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Soulwood #5
Spells for the Dead
Nell Ingram faces a dark craft known as death magic in the newest pulse-pounding paranormal procedural in the New York Times bestselling Soulwood series.
Nell Ingram is a rookie PsyLed agent, using the powers she can channel from deep within the earth to solve paranormal crimes. Together with her team, she's taken on the darkest magic and the direst foes. But she'll need to tap into every ounce of power she has for her newest case.
Nell is called to the Tennessee mansion of a country music star and finds a disturbing scene--dead bodies rapidly decaying before everyone's eyes. The witch on her team, T. Laine, knows this can only be one thing: death magic, a rare type of craft used to steal life forces. PsyLed needs to find this lethal killer fast. But when a paranormal-hating FBI agent tries to derail the investigation, they find themselves under attack from all sides.
Nell Ingram is a rookie PsyLed agent, using the powers she can channel from deep within the earth to solve paranormal crimes. Together with her team, she's taken on the darkest magic and the direst foes. But she'll need to tap into every ounce of power she has for her newest case.
Nell is called to the Tennessee mansion of a country music star and finds a disturbing scene--dead bodies rapidly decaying before everyone's eyes. The witch on her team, T. Laine, knows this can only be one thing: death magic, a rare type of craft used to steal life forces. PsyLed needs to find this lethal killer fast. But when a paranormal-hating FBI agent tries to derail the investigation, they find themselves under attack from all sides.
381 pages, ebook
First published July 28, 2020
About the author
Faith Hunter
90 books5,634 followersFaith Hunter's Junkyard Cats novella series is available in Audible, eBook, and "ridiculously expensive" (her words) trade paperback books at this time.
Faith's Jane Yellowrock series is a dark urban fantasy. Jane is a full blooded Cherokee skinwalker and hunter of rogue-vampires in a world of weres, witches, vampires, and other supernats.
The Soulwood series is a dark-urban fantasy / paranormal police procedural /para-thriller series featuring Nell Nicholson Ingram, an earth magic user and Special gent of PsyLED.
Her Rogue Mage novels—Bloodring, Seraphs, Host, and the RPG Rogue Mage—feature Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage in a post-apocalyptic alternate reality.
Faith writes full-time, tries to keep house, and is a workaholic. She gave up cooking for lent one year and the oven hasn’t been turned on since. Okay – that’s a joke. She does still make cold cereal and sandwiches. Occasionally, she remembers to turn on Roomba (that she named Duma$$ because it fell down the stairs once.)
Faith researches in great detail, and tries most everything her characters do. Research led to her life’s passions – jewelry making, orchids, Japanese maples, bones, travel, white-water kayaking, and writing.
Jewelry-making was the occupation of two of her characters: Thorn St. Croix, the Rogue Mage, and the main character of BloodStone, written by her pen name, Gwen Hunter. She fell in love with the art form. Though she doesn't have time for jewelry as much as she used to, Faith makes, wears, and sometimes gives away her jewelry as promo items to fans and as prizes in contests. See her FaceBook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/official.fait... for pics.
Faith loves orchids. Her favorite time of year is when several are blooming. Pictures can be seen at her FaceBook page. And yes, she collects bones and skulls. Many of her orchid pics are juxtaposed with bones and skulls —a fox, cat, dog, cow skull, goat, and deer skull, (that is, unfortunately, falling apart) and the jawbone of an ass. She just received a boar skull, and the skull of a mountain lion (legally purchased from a US tannery) hit by a car in the wild.
Her latest love is Japanese maples, and she has managed to collect over thirty in one year.
She and her husband RV, traveling to whitewater rivers all over the Southeast.
And that leads Faith to kayaking – her very favorite sport. Faith discovered whitewater paddling when she was researching her (Gwen Hunter) mystery book, Rapid Descent. She took a lesson and—after a bout of panic attacks from fear of being upside down trapped in a boat—discovered she loved the sport.
Faith is a voracious reader.
Under other pen names, notably, Gwen Hunter, she writes action adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Gwen, she is a winner of the WH Smith Literary Award for Fresh Talent in 1995 in the UK, and won a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2008. As Faith, her books have been on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists, been nominated for various awards and won an Audie Award with Khristine Hvam, among other awards. Under all her pen names, she has more than 40 books, anthologies, and complications in print in 30 countries.
For more, including a list of her books, see www.faithhunter.net , www.gwenhunter.com , and www.magicalwords.net. To keep up with her daily, join her fan pages at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/official.fait...
Faith's Jane Yellowrock series is a dark urban fantasy. Jane is a full blooded Cherokee skinwalker and hunter of rogue-vampires in a world of weres, witches, vampires, and other supernats.
The Soulwood series is a dark-urban fantasy / paranormal police procedural /para-thriller series featuring Nell Nicholson Ingram, an earth magic user and Special gent of PsyLED.
Her Rogue Mage novels—Bloodring, Seraphs, Host, and the RPG Rogue Mage—feature Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage in a post-apocalyptic alternate reality.
Faith writes full-time, tries to keep house, and is a workaholic. She gave up cooking for lent one year and the oven hasn’t been turned on since. Okay – that’s a joke. She does still make cold cereal and sandwiches. Occasionally, she remembers to turn on Roomba (that she named Duma$$ because it fell down the stairs once.)
Faith researches in great detail, and tries most everything her characters do. Research led to her life’s passions – jewelry making, orchids, Japanese maples, bones, travel, white-water kayaking, and writing.
Jewelry-making was the occupation of two of her characters: Thorn St. Croix, the Rogue Mage, and the main character of BloodStone, written by her pen name, Gwen Hunter. She fell in love with the art form. Though she doesn't have time for jewelry as much as she used to, Faith makes, wears, and sometimes gives away her jewelry as promo items to fans and as prizes in contests. See her FaceBook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/official.fait... for pics.
