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Tairen Soul #3
King of Sword and Sky
“[Wilson] will dazzle readers.”
—Chicago Tribune
The incomparable C.L. Wilson brings her phenomenal Tairen Soul novels to Avon Books! King of Sword and Sky is the third book in the epic romantic adventure that combines sweeping fantasy with breathtaking paranormal romance. USA Today and New York Times bestseller C. L. Wilson’s magnificent story continues—as the Fey King Rain must risk everything for his truemate Ellysetta, even as he struggles to save his imperiled kingdom with magic, sword, and flame…and by awakening the astonishing dormant inner power that his lady love possesses.
—Chicago Tribune
The incomparable C.L. Wilson brings her phenomenal Tairen Soul novels to Avon Books! King of Sword and Sky is the third book in the epic romantic adventure that combines sweeping fantasy with breathtaking paranormal romance. USA Today and New York Times bestseller C. L. Wilson’s magnificent story continues—as the Fey King Rain must risk everything for his truemate Ellysetta, even as he struggles to save his imperiled kingdom with magic, sword, and flame…and by awakening the astonishing dormant inner power that his lady love possesses.
475 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2008
About the author
C.L. Wilson
22 books3,899 followersC.L. Wilsons unique blend of pulse-pounding action, sweeping epic fantasy, and passionate romance has made her books a favorite read for romance and fantasy readers alike. Praised for exceptional worldbuilding and lyric prose, her critically acclaimed novels have regularly appeared on bestseller lists including the USA Today, the New York Times, and Publishers Weekly.
C.Ls novels have won numerous industry and reader-selected awards including, LifetimeTV.coms Best Paranormal debut of 2007, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, two National Readers Choice awards, the Colorado Award of Excellence, and the Holt Medallion. Ms. Wilson is the honored recipient of the PEARL award from Paranormal Romance as the best new author of 2007, and winner of the 2009 PEARL award for best Romantic Fantasy novel.
When not torturing her characters mercilessly, C.L. enjoys relaxing with her family in sunny Florida and daydreaming of a world where people exercise in their sleep and chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream is a fat burning food.
"
C.Ls novels have won numerous industry and reader-selected awards including, LifetimeTV.coms Best Paranormal debut of 2007, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, two National Readers Choice awards, the Colorado Award of Excellence, and the Holt Medallion. Ms. Wilson is the honored recipient of the PEARL award from Paranormal Romance as the best new author of 2007, and winner of the 2009 PEARL award for best Romantic Fantasy novel.
When not torturing her characters mercilessly, C.L. enjoys relaxing with her family in sunny Florida and daydreaming of a world where people exercise in their sleep and chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream is a fat burning food.
"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 576 reviews
September 21, 2015
It is hard for me to rate this, because I liked the book so much but if I was just judging it on being a fantasy or a romance it might fall a little short.
Just Fantasy = ✬✬✬
Just Romance = ✫✫✫
Romantasy = ★★★★
But as a mash up of two of my favorite genres it is better than just one or the other. This is a romance first and a fantasy second. But don’t let that deter you as there are some great concepts and world building elements along the way.
Ellysetta has been foreseen by the eye to be the one person who could save the Tairen from extinction. Something is stealing the young away, a dark force and perhaps she is will be the one who will find a way to keep the Kitlings from dying. But first she has to be able to cross into the fading mists and it might not take her because of the two dark marks she bares.
Well that is one way to look at it but she could also be the salvation of that world. She is walking a fine line to be sure. Ellysetta can do what no other shei’dalin has been able to do before. She can cleanse the souls of the Fey close to losing themselves to the darkness of killing and who will take their lives when it happens or be banished. She is powerful, more powerful than any other Fey except maybe Rain her truemate but it is chaotic and she still is trying to learn how to control that power. For the most part everything she has done to this point is either by intuition or blind compulsion.
The love story between Elly and Rain is one of my favorite parts of the book. They have a few stands of the Truemate bond in place but it is only the beginning. They need the full bonding to complete if Elly is to be saved from the dark marks on her or Rain from the bonding madness that will come if they can’t complete it. But to complete the bond both of them need to accept every part of themselves and each other. It is a journey unto itself. Elly is learning about herself but she is still scared of the power she wields and the destruction she could cause if the High Mage is able to control of her. Seeing what she could do in a vision is a bit scary.
I was so happy to get to spend some time with the Tainer Souls. The ferocious winged cats were one thing that we hadn’t really had a chance to explore until this book. Steli the head of the Pride was a fantastic addition to the story. I totally enjoyed the time spent with the pride even though some of it was so sad as Elly struggled to save the Kitlings. However their rituals and songs were wonderful and the way she was accepted into the pride from the beginning and treated as a Kitling come home was sweet. Even if the Fey are afraid of Elly her pride is not
Yes she is and I would not get between a Tairen Soul and her Kit. They are huge cats with wings, venomous fangs, spiked tails and can breath fire…you do the math, that is a whole lot of danger.
Elly’s true parents Shannisorran and Elfeya are still trapped in torture by the High Mage. My heart hurts every time the story returns to them. The torture they have endured and the sacrifices made to protect the daughter that does not even know them *sobs*. It is both beautiful and so tragic all at the same time. They have been locked away for a thousand years bearing the evil of the High Mage. The only way they have survived is by keeping each other strong. Each is the others rock and they have been through so much for each other.
I hate the High Mage I hope that in the end he dies a terribly horrible death at the hands of Shan or Elly or Elfeya or Rain….hell anyone can kill him and I’ll be happy. But really I think Shan deserves the honor.
Of course Bel and Gaelen are fantastic and I love the unwavering devotion they have to Ellysetta and the bond of Lu’tan they share for her. But not just that, they have a great bromance of sorts going on and are more like brothers than ever. Their devotion to Rain is ever present too. No matter what these two will do whatever it takes to keep Rain and Elly safe no matter if that means breaking a few Fey laws along the way. How could you not love them?
Overall the story has a lot of character development and even though there are a lot of PoV threads going on and set up for danger and trouble along the way there was just enough action to keep the plot line moving forward. I’ve grown to like Elly a lot more than in the first book when she was so naïve and kept telling me she was just a woodcarver’s daughter. She has come so far and I’m excited to finish this journey with her.
There were also some great developments with her sisters as well and I am excited to see how that turns out over the next 2 books as I see there are some great possibilities.
Just Fantasy = ✬✬✬
Just Romance = ✫✫✫
Romantasy = ★★★★
But as a mash up of two of my favorite genres it is better than just one or the other. This is a romance first and a fantasy second. But don’t let that deter you as there are some great concepts and world building elements along the way.
Ellysetta has been foreseen by the eye to be the one person who could save the Tairen from extinction. Something is stealing the young away, a dark force and perhaps she is will be the one who will find a way to keep the Kitlings from dying. But first she has to be able to cross into the fading mists and it might not take her because of the two dark marks she bares.
”You know whose dark hand lies upon her. She will cement the destruction of both the tairen and the Fey. Yet still you bring her. Because you choose self over duty.” Johr’s jaw flexed, and his green-gold eyes flared with a sudden, angry burst of power. “This is not the choice of a king, Tairen Soul. You shame your crown, your steel, and the line of your forebears. She brings death to our world.”
Well that is one way to look at it but she could also be the salvation of that world. She is walking a fine line to be sure. Ellysetta can do what no other shei’dalin has been able to do before. She can cleanse the souls of the Fey close to losing themselves to the darkness of killing and who will take their lives when it happens or be banished. She is powerful, more powerful than any other Fey except maybe Rain her truemate but it is chaotic and she still is trying to learn how to control that power. For the most part everything she has done to this point is either by intuition or blind compulsion.
The love story between Elly and Rain is one of my favorite parts of the book. They have a few stands of the Truemate bond in place but it is only the beginning. They need the full bonding to complete if Elly is to be saved from the dark marks on her or Rain from the bonding madness that will come if they can’t complete it. But to complete the bond both of them need to accept every part of themselves and each other. It is a journey unto itself. Elly is learning about herself but she is still scared of the power she wields and the destruction she could cause if the High Mage is able to control of her. Seeing what she could do in a vision is a bit scary.
I was so happy to get to spend some time with the Tainer Souls. The ferocious winged cats were one thing that we hadn’t really had a chance to explore until this book. Steli the head of the Pride was a fantastic addition to the story. I totally enjoyed the time spent with the pride even though some of it was so sad as Elly struggled to save the Kitlings. However their rituals and songs were wonderful and the way she was accepted into the pride from the beginning and treated as a Kitling come home was sweet. Even if the Fey are afraid of Elly her pride is not
«Ellysetta-kitling is Fey’Bahren pride.» The white head thrust forward, and she bared her fangs at each of the Massan. «Be warned, Fey-kin. Rainier-Eras claims mate rights, but Steli-chakai claims mother rights. Steli-chakai is fiercest of the Fey’Bahren pride.»
Yes she is and I would not get between a Tairen Soul and her Kit. They are huge cats with wings, venomous fangs, spiked tails and can breath fire…you do the math, that is a whole lot of danger.
Elly’s true parents Shannisorran and Elfeya are still trapped in torture by the High Mage. My heart hurts every time the story returns to them. The torture they have endured and the sacrifices made to protect the daughter that does not even know them *sobs*. It is both beautiful and so tragic all at the same time. They have been locked away for a thousand years bearing the evil of the High Mage. The only way they have survived is by keeping each other strong. Each is the others rock and they have been through so much for each other.
«After all these centuries of torment, can death truly be so terrible a fate, kem’san?»
The tears she kept telling herself she would not shed pooled in her eyes and spilled over. «Nei, teska, do not think that way. So long as we live, there is hope. A thousand years we have suffered. A thousand more would I bear, just for what few bells he grants us together. Do you love me any less?»
