Helpful Score: 3
So... the best way to describe this 4th book in the Fading lands series?
Maddening.
But in a good way.
There's just so much going on, and you want to know it all, and you want to know it all, right now now NOW! But then again, no you don't, because then the story's over, and then where would we be? (other then waiting for CLW's next 3 promised books)
But, like I said, there's a lot happening in this book, and it doesn't seem to stop... and you want our Heroes to get a break, and to be able to just relax, and then they do, but then things pick up again but you can't help but yell at half of them, and tell them not to do it (and I can't tell you what the it is, because that would be a spoiler and if you know anything about this series, it's that the books are so much better if you don't really know anything in advance, but let me tell you, it is so worth it!) and even the bad guys... or rather the people who do bad things, but aren't really bad, because they're being preyed upon by malevolent forces so it's not totally they're fault (again no details, because spoilers are bad!), they're totally sympathetic (even when you want to kill them in a murderous Rage) and the real bad guys... or rather bad Guy because despite there being a few not so great guys, there's only one really bad guy and you hate him. HATE him... In a way no evil villain has made you hate them before.
And the ending... It doesn't end like any of the other books, but it's still as gut wrenching... still as frenzied and surprising, and hope inducing as the last books, and those stupid final pages, the necessary (and interesting, really) glossary and ad for another (unrelated!)book, make you think there's plenty of story left, but really there's not, so when you get to the last word... it leaves you desperate, desperate for the final piece of the story,(but not, because again... then it
would be over...) And you're crying, because really how can you not cry? And you're railing because Ms Wilson is evil incarnate to leave us here, and you know, know her publishers are even more evil incarnate because they're totally going to make us wait another year to know the ending... or she'll decide to rewrite again and we'll still have to wait (and wonder what the original version was like), and how on
earth are we supposed to do that?
so... overall a great addition to the series :) ...Probably reads better if you read it right after the 3rd book... (Even better would be able to wait for the last book, but really once you've started the first book, there's really no hope for you) The story in "Queen..." picks up, pretty much where that leaves off. Ohh... and you really want to carve out some time to read this uninterrupted because there aren't really any "okay I can stop here for a bit" moments... Every page makes you want to read the next and the next after that, and to just keep going.
So... In conclusion: I love this series! It makes me all kinds of happy, and makes me even more ridiculously happy that I'm a member of PBS :)
Maddening.
But in a good way.
There's just so much going on, and you want to know it all, and you want to know it all, right now now NOW! But then again, no you don't, because then the story's over, and then where would we be? (other then waiting for CLW's next 3 promised books)
But, like I said, there's a lot happening in this book, and it doesn't seem to stop... and you want our Heroes to get a break, and to be able to just relax, and then they do, but then things pick up again but you can't help but yell at half of them, and tell them not to do it (and I can't tell you what the it is, because that would be a spoiler and if you know anything about this series, it's that the books are so much better if you don't really know anything in advance, but let me tell you, it is so worth it!) and even the bad guys... or rather the people who do bad things, but aren't really bad, because they're being preyed upon by malevolent forces so it's not totally they're fault (again no details, because spoilers are bad!), they're totally sympathetic (even when you want to kill them in a murderous Rage) and the real bad guys... or rather bad Guy because despite there being a few not so great guys, there's only one really bad guy and you hate him. HATE him... In a way no evil villain has made you hate them before.
And the ending... It doesn't end like any of the other books, but it's still as gut wrenching... still as frenzied and surprising, and hope inducing as the last books, and those stupid final pages, the necessary (and interesting, really) glossary and ad for another (unrelated!)book, make you think there's plenty of story left, but really there's not, so when you get to the last word... it leaves you desperate, desperate for the final piece of the story,(but not, because again... then it
would be over...) And you're crying, because really how can you not cry? And you're railing because Ms Wilson is evil incarnate to leave us here, and you know, know her publishers are even more evil incarnate because they're totally going to make us wait another year to know the ending... or she'll decide to rewrite again and we'll still have to wait (and wonder what the original version was like), and how on
earth are we supposed to do that?
so... overall a great addition to the series :) ...Probably reads better if you read it right after the 3rd book... (Even better would be able to wait for the last book, but really once you've started the first book, there's really no hope for you) The story in "Queen..." picks up, pretty much where that leaves off. Ohh... and you really want to carve out some time to read this uninterrupted because there aren't really any "okay I can stop here for a bit" moments... Every page makes you want to read the next and the next after that, and to just keep going.
So... In conclusion: I love this series! It makes me all kinds of happy, and makes me even more ridiculously happy that I'm a member of PBS :)
Donna L. (FantasyDreamer) reviewed Queen of Song and Souls (Tairen Soul, Bk 4) on + 10 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Queen of Song and Souls is the exciting fourth book in the Tairen Souls series by C.L. Wilson. In my opinion, due to complex world created by C.L. Wilson, this series needs to be read in order starting with Lord of the Fading Lands, thus experiencing this series to it's fullest.
