Artemis Fowl The Last Guardian

I have followed the Artemis Fowl series the whole ride, and let me tell you, this is the best. It took some heart-break to come to terms that the adventures were ending, but this was worth it. The ending does end with Artemis finally becoming a hero, but also leaves room for thought as the ending connects to the beginning of the series.
Some people had some doubts as to whether Eoin Colfer could pull off the next after his somewhat sub-par 'Atlantis Complex', but Colfer took it up a notch higher than all the others. I, like others had some doubts over the aforementioned book. But it set up some neat plot roots and fillers; as did the 'Time Paradox', one of my personal favorites.
The last guardian has been a fabulous ending to a wonderful series. Everyone is sad to see our genius go, but hopefully he will live on in fan fictions. This book wraps up everything Artemis strived to do, leaves room for thought, and gives us a sese of closure.
Thank you, Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl.
You have carried us many a mystical journey that stole our breath and sent our hearts racing. Cheers! Slainte Mhaith!

This is the continuing saga of a slightly irregular young genius. I won't give away the plot,so as not to spoil your own enjoyment.I will say this though, you will love it! The cost of the book is very reasonable. I love the cover art of all of colin's books. I can hardly wait for the next book to come out. P.S. WHEN WILL THEY MAKE A MOVIE SERIES OF THESE BOOKS? Colfer, Eoin's Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian Hardcover

An amazing conclusion to one of, if not, the greatest series of all time. A euphoric and utterly satisfying finale. In order to truly give us closure, we had to be taken back to where it all began, and Colfer did just that! Absolutely brilliant!

Here we go. I glanced through the comments, and apparently most people have loved this book.

Not me.

Okay, I'll admit this book has its bright spots, which is why I gave it a two star as opposed to a one, but.

Throughout reading this book, there was this phase stuck in my head: "I THINK YOU BROKE MY BRAIN." And I'm saying this as someone whose favorite of the Artemis Fowl Series is a book called the TIME PARADOX, for heaven's sake. No, really. Mumble jumbo with magic and black magic and magic locks. I just had to check the book to remember that it was called a lock, and normally I think I'd remember something like that. Okay, some things I had real trouble understanding:

1. Opal's... resurrection? Okay. Moment Koboi the Younger was shot, they combusted, because Time Paradox! I got that part. Koboi the Elder pulls herself back together from sheer willpower. I do not get this part. Combust Koboi should be dead/unexisting and yet she's still around to pull her body back together with... what? Where'd that body mass come from? Body gets turned into energy, use willpower to turn energy back into body? Aaaand where'd she get that black magic from? Why'd she need to be in the chute/power core/ whatever it is? Maybe I'm thickheaded, but the writing at this part apparently wasn't enough to convey the answers to my head.

2. The lock thing. Some 10000 or so years ago the Beserkers were buried with their boots out, and were being kept together with black magic. Hold it. HOLD IT. As I understand it, the second lock was a last ditch thing by Bruin Fadda (Whose name is so hard to remember I thought it was Brune Fredo when I started writing this review), using black magic to form a lock that could potentially kill all the humans on the earth. Okay. Great. So why are the Beserkers, who are part of the FIRST lock, "sealed with Bruin Fadda's black magic"? And mind, he's doing this after being mortally wounded by that Shaylock guy, who was trying to make it so humans could open the first lock, and so that he could use the Beserkers against the fairies. What happened to Shaylock? Oh never mind that he's just a background character who's supposed to motivate Bruin into creating the second lock. Except I don't see how a FAIRY (iirc the book mentions the irony of Opal, a fairy, using the locks) going against his own kind for no real reason could have motivated Bruin to create the second lock to kill the humans.

3. The first time the tale of Bruin and Shaylock was told, it's like, oh, gotta stop Opal because lock open= people dead. No variables. So whatever happened in the last part of the book? The lock was created so the user could choose to kill either humans or fairies? WAIT WHAT WHAT WHAT?!!? Shaylock tainted it? Shaylock was going to taint the first lock, and he's dead/dying by the time Bruin Fadda created the second lock, so that's ruled out. And if the lock kills every single human on the planet if opened plus possible ice age, what the heck happened back there? Killed all fairies in a small area plus one human with a fairy eye without creating an ice age. What.

4. Typical Artemis Fowl plot- ON NO ALL HOPE IS LOST JUST GOT SO OUTWITTED WITH OPAL. Then.. Oh YES ARTEMIS SAVED THE DAY AGAIN. But. What. Was. With. The. Hand. Thing. The first lock handprint could be pressed with a human handprint who probably doesn't have magic anymore. Fine, accepted as some magic mumble jumbo I missed. Nopal's hand fills the only-Opal-can-do-it handprint. Nopal's a clone, yes... same DNA and blah blah blah. But this is MAGIC. Y'know, I was kinda thinking of less same DNA in a SCIENCE! way and more Nopal doesn't have a soul, probably. Yet this "very perceptive magic" accepted her. Ohhkaaay. Meh, let it pass because Nopal's a copy of Opal, right?

5. Mumbleh, I'm getting tired. And I haven't even started with the more minor ones yet. Well, here's number 5: Bruin Fadda stayed behind to collapse the lip of the valley. AHEM. Excuse me? Why would you need to do that? Stay behind alone in mist, collapse the valley, then retreat. He didn't seem to get the chance and things didn't turn out too messy.

6. Bruin Fadda, legendary hater of humans. SO WHY DIDN'T HE JUST WIPE THEM OUT INSTEAD OF CREATING A REALLY COMPLICATED SECOND LOCK THING.

7. Artemis in the Plan. One that would rely on Opal and Foaly's traits. Basically, what would be called a Batman Gambit. I'll make a stretch here and just assume that the reliance on Foaly's paranoidness is in obtaining the two items he asks for. The second, hard to obtain item is obviously Nopal, but what is the first item, the toy in Foaly's desk?

8. In the Lost Colony, Artemis teleports a bomb via removal of silver bracelet to Demon Land. As they vanish, Butler thinks about how the boy never goes to the bathroom without a plan B.. Cut back to this book. In the barn, AMBUSH. TRAP. WHATEVER. Holly thinks about Artemis's two weaknesses, one of which is he's so confident in his intelligance he never makes a plan B. Are you kidding me. Even if it's just the difference in how a bodyguard and a fairy friend think, he's the guy who considered 8 plans (And calculated the succeed percentage. Probably should have calculated this one's too, figured out there was a fail chance, and made a back-up plan) in the Opal Deception! Even if he couldn't think up another one given the circumstances, that's no reason to fall apart.

9. Holly's ten times better at Artemis at flying that lightweight plane with the laser that for some reason, they didn't use to fry the lock with. I'll pass that by and blame the stolen/broken battery. Back to the 10x better thing. Holly's an accomplished shuttle pilot, yes. But if you take into account the probable difference between that plane and a fairy shuttle, and the fact that Artemis has been flying planes since age 9, Artemis would be better then Holly. Not to mention the foot flap problem. Where'd that go when Holly takes over?

That's 9, and I only read the book once. I'm willing to bet if I read it a second time specifically looking for mistakes, as well as get around to finishing the Atlantis Complex, I'll find more.

Note: I've dabbled in comics for some time now, and that may have some bearing on two things:
1. Opal Koboi, again. 8 books in a series, and let's see how many times she pops up: That time in the Arctic Incident where she orchestrates the Goblin thing, that time where she created a clone of herself and escaped in the Opal Deception, and this time. I didn't mind Opal the first time, nor her brilliant escape in the second, but three times in a total of eight books is a bit much, and add that to the messily written part...

2. Artemis got killed and resurrected. I like happy endings. Really. But having a character sacrifice his life then get resurrected in a morally dubious way is kinda taking the impact out of it. Though characters die and get resurrected in comics so much I have a personal dislike for this kind of thing, so this is handwaveable.

If you read through to here, Congratulations. I do think this is the longest review I have ever given.

First Sentence: The Bersekers lay arranged in a spiral under the rune stone, looping down, down into the earth--boots out, heads in, as the spell demanded.

How I Acquired the Book: Borrowed, via e-Book, from my friend.

The Review: 2012 in the book world just seems to be the Year of Finishing Massive Series. We had the ending of the Warriors series (the 16th book), back in April. And now, we have the eighth and final book in the Artemis Fowl series. Has it really been 11 years since we were first introduced to Artemis in 2001? Oh, I read that book at a much later date, but the fact is, this series has been going on for a long, long time. And now it ends here. One last ride with Artemis, Holly, Butler, Foaly--I could go on and on. Mr. Colfer created brilliant characters over the past 7 books. This is their finale.

And it's beautiful.

The action picks up from Chapter One. Opal is back--another great character, but an evil, diabolical one. And she has another plan, one that's going to make her invincible. Not only that, but it involves bringing dead warriors back to life, and possessing Artemis's family. If this does not sound awesome to you, I do not know what will. This book flies by, all three-hunrder-whatever pages of it. I read it in a single day.

The action picks up from Chapter One and never lets go. This is undoubtedly an action-oriented book, but the characters, as mentioned before, are great too. Artemis is more "geniuser" (sorry, no other way to put it) than ever before. Holly is a courageous, feisty female lead. Mr. Colfer manages to sprinkle humor throughout the book, and some lines will leave you in stitches. Whenever Foaly or Mulch is in a scene, prepare to laugh. The previous books in the series were funny, but this one reaches new heights. I would go so far to say this book is the funniest and best book Mr. Colfer has written. Not only that, but as a reward for following Artemis, he manages to sprinkle some references to past books throughout this one.

And the ending. It will make some readers cry. It's just so great...I can't even begin to describe it. After so many books, it is a perfect way to end up the series. So, Artemis Fowl fan, when you go to your bookstore or library to get this book (because you must, if you are a fan of this series), do not hesitate when you begin to read it, knowing that it is the last book. Embrace it with open arms. Know that after 11 years, this series has finally reaches the end it deserves. An ending that the fans deserve. In essence, the perfect ending. Thank you, Artemis and Holly, for being awesome.

Mr. Colfer, I eagerly await your next series.

--reviewed by a teenager.

The last few books have lacked what the first few books have. After book three its hit and miss but the last Guardian is the worst. Sure the premise is a bit intresting with the berzerkers. However, the jumps in logic and use of Dues ex Machina to get to a point seemed outlandish. If you kill your past self you should cease to exist not become all powerful. I felt the book was forced. there were a few funny parts. But overall i was displeased with the book.

Lots of untied loose ends remained in this book. It's poorly written, Eoin Colfer uses various deus-ex-machines to get rid of Foaly and Number1, Minerva is not even mentioned (ditto for Turnball), Butler spends a significant part of the book unconscious.

