A Stand-Alone, Fun Fantasy Adventure

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Fantasy is not always my favorite genre, but this was a laugh-out-loud, fun fantasy adventure. For those readers who are not familiar with Artemis Fowl, there is no need to worry since 'The Fowl Twins' is totally enjoyable as a stand-alone book. The protagonists are eleven-year-old twins. However, they are fraternal boys, so there are no cliche, swapping-places adventures. Rather there are a troll and fairy who enrich the adventures as well as clever inventions that put those old James Bond inventions to shame. The brothers, Beckette and Myles, deal with villains as they romp all over Europe. At times, the author seems to speak directly to the reader, drawing one in with phrases such as "Picture, if you will..." and then adding fun random facts to supposedly desperate situations. Some of the humor might go right over the heads of middle-grade readers, yet these same passages are what make the book enjoyable to adults as well. For example, when the spy nun, Sister Jeronima, is yelling in Spanish and her words seem to be lyrics from Verdi's "Rigoletto." I enjoyed reading the book, but the funny fantasy just is not my favorite genre; this is why I rated the book as 4 instead of a 5 star. This is my honest review in exchange for the ARC.