«You know I don’t.»
I hate the High Mage I hope that in the end he dies a terribly horrible death at the hands of Shan or Elly or Elfeya or Rain….hell anyone can kill him and I’ll be happy. But really I think Shan deserves the honor.
“I am the steel no enemy can shatter.” He thrust his chin out, met Maur’s vile silver gaze, and snarled through gritted teeth, “I am the magic no dark power can defeat.”
The High Mage smiled. As the fourth lash fell, pain blinded him. He focused his mind on Elfeya’s warmth and forced the cry from his burning lungs. “I am the rock upon which evil breaks like waves. I am Fey! Warrior of honor! Champion of Light!”
Of course Bel and Gaelen are fantastic and I love the unwavering devotion they have to Ellysetta and the bond of Lu’tan they share for her. But not just that, they have a great bromance of sorts going on and are more like brothers than ever. Their devotion to Rain is ever present too. No matter what these two will do whatever it takes to keep Rain and Elly safe no matter if that means breaking a few Fey laws along the way. How could you not love them?
«Gaelen, Bel, I may no longer be your king, but as your friend, I could use your blades.»
Bel exchanged a look with Gaelen, then said, «We would follow you through the Seven Hells, Rain, if you will but give us a ride.»
Overall the story has a lot of character development and even though there are a lot of PoV threads going on and set up for danger and trouble along the way there was just enough action to keep the plot line moving forward. I’ve grown to like Elly a lot more than in the first book when she was so naïve and kept telling me she was just a woodcarver’s daughter. She has come so far and I’m excited to finish this journey with her.
There were also some great developments with her sisters as well and I am excited to see how that turns out over the next 2 books as I see there are some great possibilities.
November 21, 2008
It's really a shame that these books are classified as Romance, because I feel they would appeal to a much larger audience were they not. Cheryl Wilson has crafted a marvelous fantasy world complete with all the elements including a language for her Fey. Her characters are complex and her pacing is some of the best I've seen. Yes, there are romantic elements, but they are not gratuitous at all and add to the complexity of her story. I found myself many a night staying up to read far later than I should have because I just couldn't put it away. My only complaint is Book 3 ends on such a cliff-hanger I will surely perish waiting until June to get the next installment! (Like that is a complaint, ha ha ha!)
If you have shied away from this series because of the classification, don't! Lord of the Fading Lands, Lady of Light and Shadow, King of Sword and Sky and Queen of Song and Souls belong in Fantasy Realm Royalty.
Beylah vo, Cheryl!
If you have shied away from this series because of the classification, don't! Lord of the Fading Lands, Lady of Light and Shadow, King of Sword and Sky and Queen of Song and Souls belong in Fantasy Realm Royalty.
Beylah vo, Cheryl!
April 15, 2019
It's all in the timing...
I made the mistake of waiting nearly a year between instalments. I spent a quarter of the story trying to remember what the heck had happened beforehand and who was who. I felt like I was bombarded with information and each character, language, relationship and magic, all puzzle pieces needing to be put together. I was listening instead of reading this story, so any distraction and I was having to rewind in case I missed something important. By the end, I just didn't care and hoped I'd catch up.
I know I would have enjoyed King of Sword and Sky a lot more if I had read it and I would have appreciated the narration if it was a re-read. In normal circumstances, listening to a paranormal fantasy like this would have been my happy place. Unfortunately, life is busy at the moment and I couldn't sink into this escape from reality and absorb all of its magical, romantic goodness. Any time I had to stop, I wasn't desperate to get back to it and I even contemplated giving up a couple of times. It was just not the right time and I'm kicking myself for ruining the experience.
It wasn't all bad and I'm not writing off the Tairen Soul series but I definitely learnt my lesson and will pick a better time to start Queen of Song and Souls.
I made the mistake of waiting nearly a year between instalments. I spent a quarter of the story trying to remember what the heck had happened beforehand and who was who. I felt like I was bombarded with information and each character, language, relationship and magic, all puzzle pieces needing to be put together. I was listening instead of reading this story, so any distraction and I was having to rewind in case I missed something important. By the end, I just didn't care and hoped I'd catch up.
I know I would have enjoyed King of Sword and Sky a lot more if I had read it and I would have appreciated the narration if it was a re-read. In normal circumstances, listening to a paranormal fantasy like this would have been my happy place. Unfortunately, life is busy at the moment and I couldn't sink into this escape from reality and absorb all of its magical, romantic goodness. Any time I had to stop, I wasn't desperate to get back to it and I even contemplated giving up a couple of times. It was just not the right time and I'm kicking myself for ruining the experience.
It wasn't all bad and I'm not writing off the Tairen Soul series but I definitely learnt my lesson and will pick a better time to start Queen of Song and Souls.
March 20, 2022
European lore-based fae are so so overdone....but C.L .Wilson sensei really knows how to bring the best of an overdone paranormal creature , so far I'm in love with her fae...and I usually detest fae!!!
Side note to all the authors out there; Fae are overdone cuz at one point someone thought "better fae than vampires cuz we don't want to be Twilight" but if you all are going to be writing fae make sure at least to make them stand out: Give me FUTURISTIC FAE, MIDDLE EASTERN FAE, VIDEOGAME FAE TURN REAL ALA READY PLAYER ONE, DWARF RACE FAE, ZOMBIE FAE I don't know but change the lore a little, I read four horsemen by laura thalassa which is a different take on the bible of all things!!! I'm hard to impress now and whenever I hear the word Fae ... I internally groan. Make up your own supernatural race or give me something different... your call.
Besides, there's nothing wrong with Vampires, they're almost as cool as zombies! I'd rather read vampires than FAE cuz at least every author publishing vampires have made them different than just blood thirsty monsters: highschoolers, mafia lords, peasants, hybrids, mummy's, extraterestrial beings, "living" punchholes LOL (thank you Ilona Andrews senseis LOL). There's more variety in vampire books than in fae. So all you writers out there push yourselves up and try to top your previous works.
Side note to all the authors out there; Fae are overdone cuz at one point someone thought "better fae than vampires cuz we don't want to be Twilight" but if you all are going to be writing fae make sure at least to make them stand out: Give me FUTURISTIC FAE, MIDDLE EASTERN FAE, VIDEOGAME FAE TURN REAL ALA READY PLAYER ONE, DWARF RACE FAE, ZOMBIE FAE I don't know but change the lore a little, I read four horsemen by laura thalassa which is a different take on the bible of all things!!! I'm hard to impress now and whenever I hear the word Fae ... I internally groan. Make up your own supernatural race or give me something different... your call.
Besides, there's nothing wrong with Vampires, they're almost as cool as zombies! I'd rather read vampires than FAE cuz at least every author publishing vampires have made them different than just blood thirsty monsters: highschoolers, mafia lords, peasants, hybrids, mummy's, extraterestrial beings, "living" punchholes LOL (thank you Ilona Andrews senseis LOL). There's more variety in vampire books than in fae. So all you writers out there push yourselves up and try to top your previous works.
Read
September 20, 2008Only One Enemy Could Destroy Them.
“C. L. Wilson’s exquisitely written romantic fantasy debut will dazzle readers with its richly imaginative story” —Chicago Tribune on Lord of the Fading Lands
Only One Love Could Unite Them.
“Wilson jumps back into her tale without skipping a beat, expanding her world with finesse while boldly taking her story in entirely unexpected directions.” —Publishers Weekly on Lady of Light and Shadows
Only Together Could They Lead Their People To Victory…
The magical tairen were dying, and none but the Fey King’s bride could save them. Rain had defied the nobles of Celieria to claim her, battled demons and Elden mages to wed her. Now, he would risk everything to protect his kingdom, help his truemate embrace her magic and forge the unbreakable bond that alone could save her soul. Coming September 30 from Leisure Books. Go to www.clwilson.com to read an excerpt.
“C. L. Wilson’s exquisitely written romantic fantasy debut will dazzle readers with its richly imaginative story” —Chicago Tribune on Lord of the Fading Lands
Only One Love Could Unite Them.
“Wilson jumps back into her tale without skipping a beat, expanding her world with finesse while boldly taking her story in entirely unexpected directions.” —Publishers Weekly on Lady of Light and Shadows
Only Together Could They Lead Their People To Victory…
The magical tairen were dying, and none but the Fey King’s bride could save them. Rain had defied the nobles of Celieria to claim her, battled demons and Elden mages to wed her. Now, he would risk everything to protect his kingdom, help his truemate embrace her magic and forge the unbreakable bond that alone could save her soul. Coming September 30 from Leisure Books. Go to www.clwilson.com to read an excerpt.
February 10, 2023
audiobook review: 1 Star ⭐️
I started this series by listening to the audiobook. Books 1 and 2 had a phenomenal narrator but unfortunately the narrator changed for book 3 and I don’t think I’ve ever loathed a narrator more than I loathed this lady! She either sounded robotic or weirdly over dramatic. She made the men sound like they were 85 years old. I couldn’t put up with it, so I got the ebook instead.
book review: 4 stars ⭐️
Some parts of this book dragged a little but overall I loved it!
I started this series by listening to the audiobook. Books 1 and 2 had a phenomenal narrator but unfortunately the narrator changed for book 3 and I don’t think I’ve ever loathed a narrator more than I loathed this lady! She either sounded robotic or weirdly over dramatic. She made the men sound like they were 85 years old. I couldn’t put up with it, so I got the ebook instead.
book review: 4 stars ⭐️
Some parts of this book dragged a little but overall I loved it!
February 1, 2024
"Ve sha kem'tani. Kem'san. Kem'reisa" You are my mate. My Heart. My soul. With hands and words and lips and teeth, he claimed her, declaring possession, marking her with his touch, his kiss, his breath, the scent of his skin rubbing her with hot friction, singing to her soul.
