Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer is the first of 7 books in the Artemis Fowl series and aimed at a younger audience. Artemis is a fantastic character and in his first book, we get to know him as a villainous 12 year old who is a criminal mastermind. His plan this time is to capture a fairy, only this fairy turns out to be Holly Short of LEPrecon, a fantastic, feisty heroine who accompanies Artemis on his adventures through the series. So you have an evil mastermind with a conscience, who should not be underestimated, a strong heroine from a magical world and a number of other memorable characters all mixed together with plenty of plot to make these books a good read for anyone of any age.
Fantasy
The Last Dragonslayer
The Last Dragonslayer by Jaspar Fforde is a fabulous book. Jennifer Strange is the heroine, a strong character whose moral compass makes her extremely likeable. Add in the elements of orphans, magic, dragons, witches and wizards and you have a fantastic story topped only by Jaspar Fforde’s dry wit and excellent storytelling. His imagination is truly brilliant. You could describe him as a modern day Douglas Adams but I think he’s even better, in a league of his own. A truly gifted story teller whose books can be read again and again. The Last Dragonslayer is the first in a trilogy describing Jennifer Strange’s adventures. The books are aimed at a younger audience but as with Harry Potter, are timeless and classic. Guaranteed to make you laugh and leave y0u wanting more.