*** Not the strongest entry in the series, but still better than The Lost Colony. Time travel plotlines are hard to do well, and Colfer would be better off leaving time travel out of his next volume. The series is at its best when he focuses on the relationships between and among the characters. I care less about whatever fantastical task needs to be accomplished, and more about the characters--Mulch, Foaly, Julius, Butler . . . Too much action and too many far-fetched storylines just detract from the point of the series: Artemis's transformation over time.
This storyline is even more environmentally focused than the previous books, which gets old. While the goal is laudable, Artemis's newfound compassion--on the environment and nature, rather than on people--rings hollow. Similarly, depicting environmental sins as the ultimate evil is less than compelling.
[SPOILER] I also think it's high time Colfer retired Opal as a villain. But then, I tend to think a maniacal super-genius villain is just lazy writing.
All in all, the series seems to be on the verge of spinning out of control. The audiobook is still enjoyable (Nathaniel Parker continues to be a narrating rock star), but I hope Colfer adjusts his focus and corrects his trajectory in the next book.
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