The Opal Deception (Artemis Fowl, Book 4)
by Eoin Colfer (Author)
Review
Release on April 4, 2005
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Amazon review about this book:
"Criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl is back.and so is his cunning enemy from Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident, Opal Koboi. At the start of the fourth adventure, Artemis has returned to his unlawful ways. He's in Berlin, preparing to steal a famous impressionist painting from a German bank. He has no idea that his old rival, Opal, has escaped from prison by cloning herself. She's left her double behind in jail and, now free, is exacting her revenge on all those who put her there, including Artemis."
Review By Booklist
"Gr. 6-9. The fourth book in the Artemis Fowl saga follows The Eternity Code (2003), in which Artemis' mind was wiped clean of any memories of the belowground world of elves, pixies, and dwarves. In this book, Artemis has reverted to his old life of crime. His archenemy, Opal Koboi, has been in a self-induced coma for a year, plotting revenge on all who thwarted her earlier evil doings. After cloning herself, she escapes and sets her plans in motion, going first to find LEPrecon Captain Holly Short and Commander Root, then taking on Artemis as she schemes to destroy the fairy world. As in all the books, this one has plenty of action as well as great humor and clever plot manipulations. Characters are once again fully realized, and fans will eagerly enter into the spirit of the action. Sally Estes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved"
Review By AudioFile
"The underground world of the fairies again confronts the evil genius of the nefarious pixie, Opal Koboi. Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police) needs the help of young mastermind Artemis Fowl to save both humans and fairies. But Artemis has been mind-wiped and has no recollection of his previous adventures with the LEP. Nathaniel Parker strides confidently into the worlds of fantasy and technology that unite humans and fairies. He unerringly re-creates the many voices from the first three installments, and his appropriately hurried pacing takes the listener from one breathless calamity to another. Parker's stereotyped Asian accent becomes a bit annoying, but this is a small complaint in an otherwise welcome revival of Colfer's panoply of characters. S.G. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine"
Review By School Library Journal
"Grade 5-7 -Identity fraud is at the heart of this fourth book in the series. To all appearances, Opal Koboi, pixie and archenemy of the fairies, is under close surveillance as she lies in a coma. Artemis Fowl, the brilliant 14-year-old criminal mastermind, has had his mind wiped clean of all knowledge of fairies, and, therefore, of all prior goodness he has learned. When the real Opal escapes and leaves behind a DNA-perfect clone of herself, her revenge against all those who opposed her commences with deadly fury. Among the barrage of high-tech gadgets and continuous action sequences and plot twists are moments that give even Artemis Fowl pause as he contemplates friendship, responsibility, and death. The prose is clunky and the characters speak in clichés, but those who enjoyed the earlier books won't care. The humor (heavily dosed with flatulence jokes) and creativity carry the narrative through the tight spots and impossible situations.-Farida S. Dowler, Mercer Island Library, WA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."
Review By Ms. Nadia Bashoo "Fleet UK"
"I've read and reread the Artemis Fowl books more times than I can count. The original ideas, the effortlessly gripping plots, the witty dialogue, and above all Colfer's unique characters make up a series that you can never tire of. I was hooked from the first book, and his latest offering was no exception. As the title implies, Opal Coboy of The Arctic incident is out for revenge against all those who have thwarted her, notably, Holly and Artemis. Holly seeks Artemis's assistance, but his loss of memory means they must get to know each other all over again, and time is short.
This book is more serious than its predecessors, mainly due to the tragic loss of one of the main characters. The new found friendship between Holly and Artemis is particularly well done, and the book moves with Colfer's usual fast pace that makes it impossible to put down. Like the Eternity Code, this book has a bitter sweet ending that leaves the reader crying out for more.
Nathaniel Parker once more gives an excellent performance. These books really could have been written for him. His voices and characterizations are simply superb. I hope the wait for the next instalment will not be a long one."
Review By bensmomma "bensmomma" (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
"If it were not for the occasional appearance of Mulch Diggums, the dwarf with f*rts so explosive they can propel him safely from an underwater submarine all the way up to the surface of the ocean, the adult reader would find this the equal of any thriller written for adult eyes.
In the present volume, the evil child genius Artemis Fowl has forgotten all about his friends the fairies, and is occupied stealing a famous painting from a bank vault in true Mission-Impossible style. His triumph is interrupted by his archenemy pixie Opal Koboi, who has a plot (perhaps this won't surprise you) to destroy the world. Without giving away any of the rapid-fire plot developments, let's just say that Artemis, accompanied by Holly Short the intrepid LEPrechaun, Foaly the tech-wizard centaur, Artemis' bodyguard Butler, and the strangely compelling Mulch, fouls her plans (ok, sorry).