Rain and Ellysetta have left Celieria, knowing that their enemy is going to attack soon. Ellie is sad to be leaving her family and the only life she has ever known. Ellie knows her destiny is to save the Fey, even though she has no idea how she will be able to do it. Rain, as the Fey King, knows that he must do everything to save his people. When they arrive to the Fading Lands, Rain is determined to show Ellie how to access her magic. Rain begins to show Ellysetta the Fading Lands, the Tairen who accept her, in more ways than they ever excepted his first wife. At first the trust between the Fey and Ellie are shady at best, they don't know what to make of her. They respect her because of her bond to Rain, but they don't trust the dark magic that is stamped on Ellyetta, though she is innocent. When it becomes clear that the kits of the Tairen are dying, Ellie and Rain start working on discovering the reason why. Ellysetta's power starts to become even more pronounced before, and Ellie starts to discover more about herself and her abilities. She desires to refine them, so she will be able to help the Tairen and the Fey. To prove that she only wants to save them from the dark magic that threatens everything they hold dear.
King of Sword and Sky is the third installment in the Tairen Soul series. I have heard of this author for years, but not until recently did I decide to try it out. The first two books I just fell in love with instantly. King of Sword and Sky goes alot more into depth, and there is quite a bit that happens in the story. As it begins you see how the difficulty that Ellie has even from first entering the Fading Lands. Even though she has a Dark Mage marker stamped on her, Ellie has more power than anyone knows. With the protection of the Fading Lands, Ellie and Rain start to train and search for a way to save both the Tairen and the Fey. The story is pretty complex in this one, and I don't want to reveal too much for those that haven't had a chance to read this one yet. The plot has many twists and turns that only hold the reader enthralled through the whole story. As you go through the story, you see that the focus is on Ellie, and how she works on refining her abilities so she can save the Kitlings of the Tairen who keep dying. The relationship between Rain and Ellie becomes ever more stronger than ever before. The faith that Rain has in Ellie is precious, and how protective he is of her, despite how his people distrust her. Certain truths are revealed from the eye of Truth, that makes the relationship between Rain and his people even less trustworthy than before. But with a battle up ahead soon, Rain and his people will need to work together to defeat a enemy that only desires to destroy everything.
Rain and Ellysetta are charming characters, and I couldn't help but love them even more. The bond they have is strengthened even more in this story than the first two books. There is quite a bit that goes on, that the challenges and the multiple conflicts that Rain and Ellie are faced with only bring them even closer. Rain becomes more Alpha Male pronounced in this book. Way more protective and possessive than you see in previous books. I enjoyed how he handles the situations they are put in. There is quite a bit of intensity at times, and Ellie for the most part, just accepts it. Ellysetta, I enjoyed seeing this heroine face the conflict even more than Rain. She has much more against her at times, and she has this inner strength that I admired from the beginning. She tends to handle everything with grace and patience.
Overall I really enjoyed how well everything is put together, and the way the plot proceeds. A exciting and enticing story of a world where good and evil battle. A dazzling and emotionally woven tale of love, destiny, and passion. POWERFUL!!!
Rain and Ellysetta have left Celieria, knowing that their enemy is going to attack soon. Ellie is sad to be leaving her family and the only life she has ever known. Ellie knows her destiny is to save the Fey, even though she has no idea how she will be able to do it. Rain, as the Fey King, knows that he must do everything to save his people. When they arrive to the Fading Lands, Rain is determined to show Ellie how to access her magic. Rain begins to show Ellysetta the Fading Lands, the Tairen who accept her, in more ways than they ever excepted his first wife. At first the trust between the Fey and Ellie are shady at best, they don't know what to make of her. They respect her because of her bond to Rain, but they don't trust the dark magic that is stamped on Ellyetta, though she is innocent. When it becomes clear that the kits of the Tairen are dying, Ellie and Rain start working on discovering the reason why. Ellysetta's power starts to become even more pronounced before, and Ellie starts to discover more about herself and her abilities. She desires to refine them, so she will be able to help the Tairen and the Fey. To prove that she only wants to save them from the dark magic that threatens everything they hold dear.
King of Sword and Sky is the third installment in the Tairen Soul series. I have heard of this author for years, but not until recently did I decide to try it out. The first two books I just fell in love with instantly. King of Sword and Sky goes alot more into depth, and there is quite a bit that happens in the story. As it begins you see how the difficulty that Ellie has even from first entering the Fading Lands. Even though she has a Dark Mage marker stamped on her, Ellie has more power than anyone knows. With the protection of the Fading Lands, Ellie and Rain start to train and search for a way to save both the Tairen and the Fey. The story is pretty complex in this one, and I don't want to reveal too much for those that haven't had a chance to read this one yet. The plot has many twists and turns that only hold the reader enthralled through the whole story. As you go through the story, you see that the focus is on Ellie, and how she works on refining her abilities so she can save the Kitlings of the Tairen who keep dying. The relationship between Rain and Ellie becomes ever more stronger than ever before. The faith that Rain has in Ellie is precious, and how protective he is of her, despite how his people distrust her. Certain truths are revealed from the eye of Truth, that makes the relationship between Rain and his people even less trustworthy than before. But with a battle up ahead soon, Rain and his people will need to work together to defeat a enemy that only desires to destroy everything.
Rain and Ellysetta are charming characters, and I couldn't help but love them even more. The bond they have is strengthened even more in this story than the first two books. There is quite a bit that goes on, that the challenges and the multiple conflicts that Rain and Ellie are faced with only bring them even closer. Rain becomes more Alpha Male pronounced in this book. Way more protective and possessive than you see in previous books. I enjoyed how he handles the situations they are put in. There is quite a bit of intensity at times, and Ellie for the most part, just accepts it. Ellysetta, I enjoyed seeing this heroine face the conflict even more than Rain. She has much more against her at times, and she has this inner strength that I admired from the beginning. She tends to handle everything with grace and patience.
Overall I really enjoyed how well everything is put together, and the way the plot proceeds. A exciting and enticing story of a world where good and evil battle. A dazzling and emotionally woven tale of love, destiny, and passion. POWERFUL!!!
October 5, 2015
Final rating: 5/5 stars
This series keeps surprising me. I did not expect so many things of vital significance to be revealed in this book. It was just great. I do not have any regrets picking this series up (and my friend knows just what kind of books i love, so i thank her for recommending me this) - it might even become one of my favorite series.
This time there were greatly written battles, lots of magic, more information on the Fey world, and especially, more plot twists I certainly did not expect.
Although, once again, it started out a bit slow, but later on it picked up the pace. When i was around the half of the book I couldn't wait to find out what happened - basically, I could not stop reading.
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CHARACTERS :
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※ WARNING: this section might contain a slight spoilers for this book. While i had hidden serious spoilers under the spoiler tags, if you don't like to spoil yourself, just skip this section of my review. If you like slight spoilers, then you can proceed :D
♦ Rain Tairen Soul & Ellysetta Baristani:
This time I will write about the two of them together. Ellie and Rain are still smoothing over their relationship. Making sure Ellie's family is safe in Teleon, they travel to the Fading Lands and through the Myst. This however, is not an easy task - Ellie is marked by an Eld Mage. But, there is nothing more important than saving the Tairen kitlings who have yet to be born.
Rain is back in his own Kingdom, and even though many follow him and respect his decisions, the ones who stayed behind do not share the same opinion as Rain - that change is the only thing that will save them. Honor is the most important thing for the Fey race, and Rain's and Ellie' rule is bringing more changes than the Fey ever wanted. To the Fey, change is like discarding everything they ever built, all their teachings, all their lives. But even so - if they do not change all will be lost. Rain is, in my opinion, a fitting ruler, who does his best to save his own race, as well as Tairen race, no matter what the cost.
Ellie, however, needs to find the source of the deaths of the Tairen younglings, improve her abilities, find out more about being Tairen Soul and deepen her bond with Rain. She, once again, proved to be a strong heroine, a fitting Queen and most of all, I loved the fact that she doesn't give up.
Ellie's and Rain's relationship is going better as well. I loved their interactions, I loved how they cared for each other and how they supported each other (after some arguments first - but, what i wanted to say is, that they listened to each other and made decisions best for them all).
SERIOUS SPOILERS:
♦ Other characters:
Baristani family - Sol, Lillis and Lorelle, alongside with Kieran and Kiel, moved to Teleon where it was thought they would be safe. In this book, there was more interaction between all of them and some interesting revelations as well.
Den Brodson , having escaped from the failed attempt in the previous books, becames one of the umagi, becoming a slave for the high mage. All in all, he reaped what he sowed.
As for the Fey - Belliard and Gaelen were amazing - always there, helping and giving advices. Gaelen, however, had a harsh time in the Fading Lands because he is a former Dahl’reisen. Only this fact made other Fey suspicious of him, especially since he can weave Azrahn as well. While Rowan and Adrial appeared less, the accent was on the new fey which appeared, including the council and the new members of Ellie's quintet. Dax and Marissya have a very big role in this book though and i enjoyed reading about them as well.
High Mage Vadim Maur , once again is shown as a despicable evil, bringing ruin and misery to all who opose him.
As for the couple I looked forward to most: Shanisorran v’En Celay and his mate Elfeya continue to suffer in the hands of Vadim Maur. But they do not give up - as long as they have each other, they can go through anything. But they also know that they are each others weakness. But, there is a mysterious girl who might help them...
And in the end, we have the appearance of the Tairen Pride. The great creatures have their own rules, customs and they are strong and fierce creatures. But their younglings are dying and they can't do anything to help them. They were amazing, with interesting personalities and perspective on the things happening around them.
____________________________________________
OVERALL :
____________________________________________
This series is just... amazing. Considering how almost everything is revealed in this book, all the mysteries and the main plot - i really wonder what will happen in the next two books.
