Jayson’s Reviews > The Opal Deception > Status Update

Notes:
(1) The final chapter nicely bookends a couple things that were brought up at the very beginning, both interrupted by the adventure.
- Holly has to make a difficult decision about whether or not to accept a promotion. We get an indirect resolution, in a very satisfying and out-of-the-box way.
- Artemis steals a painting and his decision about what to do with it is symbolic of his moral and emotional evolution.

Notes:
(1) In a book where the main hero and villain are both female, it's interesting how much of an insult it is to say that someone's rival is "prettier."
- It's one of the main reasons Holly hates Lili Frond in "The Arctic Incident," and it's mentioned here as a "treasonous thought" against Opal (re: Holly).
- When thinking of Holly, Opal must reassure herself of her own beauty to get back in the right headspace.

Notes:
(1) It's interesting to note that the chapter lengths aren't at all consistent. Chapters 3, 7 and 10 are all comparably long, at least two or three times the size of others, and I can't think of any reason why.
- They each have multiple scenes and character perspectives, so it's not as if they're long and exciting sequences you can't cut away from.
- If this was the case with previous books, I'd never noticed.

Notes:
(1) Chapter 7 is pretty much "The Hunger Games," complete with a "Catching Fire" ending.
- Though, rather than a purpose-built arena, it's in an abandoned amusement park.
- Opal's very much The Joker here. Not just given the setting. She forces her victims through humiliating ordeals for fun.
(2) Just when you think the book's reached new levels of sophistication... fart humor, to remind you it's middle-grade.

Notes:
(1) Artemis and Holly, despite being different species, are of comparable height. She's a full-grown elf and he's a human adolescent.
- In a way, it's very Superman and Lois Lane. Different species, but similar enough. Plus Holly, like Superman, ages relatively slowly. Artemis being mature for his age means they're also intellectual peers.
(2) "Foaly ground his horsey teeth."
- A bit on the nose for a centaur.

Notes:
(1) I like when evil characters do actual evil things and are smart about it.
- The murder here strikes a perfect balance for a middle-grade book.
- It's about as quick and painless a death as you can get.
(2) "If Master Fowl is as clever as he is supposed to be, he won’t open the package until he reaches the Kronski Hotel."
- In the audiobook the narrator says "Master Foaly." Likely just a flub no one caught.

Notes:
(1) Opal: "I don’t care about magic. Magic did not help me to escape, science did. Science will be my magic."
- It's a very telling line. At least so far, the fairy world isn't especially magical, despite fairies being magical creatures. It's a futuristic, technologically-advanced world.
- Whereas with the human world, you'd expect science to be used for medicine at least, but characters rely on magic to heal.