The Sea King by C.L. Wilson – Review, Interview and Giveaway
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Description:
He wasn’t supposed to choose her…
Seafaring prince Dilys Merimydion has been invited to court the three magical princesses of Summerlea. To eradicate the pirates threatening Calberna and to secure the power of the Sea Throne, Dilys vows to return home with a fierce warrior-queen as his bride. But politics has nothing to do with unexpected temptation.
She didn’t dare wed him…
A weathermage like her sisters, Gabriella Coruscate’s gentleness exemplifies the qualities of her season name, Summer. Yet her quiet poise conceals dangerous powers she cannot begin to wield. Better to live without excitement, she reasons, than risk her heart and lose control— until an irresistible Sealord jolts her awake with a thunderclap of raw desire.
Until evil threatens everything they hold dear…
When pirates kidnap Summer and her sisters, Dilys is in a desperate quest to save the woman he loves. Only by combining his command of the seas with the unleashed fury of Summer’s formidable gifts can they defeat their brutal enemies and claim the most priceless victory of all: true love.
Review:
The Sea King by C.L. Wilson is the 2nd book in her Weathermages of Mystral series. I have been waiting anxiously for this book, as I loved The Winter King. Once again, C.L Wilson gives us a fantastic adventure, filled with amazing characters throughout.
In The Sea King, Dilys Merimydion, our hero, is the prince of Calberna, where his mother the Queen has informed him that it is time for him to take a wife. Despite the council trying to make him wait years for a young girl to growup, the Queen overrules and Dilys, with his warriors heads for lands of the Ice King (Wynter, our previous book hero), to court one of the three magical princesses of Summerlea (Summer, Spring & Autumn). Right from the start, Dilys can feel an attraction to Summer, who does everything to push him away. Dilys does not understand, and after much frustration, he decides to try to court one of the other two princesses.
Gabriella Coruscate (Summer) has had a secret all her life. She has powers so strong and terrifying, which she has been able to control it, but at times when she has had to use it to protect herself, and is horrified at the results. She is determined to not fall in love or get married; as it is too dangerous for anyone to accidently get hurt from her tremendous powers. She realizes in a short time, that Dilys is indeed her mate, and she fights with all her being to her feelings and force him to court either Spring or Autumn.
Dilys is also worried about the attacks on his people from an unknown pirate named Shark, who is threatening those he loves back home. After a bit, he does befriend both Spring and Autumn and they will both help him try to court the woman who calls to his heart, Gabriella.
This is where I need to point out some mixed feelings. In the first half of the book, I was not a fan of Summer, as she was mean and nasty to Dilys. I understand her fears, but he was so patient, so sweet and desperately trying to help her. But she was extremely stubborn, and even when she finally admits her feelings to him, she refuses to marry him. Very frustrating. That will change later.
When Dilys leaves for a few days to go with his men to help on an attack against one of his ships, all three of princesses are kidnapped. At this point, the story becomes centered on the pirate ship and Dilys attempt to find them. This was very exciting, and at the same time a bit depressing. The adventure was so well done by Wilson, and I am amazed how she was able to put all the pieces together. Keep in mind that this is not a short book, and most fantasy books are big. My other mixed feeling was how the princesses were treated by the pirate, especially Summer, whom we spent most of the time with. But unfortunately, in Fantasy we come to expect this. As I said, that part was depressing.
When Dilys finally rescues Summer, things will change for all of them. The hunt is on to find the pirate, and the two remaining sisters. Summer is vengeful, which causes her powers to rise. Dilys will see why Summer is afraid to love and marry him, but he will prove to her that together she can control her powers.
What follows is an exciting pulse pounding journey of survival, betrayal & battles against terrible villains in a fight to the finish in a wild mind boggling race to save them all. There were so many twists and surprises along the way that had us on the edge of our seat afraid to miss anything. I loved Dilys throughout the whole book, and thankfully by a bit past the half way point, I loved Gabriella too. Once she opened herself to love Dilys, and learn to handle her powers, she made a fantastic heroine. The big question: Will they survive?
The last third of the book was such an exhilarating and emotional ride. Wilson also gives us two epilogues that will drive the next book in this series. I can’t wait! Bravo to C.L. Wilson for a fantastic wonderful story.
Reviewed by Barb
Copy provided by Publisher
Hi, Cheryl. Thank you for taking the time to re-visit us at The Reading Café to discuss what you are currently working on and what we have to look forward to.
TRC: For those who have not read your first book in this series , The Winter King, can you please give us a brief description of the premise of Weathermages of Mystral?
C.L. Wilson: The Weathermages of Mystral is a fantasy romance series set in a world where everyone possesses some type of innate magic related to the world around them. At present, the series focuses on the children of a weathermage known as the Summer King. All of his children possess sun-related weather magic – they can generate heat, sense the location of the sun no matter the time of day or night, influence the weather with their gifts. Khamsin, his youngest, possesses the power to summon storms. His daughters Spring, Summer, and Autumn have weather gifts associated with the changing of the seasons for which they are named. His son, Falcon, like his father has the ability to help regulate the weather across the kingdom, ensuring appropriate rainfall and sunshine for the various orchards, vineyards, and farmlands throughout Summerlea. They use these gifts to ensure the fertility and prosperity of their lands.