Faith loves orchids. Her favorite time of year is when several are blooming. Pictures can be seen at her FaceBook page. And yes, she collects bones and skulls. Many of her orchid pics are juxtaposed with bones and skulls —a fox, cat, dog, cow skull, goat, and deer skull, (that is, unfortunately, falling apart) and the jawbone of an ass. She just received a boar skull, and the skull of a mountain lion (legally purchased from a US tannery) hit by a car in the wild.
Her latest love is Japanese maples, and she has managed to collect over thirty in one year.
She and her husband RV, traveling to whitewater rivers all over the Southeast.
And that leads Faith to kayaking – her very favorite sport. Faith discovered whitewater paddling when she was researching her (Gwen Hunter) mystery book, Rapid Descent. She took a lesson and—after a bout of panic attacks from fear of being upside down trapped in a boat—discovered she loved the sport.
Faith is a voracious reader.
Under other pen names, notably, Gwen Hunter, she writes action adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Gwen, she is a winner of the WH Smith Literary Award for Fresh Talent in 1995 in the UK, and won a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2008. As Faith, her books have been on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists, been nominated for various awards and won an Audie Award with Khristine Hvam, among other awards. Under all her pen names, she has more than 40 books, anthologies, and complications in print in 30 countries.
For more, including a list of her books, see www.faithhunter.net , www.gwenhunter.com , and www.magicalwords.net. To keep up with her daily, join her fan pages at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/official.fait...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 449 reviews
July 28, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Oh, Faith, you know I adore your Jane series, but it seems like every review I give for a Nell book, I say I like Nell just a tad bit more. And it's true. I love your Jane Yellowrock series and don't want it to end, but there's just something about Nell's amazing cast of characters. I'm always just as interested in the personal life parts of Nell as I am the case... especially in this one. There were some huge wins in this book for me:
Occam. Anything and everything Occam. #TeamPlantKitty
Mud. Anything and everything Mud. #TeamAwesome
Ayatas Firewind. So much depth and character development in this one. First time I've truly begun to like the man!
Plant people. Yes a bit more history on plant people. :)
The one big loss for me in this book was that I wanted more time with Rick and Margot, and they didn't get much "screen time."
Also, Faith, dear, I'm not quite sure what you've done here, releasing this scary gross deathy-magic/working/energy stuff out into the Jane/Nell world. Terrifying!
Oh, Faith, you know I adore your Jane series, but it seems like every review I give for a Nell book, I say I like Nell just a tad bit more. And it's true. I love your Jane Yellowrock series and don't want it to end, but there's just something about Nell's amazing cast of characters. I'm always just as interested in the personal life parts of Nell as I am the case... especially in this one. There were some huge wins in this book for me:
Occam. Anything and everything Occam. #TeamPlantKitty
Mud. Anything and everything Mud. #TeamAwesome
Ayatas Firewind. So much depth and character development in this one. First time I've truly begun to like the man!
Plant people. Yes a bit more history on plant people. :)
The one big loss for me in this book was that I wanted more time with Rick and Margot, and they didn't get much "screen time."
Also, Faith, dear, I'm not quite sure what you've done here, releasing this scary gross deathy-magic/working/energy stuff out into the Jane/Nell world. Terrifying!
February 28, 2021
Most UF series' get bigger as they progress. Bigger guns, bigger explosions, bigger bad guys. It usually annoys me sooner or later and more often than not, sooner. In the Soulwood series the best thing is Nell on her land; her feuds with the religious cult that butts up against her land; her relationships with her family who still live in the cult; and her battle with what she is becoming.
And Spells for the Dead well and truly delivers. In some ways it's a smaller story than earlier books in the series but that smaller story leaves room for what I want, more Nell, more Mud and their growth as characters.
And Spells for the Dead well and truly delivers. In some ways it's a smaller story than earlier books in the series but that smaller story leaves room for what I want, more Nell, more Mud and their growth as characters.
September 27, 2020
Sale Alert: Currently on sale on Kindle $1.99 on 27Sept20
I’ve enjoyed the Jane Yellowrock series quite a bit but there is just something about Nell and Soulwood that is just a little more special to me and I enjoy these books even more.
Nell is coming into her own. Every book she gains a little more confidence in herself and her powers. Every book she finds a new way to open up to those around her. I really did enjoy the direction this book took with Nell’s trust in her team, finally letting loose a few secrets she has been holding tight.
Nell and Occam, well aren’t they just the cutest. Occam is such a good guy and he seems to get Nell in ways no one else does. I love his patience with her and how he works so hard to both make sure she is safe while not overshadowing her. He allows her to be her own person and that is huge.
Ayatas Firewind hasn’t been someone I’ve liked in either series. But, in Spells for the Dead we get to dig into his character more and I’m starting to understand him more and might even like him a little. There is still a long way to make him a favorite character but he has some scenes that shine and he and Nell are not so different.
There is some death and decay magic floating about and when a famous singer and some of her entourage die our team is sent to try and figure out what happened. It is a curious thing as bodies seem to wither and die. It is magical in origin but the team is having trouble narrowing down what kind of magic it is and why the singer might have been targeted.
The plot of this was a bit twisty but when we reached the who done it part everything fell into place. There are just some scary things out there in Jane and Nell’s world.
I always like learning more of what Nell is and how the Plant people came into this world, it was interesting to see the different ways their magic can be. The vampire tree is of special interest as I like seeing in each book how the protector of Soulwood evolves seems more sentient. Mudd is still totally funny and adorable. Ester bringing new life into Soulwood was beautiful and I’m very interested in anything plant baby related, especially what a plantkitty might be. But I’ll wait since I want many more adventures with Nell and the Psy team.
