Review: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer

WARNING: If you haven't read Artemis Fowl, book one in the Artemis Fowl series, then it would probably be a good idea to stay away from this review.

The Arctic Incident (Artemis Fowl #2) by Eoin Colfer

The world's youngest, brightest, and most dangerous criminal mastermind is BACK.

Artemis Fowl receives an urgent e-mail from Russia. In it is a plea from a man who has been kidnapped by the Russian Mafiya: his father. As Artemis rushes to his rescue, he is stopped by a familiar nemesis, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. Now, instead of battling the fairies, Artemis must join forces with them if he wants to save one of the few people in the world he loves.

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Source: purchased/Own
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Next: The Eternity Code
Challenge: All Male Review Challenge

"I love Artemis Fowl, I love Artemis Fowl," repeats Asher in a sing-song voice. So my favorite antihero has returned! Or rather I've returned for more of him! My first dive into the Artemis Fowl series left me stupefied and amazed. While things were a bit more mellow in this second book, it still packed a pretty hefty punch. I admit, it did take me a bit to submerse myself this time around, but once I'd read a few pages in, the book hooked its claws into me. And I have to say that I certainly missed Artemis Jr., Butler, and their nemeses - Captain Holly Short, Commander Julius Root, and Foaly, LEP's head techie!

Even though Artemis danced to a contrarily mellow tune in THE ARCTIC INCIDENT, his slight shift in demeanor didn't take away from his sheer brilliance, cunning, and inherent dry wit. Artemis is just as devious, as intelligent as before, only in this installment I got a closer look at his vulnerable side. As mentioned in the synopsis, his father's life is at stake, hence the emotional frailty. Still, Artemis isn't a blubber and he most certainly isn't stupid enough to go forth completely unguarded. And despite the fact that it was kind of nice to see that he isn't a total operator, completely devoid of emotions, I missed Artemis's supreme ruthlessness. It makes sense that he's prone to childlike sentiments given his age, but I missed Artemis, the brainy bad boy I know and love. I hope to see his - ha ha - inner Moriarty reemerge.

The action definitely climbed to new heights, which made it all the more intense and entertaining to read! This time part of the threat lies with the B'wa Kell goblin triad, who plan to override the Lower Elements Police force! Not to mention the dastardly threat of the Mafiya, and the chilling fact that their is a wicked mastermind orchestrating the destruction of the LEP! There was extensive goblin-fighting action, radioactive train-dodging, random appendage-severing, and added to that: alliances with old criminals and moments of unexpected heroism from one of my all-time favorite antiheroes!

Speaking of my beloved Artemis, I loved seeing the Holly-Artemis banter resume. There's nothing like watching a know-it-all get punched, again, in the face by his female archnemesis. Whoop! I love Holly! She's shrewd and marvelous at combat - especially when said combat involves guns. Plus, she has ridiculously awesome skills when it comes to piloting just about anything, be it LEP shuttles, wings, anything! I admire her so. Commander Root as comical as ever, though he'd turn beet-red if he ever heard. He's always looking to a pick a bone with someone and unleash his wrath. And I adored Foaly, LEP's technical genius, more than yesterday, as he's doubly equipped with super intellect and a penchant for being annoying. He's arrogant, with cause, and strangely paranoid of assassination and/or Mud Men - human - invasion (o_O). I can't help but love a character who wears a tinfoil hat all the time! And of course I can't forget Butler, who's as terrifying and intimidating as he was before! More than handy in a fight, clever, and honorable, Butler continues to be another of my favorite characters. I was immensely happy to see that he spoke up more in this novel.

Besides the sometimes bothersome pacing, I've got no true complaints for THE ARCTIC INCIDENT. Brimming with all of the best aspects of its predecessor, I'm pleased to report that this second novel did not disappoint. Rather its left me with unshakable excitement for the remaining books. I can't wait to watch Artemis grow not just age-wise but in intellect and as a character. Will he, somewhere along the way, turn into a hero? I'm dying to find out. Just like I can't wait to see a romance flourish between Artemis and Holly. I'm hoping for one - no, it's not guaranteed but merely implied, at least to my eyes. I can sense these things. With seven books already out, I'm more than ready to catch up!

