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The Fowl Twins

(The Fowl Twins #1)

Eoin Colfer

4.14 · Rating details · 461 ratings · 130 reviews

Criminal genius runs in the family...
Myles and Beckett are eleven-year-old twins, but the two boys are wildly different. Beckett is blonde, messy and sulks whenever he has to wear clothes. Myles is fanatically neat, he has an IQ of 170, and he wears a fresh suit every day like his older brother, Artemis Fowl.

Perhaps you have heard of the Fowl family and their adventures?

...more

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Hardcover, 368 pages

Published November 5th 2019 by HarperCollins Publishers

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· 461 ratings · 130 reviews

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Oct 14, 2019 Paromjit rated it really liked it

Shelves: humour-comic-fiction, netgalley, children-s-fiction, adventure, ya

Anyone who has ever read Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl series will have a good idea what this new series is going to be like, it features Artemis's younger 11 year old fraternal twin brothers, Myles and Beckett. There is plenty of humour, adventures galore, dastardly villains, and the introduction of a new blue fairy, a pixel (pixie and elf hybrid) Lazuli Heitz, Lower Elements Police (LEP) specialist, ambitious, with no magic powers. Myles is a suit wearing, intellectual genius, scientist, Anyone who has ever read Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl series will have a good idea what this new series is going to be like, it features Artemis's younger 11 year old fraternal twin brothers, Myles and Beckett. There is plenty of humour, adventures galore, dastardly villains, and the introduction of a new blue fairy, a pixel (pixie and elf hybrid) Lazuli Heitz, Lower Elements Police (LEP) specialist, ambitious, with no magic powers. Myles is a suit wearing, intellectual genius, scientist, fastidious, smug, a know it all, with a tendency to enjoy lecturing others. His brother, Beckett, is nothing like him other than in appearance, he is reluctant to wear clothes, takes delight in poking fun at Myles, is disordered and disorderly, keen on learning languages spoken by animals and it is not certain what his intelligence levels are. The twins live on the well fortified Fowl Irish Dalkey Island, under the protective eye of NANNI (The Nano Artificial Neural Network Intelligence) an AI system devised by Artemis himself, with input from Myles.

There is a miniature troll, found by Beckett, who assumes it a toy, naming it Whistle Blower, but the troll is sought by the monstrous 150 year old Lord Teddy Bleedham-Drye, an immortalist seeking ways to live forever. He wants the troll's venom which he feels is the answer to his quest, and has the Fowls under surveillance, he doesn't care what he has to do to lay his hands on Whistle Blower, including murdering the Fowl twins. However, the Fowl twins have another villain after them, with the goal of getting hold of a fairy, an secret international intelligence agency called ACRONYM. In charge of the operation of getting the Fowl twins, torturing and interrogating them is a nun, Sister Jeronima, the nunterrogator, well resourced and backed by governments. The twins find themselves detained in Amsterdam, in Verona and taken to the well defended island of St George, in the Scilly Isles as they face an unholy alliance, death and danger, joining forces with Lazuli and Whistler Blower, and referring to themselves as The Regrettables.

Artemis is in space, but there in the background of this novel and Holly Short makes an actual appearance in the thrilling finale. This is the kind of reading fare that is likely to appeal to many, children, particularly to many boys who have a particular aversion to reading and to many a adult too. I think it is a ideal book for parents to consider reading to or with children, as it offers the potential of enjoyment for both parties. Fans of Artemis and Eoin Colfer are likely to enjoy this foray in a new but familiar direction from the author, the twins are quite the double act. This is a highly entertaining read, inventive, comic and witty which had me keenly anticipating the next in the series. Many thanks to HarperCollins Childrens Books for an ARC. ...more

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Nov 11, 2019 Sara rated it liked it

Shelves: arc, fiction, childrens-book

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a spin off of the popular Artemis Fowl series, featuring the younger twin brother’s of my childhood favourite morally grey mastermind. However, don’t let the idea that this is a ‘spin off’ put you off if you’ve never read any of the Artemis Fowl books. This is completely enjoyable without having read anything before it (although you’ll miss out on squealing at a few cameos).

This was everything I was expecting. Adventure, ...more

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Jun 27, 2019 Isabelle | BookwyrmBites marked it as to-read

Shelves: next-in-series-upcoming, priority-tbr

Between this and The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Riddle of Ages, apparently 2019 is The Year My Childhood is Resurrected. And that's definitely okay by me.

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Jun 10, 2019 源 rated it really liked it

Shelves: made-my-heart-happy

mr colfer, no pressure but please blow me away with my favorite twins
—
4.5 | Myles stopped counting aloud and opened his eyes. "How much do you trust me, Beck?"
Beckett smiled. "How big is the universe?" he asked.

