Crown of Crystal Flame (Tairen Soul, #5)

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Crown of Crystal Flame (Tairen Soul #5)

by C.L. Wilson (Goodreads Author), Judy York (Illustrator)

4.4 of 5 stars 4.40 · rating details · 1,907 ratings · 186 reviews

A Song of Love won her heart.
A Song of Darkness haunted her soul.
A Song in the Dance would seal her fate.

Seers had long foreseen an extraordinary destiny for Ellysetta Baristani. Already she had won the heart of the Fey King--the magnificent Rain, ever her ally, eternally her love. She had saved the offspring of the magical tairen and fought beside her legendary mate ag

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Paperback, 469 pages

Published October 26th 2010 by Avon

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Lady of Light and Shadows by C.L. Wilson

Fantasy Romance

6th out of 138 books — 158 voters

Can't Wait Books of 2010

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Feb 10, 2011 Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone wanting something ABOVE all else.

Recommended to Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms) by: Stacia

Shelves: could-not-put-it-down-books, favorite-series, read-more-than-once, fantasy

[REREAD - SECOND TIME]
Once again I have finished the fifth and last book in the series that I have to admit is my favorite ever. And that is saying a lot. This is a world and a story that it is very difficult to move away from. The world that this author has created is not like anything I can compare it to for several reasons. The Fey in these books are the most honorable beings imaginable. The men's respect for tradition, for each other as warriors (and they ARE warriors), their reverence and r...more [REREAD - SECOND TIME]
Once again I have finished the fifth and last book in the series that I have to admit is my favorite ever. And that is saying a lot. This is a world and a story that it is very difficult to move away from. The world that this author has created is not like anything I can compare it to for several reasons. The Fey in these books are the most honorable beings imaginable. The men's respect for tradition, for each other as warriors (and they ARE warriors), their reverence and respect for women, as well as the incredible women who are all healers in some way is so beautiful. The Fey in this story are hundreds of years old at the youngest and in some cases have lived for 2000 years or more. The relationship with them, the humans (some of whom have fey blood), and the Elves is so well explained that I never was confused or unable to understand the connections. The Mages are as evil as you can get in a story, so this is a battle between Light and Dark. Major major wonderful writing by this author.

I can't say enough about the love between Rain and Ellysetta and the love scenes between them. This is not a YA book and some of the scenes are explicit, but somehow they are so beautifully written I didn't cringe (have to admit I am not into graphic sex scenes). This kind of love is magic, beyond real, and pretty much sings a song of LOVE like few other books. Actually, like any other book I have read.

I knew all along we were heading for a terrible showdown between good and evil, and all of the Fey I have come to love would be in terrible danger. I think the first fourth or so of the book was a little tedious for me because I knew it was setting up for what was to come. Then it CAME and I could not have put the book down had my house been burning down.

This book is the darkest of them all, the most threatening to Rain and Ellysetta at a time when she is most vulnerable to the evil Mage and when Rain is fighting against the madness of the truemate bond that has not been completed (you have to read them to understand that one). The most beautiful part (well nearly) is when they they are saved by the dahl'reisen who have been reviled and banished from the Fading Lands for thousands of years. What happens then turns upside down everything that the Fey have believed in for milliniums. There are no words for the bravery, loyalty, and sacrifice that is shown by so many in Rain and Ellie's race to outrun their enemies. If one likes reading about battles, this book has it, and strangely this is something I normally do not like and yet in this book it all worked for me. I don't enjoy reading real dark stories and yet the evil in this book was necessary because Light only really triumphs when darkness is at it's worst. I am sure I was holding my breath more than once during that last half of this final book. Wonderful wonderful author. Beylah vo.