____________________________________________
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
____________________________________________
MY TAIREN SOUL REVIEWS:
◉ Lord of the Fading Lands (Tairen Soul #1)
◉ Lady of Light and Shadows (Tairen Soul, #2)
◉ King of Sword and Sky (Tairen Soul, #3)
◉ Queen of Song and Souls (Tairen Soul, #4)
◉ Crown of Crystal Flame (Tairen Soul, #5)
"It seems to me when the ways of the past lead only to death, then change is the only hope for life.”
This series keeps surprising me. I did not expect so many things of vital significance to be revealed in this book. It was just great. I do not have any regrets picking this series up (and my friend knows just what kind of books i love, so i thank her for recommending me this) - it might even become one of my favorite series.
This time there were greatly written battles, lots of magic, more information on the Fey world, and especially, more plot twists I certainly did not expect.
Although, once again, it started out a bit slow, but later on it picked up the pace. When i was around the half of the book I couldn't wait to find out what happened - basically, I could not stop reading.
____________________________________________
CHARACTERS :
____________________________________________
※ WARNING: this section might contain a slight spoilers for this book. While i had hidden serious spoilers under the spoiler tags, if you don't like to spoil yourself, just skip this section of my review. If you like slight spoilers, then you can proceed :D
♦ Rain Tairen Soul & Ellysetta Baristani:
This time I will write about the two of them together. Ellie and Rain are still smoothing over their relationship. Making sure Ellie's family is safe in Teleon, they travel to the Fading Lands and through the Myst. This however, is not an easy task - Ellie is marked by an Eld Mage. But, there is nothing more important than saving the Tairen kitlings who have yet to be born.
Rain is back in his own Kingdom, and even though many follow him and respect his decisions, the ones who stayed behind do not share the same opinion as Rain - that change is the only thing that will save them. Honor is the most important thing for the Fey race, and Rain's and Ellie' rule is bringing more changes than the Fey ever wanted. To the Fey, change is like discarding everything they ever built, all their teachings, all their lives. But even so - if they do not change all will be lost. Rain is, in my opinion, a fitting ruler, who does his best to save his own race, as well as Tairen race, no matter what the cost.
Ellie, however, needs to find the source of the deaths of the Tairen younglings, improve her abilities, find out more about being Tairen Soul and deepen her bond with Rain. She, once again, proved to be a strong heroine, a fitting Queen and most of all, I loved the fact that she doesn't give up.
Ellie's and Rain's relationship is going better as well. I loved their interactions, I loved how they cared for each other and how they supported each other (after some arguments first - but, what i wanted to say is, that they listened to each other and made decisions best for them all).
SERIOUS SPOILERS:
♦ Other characters:
Baristani family - Sol, Lillis and Lorelle, alongside with Kieran and Kiel, moved to Teleon where it was thought they would be safe. In this book, there was more interaction between all of them and some interesting revelations as well.
Den Brodson , having escaped from the failed attempt in the previous books, becames one of the umagi, becoming a slave for the high mage. All in all, he reaped what he sowed.
As for the Fey - Belliard and Gaelen were amazing - always there, helping and giving advices. Gaelen, however, had a harsh time in the Fading Lands because he is a former Dahl’reisen. Only this fact made other Fey suspicious of him, especially since he can weave Azrahn as well. While Rowan and Adrial appeared less, the accent was on the new fey which appeared, including the council and the new members of Ellie's quintet. Dax and Marissya have a very big role in this book though and i enjoyed reading about them as well.
High Mage Vadim Maur , once again is shown as a despicable evil, bringing ruin and misery to all who opose him.
As for the couple I looked forward to most: Shanisorran v’En Celay and his mate Elfeya continue to suffer in the hands of Vadim Maur. But they do not give up - as long as they have each other, they can go through anything. But they also know that they are each others weakness. But, there is a mysterious girl who might help them...
And in the end, we have the appearance of the Tairen Pride. The great creatures have their own rules, customs and they are strong and fierce creatures. But their younglings are dying and they can't do anything to help them. They were amazing, with interesting personalities and perspective on the things happening around them.
____________________________________________
OVERALL :
____________________________________________
This series is just... amazing. Considering how almost everything is revealed in this book, all the mysteries and the main plot - i really wonder what will happen in the next two books.
____________________________________________
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
____________________________________________
MY TAIREN SOUL REVIEWS:
◉ Lord of the Fading Lands (Tairen Soul #1)
◉ Lady of Light and Shadows (Tairen Soul, #2)
◉ King of Sword and Sky (Tairen Soul, #3)
◉ Queen of Song and Souls (Tairen Soul, #4)
◉ Crown of Crystal Flame (Tairen Soul, #5)
February 18, 2010
Wilson hits the mark once again with this the third installment in Wilson's Tairen Souls series! The characters are finally coming into their own and Elly is FINALLY learning to let go and trust her mate. Not enough to complete the bond, which is sorta frustrating, but she's getting there. And let me tell you, these two are generating some steam when they get together!
In KOS&S, Elly and Rain are on their way to The Fading Lands, the home of the Fey and where Rain is King. This book focuses much on a lingering mystery, thread through out the series- why the Kits of the Tairen- the winged ferocious cats of which Rain just happens to transform into- are dying before they are hatched. The Tairen are the source of magic for the Fey and if they die out, so does the land.
Rain is sure Elly has the answers, after all, the all seeing eye originally sent him to her when he sought answers for himself. Elly is not so sure. But she's willing to try.
Rain also has another reason for getting her into the Fading lands-protection! The Big Bad- Vadim Maur & Evil Mages of Eld- are still after his powerful mate and only the fading lands can protect her.
All the side characters are here as well and help to fight off the Mages, though not everyone in the Fading Lands is happy about Rain's choice as mate who will someday, of course, be Queen. (She's been marked by evil, how can such a one lead in purity?) But in the end, Elly's strength will defeat all murmurers and back biters- have no fear!
Things really came together for me in this installment even though it ends on a cliff hanger.
Wilson really does some quality work. If you like fantasy then THIS is a must read!
In KOS&S, Elly and Rain are on their way to The Fading Lands, the home of the Fey and where Rain is King. This book focuses much on a lingering mystery, thread through out the series- why the Kits of the Tairen- the winged ferocious cats of which Rain just happens to transform into- are dying before they are hatched. The Tairen are the source of magic for the Fey and if they die out, so does the land.
Rain is sure Elly has the answers, after all, the all seeing eye originally sent him to her when he sought answers for himself. Elly is not so sure. But she's willing to try.
Rain also has another reason for getting her into the Fading lands-protection! The Big Bad- Vadim Maur & Evil Mages of Eld- are still after his powerful mate and only the fading lands can protect her.
All the side characters are here as well and help to fight off the Mages, though not everyone in the Fading Lands is happy about Rain's choice as mate who will someday, of course, be Queen. (She's been marked by evil, how can such a one lead in purity?) But in the end, Elly's strength will defeat all murmurers and back biters- have no fear!
Things really came together for me in this installment even though it ends on a cliff hanger.
Wilson really does some quality work. If you like fantasy then THIS is a must read!
August 31, 2015
This is a combined review over the 5 books of this Series.
OK...so I read all 5 of this series non stop this weekend...
I just couldn't put this series down for the life of me.
Yes, it does drag on in parts and found myself skimming over paragraphs but overall this was a freakin fantastic series full of Fey, Dragons, Mages, Elves and so many other characters...but...
who won my heart??
Ellie - shit...she was a perfect main character and stole the book for me. From the beginning, the way the author developed her character was perfect and sublime!
Rain - Another freaking awesome character...
shit, I might as just say that all the characters in this book stole a piece of my heart.
The one thing I'm a bit upset about is that I don't see any books for Ellie's little sisters and their brave Fey warriors who protected them. I would have loved to see more from this series from the secondary characters.
OK...so I read all 5 of this series non stop this weekend...
I just couldn't put this series down for the life of me.
Yes, it does drag on in parts and found myself skimming over paragraphs but overall this was a freakin fantastic series full of Fey, Dragons, Mages, Elves and so many other characters...but...
who won my heart??
Ellie - shit...she was a perfect main character and stole the book for me. From the beginning, the way the author developed her character was perfect and sublime!
Rain - Another freaking awesome character...
shit, I might as just say that all the characters in this book stole a piece of my heart.
The one thing I'm a bit upset about is that I don't see any books for Ellie's little sisters and their brave Fey warriors who protected them. I would have loved to see more from this series from the secondary characters.
March 17, 2022
This truly is the epitome of the term “addictive”. Warning y’all now (in case you haven’t already succumbed) once that first book is read, the need to continue (without stopping) only gets worse with each new installment! This story is the perfect example, because much of the story seems to be setting up all the pieces, then calling them out for what is about to happen in future installments. Yet, by the time I closed that last page, I was panting for more. Weird!! Because, no matter what, somehow, someway, the author succeeds in wresting your heart right out your body and leaving you aching to see what’s next. See? Addiction in its truest form!
July 5, 2024
This series is incredible. The characters, the development, the rich fantasy lore, the love and passion are all so captivating.
I've connected so much with these characters and their journey's, I've hated the villains, and I've wanted to strangle other characters at times (in the I love you, but you're being silly way. Didn't happen often.) and my heart broke for many.
I love the different journeys we went on in this book. Much more was introduced, and it was amazing, but I did get a little overwhelmed at first. That's the only problem I had and honestly I don’t think it would be a problem if I re-read it(after re-reading I can confirm it was no problem at all the second time round and I can't express in words how much I loved this book) but as far as my first introduction goes it was a lot of information to take in and it made it a little difficult to do all the detail justice. My brain was trying to take on too much in one go.
