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Feyguard #1
Spark
What if a high-tech game was a gateway to the treacherous Realm of Faerie? 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?
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2013
253 people are currently reading
4029 people want to read
About the author
Anthea Sharp
125 books1,292 followersGrowing up, Anthea Sharp spent her summers raiding the library shelves and reading, especially fantasy. She now makes her home in the Pacific Northwest, where she writes, plays the fiddle, hangs out in virtual worlds, and spends time with her small-but-good family. Contact her at antheasharp@hotmail.com, follow her on twitter, find her on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/AntheaSharp), and visit her website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
June 16, 2017
A friend of mine recommended Spark by Anthea Sharp and I'm so glad I listened to her. Imagine my gamer heart's surprise at the originality of the plot and the main characters. Sharp's gift for keeping me on my toes as I read made for a fun read! I didn't know what was going to happen next. A little confusing at times but eventually I caught up. lol! Highly recommend!
My Rating: 4 stars
My Rating: 4 stars
December 20, 2013
This book has been on my 2013 book list and finally it came out!!! Anthea Sharp again takes us into the Fey world, but this time we get to see a whole new side of things.
After the events in Feyland: The Twilight Kingdom, Spark heads back into her normal life of tours and signing first stop SimCon but when she meets Aran, she's hoping for more then just another fan.
Aran a wise hacker of the world has come to SimCon trying to get his hands on some play time in Feyland. When he happens to meet Spark and gets a personal invite to try the game, he thinks he has it made. What he doesn't know may just set the stage from trouble.
This being the first book after the Feyland series I fall in love with Spark. It was nice to get to see her on a more personal level and to move away from Jennet and Tam's story.
So what did I think about this one.... I'll get back to you after I'm done reading it again! Just kidding! The plot was new and for someone that works for Cons it was nice to see the underdogs that run things behind the screens get some page time. I also know how it feels to be running from one place to another at a Con or show and Sharp has got it down to the last T.
For characters Spark and Aran where great, they felt well rounded and realistic. But I still question about what Aran role will be in the Feyguard now that he know what lays behind the codes. Also I will say I would love to see more of Niteesh, the cutie little guy need his story told ^_^
Overall amazing book, colorful with its ideas and storytelling. I can't wait to see who story gets told next!!!
After the events in Feyland: The Twilight Kingdom, Spark heads back into her normal life of tours and signing first stop SimCon but when she meets Aran, she's hoping for more then just another fan.
Aran a wise hacker of the world has come to SimCon trying to get his hands on some play time in Feyland. When he happens to meet Spark and gets a personal invite to try the game, he thinks he has it made. What he doesn't know may just set the stage from trouble.
This being the first book after the Feyland series I fall in love with Spark. It was nice to get to see her on a more personal level and to move away from Jennet and Tam's story.
So what did I think about this one.... I'll get back to you after I'm done reading it again! Just kidding! The plot was new and for someone that works for Cons it was nice to see the underdogs that run things behind the screens get some page time. I also know how it feels to be running from one place to another at a Con or show and Sharp has got it down to the last T.
For characters Spark and Aran where great, they felt well rounded and realistic. But I still question about what Aran role will be in the Feyguard now that he know what lays behind the codes. Also I will say I would love to see more of Niteesh, the cutie little guy need his story told ^_^
Overall amazing book, colorful with its ideas and storytelling. I can't wait to see who story gets told next!!!
June 24, 2015
(I read this book as part of the Nine By Night set, which I got on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Since I'm not going to read all nine books in one go, I'm posting short reviews separately.)
A light and enjoyable read, but one that felt a little confusing at times, in the beginning: I hadn't realised it followed a previous trilogy. However, it made me feel like reading said trilogy (perhaps I'm even more interested in it than in the second one, actually). I have a soft spot for stories where gamers have to face real dangers in a virtual world, and video games combined to traditional faerie lore seemed like a good blend. Spark also deals with the gamers' real life, showing sides of their lives that aren't always terribly glamorous. I'll probably pick the first volume in the Feyland trilogy at some point, to see what exactly led to the Feyguard being established (even though it's easy to guess, it doesn't mean there's no point anymore, after all).
A light and enjoyable read, but one that felt a little confusing at times, in the beginning: I hadn't realised it followed a previous trilogy. However, it made me feel like reading said trilogy (perhaps I'm even more interested in it than in the second one, actually). I have a soft spot for stories where gamers have to face real dangers in a virtual world, and video games combined to traditional faerie lore seemed like a good blend. Spark also deals with the gamers' real life, showing sides of their lives that aren't always terribly glamorous. I'll probably pick the first volume in the Feyland trilogy at some point, to see what exactly led to the Feyguard being established (even though it's easy to guess, it doesn't mean there's no point anymore, after all).
