Review: Lord of the Fading Lands by C.L Wilson

The Particulars: Fantasy Romance, Avon, available as e-book and in print

The Source: The Library

The Grade: A-

The Blurb:

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.

The Review:

When this book was released, it got raving reviews. It sounded good, but I never got around to read it. Until now. This book blew me away. I loved how the author took the standard tropes, and turned them into something new. Soul mates are common in Paranormal Romance, but what I liked was how they affected the characters. It was especially intresting to follow Rain's struggle with the mate bond, since it gnawed at his control.. Ellie struggled with self confidence, and the shock that Rain is interested in her. I liked that path wasn't smooth, that there are culture clashes through the book, and that they grow.

The villains gave me creeps. No, honestly. They are evil, but they aren't over the top.

What I didn't like in this book was the ending. I know that it is the first book in a series, but the ending felt too abrupt.

But I loved the book, and I intend to buy the whole series.