Honestly, this series just keeps getting better and better. I'm devouring it, already halfway through the third book and I can't wait to see what happens next.
This review is actually for the second book in the series. Rain and Ellie are somewhat impatiently waiting for all the preliminaries to finish so they can finally get married. The Eld Mages and other enemies are setting all sorts of traps, trying to keep Ellie from reaching her full magical powers. The head of the Eld Mages is one of the evilest antagonists I've ever read, and his cruelty truly knows no bounds. All the characters are flawed in some way, but that only makes them more interesting and their actions affect me more as I read further.
This is a romantic fantasy and there is plenty of sensual moments scattered throughout the story, but the action is what really makes this series so great. So much happens, yet as I mentioned in my review of the first book, it's little details that make the worldbuilding so great. For example, I can't think of a fantasy that has both Fey and Elves in the same book as two different races (it's led to quite the discussion and research).
Anyway, I highly recommend this series. I can't see how I could be disappointed in the next books at this point as events keep building and more is revealed. ( )

Listened to audio narrated well by Amy Cardy. The story picks up immediately after 'Lord of the Fading Lands' ends. Ellysetta is still under attack from other Eld, plots surround her in an attempt to kill or capture her. She learns more about who she is and the evil she must fight. Also learn more about the evil that pursues her, it's origins and the why. Great story, good listening.
( )

Ellie's troubles increase as she continues to go through the complicated pre-marriage rituals. Each day of her life seems to become more and more complex with the difficulties between her and her family (mainly her mother) echoed by the political machinations between the King of Celieria, Rain Tairen Soul and the evil Mages of the Eld. Ellie's bridegroom, Rain Tairen Soul, is a fascinating character and she learns more about him as the book progresses; however Ellie is also learning more about herself and much of what she is learning looks bad. The narrator gives us insights into what is happening in Eld and we learn more about Ellie's provenance, much of the information seeming very worrying. How can Ellie be the good person that she seems with the history that she has had, and is she merely being positioned as Rain's mate in order to destroy the Fey from within?

As a standalone book this doesn't work but read alongside 'Lord of the Fading Lands' it's one of the most exciting fantasy books to have been published in a long time. ( )

mazing, I never had a moment of rest while reading this story. It came alive in my hands and whirled me through the frenzied world of the Train Soul and his mate. Their relationship is moving at a natural rate. It has all the bumps and road blocks that would be found in such a couple, unheard of in most books today. The self doubts, the lack of trust, the impressions of family members, all part of new relationships. For Ellie, going from a woodcarvers daughter to a queen, she has difficult adjustments to make. For Rain, he has a thousand years of demons haunting his heart. It is a beautiful thing to read.
Ellie, is faced with her magic and her parentage. Rain may not be able to live with the truth. Her family may not be able to accept her. Shadows are haunting her dreams becoming stronger. She must learn the truth, only then can she move on. Magic is in her.
Rain is trying to help his young Queen deal with the rude and hateful comments the nobles are throwing at her. He surrounds her with love and tries not to leave her side. But a terrible future might await the city if he does not stop the Eld from crossing the borders. He must convince them to believe, he must gain their trust. Ellie and her unknown magic places the talks into chaos. War may come.
I did not think it would be possible to be better than the first book but this one was. I was so lost in the story, I read for hours and did not even realize it. I am off to read book 3 ( )

This was also a re-read for me, like the first book. I enjoyed this one also the second time around just as much as first read and the first book. I love this book for all the same reasons as I mentioned in the review of the first book with a few additions.

In this book you get to see glimpses of Ellie's parents and you also get to see even more evil from the Mages of Eld. They are truly some horrible villains, they are pretty bad, not even the redeemable kind. This book also has much more excitement, both in awesome plot twists and fight and in romantic steam. I think this book is pretty damn hot, and pretty damn exciting. Always something going on and something to watch out for.

I don't really have much to add besides those few points but this book continues to add to the drama and relationship between Ellysetta and Rain and I loved every single second of it. ( )