As I expand the world beyond the children of the Summer King, I’m also exploring the other kinds of magic that exists on Mystral.
TRC: Your diehard fans have been waiting to find out when we can expect your next book, The Sea King. We are thrilled to note that you do have a date…. October 31, 2017. Will you please give us a brief description about The Sea King?
C.L. Wilson: THE SEA KING features a hero and heroine who both appeared in THE WINTER KING. The hero is Dilys Merimydion. He came to Wintercraig as an invader but ended up fighting alongside Wintercraig forces to defeat the Ice King. In doing so, he earned the right for he and his men to return to Wintercraig and court potential wives.
Dilys, royal prince of the island queendom of Calberna, has come to Wintercraig to court the Seasons of Summerlea. His mother, the Queen, sent him to bring back home a bride, but although her advisors insist he should choose either Spring or Autumn—both confident, powerful women worthy of mothering Calberna’s next queen—it is shy, gentle Summer, widely acknowledged as the least powerful of all the Seasons, who captures his interest and won’t let go.
But Summer isn’t the sweet, gentle Season everyone believes her to be. She has a secret—a dark, deadly power so dangerous she dare never risk its release. That is why she’s spent a lifetime hiding her true self behind serene masks, suppressing strong emotions and avoiding anything that threatens her ruthless self-control. Because like her father, whose love for his wife turned to madness after her death, when Summer loves, she loves too much.
Then Calberna’s golden-eyed prince steps onto Wintercraig shores in search of a wife, and one shared look between them sends her reeling. With unshakeable certainty, Summer knows Dilys Merimydion is all she could ever want, every happiness she could ever dream of, the greatest love she could ever know…and that makes him the one thing she can never allow herself to have.
TRC: On your site you noted that The Sea King is the 2nd book of Weathermages of Mystral series, and the 1st book of Seasons of Summerlea trilogy. Can you please explain how this will work?
C.L. Wilson: Each book in the Seasons of Summerlea trilogy is a standalone fantasy romance featuring one of Khamsin’s three sisters, Spring, Summer, or Autumn. Each book will have complete, standalone romance; but all three books will also be connected by an overarching plotline. Book 1 of the trilogy, THE SEA KING, is Dilys and Summer’s story. Book 2 of the trilogy will be THE JAGUAR KING where Spring finds her mate, and book 3, THE DRAGON KING, is Autumn’s story.
Because the royal family of Summerlea has been in power in an unbroken familial line for millennia, they would have intermarried with numerous other, highly magical families…so I’m having a lot of fun with the Seasons’ books, playing around with the other kinds of magic they have inherited.
TRC: How many books are you anticipating for Weathermages of Mystral series, or does it end with The Sea King, moving on to the Seasons of Summerlea?
C.L. Wilson: I don’t have an answer for that. The Seasons of Summerlea trilogy is part of the Weathermages series. I’d at least like to do a book for all of the Summer King’s five children. (That includes Falcon, who needs to redeem himself.) But there are other characters I’ve met along the way who interest me and make me want to discover their stories as well.
TRC: You have previously mentioned that you wanted to go back to the Fading Lands and do stories on two of your heroes…Belliard and Gaelen. Is this still on your agenda? Will we going back to the Fading Lands?
C.L. Wilson: Oh, yes. I definitely intend to write their stories. In fact, I’ve got three Fading Lands projects in the works right now – Bel’s book, a Melliandra short story/novella, and a 3rd full length novel about a Fey warrior and the mysterious Sief from the Pale (a tribal people we haven’t seen yet). I’ve done some basic plotting for Gaelen’s book, and it’s on the To Be Written list as well, but I have yet to write a single scene.
TRC: ‘Happily claps hands’
TRC: Would you like to share with us on what you are currently working and what else you have planned for the future?
C.L. Wilson: See above. I’m also working on JAGUAR KING and in the planning stages for DRAGON KING.
TRC: Would you like to tell our members and fans of The Fading Lands about your Tairen Soul Merchandise Line?
C.L. Wilson: Thanks for asking. An artist friend of mine, the very talented wildlife artist, Heather Carr, have teamed up to offer art prints and other merchandise based on my books. We sell at conventions, such as DragonCon, and I have an online store, www.tairenslair.com , where I sell prints of her art, plush toys and merchandise, as well as personalized autographed copies of my books.
TRC: Would you like to add anything else?
C.L. Wilson: I’d just like to thank every reader who continues to support me by buying my books, and for every reader who keeps asking me for the next story. You have all kept me going even when things are difficult. So thanks, sincerely, from the bottom of my heart.
TRC: Thank you, Cheryl for giving us an update on “The Sea King”, as well as what we can look forward to in the future. It was a pleasure having you visit us, we look forward to spreading the news on The Sea King.
C.L. Wilson’s publisher is generously offering a signed paper copy of THE WINTER KING (First book in series) to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe
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6. Giveaway is open to USA/Canada only.
7. Giveaway runs from October 31 – November 4, 2017