December 11, 2013
Back in October, I reviewed Anthea Sharp’s Feyland trilogy on my blog. I’d gotten the first two Feyland books as part of Story Bundle’s young adult bundle, and enjoyed them so much that I got the third one from Amazon. This month, Ms. Sharp offered to send me an advance review copy of Spark, the first book in her new spin-off series, Feyguard. I tore through it in three days, loved it, and now as per my word, I am reviewing it.
The elements I loved from the Feyland trilogy continue in Feyguard. Even at the professional level, Spark’s gender is never made an issue in regard to her gaming ability. Sure, Spark is every male (and many a female) gamer’s celebrity crush, but the fact that she’s a pro gamer girl isn’t treated as unique or unusual. She’s one of four top gamers, two male and two female, backed by her corporate sponsor. I thought it was particularly smart of Sharp to make Spark’s main human antagonists a team of boy/girl twins. Roc Terabin by himself would’ve made the rivalry seem like a battle of the sexes. Cora Terabin by herself would’ve come across as stereotypical catty girl-hate. Together, they’re just plain horrible people. We want to see Spark come out on top not because Roc is a boy or Cora is a Mean Girl, but because Spark is good and the Terabins suck.
Femmephobia continues to be absent, too. Spark’s trademark is her bright magenta hair. Her personality is more assertive and tomboyish than Jennet’s, but this isn’t portrayed as meaning Spark is stronger. Although Spark is more of a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl on her own time, she sucks it up and wears garish spandex costumes and theatrical makeup for public appearances because it’s part of her job. I really like the way Spark’s attitude toward her rockstar life as a pro gamer is handled. She sometimes acknowledges feeling fatigued, overwhelmed, lonely, and rootless , but it doesn’t come across as whining. She takes these feelings in stride as part of a very rewarding package deal that she willingly signed up for.
Like Jennet and Tam, part of Spark and Aran’s attraction to each other is their mutual love of gaming. But unlike Tam, the noble knight in shining armor, black hat hacker Aran falls for Spark while trying to hack the game she was hired to promote. They meet again after he opens the breach she fought to close in the last book. Their inevitable conflict still avoids Battle of the Sexes and Strong Female Character Who Doesn’t Need A Man’s Help territory. While Spark and Aran’s goals start out at odds, their personalities are a perfect match. When they can fight for a common goal, they’re a perfect team. Made up of believably imperfect gamers.
Feyland itself, both the game and the faerie land it borders, remains as engaging and well-developed as in the first trilogy. Which brings me to the only real weakness I’ve noticed in these books: the human world in this fictional future universe isn’t nearly as well-developed. It’s more noticeable in this book than in the first three since Spark is actually traveling this world as part of her corporate sponsorship gig. Aran’s description of his home city are about as generic as possible. Overall, though, this isn’t too distracting since the human world isn’t the focus here. This story is about characters who live for escaping into a computer-generated fantasy world. In other words, the kind of people who devour urban fantasy novels, faerie folklore, and RPGs like Feyland. And as I mentioned in my review of the first trilogy, I like that this future is neither a utopia nor a dystopia. It’s basically the present, but with better cars and gaming systems.
If you like fantasy, video games, and YA novels with characters who aren’t a carbon copy of every other YA cast, I highly recommend Spark!
The elements I loved from the Feyland trilogy continue in Feyguard. Even at the professional level, Spark’s gender is never made an issue in regard to her gaming ability. Sure, Spark is every male (and many a female) gamer’s celebrity crush, but the fact that she’s a pro gamer girl isn’t treated as unique or unusual. She’s one of four top gamers, two male and two female, backed by her corporate sponsor. I thought it was particularly smart of Sharp to make Spark’s main human antagonists a team of boy/girl twins. Roc Terabin by himself would’ve made the rivalry seem like a battle of the sexes. Cora Terabin by herself would’ve come across as stereotypical catty girl-hate. Together, they’re just plain horrible people. We want to see Spark come out on top not because Roc is a boy or Cora is a Mean Girl, but because Spark is good and the Terabins suck.
Femmephobia continues to be absent, too. Spark’s trademark is her bright magenta hair. Her personality is more assertive and tomboyish than Jennet’s, but this isn’t portrayed as meaning Spark is stronger. Although Spark is more of a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl on her own time, she sucks it up and wears garish spandex costumes and theatrical makeup for public appearances because it’s part of her job. I really like the way Spark’s attitude toward her rockstar life as a pro gamer is handled. She sometimes acknowledges feeling fatigued, overwhelmed, lonely, and rootless , but it doesn’t come across as whining. She takes these feelings in stride as part of a very rewarding package deal that she willingly signed up for.