Artemis grabbed her shoulders, for once abandoning his shell of icy composure. "Holly. Holly, speak to me. Your finger. Is it okay?"
Holly wiggled her fingers, then curled them into a fist.
"I think so," she said, and whacked Artemis right between the eyes. The surprised boy landed in the snowdrift for the third time that day. (154)

Review: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is the most ingenious criminal mastermind in history. With two trusty sidekicks in tow, he hatches a cunning plot to divest the fairyfolk of their pot of gold. Of course, he isn't foolish enough to believe in all that "gold at the end of the rainbow" nonsense. Rather, he knows that the only way to separate the little people from their stash is to kidnap one of them and wait for the ransom to arrive. But when the time comes to put his plan into action, he doesn't count on the appearance of the extrasmall, pointy-eared Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaisance) Unit--and her senior officer, Commander Root, a man (sorry, elf) who will stop at nothing to get her back.

"Fantastic stuff from beginning to end, Artemis Fowl is a rip-roaring, 21st-century romp of the highest order. The author has let his imagination run riot by combining folklore, fantasy, and a fistful of high-tech funk in an outrageously devilish book that could well do for fairies what Harry Potter has done for wizardry. But be warned: this is no gentle frolic, so don't be fooled by the fairy subject matter. Instead, what we have here is well-written, sophisticated, rough 'n' tumble storytelling with enough high-octane attitude to make it a seriously cool read for anyone over the age of 10." --Susan Harrison

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Source: NetGalley & Disney-Hyperion
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Next: The Arctic Incident
Challenge: All Male Review Challenge

Um, OH MY FREAKING GOSH! I was unquestioningly blown away by this first book in the Artemis Fowl series. First, before you even begin reading this, make sure you've taken a good look at the cover. That's what had me going, Whoa! That looks so cool! I really wanna read that! Because that, ladies and males, looks like a cunning, 12-year-old criminal mastermind! Now, I'm not really a big fan of middle grade characters, but this book can definitely be enjoyed by all ages!

I HAVE to start with Artemis. First of all, his name. It sounds magical and powerful and suits him so incredibly well... Artemis is indeed 12 years old, but he's a genius. And what's better: he's a bad genius. I wouldn't go so far as to say he's evil, but he's undoubtedly the bad guy. He has the mind, the coldness and determination of an adult, but he has childlike feelings and vulnerabilities, though they are carefully masked. When you think of Artemis think pint-sized Sherlock Holmes, or better, Moriarty - brilliant and devious. He's crafty, extremely perceptive, and, most importantly, he always wins. No matter how one tries to turn the tables on him so to speak, he still manages to win, however unexpectedly. Because even though I knew how intelligent Artemis was, I didn't think he'd outsmart the fairies.

While I'm DYING to get into the world-building and the paranormal side of it all, I haven't raved nearly enough about Artemis, or his muscle, Butler. Butler is this giant bodyguard, who also acts as, you guessed it, a butler. The thing is, the Butlers and the Fowls go back several generations, being paired up from infancy. Which means Butler and Artemis have been partners since Artemis was born, and it's completely obvious in their shared rhythm and understanding of one another. The Fowls have been criminals since the beginning, and their fortune stems from a long line of crime jobs. And some say the noun 'butler' actually derived from this practice between the Butlers and the Fowls. Let me just say, I luuurrve Butler. He's big and strong, generally silent, and kicks a ton of ass.

Moving on, world-building. Colfer did an extraordinary job in painting a vivid picture of this underground society of fairies. But, fairies is just a general term that encompasses the People. In fact, there are elves, dwarves, goblins, centaurs, trolls, etc. The People live Underground, near the Earth's core, where there are cities like Haven built under there. The science and technology that went into the structure of a civilization of this magnitude is astounding. The various routes to get above ground, the networking... I was blown away... These fairies are also Irish-based in that a lot of the myths and common knowledge behind them stem from Irish folklore. But, their old language, Gnommish, is a mix of middle eastern languages and looks like Egyptian hieroglyphics. Colfer magnificently interweaves a variety of myths and folklore, languages, places and so forth to make up his world, which kept me engrossed throughout.

And then there's Captain Holly Short, elf and leprechaun. Well, actually not "leprechaun" as you or I know it, but LEPrecon, an elite branch of the Lower Elements Police. She's spunky, has brains, and can be stubbornly determined. But, her most likable and admirable quality lies in her unerring belief in, and willingness to stand up for, what's right. She instantly forms a dislike of Artemis, and manages to get a few licks in. She even punched him! She popped the Artemis Fowl right in the face. That girl is awesome, and completely dedicated to her job. She knows combat and has insane magical abilities, too.

Continuing, the plot was just as fantastic as the rest! Artemis is after the Book - the faerie-equivalent of the Bible, chockfull of commandments, rituals, spells, and other magical practices, as well as some history that corresponds to our own - so that he can discern the location of the legendary pot of gold in order to reinstate his family's millionaire status. And he goes about it logically, methodically, and most of all, calmly. And by the end, both me and the faeries learn that Artemis Fowl is a force to be reckoned with.