I hate to say good-bye to this series and I am sure I will read it many times again. I even learned a new language - Feyan. (less)

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Mar 03, 2012 Leontine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-romance

Some books just rob me of words to adequately describe what it did with me, CROWN OF CRYSTAL FLAME is such a book. C.L. Wilson gave me a conclusion where joy and sadness, love and hate, courage and angst, laughter and tears fuse in to an action filled story that gave me an unparalleled reading experience within the romance fantasy genre. CROWN OF CRYSTAL FLAME is by no means a novel you can read as a stand-alone since it is an end game story where the truemate bond between Elly and Rain needs to...more Some books just rob me of words to adequately describe what it did with me, CROWN OF CRYSTAL FLAME is such a book. C.L. Wilson gave me a conclusion where joy and sadness, love and hate, courage and angst, laughter and tears fuse in to an action filled story that gave me an unparalleled reading experience within the romance fantasy genre. CROWN OF CRYSTAL FLAME is by no means a novel you can read as a stand-alone since it is an end game story where the truemate bond between Elly and Rain needs to find completion or else…, and the battle against High Mage Vadim Maur enters the last stage to claim the final victor.

From the first word C.L. Wilson plunged me in to high risk chases and tension filled battles where fey powers and Celierian tenacity clashed with the dark strength of the mages. There is a very fine line between death and survival, defeat and victory, and I can guarantee you there will be moments of angst, tearful goodbye’s and moments filled with utter relief as various characters make it through one ordeal or another. C.L. Wilson holds nothing back, the plot thickens to almost insurmountable heights with a rapid succession of unfolding events. It nailed me to the couch, every major and secondary story thread blended seamlessly together. I was completely absorbed in the story being told as to whether or not my most beloved characters would find peace, joy and love again.

The plotlines that were set-up in the former four books of this series and hadn’t found a conclusion do so in CROWN OF CRYSTAL FLAME. The signature beautiful and lyrical writing style of C.L. Wilson encompassed me; it set me on the grim battlefields, it made me soar like a Tairen, weave magic along the fey warriors and allowed me to feel the range of emotions coursing through the characters. This author knows how to bare the souls of the characters, let me witness all the good, the bad and everything in between that they have to give. Each character; Rain, Elly, Belliard, Gaelen, Shan, Elfeya, Vadim Maur, Melliandra, Lillis, Lorelle, the Dahl’reisen and the Tairen, to those new to the series they are just names. Nevertheless, to those familiar with the series know that each brims with a distinctive voice that allows them to come to life via the pages and in the mind’s eye. I loved them all; each of them gave the love, the friendship, the battles and even the darkness of hate or evil meaning and purpose. While the story, as each of the four preceding books, revolves around the completion of the truemate bond between Rain and Elly, it is each supportive character, each secondary storyline, that deepens this series to a rich and multi-layered reading adventure.

I cannot tell you much about the story plot itself since each reader who has longed for CROWN OF CRYSTAL FLAME should go in to it unspoiled and experience it all firsthand themselves. The tender courtship romance between Elly and Rain I got to read about in Lord Of the Fading Lands is no longer. Now it is a love, running so deep in the soul of the couple it demands the full and complete truemate bond. There are risks to be taken, the love needs to be expressed, the fear felt and the dangers are everywhere, Rain and Elly’s go rock bottom to aim for the completion of their bond and they took me along with it for every moment! Their romance is truly one of epic proportions that touched my heart to the very core but my heart also plummeted in fear for them and cried for them. This story is the culmination of everything that came to pass and it delivered a breathtaking read from an author who can wholly claim a reader with her characters, imagination, storytelling and high-risk plotting.

From the moment I read Lord Of The Fading Lands I knew C.L. Wilson was an author with a fantastic gift for writing. With CROWN OF CRYSTAL FLAME C.L. Wilson has cemented herself among the greatest authors on my shelves with exquisite storytelling, fantastic world building, heart-in-throat tension, larger-than-life characters and a romance that will keep you on edge till the very last chapters. I will love reading this series for the rest of my life!

Quote:
The Fey did nothing in half measures. That intensity of emotion was part of their appeal. It made them the fiercest warriors, the staunchest allies, the most passionate lovers. The most devoted mates.
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Oct 25, 2010 Mandi Schreiner rated it 5 of 5 stars

I adore this series and these characters C.L. Wilson has brought to life. She writes the evilest of all villains and the most tortured of all heroes. Between these two men is Ellyseta, a woman so in love with the light, yet marked with evil and teetering on the edge of darkness.

