The Dark Realm

A LitRPG/Gamelit Series (Feyland, Book 1)

By: Anthea Sharp

Narrated by: Amy Landon

Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

USA Today best-selling GameLit Fantasy

What if an immersive game was a gateway to the treacherous Faerie Realm?

WHEN A GAME....

Feyland is the most immersive sim-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.

©2013, 2020 Anthea Sharp (P)2020 Aethon Audio

Exciting

I received a free review copy.

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. It has suspense, teen romance, magic, and wonderful adventure. It was a fun book to read. I cared about the characters as they dealt with challenges and their emotions. I recommend it.

The main character, Janet, plays an alpha version of a VR game her father is developing. However, she finds it is more than a game. After suffering defeat by the fae queen, she finds her soul is being sapped. She needs help and soon. She looks for and finds the best gamer, Tam, in her new school to help her. However, he has his own problems to deal with. Together, they face the challenges in the fae world as they help one another. Can Tam overcome his problems? Will they win back Janet's soul? Will Tam suffer the same fate as Janet? These questions are answered.

The book is a portal fantasy. It does not feature a lot of combat or advancing attributes. However, it is a wonderful teen adventure partially set in both the fae world and real world.

Slow Burn, Enjoy the Ride!

Requested a free code in exchange for an honest review.

The author weaves an intriguing tale. I don't want to say too much because I could easily get into spoilers. I recommend you just listen and enjoy the ride. It didn't go the directions I thought it would and that was refreshing. It isn't a young adult romance but has elements of that genre. It was a complete story and had a satisfying ending. The book had a lot of world building and set up the next in the series. I will be interested to return to Feyland and see what the Dark Queen is plotting!

I enjoyed the narrator's interpretation of the characters.

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Been waiting!!

I’ve been waiting on this for audio for a long time. Having seen the book around Amazon for years, I figured it was a matter of time, but man was it a long time! The wait was worth it. 100%. Great narration, stellar writing. One for the GameLit hall of fame!

Exciting Fun!

I went in with no expectations and walked away with an exciting story from a new author for me. I am looking forward to Anthea Sharps next book.

Excellent Fantasy LitRpg

What starts off as the usual run of the mill rich kid moves to new town scenario soon turns off into a fast paced adventure where the action in their real world is as exciting as their adventure happening in game. Our MC is literally lost in game, well part of her at least and needs to find her knight in shining armour to help her rescue her soul...before the Dark Faerie use it to invade the real world, killing her and doom the world.

Sound quality is good and the narrator is more than up to the task, doing a successful job.

The story contains no swearing or adult situations and is recommended for listeners of all ages. No cliffhangers but the story does continue.

My Little Pony meets Bratz Dolls

Written by a 12 year old girl for 12 year old girls. Exceptionally descriptive, overly so, simplistic and pandering to gamer tropes, I found this book trite and shallow. The voice acting is meh.

Game that can influence reality

I was given a free copy of the book for an honest review. When I first saw the cover, I was a little worried about what I had agreed to. The story starts out similar to what I was worried about. I have to admit I even stopped and listened to another book. But I wanted to give it a solid amount of time, so I went back to it. After getting through a little more, the book started to pick up and I enjoyed it more. I can still recommend this book but I have to ask for patience at the beginning. After learning about the main characters and some of their background, we learn about a full immersion VR rig that even though it is supposed to go to beta Feyland game, it actually crosses over into the real fairy dimension where they can be influenced, hurt and even killed in that land.

The narrator did a good job with all the different characters. I would definitely check out some of her other books.

more than a litrpg

great fantasy book with lit rpg elements. this wasn't a usual pick for me and am really glad I tried it.

Fun Intro where Classic Lit meets Bleeding-Edge VR

The Dark Realm is a wonderfully enjoyable blend of classic literature and near-future VR gaming. The main character names give away a fair bit of the plot for fans of classic literature and Fae lore, but the updated twist on the blending f the Mortal and Fae realms within the gaming world is well done and does not feel trite. The characters are believable for their ages and circumstances and the story flows nicely. The Gamelit elements are extremely light, to the point where this is more Sci-Fantasy than LitRPG/Gamelit, which makes for a nice book to introduce a new listener to the genre without overwhelming them with stat blocks and details of people leveling constantly. The book can be read/listened to as a stand-alone story with a Life Goes On ending but is also a nice set up for the rest of the Feyland books (not yet available on audio at the time of this review, but available as e-books at Amazon). Overall: Recommended.

Disclaimer: I was given this a free review copy audiobook and have voluntarily left this review.

Enjoyable fantasy.

Overall I liked this book and it kept my attention and I finished it very quickly. I think it’s good overall. It wraps up nicely but it primed for starting a series which would likely be a good series. There were a few parts of the story or character traits I wasn’t crazy about but overall it was enjoyable.

disappointing

while I like the genre the main character is unrelatable. the other male main character is a little more relatable this whole teen love will they won't they sub plot is beyond boring.

Not your average RPG novel

I enjoyed this good guys versus bad guys story, but I think it's more for a younger adult audience (and I have grandchildren). There's lots of sword and sorcery, heroes and villains and a boy-meets-girl sub-plot. There's no huge armoury of sci-fi weaponry, no level-ups, no menus and not everybody has a happy ending. This is Book 1; I'm not sure how Book 2 is likely to pan out as the plot here reaches a logical ending.

A different perspective

It is difficult to review this book without spoiling it. It is different to others in the genre in that it focuses on the real world far more than the game itself. I'm many ways the game is incidental to the storyline. The story is in many ways an interesting twist on a classic tale and it is well written and narrated. I received a review copy of this book.