I’ve enjoyed the Jane Yellowrock series quite a bit but there is just something about Nell and Soulwood that is just a little more special to me and I enjoy these books even more.
Nell is coming into her own. Every book she gains a little more confidence in herself and her powers. Every book she finds a new way to open up to those around her. I really did enjoy the direction this book took with Nell’s trust in her team, finally letting loose a few secrets she has been holding tight.
Nell and Occam, well aren’t they just the cutest. Occam is such a good guy and he seems to get Nell in ways no one else does. I love his patience with her and how he works so hard to both make sure she is safe while not overshadowing her. He allows her to be her own person and that is huge.
Ayatas Firewind hasn’t been someone I’ve liked in either series. But, in Spells for the Dead we get to dig into his character more and I’m starting to understand him more and might even like him a little. There is still a long way to make him a favorite character but he has some scenes that shine and he and Nell are not so different.
There is some death and decay magic floating about and when a famous singer and some of her entourage die our team is sent to try and figure out what happened. It is a curious thing as bodies seem to wither and die. It is magical in origin but the team is having trouble narrowing down what kind of magic it is and why the singer might have been targeted.
The plot of this was a bit twisty but when we reached the who done it part everything fell into place. There are just some scary things out there in Jane and Nell’s world.
I always like learning more of what Nell is and how the Plant people came into this world, it was interesting to see the different ways their magic can be. The vampire tree is of special interest as I like seeing in each book how the protector of Soulwood evolves seems more sentient. Mudd is still totally funny and adorable. Ester bringing new life into Soulwood was beautiful and I’m very interested in anything plant baby related, especially what a plantkitty might be. But I’ll wait since I want many more adventures with Nell and the Psy team.
April 25, 2020
3.5 Stars. Mixed emotions here. The storyline was good, different, but it dragged somewhat until about 70%, then took off. I read the term death and decay about a 150 times too many, and admittedly did a bit of skimming.
What held it all together for me when the plot meandered a bit was Nell. She’s so different and refreshing as a character. She fascinates me. I don’t think I’ve read any character quite like her, or with her earth powers. She’s not a badass like Jane Yellowrock, but has a quiet strength about her that grows along with her confidence in herself as a woman and a paranormal agent. I even find her romance with Occam a refreshing change from the norm, especially in this genre.
I’m still enjoying the series, even if this one didn’t totally satisfy me. I like Jane, and I like Nell. They are good characters in different ways, but I think I actually prefer this series.
What held it all together for me when the plot meandered a bit was Nell. She’s so different and refreshing as a character. She fascinates me. I don’t think I’ve read any character quite like her, or with her earth powers. She’s not a badass like Jane Yellowrock, but has a quiet strength about her that grows along with her confidence in herself as a woman and a paranormal agent. I even find her romance with Occam a refreshing change from the norm, especially in this genre.
I’m still enjoying the series, even if this one didn’t totally satisfy me. I like Jane, and I like Nell. They are good characters in different ways, but I think I actually prefer this series.
April 26, 2022
2022 Free Range Reading
I had to interlibrary loan this book in order to finish this series. I suppose that Hunter may write more installments, but this one ended on a rather complete note, with Nell's life squared away tidily. I've enjoyed the ride, even if the last couple of books have been just a speck less fun for me. Once Nell and Occam became a couple, the tension went out of the story for me, despite the paranormal investigations, the Church politicking, or the Nicholson family dynamics. Frankly, when Nell became less of a Church woman, I knew she was making personal progress, but she lost some of her zest.
In this book, Nell gets a better handle on her powers and meets an Irish witch who recognizes her species. Unfortunately, this is a ships-in-the-night thing, with the witch moving along before Nell can extract more information. I think her PsyLED manager, FireWind, knows more than he's telling too. But it seems that Nell is teaching herself quite effectively, so perhaps their information isn't as important as I'm thinking it is.
I have relished this foray into recreational reading—books that I'm reading purely because the spirit moved me to. Not part of any plan or list, just plain old book love.
I had to interlibrary loan this book in order to finish this series. I suppose that Hunter may write more installments, but this one ended on a rather complete note, with Nell's life squared away tidily. I've enjoyed the ride, even if the last couple of books have been just a speck less fun for me. Once Nell and Occam became a couple, the tension went out of the story for me, despite the paranormal investigations, the Church politicking, or the Nicholson family dynamics. Frankly, when Nell became less of a Church woman, I knew she was making personal progress, but she lost some of her zest.
In this book, Nell gets a better handle on her powers and meets an Irish witch who recognizes her species. Unfortunately, this is a ships-in-the-night thing, with the witch moving along before Nell can extract more information. I think her PsyLED manager, FireWind, knows more than he's telling too. But it seems that Nell is teaching herself quite effectively, so perhaps their information isn't as important as I'm thinking it is.
I have relished this foray into recreational reading—books that I'm reading purely because the spirit moved me to. Not part of any plan or list, just plain old book love.
August 23, 2020
Nell, now a full-fledged PsyLed Agent, is back with her team facing another mysterious paranormal crime scene that might push Nell beyond anything she has faced before. Rapidly deteriorating bodies are discovered at a country music star’s home and everyone that comes in contact with the scene becomes infected as well. A murderer is loose that kills fast and virtually undetectable will stealing the life force of everyone exposed. If that was not enough, PsyLed comes up against a Psy hating FBI agent that will do anything he has to do to attack the PsyLed and its agents.
Faith Hunter wrote another amazing addition to the Soulwood series. I am loving the character growth and development as Hunter masterfully unravels the secrets of Nell’s and her sister’s mysterious classification, the mystery of the spreading life-sucking death and the budding relationship Nell has with Occum. As I mentioned, Nell is no longer a pro-B agent, but their team has added a new pro-B, Margot Racer.
