Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony (Artemis Fowl, #5)

by Eoin Colfer

Ten millennia ago, the fairy people were defeated in a great battle with mankind, forcing them to move underground. Only the 8th family of fairies remained undefeated: the demons. But now one demon has discovered the secrets of the fairy world, and if humans get hold of this information, the fairies are in BIG trouble. Only one person can prevent this disaster - teenage criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl.

• ISBN10: 0141382686
• ISBN13: 9780141382685
• Publish Date: 2 August 2006 (first published 1 January 2006)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 3 June 2007
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Puffin
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Nessa Luna]

I continued reading the Artemis Fowl series this month, as I really want to finish the entire series before the movie comes out. (I do think I’ll have more time now, with all movie releases being pushed back). I do think this book is my least favourite in the series though. I wasn’t a fan of the demon characters and I didn’t care too much about the female Artemis (whom we apparently hear nothing of in the following books). Still, it was a very enjoyable book and I loved the dynamics between Artemis and Holly.

CAWPILE: 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 (Avg: 7)

★ The Artemis Fowl series is starting to get repetitive (and maybe that partially my fault because I'm binge reading the series). Whenever there's a Fairy crisis, Artemis Fowl gets called in to deal with it, comes up with a plan which usually involves Butler, Holly, Mulch and Foaly and ultimately saves the day.
★ Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony introduces another Fairy species, the demons, who exist in a space outside of time.
★ Colfer has plenty of awesome ideas, especially the ones related to the concept of time, but I don't like how his ideas are executed and I can't put my finger on why that's the case.
★ The characters that kept me interested in Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony.
★ I enjoy witnessing Artemis's character development. He's helping people for the sake of helping them and doesn't expect anything in return. However, it seems as though he might not have fully given up on his old ways when he pretends that he's lost his magic.
★ Butler is still the best bodyguard ever.
★ I love Holly and I was extremely excited about her private investigation business, but in Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony, she's still under the LEP's thumb.
★ Mulch plays an extremely small role in Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony.
★ I like Foaly, I don't love him.
★ Number One is a likeable character. He's an imp who doesn't fit in with the demon world and ends up realising that he's quite powerful.
★ I don't care much for Minerva. Her portrayal as another Artemis Fowl is so forced.
★ The villains also don't seem to be much of a threat.
★ After that ending I'm interested to see how Artemis deals with the fact that he's a big brother to twins in Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox.

[Amber (The Literary Phoenix)]

Rating in 2018: Four Stars

Book five of the Artemis Fowl series takes a little bit of a departure from the rest of the series.  Whereas the previous four books have involved saving Haven city, or performing a heist on Artemis's behest, this time both Holly and Artemis are working for a greater cause. We are introduced to a whole new group of faeries, who are caught in a time spell that is unraveling.

When I read this series when I was younger, I didn't care for The Lost Colony.  I like the heists and the intricate world of the faerie underground, and a lot of this book relies heavy on the demon culture.  The demons are led by a violence-loving demon named Leon Abbott who is the only one to have jumped out of the time tunnel and returned.  In his foray to the human world, he claims to have learned about the warring intentions of humanity and strives to create a culture of violent, human-hating demons to wipe out all humans.  At its best, it's pretty cheesy.  That said, it really depends on the reader, because while I was still not overly impressed, my husband loved it.

The writing continues to be playful, and I have to admit, No1 adds a fresh feeling to the series.  Colfer is always witty and flows with an easy grace, but now halfway through the series, it does call for something new.  It's easy for a series to get stale.  Colfer is also careful to balance his comedic characters.  Mulch Diggums and No1 are not in any scenes together, keeping the balance between comedy and action.  I personally prefer Mulch to No1, but I think a lot of people will be enchanted by No1.  He's sweet and innocent and naive and excited.

Another aspect we get here, as Artemis is now fourteen, is Artemis's first crush.  He handle the unusual situation the same way he handles everything else - tries to analyze it and becomes confused when he finds himself thinking about her at inopportune moments.  It is delightful and I loved it.  I think it's important in long running series like this to actually feel like the characters are getting older.  The Harry Potter series does this well, and Percy Jackson.  And Artemis Fowl.

All in all, I enjoyed The Lost Colony more rereading it than I did when I first read it.  I appreciate more of Colfer's stylistic choices here, and I see the comedy a little better.  I think most readers will like this one, and appreciate the shift in setting and motive for Artemis.

________________________

Rating in 2006: Two Stars
(no review)