All in all, this tale was masterfully written, and filled with lovable, comical characters, action, advanced technology, and a phenomenal paranormal element to tie it all up. When asked if I wanted to pick up the sequel, I answered with a resounding Yes! I can't wait to read THE ARCTIC INCIDENT!

Foaly was waiting at the pod. Serious though the moment was, he couldn't resist an amused whinny at the sight of Root's belly wobbling ever so slightly in his clinging jumpsuit.
"Are you sure about this, commander? Generally we allow only one passenger per pod?"
"What do you mean?" snarled Root. "There is only one..."
Then he caught Foaly's meaningful glance at his stomach. (87)

God, I love Foaly, the LEP's head techie.

Review: Soulstice by Simon Holt

WARNING: If you haven't read THE DEVOURING, then you probably shouldn't read this review. Especially since it may contain spoilers!

S o u l s t i c e by Simon Holt

Release Date: 9/1/09

Publisher: Little Brown and Company

Next: Fearscape (2010)
Age Group: Young Adult (14+)

Pages: 266

Source: Borrowed/public library
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kindle

Word Blurb: Manic, nightmarish, and totally spooky!

"The terrifying, nail-biting, and grossly intriguing sequel toThe Devouring.

It's been six months since Reggie first discovered and fought against the Vours, malicious and demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on the eve of the Winter Solstice.

The Vours still haunt Reggie, but only in her dreams-until one night, when an unexpected visitor turns her nightmares into reality.

The battle against evil continues in Soulstice, the second book in the thrilling The Devouring series, which School Library Journal called, 'Comparable to books by R. L. Stine and Stephen King....A must-have for horror fans.'"

What a crazy, thrilling installment in The Devouring series this turned out to be! I'm still shaking. Where to begin...

Soulstice has everything I loved from the first book, The Devouring, but magnified at least five times. So, it's darker, edgier, and much much scarier. But the creepy parts aren't unnecessary, without purpose, but serve the plot well, and effectively kept me at the edge of my seat! 

Review: School's Out 4-Ever by J. R. Turner

WARNING: If you haven't read DFF: DEAD FRIENDS FOREVER, then you probably shouldn't read this review. Especially since it may contain spoilers!

S c h o o l' s  O u t  4- e v e r by J.R. Turner
Release Date: January 14, 2010 (Paperback)
Publisher: Quake
Age Group: Young Adult
Next: Detour 2 Death (2/15/11)
Pages: 274
Source: Author/ARC
Go Buy It: Amazon★Barnes&Noble
★BookDepository

Word Blurbs: Riveting, fresh, and sinister!

Synopsis- "Skater girl Kaylee Hensler gave up her freedom to save a trapped soul, only to be imprisoned with dozens of dead children. To make matters worse, if she stops smiling, she might not live to see fifteen. You can take a Barclay girl out of class, but you can't take the class out of a Barclay girl. The headmistress at Barclay Hall reformatory is gorgeous and the students are just as polished and beautiful. Beneath their proper etiquette lies a desperate fear and a dangerous secret. As one by one the students turn up dead, Kaylee will uncover an evil so ancient, only heaven can help her."

Quick Thinking: Things have gotten a whole heck of a lot worse for nearly fifteen-year-old Kaylee Hensler in this engaging second installment in J. R. Turner's Extreme Haunting series. While being sent to a dark, eerie boarding school is bad as is, Kaylee must now deal with her newfound powers, and help not one ghost but a multitude, saving them from something lurking in the school. Mysterious deaths. Suspicious failed attempts at escape. Trapped ghosts. Killer demons. Barclay Hall, boarding school for rich, wayward females, is anything but pleasant or ordinary. Kaylee must face a challenge unlike before, must defeat a new menacing foe more powerful than the last, all the while dodging demerits, making strange, unexpected friends, and enduring the hardships of newly awakened, untamed powers.

My Thoughts In-Depth: *Note: May not be spoiler-free.* One of the reasons why I'm really getting into this series has to do with it being filled with all of my favorite elements in a novel! The first being the paranormal aspect, added to that is the darkly thrilling, adrenaline-packed punch of a plot. And I'm really rooting for a romance here, somewhere! Though I have my suspicions of a love triangle fast-approaching! I think that's just about the only thing that's missing in the series that would make me love it. But, one thing's for sure: I definitely liked School's Out 4-ever more than its predecessor.