Hunter never disappoints with fast-moving, action-packed, meaty stories that you just can’t wait to sink your reader’s teeth into. The characters become friends and family you want to catch up with and once you do, you are bereft to leave.
I received this ARC copy of Spells for the Dead from Berkley Publishing Group - ACE. This is my honest and voluntary review.
My Rating: 5 stars
FAVORITE SERIES
Series: A Soulwood Novel (Book 5)
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Ace (July 28, 2020)
ISBN-10: 0399587969
ISBN-13: 978-0399587962
Genre: Urban Fantasy | Paranormal Mystery
Faith Hunter wrote another amazing addition to the Soulwood series. I am loving the character growth and development as Hunter masterfully unravels the secrets of Nell’s and her sister’s mysterious classification, the mystery of the spreading life-sucking death and the budding relationship Nell has with Occum. As I mentioned, Nell is no longer a pro-B agent, but their team has added a new pro-B, Margot Racer.
Hunter never disappoints with fast-moving, action-packed, meaty stories that you just can’t wait to sink your reader’s teeth into. The characters become friends and family you want to catch up with and once you do, you are bereft to leave.
I received this ARC copy of Spells for the Dead from Berkley Publishing Group - ACE. This is my honest and voluntary review.
My Rating: 5 stars
FAVORITE SERIES
Series: A Soulwood Novel (Book 5)
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Ace (July 28, 2020)
ISBN-10: 0399587969
ISBN-13: 978-0399587962
Genre: Urban Fantasy | Paranormal Mystery
September 1, 2020
"We’re plant-people. Our true home is the land and the trees that grow on it.”
First thoughts:
- I LOVE Occam. He is the BEST.
-Ok, i think i'm reconciled with the idea of Nell as non-human.
-Faith: we are happy getting grudges for Jane, so I'm still mad with Ayatas.
RTC
First thoughts:
- I LOVE Occam. He is the BEST.
-Ok, i think i'm reconciled with the idea of Nell as non-human.
-Faith: we are happy getting grudges for Jane, so I'm still mad with Ayatas.
RTC
October 23, 2020
3.5/5.0
I absolutely love the characters in this series! Maybe even more than the Jane Yellowrock series (and that is saying a TON!) Nell and her unlikely group of compatriots just feel like family. Ms. Hunter does such a fabulous job of wrapping them around our hearts, then tugging the strings - so much so that every interaction, every moment is a joy to experience.
So, why 3 stars instead of 4? Well, the ins and outs were kind of convoluted and the ultimate “bad guy” was just as odd as it was obscure. Ultimately, though - aside from my love of the characters - the story itself was really slow moving for me. The book just never drew me back in when I wasn’t reading. I could easily set it down at any point (up until the very end, which was FABULOUS) and wasn’t aching to get back to it like I have been in every other Hunter book. Still, that doesn’t mean I’m not chomping at the bit for the next book and thoroughly annoyed that it takes so long! This author’s characters are just too fabulous to dismiss.
I absolutely love the characters in this series! Maybe even more than the Jane Yellowrock series (and that is saying a TON!) Nell and her unlikely group of compatriots just feel like family. Ms. Hunter does such a fabulous job of wrapping them around our hearts, then tugging the strings - so much so that every interaction, every moment is a joy to experience.
So, why 3 stars instead of 4? Well, the ins and outs were kind of convoluted and the ultimate “bad guy” was just as odd as it was obscure. Ultimately, though - aside from my love of the characters - the story itself was really slow moving for me. The book just never drew me back in when I wasn’t reading. I could easily set it down at any point (up until the very end, which was FABULOUS) and wasn’t aching to get back to it like I have been in every other Hunter book. Still, that doesn’t mean I’m not chomping at the bit for the next book and thoroughly annoyed that it takes so long! This author’s characters are just too fabulous to dismiss.
October 17, 2022
This book took too long for me to finish considering I love this series and Nell is one of my favorite FMC's. Sadly, the "mystery" was boring and it dragged on with a lot of inconsequential characters coming in and out of the story with nothing but death scenes. I could easily set the book aside and not feel any passion or urge to return to read it. The books repetitive descriptions- "death and decay", blushing, tears welling in Nell's eyes and the police procedural stuff became annoying to read. Another thing that really bothered me was that Ester's situations were resolved too quickly and conveniently. After all we've read through Nell (and Mud) and her experiences it doesn't read true. I also missed Rick and Tandy who were absent till the end of the book.
On the positive sides were with Nell's abilities, her trusting her co-workers, learning more about her magic and Fire Wind. The last chapters were the best part of the book ☺️
On the positive sides were with Nell's abilities, her trusting her co-workers, learning more about her magic and Fire Wind. The last chapters were the best part of the book ☺️
August 4, 2020
4.5 stars! I love this world and all the paras in it so much. ❤️ And I'm definitely loving where the relationships are going. And I mean all of them, not just Nell and Occam. PsyLED-18 isn't just a para-investigative unit. They're family.
And once again, greedy, greedy me has no more Soulwood to read until the next one. 😕 *sigh*
And once again, greedy, greedy me has no more Soulwood to read until the next one. 😕 *sigh*
July 23, 2020
I so enjoy spending time with Nell Inghram, our widder-woman who liberated herself from a cult in East Tennessee. Oh, and a yinehi with unique powers and abilities. I have loved watching her come into herself as the series has progressed. As Nell's experiences have grown beyond pizza and Krispy Kreme, she has amassed a family through blood and the land. So Nell is no longer our loner against the church, but now has a team to help fight battles both personal and professional. Her common sense approach to life and solving crimes is endearing and inspiring. And her relationship with Occam, the werecat, is so dang cute that I can't help but smile at their interactions.