Like Jennet and Tam, part of Spark and Aran’s attraction to each other is their mutual love of gaming. But unlike Tam, the noble knight in shining armor, black hat hacker Aran falls for Spark while trying to hack the game she was hired to promote. They meet again after he opens the breach she fought to close in the last book. Their inevitable conflict still avoids Battle of the Sexes and Strong Female Character Who Doesn’t Need A Man’s Help territory. While Spark and Aran’s goals start out at odds, their personalities are a perfect match. When they can fight for a common goal, they’re a perfect team. Made up of believably imperfect gamers.
Feyland itself, both the game and the faerie land it borders, remains as engaging and well-developed as in the first trilogy. Which brings me to the only real weakness I’ve noticed in these books: the human world in this fictional future universe isn’t nearly as well-developed. It’s more noticeable in this book than in the first three since Spark is actually traveling this world as part of her corporate sponsorship gig. Aran’s description of his home city are about as generic as possible. Overall, though, this isn’t too distracting since the human world isn’t the focus here. This story is about characters who live for escaping into a computer-generated fantasy world. In other words, the kind of people who devour urban fantasy novels, faerie folklore, and RPGs like Feyland. And as I mentioned in my review of the first trilogy, I like that this future is neither a utopia nor a dystopia. It’s basically the present, but with better cars and gaming systems.
If you like fantasy, video games, and YA novels with characters who aren’t a carbon copy of every other YA cast, I highly recommend Spark!
March 8, 2014
[Full disclosure: I requested and received a free ebook from Anthea Sharp in exchange for an honest review.]
In Feyland: The Twilight Kingdom one of my favourite characters was the teenage gaming superstar Spark Jaxley. She was sassy, tough and a talented gamer and I wanted to learn more about her. Imagine my surprise and happiness when I learned that the first book in the spin-off series would actually feature Spark as a main character.
I was far from disappointed, believe me. Spark sure is a sassy, tough and talented gamer but she’s also a teenager who’s lonely in her fame. Her fame makes it hard for anyone to see her as a real human being requiring company that’s on the same level. I liked the whole it’s-lonely-at-the-top angle Anthea Sharp gave her because it’s far more realistic than Spark revelling in her fame 24/7. Of course there are advantages (mainly the gaming itself) but I found it interesting to see Spark not just as a good gamer, but as a lonely teenage girl.
Aran Cole was also a fascinating character. He’s extremely poor and one of the best hackers out there when it comes to finding game cheats. He certainly has the motivation to improve his station in life and he’s not afraid to manipulate people to get what he wants. Aran’s not your typical cold-hearted criminal, though. Although he tries to hide and deny his feelings, he does feel quite a bit of guilt about his hacking. Especially when it lands Spark in danger later on in the novel.
So basically you have two awesome characters. How was the world-building? As with the original Feyland trilogy, the world-building is fantastic. I liked that Anthea Sharp focused more on the real world with this one, especially the gaming culture that Spark is so immersed in. It gives you a better picture of her imagined future where extreme wealth and poverty stand in stark contrast to one another. Of course she also adds some new stuff to Feyland itself, but the new information we learn is mostly about the real world.
The plot was so fast-paced that although I intended to only read a few chapters, I ended up finishing the whole book in one sitting. Spark is one of my favourite main characters and her and Aran’s story was fascinating. They’re both great characters in a fast-paced novel with three dimensional world-building. What more can you ask for?
I give this book 5/5 stars.
In Feyland: The Twilight Kingdom one of my favourite characters was the teenage gaming superstar Spark Jaxley. She was sassy, tough and a talented gamer and I wanted to learn more about her. Imagine my surprise and happiness when I learned that the first book in the spin-off series would actually feature Spark as a main character.
I was far from disappointed, believe me. Spark sure is a sassy, tough and talented gamer but she’s also a teenager who’s lonely in her fame. Her fame makes it hard for anyone to see her as a real human being requiring company that’s on the same level. I liked the whole it’s-lonely-at-the-top angle Anthea Sharp gave her because it’s far more realistic than Spark revelling in her fame 24/7. Of course there are advantages (mainly the gaming itself) but I found it interesting to see Spark not just as a good gamer, but as a lonely teenage girl.
Aran Cole was also a fascinating character. He’s extremely poor and one of the best hackers out there when it comes to finding game cheats. He certainly has the motivation to improve his station in life and he’s not afraid to manipulate people to get what he wants. Aran’s not your typical cold-hearted criminal, though. Although he tries to hide and deny his feelings, he does feel quite a bit of guilt about his hacking. Especially when it lands Spark in danger later on in the novel.
