I was thirteen years old when I first read Artemis, and my daughter was a year old over a decade later when the final book in the series appeared. It’s a part of my childhood I’ll remember fondly, and yet as the series progressed I did have the sense that both the writing, and narration of the audiobooks, was slipping somewhat. Whether this is because I began to creep over the age line and drift out of their target audience, I don’t know. I finished the series with reverence and enjoyment, nonetheless.

Fast forward a further 7 years, and we see this exciting continuation of the series appear on the scene. Colfer’s back. From the audible sample Parker is too, although I haven’t the time for the audiobook right now. But I’ll get there, because it’s brilliant to see a new generation take up the mantle. The jokes were spot-on, the humour seemed as sharp as it ever had. And whether it’s absence making the heart grow fonder, or just the fact that fresh blood and new ideas have made a difference, I was delighted all-the-way through and can’t wait for my daughter to be old enough to enjoy these in her turn.