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Nov 19, 2019 Stephanie (Bookfever) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fae, owned-physical-books, laugh-my-ass-off, fantasy, middle-grade, favorite-authors, favorites, 2019-publication

"Fowl and fairy, friends forever."

The Artemis Fowl series has always meant a lot to me and it has also always been my favorite series ever. So it's not surprising that The Fowl Twins was my highest anticipated book of the year. Ever since this book was announced I was beyond excited to get back to the magical world of Artemis Fowl. But of course there's always that tiny voice inside the back of your head thinking, what if this spin-off book is not as good as the original series or what if it's "Fowl and fairy, friends forever."

The Artemis Fowl series has always meant a lot to me and it has also always been my favorite series ever. So it's not surprising that The Fowl Twins was my highest anticipated book of the year. Ever since this book was announced I was beyond excited to get back to the magical world of Artemis Fowl. But of course there's always that tiny voice inside the back of your head thinking, what if this spin-off book is not as good as the original series or what if it's just a disappointing book in general and so on. I should've known not to doubt Eoin Colfer one bit because I absolutely loved The Fowl Twins. It was one fantastic read!

At the start of this book I didn't think it would be a 4 star read. I was a little bit sad about Artemis being on a space mission to Mars. It took me a chapter or three to really get into the story, but once I did I was hooked and didn't look back. So this story is obviously about the Fowl twins, Artemis' 11 year-old younger brothers who are named Myles and Beckett. Myles and Beckett are both very different characters even though they're twins. Myles is the genius out of the two, resembling Artemis and Beckett is the energetic, silly action-taker. But their twin bond is unbreakable. Personally I really liked Beckett especially.

In typical Eoin Colfer style we have some baddies with hilarious names that are out to get magic, money, both and even more. So of course we have a new fairy character coming to the twins rescue. This new character is called Lazuli Heitz and she is an elf and pixie hybrid called a pixel. I really missed Holly Short (even though I shouldn't have fretted so much about her absense...), did really love Lazuli. She was the perfect addition to the twins and the three of them made a pretty good team.

Overall, The Fowl Twins by Eoin Colfer was an action-packed story, laugh-out-loud funny and full of magic. It was a real page-turner and I can't wait to see where the Fowl twins' adventures will take them next. ...more

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Aug 24, 2019 Leah (Jane Speare) rated it really liked it

Neutral four? 3.5? Fun but not like fantastic? :)

The notorious Fowl family is back, and now we get to hang out with Artemis's twin brothers, Myles and Beckett. Boy are these two kids a hoot! Kidnapped by a nefarious organization called ACRONYM and interrogated by a nun, the Fowl boys are generally having a bad day. As Eoin Colfer is known to do, there's plenty of humor and goofiness paired with realistically evil villains. There's some LEPrecon action in here too, but I can't give away too much. ...more

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Nov 06, 2019 c, rated it really liked it

Shelves: magic-and-fantasy, fair-folk, mystery-and-adventure, ya-or-mg-lit, review-copies, 4-stars

“How much do you trust me, Beck?” Beckett smiled. “How big is the universe?” he said.

On my blog.

Galley provided by publisher

Artemis Fowl was easily one of my favourite series growing up. So when I found out there was going to be a sequel series, God knows how excited I was. And this, the first book in that series, does not disappoint.

The Fowl Twins follows Artemis’s younger twin brothers, Beckett and Myles. The narrative is somewhat of a collision course between four parties: the twins, ...more

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Nov 07, 2019 Jenette rated it it was ok

Shelves: ya-magic-of-fae-and-witch-alike

Look, I know I’m not the target audience for this book. But I’m the target audience for this book. Hear me out, this book is a spin-off, it’s relying on a basic familiarity with the Artemis Fowl world and it’s characters. I have been reading Artemis Fowl since it was first published which makes me, in a way, the exact person you want this book to appeal to because I’m the kind of person who last read all the books a year ago (at 30) and was still finding them clever and witty and well-rounded.

I Look, I know I’m not the target audience for this book. But I’m the target audience for this book. Hear me out, this book is a spin-off, it’s relying on a basic familiarity with the Artemis Fowl world and it’s characters. I have been reading Artemis Fowl since it was first published which makes me, in a way, the exact person you want this book to appeal to because I’m the kind of person who last read all the books a year ago (at 30) and was still finding them clever and witty and well-rounded.

I had no idea this book was coming, in fact I was gifted it by a friend as an ARC, so I had zero time to build expectations. And it still sucked.

Myles and Beckett fell flat. Myles is supposed to be Artemis but he never quite feels like the super genius because he’s got all of Artemis’ smarts but he’s even better because he’s younger and actually smarter and frankly bordering on that level of OP that is tedious.

