Feyland: The Dark Realm

Note - I received this ebook from the author for free in exchang

Note - I received this ebook from the author for free in exchange for an honest review.

Unseelie Fae, Virtual Reality turned real, and a life or death quest; Jennet and Tam must do the improbable. Save the world from the new full sensory immersion VR game, Feyland.

This book is very well written, and flowed nicely leaving us with a good ending that alludes to a sequel. It keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout with it's uniqueness. I am very much looking forward to seeing more from this author.

Jennet, our female lead, sneaks into the first game her father's company is developing for the new 'Full D' simming system. Feyland. As our heroine plays, she gets a sneaking feeling that something's not quite right with the game. After she fails to defeat the Dark Queen in her final battle of the game, Jennet falls seriously ill. No longer able to advance through the game, she needs a champion. Enter Tam, her knight in shining armor, literally.

Together, they play Feyland hoping to win the last battle and save Jennet from virtually loosing her soul and life to the Queen. If they fail, the realm of Fae will be unleashed upon the world. That almost proves to be too heavy a burden for the two teens to bear.

Will they prevail and save the day, or will they be conquered?

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Could Not Put It Down! Great for all ages.

I read this story during that final crunch-time of the Christmas holiday season. Boy, am I glad I was pretty much ready because this book caught and held my attention. I could not put it down. I felt as immersed in the story as Jennet and Tam were in Feyland. Ms. Sharp manages to set the stakes high in this story. Then she ratchets them up at least a couple more levels. Whew! As well, she has created a world I could see. It¿s very believable, both the human world and Feyland. Being a reader of fantasy, I love it when the world created pulls me in as much as the characters and the story do. I believe Feyland to be a story both young and old will enjoy and I look forward to its sequel.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Amazing Writing

Wow. This book is incredible. Seriously, buy it now.

I loved the whole premise of the book. A computer game that starts to cross into reality? Um, yes, please! The game, Feyland, is fantastic, and a little too real.

Jennet is such a fun character, and I'm claiming her as my friend. A little self-centered at first (aren't we all?) she learns what true friendship is, and how much it's worth risking.

Tam. What can I say about Tam? He's had a hard life. He knows what it means to put others before himself, because that's' what he's always done. In the game of Feyland he's a knight. It's appropriate. That's all I'll say.

This is one of those books I'll read over and over again. The ending leaves things open for a sequel. I hope we get it!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Excellent new series! Jennet Carter¿s father is a program mana

Excellent new series!


Jennet Carter’s father is a program manager for a company called VirtuMax and they make video games. They’re working on a Full-D system where the gamer is completely immersed in the game. Full sensory simulation where it feels like the gamer is actually in the game world. When the lead game developer dies the company transfers Jennet’s dad to Crestview and Jennet moves with him even though the school is well below what she is used to. Jennet has to stay close to the prototype Full-D system her dad has because when she was gaming in Feyland something strange happened when she lost to the Dark Queen. 




Now, she needs a champion to go back into Feyland and win back what she lost. But in this poor technological wasteland of a school will she be able to find a champion capable of simming? She better because she only has until Halloween before the Dark Queen sucks all her energy until she dies and Feyland gate crashes into the real world. Will Tam Linn be that champion? Can he escape his messed up life long enough to save Jennet? And is he good enough to beat the Dark Queen and her champion, the Dark Knight? Jennet certainly hopes so.




Well-written and smooth-flowing this story wastes no time with dilly dallying and proceeds along at a crisp pace. The plot is extremely interesting and I love the characters. With Feyland crouched on the other side of the Gate waiting to pounce on the unwary humans in the real world I’m very curious to see what the next book brings.




*Many thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.

Holy Cow!  I seriously lack hand eye coordination and any desire

Holy Cow!  I seriously lack hand eye coordination and any desire to become a gamer, but at the moment, I’m seriously considering it. This story was so excruciatingly real that you need to play the game with the characters.  Just wow!




