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.
Here’s the thing: I really enjoyed this debut novel from C.L. Wilson. I do, however, think that the synopsis provided by the publisher {above} is a bit misleading. “[T]he wildness in his blood will not be denied…” For all that it sounds like a “bodice-ripper,” Lord of the Fading Lands finds its strength in fantasy world-building. Tairen Soul, the one with the wildness etc., etc., is actually the king of the fey {or, if you prefer, fairies, but think really big, dangerous ones.} In Wilson’s world, the fey have the power to control elements, and their magic is like a tapestry, threads woven together to create power. Add to that the fact that their king is actually a shape-shifter; Rain can shift into a very large fire-breathing, winged cat. {Hmm…still sounds kind of strange, huh? Well, trust me, I guess. It reads better than you’d expect.} There’s lots of politics at play, a good deal of back-stabbing betrayal, and, yeah, there’s that romance.
And, if you do end up enjoying Lord of the Fading Lands, the sequel is already available. Lady of Light and Shadows will conclude the story began here, but Wilson just might be revisiting this world again. At least, I hope she does!