Beckett is a joke. Don’t get me wrong, he’s my favourite of the twins buts it’s not because he’s a fantastically written character, it’s just that he’s not an attempt to do Artemis 2.0. He’s just an attempt to be a cross between Holly and Buttler.

Which brings me to the complete and utter lack of any Butlers in this book. What the hell?! Where is Juliet? Where is some random Butler relative tasked with watching over the twins?

(What parent in their god damn right mind leaves twin boys alone under watch of an AI when they both epically failed to properly parent their first kid?!?!)

So, I disliked the characters, the plot was so basic it should have been a novella, Lazuli was boring, the bad guys were laughable cartoon types and I couldn’t have cared less about any of it.

The best part occurred on page 404 (anything previous to this is negligible) and was a single throwaway line spoken by Holly: “I have one of my own”. This line is about the only hope I had that things were still good with my beloved characters because Holly is the only original to make a cameo.

To make a rather unfortunate comparison, this book is Minerva Paradizo.

Let’s all hope it’s gets tossed aside just as easily. ...more

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Nov 07, 2019 Angela Staudt rated it really liked it

I received an ARC from BookishFirst in exchange for an honest review.

I have never read any of the Artemis Fowl books, so I was worried I wouldn't quite understand this book. That is not the case, I was pulled right into this book's world and could understand everything. I really enjoyed the Fowl Twins and how different they both are, and I loved the world building. This was a fast paced adventure that had me flipping the pages to see what would happen next.

This was full of adventure, humor, and ...more

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Nov 24, 2019 Renee (The B-Roll) rated it liked it

This book was such a cute little read and really serves as a great Artemis Foul spin-off! I loved the cover art and how vibrant the colors are; it really made this book pop for me and really drew me in. I loved the writing inside and how nicely this book is written. It is not difficult to read or understand and would be perfect as a middle-grade book because it does hold your interest and it has a really intriguing premise. I hope there will be more Of these later because this book was such a ...more

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Nov 10, 2019 Leah Waters rated it it was amazing

Shelves: middle-grade-fantasy, author-friends

Another brilliant and fun book by Eoin Colfer! This was such an awesome companion to the Artemis Fowl books, with the signature humor and sass of the original series.

(The only problem: I have to wait a year for the sequel!)

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Nov 13, 2019 Ley rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019-arcs

I initially was super hyped to reenter the world of Artemis Fowl through his baby brothers. But, at the same time, I almost feel like I'm too far removed from the series to truly enjoy this as much as I wanted to. The world is still just as rich, and I still adore the magic system in the book. I love learning more about the twins, and I truly love that we have a new LEP Recon officer to root for! But I felt that some of the jokes and puns were more directed at way younger readers. I guess not ...more

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Oct 13, 2019 Claire ✨ rated it liked it

Shelves: rated-3-star, reviewed, category-age-mg, advanced-reader-copy, category-genre-fantasy

A vibrant sequel to the ARTEMIS FOWL series, THE FOWL TWINS follows in the footsteps of its predecessor with the wacky, magical adventure of the titular twins and their fairy companions, with a quirky writing style to match.

I have to put a full disclaimer and say that I never finished the Artemis Fowl series. I was a young fry when I borrowed the books from my brothers and devoured all that had been released at that time, which was up until The Lost Colony/ The Time Paradox, or Book 5/6 (I can't ...more

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Nov 14, 2019 The Book Chief rated it liked it

Wanted to give 3.5 stars, and couldn’t
make myself round it up to 4. Hence, the 3-star rating.

I had a lot of expectations from this book, having LOVED the Artemis Fowl series. But while the story is amusing, it has none of the finesse and tightness of plot that the original series possessed. Too many things ‘just happen’ because of magic or superior fairy technology or timing or coincidence. In the AF books, too, there was magic and technology, but it had it’s own laws and rules which made it Wanted to give 3.5 stars, and couldn’t
make myself round it up to 4. Hence, the 3-star rating.

I had a lot of expectations from this book, having LOVED the Artemis Fowl series. But while the story is amusing, it has none of the finesse and tightness of plot that the original series possessed. Too many things ‘just happen’ because of magic or superior fairy technology or timing or coincidence. In the AF books, too, there was magic and technology, but it had it’s own laws and rules which made it believable. The best fantasy and world building is one where there are convincing explanations for places and things and actions and powers- there is no randomness. There is an inherent sense tying the fantasy together. The Fowl Twins does not have this discipline and logic - there is disarray and chaos. It’s sloppy writing, which is a shame.

The plot is also kind of haywire and unbelievable, unlike the tightly knit, logical (there’s that word again!) and believable narratives of the AF series.

