Book Review: Crown of Crystal Flame

Crown of Crystal Flame (Tairen Soul #5)

By: C.L. Wilson

Published By: Avon

Publication Date: October 2010

Page Count: 469

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound

Source: Purchased by Reviewer

Audience: Adult - Fantasy Romance

I'm done... and I'm so sad... it's all over!!!

Reading this EPIC series was probably the best way to spend the cold and snowy months of January/February because I got to snuggle up with one of the most ultimate love stories every written about!!

Crown of Crystal Flame is the concluding book in the Tairen Soul series.  And what a conclusion!!

C.L. Wilson wrote such an amazingly, intricately woven story that just boggles my mind--much like the multi-level magical weaves often described throughout the books--but the story was never hard to follow.  The characters were so well developed.  Cheryl's portrayal of the Fey was just simply gorgeous.  The Fey are extremely passionate about everything...the way they love, their friendships and family, their traditions and beliefs, their wars... everything!  You just have to read these books to truly experience the phenomenal world and character building put forth by the author.

Book Review: Queen of Song and Souls

Queen of Song and Souls (Tairen Soul #4)

By: C.L. Wilson

Published By: Avon

Publication Date: September 2010

Page Count: 416

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound

Source: Purchased by Reviewer

Audience: Adult - Fantasy Romance

Queen of Song and Souls opens with a shorter retelling of the ending of King of Sword and Sky's battle sequence, and told more from Lillis's point of view.  And then we jump right over to another facet of the battle and Ellysetta now joining the other shei'dalins in healing the wounded following the last epic battle.  

Ellysetta has come a long way from the beginning of this series.  She is much better at controlling her magic and powers and is finally able to be of some help, which she embraces only too well.  However, her strong will to help others negates her better judgement again and again, which gets her, and inevitably Rain, into trouble. 

Book Review: King of Sword and Sky

King of Sword and Sky (Tairen Soul #3)

By: C.L. Wilson

Published By: Avon

Publication Date: September 2010

Page Count: 467

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound

Source: Purchased by Reviewer

Audience: Adult - Fantasy

You know what I hate about completing this book?? I'm now past the half-way point in this series. Only two books left, and I'll be so sad when it's all over. *sniff* 

King of Sword and Sky continues its rich story-telling, wonderful character development, and we finally get to meet the Tairen. What awesome creatures they are... and by awesome I mean, magnificent, enormous, highly intelligent and fiercely protective of their pride. These huge winged big cats can be gentle as a kitten or ferocious as a hungry tiger. If I had any doubt that Ellysetta would not be welcomed by the Tairen... that would have been a foolish thought. I have to say that my favourite Tairen character, other than Rain, is Steli-Chakai. She quickly develops a strong bond with Ellysetta... akin to an adoptive mother-figure, which was so endearing. Steli also has a wonderful personality, as they can converse (telepathically) with other fey, and through that dialogue, her character really shines. 

Book Review: Lady of Light and Shadows

Lady of Light and Shadows (Tairen Soul #2)

By: C.L. Wilson

Published By: Avon

Publication Date: September 2010

Page Count: 414

Buy it at Amazon or IndieBound

Source: Purchased by Reviewer

Audience: Adult - Fantasy

This tremendous sequel to Lord of the Fading Lands does not disappoint! This is not a "filler" book... it's the continuance of an EPIC love-story that is so full of substance, I was about to burst by the time I came to the end. WOW! 

Lady of Light and Shadows literally picks up where book one left off... tortuous and unnerving nightmares continue to plague Ellie, as well, they all have to deal with the repercussions of the events that took place at the dinner at the end of book one. Rain continues to try to sway the lords of Celieria from opening the borders to the Eld for trade purposes. Rain is convinced that the darkness emanating from that land is intensifying and that everyone will be in even greater danger, including Ellie and her family... but he's having a very difficult time convincing a good portion of the lords who would welcome the fortunes that trading with the Eld would bring. 

Book Review: Lord of the Fading Lands

Lord of the Fading Lands (Tairen Soul #1)

By: C.L. Wilson

Published By: Avon

Publication Date: September 2010

Page Count: 416

Buy it at Amazon or IndieBound

Source: Purchased by Reviewer

Audience: Adult - Fantasy Romance

As an addendum to my review, I have to start off by saying that I have read the entire series and it IS utterly SENSATIONAL and EPIC!

 

This first book in the Tairen Soul series is pretty awesome... and it's only the beginning.  It's a love story of EPIC proportions between a seemingly ordinary young woman and a Fey King.  

 

You have to first accept that this story is pure fantasy... where ordinary humans live in a world where the Fey and their magic is real, but more often feared than embraced.  The setting is fictitious and set in a time where there is no modern conveniences.  The theme of this tale revolves around the deep connection between the Fey and the Tairen... a race of huge winged panther-like-cats that are very much tied to the Fey.