So basically you have two awesome characters. How was the world-building? As with the original Feyland trilogy, the world-building is fantastic. I liked that Anthea Sharp focused more on the real world with this one, especially the gaming culture that Spark is so immersed in. It gives you a better picture of her imagined future where extreme wealth and poverty stand in stark contrast to one another. Of course she also adds some new stuff to Feyland itself, but the new information we learn is mostly about the real world.
The plot was so fast-paced that although I intended to only read a few chapters, I ended up finishing the whole book in one sitting. Spark is one of my favourite main characters and her and Aran’s story was fascinating. They’re both great characters in a fast-paced novel with three dimensional world-building. What more can you ask for?
I give this book 5/5 stars.
September 27, 2015
Superstar gamer Spark Jaxley is a good choice for the protagonist of the first story of the Feyguard series: in the earlier Feyland books she was appealing and honorable, but we knew less about her than about some of the other main characters. The gamers are now playing their new role, thwarting the attempts of the Dark Queen and her followers to penetrate the boundary between Faerie and the everyday world. The use of folklore elements and evocation of the Dark Realm are very successful, creating a real sense of peril.
Spark, who is lonely despite her fame, sets off for SimCon on a VirtuMax tour. There she is attracted to Aran Cole, a hacker known as BlackWing who hopes to hack the game. When a goblin inside the game invites him to the Dark Realm, Aran accepts the offer, not realizing the consequences.
The books give an excellent idea of what it’s like to play an RPG, although this seemed slightly less compelling than the earlier adventures, probably because the premise is becoming less novel. It will be interesting to see if a series of books with this pattern (gamer saves inadvertent collaborator with the Dark Queen) can avoid becoming repetitive and build an overarching structure. Nevertheless, this is promising start to the Feyguard series, with an engaging heroine. I look forward to reading the stories of the other characters and learning more about machinations of the Dark Queen.
Spark, who is lonely despite her fame, sets off for SimCon on a VirtuMax tour. There she is attracted to Aran Cole, a hacker known as BlackWing who hopes to hack the game. When a goblin inside the game invites him to the Dark Realm, Aran accepts the offer, not realizing the consequences.
The books give an excellent idea of what it’s like to play an RPG, although this seemed slightly less compelling than the earlier adventures, probably because the premise is becoming less novel. It will be interesting to see if a series of books with this pattern (gamer saves inadvertent collaborator with the Dark Queen) can avoid becoming repetitive and build an overarching structure. Nevertheless, this is promising start to the Feyguard series, with an engaging heroine. I look forward to reading the stories of the other characters and learning more about machinations of the Dark Queen.
May 4, 2014
I had read FEYLAND-THE DARK REALM and loved it so I read this one too.
Aran Cole was a fascinating character. He’s extremely poor and one of the best hackers out there when it comes to finding game cheats. He certainly has the motivation to improve his station in life and he’s not afraid to manipulate people to get what he wants. Aran’s not your typical cold-hearted criminal, though. So basically you have two awesome characters. How was the world-building? As with the original Feyland trilogy, the world-building is fantastic. I liked that Anthea Sharp focused more on the real world with this one, especially the gaming culture that Spark is so immersed in. It gives you a better picture of her imagined future where extreme wealth and poverty stand in stark contrast to one another. Of course she also adds some new stuff to Feyland itself, but the new information we learn is mostly about the real world.
The plot was so fast-paced that although I intended to only read a few chapters, I ended up finishing the whole in only a few hours. Spark is one of my favourite main characters and her and Aran’s story was fascinating. Overall amazing book, colorful with its ideas and storytelling. I can't wait to see who story gets told next!!!
Aran Cole was a fascinating character. He’s extremely poor and one of the best hackers out there when it comes to finding game cheats. He certainly has the motivation to improve his station in life and he’s not afraid to manipulate people to get what he wants. Aran’s not your typical cold-hearted criminal, though. So basically you have two awesome characters. How was the world-building? As with the original Feyland trilogy, the world-building is fantastic. I liked that Anthea Sharp focused more on the real world with this one, especially the gaming culture that Spark is so immersed in. It gives you a better picture of her imagined future where extreme wealth and poverty stand in stark contrast to one another. Of course she also adds some new stuff to Feyland itself, but the new information we learn is mostly about the real world.
The plot was so fast-paced that although I intended to only read a few chapters, I ended up finishing the whole in only a few hours. Spark is one of my favourite main characters and her and Aran’s story was fascinating. Overall amazing book, colorful with its ideas and storytelling. I can't wait to see who story gets told next!!!
December 31, 2013
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.
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
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.
