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The Reluctant Assassin (WARP Book 1) Hardcover – 11 April 2013

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 697 ratings

It all began with the FBI and WARP (Witness Anonymous Relocation Programme). Hiding witnesses in the past to protect the future - until now . . .

Riley is a Victorian orphan, hurtled into the twenty-first century and on the run from his evil master . . .

Albert Garrick, the terrifying assassin-for-hire pursuing Riley through time, along with . . .

Chevie Savano, the FBI's youngest and most impulsive special agent.

As Garrick relentlessly hunts them down, Riley and Chevie face a desperate race to stay alive and stop Garrick from returning to his own time - armed with knowledge and power that could change the world forever.

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Product description

Review

Colfer has the ability to make you laugh twice over: first in sheer subversive joy at the inventiveness of the writing, and again at the energy of the humour (Sunday Times)

Readers mourning the end of the Artemis Fowl series can take heart: this first book in the time-bending W.A.R.P. series is an all-out blast. (
Publishers Weekly)

From the Inside Flap

'Don't move!' shouted Chevie, using her most serious F.B.I voice. 'Freeze or I will shoot.'

A weak voice came from somewhere inside the orange cloud. 'I am freezing, miss. My word on it.'

Before Chevie could wonder why the strange accent had her brain singing 'Consider Yourself', the cloud dissipated revealing the figure of a boy huddled over an old man.

The boy was alive but the man was not, probably because of the knife jutting from his chest . . .

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Puffin; 2nd Edition (11 April 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0141341750
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0141341750
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 12 years
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.2 x 3.1 x 24 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 697 ratings

About the author

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Eoin Colfer
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Eoin Colfer (pronounced Owen) is the New York Times best-selling author of the blockbuster Artemis Fowl series as well as Airman; Half Moon Investigations; The Supernaturalist; Eoin Colfer's Legend of... books; The Wish List; Benny and Omar; Benny and Babe; and Illegal, a graphic novel. He was born in Wexford on the southeast coast of Ireland in 1965, where he and his four brothers were brought up by his father (an elementary school teacher, historian and artist of note) and mother (a drama teacher). He first developed an interest in writing in primary (elementary) school with gripping Viking stories inspired by history that he was learning in school at the time.

Eoin got his degree from Dublin University and qualified as a primary school teacher, returning to work in Wexford. He married in 1991 and he and his wife spent about 4 years between 1992 and 1996 working in Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Italy. His first book, Benny and Omar, was published in 1998, based on his experiences in Tunisia; it has since been translated into many languages; a sequel followed in 1999. In 2001, the first Artemis Fowl book was published worldwide to much success - shortly thereafter he left teaching to concentrate fully on his writing.

To this day, Eoin has written 8 Artemis Fowl books which have sold over 12 million copies worldwide.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
697 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the book's readability, story quality, and character development. They found the story entertaining with an exciting plot and twists. The characters were described as comical, though devious and dislikeable. Overall, customers enjoyed the book and look forward to further adventures with them.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

25 customers mention ‘Readability’21 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it engaging and well-written, with an entertaining story and Colfer's usual humor. Many describe it as a thrilling and hard-to-put-down read with many exciting twists.

"I love Eoin Colfer books! I knoe they are supposed to be for kids, but, we are ALL kids at heart! and this new series looks to be a great read!..." Read more

"...This is, however, a fantastic read, flows well and keeps you interested. Looking forward to reading the 2nd book on holiday" Read more

"...line, not finished it yet, quite dark and violent in places but a great read. Mr Fowl has competition!" Read more

"...The book is an easy read, hard to put down with colfers trademark speed of action and genius for detail. Finishing the book leaves you wanting more!,..." Read more

8 customers mention ‘Story quality’8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story's engaging plot and storytelling. They find it entertaining, with thrilling twists, and an intriguing start to the new series.

"Great story line, not finished it yet, quite dark and violent in places but a great read. Mr Fowl has competition!" Read more

"Love the new story - A great blend of rich characters, a good plot, great humour and contrasting dark elements all mixed into one book...." Read more

"A very good and entertaining story with the usual Colfer humour, hasn't quite got the appeal of the Artemis Fowl books though." Read more

"Very clever plot, keeps you wanting to turn the page to see what comes next." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Character development’3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters and the twist at the end. They look forward to further adventures with the characters.

