Faerie Wars

Henry Atherton is doing yard work for his eccentric neighbor when a Faerie prince drops through a portal into their backyard, fleeing assassination. What follows is a fast-moving parallel-worlds adventure with political intrigue, demon-summoning villains, and a satisfying ensemble in Henry, Mr. Fogarty, and princess Holly Blue. The New York Times called Brennan a master of the hairpin turn, and teens selected it for the ALA Teens Top Ten in 2003 — it earns that pace. Parents of faith-sensitive readers need the full picture though: a villain who summons demons using a grimoire and sacrifices, a subplot involving a parent's lesbian affair, and a brief nudity scene are all present. The ALA nod makes this easy to recommend for general YA fantasy readers, but parental review is advised for younger or faith-sensitive households.