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2015
I received an ebook copy of Spark from the author in exchange for my honest review. I had downloaded Book 1 of the Feyland series a few days prior to receiving Spark, but hadn't had a chance to begin reading it yet - and it is the next book I am going to read! Reading the Feyland series before reading Spark was not necessary, though it did make me want to read all of them by the time I was 1/3 of the way through! I enjoyed reading about the tech without it coming off as if it were "dumbed-down" or leaving me baffled. It was well-written and paced really well! Definitely a recommended read in my opinion!
January 5, 2016
Sparks has joined the elete group of gamers , set with a purpose to keep the human world safe from the fey courts. Now as Sparks meets a guy who moves her , and stirs a longing in her , she knew was missing. Aran a guy with a shady past , has made Sparks feel something ! Aran is tricked into helping the wrong side, only to find indeed his choice was a mistake .The feelings Aran stirs in Sparks, has also caught him as well , and her risking all to help save him , make him see how much he cares for her. Will the like /love be enough to beat back the dark fey ? Read along with me, and find out .You will love this story ,and will be left want to grab the next book
April 29, 2014
I loved this book so much. It was nice following another character from the Feyland trilogy and Spark is such a down to Earth kind of girl. It has everything a book needs. Romance (just a dab), excitement, mystery, and action. When given the chance I will probably read this book again. I may even buy a paperback copy just to sit it on my shelf.
February 4, 2015
I got this as part of a book bundle, Nine By Night. I bought this from Amazon, and was thrilled that this was part of the collection. I had read the prequel and somehow forgot to read the three books in the first series that led to the Feyguard series. That thought aside, I loved this book. Spark Jaxley was fantastic. I could go on, but I'm sleepy.
September 18, 2015
Addictive series
I don't even play video games. But after reading Feyland Trilogy and now the first of the Feyguard series, I have a hint of why people do play. It's exciting and intense. But doubt real life video games would be as good as these books describe. So I will just eagerly get ready to read the next book in the series.
I don't even play video games. But after reading Feyland Trilogy and now the first of the Feyguard series, I have a hint of why people do play. It's exciting and intense. But doubt real life video games would be as good as these books describe. So I will just eagerly get ready to read the next book in the series.
January 11, 2014
Great read! Full of adventure and a bit of budding romance. Aran is a great addition to the cast of characters we know and love from the Feyland series. This is a start to the Feyguard series which is a continuation of the Feyland series. I look forward to Feyguard book 2 coming out.
September 2, 2014
I loved this book and could not put it down!
I really enjoyed how fresh and real the characters and settings were and the storyline as a whole was gripping. I really liked the twists and turns added in to make things unpredictable!
I really enjoyed how fresh and real the characters and settings were and the storyline as a whole was gripping. I really liked the twists and turns added in to make things unpredictable!
March 10, 2014
Definitely hooked on this series. Sharp does a great job weaving this story around the others and brings back the characters. The pace picks up toward the end of the book.
January 23, 2015
I was hooked on this book from start to finish, I love how adding the gaming element gave a new twist on faerie lore. I can't wait to read the second book! X
November 1, 2015
Wow, I wanted to read something different than what I normally read. And I love this book. I love how the characters all had a story. And most of all Spark and Aran are my fave. I want more of them.
April 16, 2018
Spark's a renowned sim gamer working for the creators of Feyland, a place that sometimes bleeds into the real Realm of Faerie. She's also been appointed by the Elder Fey as part of the Feyguard, who protect humans who might accidentally stumble upon this dangerous magical world.
Aran is a hacker who has his sights set on cracking Feyland before anyone else and making enough money to finally get out of hacking for good. But what lies beyond the code is more than he bargained for.
This book was great! I loved the characters - Spark seemed super cool, and Aran, too. I love that Spark has to work through quests to make it to the Dark Court, and it's interesting watching it all piece together.
I believe I missed an interim series, though, as the author refers to how the Feyguard was formed, something I haven't read yet. But this book stands on its own, so you're not missing anything if you start here.
Aran is a hacker who has his sights set on cracking Feyland before anyone else and making enough money to finally get out of hacking for good. But what lies beyond the code is more than he bargained for.
This book was great! I loved the characters - Spark seemed super cool, and Aran, too. I love that Spark has to work through quests to make it to the Dark Court, and it's interesting watching it all piece together.
I believe I missed an interim series, though, as the author refers to how the Feyguard was formed, something I haven't read yet. But this book stands on its own, so you're not missing anything if you start here.
May 20, 2015
I DNF'd this as part of the Nine By Night Urban Fantasy Collection.
Welcome to the Feyland MMORPG, now being tested with the latest virtual reality technology that makes you feel things. This MMORPG is inexplicably connected to the Fairyland, which was sealed off by the Elder Fey thousands of years ago. An evil fairy, the Dark Queen, executes a plan to free herself: she captures an unwitting hacker boy named Aran and forces him to hack his way out. Meanwhile, our main heroine Spark did a bunch of stuff in previous books that is constantly referenced and it's her job to get poor Aran out of there.