Essentially all the character development from the previous books is lost (apart from Fowl and maybe Holly).

Science (which always took a back seat in Colfer's books) takes a severe beating. In one scene they started a solar-powered electric airplane by pushing it until its engine starts (its battery was stolen). At night. Even a child can notice that.

I'm glad the series has ended and I won't have to buy another Artemis Fowl book.

From early 2012:
THE LAST ONE? I understand that authors sometimes have to actually end their series . . . but I like it better when they don't. Also, I tend to dislike the last books of series (ie, Mockingjay, The Last Olympian, The Last Battle, Deathly Hallows), or at least like them less than the rest of the series. I'll try not to get my hopes up, which should let me be even more impressed when EC gives us a brilliant conclusion.

Reader thoughts:
I cannot decide if I like the ending or not. Was it good? Yes. Was it satisfying? Mostly. Did everyone act in character? Yes. Did it make me happy? Erm . . . maybe. I just really wish there were more books, even if (view spoiler) and everything.

Artemis was more of his usual self in this one, more plan-three-steps-ahead sort. Not the wonderful plan-ten-steps-ahead sort we get to see in books 1 and 3 and 5, but still enough. He can't always be perfectly brilliant I suppose. Still, this could have been two books. Yes, it only took a few hours, but so much was going on it could have been two. Esp 'cause Artemis just WHAM was cured of Atlantis Complex.

We get to see a little Juliet and the twins, and Butler, and more Mulch, and more Foaly, although not as much Holly as I'd like. We see a troll, lots of magic, and trillions of explosions.

Honestly, the more magic in the books, the less I like them, almost. It's just, I like when the characters have to work out how to fix things without using magic. Basically, I think Opal cheated in this book. And her plan should not have worked. And who thought to (view spoiler). My favorite moments in the series are when Artemis ingeniously guesses what the enemy will do, and uses limited assets to foil plans at the last moment. This book had some of that.

Writer thoughts:
It did make sense that EC had to end the series. Who was there for Artemis to fight? How could Colfer have raised the stakes from when there were two Opals and Artemis was fighting himself or his own mind? There was nowhere left to go, and so they had to end.

Here we go. I glanced through the comments, and apparently most people have loved this book.

Not me.

Okay, I'll admit this book has its bright spots, which is why I gave it a two star as opposed to a one, but.

Throughout reading this book, there was this phase stuck in my head: "I THINK YOU BROKE MY BRAIN." And I'm saying this as someone whose favorite of the Artemis Fowl Series is a book called the TIME PARADOX, for heaven's sake. No, really. Mumble jumbo with magic and black magic and magic locks. I just had to check the book to remember that it was called a lock, and normally I think I'd remember something like that. Okay, some things I had real trouble understanding:

1. Opal's... resurrection? Okay. Moment Koboi the Younger was shot, they combusted, because Time Paradox! I got that part. Koboi the Elder pulls herself back together from sheer willpower. I do not get this part. Combust Koboi should be dead/unexisting and yet she's still around to pull her body back together with... what? Where'd that body mass come from? Body gets turned into energy, use willpower to turn energy back into body? Aaaand where'd she get that black magic from? Why'd she need to be in the chute/power core/ whatever it is? Maybe I'm thickheaded, but the writing at this part apparently wasn't enough to convey the answers to my head.

2. The lock thing. Some 10000 or so years ago the Beserkers were buried with their boots out, and were being kept together with black magic. Hold it. HOLD IT. As I understand it, the second lock was a last ditch thing by Bruin Fadda (Whose name is so hard to remember I thought it was Brune Fredo when I started writing this review), using black magic to form a lock that could potentially kill all the humans on the earth. Okay. Great. So why are the Beserkers, who are part of the FIRST lock, "sealed with Bruin Fadda's black magic"? And mind, he's doing this after being mortally wounded by that Shaylock guy, who was trying to make it so humans could open the first lock, and so that he could use the Beserkers against the fairies. What happened to Shaylock? Oh never mind that he's just a background character who's supposed to motivate Bruin into creating the second lock. Except I don't see how a FAIRY (iirc the book mentions the irony of Opal, a fairy, using the locks) going against his own kind for no real reason could have motivated Bruin to create the second lock to kill the humans.

3. The first time the tale of Bruin and Shaylock was told, it's like, oh, gotta stop Opal because lock open= people dead. No variables. So whatever happened in the last part of the book? The lock was created so the user could choose to kill either humans or fairies? WAIT WHAT WHAT WHAT?!!? Shaylock tainted it? Shaylock was going to taint the first lock, and he's dead/dying by the time Bruin Fadda created the second lock, so that's ruled out. And if the lock kills every single human on the planet if opened plus possible ice age, what the heck happened back there? Killed all fairies in a small area plus one human with a fairy eye without creating an ice age. What.

4. Typical Artemis Fowl plot- ON NO ALL HOPE IS LOST JUST GOT SO OUTWITTED WITH OPAL. Then.. Oh YES ARTEMIS SAVED THE DAY AGAIN. But. What. Was. With. The. Hand. Thing. The first lock handprint could be pressed with a human handprint who probably doesn't have magic anymore. Fine, accepted as some magic mumble jumbo I missed. Nopal's hand fills the only-Opal-can-do-it handprint. Nopal's a clone, yes... same DNA and blah blah blah. But this is MAGIC. Y'know, I was kinda thinking of less same DNA in a SCIENCE! way and more Nopal doesn't have a soul, probably. Yet this "very perceptive magic" accepted her. Ohhkaaay. Meh, let it pass because Nopal's a copy of Opal, right?

5. Mumbleh, I'm getting tired. And I haven't even started with the more minor ones yet. Well, here's number 5: Bruin Fadda stayed behind to collapse the lip of the valley. AHEM. Excuse me? Why would you need to do that? Stay behind alone in mist, collapse the valley, then retreat. He didn't seem to get the chance and things didn't turn out too messy.

6. Bruin Fadda, legendary hater of humans. SO WHY DIDN'T HE JUST WIPE THEM OUT INSTEAD OF CREATING A REALLY COMPLICATED SECOND LOCK THING.

7. Artemis in the Plan. One that would rely on Opal and Foaly's traits. Basically, what would be called a Batman Gambit. I'll make a stretch here and just assume that the reliance on Foaly's paranoidness is in obtaining the two items he asks for. The second, hard to obtain item is obviously Nopal, but what is the first item, the toy in Foaly's desk?

8. In the Lost Colony, Artemis teleports a bomb via removal of silver bracelet to Demon Land. As they vanish, Butler thinks about how the boy never goes to the bathroom without a plan B.. Cut back to this book. In the barn, AMBUSH. TRAP. WHATEVER. Holly thinks about Artemis's two weaknesses, one of which is he's so confident in his intelligance he never makes a plan B. Are you kidding me. Even if it's just the difference in how a bodyguard and a fairy friend think, he's the guy who considered 8 plans (And calculated the succeed percentage. Probably should have calculated this one's too, figured out there was a fail chance, and made a back-up plan) in the Opal Deception! Even if he couldn't think up another one given the circumstances, that's no reason to fall apart.

9. Holly's ten times better at Artemis at flying that lightweight plane with the laser that for some reason, they didn't use to fry the lock with. I'll pass that by and blame the stolen/broken battery. Back to the 10x better thing. Holly's an accomplished shuttle pilot, yes. But if you take into account the probable difference between that plane and a fairy shuttle, and the fact that Artemis has been flying planes since age 9, Artemis would be better then Holly. Not to mention the foot flap problem. Where'd that go when Holly takes over?

That's 9, and I only read the book once. I'm willing to bet if I read it a second time specifically looking for mistakes, as well as get around to finishing the Atlantis Complex, I'll find more.

Note: I've dabbled in comics for some time now, and that may have some bearing on two things:
1. Opal Koboi, again. 8 books in a series, and let's see how many times she pops up: That time in the Arctic Incident where she orchestrates the Goblin thing, that time where she created a clone of herself and escaped in the Opal Deception, and this time. I didn't mind Opal the first time, nor her brilliant escape in the second, but three times in a total of eight books is a bit much, and add that to the messily written part...

2. Artemis got killed and resurrected. I like happy endings. Really. But having a character sacrifice his life then get resurrected in a morally dubious way is kinda taking the impact out of it. Though characters die and get resurrected in comics so much I have a personal dislike for this kind of thing, so this is handwaveable.

If you read through to here, Congratulations. I do think this is the longest review I have ever given.

First Sentence: The Bersekers lay arranged in a spiral under the rune stone, looping down, down into the earth--boots out, heads in, as the spell demanded.

How I Acquired the Book: Borrowed, via e-Book, from my friend.

The Review: 2012 in the book world just seems to be the Year of Finishing Massive Series. We had the ending of the Warriors series (the 16th book), back in April. And now, we have the eighth and final book in the Artemis Fowl series. Has it really been 11 years since we were first introduced to Artemis in 2001? Oh, I read that book at a much later date, but the fact is, this series has been going on for a long, long time. And now it ends here. One last ride with Artemis, Holly, Butler, Foaly--I could go on and on. Mr. Colfer created brilliant characters over the past 7 books. This is their finale.

And it's beautiful.

The action picks up from Chapter One. Opal is back--another great character, but an evil, diabolical one. And she has another plan, one that's going to make her invincible. Not only that, but it involves bringing dead warriors back to life, and possessing Artemis's family. If this does not sound awesome to you, I do not know what will. This book flies by, all three-hunrder-whatever pages of it. I read it in a single day.

The action picks up from Chapter One and never lets go. This is undoubtedly an action-oriented book, but the characters, as mentioned before, are great too. Artemis is more "geniuser" (sorry, no other way to put it) than ever before. Holly is a courageous, feisty female lead. Mr. Colfer manages to sprinkle humor throughout the book, and some lines will leave you in stitches. Whenever Foaly or Mulch is in a scene, prepare to laugh. The previous books in the series were funny, but this one reaches new heights. I would go so far to say this book is the funniest and best book Mr. Colfer has written. Not only that, but as a reward for following Artemis, he manages to sprinkle some references to past books throughout this one.

And the ending. It will make some readers cry. It's just so great...I can't even begin to describe it. After so many books, it is a perfect way to end up the series. So, Artemis Fowl fan, when you go to your bookstore or library to get this book (because you must, if you are a fan of this series), do not hesitate when you begin to read it, knowing that it is the last book. Embrace it with open arms. Know that after 11 years, this series has finally reaches the end it deserves. An ending that the fans deserve. In essence, the perfect ending. Thank you, Artemis and Holly, for being awesome.

Mr. Colfer, I eagerly await your next series.

--reviewed by a teenager.