In this latest installment, PsyLED is investigating a particularly nasty spree of death and decay like they have never seen before. We see them becoming more integrated, along with their new boss, Ayatas Firewind (who you will recognize as Jane Yellowrock's skin walking brother). There are fewer secrets among the team members, with hard conversations being had all around. I think the openness and support from unexpected places helps the team work as a more cohesive unit. While Nell always plays a big part in defeating the bug bad, this time I felt like she had to give less of herself to do so because she was able to rely on the rest of the team.
I am also really enjoying the progression of the vampire tree and it's sentience. This aspect of the story has evolved quite a bit and I think the new spin is going to be very interesting for Nell and her family.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley.
In this latest installment, PsyLED is investigating a particularly nasty spree of death and decay like they have never seen before. We see them becoming more integrated, along with their new boss, Ayatas Firewind (who you will recognize as Jane Yellowrock's skin walking brother). There are fewer secrets among the team members, with hard conversations being had all around. I think the openness and support from unexpected places helps the team work as a more cohesive unit. While Nell always plays a big part in defeating the bug bad, this time I felt like she had to give less of herself to do so because she was able to rely on the rest of the team.
I am also really enjoying the progression of the vampire tree and it's sentience. This aspect of the story has evolved quite a bit and I think the new spin is going to be very interesting for Nell and her family.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley.
August 10, 2020
With this latest installment, I am still a fan of the Soulwood series, though it has evolved quite a bit from its beginnings. For the most part, that is a good thing. I have really liked watching Nell grow into an independent force. She is not a badass, not like Jane Yellowrock, but she has an undeniable quiet strength, like the tread of running water over rocks. She has broken free of so much that tied her down in her youth and now she is guiding her sisters to their own freedom. Awesome. I love it when she goes back to the church grounds with her new confidence and personal power.
She is letting herself love. She and Occam are so great together. His steadfast willingness to let her take the lead in their relationship is lovely.
She is stepping up on the job. No longer a probie, she feels comfortable in her role in PsyLed and even stands up to FireWind. (Who, by the way, I liked much more than I thought I would.)
Honestly, all the character stuff is great here... though I did miss Rick a little. It's just the case was... a lot. The "death and decay" was seriously gruesome in the descriptions and we got a lot of it. The mystery just kept unfolding and unfolding until the point where the team finally figured it out and it felt a bit anticlimactic. True, dense storytelling is kind of Faith Hunter's thing-- I guess, it just didn't work in this case for me as well as it usually does.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, though. I'm not sure if there will be a book six, but if there is, I'll be reading it.
*ARC provided by publisher
She is letting herself love. She and Occam are so great together. His steadfast willingness to let her take the lead in their relationship is lovely.
She is stepping up on the job. No longer a probie, she feels comfortable in her role in PsyLed and even stands up to FireWind. (Who, by the way, I liked much more than I thought I would.)
Honestly, all the character stuff is great here... though I did miss Rick a little. It's just the case was... a lot. The "death and decay" was seriously gruesome in the descriptions and we got a lot of it. The mystery just kept unfolding and unfolding until the point where the team finally figured it out and it felt a bit anticlimactic. True, dense storytelling is kind of Faith Hunter's thing-- I guess, it just didn't work in this case for me as well as it usually does.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, though. I'm not sure if there will be a book six, but if there is, I'll be reading it.
*ARC provided by publisher
July 22, 2020
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
I was excited to be back in the world of the Soulwood series. As with most urban fantasy, I would definitely read these in order. I have read the Jane Yellowrock series which I think also helps one to understand more of the world and characters. Plus it is just great reading. The Soulwood series is a spin-off from Jane Yellowrock and I love it just as much or more.
The world continues to develop and expand as we learn more about different species and magics. Things are changing for Unit Eighteen of PsyLED also. Rick is gone for most of this case, and Firewind is here and in charge. We learn much more about Firewind, his character, history and magic.
Nell is the heart of the story and she has so much growth and development here too. She is trying to become the guardian for Mud. Her pregnant sister, Esther, is also staying with her. I like how her relationship is now developing with her father and brothers now. She is still working to the best of her ability in her new job. Nell learns a bit more about her own abilities and origins, but I still want to know so much more.
Nell and Occam have also taken their relationship to another level. Along with that, it is public and they have a bit of PDA. This feels natural, I guess, but also a bit out of character in their professional world. Nell does a good job of being independent even within a relationship, though. I like how they handle this.
The case is confusing, of course. The team has a lot of work to save people and figure out why they are dying. Even PsyLED doesn't know everything about different species and magic, so it is always fascinating and exciting. It can also be dangerous. Unfortunately, regular law enforcement is mostly uneducated, unhelpful and prejudiced.
I really enjoyed this case in the richly developed world and characters. I am curious to see how Nell manages all the changes both personally and professionally. And I definitely want to know more about the magical world, as well as Nell's personal abilities.
Excerpt:
“Was someone impersonating them on the phone?”
“The band members insist not. They say it was Stella and she sounded fine, which, if correct, means extremely accelerated decomp.”
Which provided one small reason why a PsyLED special agent might have been called in, but there were now three on the premises.
Occam continued. “Within seconds after her crew called the police, Stella’s personal assistant, Monica Belcher, arrived and opened a shipping box of new tour T-shirts. She fell, dead when she hit the floor. She was still holding a wad of the new shirts. The bass player and the drummer ran to her but started feeling sick and the band and roadies evacuated the basement and called nine-one-one again to request paramedics. Local PD, Sheriff Jackett, and Tennessee FBI were all here in less than twenty minutes, and medic units from Nashville in thirty.”
