Brea's Tale

Feyland World #4.5

by Anthea Sharp

A novella set in the world of Feyland, where faerie magic collides with the high-tech human world~

Once a mortal girl, Brea Cairgead discovers her magical heritage and escapes the human world to dwell in the Realm of Faerie. But fate has more in store for Brea than a simple existence as one of the fey folk, and when she runs afoul of the Dark Queen, she must embark on an adventure that will change her future... forever.

Genres: Fantasy, Novella, Short Stories, Fiction

54 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 28, 2016

About the author

Growing 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.

Reviews

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this short novella in the Feyland series which is so important to be read between books 1 and 2 of the Feyguard new series as it explains how the gamers are crossing into the dark court. Brea is a lovely character, a young woman who was a girl of two parts - water and land, fey and mortal. Not human enough yet neither was she fully fea and she had a part to play in things to come. All she ever wanted was to belong, yet her difference ensured she belonged nowhere. She was full of her own magic but had little knowledge on how to make good use of it. She is a mer person and feels safer in the water than on land but unfortunately the Queen of the Dark Court has set a Geas on her and she has been sent out of the realm of faerie to complete her task! She has to learn everything about the human world she is so suddenly thrust into but she seems to be quite resourceful! I am looking forward to the next Feyguard book Royal to see how Brea is going to meet her Geas and how she is going to get along with our group of Feyguard warriors? This tale is written with the beauty of poetry, it's descriptions of life below the water are purely magical as are the descriptions of all things natural like the forests. This short story is brilliantly written and a very magical and enjoyable read!

[Elizabeth Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

On to book two

The beginning of Brea's tale, gives the reader many opportunities to pity the main character. Her life is a shambles, through no fault of her own, and she just seems to have bad luck. Until, she manages to take her life into her own hands. Remaining passive doesn't always provide the best results. I'll take the bait and read book 2.

[Tamara Hull · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did enjoy this snippet of Brea's story, I do wish it was a little bit longer. I think it's also important to read it either between Spark and Royal or after the Feyguard series as it fits between the first and second books.

[Kathy Brickert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling

I had no plan of becoming so intrigued by this series! It sucked me in! Very well written with interesting characters and the never ending plot! I do wish it would complete the story instead of leaving you hanging. Not a true cliffhanger, but close! Good read!

[Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Deeper Look Into Fey World

This book gives an interesting viewpoint of and from the fey world mixed with the human world. I am way looking forward to learning more about the main character introduced here.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Brea's story and of course Puck showing up to help was a bonus!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story between books four & five. Good to read before starting book five, as it gives background to the new character Brea. Really do love this series! Great blend of technology and magic.

[Lisa Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very short, but I thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful fantasy imagery and adventures of the daughter of the little mermaid!

[Gypsy Madden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. Brea is definitely not the usual kick-ass heroine in all the books available nowadays. She’s a scared, innocent, sheltered young woman who panics when she gets into sticky situations. She does grow and change as a character through the course of this novella, and by the end she does try to solve her situations rather than just succumb to the panic. Admittedly I read Feyland: The First Adventure and didn’t care for it much. It felt juvenile and rather wooden and the video game world of Feyland, even though richly described, felt flat and just there as a backdrop. Though this novella is a vast improvement, with Brea a lifelike and complicated character with emotions and flaws, and the story certainly has a lot of twists and turns as she has to adapt to the different places she ventures to, but still Feyland itself is very static and feels like a richly visual, but still very flat backdrop. There is no personality to the creatures of Feyland, other than what is expected of them (to be comic book evil or to talk in riddles). With it being the centering focus of this series, I keep expecting more of it than being just a backdrop. I adored Brea’s time in her aquatic form. I’m sure the audience, as fans of fantasy, expected Brea to turn into a mermaid, so I loved that the author had her transform into something pleasantly unexpected, and certainly different from any other shifter story I’ve encountered. And did like Brea trying to adapt to going back into the human world, but I had to groan when she decided to enroll as a student and pave the way for yet another high school drama to come (it’s like when in doubt, write high school drama). Another thing I had trouble with was that she had gained a whole bunch of new powers when she went back to the human world and knew how to use all of them, but there hadn’t been any mention of them prior to her returning to the human world which felt like a puzzle piece missing. In all, I thought it was an excessively fun read and would certainly recommend it to others.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of Brea's Tale by Anthea Sharp in exchange for an honest review.
Note: this review contains spoilers!
I'll read anything Anthea Sharp writes because she is that good. This novella is no exception. It starts with Brea as a human child, or that's what everyone thinks. She doesn't fit in, though, and when her father dies, she is asked to leave the village where she has lived her entire life. There is nothing for her in that village, so she goes. To escapes ruffians on the dark road, Brea jumps into a magical pool and finds she isn't entirely human after all as she turns into a silvery fish. She comes out of the water long enough to meet Puke and learn of her destiny, then she is a fish once more. The next segment of the story is beautifully lyrical prose that touchs on the realm of the fey. "The taste of mystery pulled" Brea until she found a pool "that tasted of contentment." Would we know how mystery or contentment tasted? I think not.
After becoming once again a girl and a series of misadventures, Brea finds herself before the Dark Queen of the Fey. As a punishment for events beyond her control, Brea is sent to the human world, a world different from ours, to entice youth to play the virtual reality game Feyland and cross over to the land of the Fey.
I felt Brea's sense of aloneness as a child in the village, as a girl talking to Puck, as a fish who know she was part human. The world of Fey comes alive with the descriptions of being a fish, the Wild Hunt, and the Dark Queen's court. The reader is introduced to the human world as Brea is. She has just enough magic to protect herself, to float on the wind, to try and belong so she can entice the youth to the land of fey.

