SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY
Artemis is out to catch a new type of fairy folk, a demon. These creatures have been long gone, but he's found them. But someone else is out to do the same thing, and it's up to Artemis to outsmart them and rescue the demon. With Holly, Mulch and Foaly's help, of course.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Artemis does seem to have matured slightly. He reveals to Butler that after getting proof of demons returning, he plans to go to Foaly. It shows his concern for the Fairy people outweighs his self interest.
Holly left the LEP and is now a private investigator. But she feels like meaning is lacking in her life.
Mulch is now Holly's partner in business.
Foaly left his job but it still helpful to Holly in his new occupation.
Minerva is essentially a female version of Artemis. It's painfully obvious, just by her name. She is spoiled, entitled, and smarter then everyone. It feels like no thought went into her. From her blonde curls to her French roots. She is a demented Shirley temple.
N°1 is the name of the demon that crosses over into the world. He is nothing like the other demons, who enjoy violence, being loud, and detest learning and reading. He is actually quite charming, being rather random and silly on accident.
Leon Abbot is a demon, and N°1's teacher. He is one of the few villains in the story. I didn't really take him seriously but he was crucial to the plot.
PACING
We switch back and forth between perspectives in the book. From Artemis, Holly and N°1. Just like all the other books. Keeps the pacing decent.
A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN?-SPOILERS
It seems the whole goal of Minerva is for Artemis to face someone who he used to be. In fact, Artemis actually points it out. (And to give Arty a girlfriend as well.) But we already did this in “The Eternity Code” with Jon Spiro. And that was done far better then and with more subtly. And for the most part, he as was an okay villain. While Minerva comes across as more obnoxious than Artemis ever was.
The most painful thing is that I have been waiting for another character to appear in the books. Someone who would be a peer to Artemis; Someone who could earn his respect without being a super genius. Maybe someone who had talents that Artemis lacked but needed. It didn't even have to be a love interest. But Colfer seemed to want Artemis to get a love interest, face a younger version of himself, and find an intellectual equal all at once. It all felt far too lazy.
The whole thing felt forced, with Artemis drooling over her every second, calling her a genius, and feeling bad when he has to deceive her and steal back N°1. She was so annoying that Artemis should have felt happy to put her in her place. If anything, he might have to learn how to be sympathetic to an obvious brat. Instead, he babies her from the beginning. It prevents any character development and instead makes him act out of character.
ARTEMIS THE IDEA PLANTER
There is a scene where Artemis plants an idea in the villains' head, so he can plan a hostage exchange where he wants. But without the villain knowing. He does this by repeating the word “tie” in order to get the exchange in Taipei. I found the idea laughable and was stretching the bounds of my belief. In a book about fairy people, that's saying something.
SWITCHING VILLAINS-SPOILERS
For a portion of the book, Minerva is the villain, but this switches. I honestly think she should have stayed the main villain. She could have easily been in the strain of Opal. And I think it would better for Artemis to see what would have happened if he didn't change, or didn't continue to. This would have hit much closer to him, as compared to Jon Spiro, because Minerva is closer to his age and much more like him, being a child genius.
DEMONS ON HYBRAS
There has to be a good amount of cheese in every book. And besides Minerva, the demons have to be it. The fact that all are portrayed as unintelligent buffoons is a little annoying. But N°1 is charming enough for me to ignore the cringe-worthy aspects.
HOLLY & ARTY
Most of the books emphasize Arty's relationship with Holly. But not always in a good way. I have gotten tired of her lecturing him (sometimes about dumb things). Luckily, there is not much of that in this book. Instead we are get a moment where Artemis admits that without the LEP in his life, he is bored. Holly feels the same. They both share a sense of restless and lack of purpose.
By the end of the book, it feels as though they are permanently bound to one another for reasons that will seem obvious to the reader.
BILLY KONG-SPOILERS
One of Minerva's henchmen is rather screwed up. Turns out in his childhood, his brother told him about stories about demons, saying they were out to get him. Then he went out and got killed. So Billy has been haunted by this his entire life. It sounds completely pathetic, so I couldn't help but feel bad for him. So when Holly takes advantage of him, telling him she is one of those monsters, she came across as heartless. I think it was supposed to be funny, but I just thought it was tasteless. I didn't think it was amusing to see a pathetic man have his deluded fears realized.
HUMOR
There is the usual humor. I found the scene where Foaly hacks the cameras to be rather hilarious. Especially since Minerva was so annoying. But a scene where she saw the security camera's would have been perfect.
Doodah Day having to masquerade as a little boy was funny too. And N°1 had more then a few great jokes, like when he says he doesn't think that Minerva is pretty.
WHAT IF?
I think it would have been better if the main villain had been Minerva or Leon Abbot. I could easily see making Billy Kong an ally, with his belief in demons. Perhaps learning that they are real, but not evil, and instead allies. Maybe learning this through being healed and eventually turning on Minerva. This could have made Holly look sympathetic, instead of cruel. Maybe add another ally into the story.
CLIMAX-SPOILERS
Artemis and Holly have to get rid of a bomb that they don't have time to dismantle. It nice to see Artemis do something physical and have to push himself. They end up on Hybras with the demons and Artemis has to push himself again, this time to do something he struggles with. I thought it was sweet how he never wanted Holly to know what he did for her.
And the use of time travel wasn't confusing but simple. It made sense and Colfer didn't seem to be trying to create a gimmick that made no sense, like so many stories having to do with time travel happen to do. I'm looking at you, Kerr.
CONCLUSION
All the main characters are still likable and funny. N°1 is a welcome addition, but Minerva is a poor substitute for a peer that Artemis needs. She ruins every scene she is in. The pacing is good and I thought the climax was shocking. Artemis and Holly feel bonded for life afterwards. I give “The Lost Colony” three and half stars.
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