Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Artemis Fowl. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Twelve-year-old criminal genius Artemis Fowl wins his battle with the fairy police, LEPrecon, by escaping their time-stop and collecting a ton of fairy gold as ransom for Captain Holly Short. He then trades half of it back to Holly in exchange for a wish that cures his mother's madness.
Quick facts
– Book: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
– First published: 2001
– Type: A children's fantasy novel
– Tone of the ending: Clever and satisfying
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Artemis, whose father is missing and whose mother has lost touch with reality, decides to rebuild the family fortune by stealing fairy gold. He steals the fairies' Book, decodes their language and kidnaps Holly. The fairies' Commander Root surrounds Fowl Manor with a time-stop.
What Happens at the End of Artemis Fowl
The LEP sends a troll into the manor, but Butler kills it in a brutal fight. The fairy council authorizes a “blue rinse,” a bio-bomb that destroys living things inside the time-stop. Artemis has learned from the fairy Book that the time-stop ends when the fairies' magic runs out, and that anyone asleep is outside its effect. He hands over Holly, receives the ransom gold and then drugs himself, Butler and Juliet so they sleep through the field's end. When the bomb goes off, the manor is no longer inside the time-stop, and they survive. Holly uses her last wish, granted by Artemis in exchange for half the gold, to heal Angeline Fowl's mind.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Artemis outsmarts the fairies.
- His mother is healed.
- Artemis keeps the gold.
- The series begins.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Artemis Fowl | Keeps half the gold |
| Holly Short | Freed |
| Butler | Kills the troll |
| Commander Root | Outwitted |
| Angeline Fowl | Healed |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows a villain with a heart.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers enjoy Artemis as an antihero, a boy villain who slowly develops a conscience across the series. Some fans prefer Holly and Root's chapters to Artemis's own.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Intelligence. Artemis's genius wins.
Family. Artemis wants his mother back.
Morality. Artemis is both villain and hero.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Artemis Fowl as clever and satisfying. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Eoin Colfer to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are clever and satisfying will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Eoin Colfer closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 2020 Disney+ film changes the story dramatically.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Artemis Fowl with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about intelligence, and do you agree with Eoin Colfer's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as clever and satisfying, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces intelligence and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Eoin Colfer leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in Artemis Fowl often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Artemis Fowl earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
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Books to Read After Artemis Fowl
- Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer
- The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Related: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer: Summary and Key Takeaways · 15 Books Like Artemis Fowl You’ll Love
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Artemis Fowl?
Twelve-year-old criminal genius Artemis Fowl wins his battle with the fairy police, LEPrecon, by escaping their time-stop and collecting a ton of fairy gold as ransom for Captain Holly Short. He then trades half of it back to Holly in exchange for a wish that cures his mother's madness.
Is the ending of Artemis Fowl happy or sad?
Most readers call it clever and satisfying.
What does the ending of Artemis Fowl mean?
The ending shows a villain with a heart.
Is the ending of Artemis Fowl the same in the adaptation?
The 2020 Disney+ film changes the story dramatically.
Who wrote Artemis Fowl and when was it published?
Artemis Fowl was written by Eoin Colfer and first published in 2001.
Is Artemis Fowl worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy children's fantasy novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Eoin Colfer prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read Artemis Fowl before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.