5 Wine Glass #Review of The Sea King by C.L. Wilson

Title: The Sea King
Series: Weathermages of Mystral #2
Author: C. L. Wilson
Format: Kindle (608 pages)
Published: October 31, 2017 (Avon)
ISBN-10: 0062018981
ISBN-13: 978-0062018984
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Reviewer: Linda
Source: Edelweiss
Rating: 5 out of 5 Wine Glasses

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Winter King comes a breathtaking new tale of love and adventure set in the mystical land of Mystral...

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.

Linda's Thoughts:
“And perhaps pigs will grow gills and swim with the kracken.”

The Sea King is another magnificent epic romantic fantasy by the fantastically talented C.L. Wilson. Seriously, The Sea King is over 600 pages and I didn’t want to sleep or eat until I’d read every single word. I loved the compelling characters, the vivid imagery, the stunning settings, the on-pointe pacing, the fantastic plot… I loved it all! The book is a page turner from the first word to the last. By the way, The Sea King can easily be enjoyed as a standalone read, if that is your preference. That said, the first book, The Winter King, is beyond fantastic too. Fans of the series will be thrilled to know that the main characters from the first book make appearances in this one – so we are bonused updates on them!

This is the story of Prince Dilys Merimydion, Sealord of Calberna, son of the Calbernan Myerial, Alysaldria I, and Princess Gabriella Coruscate of Summerlea aka Summer. I’m not going to go into the tale at all other than to say you need to read it. It’s hands down the best book I’ve read all year.

The characters and their respective backgrounds are engrossing. In Dilys culture, the men are taught the art of seduction from a young age. Ooh la la! They treasure their women and can’t live without them. Dilys has arrived in Summerlea to claim one of its remaining Princesses as his bride. He’s been previously steered to select one of Gabriella’s powerful sisters – either Spring or Autumn - as his kingdom needs a magically powerful ruler. However, Dilys soul gravitates to Summer. But, Summer appears to be the least potent Princess and will have nothing to do with him. The truth is that she fears losing herself if the extent of her powers becomes known and, when she is around Dilys, she loses control. Dilys must turn on his every magnetic wile to convince her otherwise.

The book is a treasury of favorite quotes. Following please find a few I consider the crème de la crème from The Sea King:

She’d never in her life looked at a man and felt like a starving beggar standing before a sumptuous feast. She’d all but licked her lips at the sight of him.
--- 

“You think a courtship and a hunt are two separate things.” Ari grinned, showing gleaming white teeth with battle fangs fully extended. “They’re not.”
--- 

“Keep looking like you want to eat me up, moa halea, and I’ll let you.” His voice was a hard, rough rumble.
--- 

“I don’t want you.”
He moved so quickly she barely had time to gasp before he lifted her off her feet, fused his mouth to hers, and kissed her until her brain melted. Then he set her back on her wobbly legs and said,” That was for the lie. And for future reference, myerina, wrapping your legs around a man and commanding him to pleasure you is not an effective way to illustrate your lack of interest.”

I’m a huge fan of C.L. Wilson’s works. It’s been three long years since the first installment in this series – but, OMG, The Sea King makes the long wait worthwhile. I actually first discovered her books with The Winter King, and, from there, jumped into her Tairen Soul series. Every one of her books has been 5-star reads for me. I’ve already re-read some passages from it – just because - and plan to re-read both books in this series again soon. It’s astounding, powerful, poignant, steamy, heartbreaking and breath-taking. It’s the epitome of an escape read as it sweeps you away into wondrous worlds in a great adventure. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger – but, not one that will keep you up nights. The ending will intensify your hunger for the next installment. If you are a fan of magical epic romantic fantasies, The Sea King should unequivocally be on your list of books to get lost in soon!



Suggested Reading Order: 
The Winter King (Book #1)
The Sea King (Book #2)