"The Lord of the Fading Lands" - C.L. Wilson

"Ver reisa ku' chae. Kem surah, shei' tani. Your soul calls out. Mine answers, beloved." -Rainier

From time to time I find myself with nothing to read. I devour books so quickly that I don't leave enough time to order the rest of the series or I forget to line up the next book. I made a trip to the Safford Public Library, and found it lacking. So I applied to Brigette, and she gave me this recent read of hers. I believe that I have mentioned it before, but she is a huge fan of the paranormal romance novels. I enjoy them, as well, especially as she keeps her suggestions to me rather tame!!

The Fae, are magical beings that are able to use the worlds elements to create objects, heal the wounded, and of course wield as a weapon. They are close to extinction due to the mass murders at the hands of their ruler Rainier vel'En Daris. He scorched the world after losing his love in the wars. To save his people he seeks the aid of the "Eye of Truth" an oracle of his people. In it he discovers a woman that calls out to his soul. His one true life mate.

Ellysetta Baristani, an orphan child raised by a woodcarver and his wife, is shocked when the Fae King announces that she is his One true beloved. She believes that she is not special. She only knows that a great evil lives inside her. So she tries to hide the magic that lives within at all costs, even from Rainier.


FROM C.L. Wilson's Website:

Lord of the Fading Lands
Book 1 of the Tairen Soul series
Leisure Books ~ October 2, 2007
ISBN: 0-8439-5977-0

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.

Colossal: WotW #5

I realize that this blog is a bit past due from my normal Monday or Tuesday posting, but our keyboard recently suffered the wrath of Ryenn. We had to buy a new one after John decided it was not something he could repair!

co·los·sal (k-lsl)

adj.

Of a size, extent, or degree that elicits awe or taxes belief; immense. See Synonyms at enormous.

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[French, from Latin colossus, colossus; see colossus.]

---

co·lossal·ly adv.

I have no reason for choosing this word. I just really liked the idea of blogging about large things.

1). Mt. Everest
2). Everything in Texas.....you know...like the toast
3). Super Blow Pops

4). The Great Wall of China
5). Chuck Norris' fists (they pack a colossal punch)

6). Costco cupcakes
7). My nephew Noah (he happens to be in the 100 percentile for weight)

8). Bob's Head (sorry, i need to continue to bring the hate....you can't move far enough away from it)
9). The Stay Puff Marshmallow Man
10). Space-"Space, says the introduction to the guide, is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind bogglingly big it is. And so on. "-Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Wonderful Wedding

1). A very neat looking ash tray??? 2). A Cowboy 3). Children playing

This weekend John and I (yes...we were ry-less) made the trip to Overgaard, AZ for his boss' wedding. We stayed at the Bison Ranch Resort. It was lovely, and very cold. I wasn't prepared for how windy it would be. Still, it was great to be without our little lady for the first time. I didn't get many pictures from the actually wedding because I was helping with Noah. (brigette was a member of the wedding party) I did take a lot of pictures of various statues and mountainy views. I also bought an awesome stuffed Bison, and I named him Bruce. I love it. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

1) A scary boy 2) The tree that I pictured would have a Patrick Star voice if it was alive


1) A Cowboy 2). John and Kaylee at the reception


1) Brigette and Kaylee 2) Kaylee peeking out of a cabin


1) John and the Nunley kiddos 2) John being a kid again


1). Me and John 2). Bruce the Bison 3). Me and Bruce


1). John...Don't Jump!! 2). Pretty 3). Sparkly

Inspirational: WotW #4

This weekend marked the beginning of the Women's College World Series.

Teams Competing:
Arizona State Sun Devils (last year's champions)
Arizona Wildcats
Florida Gators
Washingtion Huskies
Michigan Wolverines
Alabama Crimson Tide
Georgia Bulldogs
Missouri Tigers

The games were awesome, even if John was getting tired of watching. While our Arizona teams didn't make it to the finals, Washington kept the trophy in the Pac 10! Way to go Huskies. I was busy living in the softball dream with these ladies and the only word that came to mind was.....Inspirational!

in·spi·ra·tion

Pronunciation:

\ˌin(t)-spə-ˈrā-shən, -(ˌ)spi-\

Function:

noun

Date:

14th century

1 a: a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation b: the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions c: the act of influencing or suggesting opinions2: the act of drawing in ; specifically : the drawing of air into the lungs3 a: the quality or state of being inspired b: something that is inspired inspiration>4: an inspiring agent or influence

— in·spi·ra·tion·al \-shnəl, -shə-n^əl\ adjective

— in·spi·ra·tion·al·ly


1). The Washington Huskies!
2). Kristin Schnake (senior shortstop for the Georgia Bulldogs) -She was the most animated athlete on the field. She had so much energy, and she instantly became my favorite player of the entire tournament!!!

(photo courtesy of the Georgia Bulldogs' website)

3). Grand-Slams!! -The previous record was one for the WCWS. This tournament had four, breaking the record!
4). Freshmen stepping it up: One in particular was Niki Williams. This freshman from Washington broke the record for most RBI's in one game when she drove in 7 runs. Hitting two homeruns.

(photo from ESPN.com)

5). Alabama beating the UofA Wildcats 14-0!! While Bama didn't come from nowhere....it was still pretty spectacular for them to run-rule the 8 time Champions. Even if I wanted the Cats to win, I still have to tip my hat to the ladies of the Crimson Tide.
6). Super-Awesome diving plays

(Brittany Rogers: Senior Center Fielder for Alabama)

7). Chelsea Thomas and 74 mph fastballs!!
8). Kelsi Dunne and her back-to-back no hitters.
9). Glittery headbands.....all the good teams have them!!
10). Teamwork. I love the way softball brings athletes together for a common goal and dream!

"A Great and Terrible Beauty" - Libba Bray

In the Victorian age when it is of the utmost importance for a young lady to be seen and not heard a young woman named Gemma Doyle struggles to thrive. She feels she has been banished to the rather unfashionable India, although she longs desperately to join society in England. After the shocking and scandalous death of her mother (that she foresaw in a vision) Gemma is placed in an English boarding school.

Here she meets and befriends the orphan Ann, the lively Felicity, and the tag-along but beautiful Pippa. All of whom are secret cast-aways. Together they discover how to use Gemma's extraordinary power, and try to piece together the mystery of the Mary Dowd's past and the downfall of the Order.

Amazon.com Review
A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel. Gemma, 16, has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother’s death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls’ academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy. (Ages 12 up) –Patty Campbell

My new favorite phrases!

Ry in her makeshift pool....actually a sandbox

Ryenn continues to be more animated every day. While watching Harry Potter she clamped her hands over her mouth and exclaimed, "Oh my gosh!" She was shocked that Harry was being attacked by dementors. After falling from his broomstick she said, "Whoa dude!" I thought it was so cute.

She loves her Tio...

I also love to hear her say "holy cow" and "shiny."

can you tell??