A Book Sense 76 Children's Pick
A YALSA Teens' Top Ten Pick (#1 Selection)
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults

Henry Atherton thinks his life is spinning out of control. But nothing prepares him for the invisible portal in old man Fogarty's backyard...and the unexpected stranger who comes through it.

Pyrgus Malvae, crown prince of the Faerie realm, is on the run. Too many people want the rebellious young heir dead: a scheming sorcerer, a powerful demon, the malignant leader of the Faeries of the Night, and maybe even a hidden traitor within his father's court.

Henry and Pyrgus come from very different worlds, but it may be up to Henry to save all of Faerie from being conquered by the Nightside, even if it means crossing over to a magical realm where nothing is ever what it seems...and no one can be trusted.

"Two worlds collide in Brennan's (Frankenstella and the Video Store Monster) humorous tale of warring Faerie factions and their impact on the 'real' world. Young Henry Atherton, troubled by the impending disintegration of his parents' marriage, stumbles upon the discovery of a lifetime when he saves a Faerie, Pyrgus Malvae, from the clutches of a cat that mistook him for a butterfly. Pyrgus teaches Henry about the portals that connect the land of Faeries with the human world. As heir to the throne of the Faerie realm, Pyrgus must hide from the agents of the Faeries of the Night, the sinister element of the magical kingdom. And if Pyrgus didn't have enough problems with Lord Hairstreak, leader of the 'Nighters,' the evil Silas Brimstone is also after him. Brimstone may be one of the nastiest villains in recent memory-the success of his glue factory, for example, is due to a secret ingredient: kittens. Brennan adeptly uses the fish-out-of-water element to make political and social commentary (e.g., Pyrgus is an ardent animal rights activist whose arguments echo many that readers will recognize); he also gently handles some difficult topics (Henry's parents are on the rocks because his mother is having a lesbian affair). Less militaristic and more artistic than Eoin Colfer's wildly successful Artemis Fowl books, this will still bring much pleasure to fans of that series, and to fantasy readers in general. Ages 12-up. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"Faerie Wars is an astounding blend of fantasy, mythology and science. Herbie Brennan is a master of all three." Eoin Colfer, bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series

"Older fans of Colfer's Artemis Fowl should march right into battle." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Brennan excels at maintaining suspense....Juxtaposing different characters' adventures, he can present a puzzle in one chapter, the missing piece in the next and nonetheless surprise readers when he fits in the piece later on." Elizabeth Devereaux, The New York Times Book Review

"A clever, sly fantasy with immediate intrigue....Twists and turns provide real surprises along the way; touches of gore are occasional but vivid....[T]he perfect choice for Harry Potter fans who don't know what to read next." Kirkus Reviews

"This fantasy adventure will appeal to older Artemis Fowl fans and is an ALA Best Book for YAs." KLIATT

"American readers will quickly get past the colloquial differences of an Irish writer and find the book an enthralling read." Alan Review

"[L]ikable and sympathetic characters....The magic and the science are well explained, creating a richly textured world. The humor is entertaining but does not eclipse the plot." Children's Literature

"[T]here are discrepancies in the story and some awkwardness to slow things down. Still, there's enough solid adventure in the Faerie realm to keep readers on the edge of their seats." Booklist

"This book has a complex plot with plenty of drama and action, but at times the story seems to sink under its own weight." School Library Journal

Herbie Brennan is the author of many successful books for adults and children. Over the years his books have sold more than 7.5 million copies worldwide. By age thirty, he made the decision to devote most of his time to full-length works of fact and fiction and since then has published more than sixty books, many of them international bestsellers. Herbie lives in County Carlow, Ireland.