That was fast, even for murder. “Fame has its benefits,” I said, hearing unfamiliar sarcasm in my tone. I wondered if my derision was a remnant of kitchen-envy. Or maybe farm-envy. Or maybe just pure old envy-envy.
“By the time the first LEOs and medics got here, Belcher’s arm—holding the shirts—was showing signs of rapidly advancing necrosis. It looks as if her flesh is rotting in time-lapse photography. Faster even than Stella Mae and Verna Upton.”
“Why was someone opening a box of T-shirts when her boss was dead at a crime scene?”
“They say Monica Belcher was one of those people who can’t sit still, always had to be doing something. She freaked out when they found the bodies and she started opening and storing gear in a frenzy. There may be more to it. We’re still in the early stages of questioning. They’re all pretty shook up.”
“And the bodies are all three necrosing at an accelerated rate,” I said, just to be clear.
“Yup. And listen to you talking cop-speak, Special Agent No-Longer-a-Probie Ingram.”
I chuckled quietly, as he surely intended. I wasn’t a probationary agent anymore, but since some of my time in the unit was spent as a tree, I was still a rookie. The more experienced unit members still babied and teased me. I teased back, “What more you got to tell me, Special Agent Cat-Man?”
“Only that I’d like nothing better than a beer in that hammock out back, but that’s just me.” Occam’s lips lifted on one side, his still-scarred face pulling down on the other, and his one good blonde eyebrow waggled up and down. “It’s a two-person hammock,” he added.
“Uh-huh. The case, please?” I said, sounding all starchy.
Occam went on. “Yeah. All three bodies are decomping abnormally fast. So far they only got the housekeeper out of here and she had to go in a cooler. They scooped her up with shovels and spoons.”
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
I was excited to be back in the world of the Soulwood series. As with most urban fantasy, I would definitely read these in order. I have read the Jane Yellowrock series which I think also helps one to understand more of the world and characters. Plus it is just great reading. The Soulwood series is a spin-off from Jane Yellowrock and I love it just as much or more.
The world continues to develop and expand as we learn more about different species and magics. Things are changing for Unit Eighteen of PsyLED also. Rick is gone for most of this case, and Firewind is here and in charge. We learn much more about Firewind, his character, history and magic.
Nell is the heart of the story and she has so much growth and development here too. She is trying to become the guardian for Mud. Her pregnant sister, Esther, is also staying with her. I like how her relationship is now developing with her father and brothers now. She is still working to the best of her ability in her new job. Nell learns a bit more about her own abilities and origins, but I still want to know so much more.
Nell and Occam have also taken their relationship to another level. Along with that, it is public and they have a bit of PDA. This feels natural, I guess, but also a bit out of character in their professional world. Nell does a good job of being independent even within a relationship, though. I like how they handle this.
The case is confusing, of course. The team has a lot of work to save people and figure out why they are dying. Even PsyLED doesn't know everything about different species and magic, so it is always fascinating and exciting. It can also be dangerous. Unfortunately, regular law enforcement is mostly uneducated, unhelpful and prejudiced.
I really enjoyed this case in the richly developed world and characters. I am curious to see how Nell manages all the changes both personally and professionally. And I definitely want to know more about the magical world, as well as Nell's personal abilities.
Excerpt:
“Was someone impersonating them on the phone?”
“The band members insist not. They say it was Stella and she sounded fine, which, if correct, means extremely accelerated decomp.”
Which provided one small reason why a PsyLED special agent might have been called in, but there were now three on the premises.
Occam continued. “Within seconds after her crew called the police, Stella’s personal assistant, Monica Belcher, arrived and opened a shipping box of new tour T-shirts. She fell, dead when she hit the floor. She was still holding a wad of the new shirts. The bass player and the drummer ran to her but started feeling sick and the band and roadies evacuated the basement and called nine-one-one again to request paramedics. Local PD, Sheriff Jackett, and Tennessee FBI were all here in less than twenty minutes, and medic units from Nashville in thirty.”
That was fast, even for murder. “Fame has its benefits,” I said, hearing unfamiliar sarcasm in my tone. I wondered if my derision was a remnant of kitchen-envy. Or maybe farm-envy. Or maybe just pure old envy-envy.
“By the time the first LEOs and medics got here, Belcher’s arm—holding the shirts—was showing signs of rapidly advancing necrosis. It looks as if her flesh is rotting in time-lapse photography. Faster even than Stella Mae and Verna Upton.”
“Why was someone opening a box of T-shirts when her boss was dead at a crime scene?”
“They say Monica Belcher was one of those people who can’t sit still, always had to be doing something. She freaked out when they found the bodies and she started opening and storing gear in a frenzy. There may be more to it. We’re still in the early stages of questioning. They’re all pretty shook up.”
“And the bodies are all three necrosing at an accelerated rate,” I said, just to be clear.
“Yup. And listen to you talking cop-speak, Special Agent No-Longer-a-Probie Ingram.”
I chuckled quietly, as he surely intended. I wasn’t a probationary agent anymore, but since some of my time in the unit was spent as a tree, I was still a rookie. The more experienced unit members still babied and teased me. I teased back, “What more you got to tell me, Special Agent Cat-Man?”
“Only that I’d like nothing better than a beer in that hammock out back, but that’s just me.” Occam’s lips lifted on one side, his still-scarred face pulling down on the other, and his one good blonde eyebrow waggled up and down. “It’s a two-person hammock,” he added.
“Uh-huh. The case, please?” I said, sounding all starchy.
Occam went on. “Yeah. All three bodies are decomping abnormally fast. So far they only got the housekeeper out of here and she had to go in a cooler. They scooped her up with shovels and spoons.”