The last few books have lacked what the first few books have. After book three its hit and miss but the last Guardian is the worst. Sure the premise is a bit intresting with the berzerkers. However, the jumps in logic and use of Dues ex Machina to get to a point seemed outlandish. If you kill your past self you should cease to exist not become all powerful. I felt the book was forced. there were a few funny parts. But overall i was displeased with the book.

Lots of untied loose ends remained in this book. It's poorly written, Eoin Colfer uses various deus-ex-machines to get rid of Foaly and Number1, Minerva is not even mentioned (ditto for Turnball), Butler spends a significant part of the book unconscious.

Essentially all the character development from the previous books is lost (apart from Fowl and maybe Holly).

Science (which always took a back seat in Colfer's books) takes a severe beating. In one scene they started a solar-powered electric airplane by pushing it until its engine starts (its battery was stolen). At night. Even a child can notice that.

I'm glad the series has ended and I won't have to buy another Artemis Fowl book.

From early 2012:
THE LAST ONE? I understand that authors sometimes have to actually end their series . . . but I like it better when they don't. Also, I tend to dislike the last books of series (ie, Mockingjay, The Last Olympian, The Last Battle, Deathly Hallows), or at least like them less than the rest of the series. I'll try not to get my hopes up, which should let me be even more impressed when EC gives us a brilliant conclusion.

Reader thoughts:
I cannot decide if I like the ending or not. Was it good? Yes. Was it satisfying? Mostly. Did everyone act in character? Yes. Did it make me happy? Erm . . . maybe. I just really wish there were more books, even if (view spoiler) and everything.

Artemis was more of his usual self in this one, more plan-three-steps-ahead sort. Not the wonderful plan-ten-steps-ahead sort we get to see in books 1 and 3 and 5, but still enough. He can't always be perfectly brilliant I suppose. Still, this could have been two books. Yes, it only took a few hours, but so much was going on it could have been two. Esp 'cause Artemis just WHAM was cured of Atlantis Complex.

We get to see a little Juliet and the twins, and Butler, and more Mulch, and more Foaly, although not as much Holly as I'd like. We see a troll, lots of magic, and trillions of explosions.

Honestly, the more magic in the books, the less I like them, almost. It's just, I like when the characters have to work out how to fix things without using magic. Basically, I think Opal cheated in this book. And her plan should not have worked. And who thought to (view spoiler). My favorite moments in the series are when Artemis ingeniously guesses what the enemy will do, and uses limited assets to foil plans at the last moment. This book had some of that.

Writer thoughts:
It did make sense that EC had to end the series. Who was there for Artemis to fight? How could Colfer have raised the stakes from when there were two Opals and Artemis was fighting himself or his own mind? There was nowhere left to go, and so they had to end.

It finally happened — I have finally read the last book of the Artemis Fowl series. It was bittersweet in a way, because this is a series that my friend got me hooked on when I was about 13, so it’s been a rather continuous presence in my life. Every few years or so, I think, yeah, I’ll read the Artemis Fowl sequel, so it’s weird to think that in a few years, I won’t be reading another one. (Though I just might pick up another Colfer book, because let’s face it, all his stuff is great.)

I was surprised by how well these books hold up. I have to give Colfer credit, for something I read at 13, I still thoroughly enjoy these characters and their story. They’ve gotten a bit older and the stories have grown and become more complex, but let me tell you, there are quite a few novels “for grown-ups” that I read at 13 and don’t hold up nearly as well — Artemis Fowl books for sure do. This book continues the tradition of being about very serious, life-or-death issues while still retaining humor and lightness. There wasn’t one part of The Last Guardian that I felt was drawn out or melodramatic. It’s perfectly balanced in terms of tone, and like I said, retains some humor.

One of my favorite parts of this book is the fact that while there is a main villain (Opal, just go away and die, seriously!), there are also secondary villains who are complicated in terms of their motives, which I love in a story. I don’t want my villains to be unsympathetic psychos — I want to be able to see where they’re coming from and understand their story too. I was glad that I was able to do that when reading this story — I think it added quite a bit of realism and complexity to the story.

In terms of the ending, it was perfect. I get so nervous when a longer series ends, because who knows what’s going to happen? I’m not even sure what I want to happen. I love Artemis, but does he deserve a happily ever after? Is that even a thing that’s possible, given the circumstances of his life and the story this novel presents? What about the resolution itself? Do I want a tight resolution with a pretty bow on top, or do I want it more natural, just sort of let’s end things, but leave them open? I DON’T KNOW!!! Luckily, Colfer seems to know what I wanted, because the ending is perfect. It ties the story together nicely while still leaving a little bit of wiggle room for the reader to imagine what might happen next. Perfect, right?

If you’re an Artemis Fowl lover, don’t worry about this being the last one. It sucks a little that the series is ending, but I think it’s incredibly well done and a perfect last book if there ever was one. I thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn’t find anything disappointing about it, and trust me, I was terrified of being disappointed. If you’ve yet to read the Artemis Fowl books, get started! They’re so good and I think enjoyable for all ages, especially if you love reading about fairies.

The last few books, while entertaining, have been mediocre in comparison to the first half of the series. They lack a certain energy that the books used to have. By far, the 3rd book "The Eternity Code" was my favorite of the series. For the most part this ending to the series was a solemn read. The simple plot was a bit long-winded. I think it could have used more of the humor that is typical of this series. With Artemis no longer devious, he has become predictable and lost his edge. The series has grown tiresome the last 3 books, especially with this one bringing Opal in with a destructive plan yet again, how unoriginal. It did not make for a memorable read. Opal's plan to have her younger self killed should have made her cease to exist in the present. I know a lot of this fantasy world is far-fetched but that annoyed me. The ending was suitable enough to satisfy me. SPOILER--I was not surprised that Artemis had a plan even in death. I will miss evil mastermind Artemis Fowl, Feisty elf Holly Short, the man mountain Bulter, and the kleptomaniac gaseous dwarf Mulch.

Some final scenes I enjoyed:

"[Butler] tiptoed onto the belt, squeezing his enormous feet onto a single section and bending his knees to grasp the tiny stick. In silhouette, he looked like the world's bulkiest ballerina attempting to pluck a flower." (Such a great comical description.)

Citizens are frantically trying to evacuate due to Opal's threat. "Elves shoaled around [Butler's] knees, like cleaner-fish, several poking him with buzz batons and a couple spraying him with pheromone repellant spray, which Butler found to his great annoyance instantly shrunk his sinuses."

"Don't worry, Chix," said Holly, patting Butler's thigh. "He's tame. Unless he smells fear." Butler then sniffed the air as if he could smell faint terror. (He had some really funny moments.)

Crazy attack-of-the-killer crickets moment. Butler said "We lost the crickets." Holly tried to stifle her hysterical laughter and said "We lost the crickets, even you can't make that sound tough." To save his ego he said "I am Butler, everything I say sounds tough."

I liked the punny name "Kolin Ozkopy" as in colonoscopy. Ha ha!

Ozkopy talks back to Opal: "seeing as we're insulting each other, I always thought you'd be taller. Plus, your hips are wobbly." (It's such an odd insult--gotta love it.)

Mulch reminisced about the first time he faked his death about two hundred years ago to which he comments: "Time flies faster than wind through a bum flap, as Grandmother used to say, bless her." (That's one way of putting it.)

Foaly defending his workmates saying they are not dorks. Trouble refutes it with: "That guy brings a Beanie Baby to work...and your nephew, Mayne, speaks fluent Unicorn."

Mulch adopted a heroic pose, one foot on a rock, hands on hips. Artemis didn't appreciate the pose and said "Please Mulch, I beg you. Put on some pants." Ew! So hilarious.

I can't imagine a better ending to a series than this!

It's always sad to say goodbye to a friend and Artemis (and Holly, Foaly, and Butler) started to feel like my friends in the very first book. Not the kind of friend where you go eat out, but the kind of friend you need when you've committed a crime and you need help covering up the evidence. Those kinds of friends. Watching Artemis transition from the first book to the last was a true literary treasure, an experience worthy of all the hours I've spent reading about the book and talking about the book. It's one I always recommended to my students and I hope they recommend and on and on.

In this last installment, Artemis is paired against Opal, evil genius versus evil genius. All the old characters are back, including Mulch Diggums. The stakes here are high: Opal has devised a way to kill off all of humanity and reign as the supreme fairy goddess. Naturally, Artemis's pride won't allow him to concede defeat. Then, there is the matter of his twin brothers, who he has grown quite fond of. (Dear Mr. Colfer, please make a separate series about these two. They are hilarious!) In order to save the world, though, Artemis has to lose himself. Or, like always, does he have something up his sleeve?

I can't say enough how much I have loved this series and how much I loved this book. I cried and cried at the end and think that is the perfect way to say goodbye. Tears and laughter and a knowledge of time well spent and story well told. Thank you, Mr. Colfer, for these stories. It was a pleasure and honor to tag along on such a wild and imaginative ride.

Let's start with the good: Colfer's great characters are back, acting as they always did, pulling their signature moves, and nobody was left out. There were tons of compelling ideas, as well as a sort of explanation for why Artemis himself has tangled with the fairies so many times, and the plotting was typically intricate. But even though I enjoyed it and had moments of real breathlessness and excitement, I was starting to see the strings a little in this one. Weird little flashbacks to backtrack and explain why something was now possible; an unusual amount of cheeky author-talking-to-the-reader narration; characters second-guessing each other and counting on each other in exactly the way they needed to for everything to work out in the end; and SO many characters with their own individual problems that I felt that the connection suffered.

Combine all that with the fact that I have been thoroughly sick of Opal Koboi for a couple books now (so, admittedly, that's probably how the heroes feel), and you have a book I was just a little disappointed in. Because Colfer has killed important people before in his books, I wasn't entirely sure that Artemis Fowl would live through his final gamble (especially since I knew this was last in the series), but I did have a feeling that either there would be a catch that would save everyone from certain doom or they would go back in time or something. I also kinda thought Colfer didn't spend enough time exploring the repercussions of the plot on his characters; I would have liked to see their emotions more (though Artemis going into a dangerous situation and having the narration deliver the fear was very good), and would have appreciated more aftermath. I think more introspection could have been offered at the expense of all the extra little plot lines, and maybe that would have left us with a stronger, more resounding memory of these fantastic characters. I'll miss them. (And, as usual, the code across the bottom of the pages has another bit of fun for you if you feel like decoding for a while. Here you get to see the glory of Artemis Fowl the Second's last will and testament.)

This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon.com. Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.

Artemis is facing off against Opal Koboi once again. That sneaking Opal is always getting into mayhem. This time she wants to wipe out all human kind, and make a mess of the fairy world as well.

This final installment in the Artemis Fowl books is very much improved from the last book. Artemis may have lost some of his brains but the action continues on regardless.

