Royal by Anthea Sharp

Title:  Royal
Series:  Feyguard #2
Author:  Anthea Sharp
Published:  July 25/14 by Fiddlehead Press
Length:  195pgs
Format:   ecopy
Genre:  YA fantasy
Shelf:  review
Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The adventures begun in the Feyland trilogy continue, where a high-tech computer game becomes a gateway to the treacherous Realm of Faerie.

Rich-boy gamer Royal Lassiter lives on easy mode—until everything falls apart. Dark faeries are plotting to invade the mortal world, his controlling mom has turned home into enemy territory, and he can’t deny his irresistible attraction to newcomer Brea, despite the danger lurking in her mysterious eyes.

Forced to undertake a perilous mission for the Dark Queen of Faerie, Brea Cairgead finds living among humans and hiding her true nature as one of the fey folk a fearsome challenge—especially when her emotions prove all too vulnerable to a certain human boy. Torn between impossible loyalties, she must serve her queen... though it may cost her heart.

Can love between mortal and fey ever have a happy ending?

My Review:

Sharp draws you back into the magical world of Feyland from the very first sentence. Adventure & excitement abound in a fantasy world like no other. Sharp melds the human world with that of the Seeilie & Unseelie courts in a manner that allows you to see them coexisting naturally in our world. The implications of this make the story all the more exciting. Throw in the well plotted out adventures and quests that he characters find themselves on and you have one unforgettable tale. She also defines what needs defining without slowing down the fast forward pace of the story. Sharp allows her readers full immersion into this intricate world while taking them on the ride of a lifetime.

I feel like I really know each of the main characters in this novel intimately. I especially loved the growth that we see in Roy in this novel. He is still the spoiled rich kid that we`ve come to know and tolerate, but he`s really coming into his own now. You can see the personal growth that he`s undergone throughout the series, and now he`s becoming a much more rounded and grounded individual. He`s someone you can (almost) like now.

This was a beautifully put together novel that I wouldn`t hesitate to recommend to fantasy lovers of all ages. The world that Sharp presents to her readers is breathtakingly beautiful and extremely easy to fall in love with. I definitely couldn`t put this one down even for a second.

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Spark by Anthea Sharp

Title:  Spark

Series:  Feyguard #1

Author:  Anthea Sharp

Published:  December 15th 2013

Length:  258pgs

Format:  ebook

Genre:  YA fantasy

Shelf:  review

Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Superstar gamer Spark Jaxley's life might look easy, but she's part of an elite few who guard a shocking secret; the Realm of Faerie exists, and its dark magic is desperate for a foothold in the mortal world.

Aran Cole hacks code and sells his gaming cheats on the black market. It's barely a living, and one he's not proud of. But when he turns his skills to unlocking the secrets behind Feyland—the most exciting and immersive game on the market—he discovers power and magic beyond his wildest dreams.

Spark's mission is clear; pull Aran from the clutches of the fey folk and restore the balance between the worlds. But can she risk her life for someone who refuses to be rescued?

My Review:

I was so glad to re-join Sharp in Feyland for more adventures. The Feyguard series picks up right where the Feyland trilogy leaves off but takes you so much further into this remarkable world. She takes off with this tale using the same well written and approachable style that we’ve come to know and love. Her descriptions are extremely vivid, allowing you and inviting you into her fabulous world. As a reader you are completely immersed in the world of gaming (I’m not a gamer at all, and I could easily follow along) as well as the Fey court.

Although I truly enjoyed reconnecting with Spark and the other Feyland characters in this novel, I absolutely fell in love with Aran, a new character in this novel. He is the perfect counterpoint to Spark. Both their similarities and differences shine through to make quite the show as they get to know one another. In fact, all of the major characters in this novel are quite well developed.

I loved this novel as much, if not more, than Sharp’s previous novels. I can’t wait to read more about this wonderful world.

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Feyland: The Twilight Kingdom by Anthea Sharp

Title:  Feyland:  The Twilight Kingdom

Author:  Anthea Sharp

Series:  Feyland #3

Published:  November 2012 by Anthea Sharp

Page Count:  325

Genre:  YA Urban Fantasy

Shelf:  Gift from friends/Family

Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Faeries. Computer games. A boy from the wrong side of the tracks, and the girl he’s forbidden to love.

~ Book 3 in the Feyland Trilogy ~

THEIR LAST CHANCE…

Jennet Carter and Tam Linn are almost out of time. Feyland, the most immersive computer game ever designed, is about to be released into the world—along with the Realm of Faerie’s dangerous magic.

WIN THE GAME…

The faeries, desperate to break free from their realm, have set treacherous plans in motion. Despite magical allies of their own, Jennet and Tam have no idea what dire threats await, both in-game and out.

OR DIE TRYING…

Battling for their lives against the united powers of the Dark Queen and Bright King, Jennet and Tam’s quest to stop the fey takes them into the perilous Twilight Kingdom, where illusion reigns—and magic can break all the rules.

My Review:

What do you get when the world of Shakespeare meets a video game? Some adventure, a few laughs, and a whole barrel full of awesome. That’s what Sharp has brought us with this final novel in the Feyland Trilogy.

