So what makes Artemis stand out? Well, he’s a criminal mastermind and his nemesis-turned-ally is Holly Short, the only female fairy police officer in the LEPrecon. This is just one example of how Colfer’s series effortlessly blends technology and magic, creating a world inspired by not limited to Irish fairy lore. Being an anti-hero, Artemis starts off as one of those kids who knows he’s bad and delights in being very good at it. As the series progresses, he grows to understand how isolating his selfishness is and reaches the conclusion that crime doesn’t pay.

The seven previous novels in the seris has led to The Last Guardian, which starts off catastrophic and then focuses on the Fowl manor for what feels like a low-tech, intimate showdown between Artemis and his actual nemesis Opal Koboi. This brawl just happens to have the fate of the world resting on its outcome, but more importantly the fate of Artemis.

While it’s bittersweet to say goodbye to some of the best characters in the 9-12 department, especially after more than ten years of reading adventures, The Last Guardian is a satisfying ending that gives us an chance to see each of our main heroes at their best; it happens that often comes at the same time we see them enduring the worst.

This smart, funny and action-packed series is perfect for a reader hungry for books to get them through the rest of their summer holidays. Older readers who don’t mind a few jokes about dwarf bodily functions will also get a kick out of the sophisticated storylines. If you loved Percy Jackson and The Olympians, then put Artemis Fowl on your reading list!