Highfire: A Novel by Eoin Colfer is the latest adult book from the creator of The
Artemis Fowl Series. The Artemis Fowl Series is a great series
that I highly recommend. Highfire: A Novel is an adult spin
on the classic tale of boy meets dragon and they become friends. Vern, the
dragon, is the last dragon on the planet as far as he knows and is bitter and
lonely. He is wasting his life drinking vodka and watching Netflix as he waits
to die in his hideaway somewhere in the swamps of Louisiana. He needs to hire
somebody to act on his behalf as a go between him and society.
After all, a dragon can’t exactly go
into to town and do his own grocery shopping. Thanks to a chance encounter and
in exchange for his life, a young kid by the name of Squib offers to provide
this service. Vern reluctantly agrees to trust the human despite his hatred of
all humans for killing his family and friends. Of course, things do not stay
simple when one is working for the last dragon on the planet. Add in a dirty
cop named Regence Hooke who thinks it is a good idea to go after Squib, despite
the dragon, and the novel becomes quickly complicated.
If you are familiar with Eoin Colfer,
you know his books usually include references to Ireland, a weird sense of
humor, deep characters who are complicated individuals, and a unique way of
telling a story. His writing style is very different than most writers. I like
it for the most part. Sometimes one has to reread a paragraph for it to be
understood fully.
This is a very adult novel and not appropriate
for kids. There are a number of graphic
murders, sex jokes are made, implied rapes, a suicide attempt, lots of cussing,
and other adult orientated content. If you think the idea of a dragon wearing
clothes, hanging out in a Lazy Boy, drinking vodka while watching Netflix, is funny;
this could be the book for you. I enjoyed Highfire: A Novel by Eoin Colfer a
lot, but the writing style and sense of humor is not for everyone. Assuming you
are okay with very mature elements in your reading and you have a sense of
humor, I recommend it.
Scott A. Alexander ©2020
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