How are the last three going to be better than the rest? Why did I have to get through 1-5 to get to the good ones?

I wanted to love these and they were meh... I don't know if it was the narrator, the story, my frame of mind, me in general but these were not enthralling like I hoped and Carson was right. The movie and the book are like Ready Player One book vs movie. or The Shining book vs movie. They are inspired by but they are totally separate entities.
Basically Ireland is a land of magic and the Fowl family is a heist crew for magic. But Artemis and Holly are the odd couple of friends who need each other and are the last person each other need to keep life interesting and adventurous.

One last adventure with Artemis, Holly, Butler, Foley and, of course, Mulch. It’s also one final showdown against Opal Koboi. But this one’s been set up very well, and everyone knew it was coming. I’ll be honest, when we first faced Koboi, I’d never have thought that she would become the series villain. But she’s proven herself to be quite formidable. And insane.

I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a great conclusion. It starts with Koboi’s plan going into action, and there are consequences appropriate for a final book. Though I wish that the faerie warriors that Koboi used had been even remotely set up in a previous book. That’s actually my only real issue with the book. Their presence was still fun.

But even with the villains and the magic and schemes, the heart has always been the characters and the relationships. I can’t tell you how much I love the relationships Artemis has with Butler and Holly. Or the one of mutual respect and experience between Butler and Holly. I also love how Mulch continues to pop up in unusual ways and be (reluctantly) helpful.

The book also completes Artemis’s personal arc that was started in book one with him kidnapping a faerie for gold. He’s come such a long way, and so gradually and believably. The characters have been the best executed aspect of this series. And I’m satisfied with how all their stories ended.

I also wanted to give one last shoutout to Nathaniel Parker for his fantastuc narration for this entire series. You did an amazing job.

And… there’s not much else to say. This book was fun and fast paced like all the others. I loved how competent all the characters were. And I’m very glad Artemis’s Atlantis Complex wasn’t present here, because I wasn’t a fan of that in the last book. So overall, this was a great book and conclusion, and I’m very happy to have started this series. It’s made me want to read more middle-grade, and it was just a blast.

It ain’t great folks but like. It’s not total trash. I finished it a while ago and haven’t really had a chance to note that and take down my feelings, but. Reviews of the other later books in the series sum it up well, lots of the same bleh choices but more and not much else to enjoy along with them. The writing itself is generally fine. Stick to the early books, fam.

Ending was too obvious, it would have been possible for Artemis to sacrifice something for the escape which should at least have occoured to him as a possible solution. Not wanting to spoil the end, I will not go into details, but it would have been bloody and painful.

Except for that it was a usual, good Artemis book, highly entertaining.

Good ending to the series, not the best of them though. All the favourite characters get a moment in the limelight. I'd like to see more adventures with Myles and Beckett, the twins!