This book's cover art is what ultimately led me to start reading it. And I tried to give it a fair chance. I really, really tried. But I just couldn't finish it. It's too...it is...just...so...aaagh. Where do I start?
I'll start with the primary problem here. This is Feyguard #1, first in what is presumably a trilogy. What it really should have been labeled is Feyland #4. This is absolutely not a standalone book. It constantly, unrelentingly references the three books of the previous trilogy it followed. It left me lost, like I'd been dumped into the middle of a pre-existing conflict and plot with characters I'm not given a chance to know (and thus, don't give a damn about, despite Spark constantly referencing them).
Apparently Spark is part of the Feyguard with her friends whosawhachits-I-don't-care-because-she-abandons-them-to-go-on-a-video-game-tour-in-the-first-twenty-pages. The Feyguard's job is to yank people who have crossed over into the land of the Fey by accident while playing the MMO. How this happened and why is hand-waved. Just like how the MMO is connected to the realm of the Fey. I'm assuming all of this is answered in the previous trilogy.
The secondary problem is that this book does a very poor job of selling its own concept. The consequences of an MMO being directly connected to an otherworldly realm aren't explored well. The fairy's powers and limitations aren't very well defined (I guess they can appear in the game world and screw with the game? And then cross over into the real world to kidnap people anyway, despite being trapped in the game?), the Dark Queen is generic and uninteresting.
For something like this to work, you really need to sell it. And I just couldn't buy into it.
So where does that leave me? Unsatisfied, uninterested and bored. My final moments with this book went something like this:
-Spark has to dive into this MMO to save Aran!
-All right, awesome, she's crossed over into Fairy land!
-Turns out to completely cross over, she has to quest for a while. But the quests will be scary...
-So book decides to follow us through her questing detail-by-detail. She has to find an apple, but there might be a twist
-The twist is that it's guarded by enemies.
-I check to see how many pages I have left. And then I force close my Nook app.
Welcome to the Feyland MMORPG, now being tested with the latest virtual reality technology that makes you feel things. This MMORPG is inexplicably connected to the Fairyland, which was sealed off by the Elder Fey thousands of years ago. An evil fairy, the Dark Queen, executes a plan to free herself: she captures an unwitting hacker boy named Aran and forces him to hack his way out. Meanwhile, our main heroine Spark did a bunch of stuff in previous books that is constantly referenced and it's her job to get poor Aran out of there.
This book's cover art is what ultimately led me to start reading it. And I tried to give it a fair chance. I really, really tried. But I just couldn't finish it. It's too...it is...just...so...aaagh. Where do I start?
I'll start with the primary problem here. This is Feyguard #1, first in what is presumably a trilogy. What it really should have been labeled is Feyland #4. This is absolutely not a standalone book. It constantly, unrelentingly references the three books of the previous trilogy it followed. It left me lost, like I'd been dumped into the middle of a pre-existing conflict and plot with characters I'm not given a chance to know (and thus, don't give a damn about, despite Spark constantly referencing them).
Apparently Spark is part of the Feyguard with her friends whosawhachits-I-don't-care-because-she-abandons-them-to-go-on-a-video-game-tour-in-the-first-twenty-pages. The Feyguard's job is to yank people who have crossed over into the land of the Fey by accident while playing the MMO. How this happened and why is hand-waved. Just like how the MMO is connected to the realm of the Fey. I'm assuming all of this is answered in the previous trilogy.
The secondary problem is that this book does a very poor job of selling its own concept. The consequences of an MMO being directly connected to an otherworldly realm aren't explored well. The fairy's powers and limitations aren't very well defined (I guess they can appear in the game world and screw with the game? And then cross over into the real world to kidnap people anyway, despite being trapped in the game?), the Dark Queen is generic and uninteresting.
For something like this to work, you really need to sell it. And I just couldn't buy into it.
So where does that leave me? Unsatisfied, uninterested and bored. My final moments with this book went something like this:
-Spark has to dive into this MMO to save Aran!
-All right, awesome, she's crossed over into Fairy land!
-Turns out to completely cross over, she has to quest for a while. But the quests will be scary...
-So book decides to follow us through her questing detail-by-detail. She has to find an apple, but there might be a twist
-The twist is that it's guarded by enemies.
-I check to see how many pages I have left. And then I force close my Nook app.
March 23, 2017
If you like fey fairy fantasy stories then this is a series for you!!!!! Takes place in the future with lots of future Technology but pulls in the world of the fey ..... Very interesting and enjoyable read.