C.L. Wilson elegantly throws us back in the world of Fey in the prologue where the King of Sword and Sky ended. From there we follow Ellysetta and Rain as they travel across the lands trying to create alliances with the Celierians, Elves and Danae, to help fight the war against the evil Mages of Eld. They have come to realize that Vadim Maur and the Mages have been preparing for this war far longer than they suspected. They know the only way they can win this war is to combine the Fey forces with all of the other races against the dark magic of the Eld. But these alliances are tenuous at best, due to the intrigues of politics between the different races. Unfortunately, during this dark time of war, they can't afford any weaknesses or doubts.
As Ellysetta and Rain travel, self discoveries are made about themselves, questions are answered and new mysteries are revealed. Ellysetta is also plagued by horrible nightmares and the anxiety of baring four mage marks made by evil High Mage Vadim Maur. And Rain tries to hide from Ellysetta that the bonding madness has started and that it is advancing fast because of the fighting on the bloody battlefields. In addition to the tremendous worry of the war, they are both distress from the inability to complete their truemate bond; completing the bond will keep Rain from descending into madness and save Ellysetta and her powers from being controlled by the evil Vadim Maur.
Queen of Song and Souls contains all the elements that makes a perfect and terrific read for me: a complex and creative fantasy world, edged with darkness; a romantically, poignant love story; edge of your seat suspense; and truly evil and vile bad guys. C.L. Wilson combines all of these elements elegantly with her beautiful prose. I honestly don't have one complaint about this book. Not one. As this series has progressed, each book just keeps getting better than the last.
I experienced such a wide range of emotions reading this book that by the time I was finished with it, I was emotional exhausted, in a good way. While I was reading my emotions ranged from being anxious, angry, happy, a deep sadness, surprised, thoughtful, and worried. In the end, I was left with a strong sense of forbidding. I'm happy to say we get some long awaited answers but new questions take the place of the old ones. All in all, Queen of Song and Souls is going down as my favorite read for this year, hands down.
Queen of Song and Souls is not to be missed, it sets the stage for the next and final book in this series. I'll be anxiously awaiting the conclusion to Ellysetta and Rain's story in Tairen Soul this coming year.
C.L. Wilson elegantly throws us back in the world of Fey in the prologue where the King of Sword and Sky ended. From there we follow Ellysetta and Rain as they travel across the lands trying to create alliances with the Celierians, Elves and Danae, to help fight the war against the evil Mages of Eld. They have come to realize that Vadim Maur and the Mages have been preparing for this war far longer than they suspected. They know the only way they can win this war is to combine the Fey forces with all of the other races against the dark magic of the Eld. But these alliances are tenuous at best, due to the intrigues of politics between the different races. Unfortunately, during this dark time of war, they can't afford any weaknesses or doubts.
As Ellysetta and Rain travel, self discoveries are made about themselves, questions are answered and new mysteries are revealed. Ellysetta is also plagued by horrible nightmares and the anxiety of baring four mage marks made by evil High Mage Vadim Maur. And Rain tries to hide from Ellysetta that the bonding madness has started and that it is advancing fast because of the fighting on the bloody battlefields. In addition to the tremendous worry of the war, they are both distress from the inability to complete their truemate bond; completing the bond will keep Rain from descending into madness and save Ellysetta and her powers from being controlled by the evil Vadim Maur.
Queen of Song and Souls contains all the elements that makes a perfect and terrific read for me: a complex and creative fantasy world, edged with darkness; a romantically, poignant love story; edge of your seat suspense; and truly evil and vile bad guys. C.L. Wilson combines all of these elements elegantly with her beautiful prose. I honestly don't have one complaint about this book. Not one. As this series has progressed, each book just keeps getting better than the last.
I experienced such a wide range of emotions reading this book that by the time I was finished with it, I was emotional exhausted, in a good way. While I was reading my emotions ranged from being anxious, angry, happy, a deep sadness, surprised, thoughtful, and worried. In the end, I was left with a strong sense of forbidding. I'm happy to say we get some long awaited answers but new questions take the place of the old ones. All in all, Queen of Song and Souls is going down as my favorite read for this year, hands down.
Queen of Song and Souls is not to be missed, it sets the stage for the next and final book in this series. I'll be anxiously awaiting the conclusion to Ellysetta and Rain's story in Tairen Soul this coming year.
Jeanette (jemedwards) -
Helpful Score: 1
What Sobia said..... :-)
This series has been a wonderful read for me. I was disappointed that this book had to be split into two and now I'm desperately awaiting book 5.
I finished reading this book in a restaurant while eating breakfast. I was sniffling and had tears running down my face and another patron came over and said that it must be quite a book!
I was happy to read a post by the author that more books set in the Fading Lands will be coming out:
"Yes, I have more Fading Lands books planned. Once Tairen Soul is complete, I have an alternate world fantasy (THE WINTER KING), then I am contracted to write two more standalone novels set in the Fading Lands - Bel's story, and then Gaelen's story. :)"
This series has been a wonderful read for me. I was disappointed that this book had to be split into two and now I'm desperately awaiting book 5.
I finished reading this book in a restaurant while eating breakfast. I was sniffling and had tears running down my face and another patron came over and said that it must be quite a book!
I was happy to read a post by the author that more books set in the Fading Lands will be coming out:
"Yes, I have more Fading Lands books planned. Once Tairen Soul is complete, I have an alternate world fantasy (THE WINTER KING), then I am contracted to write two more standalone novels set in the Fading Lands - Bel's story, and then Gaelen's story. :)"