Crown of Crystal Flame, the final book in the Tairen Soul series starts right where Queen of Song and Souls ends. Actually, the prologue is the heartbreaking event of Adrial and his truemate all over again (and their deat...more I adore this series and these characters C.L. Wilson has brought to life. She writes the evilest of all villains and the most tortured of all heroes. Between these two men is Ellyseta, a woman so in love with the light, yet marked with evil and teetering on the edge of darkness.

Crown of Crystal Flame, the final book in the Tairen Soul series starts right where Queen of Song and Souls ends. Actually, the prologue is the heartbreaking event of Adrial and his truemate all over again (and their death plays a big role in this book). I don’t know how C.L. Wilson does it, but she gets me so wrapped up in these characters. While I love the story of Rain and Ellysetta, I have become so attached to Bel and Gaelen (part of her guard) and Shan and Elfeya (her parents stuck in prison). She weaves in the stories of her supporting characters to the point I latch on and I don’t want to let go.

C.L. Wilson has so much to address and wrap up in this book and I think she does an amazing job. Ellysetta is fighting her four mage marks while Rain is desperate to find a way to finish his bonding before the madness overtakes him. Shan and Elfeya are at wits end after endless torture. Kieran and Kiel are missing with Ellysetta’s sisters. King Dorian and Queen Annoura are struggling in their marriage and constant political maneuverings. And finally, the epic war is on the horizon. Vadim Maur, who may be my favorite villain of all time, has amassed not only a stunning number in his evil army, but has a plan set to capture his prize possession Ellysetta.

This book is intense, action-filled and with some absolutely heartbreaking moments that made me tear-up. Everyone’s story, not just Rain and Ellysetta’s, are resolved. Some with joy, others with tragedy. The action starts right from the beginning, and although the actual romance scenes are fewer in this book, there are an abundance of poignant, touching scenes. At this point in the series, we know of the love between Rain and Ellysetta – what we need to see is the final outcome and we are not disappointed.

I honestly don’t have any complaints. This book is an outstanding end to one of my favorite series. You must read this series in order, this isn’t one you can casually pick-up halfway through but I highly recommend it. I am not huge into reading fantasy, but this one delivers romance, action and characters that are unforgettable.(less)

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Feb 24, 2013 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: all lovers of fantasy romance

Shelves: asap-reads, favorites, alpha-hero, spitfire-heroines, royal-hero-or-heroine, romance, soulmates-or-love-at-first-sight, sick-injured-or-dying-heroine-or-he, heroine-saves-hero, protective-heroes, amazing-secondary-characters, beauty-and-the-beast, captive-hero-or-heroine, epic-romance, fantasy-romance, flawed-tortured-hero, immortals, married-hero-heroine, owned, paranormal-romance, psychic-abilities, save-the-world-plot, to-reread, tormented-heroines, travelling-together, winter-src-2012, 2013, fae, have-in-nyc, war, dragons-and-other-fantasy-creatures, shapeshifters

Lol.. usually in series I read the reviews so as to know what to expect.. but I absolutely refuse to have the ending to such a wonderful series spoiled for me!! I just ordered it and can't wait to receive it sometime this week!!!!

Nov 2nd update

Ok.. I love this series!!!! Adore it! What a beautiful soulmate story, engaging writing and compelling characters...I wish I could have spent more time in Elysetta and Rain's world!
While not my favorite of the series(which I guess is normal since she neede...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Michele (Reading Lark/CanadianTwiMom) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Michele (Reading Lark/CanadianTwiMom) by: Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms)

Shelves: adult, fey-faeries, own-it, ebook, favourite-epic, reading-lark, epic-love, hot-romance, softcover, fictional-crush, fav-author

My review now also appears on Reading Lark After Dark: http://readinglarkafterdark.blogspot....

