I read the first two books in this series this weekend:

Lord of Fading Lands

Lady of Light and Shadows

I was really impressed and can't wait for the next two to come out, which I think is around October/November 2008. Wilson creates not just a story but an entire world sort of like Tolkien.  The first two books were written as one epic thousand-page novel but apparently the publisher split them into two released a month a part.  But the 2nd truly is just a continuation of the first story. I don't think anyone would want to read it stand-alone.

The characters are richly crafted and she puts a lot of effort into the language and mythology.  Some of the court scenes remined me a bit of Dune although this one isn't science fiction. There's a brink-of-madness type awkakening when a Fae warrior finds his soulmate, sort of like Feehan's Carpathians, but more extreme.

Anyone else familiar with these and want to chime in? Sorry, I'm not posting these for trade as I want to keep them as reference for when the next ones release. I'll adddescriptions below.

Lord of Fading Lands

Long ago, in the magical holocaust known as the Mage Wars, the immortal Fey and their allies fought to defeat the grasping evil of the Elden Mages and their dark-gifted supporters. During those wars, in a fit of grief-induced madness caused by the death of his mate, Fey shapeshifter Rain Tairen Soul nearly destroyed the world in a blaze of tairen fire.

Now, a thousand years later, the fierce Fey king must fight to save his race from the brink of extinction and once again stop the evil rising in the homeland of his enemies, the Eld. The key to his success lies in the mortal city of Celieria, where the Mage Wars began, and with a young woman whose soul sings to him in ways no woman’s ever has, whose presence reawakens the primal fury of the tairen within his soul, and whose vast, untapped power can either save or destroy him and his people.

Tairen Soul: Lady of Light and Shadow

Since her earliest memories, Ellysetta Baristani has feared magic, even as she has been inexorably drawn to all things Fey, especially the poetry and legends of Rain Tairen Soul. Now claimed as Rain’s truemate and no longer able to deny her own magic, Ellysetta is swept into the very center of a struggle filled with the magic and darkness she has always feared. The High Mage of Eld wants to capture her. The most murderous dahl’reisen who ever lived wants her dead. And her enemies will corrupt even the people she loves most in their quest to claim her magic for themselves.

I really enjoyed the books also, and I agree, they were really one long book split in two.  I suspect I'll either reread or skim them when the next two come out - and probably wait until they're both out before doing that!

i have both on my TBR pile, maybe i will move them up to the top :)  i've been hearing wonderful things about them,

Sharon - I agree with you. If the next two stories are merely extensions of these, it would be a good strategy to wait until both are out and read them back to back.  It was only luck that I happened to have both and an afaternoon free to do nothing but read. So it was nice to have luxury to read it all at once.

I loved both of these books! I could definitely see the Tolkien influence since I'm a Tolkien geek, but felt she created a world and a story that would appeal  more to women since fantasy in general normally doesn't. I reposted my books but I definitely plan on getting another set later for my keeper collection.

I just read these! and completely agree with everything that's been said....they've both earned their places on my Keeper shelf! and while reading the next two together  is probably the smart thing to do, I'm not sure I'll be able to wait in particular, because,  I think the release of  Book four was changed to February of 2009!

I felt the Tolkien vibes as well, (though the LOTR ones are the only of his I've read) and I thought they were a nice touch..esp if you're a fan:-)

But I also agree that the fantasy genre doesn't target women too often...so these were a pleasant surprise...And while I don't mind  the standard paranormal fare of vampires, wearwolves, and shapeshifters (Oh, My!) if this is what fantasy romance has to offer, I think I much prefer it....

(although technically this is labeled a paranormal romance, I don't think it fits stringently into the category.)

Now, to be honest I really posted in this thread in the hopes that someone could point me in the direction of similar books...Not necessairily story wise, but something with the fantasy element would be nice:-)  I'm having trouble reading my regular contempts now:-D

I loved these books, and would call them fantasy romance - excellent author debut..  The first two were one long story split into two, wouldn't recommend reading out of order.  I just checked her site, you're right the 4th has been pushed to Feb 09.  I'll probably still read the third when it comes out in September as I've been waiting and waiting for it, lol, and just wait on the 4th like with other series.

Sobia, have you read Robin Owens' Summoning Series?  Those are more fantasy epic than her paranormal/pyschic Heart series.  Magic barriers on the world to keep out the monsters are failing, so they summon female saviors from Earth.   Not fae like the Wilson.  Also, I haven't yet read, but have Lynn Kurland's first two books in her Nine Kingdoms series. 

I also LOVED them and think they were possibly my favorite reads of last year.  I've re-read them both abotu 4 times already, and cannot wait for the next two to be released.  I emailed the author to rave over the books and with a few questions, and she was quick to respond and so very nice! 

Michelle Sagara's Chronicles of Elantra have a similar feel to them.  I think there are three books so far - and probably all wishlisted.

See, I find that completely funny about Fantasy not targeting women.  Before I started reading Paranormal romance I read soft Sci Fi  and Fantasy almost exclusively and have almost since the beginning.  I still love fantasy and a great majority of them are female authors.

I loved these books also and they are on my keeper shelf. Can't wait for the next one in the series.

I read the first one recently, and if you like this series then I highly recommend trying Joanne Bertin's books The Last Dragonlord and Dragon and Pheonix.  They're usually listed as fantasy (in this case, romantically inclined fantasy with shape shifters), and I have to assume that C. L. Wilson was very inspired by these books.  Seriously, there are a bunch similarities that are so strong I thought Wilson should have credited Bertin for the inspiration!  I spent the whole time I was reading thinking of them.

Anyway, I like Bertin's books much better -- as with most of my fav's, the first one starts slow but is so worth it!  So they might be worth a peek!  Pretty much you'll just be switching from dual souled human/tairens who occasionally come into human cities to help with court cases and seek true mates to dual souled human/dragons who occasionally come into human cities to help with court cases and seek true mates.  LOL!

Just wanted to say thanks for the recs:-)

My bank account's not very happy, but I am!