The intriguing list of gadgets and devices author Eoin Colfer employs to move the plot forward includes: cloning, creatures who shed their entire skin and use it later as a disguise in a prison break, retinal imaging, 100 million tons of molten iron, heat-seeking missiles, spacesuits with helmets that carry biometric information back to the center of the earth, handguns that bond with their owners, etc.
The ending promises a change for Holly, but a future with lots of Mulch and Artemis in it - and possibly some romance in later volumes.
The excitement, pace, and humor would be precisely like the best PG-13 thriller you will see at the movie theatre this summer, were it not for the fact that many of the characters are fairies, pixies, trolls, and dwarfs. And just like those movies, a few parents will wish there were less, well, military hardware in this series. A few of the more humorless moms will wish there were fewer f*rts. If those things don't bother you, you should not let the kids keep it to themselves; it's a great fun read for all ages."
Review By Camille "at the BookMoot!" (Katy, TX)
"When we last saw our heroes, at the end of "The Eternity Code", Artemis and Butler had submitted to a fairy mind wipe and had no memory of their adventures with the Lower Elements Police Reconnaissance.
Now, arch criminal Opal Koboi has escaped but no one except the elf, Captain Holly Short, knows it. Koboi has set the human world and the fairy world on a collision course. The very existence of the Haven (the fairy realm) is threatened.
LEP Recon thinks Holly has gone mad and killed her commanding officer and they are coming after her. Holly knows she has one chance to capture Koboi but it means saving Artemis and restoring his memories.
Artemis's very cool bodyguard, Butler as well as the dwarf felon, Mulch Diggums are part of the team again. The Lower Elements have their share of bureaucrats and administrative incompetants which frustrate the centaur, Foley who is LEP's technology guru. His technological wonder gadgets give the books some of their "wow" factor.
One passage in the book made me laugh out loud knowing something about the Colfer's TV preferences.
...Holly walked rapidly into the cockpit and strapped herself into the pilot's chair, "Seven and a half hours to save the world. Isn't there some law that says we get at least twenty-four?"
Artemis strapped himself into the copilot's chair. "I don't think Opal bothers with laws," he said...
When Colfer was in town for a book signing recently, he shared that one of his favorite T.V. shows is "24."
The story has plenty of action and humor. Trolls REALLY are scary. Colfer described his Artemis Fowl books as "Die Hard with Fairies." I would agree. This is a fast paced and fun read that is NOT just for kids."
Review By A-M (Near D.C., USA)
"I just finished reading this fabulous book, completely unexpectedly, as I had no idea a new one was on the way. Very pleasant surprise to say the least. As usual the characters in this are fantastic!! We don't get as much from some of my favorites, like Foaly and Butler as we have in previous books, but they are still very strong presences. Colfer does a great job of telling one moment in time from various view points so the reader is always in the know (as much as anyone can be in regards to a criminal mastermind like Artemis Fowl, that is)
(Spoiler warning)
It does sadly have a character death, though it was handled very well. Artemis' thoughts and insights are great, and he and Holly share their special chemistry even with him not having his memories for most of the book. The last little blip in the book, an 'article' seems to promise alot more from my favorite 'reformed' child-mastermind, and the next book will be taking the characters in very different directions, it seems, than they have been traveling in the previous books. Not just the reformed Artemis, but Holly as well--and in some degree together.
Awesome read!!"
Review By Haley "knutty knightingale" (West of the Horizon)
"WARNING: spoilers ahead
I was hesitant to get into the Artemis Fowl series, if for no other reason than thief-as-hero stories tend to bore me. But after racing through the first, galloping off to Borders to buy the second and third, and buying the fourth in hardcover from Amazon, I have to say I'm hooked.
Right off the bat, the pixie Opal Koboi springs a trap that makes it seem as though Holly has killed one of her closest friends. Foaly remains certain she is innocent, despite the fact that everyone thinks this attitude is delusional (I've really liked Foaly all through the books for his sheer comic relief, but this book was when he really started to develop as a character.) Then there's Artemis, of course, whom Holly rescues directly after the death. However, Artemis is just as emotionless and, well, EVIL, as he was in the first book, having had his memories of the fairies -- and all the goodness he grudgingly learned from them -- wiped away in "The Eternity Code". He doesn't remember Holly, doesn't care in the least when she informs him that someone he knew well is dead, and is utterly heartless until he finally recovers those memories.