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...more

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Oct 20, 2010 Eva (TXBookjunkie) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, own, fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 23, 2010 Jane Litte rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is a satisfying conclusion to the end of the saga. I don't think a reader can start with this book, too much has gone before. But every loose end seemed to be tied up and there is a satisfying conclusion for what started in book 1. There seemed to be a good balance between the fantasy and the romance although I think more time was spent on the fantasy itself. I had a hard time of keeping track of characters during the fight scenes but that's really my own problem and not anything to do with...more

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Aug 09, 2011 Zeek rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-fantasy, alpha-hero, fantasy-rom, fantasy-classic, favorite-hero, romance, shifters, sidhe

Oddly this was not my favorite of the Tairen Souls series. Previous entries I devoured- couldnt get through them fast enough. This one took way too long to get to the epic battle between light and darkness, which is of course the climax of the book- and series really.

But once it did, the pages began to finally come to life again. The ending was a bit too saccharine for epic fantasy such as this but then again, so are hobbits bouncing around on a bed. (Ok that was only in the movie, but you get m...more

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Nov 04, 2010 ♠ Sharon is an emotional book junkie ♠ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010

This is an intense book! So much was going on and so many different places and different people ~ it was kind of hard to keep up with. I think it would have been better to read Queen of Song and Souls(book 4) right before reading this one.

I liked how everything came together and the story of Ellyseta finally being revealed in its entirety. I did feel that it eclipsed Rain a bit but it was understandable. There were some things that were not addressed and some things set up for the spin off books...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Donna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, galley, read-challenge, read-in-2010

Absolutely wonderful! Crown of Crystal Flame is the best yet of the 5 novels in the Tairen series. This culmination of the Tairen Soul series was an action packed, heart stopping, breathtaking ride. The story begins right where the the 4th one ended, we join Ellysetta and Rain as they wait for the Eld attack they know is coming and try to deal with King Dorian's distrust, the effects that their unsealed bond is having on Rain, and disorder amongst the allies. Ellie's courage is tested repeatedly...more Absolutely wonderful! Crown of Crystal Flame is the best yet of the 5 novels in the Tairen series. This culmination of the Tairen Soul series was an action packed, heart stopping, breathtaking ride. The story begins right where the the 4th one ended, we join Ellysetta and Rain as they wait for the Eld attack they know is coming and try to deal with King Dorian's distrust, the effects that their unsealed bond is having on Rain, and disorder amongst the allies. Ellie's courage is tested repeatedly as she is faced with challenges far greater than she expected and Rain is forced to rethink some of the oldest beliefs and customs of his people.

This story took so many unexpected twists and turns. The battle scenes themselves were described so vividly that I could almost hear the shouts and screams and roars of the Tairen. The fast moving plot, to me, never felt rushed, instead kept me constantly on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. As fascinating as the plot was, the characters in this series were what made these books so amazing. I had no ambivalent feelings about any, even the more minor characters. I either absolutely loathed them or or was concerned about what would happen to them. Either way, I was fully invested in their stories. And Wilson did not disappoint, making sure to tie up all loose ends by the end of this incredible novel.

This book, as well as the earlier 4 books in this series will appeal to many types of fantasy readers. There is heartrending and passionate romance, some happy and some tragic. There are epic battles, fairytale creatures of all kinds, mythical beings, magic both dark and light, and an enjoyable tale that's both dramatic and highly entertaining.

There are so many times, when, at the end of such an epic story, there are still minor plot lines that I'm left to wonder about. I didn't find that at all with Crown of Crystal Flame. Although I'm sad to see an end to one of my favorite series, this novel left me with a feeling of satisfaction.

I can't wait to read more of C.L. Wilson's wonderful work.
No doubt in my mind, this deserves a rating of 5(less)

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Mar 18, 2012 Shonna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Earlier I had put together a rather long theatrical review since I have a tendency to be a dominating drama queen at times, okay most of the time. As I was about to wind it up there was a power failure and ,...you guessed it, I lost the whole thing. Starting over, I decided to take a different approach for the climax of this series. Crown of Crystal Flame is the conclusion to a wonderful fantasy series created by an author that I will be a fan of for life. There is so much to say yet if you have...more

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Oct 12, 2011 Twiggy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, magical, romance, adventure

Concluding part of the story of Ellysetta and Rain.

