so leave me to be the strange night raccoon writing 8 page papers on ophelia and lady macbeth i used to be (their theme is death as a form of autonomy i will fight over this)
anyway these are total brain vacations and ridiculously silly.
it's about artemis' 12-yr-old twin brothers, one of which is like him but even more of an asshole (weary sigh) and the other is just kronk from emperor's new groove. their fairy friend is Lazuli, more of a wildcard and less sure of herself than Holly, but no weakling. Honestly pour one out for eoin colfer, who when given a male and female character in the same situation, will always have the female character kick some ass.
while the theme of the original franchise seemed to be friendship as a form of growth, it's clear this one is more family-centric, with the twins growing each other, and it's fun to see where Lazuli plays into that with huge big sis vibes.
tiny details i loved:
-lazuli's blatant preference of beckett (the "dumb" twin) and not myles (the one like artemis)
-finally getting to really hang with momma angeline fowl
-myles drawing a line in the sand with holly by saying he & beckett & lazuli are friends, and holly & artemis are friends, but they are not friends (damn son respect your elders)
-holly calls angeline fowl once a week???? WHAT DO THEY TALK ABOUT
-artemis literally in space can only receive and send pre-recorded video calls to his family but somehow can call holly directly [heart clutch] what do THEY talk about and how do i read it
-this scene:
eoin teach a masterclass in portraying friendship between male and female characters thanks
popsugar 2021: a book set in multiple countries
i have a deep-seated fascination for character comparison/contract, particularly when a book/franchise launches a successful formula and then has to repeat or differentiate from it in the next iteration. This might be very specific but I got to do it twice in the same month with artemis fowl and mass effect so leave me to be the strange night raccoon writing 8 page papers on ophelia and lady macbeth i used to be (their theme is death as a form of autonomy i will fight over this)
anyway these are total brain vacations and ridiculously silly.
it's about artemis' 12-yr-old twin brothers, one of which is like him but even more of an asshole (weary sigh) and the other is just kronk from emperor's new groove. their fairy friend is Lazuli, more of a wildcard and less sure of herself than Holly, but no weakling. Honestly pour one out for eoin colfer, who when given a male and female character in the same situation, will always have the female character kick some ass.
while the theme of the original franchise seemed to be friendship as a form of growth, it's clear this one is more family-centric, with the twins growing each other, and it's fun to see where Lazuli plays into that with huge big sis vibes.
tiny details i loved:
-lazuli's blatant preference of beckett (the "dumb" twin) and not myles (the one like artemis)
-finally getting to really hang with momma angeline fowl
-myles drawing a line in the sand with holly by saying he & beckett & lazuli are friends, and holly & artemis are friends, but they are not friends (damn son respect your elders)
-holly calls angeline fowl once a week???? WHAT DO THEY TALK ABOUT
-artemis literally in space can only receive and send pre-recorded video calls to his family but somehow can call holly directly [heart clutch] what do THEY talk about and how do i read it
-this scene:
Lazuli's shield did not need tuning, so she appeared noiselessly at her superior's shoulder, also dressed in LEP green.
"Myles," she said. "Beck."
"Laz," said Beckett, and once again: "Laz."
He said this twice to emphasise his affection, but also because Myles had requested that he not bowl over his friend with one of his trademark hugs until they assessed the state of fairy-human relations, and not embracing Lazuli was causing the boy some distress.
"I'm under no-hugging orders," he explained.
Me too, mouthed Lazuli.
eoin teach a masterclass in portraying friendship between male and female characters thanks
popsugar 2021: a book set in multiple countries