Coming to the characters, the baddies are almost ridiculous in their badness. The villains in the AF series gave one the creeps, but the ones here, despite being vile are about as scary as a jack o lantern. Why, Eoin Colfer, why?! Coming to the good side, the characters I liked best were the AI nanny called NANNI (ha ha) and the toy troll Whistle Blower. Myles is fine, but lacks Artemis’s edge. And Beckett is, frankly, unbelievable as an 11-year old. He seems more like a kindergartener. Especially when you consider today’s 11 year olds who are so well read and precocious. Yet I found him loveable too- probably because my mind replaced his 11 year oldness with the sweet sturdiness of a 6-year old. The fairy protagonist is named Lazuli Heitz, which is such a clumsy reference to the original fairy captain, Holly Short, that it made me wince. Holly=Red with auburn hair vis a vis Lazuli=Blue with blue skin? And Short Vs Heitz? Really? And where is Foaly? And Mulch? And the Butlers? And Artemis?!

One last peeve- the constant breaking-away-from-the-narrative-to-address-the-reader-with-a-joke that Colfer indulges in. It breaks the flow of reading, sounds too self-consciously wry and is overall, irritating. Maybe it is wrong of me to compare this book with the original AF series, but that did not have the author’s wisecracks embedded all through the narrative. They were compartmentalised neatly into the epilogue or prologue or selectively scattered into the main story.

Phew. Now that all of that is off my chest, here are things I DID enjoy: NANNI’s personality which was so reminiscent of Holly; Beckett’s talent of the tongues and physical combat; the anarchitecture move; and the pace of happenings. It was a slow start for me, but picked up about 30% in.

In conclusion? A decent story, but not a patch on the original series. Perhaps readers who first read The Fowl Twins before Artemis Fowl will not find the book as lacking as I did. ...more

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Oct 14, 2019 Allisa White rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, books-i-have, fantasy, middle-grade, humor

Characters

Myles and Beckett Fowl are, of course, the stars of the show. Of course they had to show up Artemis by having their first fairy encounter at age 11, instead of age 12—and that really goes to show you what the twins, or at least Myles, is bent on doing during the entirety of this book.

Myles is like a mini Artemis. He's worn suits all his life, lectures excessively (though apparently not nearly as long as Artemis), and comes up with genius plans out the wazoo. There were times I felt ...more

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Oct 16, 2019 Lu rated it it was amazing

Shelves: best-books, fantasy, earc, in-english

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I can't believe Eoin Colfer is back in Artemis Fowl's universe. I was devastated, in a good way, while reading the ending of The last guardian and knowing he wanted to write more about the Fowl family...how could I not diving into this book?

The Fowl Twins is the first book of a new (I hope long) series and I really loved the story. I've read everything written by Colfer, so I'm used to his style and I couldn't wait to laugh and be surprised by plot twists, revelations and amazing moments and I I can't believe Eoin Colfer is back in Artemis Fowl's universe. I was devastated, in a good way, while reading the ending of The last guardian and knowing he wanted to write more about the Fowl family...how could I not diving into this book?

The Fowl Twins is the first book of a new (I hope long) series and I really loved the story. I've read everything written by Colfer, so I'm used to his style and I couldn't wait to laugh and be surprised by plot twists, revelations and amazing moments and I wasn't disappointed.
Myles and Beckett Fowl are fraternal twins and they are like sun and moon, absolutely different from each other. Beckett is a wild child, he likes to not wear clothes, to speak to animals, to annoy his twin, to make fun of him and we don't know his QI and, at first, any of his abilities. Myles resembles a lot his older brother, he's a scientist, he's precise and neat, the opposite of Beckett. Speaking of Artemis II we get to know he's travelling towards Mars in a rocket invented by him with Butler. (I really missed him in his book and every reference and videos will ever be enough XD My genius :D)
The story follows multiple POV: the twins, an ambitious duke, sir Teddy Bleedlam-Drye, a nun, sister Jeronima and Lazuli Heitz, a new member of the LEP, a pixel (elf and pixie) and a small (literally) troll called Whistler-Blower, found by Beckett who thought it was a toy. It's from this accident that the story begins and the twins find themselves into a bigger plot they could ever have imagined, facing peculiar enemies, submitting nuninterogations, getting to know for the first time (since Artemis only read to them about the Fairy world but never said it was real) the Fairy world. (I was really touched while reading "Fowl and fairy, fairy and Fowl friends forever". It made me think how much Artemis changed and grown since the first book. I'm so proud of him).
The story is full of twists, inventions, travels and discoveries. I loved the relationship between Myles and Beckett and how, while reading, we get to know more about their abilities and how I, at first, underestimated Beckett. I love the twins. Their combined forces and talents are absolutely brilliant and it was fun to know Lazuli Heitz and her weird DNA and her abilities as well. I loved seeing again Holly and know she was Lazuli's angel. It was really funny discovering the NANNI (Nano Artificial Neural Network Intelligence), the AI system Artemis deviced, helped by Myles, to protect his brother in their new home, in the Fowl Dalkey Island, had Holly's voice. I liked the villains, above all sir Teddy and his search for immortality and I guess we haven't see the last of him. Same for sister Jeronima and her organization.
This book was met with a lot of nostalgia, because I loved and love the Fowl's and Fairy's world and their adventures. Beckett and Myles are amazing and I think this book is a great start for a new chapter of the Fowl's family. ...more

