KING OF SWORD AND SKY, third in C.L. Wilson's Tairan Soul series, following LORD OF THE FADING LANDS and LADY OF LIGHT AND SHADOWS, continues the chronicles of Ellysetta Baristani and her soul mate and husband Rainer vel'En Daris' quest to save his Kingdom and help his true mate save her soul.

In KING OF SWORD AND SKY, Ellysetta travels with Rainer through to the Fading Lands, but is met with anywhere from lukewarm hospitality to downright hostility by the people. She is unfortunately marked by a great evil, Vadim, and many would already have her selling them out to him for her own personal gain.

Ellysetta and Rainer have a steep hole to climb out of; despite his claim that she is his soul mate, many counter that she is using dark arts to bespell him into thinking that. For the Fey she is guilty, and the idea she could be innocent is beyond consideration—she is tainted with Dark Magicks, ergo she is just as bad as Vadim.

You can't go into KING OF SWORD AND SKY without having fully read the first two books in the series. Plenty is explained, but much of the character development of secondary characters were explored in the earlier books, and tensions are carried over from each book as well. The plot is also just as complex, layered with threads that make sense later in the story and mysteries that are flirted with, but left unanswered.

I highly recommend this book, but do yourself a favor and read her other books as well first. With the fourth book (QUEEN OF SONG AND SOULS) not being released until next year in June (2009), you have plenty of time to catch up, investigate and be thrilled. ( )

This is such a wonderful series. Each book is better than the one before. The world is immersive, the characters intriguing, and the story is engrossing.
Rain and Ellie are headed to the Fading Lands finally, but all is not well. They are leaving behind a lot of conflict between the humans and the Fey while facing suspicion among the ruling elite of the Fey. They need to save the Tairen kits and then face the Eld Mages in battle. The stakes keep getting higher and higher.
Ellie is gaining new powers, some not exactly what she wants, and Rain and Ellie still need to complete their mate bond. The pacing is excellent as actions shift between characters. A lot of the minor characters have high-stakes plotlines, so I felt a lot of tension while reading. I'm totally invested in this story. I'm still not happy with the covers, mostly because I'm afraid people are missing out on Ms. Wilson's great books, but one of the best fantasy writers I've read. ( )

In this book we get a bunch more plot and build up for the end and less of the romance and naughty bits. I am not saying that is a bad thing, this book has a wonderful plot so i am intrigued to see where it goes, this one was also a re-read in preparation for the next two (and final) books. This book was vastly more life and death than the first two, I was happy with that fact. Also the drama in this book is exponential, I was on the edge of my seat for almost the entire book. There are twists and turns you might never see coming and you even get a huge shock towards the end of the book.

Elly and Rain are two characters that will inspire your devotion and love. I found myself rooting for Elly and Rain and I really wish Elly would just accept the bond and that would mean she would be safe, it's such a solid and easy decision but way to easy. I am waiting and waiting...in the mean time I will continue to cheer for the characters I have grown to love and enjoy.

I haven't read the next book but I have already dived in and I am eager to get to the final book, I need to make sure my favorite characters come through.
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4 ½ Stars
I'm completely and utterly in love with this series ( )

4.5 stars ( )