I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Lord of the Fading Lands
by
C. L. Wilson
It is part of the Tairen Soul #1 series and is a fantasy, romance in a paperback edition on October 2, 2007 and has 402 pages.
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Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Queen of Song and Souls, Crown of Crystal Flame
First in the Tairen Soul fantasy romance series.
In 2008, Lord of the Fading Lands was nominated for the HOLT Medallion by Virginia Romance Writers for Best First Book for Paranormal/Time Travel/Futuristic/Fantasy and the Maggie Award for Excellence (Georgia Romance Writers) for Paranormal/Fantasy Romance. In 2007, it won the OKRWA National Readers Choice Award for Best First Book & Futuristic, Fantasy, Time Travel, Paranormal.
My Take
It took 11 pages before I was hooked, and then I could not put this book down (thank you Mandi for an excellent suggestion!)
There are plots within plots in this story: Rain and a very few supporters believe the Mages are beginning to stir again but it has been so long that the Mage Wars seem a myth and the existence of mages no longer possible. Even so, the High Mage has his spies spread throughout the country and the court influencing the queen and firing up the citizens against the fey as he pushes King Dorian and his Council for an official trade agreement and searches for a child he lost twenty-odd years ago. A child with powerful magics.
Wilson creates a detailed world with a culture and style of its own and very believable characters. I became so involved that I am just panting at the bit for the second in this series, Lady of Light and Shadows.
The Story
The fey destroyed and saved the world 1,000 years ago, and it has been 1,000 years since the fey king, Rain, has come to Celieria. For Ellie, who has fantasized about Rain, the rumor that he is coming is both exciting and terrifying. The nightmares are back and magic always seems to be the trigger for them. Worse, the butcher’s son, Den, wants her for his bride. A bully from childhood, Ellie finds Den repulsive and even more repulsive when he tries to force himself on her which triggers Ellie’s psychic cries for help. Cries which reach Rain kindling an irresistible need to find the woman who is in such pain.
