King of Sword and Sky

As a bookseller, sometimes we get advanced copies of books from authors that are not well known. A little over a year ago I found a copy of Lord of the Fading Lands that we had received. And while you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, that's what drew my interest to pick it up. So glad I did! C.L. Wilson is an author to watch! She has an artist's way with words. She's created a truly magical world filled with Fey, evil Mages, wonderful creatures called the Tairen and spun her own special weave of love, friendship, honor and sacrifice. Her characters gain more depth with each new volume of the series, and while I love the main storyline of Rain and Ellysetta, I also have to admit her other characters have me hooked as well. Connecting the dots between the supporting characters, both Fey, Celerian, Eld, and the Tairen is a fascinating puzzle. Galen is my favorite secondary character. Why do I always like the 'bad' boys? :) This third installment of the Fading Lands does not disappoint. It picks up right where the ending of Lady of Light and Shadows left off with Raine bringing Ellysetta back to the fading lands. The lovers face numerous challenges: The Mages of Eld are planning another war, Ellysetta still doesn't understand her vast powers nor how she will help save the Tairen. Not to mention the High Mage is trying to claim her soul. And just HOW are the Fay going to react when they see Galen, 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 others (in battle, etc) and the weight of those souls becomes too much for them to bear and they are banished from the Fading Lands. The Fey do not look kindly upon their 'fallen' brothers. Now Ellysetta is bringing one of them, the most notorious, home with her. But first they have to get through the Faering Mists that guard the Fading Lands. The Tairen are counting on her to save them. The ferocious winged felines (the size of Clydesdales) 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. 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 lasts no matter what, then you will love this series. I guarantee it. Lord of the Fading Lands Lady of Light and Shadows King of Sword and Sky (Tairen Soul) And don't miss the next and final chapter of Raine and Elly's story, The Queen of Song and Souls, due out in March of '09. I can't wait!!!

Rain, the Tairen Soul and King of the Fey, is bringing his truemate, Ellysetta, back to the Fading Lands. There are many things they need to accomplish, both as a couple, and separately. Together they need to complete the truemate bond that will bind their souls. But first Ellysetta must work to control the powerful magic within her, and fight the evil that is trying to claim her. In addition, Ellysetta needs to discover what is killing the Tairen kitling in their eggs and try to save those that remain. If she is unsuccessful, the Tairen could face extinction. She also has to learn to live among the Fey, some of whom are less than welcoming. Rain will work to prepare his Fey brothers for war with the Eld, who want control over the Fading Lands. In addition, he faces opposition from his own council, who think he is not fit to lead the Fey. This is the third book in the Tairen Soul series, and I've loved them all. C.L. Wilson's descriptions of the Fey and the world in which they live are beautifully done and extremely captivating. I've fallen in love with several of the characters, not the least of which are Ellysetta and Rain. The love they share melts my heart. Ellysetta's battle to save the kitlings held me captive, and I loved the way Rain stood up to those who opposed him, and fought for his wife. One of the things I adore about these books is the complex levels that weave together to tell the story, keeping you on the edge of your seat and wanting more. I for one can't wait for Book 4. King of Sword and Sky is a definite Recommended Read for me. The books do need to be read in order, so that you get in on the ground floor. Amelia reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

KING OF SWORD AND SKY C. L. Wilson Fantasy Romance Rating: 5 Enchantments Ellysetta Baristani is a Tairen Soul and is now married to Rainier vel'En Daris. She is also the Feyreisa. This position and power holds many requirements and duties but a few stand higher priority than the others. First on her list is to find what is killing the Tairen while still in the eggs, second stop the impending war, third complete the bond with Rain. Rain wants nothing more than to have Ellysetta behind the faering mists where she would be safe in his home. He knows that to her, her family is more important then her safety so he grants her a few more precious days with them. The time is cut short however when it seems that the primage is again at her soul. Rain will do anything to protect his truemate and cure those of his pride of the evil that is killing them KING OF SWORD AND SKY picks up only 7 days after the end of `Lady of Light and Shadows', Ellysetta is assorting her family to the safety of Teleon. It is there that Sol and the twins can hide from any of the Eld's allies. What she does not expect is the sudden attack that is just like so many others that she has experienced in the past. The fey think that it is the work of the Vadim Maur, the primage, and it is, however it is just not an attack on her. She is feeling the torture that her real father is feeling. Rain whisks her away to the Faering mists where life seems to become even more complicated. Neither Rain nor Ellysetta can figure out what is killing the Tairen babies. The Tairen's eye crystal has prophesied that Ellysetta will be the death of all that is light. Half of the Fey either love her and the other have are wary of her and her mage marks. The only good thing that she has going is the fact that she can heal all the Rasa by restoring their souls. On top of everything that happens a huge family secret is revealed that could change everything. I am at a loss for words. I can not think of the proper way to describe my love of KING OF SWORD AND SKY! If I could give this book more than 5 Enchantments I would. C. L. Wilson has a way of making her stories come alive. Each page I read was as if it was taking place in front of me. I did not see the words on the page I saw what was happening in the story. I could see the colors of the sky, I could smell everything, and most of all I could feel the pain and love. This is the kind of story that sticks with you and makes you think of it for days to come. I cried with the way the book left off but I understand why it ended as it did. I have faith that the fourth book, Queen of song and souls will be just as good as the first three were. With that said the books does not stand very well by itself and the first two should be read before KING OF SWORD AND SKY. The character relations are very confusing and the first two explain it all. I highly recommend this series to anyone who wants a page turning, never ending action, keeping you on the end of you

C.L. Wilson has a lot to live up to with, King of Sword and Sky, the third book in this fanasty saga 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 ther

C.L. Wilson has created a story that so engrosses the reader that these charaters in the book matter. I loved this book and cannot wait until the next and I believe final book in Rain and Elly saga coms out. If you have not read any of the previous books in the series, buy them because they will be on the keeper shelf that I know everyone has in their home.