Artemis Fowl is a 12-year-old genius and descendant of a long line of criminal masterminds. He soon finds himself in an epic battle against a race of powerful underground fairies who may be behind his father's disappearance.

When a procession of Norman soldiers escort a group of prisoners through the depths of the forest, they are ambushed by a band of bloodthirsty thugs. The Normans routed and shown no mercy, a captive minstrel manages to trade his life for a song. Composed on the spot, he promises his attackers immortality through the ages. But sometimes legends are born by accident, and history can play a game of Chinese whispers with the truth.

Jack comes to Amsterdam to find his father and, through a momentary magical encounter, finds the secret weapon that could turn around his father's ailing marijuana coffee shop.