Clara’s Verdict
The second book in Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl series does something that sequels rarely manage: it deepens the world whilst also softening – just fractionally – the edges of its protagonist. Artemis Fowl at thirteen is still a criminal mastermind with a supercilious manner and an unhealthy attachment to his own genius. But there’s something new here, a hairline crack in the armour that makes him infinitely more interesting. The Arctic Incident is sharper, funnier, and more emotionally complex than the first book, and Gerry O’Brien’s narration remains one of the great pleasures of this series on audio.
About the Audiobook
Someone is supplying illegal human power sources to the goblin gangs who operate in the fairy underworld beneath the Earth’s surface. Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit is convinced that Artemis Fowl – her nemesis, now thirteen – is responsible. Her logic is impeccable. His track record is damning. But this time, Artemis has problems of his own: his father, missing for over a year, has been located in the hands of the Russian Mafia, and a ransom demand has arrived.
What Colfer engineers brilliantly is a scenario in which Artemis and Holly are forced to work together. Their dynamic – mutual suspicion hardening gradually into something resembling respect – is the engine of the book. The fairy underworld is expanded considerably here, the technology more elaborate, the stakes higher. But Colfer never loses his light touch, and the comedy remains perfectly calibrated: dry, fast-moving, and genuinely funny for adult readers as well as its primary audience. At just under seven hours, it’s an ideal listening length – long enough to settle into but never overstaying its welcome.
The Narration
Gerry O’Brien has narrated this series from the beginning, and his performance here is confident and richly characterised. He handles the cast of fairies, trolls, and morally compromised geniuses with evident relish, giving each a distinct voice without tipping into caricature. His Artemis is perfectly judged – coolly precise, occasionally vain, but never insufferable. One listener specifically noted that O’Brien’s recordings are “severely better” than alternative editions of the series, and that comparison speaks to how well his narration complements Colfer’s writing. It’s a genuinely excellent audiobook performance.
What Readers Say
Rated 4.7 out of 5, with enthusiastic reviews from UK listeners. The consensus is that this second instalment matches or exceeds the first, despite a slightly slower opening act. One reviewer read the book in two days because they “just couldn’t put it down”; another described it as “totally gripping” and “difficult to put down,” noting that it develops beautifully after a careful setup. The characterisation of Artemis’s growing maturity is a recurring point of praise. One reader noted how Colfer’s writing creates scenes that “vividly play in your head” – exactly the quality that makes the audiobook particularly effective. The series is unanimously recommended as a complete listen, not just individual titles.
Who Should Listen?
This is the second book in the Artemis Fowl series, and I’d recommend starting with book one if you haven’t already – the world-building established there makes this instalment considerably richer. That said, Colfer does enough scene-setting to allow newcomers to follow the plot. Ideal for children aged ten and up, but also for parents who find themselves genuinely engrossed, adults who loved the series as children and are revisiting it, and anyone in search of clever, funny, superbly paced fantasy adventure. Start the series on Audible UK.
