Review: The Reluctant Assassin

The Reluctant Assassin (W.A.R.P. #1) by Eoin Colfer
Publication Date: May 7, 2013
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Pages: 341

Summary

 

Riley, a teen orphan boy living in Victorian London, has had the misfortune of being apprenticed to Albert Garrick, an illusionist who has fallen on difficult times and now uses his unique conjuring skills to gain access to victims' dwellings. On one such escapade, Garrick brings his reluctant apprentice along and urges him to commit his first killing. Riley is saved from having to commit the grisly act when the intended victim turns out to be a scientist from the future, part of the FBI's Witness Anonymous Relocation Program (WARP) Riley is unwittingly transported via wormhole to modern day London, followed closely by Garrick.

In modern London, Riley is helped by Chevron Savano, a seventeen-year-old FBI agent sent to London as punishment after a disastrous undercover, anti-terrorist operation in Los Angeles. Together Riley and Chevie must evade Garrick, who has been fundamentally altered by his trip through the wormhole. Garrick is now not only evil, but he also possesses all of the scientist's knowledge. He is determined to track Riley down and use the timekey in Chevie's possession to make his way back to Victorian London where he can literally change the world.

 

 

I am a huge fan of the Artemis Fowl series. I love them. So when I saw this book in a store, it peeked my interest. And let me tell you, this is not like Artemis Fowl.

 

 

I admit that I did compare it to Artemis Fowl at times. It's hard not to. But it just doesn't have the same charm. And it's a lot gorier. There is a lot of gore and violence. It didn't bother me, but I know it probably will someone else. And Artemis Fowl has a lot of young fans and it might not be for them.

 

 

The plot was pretty normal. It didn't surprise me at all. I could guess where it went most of the time. It was slow most of the time. It did pick up but then it slowed down again. The characters were also pretty normal. They were pretty basic. And we didn't learn much about Chevie and Riley till near the end.

 

All in all, it's not a bad book. I did like some things and do think that it could possibly be a good series. Maybe my love for Artemis Fowl and my expectations hurt the book. If you are a fan of time travel, maybe check it out. But if you are fans of Artemis Fowl fan, if you do pick it up, lower your expectations.