It's packed with action and adventure. There's no clue to what is going to happen next and the suspense is killer. You have to wonder what Artemis' brothers have to do with things...

There are laugh out loud moments in this novel particularly when dealing with Mulch. Ah I love the dwarf! At one point you think he's a goner but there's always more surprises.

Even without the last chapter this book is good. It irritates me a little that the ending leaves it open for yet another book but I live in hope that any further books are just as good.

This is one of the first blogger posts I have composed on my phone - apologies for its brevity. I've been a bit lax in my blogging lately, and have a bunch of posts to catch up on.

Plot

Geez! Eoin Colfer must be Artemis Fowl in disguise! This book was totaling oozing with sky high intelligence. It was unpredictable and yet totally engaging as Artemis exhibited pure genius even when the whole world is falling apart with Opal's doing. I was scrolling pages like a flash, afraid to stumble and get lost between Artemis and Opal's battle for intellectual supremacy. To put it simply, this finale is a superb showdown of brain prowess that would totally keep your mouth hanging from the first page up to the last one.

My only disappointment with this one is that there were portions that narrate Foaly and Caballine's life which I think are non-essential to the whole point of the plot, thereby lingering. And I couldn't stop thinking that it might have been done to lengthen the contents of the book. I just wished that Foaly's life could have been gradually introduced in the early parts of the series.

Characters

This. Over the years, we've watched Artemis grow up, saw how he chose to make mistakes and solving the consequences with his prodigious brain talent. Yet, he was still a boy... greedy, immature, and self-centered. But in this book, we will see how Artemis proved to be a man worthy of our respect and recognition as he made the ultimate sacrifice to save mankind and that is surrendering his own life. It was just WOW.

I also appreciated the Berserkers and their unwavering devotion in protecting the People. They were quite funny especially that they even considered possessing bunnies, ducks, and other wildlife to carry out their plans.

And well, who would ever forget Artemis' twin brother, Miles and Beckett who's proving to be more than a handful even for the Berserkers powers? What about the extraordinaire Mulch Diggums who--aside from fart blasting everyone--now becomes an awesome Troll Rider? Not only that, like Artemis, he is on his way in becoming a much better dwarf in terms of doing things for the greater good than doing things for his own benefit.

Lastly, for some reason, I even like Opal Koboi. Even if she's an evil pixie with Daddy issues, she's funny and the ultimate villain to match Artemis' cunning

Interactions and Dialogues
What endears me to this book is that it's overflowing with amusing arrogance, sarcasm and brilliance. Every character has his/her own brand of those that it's very hard to feel sad and bored whenever you turn a page. To be honest, never for once that I did cry for this book because every reading moment is full of mirth. Instead, even when if you're already pressured and your heart is thumping with what's going to happen next, you can't help but smile because the characters could still find ways to make everything light and joyful.

Lessons Learned

In everything that you do, use your brains and your heart in balance- As demonstrated by Artemis who finally realized that mere brains wouldn't save the world from totally crumbling into a molten piece of land and that he must also use his heart.

I agree with the people who say 3 stars instead of 4 or 5 but the book was just a stunner, in plot than in the work itself.. The twist and turns, and tables turning was pretty much expected for the last of this series and it was executed with precision though sometimes it was driven away from the plot and the relationship between Holly. This was nice but I think they should have nerfed unnecessary moments and added to the whole... wait I not spoiling this because it's the last book. I would give this a low 4 just because it's the last book. This would've been a great solid 5 stars, but with the placement of the series it's at a minimum.. not less but not more either. Do not skip EVERY SINGLE BOOK to see how this ends because I read number 2 first, and it was confusing.

After the mental and physical exertions he endured during the Atlantis Complex, Artemis Fowl is in need of therapy. Well, that's what Doctor Argon thinks anyway. Fortunately, the treatment isn't a total loss since, between wittily identifying ink blots, Artemis learns some interesting information about his family history and about his ancestors' complex relationship with the magical community. Such information is timely indeed as the dastardly pixie Opal Koboi is up to her old tricks again.

Koboi has been imprisoned in the deeps of Atlantis since the LEP [with more than a little help from Artemis] finally caught up to her. However, you can't keep a villainous pixie down and Koboi has hatched a nefarious plan to escape her prison and destroy a fair amount of the world while doing so. Much of her sanity having been lost, Opal has dreams of wiping-out humanity and having herself crowned fairy queen. To achieve this, she plans to use her newly acquired powers to awaken the spirits of the Berserkers, long-dead fairy warriors who have been trapped underground, and have them inhabit the nearest available bodies and go on to wreak mass destruction. In Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian it's up to Artemis, Captain Holly Short and Butler to stop Opal Koboi and prevent the end of the world. It's a busy day all round in fact.

Artemis Fowl has always been very proud of his supervillain/criminal genius status but, while his schemes are certainly always impressive and regularly self-serving, he has been slowly reforming as Eoin Colfer's series has progressed. He's still proud, pompous and often rather infuriating, but Artemis is increasingly prone to using his amazing intellect for good. At least if that good involves helping his friends and/or family anyway. In the Last Guardian Artemis is more mature than ever before and is finally starting to think with his heart, a concept that has previously puzzled him greatly. Colfer has done a great job of developing Artemis and allowing him to grow as the series progresses. Artemis still has all the wit, sarcasm and brains that proved so popular during his previous adventures but he is developing other facets of his personality too.

As ever, in the Last Guardian Artemis is ably [and often humorously] aided by a host of human and magical characters. Loyal bodyguard Butler does the heavy-lifting and also has some cracking one-liners. The fact that everything in the fairy world is woefully undersized for Butler proves very funny on many occasions. Captain Holly Short is Artemis's closest magical ally and always manages to encourage Artemis to trust his humanity. She's a real action hero but is also pretty good at coming up with her own evil-thwarting schemes. Artemis and Holly have been drawing closer over the course of the series and Colfer does provide some hints at their developing relationship. Fan-favourite Mulch Diggums also gets to play the [reluctant and rather malodorous] hero.

Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian is a very exciting book. Perhaps because the series is already so well established, Eoin Colfer doesn't waste time setting up the story but rather starts with a bang and just lets the explosions flow. Although Artemis still manages to find time for some wily schemes, the Last Guardian is a really action-packed book with even more danger than he normally has to face. In addition to saving the world at large, this time round Artemis has to pay particular attention to the trouble that his younger brothers, Myles and Beckett, have found themselves in. Opal Koboi is a great villain and she's not planning to take on the world alone this time. Artemis must therefore face some deadly situations and make some very difficult decisions during the Last Guardian.

The Artemis Fowl books are brilliant action-adventure tales with more than a touch of magic thrown in. Here's to hoping that Eoin Colfer changes his mind and writes another book featuring Artemis and Co.

This series was such a fun read, and this book was no exception. Granted, there were moments that were over the top, or that weren't really believable if you really thought about it. There were moments where you really had to suspend your disbelief. But, if you've made it this far, you've realized that there are moments like that in each of the Artemis Fowl books. In this one, I really had a hard time swallowing the whole "Opal messes with the time stream and as a result doesn't die but gains black magic" thing. But once you decide to just go with it and enjoy the humor and action, then it's all worth it. I think my favorite character was Mulch - a dwarf really could take over the world if he/she set their mind to it. I'll miss reading about these characters, and I wish I would have gotten to really know what happened to them each (I mean, you never hear about Minerva again, what's up with that?) Basically this is just another adventure (granted, the stakes are higher) - but it doesn't really tell you what happens to these characters in the long run, which I would have liked some closure on.

So while I really enjoyed The Last Guardian, it kind of continued that downward trend that the other recent Artemis Fowl books have exhibited. I posit that Eoin Colfer's heart just hasn't been in the last few. There were some really clever aspects of the plot and the action, but for the most part things progressed in a rather pedestrian manner, without real excitement. The "twist" at the end mostly just left me feeling empty, slightly confused, and mildly perturbed. There was minimal resolution. It's unfortunate, because I feel like Artemis Fowl as a series had oodles of potential, but that it has gone untapped with overpowered characters that have to be kept from the action, as well as a lack of real character development. The character interactions have become less and less complex, and character motivations seem completely one dimensional and transparent. So while there were some nuggets of fantastic ideas in here, and while things did move along, I miss the Artemis Fowl I used to love.

After the huge stumble of The Atlantis Complex, Eoin Colfer manages to get the series back on track for this finale. As expected, it closes off previously established plots without really offering any of its own. It's a very fast flight as Artemis, Holly, and Butler race from a chaotic Haven City in the Lower Elements to Fowl Manor as supervillain Opal Koboi schemes to unlock a magical gate that will erase all human life on Planet Earth.

There are some great ideas here in this last book, but there's not time to develop them. The potentially fascinating idea of Earth grounding to a halt after the destruction of all technology unknowingly reverse-engineered from Fairy tech is never explored beyond a single paragraph as Colfer seems to be only interested in getting to the end as fast as possible and putting this successful series behind him forever. I critisized The Atlantis Complex for being 'phoned-in'. That isn't the case here, but you can still tell that he's grown tired for the character.

It is still a mostly satisfying ending, but I really would have liked the love between Artemis and Holly to finally come to something, but it doesn't. The end goal is all Colfer is interested in, and while it's a fun ride getting there I can't help but feel if his heart was in it more it could have been the explosive finale that the series deserved.

No one will really be disappointed, though I would have preferred a slightly slower pace and a bit more room for developing (and finishing off) characters we have been following for 10 years.

The Good: I'm a long-time fan of the Artemis Fowl series, but I didn't know what I was getting into with The Last Guardian. This is THE LAST BOOK in the series (not sure how that escaped my notice as I waited for its release) and it's written as such. Opal is back, ready to end the world with her new minions - warrior zombie/ghost types that are like nothing I've ever ready. Even the twins get into the fight! The action was non-stop and super emotional. The stakes were high throughout and while I'm sad to see the series end, this was a very good way to go out.

The Bad: I would have loved a little more at the end. It wasn't abrupt, really, but I generally like when MG and YA series give me a glimpse into the future since the characters are still pretty young when it ends. The ending was so powerful and game-changing, I think seeing a bit more on how it was dealt with would have been a sweet ending.

Eoin Colfer is a remarkably stable author. I always get what I expect out of an Artemis Fowl novel, and not in stagnant manner. He's found a method that works, and he sticks to it. This is the eighth and ostensibly the final one in the series, which is just as well. Colfer can't keep continually coming up with the high-concept plots that the series needs to thrive on, so he's decided to wrap it up with a bang.

