The Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer

Book Details
The Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer
Hardcover, 432 Pages
2010, Hyperion Book CH
ISBN: 1423128192
Series: Book 7 of Artemis Fowl

Synopsis
Artemis has committed his entire fortune to a project he believes will save the planet and its inhabitants, both human and fairy. Can it be true? Has goodness taken hold of the world’s greatest teenage criminal mastermind?

Captain Holly Short is unconvinced, and discovers that Artemis is suffering from Atlantis Complex, a psychosis common among guilt-ridden fairies - not humans - and most likely triggered by Artemis’s dabbling with fairy magic. Symptoms include obsessive-compulsive behavior, paranoia, multiple personality disorder and, in extreme cases, embarrassing professions of love to a certain feisty LEPrecon fairy.

Unfortunately, Atlantis Complex has struck at the worst possible time. A deadly foe from Holly’s past is intent on destroying the actual city of Atlantis. Can Artemis escape the confines of his mind – and the grips of a giant squid – in time to save the underwater metropolis and its fairy inhabitants?

Review
Artemis Fowl has been a criminal mastermind. He's recently been turning a new leaf and trying to do good things for the world. Now, Artemis Fowl is mentally ill. Artemis develops the Atlantis Complex, a disorder that makes him paranoid and exhibit obsessive compulsive behavior. While an interesting concept, it didn't quite work with the tone the series normally takes and ultimately sucked the fun right out of this novel.

What saved the book for me was Foaly. While it's always entertaining to see the small bits where he verbally spars with Artemis, he's right there in the field during The Atlantis Complex. We get to see him in action, being both brilliant and witty.

The Atlantis Complex contains a huge adventure, but most of the characters we know and love felt off. Butler, Juliet, Mulch, almost everyone felt different. Artemis was off on the sidelines for a decent portion of the book, so perhaps the strong focus on the minor characters just couldn't carry the book.

It appears Artemis's illness will continue on to the next book, so fans can only hold out hope that it's building up to something major and, well, better. While not a bad book, The Atlantis Complex didn't meet the expectations I have for the series.

Rating

Links

Eoin Colfer's website