Author of the popular Artemis Fowl series, Colfer ventures into slightly different territory in this fantasy, which has the heft of historical fiction; a subset of characters whose physical attributes reflect their evil natures; dry humor; visceral horror; and swashbuckling action that keeps the story from becoming overly dark. Born in the basket of an air balloon, Conor Broekhart is sure he is destined to fly. But at 14, he accidentally witnesses the murder of his tutor and the sovereign of the tiny Saltee Islands where he lives, and everything changes.Villainous Marshall Bonvilain throws him into prison, convincing him that his family believes him guilty of the crime. Thus begins his new life as inmate Conor “Finn,” who devotes his considerable abilities to breaking out of prison. Colfer grapples somewhat awkwardly with a few literary issues here: should he, for example, allow his hero to commit murder? There are also huge time gaps that are distracting and occasionally stall momentum. Readers may not notice, however, with so much else going for the book. Grades 10-12. --Stephanie Zvirin
Review
'Praise for other books by Eoin Colfer: 'Wickedly brilliant' -- Independent (on Artemis Fowl) 'Hugely entertaining' -- Observer (on Artemis Fowl) 'A dystopian thriller that reads like The Matrix crossed with Oliver Twist'-- The Times (on The Supernaturalist) 'A headlong techno fantasy ... As ever, Colfer's story rattles along at a tremendous pace with a cast of eccentric and explosive characters' -- Guardian (on The Supernaturalist) 'Unputdownable' -- Irish Times (on Half Moon Investigations)'
Description:
From Booklist
Author of the popular Artemis Fowl series, Colfer ventures into slightly different territory in this fantasy, which has the heft of historical fiction; a subset of characters whose physical attributes reflect their evil natures; dry humor; visceral horror; and swashbuckling action that keeps the story from becoming overly dark. Born in the basket of an air balloon, Conor Broekhart is sure he is destined to fly. But at 14, he accidentally witnesses the murder of his tutor and the sovereign of the tiny Saltee Islands where he lives, and everything changes.Villainous Marshall Bonvilain throws him into prison, convincing him that his family believes him guilty of the crime. Thus begins his new life as inmate Conor “Finn,” who devotes his considerable abilities to breaking out of prison. Colfer grapples somewhat awkwardly with a few literary issues here: should he, for example, allow his hero to commit murder? There are also huge time gaps that are distracting and occasionally stall momentum. Readers may not notice, however, with so much else going for the book. Grades 10-12. --Stephanie Zvirin
Review
'Praise for other books by Eoin Colfer: 'Wickedly brilliant' -- Independent (on Artemis Fowl) 'Hugely entertaining' -- Observer (on Artemis Fowl) 'A dystopian thriller that reads like The Matrix crossed with Oliver Twist'-- The Times (on The Supernaturalist) 'A headlong techno fantasy ... As ever, Colfer's story rattles along at a tremendous pace with a cast of eccentric and explosive characters' -- Guardian (on The Supernaturalist) 'Unputdownable' -- Irish Times (on Half Moon Investigations)'