[Stan Hutchings · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've read Feyland: Books 1-4, this is a fascinating interlude and prelude to Feyland: Book 5. It would be most enjoyable to read Brea's Tale (Feyland Book 4.5) with this in mind. There are two extra very interesting chapters about Brea and how she reluctantly came to be in the Dark Queen's service that are not part of the Book 4-6 Bundle. Although it's more or less stand-alone, it gives an enjoyable bio of Brea. Brea had been a mortal once, but left her village after being orphaned. She escaped brigands by calling on her heritage and becoming a fish-like creature (not mermaid or selkie) and was transported to the Faerie Realm. She had lived in the Realm of Faerie for a long time, centuries perhaps. In Feyland Book 4 she inadvertently led Spark and Aran to the golden apple, which allowed them to escape the Dark Queen. As her punishment, she's sentenced by the Queen of the Dark Realm to perform a mission to the Mortal Realm, to mark mortals for the Dark Queen. Puck bids her have courage and to follow her heart. She blends in with mortals, tapping into fey magic she didn't know she had. To find ideal targets to mark, she joins the most gullible and unsuspecting age: teenagers in Crestview High. Feyland: Book 5 will pick up here.

[Jonel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say just how much I enjoyed this novella. This quick trip back into Feyland was one that I couldn't put down and was sad to see end. I loved how Sharp continued to develop the different types of magic that those from Faerie are able to use and how differently they manifest in each individual. We also get to see parts of Faerie that aren't quite so apparent in the main novels in the series, but that explain a whole lot about the why's and how's of things.

And Brea was a fantastic main character for this novella. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her and what it means to be part human and part Faerie. Her personality was so unique that she really drew me in. Her actions and reactions were genuine yet not predictable.

As a whole this was a fantastic read both as part of the Feyguard series and for those new to this world. It's a must read for any and all who enjoy the genre and if you're anything like me it will leave you dying for the next tale.

Please note that I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice addition.

First, I was given a free arc for an honest review...but then I purchased it as well! Oh well...I have the rest of the series, so it's all good. I liked the insight into Brea's character. I did not care for the abrupt ending...it should have intersected with the series before stopping. I am not a fan of short stories or novellas for this very reason...the reader is left hanging. Still, as an addendum to the series, it is worth the read.

[Ryan Smith]

I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. It was suspenseful at times, and the author really makes you feel for the character. I really love the series altogether and i'm glad to see new tales come out because i'm very engaged with the Feyland world.

[S M Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this (short story) in Chronicle World:Feyland, and it was touching there. Here, it's expanded and gives a sense, as well, about how dangerous it was to be a woman alone, hundreds of years ago (or more). Really liked it.

[Charlene Pratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

This world Anthea Sharp has created continues to fascinate and engage my imagination. The characters span the spectrum from sympathetic to fervent hope some of them will get a proper comeuppance. I love this series.

[Linda Rout · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very short arch story to continue the Leyland series. Was ok and I assumed will tie into the next book in the series.

[Sara]

A good explanation of just where Brea came from. I habe to re read royal now to remember what happens to her!