The Realm

The Faerie Realm Trilogy #1

by Zoe Jae

While completing a school assignment, Faye learns of a devastating family secret that's been hidden from her for years. Determined to help heal her family, Faye travels to Ireland where she discovers that she is part of a long line of powerful and mysterious females in her family. Faye gets tossed into a world only believed to exist in faerie tales and must navigate between friend and foe. At a crossroads, Faye must choose between righting the wrongs her family has made or be blinded by power that could alter the fate of a whole species. What path will Faye choose?

308 pages, Paperback

Published October 26, 2023

Reviews

[Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

The engaging book "The Realm" by Zoe Jae transports readers on a mystical journey of self-discovery and transformation. The protagonist, Faye, discovers a long-kept family secret that rocks her world and sends her on a mission to heal her family's scars.
The story is expertly woven by the author to incorporate aspects of mystery, fantasy, and heritage. In Ireland, Faye discovers her link to a lineage of strong and mysterious women as part of her quest to unearth her family's secret past. The rich folklore and the evocative descriptions of Ireland's landscapes give the novel depth and transport readers to a magical and amazing place.
Faye discovers a world that is only hinted at in fairy tales as she explores her unfamiliar surroundings and learns to negotiate between allies and enemies. The richly developed people and their nuanced interactions offer Faye's emotional journey a captivating background.
The central conflict of the narrative is Faye's choice between resolving her family's wrongs and giving in to the attraction of power that has the potential to change the course of an entire species. Because of Zoe Jae's skillful exploration of Faye's inner turmoil, readers of all ages will find her to be an engaging and relatable character.
"The Realm" is a story about empowerment, self-discovery, and the decisions we make in the face of remarkable situations. As Zoe Jae skillfully blends the fantastical realm of folklore with the everyday struggles of family secrets, she takes readers on an emotional journey that showcases her writing prowess.
Finally, for those who appreciate a mix of fantasy, self-discovery, and family turmoil, "The Realm" is a must-read. This novel is a page-turner because of Zoe Jae's masterful storytelling and multifaceted characters, and readers will be left thinking critically about their own decisions and life pathways after reading about Faye's journey.

[Sam Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Realm is the debut novel by a young Australian author, Zoe Jae. This is a well paced fantasy story with seventeen year old Faye as the main protagonist. The fantasy element of this book is focussed on the Irish myths of faeries and the cross over between the human and faerie worlds. Without giving too much away, Faye discovers a secret connection between her family and the realm of mystical beings and she embarks on an intense journey of self discovery.

Faye is a sassy teenager with a quick wit but is also troubled by anxiety that at times can incapacitate her. She also has a strange ability to complete zone out which is quite worrying for her family. The other main character in this story is the faerie Cahira, who I can only describe as ‘enigmatic’. She is a mystical character for sure. The dynamic between these two characters makes for a great read….never knowing what is going to happen between them.

The author takes you on this journey of self discovery with Faye through vivid imagery and witty dialogue. I especially like Faye’s conversations with herself when she is trying to work things out. I had a few laugh out loud moments at the things she was saying to herself.

Throughout the book Zoe Jae subtly incorporates poignant themes such as teen mental health, struggling to come to terms with your desires, and staying true to yourself. It is great to read a young adult fantasy novel that can raise these issues without them being the main point of the narrative.

I think the core of this novel is a story about family, and how the strong bonds we forge with our loved ones can help you overcome anything. I particularly loved the bond between Faye and her Grandpa - their banter is cheeky but respectful.

I thoroughly recommend this novel if you want to dive into a wonderful world filled with great characters, good action and a cliffhanger. Yes it seems there will be a Part Two in the future!

[OpenedBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest, the beginning of the story could have been more smooth and made me wonder about the amount of professional editing that went into this book. A couple of things didn’t quite fit and I got a little frustrated. But it wasn’t so bad that I wanted to stop reading. Because the plot was alluring. But the connections weren’t there. For some reason, I wasn’t quite able to build a relationship with Faye throughout the book. Only at the end did I feel with her. This leads me to the big twist, that I didn’t fully see coming but all the alarm bells I had should have made it obvious. The ending was the best part for me because it made me question everything that happened so far. Now I want to know what I missed and what really went down in the realm. 

[shadowarc13 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review." This is a fantasy story with seventeen year old Faye as the main character. The fantasy element of this book is focussed on the Irish myths of faeries and the cross over between the human and faerie worlds. Faye discovers a secret connection between her family and the realm of mystical beings and she embarks on an intense journey of self discovery.
Faye is a sassy teenager with a quick wit but is also troubled by anxiety that at times can incapacitate her. She also has a strange ability to complete zone out which is quite worrying for her family.
The other main character in this story is the faerie Cahira. She is a mystical character. The dynamic between these two characters is awesome, u never know what is going to happen between them. Ready for more to come in book 2. A must read for who loves Faye fantasy. 🧚‍♀️

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very fast paced, faerie-based fantasy book. I loved the plot so much, I thought it was very well thought out and clever. This was a very quick read, but it kept me entertained all throughout. During the time I was reading this, I was so immersed in the story that I felt like I was actually in the faerie realm itself. The ending had me desperate to know what happens next!

[Jennifer Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. Worth a read.

[CopperpieceReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a engaging book with an emphasis on Irish culture and myths. it was a fun read and I actually want expecting the end. Now onto number 2