Like any grand finale to an epic fantasy series involving the fight between good and evil, this book moves to the big battle.

It opens on the eve of same with ongoing bitterness between the fey and Dorian in respect of the tragic events surrounding Tarisa and Adrial
Ellysetta however soothes the way and there is a reconciliation and mellowing for Dorian both as regards Rain and his own wife before he meets his end.
The motivation behind Lord Sebo...more

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Aug 19, 2011 Kathy Davie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Fifth and final story in the Tairen Soul fantasy series revolving around Ellysetta Baristani and Rainier vel'En Daris.

The Story
The deaths of Talisa Barrial diSebourne and Adrial vel Arquinas have set Rain and Dorian at critical odds. Great Lord Sebourne has taken his army and left the allies to face the might of the Eld on their own while Lorelle has discovered the lie beneath the seemingly wonderful life she is living with her sister and parents in the Faering Mists.

The truth of the dahl'reise...more

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Aug 11, 2011 Jessica Strider rated it 4 of 5 stars

***Spoiler Warning*** This is book 5 in a 5 book series, therefore even the synopsis will have some spoilers if you haven't read the previous books.

Pros: great wrap up for the series, satisfying battle scenes, down time between fight scenes allowed for continued character development

Cons: while Wilson was willing to kill off a few characters, there were too many last minute saves, which reduced overall tension

The Eld have begun their attack on Celaria. King Dorian and his wife are more at odds t...more

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Nov 04, 2010 Susie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I finished the book yesterday and allowed myself a whole day to digest it. But before I begin my review, there's something you should know about me. I love and need spoilers. Yes, I'm THAT person. The type who skips to the end to see who made and who didn't in order to mentally prepare myself for that outcome or decide not to read the book at all.

Anyways, as I'm reading the book, I thought King Dorian would make it b/c I saw his name towards the end. To my horror, I forgot that his son is also n...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Tom rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite

What a friggin ride!!!! Not sure about full review to come but something is coming.

What an end to an epic ride for me. One of my friends was disappointed with this book and it had me a little worried. I didn’t read the review just looked at the stars and went ut oh. Not at all the case for me. Book 2 was so good I really didn’t expect any of the others to top it but this one did and by a clear margin. Not far in I thought ” oh we better not do like 80% more world building and then throw everythi...more

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Mar 23, 2012 Ash rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, fantasy, 3-to-3-5-stars

First of all, thank goodness I am done with this series! I usually read at a faster pace than what it took me to finish this. This last book disappointed me in a few ways. I was looking for an "epic" fantasy conclusion. I felt that we got we hoped for but it was delivered in a lackluster way. I would have preferred an epilogue, extra chapters at the end, anything to see what life was like after the EVENT. The event, mind you, we've been waiting for FIVE books.

I've heard there could be other spi...more

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Oct 29, 2010 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, tairen-soul-series, 2010

This is the fifth and final book in the epic fantasy Tairen Soul series. You must read the series in order or you will be missing out on important back story that is needed to fully understand this book. Crown of Crystal Flame is intense and filled with tragedy, passion, sorrow and joy.

The loose ends to all the interwoven story lines are wrapped up throughout this action packed book and it was well worth the wait. This book pretty much is all about the war between the Fey and their allies, and...more

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Jan 02, 2011 Paula rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, romance, supernatural-beings, action, favourites, elves

I have read many series, and often thought that it is apparently impossible for writers to keep up or improve their standards as many a series I enjoyed in the beginning started to drag, became repetitive or just plain boring as they continued.
This was not a series like that. C.L. Wilson made every book a feast to read and this last part of her Tairen Soul series was definitely a worthy ending to one of the best series I have ever read.
I loved the characters. They were well developed and unique...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Lady Valee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, books-too-good-to-be-true, fantasy-romance

What an epic ending to a series that completely changed the way I saw paranormal romance. An incredible journey I will never forget. There's no emotion I haven't felt... I cried, laughed, cursed, went emotionally numbed and felt like my heart would broke into a million pieces. Not ever will I be this fond about a read, not ever will I find characters to love as I did these and definitely NOT EVER will I find a more complex and interesting read. It just felt like the whole series was written for...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Lord Rose rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-paranormal-fantasy-romance, romance

Damn it, it's finished.