I'm not exactly sure what it is. It could be because the threat is more real and the fact that Kaylee is practically on her own in this book. No best friend Davey, no parents. Plus, the frightening factor went up a few notches also!

Review: Dead Friends Forever by J. R. Turner

D e a d  F r i e n d s  F o r e v e r by J. R. Turner
Release Date: November 21, 2008 (Paperback)
Publisher: Quake
Age Group: Young Adult
Sequel: School's Out 4-Ever
Pages: 272
Source: Author/PDF
Go Buy It: Amazon★Barnes&Noble
★BookDepository

Word Blurb: Spine-chilling, dark, and hugely intense!

Synopsis- "Skater Kaylee Hensler might not be Miss Popular, but there are some friends a girl can do without. When the decaying ghost of a murdered girl decides they need to be total BFF’s, Kaylee will sacrifice the trust of her family, her swim coach’s respect, and any hope of a date for the Harvest Dance. And oh yeah… discover that super-evil entities are nothing at all like they are on TV or in the movies Aside from seriously bad attitudes, they not only like to kill…but replay the killing again and again for all eternity. To avoid that fate, she’ll have to rely on her wheelchair-bound friend Davey, the mysterious Madame Maggie, and the surprising depth of her own power. Will Kaylee survive, or will she become someone else's DFF: Dead Friend Forever?"

Quick Thinking: Nerve-wracking and blood-pumping are tame words to describe The Reader's experience while delving into Dead Friends Forever. Saturated with creepy supernatural elements like earthbound ghosts and dark entities, grim mysteries and suspicious deaths, and chilling circumstances, this novel has a very spooky and thrilling air. Slowly discover the truth of long ago alongside Kaylee, the heroine, a seemingly average girl with a 'headshrinker' of a father and an overwhelming mother, as she comes into her own abilities and as she fights for the freedom of a young ghost girl imprisoned by evil.

My Thoughts In-Depth: *Note: May not be spoiler-free.* My heart's still pounding; my pulse was drumming so loudly I could hear it so clearly. One word for this book would have to be intense. While I secretly say that I'm not very much into the horror/thriller/mystery type of books, I'm so lying. I love the little thrill, that dark edge you get when you finish a book that fits into those categories. My problem... well, I'm a scaredy cat. I'm easily frightened. So, I was a bit skeptical coming into this book. But, man, what a book DFF turned out to be!

Honestly, I never expected to thoroughly enjoy this book or become so absorbed in it. It was a pleasant shock. Reading as Kaylee dug for the truth, as she struggled to deal with all the trouble helping a ghost brought to her, I became more and more invested in the story. In the beginning, Kaylee is just your pretty average girl, one who's in love with skating, hates math homework, and enjoys swimming and the competitiveness of it. And all because of these sexist teenage male pigs who claim all rights to the skating park unjustly so, Kaylee is forced to enter a haunted house as a kind of 'initiation'. Then, pardon the cliche, but her world gets turned upside down: Kaylee encounters her first ghost!

Review: Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

H u n g e r

Author: Jackie Morse Kessler (Twitter)

Release Date: 10/18/10 (Paperback)

Publisher: Harcourt Graphia

Age Group: Young Adult (12/13+)

Pages:180

Source: NetGalley & Harcourt Graphia (Thank you!)

Go Buy It: Amazon★Barnes&Noble 

★BookDepository

Overall Feelings: Darkly fascinating, unique, & oddly captivating!

Synopsis- “Thou art the Black Rider. Go thee out unto the world.”

Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home: her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power — and the courage to battle her own inner demons?" Goodreads»»

Quick Thinking: Hunger captivates The Reader with it's moving, sad yet empowering tale of a seventeen-year-old teen, Lisabeth, struggling with life, loving herself included, while battling an unfortunate eating disorder. Her life takes a sudden, odd twist when she accepts the role of Famine of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. This unique story will keep The Reader engrossed in its pages from start to finish, wallowing in the well-written plot depicting the lengths of Lisa's quest for true inner strength. I, The Reader, recommend this novel to anyone looking for a humorous, powerful read with an phenomenal paranormal twist.

My Thoughts In-Depth: *Warning: May not be spoiler-free.* It was definitely easy for me to lose myself in the pages of Hunger, as I instantly fell for Lisa as a character. Lisa starts out as this sad, hollow girl with a pitiful well of self-esteem/self-confidence, then gradually begins to understand about life, people, and the meaning of hunger, until she evolves into this brave, empowered character willing to take the step needed to make THE change, the one that'll better her life.