The strengths, as always, are the punchy writing and dialogue, which remain a stunning combination of quirky world-building, punny authorial exposition, and biting sarcasm from the mouths of almost every single character. The sarcasm is a norm for the series, but I got a little tired of it. There's only one way to make a sarcastic joke in the Artemis Fowl world: state the opposite of what you are trying to say, pump up the hyperbole, and use it to diss your friends. That's about half of the jokes in this book.

Another point to address is the book's habit of rushing through plot points at a break-neck (though only occasionally literally) pace. The Atlantis Complex, a fairy mental disorder ailing Artemis in the last installment, is decreed to have completely healed the the opening scene of this book. That makes sense; the complex was the last book's high concept plot, and we've got a new one this time. The series has always been about plot over boring believablity, as you might be able to tell from the fact that it's about fairies with laser guns. Colfer might be reaching a little more in this book, since he needs to make sure it's a thematically appropriate send-off, but the plot still hold together decently.

Those problems included, I still enjoyed the book a great deal, mostly because it's heavy on an element that I don't see often enough. It has entire vignettes dedicated to moderately irrelevant, yet fun (and funny) side-stories. For example, Artemis' introduction in the opening six pages has the character of Dr. Jerbal Argon, who attempts to diagnose Artemis, fails, and is instead diagnosed by Artemis. The only purpose is to establish Artemis as a capable super genius, but it still tells us about Argon's personality. More examples include the unneeded but entertaining chapter titled "Engineer Ozkopy Has The Last Word" in which a perfectly ordinary dwarf named Kolin Ozkopy (get it?) who, knowing he's about to die by the hand of the recently escaped Opal Kobi, decides to at least annoy her as much as possible beforehand. Also, a slim chapter is devoted to explaining to the reader how intelligent trolls are, how they're drawn to magical hotspots, and how Gruff is the biggest and baddest, having been called both Bigfoot and the Abominable Snowman in the past. This chapter does tie into the plot later, when the troll turns up and confuses everyone with his random arrival.

Colfer's habit of writing entertaining side-stories not only serves to expand his world in a fun, anything-can-happen way, but it also lets him hide future plot points, setting up twists later. He understands the essential element to writing good plot twists: he must write in a manner so fun that no one realizes he's setting up the future story. I haven't liked any of Colfer's other books as much as the Fowl series, but I'll definitely take a look at what he comes out with next. I'm sure he'll have another best-selling series in the pipeline.

It has finally come, the thing we've all been pacing back and forth, screaming at Eoin Colfer for making us wait so long, and stare longingly at the calender for. The Last Guardian has come!!!! Artemis is grown up and quote from Wizard of Oz, "Oh, Artemis, you do have a heart". This recent book involves another close-up with Artemis' long time enemy. Opal. But this time, she is determined to get revenge on Artemis, Holly, Foaly, maybe Mulch oh and all of mankind, but that's a small detail. Opal's plan also involves kidnapping Artemis' twin little brothers, and possessing Juliet's sister and a plan that involves rabid rabbits. Not kidding. In the end, is truly tragic for a while, but Eoin manages to pull it all together to make sense and will make you cry. In some parts, the book might be over but Artemis is still out there, tapping his fingers together and forming a plan that none other but Artemis Fowl can do.

I picked up the first Artemis Fowl book at the same time that I picked up The Lightning Theif by Rick Riordan, and I have followed the series ever since. I felt something was missing from the Atlantis Complex, so when I heard that the Last Guardian was coming out I was a little wary. However, I needn't have been. The action picked up almost immediately, sometimess at speeds that even my hyperactive eye couldn't follow. But a quick reread did the trick. I did feel at times that we were rushing through things a little too fast, and there were a few contradictions ( for instance, the raised fist signal.) Artemis wasn't the same genius that he was in earlier books, but perhaps that was an aftereffect of the a.c. And the ending. It nearly made me cry. It was a sweet way to loop it to the first book. Although I would have liked Holly/Artemis to come to something. I heard rumors that an AF movie was in the process, and I sincerely hope so. I am sad this series is over and a movie would be like it all over again if they got it right.
(ps. anyone know where Minerva went?)

The Last Guardian is a lot like the Atlantis Complex, which is both a good and a bad thing. On one hand, the villains came out of nowhere seemed a little underdeveloped. The Berserkers are a group of fairies who fought the last battle against the humans in the war. Older Fowl books did a better job of developing the villains. But even with that, the book is still as funny, action-packed, and fun as any previous book.

Artemis, his family, and his friends enter the final chapters of this saga Neutrino's blazing. The pace never let's up until the final act, and the conclusion is a lot more satisfying then some other YA novels I could mention.

I hope you've had as much fun reading this series as I have.

I really wanted to love this book. I opened book 1 in this series for the first time when I was in junior high, and it has been one of my favorites ever since. I love the characters, the fairy world, the technology, and the plots. I had high hopes for the final book, despite it featuring Opal again (see negatives below), and it delivered in some ways and failed in others.

POSITIVES
1. I swear Mulch gets funnier every time he shows up. Seriously.
2. Artemis's shift from the self-centered know-it-all in book 1 to the know-it-all who genuinely cares about his friends and family here in book 8 has been very well done. There's a line toward the end of the book that specifically acknowledges this and it's beautiful. Seriously, tears. I enjoyed this side of Artemis immensely.
3. True to form, Colfer continually throws in little inconsequential details purely to make you smile--Foaly's relationship status, Holly's opinion of Trouble's girlfriend, N°1's opinion of Holly's opinion, Mulch's ultimate fate, and Foaly's opinion of Mulch's ultimate fate.
4. One of the things I loved about Atlantis Complex was the way it dealt with the gray areas, the acknowledgment that some things aren't black or white. This book keeps that theme and deals with it in a darker, heavier way. It feels more grown-up, in a way, and that suits the final book.

NEGATIVES
1. I missed Butler, with his dry sense of humor and BA-ness to rival superheroes. I missed Juliet. I missed old Trouble. I mean, I liked Commander Root, but I didn't want Trouble to turn into his clone (and dating Lily Frond? SERIOUSLY?!).
2. The plot was a little ho-hum for me; I would've preferred something that was driven by Artemis's intellect rather than chain reactions and Mulch's typical grand entrance.
3. N°1. It's the Peter Petrelli problem all over again. When you introduce a character who is basically all-powerful, you constantly have to find ways to take that character out of the equation in order to introduce tension. This was done beautifully in Atlantis Complex; it felt rough here.
4. I've outgrown the omniscient narrator. I can see the necessity of it since no single character is present in every situation, but jumping back and forth between different characters' heads multiple times in a single scene gets old fast. I've also outgrown his narration style; I don't like being told exactly what every character is feeling instead of being given hints to ferret it out myself. As this is consistent with the other books, I didn't let it affect my rating, but it is something that bothered me.
5. The constant bathroom humor whenever Mulch is around. He's a great character; he deserves better and he can be funnier.

***SLIGHT SPOILERS***
What ultimately tipped the scales between a 3 or 4 star review was Opal. I was sick of Opal many books ago. I can understand that it's hard to find a real challenge for someone as smart as Artemis, but I don't think bringing back the same antagonist over and over again is the answer. Possibly the most infuriating thing about Opal is that she's supposed to be this incredible genius who gives Artemis a run for his money, but she has made essentially the same mistake in every appearance she has made: get THISCLOSE to pulling off a brilliant plan, let Artemis get her riled up about something stupid, get defeated. I know her arrogance is one of the building blocks of her character, but even arrogance can give way to common sense. If you're going to build a character up to be a super-mega-awesome-genius, make her act like it.

Overall, it's a decent book--not as great as some of the others, but passable. It's just not good enough to be THE END.

I loved this book, it kept me wanting to read it especially the end part but I did not l like the very end.

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT!

I like the entire part where Artemis dies then is resurrected, and actually the more I think about this the more genius I think this part is. But does he really need to wake up and not remember his friends? I think it would have been good if he woke up and embraced his friends. But that is just my opinion.

ALRIGHT THOSE OF YOU WHO STOPPED READING BECAUSE OF THE SPOILER ALERT CAN START READING AGAIN.

I think you should buy this book if you have read the rest of the Fowl series. It is a great ending. But this book is probably not for anyone under the age of 12 because there is some violence but not too much. I really loved this series though.

What's not to love?

Great writing, funny scenes, and all the old great characters back in the saddle, (even one riding on a troll blowing gas out his bum). The best thing: Artemis has grown as a character to the point of being a real hero. Butler was also back and in full form, saving people. Foley even got to be a hero. Everybody but Juliette was some kind of hero. It all wrapped up and got tied with a bow, with the story ending where it started 8 books ago. I will miss these guys, unless Colfer decides to revive things, which is a possibility.

My only little problem with the book is that if Opal's inventions all exploded, why didn't the chrysalis? Oh, well. I adore Colfer anyway.

1) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

2) Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy

3) Synopsis: Opal Koboi is back and not only does she want to control the world but she wants to control the world without humans in it. With 10,000-year-old fairy spirits, she may just do it.

4) Feelings: I like the Artemis Fowl series and this book is one of the good ones. Opal Koboi is a good bad person and the plot line in this story has some depth in it.

5) Final recommendation: I liked it quite a bit and recommend it. I could have used some more Butler in it but other than that, an excellent read.

Ryan James Burt
Husband, Father, and Writer
[...]

Im am an open minded reader that will practically read anything u put in front of me so i really read everything. This particular series of Artemis Fowl has kept me on for the whole ride(which i hope continues). I cried exceedingly so at the end of the stroy fo the drastic ending to which we will never fully know what actually happens. I have to say this is the BEST sets art i have read. i am dissapointed you did not win numerous rewards for your art. All i wish to say for which i hope is read and taken seriously is, i hope that Mr. Colfer reconsiders ending this series now for we would all be extremely grateful if you were to continue. . My thanks and wishes . -Nolan R.S.

Note: This review is based on the first three chapters, which is all NetGalley included in its sneak peak, but since I received this ARC from NetGalley in return for agreeing to review it, I feel obligated to review the sneak peak as well.

As I wrote in my reviews of the first four Artemis Fowl novels, the basic premise: a series of books supposedly chronicling the crime sprees of an evil genius child prodigy seemed like a truly bad idea to me so I avoided them until Netgalley offered me a chance to try them for free whereupon I discovered I had been wrong about them all along, and I enjoyed them very much. However, so far this book continues the changes author Eoin Colfer has decided to make, clearly not for the better IMHO.

To begin with I acknowledge the arguable need for change because a pattern had already developed. Odd numbered books involved Artemis pulling off some cockamamie scheme that threatened the fairy folk (or the People as they prefer to be called); even numbered books involved Artemis making up for this by assisting the People against some threat they couldn't handle on their own with one of his cockamamie schemes. Oh, the books were still lots of fun, but they were becoming predictable so change was justifiable,...

but much of this seems to be change for the worse.