While for the most part that's satisfying, with evil defeated and happy ending achieved and all that, at the same time I feel bereft, as if the characters have become friends, and now I've lost them.

But now I'm frustrated by all the unfinished threads that just don't have answers yet. I want to know what happens to all the characters! Now! (I can be patient, really I can, but I'm much better at being patient for books I only moderately like.) I want to see more of Gaelen a...more

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Jun 22, 2012 Merissa Sheppard rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

Shelves: favorites

"A Song of Love won her heart.
A Song of Darkness haunted her soul.
A Song in the Dance would seal her fate."

The crowning glory in the Fading Lands Quintet and it will keep you on tenterhooks throughout. This book finishes the series by answering all of the questions fully and yet still leaves you with some more. I only hope that she writes some more because these characters are too wonderful to leave behind.

A fantastic series that I will continue to re-read for a long, long time.

"How do I show t...more

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Nov 13, 2012 Kathleen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed, pnr-uf

Plot-driven yet sexually explicit paranormal romance series with shape shifters who transform into flying fire-breathing lions. Got it???

This is the series finale. Crown of Crystal Flame is nearly filled with war scenes. It's a page turner. Epic battle, good versus evil, love versus fear. At times it did not feel like a romance novel. By this last book, much of the action centers around battle scenes, as the hero tries to reclaim his lands, his honor, and his crown from the evil Mage.

Plot: Rain...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Caren Jan rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 01, 2012 Coucher de soleil rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-read

All in all I enjoyed this series. The world building in particular was extremely well done and highly original. I enjoyed the story, the setting, and the characters a great deal. This series was not perfect however and this novel exposed certain problems therein.

Let me also state that this review contains spoilers. If this bothers you, don't read any further.

(i) My biggest issue came towards the end of the book, in which there was a prime example of what I have come to refer to as the TSTL syndr...more All in all I enjoyed this series. The world building in particular was extremely well done and highly original. I enjoyed the story, the setting, and the characters a great deal. This series was not perfect however and this novel exposed certain problems therein.

Let me also state that this review contains spoilers. If this bothers you, don't read any further.

(i) My biggest issue came towards the end of the book, in which there was a prime example of what I have come to refer to as the TSTL syndrome. :-)

This acronym stands for the phrase 'too stupid to live'. I have now come to use this for a book (or movie) where the main character(s) exhibit a highly unbelievable level of stupidity with regards to the eventual actions of the bad guy(s). In this book, the main character's two young sisters are kidnapped by an evil mage, Vadim Maur. As a result, the main character, her mate, and their allies decide to rescue them. However, while even the main characters acknowledge that their plan (which involves using the bad guys' means of travel and assuming they haven't been double-crossed) has more holes than a sieve, it does not really occur to them that the aforementioned evil mage could be waiting for them. And this was the case after said mage had spent most of his time trying to capture the main character which he has become obsessed with (I'm trying not to give too much away here).

Um, right. Just how stupid are these people, exactly?

(ii) The end of the series is a tad abrupt, insofar as the evil mage is killed very quickly. I will reiterate here what I have said in at least one previous review of another series: while it may be the case that the CHARACTERS need to 'off' the evil character(s) quickly, this does not mean that the written account of this death/elimination needs to be rushed.

In the end, the main evil character's death took one paragraph. Frustrating.

