Monday, February 01, 2021

Lord of the Fading Lands by C.L. Wilson



Title:
Lord of the Fading Lands

Author: C.L. Wilson
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Tairen Soul # 1
Mass Market Paperback, 406 pages
Publication: October 2, 2007 by Avon
Source: Purchase

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Once, driven wild with grief over the murder of his beloved, the majestic Fey King Rain Tairen Soul had laid waste to the world before vanishing into the Fading Lands. Now, a thousand years later, a new threat draws him back into the world—and a new love reawakens the heart he thought long dead.

Ellysetta, a woodcarver’s daughter, calls to Rain in a way no other ever had. Mysterious and magical, her soul beckons him with a compelling, seductive song—and no matter the cost, the wildness in his blood will not be denied.

As an ancient, familiar evil regains its strength, causing centuries-old alliances to crumble and threatening doom for Rain and his people... he must claim his truemate to embrace the destiny woven for them both in the mists of time.

One small misstep could lead to disaster. But for Aurelia, facing disaster is easy; it’s relationships that are hard.

My Thoughts

Lord of the Fading Lands has been on my TBR for years. I’m talking 10+ years. To tackle the ever growing TBR pile, I finally read it! The Tairen Soul is a beloved fantasy series with raving reviews across the board, so I had high expectations going in. The series is centered on a small village girl with hidden powers who is the fey king’s soulmate and savior to the fey kingdom. I’m a sucker for faeries and the chosen one/prophetic tropes.

It took a few chapters to really get into the story. Ellie is described as an insignificant plain Jane but as with most story goes, that’s never the real case. And then of all the people in all the kingdoms, the most handsome warrior king has chosen Ellie as his soulmate. This screams snowflake. Not a fan.

Even though Ellie was the epitome of a special snowflake, behind her kind and gentle demeanor is a steel backbone, which was surprising and appreciated. Ellie constantly made self-deprecating comments about herself and had to be reminded over and over from Rain, her quintet, her parents that she was just as worthy as anyone else, even the Queen of Celieria. It got very tiring reading Ellie calling herself a peasant and a nobody, woodcarver’s daughter. However, Ellie stepped up to the plate when it mattered and didn’t let anyone use her as a doormat. I can see Ellie growing into her powers and title. The book is set up in a way to showcase just that.

Rain, the fey king is your typical alpha male. It was a bit much, then again, his other form is a giant black cat. I enjoyed seeing Ellie and Rain’s courtship as he tries to win her trust (let’s just say it didn’t take long). But Rain by himself, as the hero of the novel…I didn’t care too much for. I didn’t like or dislike him. I’m more interested in his general Bel’s story lol (hopefully there’s a novel for him).

Overall Lord of the Fading Lands is a good start to a series with a few flaws which is typical of first novels. With the groundwork set, I am still curious enough to see where this story goes. I do hope that the author does a better job ending the novel in subsequent books because in Lord of the Fading Lands, Wilson ended it abruptly. It wasn’t even a cliffhanger ending. Just poor execution. 







 

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