August 13, 2014
Spark Jaxley is a 17 year old gamer that works for a company that is releasing a new game called Feyland but that’s not her only job even though it is the only one that pays. Her other job is to guard the realm of the Fairies because they do exist and they aren’t nice little Fairies like Tinker Bell. No, they are evil and are ruled by the Dark Queen and she wants to take over and control of the mortal world. It’s up to Spark and six others to keep the world safe. Only one problem, the game is actually an entrance to the realm of the Fey if hacked into.
Aran Cole had everything going for him until he was set up by his brother which landed him in juvenile detention. He’s now been black balled from society with no way to get a decent job so he does what he does best. While he’s not proud of it, he discovers cheat codes and sells them on the black market. Having gained entrance into SimCon, a gaming convention, with a friend he runs into none other than Spark Jaxley and he can’t believe his good luck when she invites him to play Feyland before anyone else. Too bad his good luck is about to turn for the worst once again…
This book was part of Nine by Night which is a multi-author urban fantasy set. While it is the first in this particular series, it is also a spin-off of Feyland the Dark Realm that I have not read. It can be read as a stand-alone but I honestly believe that I would have enjoyed it more if I had read that series but even without reading it, I’m still giving it 4 stars. The beginning started off a little slow in my opinion but once it got going the writing was fantastic and I really enjoyed the detail in the games as well the characters with the exception of the Terabin twins (AKA: The Terribles) but that’s to be expected since they are well… terrible. I can assure you that I will be going back to read the other books in the series as well as next book, Royal that has already been released.
Aran Cole had everything going for him until he was set up by his brother which landed him in juvenile detention. He’s now been black balled from society with no way to get a decent job so he does what he does best. While he’s not proud of it, he discovers cheat codes and sells them on the black market. Having gained entrance into SimCon, a gaming convention, with a friend he runs into none other than Spark Jaxley and he can’t believe his good luck when she invites him to play Feyland before anyone else. Too bad his good luck is about to turn for the worst once again…
This book was part of Nine by Night which is a multi-author urban fantasy set. While it is the first in this particular series, it is also a spin-off of Feyland the Dark Realm that I have not read. It can be read as a stand-alone but I honestly believe that I would have enjoyed it more if I had read that series but even without reading it, I’m still giving it 4 stars. The beginning started off a little slow in my opinion but once it got going the writing was fantastic and I really enjoyed the detail in the games as well the characters with the exception of the Terabin twins (AKA: The Terribles) but that’s to be expected since they are well… terrible. I can assure you that I will be going back to read the other books in the series as well as next book, Royal that has already been released.
December 31, 2015
This is the first book by Anthea Sharp I have read and it was provided to me as a reader review.
First off, I'll begin by saying that I love her take on the fae world. It's completely different from anything I have read or seen before and I love that! The futuristic time frame and the ability to interact between worlds with technology is a really good change from the norm. The storyline was good, interesting. I wouldn't say it's necessarily a page-turner, but I was definitely not going to leave this book unfinished. Finally, Sharp does a great job of including just enough details to give you everything you need without boring the reader with too much, no information overload. She has a great imagination and provides the reader with a wonderful take that makes you want to see the story through to the end.
A brief synopsis of the story. The queen of the Dark Realm wants a way into the human world. Humans may inadvertently enter the fae world through a game called Feyland. Spark is one of the humans whose job it is to stop anyone from entering, and protect and save those who accidentally do. Aran is a hacker who gets by on selling cheat codes for games and intends to do the same with Feyland until he realizes there's far more to the game than meets the eye. Together, Aran and Spark must make sure they fix his mistakes, but will it be in time?
First off, I'll begin by saying that I love her take on the fae world. It's completely different from anything I have read or seen before and I love that! The futuristic time frame and the ability to interact between worlds with technology is a really good change from the norm. The storyline was good, interesting. I wouldn't say it's necessarily a page-turner, but I was definitely not going to leave this book unfinished. Finally, Sharp does a great job of including just enough details to give you everything you need without boring the reader with too much, no information overload. She has a great imagination and provides the reader with a wonderful take that makes you want to see the story through to the end.
A brief synopsis of the story. The queen of the Dark Realm wants a way into the human world. Humans may inadvertently enter the fae world through a game called Feyland. Spark is one of the humans whose job it is to stop anyone from entering, and protect and save those who accidentally do. Aran is a hacker who gets by on selling cheat codes for games and intends to do the same with Feyland until he realizes there's far more to the game than meets the eye. Together, Aran and Spark must make sure they fix his mistakes, but will it be in time?