October 23, 2020
4 - 4.5
I really love this series! I'm in search of other paranormal procedurals, so if you know of other good ones please let me know. There's so much focus on Nell's growth as a character and the crimes her PSYLED team attempt to solve. There is a pattern with Nell that I hope shifts. The lack of sexy times fits so perfectly with the character and setting. It's like the character is alive in the author's head telling her not to put her bedroom life out for all to see. lol
I really love this series! I'm in search of other paranormal procedurals, so if you know of other good ones please let me know. There's so much focus on Nell's growth as a character and the crimes her PSYLED team attempt to solve. There is a pattern with Nell that I hope shifts. The lack of sexy times fits so perfectly with the character and setting. It's like the character is alive in the author's head telling her not to put her bedroom life out for all to see. lol
April 16, 2020
3.5 stars
In this fifth book in the Soulwood series, Nell is now a full member of her PsyLED team. When a country superstar and some of her entourage are found dead, with their bodies and surrounding objects and land also dying and rapidly decomposing, the unit is called in to investigate. The case is puzzling, and the team struggles to figure out not only what kind of magic killed them but also who the perpetrator could be.
This story, more than I recall earlier ones being, seems very much a supernatural police procedural. The clues lead the team to pursue multiple different threads, most of which turn out not to be helpful. Nell and the rest of the team spend a great deal of time going back and forth between sites and the office, investigating, trying to contain the “death and decay,” and trying to work through utter exhaustion. The slow progress, while realistic, often makes the narrative drag nearly as much as the wrung-out characters themselves. Things start to move much more quickly towards the end as clues fall into place.
While the investigation is ongoing, Nell also is dealing with some personal and professional issues. Although she no longer is a probie, Nell still is feeling out her place on the team and her relationship with others, particularly with Ayatas Firewind, her boss’s boss who is spending more time with the team. At home, two of her sisters have moved in with her and their problems and conflicts become Nell’s as well. But, most importantly, Nell still is learning about her abilities and limitations as a “plant person,” a kind of earth sprite, and what that means for her personally and professionally. It was this growth in her understanding and acceptance as well as her burgeoning relationship with her “cat-man” Occam that held my interest through the often plodding investigation and made me bump this up to a four star read.
These interesting developments, even with the sometimes slow progress, make me look forward to the next book to see what happens next to Nell and the rest of her work and home family.
In this fifth book in the Soulwood series, Nell is now a full member of her PsyLED team. When a country superstar and some of her entourage are found dead, with their bodies and surrounding objects and land also dying and rapidly decomposing, the unit is called in to investigate. The case is puzzling, and the team struggles to figure out not only what kind of magic killed them but also who the perpetrator could be.
This story, more than I recall earlier ones being, seems very much a supernatural police procedural. The clues lead the team to pursue multiple different threads, most of which turn out not to be helpful. Nell and the rest of the team spend a great deal of time going back and forth between sites and the office, investigating, trying to contain the “death and decay,” and trying to work through utter exhaustion. The slow progress, while realistic, often makes the narrative drag nearly as much as the wrung-out characters themselves. Things start to move much more quickly towards the end as clues fall into place.
While the investigation is ongoing, Nell also is dealing with some personal and professional issues. Although she no longer is a probie, Nell still is feeling out her place on the team and her relationship with others, particularly with Ayatas Firewind, her boss’s boss who is spending more time with the team. At home, two of her sisters have moved in with her and their problems and conflicts become Nell’s as well. But, most importantly, Nell still is learning about her abilities and limitations as a “plant person,” a kind of earth sprite, and what that means for her personally and professionally. It was this growth in her understanding and acceptance as well as her burgeoning relationship with her “cat-man” Occam that held my interest through the often plodding investigation and made me bump this up to a four star read.
These interesting developments, even with the sometimes slow progress, make me look forward to the next book to see what happens next to Nell and the rest of her work and home family.
February 17, 2021
When I started the Soulwood series with 'Blood Of The Earth', I wondered how Faith Hunter would build a series around a woman who is part tree and whose magic is linked to her land and the forest on it. It was only a question in the back of my mind. Most of my attention was taken up with how much I enjoyed spending time with Nell Ingram and how well-imagined the polygamist sect she was raised in was.
Five books into the series and I'm impressed by how Faith Hunter has been able to develop Nell's story so that it feels like a natural progression with the elegance of a Fibonacci Sequence. Watching Nell's world evolve is like watching a fern unfurl.
Nell is always the focal point of the books. She is the one unfurling. In each book we see her understanding of three things growing: her own, non-human, nature and the magic she commands, her place in PsyLed and the modern world and her relationship with her family and her Church. The plot of each book serves as an accelerant of her understanding. She and or those she cares about are subjected to threats that can only be overcome by Nell rapidly expanding her understanding. It's a fascinating process to watch.
That may make the books sound a little dry, yet my experience of reading them is that they are has a turn-the-page-faster pace, they're filled with action and spiced with humour. Faith Hunter manages to allow Nell to grow while still staying fundamentally the person I found so engaging in the first book. She is also has a talent for describing magic, even fairly abstract stuff, in a way that makes it feel real and exciting.
I had mixed feelings about the plot in this book. The motivation for the killings and the path to the killer wouldn't have stood up very well in a police procedural novel. The physical effects of the magic used were described in great detail and were deeply repellent. In the end though, none of that mattered because the emotional pace of the book worked. Nell focused on herself, her team and her family as much if not more than on the details of the case. My favourite parts of the book were when Nell was working things out for her sisters. Partly that was because it didn't involve live people's bodies decaying so quickly that the seemed to be melting but mostly it was because the dynamics between Nell and her family seem so grounded and real.
I've no idea where Faith Hunter will take this series from here but I'm sure the ride will continue to be entertaining.
