Tough-O-Meter

We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)

(2) Sea Level

While this novel is easy to devour—short, snappy dialogue and a magical mash-up of flashy side characters—it sometimes takes a second to pick up on Artemis's vocabulary and weird speech patterns. He talks like a Bond villain, if Bond villains also had to go to bed early on a school night. Don't worry though, because Artemis's audience is supposed to feel like they're missing something—he likes having the upper hand.