“Either that boy is the sanest creature on Earth, he thought. Or he is so disturbed that our tests cannot even begin to scratch the surface.” (Dr Argon about Artemis Fowl II)
I have mixed feelings towards Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian.
While I enjoy having the old Artemis back in Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian, it seems like Artemis's Atlantis Complex is cured and it doesn't affect or change him. He also acts a little out of character. He loses his head and almost breaks down when he's in danger instead of confronting the problem as he did in previous Artemis Fowl books.
Captain Holly Short has been one of the most consistent characters in the Artemis Fowl series. I love her badass personality. I also love how her relationship with Artemis has developed from enemies to grudging respect to genuine friendship. However, the previous two Artemis Fowl books hinted heavily at the possibilities of a romance between Artemis and Holly and it isn't even mentioned in Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian.
I love the father-son relationship and friendship between Artemis and Butler, but Butler doesn't have much of a role in Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian. I also thought that Juliet was happy with the wrestling gig, but apparently, I was mistaken. Also, when did Mulch go back to his criminal ways? Isn't he supposed to be fighting on the right side of the law?
Opal Koboi was such an awesome villain in Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident and Artemis Fowl and the Opal Deception, but in Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian she's one-dimensional, cliche and she got on my nerves. By the end of it all, I was just so tired of hearing about her.
The plot is all over the place. There's the deterioration of fairy and human technology and both worlds are plunged into chaos, Opal's clone, dead warrior fairy possession, zombies and dark magic.
I also have so many questions about the ending. Some of them are: How did Artemis end up dying? Wasn't the gate only supposed to get rid of Berserkers? What happened to Beckett and Juliet? Is the clone a shell of Artemis or is he the real thing? Does Artemis get his memories back?. However, the ending is bittersweet and shows Artemis's character development from kidnapping a fairy to steal gold in Artemis Fowl to wanting to save the human and fairy world in Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian.
Artemis Fowl is one of my favourite childhood series. After rereading this series, I've realised that it doesn't stand the test of time, but I love the fun, the characters and Artemis Fowl's character development from villain to hero. So much of nostalgia and fond memories!
“A man must be what he is and take whatever judgements are forthcoming on the chin.” (Artemis Fowl II)