Let's start with the pattern Eoin Colfer did NOT see fit to break: every even numbered book must feature spoiled rotten rich kid (and evil technological genius) pixie Opal Koboi as the villain. The fairy folk (or the People as they prefer to be called) like to boast how their reluctance to kill makes them superior to humans, but having managed to produce a total of three murderous megalomaniacs that required Artemis to defeat, two of whom managed to become repeat offenders, methinks they should can the superior attitudes and rethink their opposition to the death penalty. Of course somebody will ask, "But is the death penalty REALLY an effective deterrent?"

At least for the criminals you execute it is.

A Darker Tone: Granted I'm only three chapters in, but with almost everything associated with Opal Koboi detonating with a force approaching the thermonuclear, I think we might be headed for a record body count,...

again.

I would really give this three stars, save for the fact that there were a few Artemis Fowl moments I liked.

The plot was not very good, still interesting enough, I guess. Opal is, my goodness, SO annoying; and she is the main villain! And the ending . . . Oh, the ending! ***[SPOILER!!!]*** It was cheesy when Artemis died and was brought back (but fine with me, I'm all for him living!). But then he can't remember his friends or anything! Also, I didn't like the ending SENTENCE, with Holly recounting Artemis's first adventure. ***[END SPOILER!!!]***

What the book really needed was one more chapter to complete it, I think. Or an epilogue (which, surprisingly, unlike the other books, this one did not have).

I just think it could have over all been done a little better; the writing almost seemed rushed, at some points.

First, I am a classic fantasy girl, growing up on pixie dust and magic. I tried reading this seris a few years ago and was appalled by the author's use of technology mixed with magical creatures; I mean, this just isn't right!?!…right? Anyway, a few months ago I decided to try the seris again and promised myself i would read it through and through, no matter how bad it was. Well, was i in for a surprise! I found myself being drawn in by the author's clever word play and how he could just bring the characters to life. As the books went on I started to actually like the world of technology and faeries. Now, i absolutely love it! It was quite a brilliant way to bring the modern world and fantasy together. I also loved how the author made the moral progression of the main character; from a hardened genius to a…hero. The last book was a delight to read and had a very satisfying ending. I appluase to the author of this seris whole-heartedly; definitely one of my fantasy favorites. Now, to you good reader, read this amazing book!!!

In this FINAL book of the Artemis Fowl series, Arty, Holly, Butler and friends must save the world from Opal's last stand. The plot was fun, humorous, and a little silly. Overall, a good ending to a good series. This book isn't up to scratch with the earlier books, but it's better than some of the later books in the series. You should certainly read it if you've gotten this far in the series already! From the character development in this story, I'm GUESSING (personal theory) that Colfer plans on writing a spin-off series starring Miles & Beckett. If he did, I'd certainly check it out.

*SPOILER*
As much as I have enjoyed this series, the plots twists and the quirky characters, I must say that I was disappointed by the ending. It may be the end of the Artemis Fowl series, but it is not Colfer's best work. It seemed to leave the characters in an ambiguous fog. The evil pixie Opal is finally vanquished, but there was no real closure for the characters. The fairies remain below ground and technology was destroyed for no apparent reason.I felt that the story was rather cobbled together by someone who was tired of his own characters. In addition, the idea of the New Age hippies taking over the earth seems trite and ridiculous. In a strange way, I'm glad Colfer finished the series, simply because he seems to be tired of his people and it's better to be done with them rather than to milk for more money and less quality material.

Artemis Fowl's my all-time favorite series; Eoin Colfer stands as my favorite author, mingling fantasy and science fiction in unpecedented and spectacular ways. For me, Artemis Fowl (which of course is a fantastic source for a movie series that no one has yet tapped into) started very very good, (though some give up after the first one, unfortunately) then got even better and better until the best: the Fifth, afterwards it plateau-ed[?] off into the excellent Sixth, but completely shocked me with the drop off down to the Seventh...and so feared the worst for the Eight. But lo and behold, he pulled out the fantasy I KNEW he could achieve in his books. But, I didn't like the {SPOILER-STOP READING REVIEW} clicheed ending of repeating the beginning of the series to make up for the lack of narrator ("The Outsiders" had already taken it!) Otherwise, stupendous read, I think it'd be very worth the time to get the series. Or Colfer's other, equally impressive, works (try Airman, it's almost perfect).

I've loved the Artemis Fowl series since I was twelve when I read the first book. Each of the books includes a good amount of humor, action, danger, and adventure, making it enjoyable for both boys and girls. And this book is certainly no exception.

While the writing style is different from Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl books, the plot and ending of the book make it well-worth the read. The ending especially was amazing; it was heart-wrenching, exciting, happy, and beautiful. Colfer summed up the series perfectly, leaving a few loose strings in case he decided to write a spin-off (which is exactly what I'm hoping he does).

All in all, this book is well-worth the price and the attention of all of Eoin Colfer's fans.

All things considered it was a fairly decent addition to the series. It had the same flow and general plot direction of the previous novels. It had its own host of witty remarks and the same endearing characters, with lots of suspense and climactic events.

Still, it was by no means as good as the first books in the series where Artemis could still be ruthless and you felt like 'he' drove the story forward and was always in the center of everything. But that simply follows the trend of the last couple of books which place Artemis on the sidelines, subject to constant bouts of humiliation and ineptitude, requiring others to step up and save the day. He has retired from the cold, calculating mastermind he once was, to your normal everyday bland, feel-good hero. Just wished the author had done something special for this last hurrah...

This book was wonderful, the ideas amazing,and the ending of artemis's childhood complete. I love the idea of tying begining with the end, because all endings are truly beginings, however, I must admit that if he had tried a little harder Eion could have let his charecters finish better and given a lot more meaning to the book. These are mere finnikings though, and in general I must give my stamp of aproval for a book well crafted, especially since I loved reading it, and advise reading it to anyone in doubt. My only substantial problem with the book is that its the end of the series. Mostly I miss Artemis. Colfer ought to write a novel from Myles point of view, and Artemis and Holly should defintly get together. Or at least have some sort of closure on their romance.

Note: This review is based on the first three chapters, which is all NetGalley included in its sneak peak, but since I received this ARC from NetGalley in return for agreeing to review it, I feel obligated to review the sneak peak as well.

As I wrote in my reviews of the first four Artemis Fowl novels, the basic premise: a series of books supposedly chronicling the crime sprees of an evil genius child prodigy seemed like a truly bad idea to me so I avoided them until Netgalley offered me a chance to try them for free whereupon I discovered I had been wrong about them all along, and I enjoyed them very much. However, so far this book continues the changes author Eoin Colfer has decided to make, clearly not for the better IMHO.

To begin with I acknowledge the arguable need for change because a pattern had already developed. Odd numbered books involved Artemis pulling off some cockamamie scheme that threatened the fairy folk (or the People as they prefer to be called); even numbered books involved Artemis making up for this by assisting the People against some threat they couldn't handle on their own with one of his cockamamie schemes. Oh, the books were still lots of fun, but they were becoming predictable so change was justifiable,...

but much of this seems to be change for the worse.

Let's start with the pattern Eoin Colfer did NOT see fit to break: every even numbered book must feature spoiled rotten rich kid (and evil technological genius) pixie Opal Koboi as the villain. The fairy folk (or the People as they prefer to be called) like to boast how their reluctance to kill makes them superior to humans, but having managed to produce a total of three murderous megalomaniacs that required Artemis to defeat, two of whom managed to become repeat offenders, methinks they should can the superior attitudes and rethink their opposition to the death penalty. Of course somebody will ask, "But is the death penalty REALLY an effective deterrent?"

At least for the criminals you execute it is.

A Darker Tone: Granted I'm only three chapters in, but with almost everything associated with Opal Koboi detonating with a force approaching the thermonuclear, I think we might be headed for a record body count,...

again.

I would really give this three stars, save for the fact that there were a few Artemis Fowl moments I liked.

The plot was not very good, still interesting enough, I guess. Opal is, my goodness, SO annoying; and she is the main villain! And the ending . . . Oh, the ending! ***[SPOILER!!!]*** It was cheesy when Artemis died and was brought back (but fine with me, I'm all for him living!). But then he can't remember his friends or anything! Also, I didn't like the ending SENTENCE, with Holly recounting Artemis's first adventure. ***[END SPOILER!!!]***

What the book really needed was one more chapter to complete it, I think. Or an epilogue (which, surprisingly, unlike the other books, this one did not have).

I just think it could have over all been done a little better; the writing almost seemed rushed, at some points.

First, I am a classic fantasy girl, growing up on pixie dust and magic. I tried reading this seris a few years ago and was appalled by the author's use of technology mixed with magical creatures; I mean, this just isn't right!?!…right? Anyway, a few months ago I decided to try the seris again and promised myself i would read it through and through, no matter how bad it was. Well, was i in for a surprise! I found myself being drawn in by the author's clever word play and how he could just bring the characters to life. As the books went on I started to actually like the world of technology and faeries. Now, i absolutely love it! It was quite a brilliant way to bring the modern world and fantasy together. I also loved how the author made the moral progression of the main character; from a hardened genius to a…hero. The last book was a delight to read and had a very satisfying ending. I appluase to the author of this seris whole-heartedly; definitely one of my fantasy favorites. Now, to you good reader, read this amazing book!!!

In this FINAL book of the Artemis Fowl series, Arty, Holly, Butler and friends must save the world from Opal's last stand. The plot was fun, humorous, and a little silly. Overall, a good ending to a good series. This book isn't up to scratch with the earlier books, but it's better than some of the later books in the series. You should certainly read it if you've gotten this far in the series already! From the character development in this story, I'm GUESSING (personal theory) that Colfer plans on writing a spin-off series starring Miles & Beckett. If he did, I'd certainly check it out.

*SPOILER*
As much as I have enjoyed this series, the plots twists and the quirky characters, I must say that I was disappointed by the ending. It may be the end of the Artemis Fowl series, but it is not Colfer's best work. It seemed to leave the characters in an ambiguous fog. The evil pixie Opal is finally vanquished, but there was no real closure for the characters. The fairies remain below ground and technology was destroyed for no apparent reason.I felt that the story was rather cobbled together by someone who was tired of his own characters. In addition, the idea of the New Age hippies taking over the earth seems trite and ridiculous. In a strange way, I'm glad Colfer finished the series, simply because he seems to be tired of his people and it's better to be done with them rather than to milk for more money and less quality material.

