The Dark Realm

Jennet was a character that I fell in love with instantly. She is a girl who loves video games, has a great sense of competition, and is just tough enough without being overbearing. Strong in the face of danger, Jennet is my kind of girl. I'll admit that I absolutely loved both Jennet and Tam in this story. They meshed perfectly as a duo, playing off strengths and weaknesses. Their stories were both built up beautifully alone, but it was when they came together that Feyland shined.

I had never heard the story of Tam Lin before reading Feyland, but of course I had to research it once I was finished. Sharp has taken an age old fairy story and turned it into something that pulses with new life. Ready for a confession? I'm a gamer. A total show more nerd who loves MMO immersion and the story lines that come along with it. However I can honestly say that even if you aren't into the video game scene, the world that Anthea Sharp builds for her characters will easily come to life for you anyway. Her writing is fluid, easy to read, and definitely something that you'll be able to get lost in.

Feyland definitely isn't hurting in the action department either. I personally think that this is one of the more perfectly paced stories that I've read lately. In fact I actually read this book straight through from beginning to end, simply because there just wasn't a good place to stop. I needed to know what happened to Jennet and Tam. That's how invested I was in their fight to save themselves, and ultimately all of humanity.

If you enjoy fantasy stories, with a bit of science fiction thrown in, this is a read to pick up! I adored it and recommend Feyland wholeheartedly. I desperately hope that there is more in store for Jennet and Tam. I can't wait! show less

You might not know it to look at me, but I'm a gamer. I love especially the games where I enter a fantasy world and can explore and go where I want. I would love to be able to enter some of my games for real. At least that was what I used to think. Feyland: The Dark Realm, by Anthea Sharp will make me think twice about what I wish for.
Teen girl Jennett is living any gamer's dream-her father is a wealthy game developer in this futuristic novel set in our world, and Jennett has access to state of the art games that haven't even been released. After entering Feyland and losing a Boss fight with the Dark Queen, Jennett realizes that it isn't just a game. The Dark Queen takes her spoils in the form of a part of Jenett's soul. After Jennett show more leaves the game, she is seriously ill and needs to be hospitalized. She does come home, and knows that she must find a way to get that piece of herself back from the Dark Queen before she is completely sucked dry. When she re-enters the game, she can only get far enough in to be told that she won't be able to do it alone. She must find herself a champion to enter the game with her and defeat the Dark Queen.
She and her father have just moved and she decides to attend the local high school so that she can stay near the game, at her father's home. It is there that she knows she must find her champion and searches for the top gamer in the school. Enter Tam Lin, the dark brooding hero (I have a soft spot for dark brooding heroes-what is it about them, anyway?). He is the top gamer, but is a complicated person with a lot of home issues. The lure of being able to try the top unreleased games proves too tempting for Tam and he enters Feyland with Jennett. Eventually he finds out that the game is real. Apparently, mankind has done such a bang up job of destroying the environment, that gone are the fairie rings, the circles of standing stones (like Stonehenge), and other places that the very real creatures of fairieland have always used to enter our world. They had to find a new way in, and they did-video games. But they want to do more than just enter our world. They want to open a gateway between our world and theirs, and it doesn't look too good for humans if they are able to pull it off. Tam soon realizes that he needs to save not just Jennett, but our whole world from Feyland-and now the Dark Queen wants him as a sacrifice.
This is one of those books that had me laying awake at night thinking about it. I really loved the character Tam. Forced to grow up too soon by a mentally ill mother, he unfailingly takes care of his little brother Bug (who is an adorable character). They live in the worst part of town where bad things can happen to you if you don't know your way around (and even if you do), and Tam always performs admirably, always does the right thing. When Jennett needs him, he's there, and in the end willingly makes an unthinkable sacrifice in order to save her. We all want one of those guys, right? I think that's why books are so full of them, but they never get tiresome. I liked Jennett, too. she's a toughie, an excellent gamer (admirable quality in anyone, but particularly in a female), and she learns many lessons during the story that we should all take to heart. She too makes an incredible sacrifice at the end-but I don't want to say too much-I want you to read it yourself!
I think it's a great YA novel and a take on fantasy unlike anything I have ever seen. I usually don't like fantasy, probably because I can't find a way to relate to it. But here-ah, the games! Now that, I get. I think it's a very unique idea to make the game turn out to be real, and this was well done and well written. I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of YA fantasy or paranormal. I hope that in the next books we get to see Bug being more involved, and I'm sure the fey of Feyland are not done with Jenett, Tam , or our world. show less

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 show more said I’m looking forward to reading the next adventure in Feyland. show less

I gave this book a go because i got the first 3 books of the series on an Amazon 99p thing and i liked the idea of Faerie being able to bridge through VR.

The good bit was the Faerie and VR stuff, all really well done and really enjoyable.

The not so good bit was the young adult thing, but that is irrelevant if the story is good enough and the young adults protagonists fit well within the story.

The bad bit, and why i only gave this 4 stars, is Tam's back story. I really can't see the need in making his life so utterly depressing with such a total chaos of family life. This brought nothing to the story and was, at times, a big distraction from it. It made me think of 'Ready Player One' but in that the protagonist's back story worked with show more the narrative, whereas in this book it detracts from it as it doesn't bring anything to the story.

So yeah, 5 out of 5 for the Faerie and VR stuff, but a big 0 out of 5 for the stuff on Tam's family life.

But well worth a read for anyone interested in folk lore and VR. Tam's family life has certainly not put me off diving straight into the second book in the series. show less

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 show more 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. show less

This is the 2nd book base on a Scottish ballad that I red this week (the 1st is about Scarborough fair) Soooo.... I had this kind of weird feeling...
Anyway it's a perfect idea:

"I forbid you maidens all that wear gold in your hair
To travel to Carterhaugh for young Tam Lin is there
None that go by Carterhaugh but they leave him a pledge
Either their mantles of green or else their maidenhead
Janet tied her kirtle green a bit above her knee
And she's gone to Carterhaugh as fast as go can she...."

So of course the main characters are Tam lin ,Jennet and the dark fairy queen Add to this another character from another Scottish ballad - Thomas the Rhymer and you got another perfect combination:
".....Oh no, oh no, Thomas, she said
That name does not show more belong to me
I am but the Queen of fair Elfland
That am hither come to visit thee

Harp and carp, Thomas, she said
Harp and carp along with me
And if you dare to kiss my lips
Sure of your body I will be...."

Now take all of this above and scatter it into artificial reality game and....
Put it into "Sim-game" as the point of entry to Fey land - is just ingenious!
Anthea Sharp’s choice of game levels to create a spiraling entry into the enchanted dark realm,are good ones.

She also get over on few problem like the age of the characters (No pregnancy for Jennet). She replaced the time of encounters of the queen Janet before Tam lin (still the knight). She add a generous help from Thomas the Rhymer (Who happen to know Jennet from before and play heavy metal in the court of the queen)

Now, Add to all this above ,Tam’s complicated family life- (His little brother, Bug, is a scene-stealer), and in contrast to it the near-perfect, over-protected world Jennet inhabits with her father.

The writing is solid. The pacing is even; the story keeps moving and I couldn't stop reading till i reached to the surprising finish.... now what... do I really have to wait?
Well I'll be happy to rest my hands on the next book. show less

3.75 Stars

A modern gamer interpretation of the Ballad of Tam Lin. The beginning throws the reader right into the gaming world, so if that's your thing, great. If not, push through the first couple of chapters. The story gets much better and focuses less on the video game details and more on a contemporary fairy tale romance.

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