Sharp definitely gives her characters some unique challenges to overcome. She mixes fantasy with reality and some virtual reality gaming to create a melded world that you find yourself lost in. Sharp’s gripping yet fluid writing style allows you to flow through the story alongside the characters without missing a beat. Her vivid descriptions allow you to walk beside them through a world you not only know but can also see.

The characters that we’ve come to know and love (or hate) throughout the series return here, each changed slightly from their trials and travels, but as the same individuals that we’ve always known. Sharp continues to develop these characters so that you feel like you’ve known them your whole life by the end of this novel. She also introduces some new characters to help round out the cast for this final battle of wills. These new characters are extremely well developed. They compliment and help to balance those that we already know.

Overall, this was a fan-frickin-tastic conclusion to the Feyland trilogy, even if I do want to see more of these characters. It is a journey that I’m sad to see end, but it was well worth the trip (read?).

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or buy the trilogy box set online via Amazon, B&N, Kobo, or Smashwords.

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Feyland: The Bright Court by Anthea Sharp

Title:  Feyland:  The Bright Court

Author: Anthea Sharp

Series:  Feyland #2

Published:  May 2012 by Anthea Sharp

Page Count:  340

Genre:  YA Fantasy

Shelf:  Gift

Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"Anyone and everyone who enjoys fantasy, gaming, a great story, amazing characters, incredible writing, worlds that are so alive they don't stay within the pages---MUST read this. If you haven't started this series yet, do not wait another second. You won't regret it!" -- The Crooked Word

What if a high-tech computer game was a gateway to the dangerous Realm of Faerie?

~ Book 2 in the Feyland trilogy ~

INSIDE THE GAME...

Jennet Carter escaped the dark faeries of Feyland once. Now, fey magic is seeping out of the prototype game, beguiling the unwary and threatening everyone she cares about.

MAGIC...

Tam Linn may be a hero in-game, but his real life is severely complicated. Still, he'll do whatever it takes to stop the creatures of Feyland, even if it means pushing Jennet toward the new guy in school--the one with an inside connection to sim-gaming... and the uncanny ability to charm everyone he meets.

ALWAYS WINS...

Despite the danger, Jennet and Tam must return to Feyland to face the magic of the Bright Court--and a powerful new enemy who won't stop until the human world is at the mercy of the Realm of Faerie.

My Review:

With this novel, Sharp jumps right back into the awesome world of Feyland and takes you with her. She completely immerses her reader in the world of gaming and in the land of the Fey. The distinct socioeconomic backgrounds in this story really add to the feeling of the story. It helps to develop the feeling of helplessness and of crossing boundaries. There is also lots of action in this instalment that keeps you on edge and ploughing forward.

Sharp`s phenomenal storytelling skills and brilliant descriptions create a world that her readers cannot help but love. Everything comes to life in such a brilliant way that you feel like you are simming right alongside the characters. As a reader you live and breathe everything that they do.

Sharp’s characters return with a vengeance in this instalment. They are the same individuals that you came to know and love in The Dark Court, but they continue to grow as individuals as they age and as they experience more and more perils at the hands of the Fey. The new characters that Sharp introduces in this instalment are also very well developed. You get to know them, human and Fey alike, as well as you would a new friend. Sharp’s character development is always natural and leads you to come to know everyone as an individual.

All in all this was a fun and captivating story that kept you hooked throughout. I read the bulk of the book in a single sitting. It followed nicely from its predecessor and leaves you primed for the sequel. The reader is left simultaneously with a feeling of satisfaction and of wanting more (and a bit of a broken heart).

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or as a bonus selection in a pick your price bundle from Story Bundle

(bundle only available until Sept 17/13 so Hurry!)

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Feyland: The Dark Realm by Anthea Sharp

Title:  Feyland:  The Dark Realm

Author:  Anthea Sharp

Series: Feyland #1

Published:  April 12th 2012 by Createspace (first published December 1st 2011)

Page Count:  320

Genre:  Young Adult Fantasy

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:  

~ Book 1 in the award-winning YA Urban Fantasy trilogy ~

What if a high-tech computer game was a gateway to the dangerous Realm of Faerie?

WHEN A GAME…

Feyland is the most immersive computer game ever designed, and Jennet Carter is the first to play the prototype. But she doesn’t suspect the virtual world is close enough to touch — or that she’ll be battling for her life against the Dark Queen of the faeries.

TURNS REAL…

Tam Linn is the perfect hero — in-game. Too bad the rest of his life is seriously flawed. The last thing he needs is rich-girl Jennet prying into his secrets, insisting he’s the only one who can help her.

WINNING IS EVERYTHING…

Together, Jennet and Tam enter the Dark Realm of Feyland, only to discover that the entire human world is in danger. Pushed to the limit of their abilities, they must defeat the Dark Queen… before it’s too late.

My Review:

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.

This novel was amazingly exciting, invigorating, and captivating. It is so different from your typical fantasy novel that you can’t help but be intrigued. It brought a brand new world to life and kept me captivated throughout. It was brilliant as a standalone novel as well as the first novel in a series, providing you with characters that you get to know and love.

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