Just like the first book in this series, i had to give it 4 stars, and for similar reasons.

While this book didn’t let Tam’s ridiculous family issues interfere with the story line as much as the first book, i kept finding myself bracing myself for another onslaught of it, which thankfully, this time, was kept to a minimum.

It wasn’t until i finished the book that i felt like i could relax and enjoy the story i had just read.   And this was definitely better than the first book.

As i said, Tam’s family issues were kept to a minimum, while the Faerie and VR stuff got turned up a little further with more people entering Feyland.

I’ve just started book 3 and it’s already looking like another great story.

Anthea’s Page

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I gave this book a go because i got the first 3 books of the series on an Amazon 99p thing and i liked the idea of Faerie being able to bridge through VR.

The good bit was the Faerie and VR stuff, all really well done and really enjoyable.

The not so good bit was the young adult thing, but that is irrelevant if the story is good enough and the young adults protagonists fit well within the story.

The bad bit, and why i only gave this 4 stars, is Tam’s back story.   I really can’t see the need in making his life so utterly depressing with such a total chaos of family life.   This brought nothing to the story and was, at times, a big distraction from it.   It made me think of Ready Player One but in that the protagonist’s back story worked with the narrative, whereas in this book it detracts from it as it doesn’t bring anything to the story.

So yeah, 5 out of 5 for the Faerie and VR stuff, but a big 0 out of 5 for the stuff on Tam’s family life.

But well worth a read for anyone interested in folk lore and VR.   Tam’s family life has certainly not put me off diving straight into the second book in the series.

Anthea’s Page

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I was expecting a lot more about Jennet’s history prior to Feyland #1, which is what this book is supposed to be about.   But all it does is gloss over a few things that are already covered in the next 3 books and then when Jennet has her first encounter with the Dark Queen it’s exactly the same, word for word, as the second encounter in Feyland #1.

Basically, if you read this before the first three novels then you’ll spoil those novels — you’ve been warned.   If you do feel like reading it then only read it after you’ve read the novels.

In and of itself, it’s not a bad little book.   It’s just that it doesn’t work with what comes afterwards.   It’s all a bit confusing as to why Anthea published this.

Anthea’s Page

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