I LOVE Rain and Ellie like I've said before. Their relationship is so realistic (as realistic as a fantasy fated mates relationship could be) the way they are learning about each other, learning to truly trust each other and to understand their differences, is being done so well.
I think Ellie is one of my favorite fmc'. She makes mistakes, she's stubborn, and she cares so deeply that it can be a hindrance, but she learns from her mistakes(most of the time 😄)she does her best to adjust to her world being turned upside down. A lot of people like to brand her type of fmc as the "Mary sue" type but I heavily disagree, and yes, I could go on a rant about that.
Rain has shot to the top of my book boyfriends list. He comes with his own troubles and hardships, but he tries, and he learns. His development has been amazing.
I've connected so much with these characters and their journey's, I've hated the villains, and I've wanted to strangle other characters at times (in the I love you, but you're being silly way. Didn't happen often.) and my heart broke for many.
I love the different journeys we went on in this book. Much more was introduced, and it was amazing, but I did get a little overwhelmed at first. That's the only problem I had and honestly I don’t think it would be a problem if I re-read it(after re-reading I can confirm it was no problem at all the second time round and I can't express in words how much I loved this book) but as far as my first introduction goes it was a lot of information to take in and it made it a little difficult to do all the detail justice. My brain was trying to take on too much in one go.
I LOVE Rain and Ellie like I've said before. Their relationship is so realistic (as realistic as a fantasy fated mates relationship could be) the way they are learning about each other, learning to truly trust each other and to understand their differences, is being done so well.
I think Ellie is one of my favorite fmc'. She makes mistakes, she's stubborn, and she cares so deeply that it can be a hindrance, but she learns from her mistakes(most of the time 😄)she does her best to adjust to her world being turned upside down. A lot of people like to brand her type of fmc as the "Mary sue" type but I heavily disagree, and yes, I could go on a rant about that.
Rain has shot to the top of my book boyfriends list. He comes with his own troubles and hardships, but he tries, and he learns. His development has been amazing.
September 28, 2021
[8.73/10] - reread September 2021
I agree with past me, that King of Sword and Sky is miles better than the proceeding books in this series. And, I think a lot of that is to do with the fact that it feels like it shifts away from the romance as the focal point and brings more of the fantasy elements of the world as well as politics and war to the forefront. The romance is still there but there is more of a balance in this book. We also get elements of romance from different characters so it feels less bogged down by Rain and Ellysetta's extremely quick relationship. This book seems to also ignore the timeline issues from the previous two books and resets them so that it's definitely more than ten days that have past since the beginning of the book one. Yes, this is shoddy in terms of consistency but makes it much easier to swallow the plot movement and emotional arcs.
And, we get to spend so much more time with the Tairen Pride in this book, so that's always gonna be free bonus points from me!
Original read - 5 stars
This was the best one yet!
I loved the Fading Lands, the political manoeuvring, the Tairen Pride and the race to save them, the Mages and the fact that they just keep getting more and more vile, but what I loved most of all were the hero moments. Both Ellysetta and Rain are a King and Queen I can get behind. The lead up to the battles at the end was so tense and the battles even more so. Again, more plot threads that seemed inconsequential in the first two books are brought to fruition in this one, yet there are still so many unanswered questions. I love everything about Wilson's writing. I cannot wait to read on!
I agree with past me, that King of Sword and Sky is miles better than the proceeding books in this series. And, I think a lot of that is to do with the fact that it feels like it shifts away from the romance as the focal point and brings more of the fantasy elements of the world as well as politics and war to the forefront. The romance is still there but there is more of a balance in this book. We also get elements of romance from different characters so it feels less bogged down by Rain and Ellysetta's extremely quick relationship. This book seems to also ignore the timeline issues from the previous two books and resets them so that it's definitely more than ten days that have past since the beginning of the book one. Yes, this is shoddy in terms of consistency but makes it much easier to swallow the plot movement and emotional arcs.
And, we get to spend so much more time with the Tairen Pride in this book, so that's always gonna be free bonus points from me!
Original read - 5 stars
This was the best one yet!
I loved the Fading Lands, the political manoeuvring, the Tairen Pride and the race to save them, the Mages and the fact that they just keep getting more and more vile, but what I loved most of all were the hero moments. Both Ellysetta and Rain are a King and Queen I can get behind. The lead up to the battles at the end was so tense and the battles even more so. Again, more plot threads that seemed inconsequential in the first two books are brought to fruition in this one, yet there are still so many unanswered questions. I love everything about Wilson's writing. I cannot wait to read on!
May 26, 2019
3.5 stars
This book was a lot of traveling, a lot of stage setting and a whole lot of searching for answers. That made it over all a slower story then we have seen in previous books in the series. However that didn’t make it lesser and the last 25% of this book was impossible to put down. So much happens, a couple revelations and a couple of giant steps and a few lines drawn in the sand. It’s a good installment and while it probably could have been shorter it was important to the over all arc of the story so far.
This book was a lot of traveling, a lot of stage setting and a whole lot of searching for answers. That made it over all a slower story then we have seen in previous books in the series. However that didn’t make it lesser and the last 25% of this book was impossible to put down. So much happens, a couple revelations and a couple of giant steps and a few lines drawn in the sand. It’s a good installment and while it probably could have been shorter it was important to the over all arc of the story so far.
September 5, 2012
PERFECTION.
**SIGH
She reached up to cup his face in her hands. "Do you love me, Rain?"
"More than I knew it was possible to love. All the stars will fall from the heavens before I ever stop."
**SIGH
August 9, 2021
I'm on book 4 and if things keep going like this I'll swear unconditional love to C.L. Wilson.
November 25, 2021
So much better.
March 11, 2015
[EDIT March 2015] Re-reading this series for I think the fourth time (also listened to the wonderful audios) and never will tire of this story and spending time in the incredible world this author has created. My favorite fantisy world I have visited in a book! This particular one I have in hardback and signed by the author - a treasure as not many hardbacks were done. Moving on to the next book! My original review from 2010 is below - no way to explain just why this is so special.
I read this series last month and could not move on. I am re-reading them all and just finished this one for the second time. This third installment of the Fading Lands does not disappoint. There is so much that happens in this book and so many discoveries to be made. I can not say enough about the writing in these books. Although the world of Rain and Ellysetta is complex, I did not have trouble understanding it nor did I have trouble picturing in my mind all the amazing sights and characters. You don't want to skim - let every wonderful word sink in. Not only are the two main characters beautifully brought to life, but there are more compelling side characters than I think I have ever encountered in a series.
Rain brings Ellysetta back to the Fading Lands in this book and they face numerous challenges: The Mages of Eld are planning another war, Ellie still doesn't understand her vast powers nor how she will help save the Tairen kitlings that are dying in their eggs. Worst of all the High Mage is trying to claim her soul and she carries his mark of darkness. The fey distrust Rain, their king, for bringing a Mage marked truemate into the lands. How will the Fey react when they see Gaelen, the former dahl'reisen Dark Lord returning home? Dahl'reisen are considered 'lost souls'...those who have strayed from the Fey path of honor due to killing so many in battle that when the weight of those souls becomes too much for them to bear they are expected to take the path of honor death rather than to become Dahl"reisen. Now Ellysetta has saved Gaelen's soul and he is again Fey, but to have brought the most notorious of all the Dahl"reisen into the Fading Lands is to many beyond belief. When Rain believes that Gaelen should help train the Fey in methods he has learned over a thousand years of battling the evil of the Mages, this causes a further rift.
The Tairen are counting on her to save their. The ferocious huge winged felines are the source of the Feys' magic, and are connected somehow to the life force of the Fading Lands. The kitlings are dying in the eggs and no one can figure out why. Only Ellysetta has the power to save them, but she has to figure out how to do it and whether or not she will dare to risk another Mage mark by using ancient forbidden magic that Gaelen has taught her. It is impossible to describe how wonderful the Tairen are and how they are described by this author.
If you like Fantasy stories with strong female characters (as well as compelling male ones), stories that bring the Fey out of legend, the creation of fascinating creatures like the Tairen, Good vs Evil on an epic scale, and a true love that endures no matter what, then you will love this series. I might add, the love scenes are beautiful, they sizzle, and they are like no other I have ever read!
I read this series last month and could not move on. I am re-reading them all and just finished this one for the second time. This third installment of the Fading Lands does not disappoint. There is so much that happens in this book and so many discoveries to be made. I can not say enough about the writing in these books. Although the world of Rain and Ellysetta is complex, I did not have trouble understanding it nor did I have trouble picturing in my mind all the amazing sights and characters. You don't want to skim - let every wonderful word sink in. Not only are the two main characters beautifully brought to life, but there are more compelling side characters than I think I have ever encountered in a series.
Rain brings Ellysetta back to the Fading Lands in this book and they face numerous challenges: The Mages of Eld are planning another war, Ellie still doesn't understand her vast powers nor how she will help save the Tairen kitlings that are dying in their eggs. Worst of all the High Mage is trying to claim her soul and she carries his mark of darkness. The fey distrust Rain, their king, for bringing a Mage marked truemate into the lands. How will the Fey react when they see Gaelen, the former dahl'reisen Dark Lord returning home? Dahl'reisen are considered 'lost souls'...those who have strayed from the Fey path of honor due to killing so many in battle that when the weight of those souls becomes too much for them to bear they are expected to take the path of honor death rather than to become Dahl"reisen. Now Ellysetta has saved Gaelen's soul and he is again Fey, but to have brought the most notorious of all the Dahl"reisen into the Fading Lands is to many beyond belief. When Rain believes that Gaelen should help train the Fey in methods he has learned over a thousand years of battling the evil of the Mages, this causes a further rift.
