Now available in mass-market paperback--the adventures of Henry and Pyrgus inthe magical world of the Faerie Realm that Eoin Colfer ("Artemis Fowl") calls"an astounding blend of fantasy, mythology, and science." Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

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. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

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, ColumbiaCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr. 6-8. When Henry Atherton arrives at the house of eccentric old Mr. Fogarty, he comes upon crown prince Pyrgus Malvae, who has escaped the Faerie realm, where the Faeries of the Night want to kill him. Mr. Fogarty and Henry decide to help the prince return home. It's a complex situation, involving an evil demon, two avaricious glue factory owners, and Lord Hairstreak, leader of the Faeries of the Night, each with a personal agenda that will lead to taking over the realm. A subplot (Henry realizes that his mother, not his father, is having an affair with his father's secretary) is totally unnecessary, and there 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. SallyEstes. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.