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[jmc_bks]

I just finished reading CL Wilson's Lord of the Fading Lands. To be perfectly honest, I probably wouldn't have picked it up if it hadn't been for Jane's review. Why wouldn't I have bought it on my own? Well, because the cover wouldn't've enticed me. While it matches the contents, the design and artwork are not to my taste.

And I'm shallow -- how a book looks is the first thing that grabs my attention, especially when I browsing randomly. But for Jane's recommendation, I wouldn't even have picked this one up.

The spine of this book reads Paranormal Romance. Now, having read it, I disagree with that classification. To me, a paranormal romance is one set on Earth -- maybe today, maybe not -- peopled by supernatural or superhuman characters who live along side of humans. LotFL -- not so much. It is a Fantasy Romance -- a book or story set in an entirely different world, with different historical development and an established magical society and all its constructs.

The book itself? I'm giving it an I for Incomplete. Because the damn book just stopped. I was warned, so it didn't disturb me (much), but without the warning? I'd've been pissed, because in no way is LotFL a complete work as a genre romance (which is what it is being marketed as). Lots of stuff is left up in the air and the suspense plot is really just gaining momentum. (IMO, the first 100 pages were slower than molasses in January and could've used some editing. I had to read the beginning three times before I made it through.) 

Comments

[tinyluv.livejournal.com]

It is fantasy romance. I think that paranormal is the catch all phrase. Does this mean you aren't picking up Lady of Light and Shadow?

Do you plan on striking me off your 'word of mouth' list?

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

My personal definition of paranormal is much more specific, I guess, because when I think paranormal, I think (mostly) of contemporary settings in which witches, werewolves, fairies, vampires, etc. live along side of humans, either hidden or not fully integrated.

Nope, not striking you from the "word of mouth" list :) You warned that it wasn't finished and would continue in the next book...which I'm going to pick up this evening. If I hadn't been warned, though, I'd've been a very unhappy reader.

I liked the book, once it finally got going. And I felt like it had just started to really get going (400 pages in?) when it was over. I want to know what happens next: I want to know more about Marissya's brother, and about Bel, and about Ellie's friend.

[tinyluv.livejournal.com]

For some reason, I do think this is solidly a genre romance but I think some of Sharon Shinn's books are genre romance. I am guessing that you will like the second book more. I've got a review going up this afternoon and I'll be anxious to hear what you think of it (the book, not the review).

There's a couple of subplots in the book that are just gripping and I was amazed at the story underlying Ellysetta's magic. It was spine tinglingly good.

I hope that Wilson's success (and it does seem like she is having some) will encourage more of this type of romance. I really like the mix of high fantasy and romance.

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

Okay, I had to go buy a copy at lunch time. And I'm accomplishing very little at work, because I know that it is sitting in my tote bag, waiting for the train ride home.

I agree that the book (the first one, at least) is solidly a romance; I'm just feeling iffy about the paranormal vs. fantasy.

[(Anonymous)]

I remember reading the blurb and thinking it had been categorized wrong too. I'm with you on the definitions -- this definitely seems like romantic fantasy. But then I think they are trying to get a lot of Feehan readers (they were critique partners or something) and maybe they thought fantasy would put those people off. Maybe.

I think I have to buy this. But I'll probably buy both Lord and Lady and read them back to back.

-Jennie

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

But I'll probably buy both Lord and Lady and read them back to back.

I went out at lunchtime and bought Lady, so I'll be reading them back to back. I'm anxiously awaiting the end of the work day so I can pick up where I left off.

[menage-a-kat.livejournal.com]

I agree with you about the cover, but the second book has a much nicer one. I'm also not too fussed about the paranormal romance label--I don't think fantasy romance is a big enough subgenre to give it its own label--but I can see why you'd have a problem with it.

I didn't mind the pacing at beginning--it seemed pretty standard fantasy genre to me--although I didn't like having such a big scene (with the Eye of Truth) in the beginning. That seemed odd to me.

I'm interested to see what you thought of Lady of Light and Shadows, which is now on my keeper list.

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

I'm enjoying Lady of Light and Shadow -- am about half way through it.

I wonder about the decision to split what is obviously one story (or so it seems to me) into two books. Because she's a new(ish) author? Because romance readers won't read a single 700+ book? Or because more books can be sold that way?

Based on the pace of this book so far, I get the feeling that the larger story (war with the Eld, Ellysetta's training in magic, etc.) is going to continue into more books. Which is both good and bad. More fantasy romance is always a plus for the industry, I think. Personally, though, I'm trying to whittle down the number of series I'm reading, so I'm not sure -despite how good these first two books are- that I'm willing to hang around to see how the series turns out.

[menage-a-kat.livejournal.com]

If I had to guess, I'd say it was split that way to keep the cost down for readers who want to try the first book (and I assume that's targeting romance readers because the first book was all about the romance).

There are two more books planned for next year. I also have a love-hate with series (love the stories, hate the waiting), but I reckon it would be extremely difficult to release epic fantasy in one book, particularly if it's a new author.

[tinyluv.livejournal.com]

My understanding is the author wrote this as one book but it was too long to be one published book and so they split it up into two books with back to back release.

I hear what you are saying, though, about the series thing because it does seem like the commonplace thing is to have books be series. I wish that there were a greater variety of close ended v. serial books. BUT, I am solidly within CL Wilson's world now and I am anxious to read more.

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed the first half of Lady of Light and Shadow, but my copy of Creation in Death arrived, so I abandoned it in favor of Eve, Roarke and a serial killer. I'm wondering now if I should hold off finishing LoLaS, since it sounds like Rain and Elly will get a happy ending of sorts but there won't be a conclusion to the larger problems until the next book at the earliest.