This entire series has been amazing but the finale left me gasping and shivery. The action never lets up and there are death, passion, tenderness, and tears as Ellie and Rain fight their way to the final confrontation with the Eld High Mage.
The battle scenes are amazing, very well-written and visceral. The reader never knows where the next attack is coming from. Just when you think the good side has won, another group of enemies shows up to make your stomach clench again.
Ellie is becoming more and more powerful, but at the same time, she's afraid it's going to turn her to the darkness. She has visions of becoming a Dark Queen, much like Galadriel when Frodo offers her the ring, one who will corrupt and destroy the world. Rain is falling into madness as the final bondmate link hasn't yet come to pass. But they find allies who are loyal and courageous despite the treacheries of the mages.
This is such an amazing fantasy series. The worldbuilding is fantastic and detailed, immersive without overwhelming the reader or slowing down the plot. I do have a complaint with the covers, but don't let that turn you away from this amazing series. I have hopes that we haven't seen the last of this world yet. ( )

Listened to audio narrated well by Emily Durante. This series has seemed very long, it was nice to see Ellysetta not behaving like a clueless, idiot and showing strength and character. The betrayals and depths the Eld had infiltrated made me wonder how they could overcome it all. This epic tale finally comes together in this finale. Seers being mysterious, shocking deaths, revenge, and rebirth. I liked it, it definitely got very dark at times but the message of love throughout kept it from getting too ugly.
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I have never enjoyed war in stories until this book. Every word was a treat and lead to an adventure that should not be missed by anyone. This is the final chapter in the Tarin Soul series, and it is flawless and beautiful. ( )

This book, like each of it's predecessors, is different than the others. There was a touch more romance in this novel than the last one but still the romance was overshadowed by the fantasy. I was happy that this book picked up considerably after the first couple of chapters and considerably from the previous book. After read this book the last felt more like a stepping stone than ever before.

I was so happy when the book finally reached the point where things started to go right. Everything kept happening to these characters, through the whole series, one thing after another. C.L. Wilson has no qualms about torturing her characters to the brink. I felt so bad for these characters reading the whole book and the whole series, I fell in love with these characters from the first book and I felt deeply every time they were hurt.

It's always a bitter sweet moment when a series ends. I am sad and happy at the same time. Sad to say goodbye to these characters and happy to find most of them ended up happy when I was done reading. I enjoyed this series immensely and will continue to watch out for work by Ms. Wilson. ( )

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 ( )