Well, I'm not going to give a detailed synopsis of the entire book, but I do have a suggestion. No, actually, less of a suggestion, more an outright order. If you've finished "The Eternity Code", and liked it, buy this book. Don't ask questions. If you've finished "The Eternity Code", and didn't like it, ditto. If you haven't read any of the Artemis Fowl books, get off this page, go to the first book's page, and buy it. You'll be glad you did.
Rating: Very Good"
Review By Y. Slayton (Washington)
Artemis Fowl; The Opal Deception
"In this book of the series, Artemis Fowl has forgotten his fairy friends due to a mind-wiping mesmer, and plans to steal an infamous painting called The Fairy Thief. But, when he steals the painting he is only pulled into a web of revenge and destruction weaved by only the one and only escaped Opal Kaboi. True Fun!
Artemis, Butler and Holly aswell as Mulch Diggums, a ...gifted gnome, must band together again and save the People's world from colliding from the Human one. But there is one thing; Holly is a fugitive from LEP, and they don't have their trusted Centaur Foaley to lean on. They must rely solely on Artemis' genius, Butler's strength, Holly's piloting skills, and Mulch's...talents.
This an extremely well written book, full of plot twists and turns, but it seemed to move almost too fast for the reader to get the full feeling of the book. Eoin Colfer did a wonderful job with characterization, as he always does, and wrote of the inner conflicts of the main characters as a dear friend dies in one of Opal Kaboi's traps very well, with almost a disturbing clarity."
Review By Dumdummuoi (Chicago, IL)
"i've read each of the first 3 Artemis Fowl books at least 4 times, and i loved the 4th one as well. read somewhere that Eoin Colfer's working on the 5th, and that a movie's being planned. i can't wait!
oh by the way, sure it's recommended for kids but i'm 19, in college, and i don't think i'm the only adult who enjoys a good "children's" book such as this one."
Review By Anna Wantz "LA8" (Miamisburg, Ohio USA)
"Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception is another outstanding book by Eoin Colfer. Mr. Colfer has done an exceptional job continuing on where he left off in the previous book in the series, Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code. Whether it's describing our own world or making up a whole new one, everything seems very real. Pictures of both worlds become painted in the reader's head as they read on and on about the characters and settings. As you read about what Artemis or Captain Short look like, it's as if you are right there with them. Eoin Colfer does a fantastic job with this book.
Along with this book comes excitement, tears, anger, and confusion. Whatever the character is feeling, you come to feel it as well. Mr. Colfer did an amazing job painting pictures in your head and feeding the reader emotions. When there is some new scenery to be introduced, you end up feeling like you are there. When characters experience happiness, pain, sadness, or anger, you feel it as well. I enjoyed reading this book because Mr. Colfer did a wonderful job continuing on. I felt as if I really were right there with Artemis, Butler, Captain Short, and whoever else was introduced. Mr. Colfer also did very well showing how Artemis and Butler slowly started to remember things. He slowly brought back the important magical creatures from previous books and reintroduced them to the human world. Through intricate schemes and evil plots, Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception is an outstanding book and one of my personal favorites.
Kerry Ward"
Review By Alice L. Hughes
"Eoin Colfer has done it again with this non-stop action novel. Comical and fast paced, this is a real page turner as boy genius Artemis, Holly, Butler, and Mulch try to stop the evil pixie Opal Koboi, who has awaken, broken out of prison, and is exacting her revenge on the 2 worlds and their inhabitants. But stopping her will be anything but easy for Artemis and his friends. Opal's evil plan is like the tangle of a spider's web. And then there's Artemis. His memories gone, Artemis wil have to remember his past in order to stop Opal and save both worlds from certain doom. Brilliant. Another book I've enjoyed: The alien invasion adventure "GAAK" by Darryl Hughes. Four "Goonies" like kids take on adolesence and kooky aliens to save the world. Too funny."
About the Author
"Eoin Colfer is the New York Times bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series; The Supernaturalist; Eoin Colfer’s Legend of Spud Murphy; Eoin Colfer’s Legend of Captain Crow’s Teeth; The Wish List; and his latest book, Half Moon Investigations. He lives in Ireland with his wife and two children."
If you would like to buy this book, you can check out its available for The Opal Deception (Artemis Fowl, Book 4) (Hardcover) at amazon.com
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