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Nov 21, 2019 Michelle rated it really liked it

I was first introduced to Eoin Colfer through the Artemis Fowl book series when I was stocking my first middle school classroom. I instantly fell in love with Colfer’s take on elves, dwarves, and all fairy beings. When my son declared that he will ONLY read graphic novels I was very grateful to learn that the series had been adapted to graphic novel form so I could share my love of Artemis and Butler’s adventures. Now Reader Friends, we have Artemis’ little twin brothers Myles and Beckett Fowl I was first introduced to Eoin Colfer through the Artemis Fowl book series when I was stocking my first middle school classroom. I instantly fell in love with Colfer’s take on elves, dwarves, and all fairy beings. When my son declared that he will ONLY read graphic novels I was very grateful to learn that the series had been adapted to graphic novel form so I could share my love of Artemis and Butler’s adventures. Now Reader Friends, we have Artemis’ little twin brothers Myles and Beckett Fowl and their adventure is just as fun and action packed as their big brother’s.
Raised on bedtime stories of the Fairy People, Myles and Beckett are still shocked to discover that they’re big brother’s tales were based in truth. Faced with an evil old man who believes he has discovered the fountain of youth, the Twins inadvertently become friends with a troll and a pixel while dodging bullets, kidnappers, and all around evilness.
This action packed story is sure to keep even the most reluctant reader wanting to learn how the Fowl Twins save themselves from one dangerous situation after another. The Twins are opposites in looks and demeanor. Myles, incredibly intelligent, sharply dressed, and quite full of himself, feels himself to be the leader of the two. What he fails to recognize is that Beckett has his own unique intelligence. His ability to learn languages grants him the gift of speaking to animals-and trolls. Beckett uses other’s low expectations of him to his advantage and manages to save both he and his brother more than once. I really like the character of Lazuli and her coming of age story as a mixed heritage fairy, a Pixel, and how that unique heritage gives her some very important magical powers.
Full of fun, action, adventure and fairy lore, The Fowl Twins will make an excellent holiday gift for your favorite middle grade reader.
Thank you to Bookish First and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions, and mistakes, are my own. ...more

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Oct 25, 2019 Joanna Bennett rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs-earcs, 2019-reads

I will start this review off by saying that I have not read any Artemis Fowl books before reading this one. I have only read one other book by Eoin Colfer and that was his new Fantasy book for adults. I don’t think it is necessary to read the Artemis Fowl books to understand this one since it was still easy to understand everything.

After reading two books by this author in the last month I can say that I just don’t think this specific author is for me. Although he creates interesting plots and ...more

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Nov 03, 2019 Laura Newsholme rated it really liked it

This was my first foray into the world of Artemis Fowl and I really enjoyed it! This tells the story of Myles and Beckett Fowl, the twin sons of Artemis Sr and younger brothers of Artemis Jr, an aristocrat searching for immortality, a toy troll called Whistle Blower, a nun-terrigator and a special agent fairy. What I enjoyed most about this tale was the tone. It is very wry and tongue in cheek and as an adult, really appealed to me. I also loved the ways in which the twins were so different - ...more

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Nov 17, 2019 Jo rated it really liked it

The Fowl Twins by Eion Colfer
The Artemis Fowl series has often been claimed to be the "next Harry Potter", but while it shares the same fantastically imaginative story line and colorful descriptions, this is darker and more humorous than any J K Rowling's books. The characters are all unique and love able.
Eoin Colfer has added a new aspect to by adding Artemis's brothers.
Criminal genius runs in this family...
Artemis Fowl is a genius who stole fairy magic, but over the course of eight books he's ...more

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Nov 06, 2019 Miranda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Received a copy via publisher for review.

I was beyond thrilled so here this series would be getting a spin off sequel, and it’s now expanding to graphic novel form and tv! How exciting is all this Artemis fowl news?!
So the extended bit for this would be I absolutely adore the writing style even as a kid I always absorbed this authors style and drank it in quickly and engagingly. I’m glad to say even as an adult I felt just as well as I did in my early reader days. He creates such a unique ...more

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Nov 05, 2019 Randi rated it really liked it

I won an advanced copy of The Fowl Twins through BookishFirst, so that I could share my review!