"...I really enjoyed The Reluctant Assassin, and I look forward to further adventures with Riley and Chevie...." Read more

"Really enjoyed he characters and the twist at the end, looking forward to the next instalment and seeing what happens next" Read more

"Love the new story - A great blend of rich characters, a good plot, great humour and contrasting dark elements all mixed into one book...." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Humour’3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humour in the book. They find Otto comical, but still devious and dislikeable.

"...Otto is comical, in a way, but still devious and unlikeable...." Read more

"...the new story - A great blend of rich characters, a good plot, great humour and contrasting dark elements all mixed into one book...." Read more

"A very good and entertaining story with the usual Colfer humour, hasn't quite got the appeal of the Artemis Fowl books though." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Pacing’3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They appreciate the twist at the end and find the premise intriguing.

"Really enjoyed he characters and the twist at the end, looking forward to the next instalment and seeing what happens next" Read more

"A truly warped premise..." Read more

"Warp factor 9.9!!..." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 July 2013
    I love Eoin Colfer books! I knoe they are supposed to be for kids, but, we are ALL kids at heart! and this new series looks to be a great read! I do miss Artimus Fowl thou!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 April 2013
    What happens if you mix David Cronenberg's The Fly with Demolition Man and Oliver Twist? A rather singular concotion, and WARP: The Reluctant Assassin is indeed that, if hardly unique on its own merits.

    Young orphan Riley is whisked from the past into the modern age by a cockamamie time machine and into the hands of the FBI. His devilish master Albert Garrick follows, acquiring super-powers on the way. The Feds are soon cut down by Garrick, and Riley flees with Junior Agent Chevron Savano. With Garrick relentlessly on their heels they bounce around in time with barely a moment to gather their thoughts and comprehend the situation.

    Time travels stories always set themselves up for logical conundrums and paradoxes. WARP is no exception. Colfer tries to cover all aspects of the time travel process but still creates parallel universes which contradict what has already been established. The story switches between the present day and 1898 both physically and narratively, and it's easy to keep up with though there are a couple of moments when the lack of description leads to confusion (Garrick's re-emergence in 1898 is barely detailed and it just sort of jumps to him being in the Orient Theatre). I'm not entirely sure of the Junior FBI agent thing works, and there are couple of frustrating coincidences that keep all of the story threads conveniently tied together instead of being free and loose.

    The character of Otto Malarkey from Airman makes an appearance, so it takes place in the same universe as Colfer's previous 2008 novel. Otto is comical, in a way, but still devious and unlikeable. If he's going to come back in future novels, Colfer needs to completely turn that character around in order to make him work.

    I really enjoyed The Reluctant Assassin, and I look forward to further adventures with Riley and Chevie. I just hope that Colfer doesn't lose interest like he ultimately did with Artemis Fowl.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 December 2017
    Really enjoyed he characters and the twist at the end, looking forward to the next instalment and seeing what happens next
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 July 2014
    Not as good as the Artemis fowl books, which frankly are brilliant. This is, however, a fantastic read, flows well and keeps you interested. Looking forward to reading the 2nd book on holiday
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 September 2013
    Having enjoyed many previous books bat Eoin Colfer - especially the Artemis Fowl series - I bought this with confidence.

    And I was right! Bring on Book 2 ...
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 February 2014
    i like this book because it has an end type feeling halfway into the book. i found it hard to read at the start with a lot of background info not revealed however once started its hard to put down. i would recommend this book to Artemis Fowl readers. i can easily relate chevron to mix of Holly and Mulch.

    this book is also mysterious. a bit darke than AF but dwfintley giving you the sense that you are 1 step in front of the villian an 3 behind the heros.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 November 2020
    Not as good as we were hoping.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 August 2014
    Great story line, not finished it yet, quite dark and violent in places but a great read. Mr Fowl has competition!