Sharp employs vividly exotic descriptions and locales that catch you right from the get go.  This story becomes so real that it is scary.  You can actually picture the events occurring and you find yourself picturing what would happen if you were in the characters’ shoes.  The events in question may be out of our realm, but the way that they are written makes everything so real and thrilling that you forget that it is a fantasy.




The phenomenal characters in this novel draw you in to this world as well.  They had personalities that you could relate to.  There were definitely times when you wanted them to stop feeling sorry for themselves and get on with life, or wondered why in the world they had done something so irreversibly stupid, but they were real people struggling through their issues.  I also enjoyed the fact that the relationship between the characters grew throughout the novel.  They didn’t instantly go from strangers to madly in love in the blink of an eye.  They got to know each other as people first.  It made them that much more real and approachable.  

Feyland: The dark Realm is an interesting updated take of an old

Feyland: The dark Realm is an interesting updated take of an old Scottish folktale called Tam Lin, and it had me on the edge of my seat throughout the story. Needless to say it was very hard to put the book down. I’m not too familiar with gaming, but the way the story is woven together, you really do not need to be a gamer to enjoy it or follow it. Another plus is that while this is the first of a trilogy the end of the book only leaves you wanting to experience more adventures in Feyland and not with a cliff hanger ending.
I believe gamers and urban fantasy enthusiasts will enjoy this book. And while it does have a touch of romance, even the male gender will be able to identify with the characters and not get mushed out.
With all that said I’m looking forward to reading the next adventure in Feyland.

This book puts a whole new interesting twist on paranormal! It t

This book puts a whole new interesting twist on paranormal! It takes the age-old folklore of the Fae and wraps it all into a distant futuristic gamer setting. This premise makes for a very intriguing story! The characters have a very realistic type of life, (i.e. rich kid, poor kid) which also makes them easy to relate to. Their background is very well written, giving the reader a good look into why they are how they are. The secondary characters were very good, as well, adding more depth to Tam's character keeping him from being your stereotypical "hero". The descriptions of Feyland scenery are so well written that you feel like you are right there with them in the game. It moves along at a very good pace with no slow areas or places where it moves so fast you are left thinking, what just happened! This story is so wonderfully written that it pulls you in from the very beginning, making you feel for the characters and what they are going through throughout the entire story. I absolutely can not wait to read the next in this series!

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review through G

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review through Goodreads.

First off I want to say that this book was a lot of fun, and I think it's perfect for teens and adults. Especially if you're a gamer. I LOVED that there wasn't the whole "insta-romance" thing going on. That wasn't even the focus of this book. Anthea stuck to the main story line and any romance was just a nice little background story.

The characters were also really well developed and I loved the feel of the whole thing. Anthea did a great job with bringing you into the whole world she created. The book was very well written. I didn't feel like I was reading someone's rough draft, which is definitely a plus for me! I will definitely be reading the second and third books!

Does the Realm of Faerie exist? I don¿t know, but using the sim-

Does the Realm of Faerie exist? I don’t know, but using the sim-game Feyland as the point of entry is ingenious. A virtual reality game is the perfect “in-between place” for a contemporary faerie tale. The game levels create a spiraling entry into the dark realm that enchants, and Anthea Sharp’s choice of traditional fey elements for her world are good ones. They work well for the story. The dark queen is appropriately threatening and alluring and Thomas the Rimer is woven seamlessly and effectively into the plot.

But for me, the heart of the story lies in Tam’s complicated family life, and those were some of my favorite chapters in the book. His little brother, Bug, is a scene-stealer. In contrast, the near-perfect, over-protected world Jennet inhabits with her father feels more like a stage.

The writing is solid. The pacing is even; the story keeps moving.

Feyland: The Dark Realm is a thoroughly enjoyable and modern twist on the Realm of Faerie. If you like virtual reality or faerie tales this is a good read. R2R.

