Ruler of the Realm (Faerie Wars Chronicles) [Hardcover]

Herbie Brennan (Author)

Book Description

Series: Faerie Wars Chronicles | Publication Date: October 3, 2006

It is Henry's third visit to the Faerie Realm, but this time in a rather different guise and to a rather different kind of place. Holly Blue is Queen and Lord Hairstreak appears to be proposing a truce between the Faeries of the Night and the Faeries of the Light. Meanwhile Prince Pyrgus has stumbled across some mysterious crystal flowers with an apparently formidable secret weapon, and there are rumours of a demon invasion led by Beleth, the Prince of Darkness.

Queen Blue, wary of her uncle's uncharacteristic generosity, pays a visit to the Spicemaster's labyrinth in an attempt to divine the possible future of the Realm. She is warned to beware someone close, little realizing just how careful she will need to be - and when she is kidnapped by the most unlikely candidate, the Realm rapidly descends into chaos.

In a thrilling adventure Blue, Pyrgus and Henry will find themselves in the midst of a furious battle to protect the future of the Realm and secure the throne for the rightful ruler.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7–10—This third book in the series continues the story of Queen Blue; her brother, Pyrgus; the human Henry; evil Lord Hairstreak; and even more vile Beleth. Blue is now Queen of the Faerie Realm and unexpectedly finds herself receiving an offer of peace from the Faeries of the Night. While she is suspicious, she decides to travel to see if Lord Hairstreak's offer is genuine. Combine this with Henry's abduction by aliens while back on Earth, and readers set off on a wild ride filled with faeries, demons, and illusions culminating in an ending that has the entire Realm in jeopardy. Brennan's humor and clear language carry the action forward at a brisk pace, yet allow beloved characters to be revisited and enjoyed. The entire series strikes a unique balance between fantasy and science fiction, so these books are not bound by the conventions of either genre. The story is riveting, the action is fast, and the characters are convincing. Recommend it to fans of Eoin Colfer's "Artemis Fowl" series (Hyperion).—Tasha Saecker, Menasha Public Library, WI
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Review

'If Mervyn Peake met Melvin Burgess in a very dark alley, they might emerge with "Faerie Wars"' Eoin Colfer 'A crossover title from which few readers of any age would wish to cross back. Brennan writes with all the dash of an Irish storyteller at the peak of his form. Inventive as Harry Potter, dark as Gormenghast and as intelligently probing as Philip Pullman, here is a title to brighten the dreariest of winter days' (Faerie Wars) The Independent 'With its gutsy details, terrific descriptions and great storyline Faerie Wars is a winner - an inspiration, never perspiration. And don't take my word for it. Several 12-year-olds I know, boys and girls, have read it; their verdict: brilliant!' Irish Times 'It is even better than its predecessor, and more confident' The Bookseller (Praise for The Purple Emperor) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens; First Edition edition (October 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582348812
• ISBN-13: 978-1582348810
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #183,923 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A professional writer whose work has appeared in more than fifty countries, Herbie Brennan is enjoyed by children and adults alike -- sales of his books already exceed 7.5 million copies.

Herbie has an well-established career writing for the children's market -- from picture books to teenage fiction, from game books to school curriculum non-fiction. His keen eye for novelty, both in technology and market development, made him among the very first writers to create adventure gamebooks and his GrailQuest series was an international bestseller.

His teenage novel, Faerie Wars, also rocketed to international success, achieving best-seller status in more than 20 overseas editions, and was voted No 1 Top Ten Teenage Pick in the United States and listed as a New York Times Best Seller title.

Equally prolific in the adult market, Herbie has a powerful reputation for challenging conventional assumptions with penetrating intelligence and a clear, easy style. This is reflected in his interests, which range from transpersonal psychology, spirituality, reincarnation and psychical research to comparative religion and quantum physics. His reappraisal of ancient history has stirred lively debate on TV and radio as well as in the Press. He broadcasts and lectures regularly throughout the UK and Ireland.

Herbie became interested in mysticism as a child and was studying books on the subject virtually from the time he was able to read. He found himself pursuing several unorthodox lines of research, including hypnosis, and actually hypnotised his first subject -- a school friend -- at the age of nine!

He began a journalistic career at eighteen and at twenty-four became the youngest newspaper editor in his native Ireland. His early career path included magazine work, hypnotherapy, counselling, advertising and market¬ing.

His first book, Astral Doorways, an exploration of out-of-body experience, became a specialist best-seller and went on to become a classic in its field -- it is still in print some thirty-five years on.

In his mid twenties, Herbie had his first novel published, an historical romance brought out by Doubleday in New York. At the age of thirty he decided to devote most of his time to writing and has since gone on to produce more than 100 books, many of them international best-sellers.

When he can be persuaded to take a break from his writing, Herbie give lectures and seminars, which have included modules on reincarnation research, the astral plane, dreamwork, healing, spiritual development, psychical research, quantum physics and magical training..

With a background that includes writing for radio, the creation of boxed games and computer software, perhaps his greatest strength lies in the realm ideas, particularly in the diversification of publishing product into allied fields like audio and CD-ROM.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bit of a crush on Mr. Fogarty now, September 23, 2008

By 

S. Kay Murphy "Heretic" (Mt. Baldy, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Ruler of the Realm (The Faerie Wars Chronicles, Book 3) (Paperback)

Some little minion told me in advance about something that happens in this third book of the Faerie Wars chronicles... and so I set it aside for six months. Dang it, I should never have listened! When I finally picked it up, I enjoyed it more than the first two. It is more of the cheeky humor--and more fanning of the flame between Blue and Henry... sigh....--and more violence, though not the cruel-to-kitties type from the first book, thank the Light. I think my favorite part is... um... How can I state this without creating a spoiler? Let's see: the validation of Mr. Fogarty's claims regarding alien abduction. There. Loved this one. (Please don't purchase for kids below high school age; they understand the violence but they may have questions about the s-e-x parts that you aren't ready to answer yet.)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another fun addition, June 29, 2007

By 

Anne-Marie Gilliland (Near D.C., USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ruler of the Realm (Faerie Wars Chronicles) (Hardcover)

Another fast paced adventure in this series. The same characters are seen, and Henry's life on Earth is still just as confused. At the opening of the novel he is trying to convince himself that the Fairie Realm is his reation to stress and that he created it all in his mind. Of course he and the reader get to be really confused as he is abducted by aliens and later transported a la Star Trek into the Fairy Realm.

The love Henry and Blue feel for each other is exploited in this and Blue is having a hard time dealing with the pressures of being the Ruler.

While these books are about fairies and magic they have alot more of a tomboyish bent to them than a girly froofy fairy tale. Some very fun scenes happen and clearly this is not the last book in the series.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's the third adventure in the chronicles, but leisure readers will find it quite accessible., March 6, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ruler of the Realm (Faerie Wars Chronicles) (Hardcover)

A new 'Faerie Wars Chronicles' title for middle-school fantasy enthusiasts will reach both prior fans of The Faerie Wars and newcomers, who will find most accessible the story of the newly crowned Queen Blue, who is trying to rule her new kingdom. Her visit to the Spicemaster brings a warning and when her brother discovers a secret weapon just when Lord Hairstreak offers peace, trouble ensues, furthered by Blue's disappearance just as Henry returns from the Analogue world. It's the third adventure in the chronicles, but leisure readers will find it quite accessible.