Jade

Certainly not near the top. I have read each book in the Artemis Fowl series - some of them two, three and four times - and while the story was enjoyable as always, I felt that much of the ingenuity and imagination I've come to expect from Colfer was lacking.

Perhaps the baseball-sized killer crickets. And least interesting is the fact that, yet again, Opal Koboi is attempting to rule the world. In a series, you come to enjoy reading about the same heroes and villians, but I'm a bit tired of Opal, as much as she amuses me.

Two characters: Beckett and Miles Fowl, Artemis' young brothers. Having become acquainted with them in Book 7, it was amusing and entertaining to see them a tad older in this final book. Parker is fantastic, and I love that Miles is a younger Artemis in the making, while Beckett is much more the typical small boy, while hugely courageous and loveable. A wonderful duo.

Not particularly. Perhaps this because I've been following the series for about 10 years, though.

As a whole, I truly enjoyed the story. However, I feel that this is because, after 10 years of following this series, I am intimate with the characters and the worlds in which they live. It was enjoyable to see loose ends tied up, different characters older and more mature... And the conclusion of the book was satisfying from a reader's point of view. You will not be disappointed at the end, and will appreciate the finality. I am grateful to Colfer for that.

I'm not sure how long Colfer has been plotting Book 8, but frankly, I thought the plot and settings were rather indulgent on his part. Perhaps even "very" indulgent. Yet again, Opal Koboi is bent on world domination. Most of the events conveniently take place at the Fowl estate. Everything was just so..... Convenient. Don't worry, I won't give any spoilers. But, having read the other books, I've come to expect a certain standard from Colfer. I would have liked to see many of the events take place in other parts of the world. I would have enjoyed seeing a new villian, or, since he did need to tie up the loose end of Opal, perhaps a second villian attempting to either thwart - or join forces with - her. Since there are a number of rather fantastical events in the book, he certainly had room to do something drastic, like bring Julius Root back to life. Or perhaps the mania Artemis experienced from the his Atlantis Complex could have made a reappearance. I feel that Colfer had room for so much, and took the easy way out with events I could have casually thought up myself.

I did enjoy many of the new characters, and I must add that Nathaniel Parker is, without a doubt, one of my favorite narrators of all time. His accent lends a wonderful air to Artemis' personality, especially. He brings every character to life, and each one is completely different from the others. Even Artemis' younger brothers sound youthful, adorable, hysterical with Parker's voice.

If you have followed the series, I would say you should listen to this, just for the closure. It's of course always great to enjoy new events with the characters we've come to know and love. If you haven't followed the series, I would say you should still listen, but go back and listen to the other books first. THEY (especially the first three or four) were fantastic, and having read them, you can't leave out Book 8 haha. I'm sorry to see the series end, but few stories going beyond 8 or 9 in the series stay as "good," so I get it. Take Harry Potter, or Twilight, for example. Or Outlander, which I am voraciously reading now (on Book 4, on track to be ready for 8 when it comes out this winter :).

Hope you enjoy!