Once he had scorched the world. Once he had driven back overwhelming darkness. Once he had loved with such passion, his name was legend…Tairen Soul

Now a thousand years later, a new threat calls him from the Fading Lands, back into the world that had cost him so dearly. Now an ancient, familiar evil is regaining its strength, and a new voice beckons him – more compelling, more seductive, more maddening than any before.

As the power of his most bitter enemy grows and ancient alliances crumble, the wildness in his blood will not be denied. The tairen must claim his truemate and embrace the destiny woven for him in the mists of time.

This book reads like a fairytale, a grown up Cinderella story. Carpenter’s daughter Ellysetta is on the verge of being trapped into a marriage with hideous butcher’s son, when something unbelievable happens. The infamous and powerful Rain Tairen Soul arrives and claims she is his shei’tani, his true mate.

Rain Tairen Soul is the Lord of the Fading Lands and a Fey warrior. His people have never recovered from a terrible war with the Dark Mages over a thousand years ago and it has been centuries since a new Fey child has been born. Worried about the survival of his race, he is desperately seeking for a solution. He never expected to find his true mate. In fact, Rain is a Tairen, and the Tairen do not have true mates. So her discovery is unbelievable, but at the same time undeniable.

Of course, everyone knows what happened the last time Rain had a mate, and she wasn’t even his shei’tani. Her murder nearly bought about the destruction of the world. A darkness Rain nearly didn’t come back from. He is man of legend and ferocity.

The romance in this book is absolutely tender and captivating. Ellie’s vulnerability and naivety perfectly offsets Rain’s darkness and power, whilst at the same time complementing one another. I adored the rags to riches element of the story. Poor, common Ellie stealing the heart of the King of the Fey.

As the first in the series the novel is setting up the story for later books. The burgeoning blackness, the rise of the Mages once again and a poignant discovery about Ellie’s parentage.

This novel does have a strong fantasy setting that may put off some, but if you don’t usually read this genre don’t let it put you off. I would go as far to say that if you’re an epic fantasy fan this book isn’t for you. This is a stunning romance through and through, with an unusual fantasy background.

The one downside of listening to fantasy story as an audiobook is that it can make all of the unusual names and places harder to get your head around. For some reason I find them easier to grasp when I can visualise how they’re spelt.

The narrator of the audiobook was very good, however, the production itself seemed to be very poorly edited. The switches between narrative phrases were too short, there were jumps in the story without pause which messed up the rhythm of the audiobook. Then you would have long gaps and you’d think it was a break and then dialogue between characters would continue. Which got quite irritating.

As much as I loved this book, I have marked it book down a point, because it contains one of my pet hates. I don’t have a problem with dream sequences in general, in a lot of stories they play an important part. But, what I cannot stand is the consummation of a relationship via a dream sequence. It you aren’t there in person and flesh isn’t touching flesh, then it isn’t real!

The romance of this book totally swept me away. I really cannot wait to read (listen) to the next instalment in Ellie and Rain’s love story. Frustratingly, it doesn’t seem like it’s been recorded yet, or at least not for distribution in the UK. Let’s hope that changes soon!

Fans of romance will love this story and I’m really excited to have found this series, because if they’re as good as this book I know I’m going to adore them.

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