I received this book free from the author in exchange for an hon

I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. All thoughts and conclusions have rolled around in my brain, all on their own.
Main character Jennet Carter is a gamer, a simmer – one who is able to play all the high-tech games she wants, based on the fact that her family is rich and can afford those things, as well as the fact that her dad is a computer software designer and has access to all of the latest and greatest simming games. Jennet is allowed to play on the prototype games for the simple fact that she is good at what she does – her father allows her to test a lot of the games that he is working on. Right now, his company is working on Feyland.
Feyland is an incredibly immersive computer game – you don’t just play this game, you live this game. The sounds, sights, smells – everything is coded into this make-believe world. But what if it’s not really make-believe at all? Jennet plays a deadly game with the Dark Queen of the Faeries while in Feyland and almost loses it all. Afterwards, she is left with only the husk of her body to try to carry on and reclaim what she lost. What Jennet needs now is……a champion.
Jennet is compelled to move with her dad when his company transfers him to a new modern facility, and this puts her at a new school where she is the outcast because she is wealthy. The kids in her new school are from ‘the wrong side of the tracks’, and they don’t want outsiders like her anywhere near them. But Jennet is determined to find a champion – someone who can go back with her into Feyland and save her. She finds Tam Linn, who at first glance seems incredibly unsuited for the task – but there’s no mistake that he is just as good as Jennet in the virtual gaming world, and perhaps even better.
When Tam Linn is playing a simming game, he is on the top of the world. He is the fastest, most handsome, most accomplished, most “with it” guy you could ever imagine. But in real life, his existence is pretty much the opposite. He lives in a hovel with his disturbed younger brother and an imbalanced mother who can’t seem to stay around for more than a couple of weeks at a time. He struggles for food, shelter, companionship – nevermind love. And he can’t figure out why rich girl Jennet is hanging around, asking him to help her; and he is ashamed to admit that he wants to help her.
Jennet and Tam embark on a journey that will test their mettle, their blooming friendship, their courage and their bonds to one another – and ultimately, there can be only one winner. Will they prevail, or will the Dark Queen of the Faeries take all?
I was intrigued by the story line right off the bat, because I love all things faery. The computer game-part kind of threw me for a little in the beginning, just because I am not much of a gamer myself and I thought it would be difficult for me to get into. (I did struggle my way through ‘Snow Crash’ many moons ago, and was afraid it would be just as arduous!) Fortunately, this was NOT the case. Author Anthea Sharp did a phenomenal job of explaining the basics of simming without being boring, to where even a gaming novice such as moi was able to immerse myself and join in the fun.
The magical world of Feyland was told in such exquisite detail that I could easily imagine myself tripping through the woods and chasing the wood nymphs. My favorite character would have to be Puck, just because that guy is a total rascal!
This novel was a great, immersive read and Anthea Sharp definitely has a fan in ME.

This was an awesome book! The storyline is truly unique since it

This was an awesome book! The storyline is truly unique since it is set in a future time where virtual reality gaming is an everyday occurence and a part of everyone's daily lives. It was very true to the legends of the Fey, but also had its own unique twists to the Fey as well. There were a few spelling/grammar issues, but they were few and far between and I was able to read through them. I would
definitely recommend this book to anyone, not only those who enjoy reading about the Fey, but also to those who are interested in gaming and virtual reality. I look forward to reading the next book(s) in this series and I applaud the author for such a unique, and fun, storyline!

I received a copy of this book from the author for purpose of ho

I received a copy of this book from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for the review, and all conclusions are my own responsibility.

In a quasi-modernistic world with hints of a post-apocalyptic society we meet Jennet Carter; the daughter of a director for a company that is creating a new virtual reality game, Feyland. Due to her unfettered access to the game in its beta format, Jennet discovered that the virtual land of the faeries is seeking to encroach on her real world, and that her loss of the game to the Dark Queen also means that she must find a knight to save her soul.

Jennet is a new student at the school, one of the few from the corporation. She meets Tam Lin, the best sim gamer in the school, and seeks to enlist his help. What follows is a roller coaster ride that takes us through Jennet’s need to find a solution, and Tam’s need to find stability and safety for himself and his little brother, with or without his mother’s presence.

This was an interesting concept, invoking a warning about not tampering with worlds you are unfamiliar with. Consequences abound throughout, and while the action is not only in fighting skills, the reason and logic needed by the pair to ultimately succeed in the quest to keep the door between the faerie world and the mortal world closed is truly the key to their success or failure. Where the stories from which the worlds were created come only from honest to goodness paper books, rare and no longer produced, the willingness of both characters to both use and appreciate the paper form is notable.