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Tushar Deka
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exhilarating and Unputdownable
    Reviewed in India on 21 April 2021
    Another great book by the splendid Mr. Colfer
  • Oliver A.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Für Freunde von Artemis eine echte Empfehlung
    Reviewed in Germany on 3 July 2017
    Diese Reihe von H. Colfer hält, was sie verspricht: Unglaublich phantasievoller, kaum vorhersehbarer Plot und bunte, spannende Charaktere. Macht genau so viel Spaß wie Artemis!
  • Teacherrates
    5.0 out of 5 stars Goodbye Artemis & Holly, Hello Riley and Chevron!
    Reviewed in the United States on 20 May 2013
    Please understand that all my reviews focus on the interests of my middle school students. I never do a full plot synopsis in a review.

    If you've not read Colfer's books for older audiences (Airman is a superb example and is tangentially referenced in this book) or know him only from the Artemis Fowl books, you might be surprised at the depth to which he can take his plot and characters. Don't get me wrong--I love Artemis Fowl, and the writing did mature as the series progressed, but W.A.R.P. takes on a whole new level.

    The book revolves around a 17 year old FBI agent, Chevron Savano, and a 14 year old boy, Riley, a native Londoner. How a 17 year old became an FBI agent is one of the pivotal points of the book, so I'm not going to give it away here. Suffice it to say it is carried off in such a way as to be believable. They face one of the most evil villains, Albert Garrick, I have come across; in the beginning of the book Garrick is already basically incapable of being defeated--then he gets "super-powers" via a gene-changing accident.

    Time-travel is essential to the book's plot, and Colfer imposes a scientific basis for it that is believable. At times, the book takes on the role of a period novel in fine fashion, making late 19th century Victorian London come to life. This isn't always a good thing, however. The brutal treatment of orphaned children (well, any kid) is always hard on me, whether reading it from Dickens, Avi, or Colfer.

    The plot's pace is that of a thundering herd of stampeding buffalo, with the same sudden changes of course and direction. Fortune reversals are rampant, and you know our heroes are never safe as long as Garrick is alive. Character development is superb, even with minor characters. You really get to know the kids and Garrick (although there were times I wish I had been spared insight into the evil cesspool that functions as his mind/heart). If you're like me, you will leave the book with the marvelous and rare feeling that some of the minor characters are among your favorites, and you hope Colfer comes back to them as the series continues. I must say that Riley has already entered my personal Favorite Characters Hall of Fame.

    One caveat: some of the audience for Artemis Fowl may be too young for this series. The violence in the novel is often horrific, with graphic imagery that makes you see the blood and gore. Children are frequently the victims of brutal savagery. Fortunately, Colfer's narrative voice manages to keep all this from being overpowering, and he adroitly spares just the right amount of detail to keep the book from going too far.

    Do not begin this book if you have an important deadline due on the day you start; you might finish the book, but you will miss the deadline. Recommended for all seventh graders and up that love a fast, action packed, believable read. As Riley might say, "Yer better go out an' scarf yerself a copy of the tome, else yer won't be kin to wut everybody is talkin' bout next year."
  • Leah
    4.0 out of 5 stars a good read
    Reviewed in the United States on 2 September 2013
    Being a long time fan of Eoin Colfer I was excited at the promise of this new book. It had all the makings of a great read, adventure, humour, assassins and time travel.. What I read was a mish mash of all of that wrapped in a confusing jumble of head jumping POVS. I kept getting lost on who was speaking and what was going on for a lot of the book. The time travel was explained poorly at times so I got even more confused. So a lot of the time I found myself just brushing the confusion off and just going with it anyways as it was a good plot, just not always clear.. As for the characters and as in all his books I found them engaging and well written.

    All in all a good read. 3.5-4 star rating for the numerous times I found myself asking 'what the fudge is happening?'
  • AL
    4.0 out of 5 stars Nicht ganz so gut wie Artemis Fowl
    Reviewed in Germany on 11 December 2014
    Der erste Roman der neuen Eoin Colfer Reihe reicht meines Erachtens nicht an die Exzellenz der Artemis Fowl Serie heran. Es handelt sich um eine gut zu lesende Geschichte, aber sie fesselt bei weitem nicht so sehr wie die Abenteur von Artemis, Holly, Butler und Mulch.