(iii) The fate of certain secondary characters is left entirely unanswered. One particular character, Melliandra, escapes with one of the Fey women and several children. The two of them, with the children, head for the northern mountains. Nothing more is said about them, which means they've essentially been left hiking forever in a frozen mountain wasteland by the author.

I am still hoping this will be dealt with in a subsequent book (the author has said that there will be another novel in this universe, though this novel will not be part of the current series).

These elements are unfortunate, because otherwise I truly enjoyed this series and found it extremely well written.
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Nov 04, 2010 Steven Peterson rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the finale to the Tairen Soul series, authored by C. L. Wilson. The previous four volumes in the series set the stage for this culminating work.

The climactic war between the Eld hordes and their allies against Rain and Elysetta (mates and powerful creatures), humans, Fey, fallen Fey, and even elves. The author at the outset lays out the long odds facing Rain and Elysetta, as the evil High Mage has constructed a huge army.

The work plays out, with familiar characters from previous works co...more

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Dec 15, 2011 Ann rated it 4 of 5 stars

The last half of this book took off like a shot. And the ending was pretty much ideal without being too predictable.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this series. There were points when I wished the plot and writing were a bit tighter/ It's easy enough to nitpick those things though.

I will say that there is a level of violence, torture, and bloodshed that I'm not as used to seeing in romance. However, if you're a reader of fantasy--especially some of the more gritty--it's not a shock and works well i...more

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Sep 23, 2012 Sally rated it 5 of 5 stars

Thank you CL Wilson for creating this fantastic world with all it's fantastic creatures. Thank you particularly for bringing us a wonderful love story. The fifth book in the series and wow! What an ending!
Now I'm waiting for no. 6. The continuation of this story, the continuation of the lives and stories of each and all of the characters. What happened to Milliandra? Her story is only one of those that I am waiting to read.

If you are planning to read this wonderful series and I urge it, even f...more

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Oct 31, 2010 Teri rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Unsure how to rate it. Good ending to the series...
But, I guess it was all predictable. I skimmed a lot of the book.
I recommend reading them all at once. I forgot so much of the series because it has been so long.

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Sep 12, 2011 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: action-suspense, fantasy, romance

I really enjoyed this series. I tried not to read it too quickly but I wanted to know how things turned out for the characters. Plus, for once, I didn't have to wait a year for the next sequel--they were already released! Overall, I'd say it's sort of like Lord of the Rings with romance. And, with each book it got more and more epic. The characters are very lovable and you want to cheer them on through their journey against evil. The worlds that Wilson created were easy to picture and her writin...more

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About C.L. Wilson

C.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...more

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Books by C.L. Wilson

Lord of the Fading Lands (Tairen Soul, #1)

Lady of Light and Shadows (Tairen Soul, #2)

Queen of Song and Souls (Tairen Soul, #4)

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Quotes from Crown of Crystal Flame

“I watch my loved ones weep with sorrow,
death's silent torment of no tomorrow.
I feel their hearts breaking, I sense their despair,
United in misery, the grief that they share.

How do I show that, I am not gone...
but the essence of life's everlasting song
Why do they wee? Why do they cry?
I'm alive in the wind and I am soaring high.

I am sparkling light dancing on streams,
a moment of warmth in the fays of sunbeams.
The coolness of rain as it falls on your face,
the whisper of leaves as wind rushes with haste.

Eternal Song, a requiem by Avian of Celieria

from Crown of Crystal Flame by C.L. Wilson” — 15 people liked it

“Those screams had been growing steadily louder, as the torture masters of Eld worked their way down the line of new prisoners. A few chimes ago, however, the screams had fallen mysteriously silent.

"Do you think the torture masters have tired themselves out?" Gaelen pondered with black humor.

"More likely, we're next, and they've just gone to sharpen their blades," Tajik said.

Locked up in the room with them, Farel gave a grunting laugh of amusement. "Could be. They've been using them enough."

"You know," Gil announced, "as rescues go, I have to say this one pretty much scorches rultshart turds.” — 5 people liked it

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Crown of Crystal Flame (Tairen Soul #5)

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