The Tairen are counting on her to save their. The ferocious huge winged felines are the source of the Feys' magic, and are connected somehow to the life force of the Fading Lands. The kitlings are dying in the eggs and no one can figure out why. Only Ellysetta has the power to save them, but she has to figure out how to do it and whether or not she will dare to risk another Mage mark by using ancient forbidden magic that Gaelen has taught her. It is impossible to describe how wonderful the Tairen are and how they are described by this author.
If you like Fantasy stories with strong female characters (as well as compelling male ones), stories that bring the Fey out of legend, the creation of fascinating creatures like the Tairen, Good vs Evil on an epic scale, and a true love that endures no matter what, then you will love this series. I might add, the love scenes are beautiful, they sizzle, and they are like no other I have ever read!
November 22, 2018
*Reread November 2018*
“Do you love me, Rain?"
"More than I knew it was possible to love. All the stars will fall from the heavens before I ever stop.”
Loving this series so much! Now that I'm finally all caught up with my reread of the first three books, I'm excited see how everything will go from here!
4,25/5★★★★
“Do you love me, Rain?"
"More than I knew it was possible to love. All the stars will fall from the heavens before I ever stop.”
Loving this series so much! Now that I'm finally all caught up with my reread of the first three books, I'm excited see how everything will go from here!
4,25/5★★★★
July 9, 2017
“Will it always be like this?” “Like what?” “Like magic, between us.” His eyes flared bright for a brief instant. “Aiyah, Ellysetta, it will. Shei’tanitsa bonds, once forged, will never wane. What exists between us will last to the end of time.”
Swoon! Swoon! Swoon! The feels in this book continue to capture my heart. I could read about Rain and Ellysetta for several more books. They have easily become one of my favorite book couples. I think I could read a whole book about them without any form of plot or storyline and still be enamored with just how they interact with each other on a daily basis. That's how much you fall in love with both of them!
In this book they have now entered into the land of the Fey, the Fading Lands after having to pass through the Faering Mists. We get to meet several new Fey characters. Some I loved and some I really hated. The big thing with this book is that we finally get introduced to the Tairen. I absolutely loved these creatures. I had assumed from the previous books in the series that they were just large feline animals that had some link to the Fey. I was pleasantly surprised to see that these are actually highly intelligent creatures and wise beyond years. I loved that there leader was a female and my favorite Tairen was Steli-chakai who took on a mother's role with Ellie and was very protective of her. The relationship with the Tairen really took the storyline in this series to a deeper level.
And I loved, loved Ellie in this book! I have to admit in most books I have a tendency to love the H more than the h. But wow, this heroine is fierce, strong, independent, a leader in her own right and her powers really manifest in this book. Absolutely loved her! One of the best female characters I've read about and I love how just like Rain has been overly protective of her, she also was ready to attack anyone that would bring her mate harm.
"Aiyah, you should fear us. We are fierce. Do not threaten us"
So right now I'm just plain sad because there are only 2 books left to read. These books are just simply amazing. Although I will say I'm not sure what's going on with those covers. They seem very outdated to me. In any case it doesn't matter because the books are magnificent. Highly recommended series!
May 8, 2009
C.L. has a lot to live up to with this third book and the continuing tale of Ellysetta Baristani and her soul mate and husband Rainer vel’En Daris who must save the Tairens from extinction. Ellysetta is the key to the Tairen’s salvation and if she fails, both the Fey and Tairen will fall victim to their enemy, the Mages of Eld. King of Sword and Sky begins where Lady of Light and Shadow has left off. Rain is taking Ellie to his home, the Fading Lands, along with her father, Sol, and her younger twin sisters, Lillis and Lorelle. Ellie’s family will not be traveling on to the Fading Lands, but will be protected and guarded by the trusted Fey warriors who follow Rain. Ellie is not just a simple woodcarver’s daughter who has fallen for a mystical man, but a very powerful being who is also Fey and has mage powers.
The reason Ellie also has the marks of the Mage is due to Vadim Maur, the High Mage of Eld. He rules over all the Mages and is so, so evil. He has made Ellie’s Fey parents, Shan and Elfeya, his prisoner for five hundred years and has used horrible tortures on both. Vadim wants Ellie because he was able to give their daughter some very dark mage powers. She is his ultimate perfection, a possible tool to destroy those against him, and a way for him to rule the world. Ellie was his first experiment and since then he has gone on to make more just like her. And Ellie just may be the most powerful of all. Vadim is able to kill the unborn baby Tairens by taking their souls and life forces, and using them to make future powerful Mages. The Tairens are totally clueless to what Vadim is capable of and because of that he is winning. All hope seems lost, that is until Ellie and Rain arrive.
Ellie and Rain have a lot of work cut out for them because the Fey senses that Ellie has dark magic within her. They know she has these mage powers and they feel she is an abomination, that Rain has been tricked into believing that Ellie is his soul mate. The Fey Rain thought would welcome his new bride, turn against Ellie, and soon Rain will have more problems that just the Eld Mages who are planning an attack on the Fey again, after a thousand years. Rain and Ellie are basically on their own with only a select few by their side to help them. Ellie will try to find out why the unborn Tairen are dying and save them. Rain will begin to ready his troops for battle because the Mages are on their way to destroy both the Fey and Tairen for good.
In all honesty, my review does not do King of Sword and Sky justice. It is so easy to say, “You must read this book!". As for the reasons why, that is a bit more difficult. C.L. has written another complex story, as in, complex being the key word here. And, let me tell you, this is one book that you cannot speed read through or lose your concentration with. Each page should be savored as you read, every character and their actions should be paid close attention to, because there is a slow build up to the final battle between two powerful enemies. I am not even sure if Rain and Ellie will survive because each day brings them, their friends, and loved ones closer to possible death. This is not a happy go lucky read, but a very dark, dark book filled with death, murder and torture, both physical and spiritual. And the culprit? That nasty piece of work, Vadim.
Oh how I hate Vadim! Let me count the ways! I wanted him to die a slow painful death with disembowelment and any other painful torture I can think of. What he inflects on Ellie’s parents and even Ellie herself is so horrible. I have read many villains in my lifetime, but Vadim takes the cake. He is the total opposite of everything that is good inside of Ellie and Rain and I cannot wait for him to get his just desserts. If you are one who enjoys having such a visceral response over a character in a book, Vadim just may be the one.
Where as Lord of the Fading Lands and Lady of Light and Shadows was a start of a journey and more of a romance with fantasy elements thrown in, King of Sword and Sky is the opposite. The fantasy and magic is more upfront and Rain and Ellie are now a team who understand each other. They are still very much in love and there are some nice scenes of love making between them, but really, their romance is a secondary one to everything else that is going on.
I had mentioned before that C.L. Wilson’s Tarien Soul series just may be the closest one I can think of in comparison to Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings books. And, King of Sword and Sky is no exception. I found myself unable to move away from reading, wanting to get to the end to see how things will continue into the fourth and final book, Queen of Song and Souls, set to be released in June 2009. This is one book that everyone must read and if you haven’t read the first two in this series, you are so very much missing out. The world that C.L. Wilson has created does not just make for good reading but brings to light an incredible vision that doesn’t happen all too often. Take my word for it, the Tairen Soul books are cherished reads that should be passed down to each generation of readers.
The reason Ellie also has the marks of the Mage is due to Vadim Maur, the High Mage of Eld. He rules over all the Mages and is so, so evil. He has made Ellie’s Fey parents, Shan and Elfeya, his prisoner for five hundred years and has used horrible tortures on both. Vadim wants Ellie because he was able to give their daughter some very dark mage powers. She is his ultimate perfection, a possible tool to destroy those against him, and a way for him to rule the world. Ellie was his first experiment and since then he has gone on to make more just like her. And Ellie just may be the most powerful of all. Vadim is able to kill the unborn baby Tairens by taking their souls and life forces, and using them to make future powerful Mages. The Tairens are totally clueless to what Vadim is capable of and because of that he is winning. All hope seems lost, that is until Ellie and Rain arrive.
Ellie and Rain have a lot of work cut out for them because the Fey senses that Ellie has dark magic within her. They know she has these mage powers and they feel she is an abomination, that Rain has been tricked into believing that Ellie is his soul mate. The Fey Rain thought would welcome his new bride, turn against Ellie, and soon Rain will have more problems that just the Eld Mages who are planning an attack on the Fey again, after a thousand years. Rain and Ellie are basically on their own with only a select few by their side to help them. Ellie will try to find out why the unborn Tairen are dying and save them. Rain will begin to ready his troops for battle because the Mages are on their way to destroy both the Fey and Tairen for good.
In all honesty, my review does not do King of Sword and Sky justice. It is so easy to say, “You must read this book!". As for the reasons why, that is a bit more difficult. C.L. has written another complex story, as in, complex being the key word here. And, let me tell you, this is one book that you cannot speed read through or lose your concentration with. Each page should be savored as you read, every character and their actions should be paid close attention to, because there is a slow build up to the final battle between two powerful enemies. I am not even sure if Rain and Ellie will survive because each day brings them, their friends, and loved ones closer to possible death. This is not a happy go lucky read, but a very dark, dark book filled with death, murder and torture, both physical and spiritual. And the culprit? That nasty piece of work, Vadim.
Oh how I hate Vadim! Let me count the ways! I wanted him to die a slow painful death with disembowelment and any other painful torture I can think of. What he inflects on Ellie’s parents and even Ellie herself is so horrible. I have read many villains in my lifetime, but Vadim takes the cake. He is the total opposite of everything that is good inside of Ellie and Rain and I cannot wait for him to get his just desserts. If you are one who enjoys having such a visceral response over a character in a book, Vadim just may be the one.
Where as Lord of the Fading Lands and Lady of Light and Shadows was a start of a journey and more of a romance with fantasy elements thrown in, King of Sword and Sky is the opposite. The fantasy and magic is more upfront and Rain and Ellie are now a team who understand each other. They are still very much in love and there are some nice scenes of love making between them, but really, their romance is a secondary one to everything else that is going on.