The Fowl Twins is the newest installation in Eion Colfer’s beloved Artemis Fowl book, which is sure to have readers on the edge of their seats (and then lying on the floor convulsively laughing)! The story follows Artemis’s younger twin brothers, who are proof that evil genius runs in the family. Beckett is a messy boy, whose just turned eleven. His brother, Myles, strives to be live his older brother, ...more

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Nov 03, 2019 Dan rated it it was ok

First up, I have never read the Artemis Fowl novels and do know that this book is intended for a younger audience (middle grade, I believe). I sometimes enjoy reading books for younger readers because they are so much fun, but I could not get into this one. It started out slow. The twins are so different from one another which made it intriguing as they compliment one another. I enjoyed the trolls and fairies and the whole fantasy aspect. But I couldn’t connect with the characters, ...more

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Jun 13, 2019 Katie rated it it was amazing

I was granted the opportunity to read an ARC of this, and I am so excited for another series of adventures from Eoin Colfer! This book was an utter joy to read (I read it cover to cover in one sitting) and I can't wait to see what comes next.

Happy reading!
-Katie

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Nov 04, 2019 Britt rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Artemis Fowl is back!

Well, not really. But his little brothers are a more than sufficient replacement. Twins Myles and Beckett have lived a life of education and luxury (with some mild kidnapping thrown in). But everything changes drastically when a small troll appears on their island. Before they know it, they find themselves kidnapped by ACRONYM (a government organization that deals with magic) and working with a fairy to escape from not one, but two baddies - an evil, mustache twirling duke ...more

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Nov 11, 2019 Pavitra (For The Love of Fictional Worlds) rated it it was amazing

Also Posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds

Disclaimer: A physical ARC was provided via Harper Collins India in exchange for an honest review. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are therefore, my own.

I realise that I am 28 years old married woman; and some say my time to read children’s books is past – whenever I hear such drivel, I always end up throwing series like Percy Jackson and Artemis Fowl in their faces; and I am proud to say, I have a few converts from the ‘age appropriate reading group’ to the ‘who the heck cares, just freaking read what catches your fancy’ group that I head :D

Before I dive into this hilariously adventurous children’s book; you should know that The Fowl Twins stands on its own two tiny feet, but trust me, the experience will be far more worthier and enjoyable if you have read The Artemis Fowl series about a criminally genius 13 year old who discovers and hold ransom, an entirety of fairy species who live underground and had thus far, escaped notice from the human eyes.

Now, The Fowl twins, are Artemis fowl’s younger twin brothers who couldn’t be more opposite of each other, if they tried – Myles Fowl, is a suit wearing genius with snobbish and a know – it all attitude who tends to enjoy lecturing others, a little too much (reminds me of Artemis at the start of his adventures, to be honest!) and Beckett Fowl whose clothing optional attitude rankles Myles, takes amazing delight in doing his best to irritate Myles, has the amazing ability to talk in languages understood by different species and is as disorganised and disorderly as Myles is organised and ordered.

They live in fortified Iland Dalkey Island under the protection of NANNI; designed by Artemis Fowl, with inputs from Myles; to keep the twins out of trouble (kind of disappointed we do not have a Butler progeny protecting the twins!). However, with Fowl genius in play, it was of course to be expected that the twins would also find themselves in the bulls eye of villains; though unlike Artemis, it of course through no fault of their own.

When Beckett finds a miniature troll on the beach by their fortress, neither he nor Myles had any idea that the troll or rather its venom is coveted by a 150 year old English Lord Teddy Bleedham-Drye, who is seeking ways to live forever (rather droll, isn’t he?). On the other hand, we have a blue pixel, Lazuli Heitz (an pixie and elf hybrid) with no magic powers, only ambition and a whole lot of encouragement from her ‘angel’, is on a simulation when she catches sight of the miniature troll and goes against protocol to protect the creature from humans, without realising that the humans she would be encountering would of the Fowl variety (pun so totally intended!).

Now, while Artemis had done his best to educate Myles and Beckett with his ‘fairy’ knowledge; Myles, primarily hasn’t actually accepted the fairies as more than a bedtime story that Artemis told them to placate Beckett. But when Myles, and Beckett along with the miniature troll, Whistle Blower, is his name like Beckett would like you to give the respect the troll is due as his friend; are kidnapped by a secret agency whose leader is a NUN (Nunterrogator, to be specific); Myles and Beckket along with Lazuli and Whistle Blower, form a reluctant team (The Regrettables, of course!) in face of common enemy(ies).

