Teen Review: Feyland

Feyland: The Dark Realm by Anthea Sharp
Release Date ~ December 16, 2011
ISBN13: 9781466408715
E-copy received from author for review

Goodreads Synopsis:
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.

I don't know about any of you, but one things that I love to besides reading is game.  When I saw that this book dealt with pretty advanced gaming technology, I was psyched.  The main setting of this novel is the game world.  After I read it, I did some research and also found that this book is based off of a Scottish Ballad, Tam Linn.  From what I could gather, she did a very good job weaving the two together.  I loved this book, and was able to easily finish it in a couple of days.  This book was fantastic and exceeded my expectations.

1. The Characters-
   The two main characters in this book, Tam and Jennet, are very unique characters.  I found that I really got to know the two of them very well.  Jennet wasn't just some rich spoiled girl. I mean, sure she was rich, but she was also kind of lonely.  She didn't really see her dad a lot and her world was in the game, Feyland.  She had retreated so much into the game that she hardly had friends in the real world.  And then there was Tam.  As soon as he entered the stage I fell in love with him as a character.  He went through a tough life, living in a rough neighbourhood, having to take care of his brother.  His mom was hadly ever there; she would sometimes disappear for months on end.  And then when the two met....  We'll get to that later.  The rest of the characters such as Tam's brother, and his friend Marny.  They added a bit more to the overall atmosphere of the book.  The extra, flat characters weren't even tedious at all.
2. The Wrting-
   The writing was really well done in this book.  All the events that happened seem to flow so naturally; nothing seemed forced.  The dialogue between the characters was real, and some parts were pretty funny too.  Although the premise makes the novel sound like it would be really lame and cheesy, it wasn't at all.  My favourite part is when we see the events of the Tam Linn ballad take place.  The writing there is beautiful.  Overall, Sharp is a very talented writer.
3. The Romance- 
   
   As soon as Tam and Jennet met, I could feel the chemistry between them.  It was right there, but not in a rub-it-in-your-face kind of way.  The great part about the romance in this book is that, unlike many other books, they don't start making out in corners after page 50.  (Minor spoiler: They actually don't even kiss until the end.)  I think that the way Sharp went about writing the romance was nice and slow.  Tam and Jennet created an excellent friendship first.  The friendsihp made an easy transition to something more.  It was refreshing to see such a healthy relationship form.  You will not be disappointed with this plot in the novel.

The one thing that would've been useful in this book would be some sort of indication that this novel took place in the future.  I was reading it, and getting so confused bescause I thought this took place in our time.  But just to clarify, it does not.  I think that even non-gamers will like this book, but gamers will appreciate this book even more.  This book is now one of my favourites and I wouldn't mind going through it again.