I had mentioned before that C.L. Wilson’s Tarien Soul series just may be the closest one I can think of in comparison to Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings books. And, King of Sword and Sky is no exception. I found myself unable to move away from reading, wanting to get to the end to see how things will continue into the fourth and final book, Queen of Song and Souls, set to be released in June 2009. This is one book that everyone must read and if you haven’t read the first two in this series, you are so very much missing out. The world that C.L. Wilson has created does not just make for good reading but brings to light an incredible vision that doesn’t happen all too often. Take my word for it, the Tairen Soul books are cherished reads that should be passed down to each generation of readers.
August 5, 2018
For the love of ... I just can't with these books anymore. This one I only just barely managed to finish, skimming the last third of the book because I had to see if anything actually moved the story forward (the answer: yes, sort of, but not enough for me to bother with the rest of this series).
Where are this author's editors?!! I enjoyed Book 1 well enough. I eye-rolled a bit at the flying cat stuff, but whatever. Book 2 ... Well, now we're starting to go down a weird path, but there is still promise. But book 3? It's just gotten beyond embarrassing, not to mention a whole lot of nothing happens for a whole lot of time.
To sum it all up:
1) This story didn't need five gigantic tomes in order to be told. With a good editor and 1000x less repetition, this could have been a very satisfying 2 to 3 book read.
2) The heroine is just about the biggest Mary Sue in all of literary history. And that's saying something (I'm looking at you, Bella Swan).
3) The timeframes! Everything is 1000 years? Really?! Everything? How awesome are the Fey really if they let themselves be hamstrung by an insane king for 1000 years? How is it that the most fearsome mated pair in Fey history can't find a way to escape in 1000 years? Or, how did they not go insane after 1000 years of torture? And who wants to be bonded to a murderous king who grieved another woman for 1000 years? That's called hopelessly stuck and sociopathic, and those shei-dalins need to develop some kind of therapy for that.
4) As previously mentioned - using saddles to ride giant, flying, fire breathing cats. I don't even need to elaborate on this one.
5) All of the villains are the very worst and all of the heroes are the very best - nothing is nuanced, there are no shades of gray. It's cartoonish.
6) Why must the author tell us every bit of the book 72 different ways and 172 different times? Tell us once - maybe twice, depending - and tell us well, and then you don't have to repeat the same things over and over and over.
7) The sex - WTF is spirit sex? If it feels and looks and tastes and smells like the real thing then for the love of the gods, JUST LET THEM HAVE THE REAL THING!
Ugh. I love stories about faeries and this had so much potential, but in the end it felt like I was reading a parody of a fantasy romance and everyone else was laughing but me.
Where are this author's editors?!! I enjoyed Book 1 well enough. I eye-rolled a bit at the flying cat stuff, but whatever. Book 2 ... Well, now we're starting to go down a weird path, but there is still promise. But book 3? It's just gotten beyond embarrassing, not to mention a whole lot of nothing happens for a whole lot of time.
To sum it all up:
1) This story didn't need five gigantic tomes in order to be told. With a good editor and 1000x less repetition, this could have been a very satisfying 2 to 3 book read.
2) The heroine is just about the biggest Mary Sue in all of literary history. And that's saying something (I'm looking at you, Bella Swan).
3) The timeframes! Everything is 1000 years? Really?! Everything? How awesome are the Fey really if they let themselves be hamstrung by an insane king for 1000 years? How is it that the most fearsome mated pair in Fey history can't find a way to escape in 1000 years? Or, how did they not go insane after 1000 years of torture? And who wants to be bonded to a murderous king who grieved another woman for 1000 years? That's called hopelessly stuck and sociopathic, and those shei-dalins need to develop some kind of therapy for that.
4) As previously mentioned - using saddles to ride giant, flying, fire breathing cats. I don't even need to elaborate on this one.
5) All of the villains are the very worst and all of the heroes are the very best - nothing is nuanced, there are no shades of gray. It's cartoonish.
6) Why must the author tell us every bit of the book 72 different ways and 172 different times? Tell us once - maybe twice, depending - and tell us well, and then you don't have to repeat the same things over and over and over.
7) The sex - WTF is spirit sex? If it feels and looks and tastes and smells like the real thing then for the love of the gods, JUST LET THEM HAVE THE REAL THING!
Ugh. I love stories about faeries and this had so much potential, but in the end it felt like I was reading a parody of a fantasy romance and everyone else was laughing but me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2012
THIS WAS OUTSTANDING!!!!
The entire series was superb! Sometimes when there are sequels to a good book (of any genre) they have a tendency to deteriorate in quality as the stories continue....THIS DID THE OPPOSITE! The storyline got deeper it was just fabulous. Wilson did such a phenomenal job at creating the world in which this takes place. There was nothing left out, from the visuals to the characters to the spoken language that was developed for the Fae! (I find myself using some of the phrases with my kids..they think I am crazy..but they did before this anyway.)
All the characters I felt were well developed multi-dimensional and believable. I was easily able to hear the voices of these characters in my mind as I read; which for me is very important! The main characters as well as the secondary.
I am new to the world of PNR and science fiction and shape shifters the whole lot of it, the entire genre is new to me and I come from the world of Historical Fiction and even Non fiction historical. I used to think that I would not, could not possibly like anything not based on reality...I AM SO HAPPY TO BE WRONG!
The fantastical world was incredible and the romance was beautiful! It had some HOTNESS to it all the sex was always within the scope of the story. HOT FAE MEN are always welcome! I didn't give you the plot of the story here because you can read that from the blurb to the book. I just wanted to provide my thoughts. I would recommend this book to veterans of this genre and to readers like me who are looking for a well written jump into this genre! I
It MUST be read in order! The story line builds and grows with each book. Following the lives of the characters through each book.
HAPPY READING!!!
The entire series was superb! Sometimes when there are sequels to a good book (of any genre) they have a tendency to deteriorate in quality as the stories continue....THIS DID THE OPPOSITE! The storyline got deeper it was just fabulous. Wilson did such a phenomenal job at creating the world in which this takes place. There was nothing left out, from the visuals to the characters to the spoken language that was developed for the Fae! (I find myself using some of the phrases with my kids..they think I am crazy..but they did before this anyway.)
All the characters I felt were well developed multi-dimensional and believable. I was easily able to hear the voices of these characters in my mind as I read; which for me is very important! The main characters as well as the secondary.
I am new to the world of PNR and science fiction and shape shifters the whole lot of it, the entire genre is new to me and I come from the world of Historical Fiction and even Non fiction historical. I used to think that I would not, could not possibly like anything not based on reality...I AM SO HAPPY TO BE WRONG!
The fantastical world was incredible and the romance was beautiful! It had some HOTNESS to it all the sex was always within the scope of the story. HOT FAE MEN are always welcome! I didn't give you the plot of the story here because you can read that from the blurb to the book. I just wanted to provide my thoughts. I would recommend this book to veterans of this genre and to readers like me who are looking for a well written jump into this genre! I
It MUST be read in order! The story line builds and grows with each book. Following the lives of the characters through each book.
HAPPY READING!!!
October 19, 2017
Less sexy time, more action and we have a better book! King of Sword and Sky was addictive and easy to read like Lord of the Fading Lands, not boring like Lady of Light and Shadows. I am hoping right into the next book, because I can't wait to find out what happens next. So much intrigue and danger!
January 24, 2016
This series keeps on getting better and better.
July 13, 2022
4 stars
As much as I love this series, King of Sword and Sky was stuck on my 'currently reading' shelf for two whole years. The storyline, world-building and characters are all top-notch, but I felt like it could have been written 100x more concisely to keep readers hooked. Instead, I felt exhausted after reading a few chapters and was constantly looking for other shorter books to read for a few hours instead. In the end, I read the first 60% and then listened to the last 40% as an audiobook on Scribd. The audiobook was average at best, so I kept it on 1.5x speed to get through it quicker. I think the character voices were just so far from what I was expecting, that it made it unenjoyable at times.
ALSO: it would benefit the series to have a cover update to bring them into this century. At the moment, they're dated and not appealing in the slightest.
I'll continue with the series, but I'm definitely not as invested as I was in the first two books. It feels like it's just being dragged out for the sake of filling five books instead of three.
As much as I love this series, King of Sword and Sky was stuck on my 'currently reading' shelf for two whole years. The storyline, world-building and characters are all top-notch, but I felt like it could have been written 100x more concisely to keep readers hooked. Instead, I felt exhausted after reading a few chapters and was constantly looking for other shorter books to read for a few hours instead. In the end, I read the first 60% and then listened to the last 40% as an audiobook on Scribd. The audiobook was average at best, so I kept it on 1.5x speed to get through it quicker. I think the character voices were just so far from what I was expecting, that it made it unenjoyable at times.
ALSO: it would benefit the series to have a cover update to bring them into this century. At the moment, they're dated and not appealing in the slightest.
I'll continue with the series, but I'm definitely not as invested as I was in the first two books. It feels like it's just being dragged out for the sake of filling five books instead of three.
July 12, 2023
Well, in my review of Book 2 I expressed my concern that things were going to get a bit tedious because at the end of Book 2, Heroine, who was always kinda Mary Sue, literally exploded into the Mariest Suest Mary Sue ever set down on the page. And I was right to be worried. Here in Book 3, Ellysetta is basically godlike in power, she spends a lot of time literally glowing with power and majestic beauty, and people are falling to their knees in awe before her. At least it seems that way in the first 25-30% of the book.