January 16, 2014
Sissy says--I don’t like gaming, I don’t like futuristic settings, and I don’t like weird made-up names, but I liked this book. And here's what I liked about it: Spark, the character, is an awesome girl! She is slightly tomboyish but can rock the spandex when needed. She is true to herself and is real. I liked the new character Aran, and how he struggles to do the right thing and go for the girl. I liked how much I hated the bad guys (evil twin gamers Roc and Cora Terabin). My favorite, though, was Niteesh--super little team-playing minuteman! And I think Anthea Sharp does a fantastic job with the Faerie realm. She describes things so vividly and fleshes out the inhabitants so fully, you feel like you are actually there.
Bubby says: I will continue to read Anthea Sharp’s books for as long as she writes them. All the magic and adventure I could ask for mixed with a dash of romance. Lovely. 4 bubbles from Bubby, the wannabe elf queen, and
Sissy the enchantress (current, not wannabe). Read full review at www.bubblebathbooks.net
Bubby says: I will continue to read Anthea Sharp’s books for as long as she writes them. All the magic and adventure I could ask for mixed with a dash of romance. Lovely. 4 bubbles from Bubby, the wannabe elf queen, and
Sissy the enchantress (current, not wannabe). Read full review at www.bubblebathbooks.net
April 27, 2016
This puts a really awesome twist on Fey folk and adding gaming with it was very interesting. Spark, a super star sim gamer and a Feyguard, only wants to keep everyone safe while playing her games and most of the time just wants to have a normal life. Aron, a code hacker and gamer, just wants to have it all and be recognized. When a new game demo comes to his town he thinks he will have it made but things take a turn and he feels he is doing the right thing but then disturbing facts come to life for him and he realizes he may have made the worst mistake of his life and the one person that can help him is not so happy with him at the moment. Spark finds normal in Aron but then everything gets turned upside down. Anthea Sharp really pulled me into this book and kept me wanting more.
I received this book for an honest review.
I received this book for an honest review.
May 22, 2015
Solid addition to the Feyland-verse and good start to stage 2: the Feyguard. I thoroughly enjoyed spunky, magenta-haired Spark Jaxley.
Lovely supporting characters, too: Niteesh is just too precious and impish! And we get a glimmer of Bard Thomas's life at the Dark Court, which is beautifully bittersweet. But at any rate, the male lead is dubiously delightful, of course. Dear Aran has his stupid moments, but he also gets the opportunity to redeem himself (in a way similar to Edmund Pevensie).
Lovely supporting characters, too: Niteesh is just too precious and impish! And we get a glimmer of Bard Thomas's life at the Dark Court, which is beautifully bittersweet. But at any rate, the male lead is dubiously delightful, of course. Dear Aran has his stupid moments, but he also gets the opportunity to redeem himself (in a way similar to Edmund Pevensie).
February 16, 2014
I was sucked in right from the beginning. I love everything about this book, the plot, they fey, the feyguard.
Vivid and very well written. My only complaint is around the 78% Mark, a previous section of the book had been placed right in the middle of the climax and it confused me for a moment.
In all, this is a fantastic read for youth and adults alike, I don't recall any adult nature or language.
Vivid and very well written. My only complaint is around the 78% Mark, a previous section of the book had been placed right in the middle of the climax and it confused me for a moment.
In all, this is a fantastic read for youth and adults alike, I don't recall any adult nature or language.
August 12, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In fact, I liked it enough to read the rest of the series and put the prior series in my TBR stream.
Fast-paced plot, quick read. Not a lot of character development and a standard redemption story, but enjoyable for an afternoon's entertainment. As simple as the story was, Ms. Sharp was able to do what only successful authors do: she made me want to know what happens next. I'm sold on the series and Ms. Sharp.
Fast-paced plot, quick read. Not a lot of character development and a standard redemption story, but enjoyable for an afternoon's entertainment. As simple as the story was, Ms. Sharp was able to do what only successful authors do: she made me want to know what happens next. I'm sold on the series and Ms. Sharp.
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February 3, 2014A great series
I read the first book of Feyland (the free one) and I was hooked. The trilogy was fantastic and left me wanting more of Feyland. Spark (the Feyguard) did not disappoint! I can't wait to read the rest of the series. Ms. Sharp is a wonderful writer and I will read everything else that she writes.
I read the first book of Feyland (the free one) and I was hooked. The trilogy was fantastic and left me wanting more of Feyland. Spark (the Feyguard) did not disappoint! I can't wait to read the rest of the series. Ms. Sharp is a wonderful writer and I will read everything else that she writes.
April 7, 2016
Well-paced plot with no confusing twists or holes, well-rounded characters with good development, and sufficient exposition that I didn't feel completely lost for not having read the Feyland trilogy. Definitely not my favorite book, but one I'm very comfortable recommending, and one that, at times, I could hardly put down.
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