Artemis Fowl's my all-time favorite series; Eoin Colfer stands as my favorite author, mingling fantasy and science fiction in unpecedented and spectacular ways. For me, Artemis Fowl (which of course is a fantastic source for a movie series that no one has yet tapped into) started very very good, (though some give up after the first one, unfortunately) then got even better and better until the best: the Fifth, afterwards it plateau-ed[?] off into the excellent Sixth, but completely shocked me with the drop off down to the Seventh...and so feared the worst for the Eight. But lo and behold, he pulled out the fantasy I KNEW he could achieve in his books. But, I didn't like the {SPOILER-STOP READING REVIEW} clicheed ending of repeating the beginning of the series to make up for the lack of narrator ("The Outsiders" had already taken it!) Otherwise, stupendous read, I think it'd be very worth the time to get the series. Or Colfer's other, equally impressive, works (try Airman, it's almost perfect).

I've loved the Artemis Fowl series since I was twelve when I read the first book. Each of the books includes a good amount of humor, action, danger, and adventure, making it enjoyable for both boys and girls. And this book is certainly no exception.

While the writing style is different from Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl books, the plot and ending of the book make it well-worth the read. The ending especially was amazing; it was heart-wrenching, exciting, happy, and beautiful. Colfer summed up the series perfectly, leaving a few loose strings in case he decided to write a spin-off (which is exactly what I'm hoping he does).

All in all, this book is well-worth the price and the attention of all of Eoin Colfer's fans.

All things considered it was a fairly decent addition to the series. It had the same flow and general plot direction of the previous novels. It had its own host of witty remarks and the same endearing characters, with lots of suspense and climactic events.

Still, it was by no means as good as the first books in the series where Artemis could still be ruthless and you felt like 'he' drove the story forward and was always in the center of everything. But that simply follows the trend of the last couple of books which place Artemis on the sidelines, subject to constant bouts of humiliation and ineptitude, requiring others to step up and save the day. He has retired from the cold, calculating mastermind he once was, to your normal everyday bland, feel-good hero. Just wished the author had done something special for this last hurrah...

This book was wonderful, the ideas amazing,and the ending of artemis's childhood complete. I love the idea of tying begining with the end, because all endings are truly beginings, however, I must admit that if he had tried a little harder Eion could have let his charecters finish better and given a lot more meaning to the book. These are mere finnikings though, and in general I must give my stamp of aproval for a book well crafted, especially since I loved reading it, and advise reading it to anyone in doubt. My only substantial problem with the book is that its the end of the series. Mostly I miss Artemis. Colfer ought to write a novel from Myles point of view, and Artemis and Holly should defintly get together. Or at least have some sort of closure on their romance.

Okay, this isn't to put you off buying or reading the book, if you've made it this far, you better read it. However, I'm really disappointed for a few reasons. This is the second time that things mentioned in previews, trailers, whatever you want to call them, didn't happen. And it's one thing if it was part of the rumor mill, but if the author talks about something happening and it doesn't... Why not?
*Spoiler section*
His parents and basically everyone at the manor was supposed to be possessed, why were most of them on holiday? Sure, you only needed a few family members to get the idea that you don't want to hack and slash through this army, but they were pretty well handicapped this way. Not saying the evil army should have had the upper hand, but I saw it going differently.
Where was the porcupine? I mean, he specifically pointed out there would be a porcupine! Don't let the pun detract from my point.
And if he's going to insinuate in a trailer for this book that there's something going on between the two main characters, why did romance die in this book? I mean, there's no closure at all to that part of the story. If there was ever an excuse for fans to start writing horrible fanfiction, I think this pretty well takes the cake.
*End of spoilers*
This is at least the second time this has happened and it really makes me wonder if Disney sticking their name on it means more than it should. Like I said before, if you're a fan of the series, you have to read this book, but it doesn't feel up to the usual standard or really worthy of being the end. Don't cut the series short early, but be prepared to question the long wait for this book. Be prepared for action packing and some of the same funny dialogue you're used to, but see if it doesn't feel a bit forced at some parts. It was like characters themselves were spot on and character interactions made it seem like they'd all spent time isolated in a psych ward.
Final words, just read Atlantis Complex again, that one felt worth the wait.
Had to update my review, now that the other fours seem overly positive, I had to drop it down. Particularly since I now shudder at the thought of picking this book up again.

Entertaining sequel in the Daniel McEvoy series about an ex-Irish Army sergeant, who mistakenly thought his days of combate and reconnaissance were behind him. Daniel’s life is screwed; sometimes nearly literally while being forced to star in a twisted snuff film. Is there any way to make it out alive, save those closest to him and possibly get the girl??

The last book in the series! Aren't you excited? Well, I was! When Opal Koboi has found a way to bust herself out of jail and to bring the human and fairy world to its knees, it's up to Artemis to stop her with the help of his friends, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon unit, Mulch Diggums, and Domovoi Butler. When the going gets tough, the tough get going ................... or do they ?!

I really liked the book, although it was a bit dreary at times (but hey, that's always the final book) and the conclusion was a bit weird. (SPOILER ALERT) Wouldn't only Artemis's eye and his FAIRY memories get sucked in? Why did he ask Butler who he was? And how does Holly know how he got ahold of the fairy Book?

When I first started this book, I wasn't sure I was liking it. The plot seemed to be a bit extraordinary, even for Eoin Colfer. Let me tell you, I am so happy that I kept reading. Somehow, it all fits together and makes sense. What seems insane at first now seems entirely possible. I was hooked and couldn't wait to keep reading. The ending was AMAZING. Brilliant. There's just two things that bugged me. Colfer could've stood to reread his book one more time. Throughout the story, he sometimes contradicts himself. For instance, (minor spoilers) Opal's nails. It was said that she wouldn't bother making them because they were too hard, and yet in another part it says she squeezed someone so hard her nails bit into their flesh (ouch). More examples are Artemis's plan B, and the raised fist signal, where he said one thing in another book and says another in this one. One last thing. In the other books, Colfer didn't really kill anyone. People were just imprisoned, or sometimes disappeared. In this last one, lots of people are just killed with no thought or remorse whatsoever. It really caught me off guard by how flippantly they would just kill someone. Other than these things, this book was amazing and I really enjoyed reading it. Four stars.

*Sigh*. This.....this book was good. It really was. I found myself frantically turning the pages quicker and quicker in an effort to get to the end, only to be severely dissapointed in what would occur.

*Spoilers*

Why? Why did Artemis lose his memories? To me, to lose all his memories after all he and his companions have been through, is a fate worse than death. Those experiences were what made him the person who he is; a drastically different individual than in the first book. Although Holly starts explaining his old memories with her, they will NEVER amount to the original ones. Godamnit, colfer.....

As far as his relationship was with Holly, it doesn't evolve. Not one bit. The only part that has real weight in it that has feeling, was towards the end, when Artemis was forced to drug Holly. A sad part, indeed. But all for nothing.

Yes, it has its good parts. Indeed, it IS a Artemis Fowl book. I will always treasure the moments this series has given me. But to end on such a bittersweet note.....I dunno. I still don't see why Artemis couldn't have kept his memories if he was magically brought back from the dead using his own soul. It would have been brilliant if while holly and butler were hoping he would come back, he would suddenly awake, then say something Smart aleck-y, ("Long time no see, eh Captain Short?") and Then end it there after showing butler's and Holly's reactions.

This book could've been spectacular. It could've made me weep with joy. But it didn't. Almost, but not enough.

Goddamnit, colfer.

Artemis books are a family tradition. We listen to the audiobooks on family road trips. Once you're hooked, it's tough to stop when there's a new title. If you've read earlier books, this one is a must-read. If you're new to Artemis, start with the first book (Artemis Fowl).

This is supposed to be the very last book. It ends the saga nicely.

This review focuses on the audiobook format.
When I read the first book in this series back in 2003, I wasn't sure I wanted to continue. But an English teacher at the middle school where I worked as school librarian convinced me to try the audiobooks. I was hooked! The masterful voice of Nathaniel Parker brought the characters to life. I'm sorry to say goodbye to Artemis and Holly and Butler and Foaly and Mulch...

My son loves this series. Wishes someone would make it into movies. I read all the books and agree. Colfer is a great storyteller. The books are easy to read, captivating and hilarious at times. Thanks for the experience. Best book series for my picky reader since Harry Potter.

I loved all the Artemis Fowl books and was always waiting in line to get the new ones, I found it sad that this was the last book but I guess it had to end sometime. I pre-ordered The Last Guardian and could barely contain my excitment as I waited for it, and I must say it was worth it. Its twist, turns, and cliff-hanger chapters had me reading till four in the morning and even then I had trouble putting it down. No matter what the cost I would buy it again if I ever lost my copy, and I am sure that I will read it many more times in the future

Reading this book was a welcome break after some heavy reading I did."The Last Guardian" wraps up the adventures of that most annoying teenager, whom I've come to hate over the last seven books in the series. I really only started reading the books because my son was reading them and I wanted to share the experience. The first few books were pleasant enough, but eight books is definitely too much. The only good thing about "The Last Guardian" is that it is, well, last. There is nothing new in this book, no new meaningful characters and no surprises in the plot. Don't hold your breath: the good side wins.

Eoin Colfer concludes the compelling series of 'Artemis Fowl' in this suspenseful and tense story about how the whole gang must destroy a terrible and dangerous plan, or else! The plot is as evil as the person who created it, and the consequences could be horrific. Secrets and truths are revealed, tension is everywhere, and sacrifices must be made. This thrilling story has you biting your nails as you wait for the final result. Remarkable story, colorful characters, and Highly Recommended!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the previous books in the Fowl Series. It was very captivating, with the usual plot-changes of a book in the series. A fantastic, fun, read, that I would totally recommend! Enjoy reading!

The finale of the estselling series is the most spectacular ending ever imaginable....

Thi book is total action from beginning to end and keeps you begging for more...... The suspense makes it a fun read, too....

Reviewer: Anonymous

this is probably the best one in the series. my favorie ones is the time paradox and the last gaurdian. artemis fowl fans definitely need to read this, as they probably did or will.
the ending was not too satisfying, but endings to series i like usually aren't, so it's pretty normal for me.

I think that these books are one of the best books I've read but they the ending was a little of a d needs one more book to finish of the series . Like in the end artimis decides to leave all of that adventuring alone and he chose on one more adventure that would make this the best series I've eve read

I read the second book first because it was on sale, and also because I liked one of the other books Eoin Colfer wrote, the Supernaturalist. When I first read the arctic incident, I was taken into the world of Artemis Fowl. Since then, I've read the whole series and I liked every one of them. Though the Atlantis Complex was not as good as the other books in the series, I knew that Colfer would come back wih an even better book for the finale. Thanks for making such a great series, Eion Colfer!

