Rating: 
Summary: Boring fantasy
Review: A book that role playing gamers will probably enjoy. Terms I hadn't heard since I was 16 playing Dungeons and Dragons; hit points, lawful good, etc. I was expecting a mystery/adventure plot, but got a fantasy adventure. Because the main action takes place in virtual reality, I failed to see the urgency of the characters situation. Couldn't they make their world whatever they wanted? Unlike other VR novels where people could die if you died in VR. Not the case here. The main characters spend there time killing virtual dragons, trolls, loch ness monsters, evil elves and harpies. I found all this very boring. I think only teenagers and preteens would enjoy this book. Most adults I think would find it boring. Hence only a one star for me.
Rating:
Summary: Boring fantasy
Review: A book that role playing gamers will probably enjoy. Terms I hadn't heard since I was 16 playing Dungeons and Dragons; hit points, lawful good, etc. I was expecting a mystery/adventure plot, but got a fantasy adventure. Because the main action takes place in virtual reality, I failed to see the urgency of the characters situation. Couldn't they make their world whatever they wanted? Unlike other VR novels where people could die if you died in VR. Not the case here. The main characters spend there time killing virtual dragons, trolls, loch ness monsters, evil elves and harpies. I found all this very boring. I think only teenagers and preteens would enjoy this book. Most adults I think would find it boring. Hence only a one star for me.
Rating: 
Summary: Well worth reading
Review: An entertaining book; works as sci-fi, mystery, and even has a nice seasoning of romance. The characters were interesting and non-stereotypical, and I could say the same for the depiction of the future and VR, which was (happily, for me) nothing like Gibson's apocalyptic one.
Rating: 
Summary: A swing and three misses
Review: For starters, the reviewer below who claims to (a) be a programmer and (b) love this book is either (a) a liar (b) the author's best friend or (c) both. The presentation of VR in this book isn't the most laughable in recent fiction, but it's certainly written from the perspective of someone with little idea of how computers work, or how VR environments are, or could be, designed. In addition, the detailed descriptions of combat don't provide adequate service either, suffering from the common conceit that SCA combat is somehow an accurate representation of how hand-to-hand combat works.
Such factual discrepencies could be allowed, if this were a better fantasy/sci-fi novel...but it's not. The fantasy elements are strictly the wish-fulfillment of SCAdians everywhere who wish they didn't have to go to work for a living. The characters frequently break into off-topic digressions on history and fantasy literature, usually inaccurately and always pedantically -- much like an actual SCA event, in fact, where everyone's a self-proclaimed expert, if only on the Monty Python view of history.
Even this might be excused if the mystery plot were a decent draw, but it isn't. You'll figure out the villain in about ten pages, and the rationale for the crimes is, quite simply, ludicrous...a deeper expression of fantasy than the supposed fanatasy elements themselves. The romantic sub-plot was merely contrived, less than an afterthought.
The only redeeming features are a moderately compelling backstory about the protagonist's profession, which is never fully realized, and some in-jokes which SCAdians and fantasy fans will get, but which will eventually annoy even them.
I wanted to like this book, but I didn't. I usually don't finish books this poor, but I did, hoping against hope that it would improve. I'm surprised at the publishers for printing it, and can only assume they had an empty slot on their roster.
Rating:
Summary: Virtual Realities live in the details
Review: From the opening scene, Dorothy Heydt pulls you in with the details of her VR medieval worlds as well as her hardworking heroine. The immersive sense of the fantasy VR plays well in opposition to the real world and the threats that cross over. Anyone who enjoys fantasy escapes, whether in the Society for Creative Anachronism, wherein the author is a prominent figure, or in MMORPG games such as Everquest or Dark Age of Camelot, will experience a thrill of recognition reading this book. As a historian, I appreciated that the way Heydt worked in tidbits of medieval (and SCA) customs into her virtual world. Sure, the mystery wears a little thin two-thirds of the way through the book (and the heroine's newfound partnership accelerates unconvincingly) but the magic of the worlds-crossings worked their wonders right through the conclusion.
Rating: 
Summary: Just as good as "Snow cash" or "Neuromancer".
Review: I read this book, and then got hooked on this type of book. So the next one was Snow Crash, Which I loved aswell. If u are starting in the IT business or are already there, this book might appeal to you especialy.
Rating:
Summary: Dynamite stuff; I hope she writes more soon!
Review: I'm a programmer by trade and an avid fan of science fiction, fantasy, and role-playing games, and this was one of the finest portrayals I have ever seen of what virtual reality could someday be. Many authors have tried and failed to do a good job of VR-related novels, and I was half afraid that this would be more of the same old stuff. Other authors make the mistake of spouting a lot of useless, nonsensical jargon that would make even the super techno-savvy reader confused. I felt that her command of technology is on a par with that of other authors, but she doesn't try to club the reader over the head with how techie she is. Her plot and character development are excellent, and I was so taken with her writing that I dropped by amazon.com to see if she'd written more. I highly recommend this book!
Rating:
Summary: Fast-paced, well-written book of VR and the Middle Ages
Review: If you're a fan of virtual reality, the Middle Ages and chase scenes, get this book--you won't be disappointed. The characters are a little thin and the future world is generic, but the mystery and cleverness of the central plot carries the book along.
Rating: 
Summary: An idea that suffers from its own success
Review: The idea of using VR for recreations of combat in the middle ages is superb. (This is probably a dream of most SF/fantasy readers, or at least it will be after you read this book!). Unfortunately the quest that forms a major plot line fails to excite precisely because it is taking place in a safe artificial world (and hacked one at that.) Still this book has a great set of ideas which, together with some very nice historical touches, makes the book a pleasant way to pass the time. Also a lot of potential exists for other stories based on the use of VR for historical re-enactment. Overall a fairly good read but one which fails to live up to its potential.
Rating:
Summary: What a great read!
Review: This book is pure science fiction but the story is all fantasy. Its a beautiful blend that works quite well. I had the most fun I've had with a new book in a couple of years. Sir Mary de Courcy is the top knight in a virtual game/world called Chivalry. At the end of one successful tourney she suddenly finds herself the target of a killer. How can the aquisition of a virtual world manor be so important that someone is willing to kill for it, and why? To answer this question AND find out who is behind the attempts on her life, Mary joins with one of the original writers of the virtual universe. She handles the virtual 'physical' dangers, knights, dragons and trolls, while Greg analyzes code and studies how the hackers are manipulating the world. I want more!
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