It was a whole different approach to a paranormal faerie story: cleanly incorporating gaming technology and skill woven with lore and old tales to neatly present a virtual reality that is both tangible and menacing, even as it is described with beauty and wonder. While I don’t play games at all, this will appeal to those who are dabbling with the virtual reality worlds, as well as the online character driven games. It is, at the very edges a touch of romance in the ‘getting to know you’ stages that is so often found in teens, with a realization from both Jennet and Tam that teamwork and real friendship work hand in hand with sacrifice and trust. A truly enjoyable work, one that I hope takes us on many other adventures with this pair as they grow.

I did, however, want to know more about the HOW the society got where it was, and why the "corporation" was held in such esteem or revulsion depending on the perspective of the viewer. I'm hoping that further stories that include Jennet and Tam explain some background that was missing.

Loved

I loved Feyland! It felt like I was dragged into the Feyland and was playing the game myself. The story reminded me a lot of the video game World of Warcraft (which I have a hate-love and a love/loved relationship with its complicated). I liked how Jennet and Tam interacted with each other and how they interacted when they were at each other places which was out of the normal standard of living. I liked how Anthea made the Feyland realm feel real. The story was well written I wasn’t confused about anything but I would like to know what year it was set in. But once I know the year I may have more questions in regards to the story but we shall see. I look forward to what book 2 will bring for Jennet and Tam.

What made this book really special is that I felt it when they w

What made this book really special is that I felt it when they were in the game, I was there too. Then, when they stopped gaming and were thrust back into reality, it was like a splash of cold water . Yes, they could be harmed in the game and it could be permanent, but it paled in comparison to what kind of damage their real lives, especially Tam's could inflict . Both characters grow and learn about love, friendship, and sacrifice and what it really means to live.
Anthea Sharp does an amazing job of describing the scenery and the action. Her knowledge of Faerie lore was extensive and her ability to put you in the game was superb. I had chills, my adrenaline was pumping; I could not put this book down and sleep until I had finished. Fantastic for fans of the science fiction/fantasy genre. Can't wait to read the next book in the trilogy! For those who have read The Forbidden Game series by L.J. Smith will love this book.

Anon

As everyone else says, this book is amazing. I'm sure I'd simply be repeating all the other reviews.
What's cool is that my friend's aunt is the author.
Buy the book. Now. Not kidding.

Reviewed by Laura Carter for Readers Favorite Jennet Carter is

Reviewed by Laura Carter for Readers Favorite

Jennet Carter is one of the elite. As a VirtuMax kid she is rich with everything she could ever want and to top it off she has access to all the latest gaming technology. Everything is perfect for jennet other than one small detail, she has somehow lost her mortal essence inside the prototype of the latest game in development - Feyland. Supposedly the latest full-sim game, Feyland is incredibly realistic and it has somehow started to affect real life. After the lead game developer dies Jennet knows that somehow the game is responsible and she must find someone to help her regain her mortal essence before the game finds a way to fully enter reality.

I really enjoyed "Feyland: the Dark Realm". I loved the original concept that has been so very well done by the author. The characters are very likable - Jennet the rich girl who has everything and her opposite Tam, the poor boy who lives with his mad mum and strange younger brother in the axe. Brought together only because of their love of gaming, they must overcome their differences to save the world. Anthea Sharp has created a book that everyone will enjoy with its mix of sci-fi, fantasy, adventure, family issues and even a little romance. There is truly something for everyone. I am looking forward to the next book in the series to see what happens next to Jennet, Tam and the world of Feyland.

This book has a really great concept. I love that it's a science

This book has a really great concept. I love that it's a science fiction book that feels like a fantasy novel. The futuristic setting allows for wrist access chips and sim gaming and grav cars. The cross into the game, Feyland, allowed the author to bring in lots of great fairy creatures...and it's all based on an old English ballad. :)

I thought that Jennet and Tam were both good characters, and the secondary characters were well done, too. I loved both Tam's brother, Peter (the bug), and his best friend, Marny. They both added quite a bit to the story, allowing Tam's character to grow beyond a stereotype and into a more well-fleshed out hero. While the Dark Queen and her Black Knight never really become more than the typical "bad guys," her bard helps to add some degrees of morality to the Dark Court.

