Book Review: Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception

Since that Yati asked so kindly that I write a review on this book, I will. Yati, the 'walking library' insisted that I read this book. Knowing the fact that I am a self-professed bibliophobic, this must have been a good book if Yati insisted that much. And indeed it was. Even my dad and sis was fighting over it. But that was last night. No one's bothered about it now. >.>

Let's start off with the cover.

It shines!

What good is a digicam, if you don't take pics eh? The cover is pretty amusing. With cut-outs to reveal some DNA-looking structures in all sorts of colours. This book is by Eion Colfer. It is the 4th series to his Artemis Fowl line.

Moving on, the characters.

1. Artemis Fowl. The lead character. He's a 14 year old Mud Boy a.k.a. human. He's the only person who knows about the fairies' world and had his mind-wiped. So he forgot everything unless something triggers his memory back.
2. Captain Holly Short. She works for the Lower Element Police (LEP). She was once convicted of 2 charges but she's free.
3. Commander Julius Root. Holly's superior. Her only friend.
4. Foaly. The centaur who does the all the tech-related stuff.
5. Opal Koboi. The sinister pixie who wants to destroy all those who had a part in putting her behind bars. She wants the humans to discover about the fairies' world which would lead to its destruction.
6. Mulch Diggums. Dwarf. Has a bum-flap. Don't ask why.
7. Merv and Scant. Opal's minions. The only twins in fairy land. Appeared on few TV shows.
8. Butler. Artemis' personal bodyguard. Had his mind wiped too.

It's starts off with Artemis trying to steal a painting. He is after all a criminal genius. Someone tries to kill him. Opal Koboi. Holly saves Artemis. That was her last order by her superior, Root before he was killed by Opal. Holly barely escapes with Artemis only to be captured by Opal and her henchmen. She puts 'em in a place infested with trolls. Dangerous creatures they are. They escape thanks to Mulch and Butler. Butler has revived his memory. Artemis too. Throughout the entire story, the LEP is after Holly. They think she killed Root. But Foaly refuses to believe. Until the LEP finds out that the Opal in their custody is a clone and the real one is on the loose. Off they go on a chase. At the end, Opal is caught. Defeated. The end.

It was definitely a good read. Pixies, fairies, trolls and dwarfs. With science. Enid Blyton with a twist. The humour was cynical. Just they way I like it. Heh. And throughout the entire book there's symbols running through it.

The symbols!

There's some meaning for those symbols. But being the lazy me that I am, I shall not look it up the net.

And here's another picture.

I suspect it's fairies' DNA. Sure looks like that to me. Of course there are a lot of other mythical creatures in the story. The book does not lack in the cursing department too. With plenty of "D'Arvit". Whatever that might mean. It's ending was quite fitting too. Bibliophobic approved! =D