Synopses & Reviews
When Henry Atherton helps Mr. Fogarty clean up around his house, he expects to find a mess and a cranky old man; what he doesn't expect to find is Pyrgus Malvae, crown prince of the Faerie realm, who has escaped the treacherous Faeries of the Night by traveling to the human world through a portal powered by trapped lightning. An egomaniacal demon prince, greedy glue factory owners Brimstone and Chalkhill, and the nefarious Lord Hairstreak, leader of the Faeries of the Night, all dream of ruling the Faerie realm and are out to kill Pyrgus. Enlisting the help of his sister, Holly Blue, and his new friend, Henry, Pyrgus must get back to the Faerie world alive before one of his many enemies gets to him instead. But how many portals are open, and can Pyrgus find the right one before it falls into the wrong hands? Conjuring scenes filled with vivid color, unforgettable detail, and fearless characters, author Herbie Brennan brings readers to the Faerie world, where nothing is ever what it seems and no one can be trusted.
Review
"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
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
Review
"Less militaristic and more artistic than Eoin Colfer's wildly successful Artemis Fowl books, this will...bring much pleasure to fans of that series, and to fantasy readers in general." Publishers Weekly
Review
"[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
Review
"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
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
Synopsis
Conjuring scenes filled with vivid color, unforgettable detail, and fearless characters, Brennan takes readers into the Faerie world, where nothing is ever what it seems and no one can be trusted.
Synopsis
A Book Sense 76 Children's Pick
A YALSA Teens' Top Ten Pick (#1 Selection)
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
Synopsis
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.
About the Author
Herbie Brennan has written many books for adults and children, including F
airy Nuff, Nuff Said, and
Frankenstella and the Video Store Monster. 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. He lives in County Carlow, Ireland.