A fun foray into a fantasy video game.

great book

I very much enjoyed this eBook and I have put the paperback of this book on my wishlist for things I want to buy and for my birthday wishlist .This is a different but yet fun read that will keep you reading until the very end. I highly recommend this one.

I enjoyed this engaging quest and romance

Feyland: The Dark Realm is pure, delightful fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed this engaging quest and romance. It blurred the lines between reality and gaming. While I have absolutely no experience playing this type of video game; I have watched enough of my son playing quest games to appreciate the plot and understand the world of Feyland. I love the way in which Sharp weaves fairy folklore and Scottish ballads into this tale. The protagonist is Jennet Carter and her father’s employer, VirtuMax, designs gaming systems that enable the player to experience first person playing through his or her avatar. Jennet’s Dad brings home two systems that they play together. When the creator of the software program dies while playing the game; Jennet’s Dad forbids her to play. Jennet a typical teenager begins playing secretly. She moves through Feyland completing quests and fighting bosses. She reaches the final level and does battle with the Queen. Something goes terribly wrong and the Queen steals Jennet’s essence. She becomes ill in real life and must find a knight to win back what she has lost. Tam Linn is a guy with problems. He lives in the slums, has a mother who is mentally ill and a brother that will make anyone crazy. He has built his own gaming system and works for spare parts and free games. In the game world he is confident and brave. In the real world, he has few friends and heavy burdens. He may be the only one who can save Jennet. The tale that unfolds is beautifully written and moves at a steady pace. The romance between Jennet and Tam is sweet. I loved the characters in Feyland and the world-building there. The way in which Sharp blurs the lines between this world and Feyland was cool. When I close my eyes I can almost see the characters and creatures that dwell there. I highly recommend Feyland to fans of fantasy, video games, quests and romances. This is the first in a series or trilogy. The next book entitled Feyland: The Bright Court will be published in the spring of 2012. This novel is currently available in digital and paper formats. I will be watching for more from this author. I want to thank the author for providing me this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

enjoyed this engaging quest and romance

Feyland: The Dark Realm is pure, delightful fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed this engaging quest and romance. It blurred the lines between reality and gaming. While I have absolutely no experience playing this type of video game; I have watched enough of my son playing quest games to appreciate the plot and understand the world of Feyland. I love the way in which Sharp weaves fairy folklore and Scottish ballads into this tale. The protagonist is Jennet Carter and her father’s employer, VirtuMax, designs gaming systems that enable the player to experience first person playing through his or her avatar. Jennet’s Dad brings home two systems that they play together. When the creator of the software program dies while playing the game; Jennet’s Dad forbids her to play. Jennet a typical teenager begins playing secretly. She moves through Feyland completing quests and fighting bosses. She reaches the final level and does battle with the Queen. Something goes terribly wrong and the Queen steals Jennet’s essence. She becomes ill in real life and must find a knight to win back what she has lost. Tam Linn is a guy with problems. He lives in the slums, has a mother who is mentally ill and a brother that will make anyone crazy. He has built his own gaming system and works for spare parts and free games. In the game world he is confident and brave. In the real world, he has few friends and heavy burdens. He may be the only one who can save Jennet. The tale that unfolds is beautifully written and moves at a steady pace. The romance between Jennet and Tam is sweet. I loved the characters in Feyland and the world-building there. The way in which Sharp blurs the lines between this world and Feyland was cool. When I close my eyes I can almost see the characters and creatures that dwell there. I highly recommend Feyland to fans of fantasy, video games, quests and romances. This is the first in a series or trilogy. The next book entitled Feyland: The Bright Court will be published in the spring of 2012. This novel is currently available in digital and paper formats. I will be watching for more from this author. I want to thank the author for providing me this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.