But I got less worried as the book went on, and once again I found myself digging the ride. Yes, Ellysetta is incredibly powerful, but she still has a lot to learn and is still intensely vulnerable in many ways. She is going to either be the stuff of legend... or the stuff of dark dirges. Yes, the challenges are epic in scale, but they don't feel nearly as contrived as I feared they would. The Second Mage War is coming, and the clash will be titanic. There's not as much sex in this volume, as the romance takes more of a back seat to the fantasy. The Fey are preparing for war, Ellysetta is desperately trying to discover how she is meant to save the Tairen, and the evil High Mage of Eld is laying his own plans to recapture Ellysetta, destroy the Fey, and dominate the world.
Sure, it's still cheesy as a giant wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano, and all the problems I talked about way back in Book 1 have not gone away, but I guess you could say I'm just used to the taste now. TBH, maybe I feel like adding the real Tairens, Gaelen, the members of the Massan, impending war, and political turbulence within the Fading Lands to the story added some depth and weight. And when I finally got to meet the rest of the giant flying cats, I just loved them. Even the ones who don't turn into Super Handsome Dudes (which is most of them). Actually, especially them. Yes, girls want more fire-breathing flying cats in their romantasy. I devoured it the way a hungry tairen devours its prey.
But we can add at least one new thing to the Big List of Flaws that make this book and this whole series technically garbage: Did she really have to make Ellysetta's sisters
I have to face it, CL Wilson knows how to lay it on thick and still keep me coming back for more. I cried when she told me to, gasped in shock and horror when she told me to, pumped my fist in violent glee when she told me to. She must have made six mage marks on my soul. I know I'm being grossly manipulated by this cheeseball of a book, and I don't even care.
One thing that's still unreservedly good is that even when there's a sex scene where I was briefly afraid things were going to get rapey between Rain and Ellysetta, and the sex gets rough and there's some bondage stuff going on, our author writes a sex scene where there are definitely two willing participants. And when he apologizes in the morning, she's like, “We both wanted that and you know it. And now I want some more, lover.”
Random thought: It must be getting quite crowded in Ellysetta's head with all these magical bonds. Of course, the major story throughout has been that she's soul-bonded to Rain because they're truemates. And back in Book 2, we learn that her lifelong nightmares are the evil High Mage searching for her through the soul-bond he created by mage-marking her as a baby. Now we learn that her lifelong seizures happen when she experiences the agony of her birth father being tortured by the evil High Mage in faraway Eld, through their soul-bond. And she has a couple of two-thousand-year-old Fey warriors who are soul-sworn to her on top of everything else. (Plus a bunch more are going to start swearing their own souls to her after she keeps working miracles.) Is there anyone she's not magically soul-bonded to?
Audio Notes: It's always annoying when three books of a series have three different narrators. They never compare notes on how to pronounce characters' names, and they interpret different characters' voices, accents, and inflections differently. On top of all the usual problems, this third narrator, Emily Durante, is just no match for the bombastic romanticism of Wilson's writing. She's not BAD, she's fine – in fact, once I got used to her, she's actually quite good. It's just that I kept imagining passages the way they would sound in the much more dramatic, “epic poetry” style intonations of the first two narrators, and that I would be enjoying it even more. PS: Reviewers over at Audible absolutely loathe Durante, and I think she's getting an unfairly bad rap. She just takes some getting used to after vreading Books 1 and 2 with different narrators, but by the 30 or 40% mark, I wasn't really thinking about it anymore. I particularly enjoyed her rendition of the tairen Stelly, who is both old and wise (but young for a tairen I think), and also curiously childlike in her outlook and her manner of speaking.
But I got less worried as the book went on, and once again I found myself digging the ride. Yes, Ellysetta is incredibly powerful, but she still has a lot to learn and is still intensely vulnerable in many ways. She is going to either be the stuff of legend... or the stuff of dark dirges. Yes, the challenges are epic in scale, but they don't feel nearly as contrived as I feared they would. The Second Mage War is coming, and the clash will be titanic. There's not as much sex in this volume, as the romance takes more of a back seat to the fantasy. The Fey are preparing for war, Ellysetta is desperately trying to discover how she is meant to save the Tairen, and the evil High Mage of Eld is laying his own plans to recapture Ellysetta, destroy the Fey, and dominate the world.
Sure, it's still cheesy as a giant wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano, and all the problems I talked about way back in Book 1 have not gone away, but I guess you could say I'm just used to the taste now. TBH, maybe I feel like adding the real Tairens, Gaelen, the members of the Massan, impending war, and political turbulence within the Fading Lands to the story added some depth and weight. And when I finally got to meet the rest of the giant flying cats, I just loved them. Even the ones who don't turn into Super Handsome Dudes (which is most of them). Actually, especially them. Yes, girls want more fire-breathing flying cats in their romantasy. I devoured it the way a hungry tairen devours its prey.
But we can add at least one new thing to the Big List of Flaws that make this book and this whole series technically garbage: Did she really have to make Ellysetta's sisters
I have to face it, CL Wilson knows how to lay it on thick and still keep me coming back for more. I cried when she told me to, gasped in shock and horror when she told me to, pumped my fist in violent glee when she told me to. She must have made six mage marks on my soul. I know I'm being grossly manipulated by this cheeseball of a book, and I don't even care.
One thing that's still unreservedly good is that even when there's a sex scene where I was briefly afraid things were going to get rapey between Rain and Ellysetta, and the sex gets rough and there's some bondage stuff going on, our author writes a sex scene where there are definitely two willing participants. And when he apologizes in the morning, she's like, “We both wanted that and you know it. And now I want some more, lover.”
Random thought: It must be getting quite crowded in Ellysetta's head with all these magical bonds. Of course, the major story throughout has been that she's soul-bonded to Rain because they're truemates. And back in Book 2, we learn that her lifelong nightmares are the evil High Mage searching for her through the soul-bond he created by mage-marking her as a baby. Now we learn that her lifelong seizures happen when she experiences the agony of her birth father being tortured by the evil High Mage in faraway Eld, through their soul-bond. And she has a couple of two-thousand-year-old Fey warriors who are soul-sworn to her on top of everything else. (Plus a bunch more are going to start swearing their own souls to her after she keeps working miracles.) Is there anyone she's not magically soul-bonded to?
Audio Notes: It's always annoying when three books of a series have three different narrators. They never compare notes on how to pronounce characters' names, and they interpret different characters' voices, accents, and inflections differently. On top of all the usual problems, this third narrator, Emily Durante, is just no match for the bombastic romanticism of Wilson's writing. She's not BAD, she's fine – in fact, once I got used to her, she's actually quite good. It's just that I kept imagining passages the way they would sound in the much more dramatic, “epic poetry” style intonations of the first two narrators, and that I would be enjoying it even more. PS: Reviewers over at Audible absolutely loathe Durante, and I think she's getting an unfairly bad rap. She just takes some getting used to after vreading Books 1 and 2 with different narrators, but by the 30 or 40% mark, I wasn't really thinking about it anymore. I particularly enjoyed her rendition of the tairen Stelly, who is both old and wise (but young for a tairen I think), and also curiously childlike in her outlook and her manner of speaking.
April 3, 2009
I never would have believed that I'd be reading a fantasy and fantasy romance work like this. But, after having read the first two books in this series, I am hooked! And the third keeps me hooked.
The two key characters are Rainer vel'En Daris, the Fey King, and Elysetta Baristani, purportedly a woodcutter's daughter but, actually, much more than that. Indeed, her parents, with the intervention of the evil High Mage of Eld, Vadim Maur, have created a powerful woman, with magic of great depth. And this is a special aspect of this series--in each book, we get a few clues about the characters. Sometimes, we are given a false scent. But, slowly, the piecxes of a mpuzzle are being put together.
This volume gets to a key mystery--why the Fey and the Tairen (giant cats might be the best way to describe them) are not breeding. Elysetta (Ellie) has been identified by a mysterious source as the person who can end the slow death of the peoples of the Fading Lands. But the conflict by which Elysetta is able to save the "kitlings" (offspring of the Tairen) leaves her even more compromised by the evil Mage, raising questions about her loyalty to the Fey.
All in all, this is a fascinating novel, and once you start (if you like the genre) you will be hard put to set this book aside. Lots of fun, and I can't wait for book # 4.
The two key characters are Rainer vel'En Daris, the Fey King, and Elysetta Baristani, purportedly a woodcutter's daughter but, actually, much more than that. Indeed, her parents, with the intervention of the evil High Mage of Eld, Vadim Maur, have created a powerful woman, with magic of great depth. And this is a special aspect of this series--in each book, we get a few clues about the characters. Sometimes, we are given a false scent. But, slowly, the piecxes of a mpuzzle are being put together.
This volume gets to a key mystery--why the Fey and the Tairen (giant cats might be the best way to describe them) are not breeding. Elysetta (Ellie) has been identified by a mysterious source as the person who can end the slow death of the peoples of the Fading Lands. But the conflict by which Elysetta is able to save the "kitlings" (offspring of the Tairen) leaves her even more compromised by the evil Mage, raising questions about her loyalty to the Fey.
All in all, this is a fascinating novel, and once you start (if you like the genre) you will be hard put to set this book aside. Lots of fun, and I can't wait for book # 4.
February 22, 2011
This book was so amazing that I don't think my review will do it justice but I'll tell you what I found so amazing about this book, EVERYTHING! From the imagination used in writing it, the story itself, the characters, the feelings it gave me while reading it, the good verses evil, the fighting scenes, the love scenes, The magic. WOW! WOW! WOW!
See I told you I could not write a review deserving of this story/series. All's I can add is, if you have thought about giving this series a try, I say what are you waiting for?
I will be reading book 4, Queen Of Song and Soul in the very near future.
See I told you I could not write a review deserving of this story/series. All's I can add is, if you have thought about giving this series a try, I say what are you waiting for?
I will be reading book 4, Queen Of Song and Soul in the very near future.
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