It has taken me a while to finally come to terms with the fact that this would be the last book in the Artemis Fowl series. I was reluctant to start reading it at first but I quickly fell in love as I adore intelligence. I loved every part of Artemis' character and if I ever had a chance to meet someone like him I would take it whole-heartedly. The Last Guardian was a phenomenal conclusion to what I dub as the best series I've ever read. I didn't even finish that series with the three unfortunate kids cause it got boring, but every Artemis Fowl book kept my attention to the very last page. The ending was unpredicted and made me fear the worst. Kudos, Mr. Colfer, for thinking up such a fantastic character and doing a marveous job at bringing him, his family, and his friends to life. A job well done!!

as usual, eion colfer never ceases to amaze me, but i wouldnt call this my favorite of the series, and i have my reasons. First though, i really like how eion brang back the clone and gave her a bigger role, i really like it when authors bring light to small details from earlier books. though this book does have its exciting parts, what really brought it down was the time/space flow being broken by opal, I'm sorry but when people mess with time, I never miss a detail and i see many flaws, distorting the present, and making my head hurt in the process, my head still hurts from the time paradox, and with opal killing younger self, my head hasn't been the same, every book from the opal deception to now shouldnt exist now, or doesnt matter, for it is a possibility of many others, in example, from the lost colony, when the evil demon killed holly and the two worlocks, artemis managed to shoot the demon using the time distortion, making the dead holly only a possibility, if thats the case, why is Julius Root still dead? and most of all, the biggest reason why this book shouldn't have happened was the result of the broken time stream, if opal the younger died, then the opal from present should cease to exist, and because of that, could never have given the order to have herself killed. for argument, please email me at [email protected]. i am sorry colfer, but the endings of series are very important to me, and this ending was not satisfying enough. (p.s. there had to have been more romance for artemis fowl, you completely forgot about minerva and had nothing between artemis and holly, except for the kiss in the time parodox.)

this is probably the best one in the series. my favorie ones is the time paradox and the last gaurdian. artemis fowl fans definitely need to read this, as they probably did or will.
the ending was not too satisfying, but endings to series i like usually aren't, so it's pretty normal for me.

I think that these books are one of the best books I've read but they the ending was a little of a d needs one more book to finish of the series . Like in the end artimis decides to leave all of that adventuring alone and he chose on one more adventure that would make this the best series I've eve read

I read the second book first because it was on sale, and also because I liked one of the other books Eoin Colfer wrote, the Supernaturalist. When I first read the arctic incident, I was taken into the world of Artemis Fowl. Since then, I've read the whole series and I liked every one of them. Though the Atlantis Complex was not as good as the other books in the series, I knew that Colfer would come back wih an even better book for the finale. Thanks for making such a great series, Eion Colfer!

It has taken me a while to finally come to terms with the fact that this would be the last book in the Artemis Fowl series. I was reluctant to start reading it at first but I quickly fell in love as I adore intelligence. I loved every part of Artemis' character and if I ever had a chance to meet someone like him I would take it whole-heartedly. The Last Guardian was a phenomenal conclusion to what I dub as the best series I've ever read. I didn't even finish that series with the three unfortunate kids cause it got boring, but every Artemis Fowl book kept my attention to the very last page. The ending was unpredicted and made me fear the worst. Kudos, Mr. Colfer, for thinking up such a fantastic character and doing a marveous job at bringing him, his family, and his friends to life. A job well done!!

as usual, eion colfer never ceases to amaze me, but i wouldnt call this my favorite of the series, and i have my reasons. First though, i really like how eion brang back the clone and gave her a bigger role, i really like it when authors bring light to small details from earlier books. though this book does have its exciting parts, what really brought it down was the time/space flow being broken by opal, I'm sorry but when people mess with time, I never miss a detail and i see many flaws, distorting the present, and making my head hurt in the process, my head still hurts from the time paradox, and with opal killing younger self, my head hasn't been the same, every book from the opal deception to now shouldnt exist now, or doesnt matter, for it is a possibility of many others, in example, from the lost colony, when the evil demon killed holly and the two worlocks, artemis managed to shoot the demon using the time distortion, making the dead holly only a possibility, if thats the case, why is Julius Root still dead? and most of all, the biggest reason why this book shouldn't have happened was the result of the broken time stream, if opal the younger died, then the opal from present should cease to exist, and because of that, could never have given the order to have herself killed. for argument, please email me at [email protected]. i am sorry colfer, but the endings of series are very important to me, and this ending was not satisfying enough. (p.s. there had to have been more romance for artemis fowl, you completely forgot about minerva and had nothing between artemis and holly, except for the kiss in the time parodox.)

engaging, but lots of magical "saves" to make the plot work. Hard to keep track of all the magically appearing, magical traits that just happen to solve difficult situations. Good writing, but often takes the easy way out.

This is the grande finale to the Artemis Fowl series. It is better than the under par Atlantis Complex. It is the funniest book in the series. I was sohappy when he mentioned Croatia which is my country. Made me sooo happy! SPOILER ALERT!!!! The end is a bit weird and not the happiest there is but definnently not expected but it all ends up well. To bad it is the last book in the series.

I read this with my tween daughter... It was rough, what with all the giggling! She loved it - and so did I. Both of us found the ending somewhat predictable, but at the same time still very satisfying.

I'm looking forward to whatever the author does next.

I chose 4 star because of its quality. They are great books but they are not amazing.
I also really like about this book is its great description above all, it takes me into the book.
I would probably recommend this book to either a Good 12 year old reader or a average 14 year old. Overall great series. Thank you Eoin Colfer!!

i love all of the books written by mr Colfer. this was a immensley satisfing end other than 3 things. one is the abrupt end of the atlantis complex issue. sencondly there isnt closure with the twins and juliet. amd last WHAT HAPPENED TO MINERVA? we even saw mayne who got one paragraph in the last book. there has been more mention of swear toads than of that girl. overall great book

I chose this rating because, obviously, the book is five star standard. I would recommend this book to absolutely as anyone. It made me laugh, cry and I really think you should read all the Artemis Fowls before you die. As I flicked the last page, I felt as if I had lost a dear friend. I have grown to love the mischievous character that is Artemis Fowl.

In this book, "Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian", concludes the Artemis Fowl series masterfully with an unexpected twist at the end. In a nutshell ,Artemis, Holly and the whole gang get together to try and stop another one of Opal's horrific and dangerous plots. But if they are unable to freeze the deranged Pixy's plan, the consequences are disastrous for both the human and fariy kind. During the book, important truths are discovered by the gang, secrets are unveiled, and ultmate sacrifices are made. If you have read and enjoyed the Arrtemis Fowl series , I suggest this book for you!

Everythig about this installment was tightly packed action. An end- of - the world comedy. Surprises eveywhere, from killer crickets, lasrers in the planes, and clones to go with the pycho killers and heart stopping moments. A fantastic end to my favorite series.

Our world will never be the same (mine too). It is the last opportunity, but not a regular goodbye. So be prepared for tough decision and all sorts of alternative plans. There are a lot of space for readers shouting: don't do this! But the characters have a different agenda...

Even though the book series is over I still feel Joy in my heart as I remember i 3rd grade having my mom sujest Artenis fowl that day changed my reading experince forever I riped a part tthe first book (mephoactly) annd I remeber tradi g in my recess for time in the llibrary reading the artic incedent and beati 8th graders in comprehensive reading test thanks to none other than eoin colllfer and I remeber reading the ending of the time paradox HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

I was insulted by this book. As an avid follower of the series, I was eager to read this latest installation of fun and action. However, I was not prepared for lazy writing and clichéd cop-outs. There were allusions to ideas that were clearly never followed through due to either laziness or time constraints, and, and I'm trying my hardest not to spoil anything for those who do want to read the book, the ending was insultingly predictable and contrived. When I finished the book, I gave a bark of embittered laughter and threw it down on the floor, battling with the idea of whether I should march out of my apartment and throw the thing into the pond. I was furious, and still am. I think it an insult to the series, and an insult to Colfer's previous works in the series.
Shame on you, Eoin Colfer, for sending something like this out into the bookstores. I am extremely disappointed.

I chose 4 star because of its quality. They are great books but they are not amazing.
I also really like about this book is its great description above all, it takes me into the book.
I would probably recommend this book to either a Good 12 year old reader or a average 14 year old. Overall great series. Thank you Eoin Colfer!!

Another book my sister needed for her collection. She has yet to read this one but find each book, she has already read, how interesting they are. I'm sure she will find this one in the same company as the others.

spoiler alert: artemis dies!!!!!!!!!! sorry but i just cant stand not telling how awsome the book was!!! it just topped my favorite book list. i literally dont keep a list but you get it. sorry for ruining the end but i had to say it.

NOOOOOOOO! I have read all the books at least 5 times!!!!! I'm so obssessed with AF that I can read and write gnommish fluently. I EVEN MADE A PRONUNCIATION KEY SO I CAN SPEAK IT!!!!!! IM GONNA MISS U ARTY!!!!!!! A+H FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!

What! opal koboi again! for some reason, she is back!! will merv and scant be her sidekicks again? Why do i have to wait til august to read this book? will there be another book again? will there be any answers to these questions?!

this is actually rebecca writing this review. I am Artemis's greatest fan that has ever lived!!!! I am sooooooo obssesed with Artemis Fowl!!!!!! I CAN READ AND WRITE GNOMMISH FLUENTLY!!! I DEMAND THAT EOIN WRITES MORE !!

OMG! Why... WHY!! Why will you leave me Arty! I will miss all the stories... Holly... Mulch... And how could I forget Butler?!?! I hope Opal finally croaks in this one... she is really very clever though. I WILL MISS YOU ARTY!!!

i can't belive it! this is the end. the last book of Artemis Fowl!!! ! i love these books! it can't end now! ............... oh well, GOODBYE ARTY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we will miss you! (p.p.s. my name is realy Andreana)

Follow up of The Atlantic Complex. This time, Artemis is fighting a loosing battle, and all seems to be going downhill... Still, our favorite Teenage Criminal Mastermind won't accept defeat at the hands of his greatest nemesis, and he is ready to pull all the stops to emerge victorious.
The conclusion is what you could expect from such a great series that has been one wild ride after another, complete with blue rinses, goblin rebellions, wise-cracking computers, murderous and megalomaniac pixies, demon implings quotating cringe-worthy teen novels, time paradoxes, romantic alter-egos, and of course: trolls and flatulent dwarves. The end of the series is, in itself a compilation of all the wildness we have experienced so far, but this time, Artemis and his gang are against the clock of a magical Armaggedon unleashed by an all-too-familiar, self-centered psycho. The end has just the right dose of the under-the-sleeve, rule-bending classical charm of an Artemis Fowl plot, and closes nicely the story.
If you are suffering of good-read deprivation after finishing the Harry Potter collection, Artemis is here to help you.