Like always, there is no comparison to the beauty of the talent that is shown by Eoin Colfer; brilliantly written, scientifically nuanced and hilarious adventure of two 11 year old with a pixel and troll against a Nun and a Lord – it was comical, witty and absolutely thrill worthy and I am so excited to see where Mr. Colfer takes us on the next adventure with the Fowl Twins and their fairy liaison, Lazuli Heitz.

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Nov 30, 2019 Katy Noyes rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley-reviewcopy

Artemis Jr... and doubled. A new series with a new spin.

I've loved Artemis Fowl (and author Eoin Colfer) since reading the first Fowl book back at university, two decades ago (come on, film version!!!). I've read all 8 of his adventures and enjoyed the progression of the characters. Seeing that his baby brothers were now featuring in their own 'spin off', I was of course intrigued - how would the franchise work if Artemis himself wasn't the protagonist?

Well, in some ways, this is a new Artemis ...more

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Nov 09, 2019 Barbara Zimotti rated it it was amazing

Maybe I am completely the wrong target (albeit with some tools to review a book), but I enjoyed it, in every single part. I literally had to finish it during my break at work, since I was so fascinated by the story. This is what I call a good book that both children and adults can appreciate. And, as long as reading makes me happy and my childhood resuscitated everything is fine. It is not necessary reading Colfer’s previous books to understand the worldbuilding and the magical universe in it, Maybe I am completely the wrong target (albeit with some tools to review a book), but I enjoyed it, in every single part. I literally had to finish it during my break at work, since I was so fascinated by the story. This is what I call a good book that both children and adults can appreciate. And, as long as reading makes me happy and my childhood resuscitated everything is fine. It is not necessary reading Colfer’s previous books to understand the worldbuilding and the magical universe in it, but in case you are not unfamiliar with them you have only to come back to the world you already know.
As a spin-off of Artemis Fowl saga the two main characters are twins Myles and Beckett, who are different, yes, but they compensate each other very well. Although I believe some more space is reserved to Myles (perhaps because he is the twin who is more similar to Artemis) rather than to Beckett the love they have to each other touches me and in time Beckett could reserve a surprise, which I would love to know. Since Myles is not Artemis (the desire to surpass him is palpable and constant in him) he has not the same charm of his older sibling, and he will not work as a character per se, so he needs Beckett, who embodies the action and the energy that a Butler and a Holly Short could give to a rational character, not forgetting that even he can be brainy whenever needed and an active part in a plan involving thinking. The duo makes a one.
Lazuli Heitz, as a coprotagonist, is particularly different to Holly and I appreciated the fact that even though she is a hybrid, a rare creature, she does not embody the prerogative of a Mary-Sue and I hope that in the development of the saga she will not turn in this type of character. She is overshadowed by the twins’ personalities, though, in this first chapter.
The villains are like a counterpart of Myles and Beckett and thanks to their ideas we can see a shadow in Myles which can be a nice potential input for a conflict between the bright and the dark side within him.
The story is well written and the timing is fast-paced, like in an action movie with cliffhangers, and the inner coherence of the story is respected. A thing I always loved about Artemis Fowl’s saga and now in this new one is the way “infodump” is prepared to the reader: every information is necessary and since the main target are 10-11 y.o. readers, they need to know more than the characters themselves or at least have the same knowledge, without being boring or patronising. And the lexicon is good as well: as a non-native English speaker I appreciated the different registers for the different characters (aulic vocabulary and syntax for Myles and the Lord, colloquial and modern register for Beckett) and I believe that a kid can love it too because the way a story is written, with a good plot itself, makes the story even more fascinating and appealing to a reader.
I definitely recommend this book, it made me feel happier and both my inner fangirl and my inner critic are satisfied. ...more

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Nov 16, 2019 Denae Christine rated it really liked it

Shelves: listened-to, sci-fi, fantasy-present-day

Reader thoughts: I forgot how funny Colfer was. This book was fresh and clean.

Artemis is not the main character (sob!). He's about 24 and on his way to Mars for a 5-year-self-imposed-mission. So, he won't be showing up in this series anytime soon. I guess Colfer had to get Artemis out of the way so that we wouldn't just expect him to solve all the problems and save the day.

Miles is pretty much Artemis jr with a few quirks of his own (like how much he works to increase his brain capacity like Reader thoughts: I forgot how funny Colfer was. This book was fresh and clean.

Artemis is not the main character (sob!). He's about 24 and on his way to Mars for a 5-year-self-imposed-mission. So, he won't be showing up in this series anytime soon. I guess Colfer had to get Artemis out of the way so that we wouldn't just expect him to solve all the problems and save the day.

Miles is pretty much Artemis jr with a few quirks of his own (like how much he works to increase his brain capacity like making sure to get optimal hours of sleep each night or such). Also, he isn't a recovering criminal. He's just sneaky. (I also compared him to Miles Vorkosigan now and then just because they are both geniuses and both named Miles, but they're really nothing alike.)

