Amie Rose Rotruck (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, $17.95. Ages 12 up.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2003 (Vol. 71, No. 10))
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. 2003, Bloomsbury, $17.95. Category: Fiction. Ages 10 to 14. © 2003 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Vinnie Bonnit (The ALAN Review, Fall 2003 (Vol. 31, No. 1))
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. Category: Fantasy/Mystery. YA--Young Adult. 2003, Bloomsbury, 370 pp., $17.95. Ages young adult.Phoenix, AZ

Elizabeth Bush (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, May 2003 (Vol. 56, No. 9))
Prince Pyrgus Malvae has left his father’s palace to, in the king’s view, go slummin’ among the commoners, pursuing his passion for protecting and rescuing animals. Political intrigues have left the heir vulnerable to ambush, and a very narrow escape while saving a kitten destined for the glue-factory cauldron convinces the king it’s time to send Pyrgus into hiding until the heat is off. The teen reluctantly agrees to temporary transportation to a safer Alternate World, but a traitor within the court has tampered with the portal, and Pyrgus arrives in contemporary Britain with a dose of slow-acting poison in his body and no obvious way home. Help is at hand: obliging teenager Henry Atherton has an elderly friend, Mr. Fogarty, whose past careers as physicist and armed robber recommend him as just the soul to restore the portal to working order and the prince to his otherworldly realm. While the plot has little new to offer in the way of twists and turns, Brennan takes obvious delight in fashioning a cast of villains so melodramatic and dastardly (to wit, the kitten-killing, demon-conjuring glue-factory owner, his obese, pedophilic partner, and even the Prince of Darkness himself) that readers are likely to plow straight ahead just to keep the bad guys within sight. Brennan seems more at home on terra fey than terra firma, and a subplot involving Henry’s mother’s infidelity is a nonstarter. There’s enough menace and mayhem, though, to leave parental issues in the dust, and older fans of Colfer’s Artemis Fowl (BCCB 7/01) should march right into battle. (Reviewed from galleys) Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2003, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2003, Bloomsbury, 370p, $17.95. Grades 6-10.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2003)
After rescuing a faerie prince from a cat, Henry "translates" to the faerie world and helps Prince Pyrgus fend off a coup attempt by the Faeries of the Night. A heavy-handed subplot in which Henry is appalled to learn of his mother's same-sex affair ends without resolution, but the full-throttle adventure features whole heartedly wicked characters and well-plotted intrigue. Category: Older Fiction. 2003, Bloomsbury, 368pp, $17.95. Ages 12 to 14. Rating: 4: Recommended, with minor flaws.

Billy Jack Rankin (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 16, No. 2))
Henry has a part-time job cleaning up around old Mr. Fogarty's yard and garage. He finds a lot of strange things while doing this but nothing as strange as the small winged human named Pyrgus. Pyrgus is the crown prince of the Faeries of the Light. He has transported from his world to Henry's to escape being killed by the Faeries of the Night, except that he was supposed to transport to a distant island in his own world. Now he must get back to his world to help his father, the King, and his sister, Holly Blue, defeat the evil forces of darkness and demons. Things have turned upside down for Henry because his parents are splitting up, so he and Mr. Fogarty follow Pyrgus into his world to help him out. That is when the adventure begins in earnest. This novel blends fantasy, mythology, and science into an action-packed tale that will entrance young readers. They will easily identify with the young heroes, Henry and Pyrgus, as well as with Holly Blue. This book ends with the words, "To be continued..." This and any sequels to follow will be excellent additions to a fantasy collection. Fiction. Grades 6-12. 2003, Bloomsbury, 367p., $17.95. Ages 11 to 18.

Amy Sisson (VOYA, June 2003 (Vol. 26, No. 2))
Although the first several chapters of this novel are somewhat disjointed, jumping abruptly between characters in different worlds, readers can have faith that all will come together in ways that are creative, engaging, and clever. In contemporary England, Henry Atherton and his father have just learned that Henry's mother is having an affair with a woman-his father's secretary, in fact. In another world, Pyrgus Malvae, heir to the Purple Emperor of the Faeries of the Light, is about to be sent to the Analogue World to wait out some unpleasant political machinations by the Emperor's enemies. Naturally, the boys' paths cross. On the face of it, this plot might not seem special, but the story has qualities that place it a cut above the rest. The characters are distinct, particularly the grouchy old Mr. Fogarty, for whom Henry does odd jobs, and Pyrgus's sister Holly Blue, a spunky young woman who does not wait for the menfolk to call all the shots. The magic is interesting, including demons called up from Hael/Hell and illusions that hide true appearances. Most important, the book does not condescend to its readers. Henry's parents do not magically reconcile, and death is death despite the magic. Realistically in several instances, the parents in both worlds do not listen to their children, sometimes with disastrous consequences. This intelligent book is just the thing for mature young adults who enjoy their fantasy a little on the dark and humorous side. 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, $17.95. Ages 11 to 18.

Teens' Top Ten nominator, age 18 (VOYA, June 2003 (Vol. 26, No. 2))
The faeries are actually humans from another reality. This hilariously decent book easily surpasses the vaunted Harry Potter. It needs a sequel desperately. There ought to be more like it. 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, $17.95. Ages 11 to 18.

Teens' Top Ten nominator, age 17 (VOYA, June 2003 (Vol. 26, No. 2))
Clever cliffhangers make you think you've predicted what will happen, but it's always slightly off your guess. The humor is excellently timed and delivered, with a cast of unlikely heroes and sinister villains-a combination of science fiction, fantasy, action, humor, and a parallel universe. What more could you ask for? 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, $17.95. Ages 11 to 18.

Teens' Top Ten nominator, age 12 (VOYA, June 2003 (Vol. 26, No. 2))
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, $17.95. Ages 11 to 18.