From the Publisher
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.
The New York Times
[Brennan] is a master of the hairpin turn, leading readers in one direction and suddenly reversing their expectations. — Elizabeth Devereaux
Publishers Weekly
"Two worlds collide in this humorous tale of warring Faerie factions and their impact on the `real world,' " wrote PW. Ages 12-up. (Sept.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
The New York Times Book Review
"[Brennan] is a master of the hairpin turn, leading readers in one direction and suddenly reversing their expectations"
"Older fans of Colfer's Artemis Fowl should march right into battle."
Amie Rose Rotruck
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Children's Literature
One cannot help but compare Faerie Wars to Artemis Fowl. Both take the realm of faerie into the world of science and have teenage male protagonists. However, Faerie Wars brings something else to the table—likable and sympathetic characters. Brennan blends science and magic in a way that seems realistic, and shows human and faerie, male and female, and protagonist and antagonist points of view equally well. The human Henry is dealing with the separation of his parents (brought on by his mother's affair with his father's secretary) when he discovers the faerie Pyrgus. Pyrgus has been exiled from the faerie world after discovering the secret ingredient for glue (kittens) and urging his father, the Purple Emperor, to take a stronger stance on this political issue. With the help of Mr. Fogarty, a physicist-turned-bank-robber, and Blue, Pyrgus's sister, Henry and Pyrgus defeat an attempt to wrest political power from Pyrgus and bring the murderer of Pyrgus and Blue's father to justice. The magic and the science are well explained, creating a richly textured world. The humor is entertaining but does not eclipse the plot. The book ends "to be continued," so we can look forward to a sequel. 2003, Bloomsbury,
Teens' Top Ten nominator, age 12
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VOYA
It caught my curiosity, focusing on different characters rather than just one. It's mysterious and very suspenseful, the most exciting book I have read. VOYA Codes: 4Q 4P M J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2003, Bloomsbury, 371p,
Vinnie Bonnit
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Alan Review
Young Henry is experiencing major changes in his family. While doing some odd jobs for a neighbor, Mr. Fogarty, Henry meets Pyrgus who has crossed over from a parallel (fairy) world where he is prince of the Purple Kingdom. Henry first encounters Pyrgus as the prince passes through a portal into the Analog (real) world in his miniature, winged form only to be quickly nabbed by the cat. Together, Mr. Fogarty (an inventor), Henry and Pyrgus work to save the fairy realm from threats of war and return the prince safely home. Although it is a fantasy work with a note of humor, this book accomplishes more than just that as it deals with many modern issues, including divorce, homosexual parents, dysfunctional families and conspiracy theories. American readers will quickly get past the colloquial differences of an Irish writer and find the book an enthralling read. 2003, Bloomsbury, 370 pp., Ages young adult.
Bette Ammon
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KLIATT
To quote from the review of the audiobook in this issue: Young Henry Atherton's life seems set for mayhem. First he discovers that his mother is having an affair with his father's female secretary. This is confusing for Henry, but he survives by burying himself in chores for neighbor and former thief/ mechanical genius Mr. Fogarty. Then even more excitement ensues. It is at Fogarty's place that Henry's life intersects with that of Pyrgus Malvae, a crown prince from a parallel universe who is running from the Faeries of the Night. Henry and Fogarty join forces to take the prince back home, and this complicated story becomes even more so as Henry and Pyrgus return together to defeat forces of evil. This fantasy adventure will appeal to older Artemis Fowl fans and is an ALA Best Book for YAs. (Editor's note: The sequel, The Purple Emperor, is now available in hardcover: Bloomsbury. 431p. ISBN 1582348804. ) KLIATT Codes: J*Exceptional book, recommended for junior high school students. 2003, Bloomsbury, 368p., Ages 12 to 15.
KLIATT
Henry helps take care of Dr. Fogarty's house. Little does he know how complicated his life will become. Dr. Fogarty was a bank robber in the past, but no one knew he was a physicist. Nor does anyone know that he has created a portal to a parallel universe inhabited by faeries. Dubious Henry discovers a whole new world inhabited by faeries, demons, and sorcerers. His parents disapprove of Henry's association with Dr. Fogarty; if they only knew... In the land of Faerie, Pyrgus Malvae wants to protect animals, particularly from a glue factory that kills kittens to improve the quality of their products. Pyrgus tries to escape the clutches of the evil manufacturers, and ends up in the Analog world of Henry and Dr. Fogarty. As the humans and faeries experience each other's worlds, life gets more complicated. For instance, Henry accidentally sees Prygus's sister naked. Dr. Fogarty is possessed by a demon who urges him to kill the Faerie king. The future of Faerie land is at stake. This fantasy is a suspenseful adventure that crosses worlds. Not surprisingly, the volume ends with unresolved issues, requiring a sequel (or two). Character development is nuanced, and the plot has some great details and twists. While not stellar, this book will be a satisfying read for most fantasy readers.
School Library Journal
Gr 5-8-Henry Atherton's family is in some disarray when his mother has an affair with his father's female secretary. Henry's escape is helping elderly Mr. Fogarty with chores. Meanwhile, in a parallel world, Pyrgus Malvae, son of the Purple Emperor, is being chased and climbs the fence outside a glue factory where he discovers an evil secret and also comes close to losing his life. His father decides to send his son through a portal to the "Analogue World" for safety, which results in him mistakenly showing up under the lawn mower at Fogarty's where he meets Henry. Pyrgus arrives the size of a fairy, but overnight he grows and his wings disappear. Fogarty, a former bank robber and mechanical genius, sets out to build an artificial portal to send Pyrgus back home. Eventually, Henry and Fogarty cross over into the Purple Kingdom, where they help defeat the forces of evil. This book has a complex plot with plenty of drama and action, but at times the story seems to sink under its own weight. Early on, the transition from contemporary England to the Purple Kingdom is sudden, and the two settings do not intersect until well into the book, which may confuse some readers, and it's difficult to keep straight the many characters in the Purple Kingdom. In the end, Henry's experiences give him the wisdom to craft his own family solution.-Jane G. Connor, South Carolina State Library, Columbia Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
A clever, sly fantasy with immediate intrigue and plenty of science. Henry begins in England, crushed and wobbly over his parents’ impending breakup. Pyrgus begins in the Realm of Faerie, trying to save a cage of kittens from being boiled in glue. Soon Pyrgus’s life is threatened and he is "translated" into the Analogue World, where he meets Henry. Various sorcerers, slimy businessmen, and a demon prince from Hael are all after Pyrgus’s life. Henry, Henry’s elderly oddball friend with mysterious scientific brilliance, and Pyrgus’s fiercely loyal sister, Blue, help Pyrgus return home and defeat the forces of darkness. Twists and turns provide real surprises along the way; touches of gore are occasional but vivid. The portals between worlds and the overlapping of science with religion may owe a debt to Philip Pullman, but they are welcome here as well. Aside from unjustifiably archaic gender roles, this is the perfect choice for Harry Potter fans who don’t know what to read next. (Fiction. 10-14)
What People Are Saying
Eoin Colfer
"Faerie Wars is an astounding blend of fantasy, mythology and science. Herbie Brennan is a master of all three. (Eoin Colfer)
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