Beckett might be a genius, but he doesn't bother showing it or relying on it. Instead, he's out to have fun. When Miles says, "Who's following us?" Beckett's all like, "Say it like we're on an adventure!" Miles (who always finds himself complying to his brother's wishes for some reason) says, "Hark! Who dares follow the Regrettables?" Beckett's contributions really amp up the drama and action (like when he voluntarily gets kidnapped or confronts a troll or insists on a team name or becomes friends with his birthmark). Beckett is the one who keeps the book from becoming too serious.

I loved the unique and weird bad guys, too. We have the nunterrogator (Sister Geronima) and the British lord on a quest for immortality (he's 150 with a full beard and has tried the weirdest tricks to keep his youth like hanging over a volcano for a month). The old lord guy has a membership with a criminal gadgets and supplies company. He has to talk with customer service once, and then he leaves a glowing review for how well the company helped him. It was hilarious.

Writer thoughts: When a writer takes time to point out the absurdity of a situation, it helps the reader identify how they're supposed to be reacting. I appreciate when authors have lines like, "He never expected to be covered in mud and facing deadly drones while his rescuer magically vomited fire" or whatever it was. Another line might have been, "What do you mean that he's stuck in the hole and covered in plastic? Nevermind. I'll get the rest of the story later."

Both lines are used to make readers pause and realize the strange situations that the Fowl twins have gotten themselves into. This happens usually when a writer sums up the scene in a sentence or has a newcomer show visible or audible confusion about what is going on. These sorts of lines usually add to the humor, but they can add to the tension as well, depending on the situation. In this book, it added to the humor. ...more

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Oct 03, 2019 Ross Jeffery rated it really liked it

– Short Review –
Many readers will be familiar with the name Artemis Fowl, even if they’re never read any of Eoin Colfer’s previous novels. This book passes the baton for adventure to his younger, twin, brothers Myles and Beckett Fowl. Twins they may be but they look different and definitely approach life in a different way. Myles is the thinker, Beckett is the doer. When a fairy and troll unexpectedly enter their orbit it marks the start of a high paced adventure that sees them kidnapped and – Short Review –
Many readers will be familiar with the name Artemis Fowl, even if they’re never read any of Eoin Colfer’s previous novels. This book passes the baton for adventure to his younger, twin, brothers Myles and Beckett Fowl. Twins they may be but they look different and definitely approach life in a different way. Myles is the thinker, Beckett is the doer. When a fairy and troll unexpectedly enter their orbit it marks the start of a high paced adventure that sees them kidnapped and threatened with death. As the action moves between Ireland, Amsterdam and Verona can their combined talents see them escape? This fun and funny book will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
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– Longer review –
So this may be a kids book but, let me tell you, this adult reader thoroughly enjoyed it – romping through the pages in a couple of days. This book is genuinely funny as well as providing all the high octane thrills you could want. With a clever reference to Scooby Doo and villains with such wonderful names as Sister Geronima and Lord Teddy Bleedham-Drye it is a joyous read from start to finish.
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Without giving too much away, Myles and Beckett Fowl are 11 year old twins currently left alone in the highly fortified family pile. Under the watchful eye of super computer NANNI the boys are having a fine old time. Then one evening they’re at their private beach when suddenly a fairy (Lazuli Heitz) and a troll (christened as Whistle Blower by Beckett) unexpectedly come into their lives.
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Lord Teddy is after the troll as he believes it holds the secret to ever lasting life. Meanwhile Sister Geronima is desperate to get her hands on the fairy on behalf of her organisation, ACRONYM. The twins end up caught in the crossfire and so begins a fantastic cat and mouse chase involving the six main characters and a host of equally amusing supports.
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As the chase moves around Europe, Myles employs his wit, intelligence and special glasses to try and outfox their foes whilst Beckett goes for the physical approach and tries to disable their enemies with his famous cluster punch. Meanwhile Lord Teddy has a fantastic array of ingenious gadgets and weapons to play with, courtesy of old friend Ishi Myishi.
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This book is fast, fun, engaging and terrifically witty – it will appeal enormously to kids but there’s also enough clever stuff in there to amuse the adults. So grown ups, read it with your kids (or steal their copy once they’ve finished with it). A cracker of a book. I’m now off to read Eoin Colfer’s back catalogue! ...more

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About Eoin Colfer

Eoin Colfer

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Eoin Colfer (pronounced Owen) was born in Wexford on the South-East coast of Ireland in 1965, where he and his four brothers were brought up by his father and mother, who were both educators.

He received his degree from Dublin University and began teaching primary school in Wexford. He has lived and worked all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Italy. After the publication of the ...more