I recommend the audiobook version. Khristine Hvam's narration is first-rate.
May 21, 2022
I liked this installment but didn't love it. I thought the strength in the story was continued development of the main series characters as well as their inter-relationships. I thought the weakness of the story was a combination of the overly convoluted and not compelling mystery as well as the bloated text. Just too many words.
September 13, 2022
I loved this one!!!! It was my favorite book in the series I can't wait to see what comes next. I just loved this one!!!!
July 13, 2020
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4..0
*Thoughts*
Spells for the Dead is the fifth installment in author Faith Hunter's Soulwood series featuring Psychometric Law Enforcement Division of Homeland Security Special Agent Nell Ingram. It would benefit readers greatly to start reading this series from the beginning, including Jane Yellowrocks series when Nell is first introduced. A whole lot has happened since the first novel. Nell is no longer the probationary member of PsyLED. That title now belongs to Special Agent Margot Racer who came over from the FBI after an incident in Circle of the Moon.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4..0
*Thoughts*
Spells for the Dead is the fifth installment in author Faith Hunter's Soulwood series featuring Psychometric Law Enforcement Division of Homeland Security Special Agent Nell Ingram. It would benefit readers greatly to start reading this series from the beginning, including Jane Yellowrocks series when Nell is first introduced. A whole lot has happened since the first novel. Nell is no longer the probationary member of PsyLED. That title now belongs to Special Agent Margot Racer who came over from the FBI after an incident in Circle of the Moon.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
July 31, 2020
I have been reviewing each book of this series, and I almost feel like the author has actually been taking my reviews into account (or else the flaws in the writing are so blatant and obvious, lots of other people have brought them to her attention). So I'll press on with this one.
The positives:
Nell, our resident "plant person" survivor from a polygamous cult and current paranormal special agent, got a little more feedback about what her species is. She talked to an Irish character about what the name for her species might be, and she encountered some history on another member of her species. So, progress on the annoying question that has lurked behind the whole series.
Nell finally approached sex like a grown woman, and not like a blushing teenager. It was never realistic that for the last 4 books she would just blush so much and not even want to approach the topic of sex with Occam, her boyfriend. Nell is a grown woman. Nell has had bad married sex before. Speaking as someone else who has had bad married sex before (all props to my husband, but come on, sometimes you're both just really exhausted), it is not all that glamorous. Even if the author wants to argue that Nell has never had *good* sex before, that doesn't change the fact that she should be de-mystified about the concept.
Nell finally interacted with a sibling besides Mud for more than a few sentences. Their pregnant sister Esther is pretty much a main character in this installment, which is downright shocking. You could probably count all her previous lines of dialogue on one hand.
And, finally, I did not notice the author having written the words "have drank," as she is so often wont to do. This usually leaves me screaming and throwing the book across the room. Especially in the installment where Nell was explaining the concept of past participles to Mud, and yet Nell got "have drunk" wrong in her own internal monologue.
The negatives:
Really fucking boring.
I'm sorry, but the overarching mystery was the worst part of this book, and it ate up so much time. There was a complicated magical murder that involved some sort of contagious, corrosive effect. The initial victim was a famous country star, and the magical corrosive just went around killing more and more people from her household and associated with her. It was vaguely reminiscent of the Covid-19 pandemic we have all been living with for months, but I'm sure the author probably finished the first draft of this book the better part of a year ago.
Every time they tried to refer to this corrosive curse, the author wrote death and decay in italics. This was a little jarring for the reader, but it was even more confusing given how a person can't really speak in italics. "Death and decay" are ordinary words in English, but in context, it was like the characters were using some formal term. It just didn't make sense. At least it didn't make any sense why it had to be italicized every time, or why the characters would act like this was a good name. Why not "The Corrosion"? Or "The Curse!" Or "The Death Curse"? I dunno.
As usual for a PsyLed investigation, the mystery was convoluted, and the actual bad guy was someone you had trouble bringing yourself to care about.
All the best parts of the book were about small moments of characters interacting with each other, or figuring out how magic worked, or discussing how their species got along. The actual murder mystery? Dragged like fucking molasses.
The positives:
Nell, our resident "plant person" survivor from a polygamous cult and current paranormal special agent, got a little more feedback about what her species is. She talked to an Irish character about what the name for her species might be, and she encountered some history on another member of her species. So, progress on the annoying question that has lurked behind the whole series.
Nell finally approached sex like a grown woman, and not like a blushing teenager. It was never realistic that for the last 4 books she would just blush so much and not even want to approach the topic of sex with Occam, her boyfriend. Nell is a grown woman. Nell has had bad married sex before. Speaking as someone else who has had bad married sex before (all props to my husband, but come on, sometimes you're both just really exhausted), it is not all that glamorous. Even if the author wants to argue that Nell has never had *good* sex before, that doesn't change the fact that she should be de-mystified about the concept.
Nell finally interacted with a sibling besides Mud for more than a few sentences. Their pregnant sister Esther is pretty much a main character in this installment, which is downright shocking. You could probably count all her previous lines of dialogue on one hand.
And, finally, I did not notice the author having written the words "have drank," as she is so often wont to do. This usually leaves me screaming and throwing the book across the room. Especially in the installment where Nell was explaining the concept of past participles to Mud, and yet Nell got "have drunk" wrong in her own internal monologue.
The negatives:
Really fucking boring.
I'm sorry, but the overarching mystery was the worst part of this book, and it ate up so much time. There was a complicated magical murder that involved some sort of contagious, corrosive effect. The initial victim was a famous country star, and the magical corrosive just went around killing more and more people from her household and associated with her. It was vaguely reminiscent of the Covid-19 pandemic we have all been living with for months, but I'm sure the author probably finished the first draft of this book the better part of a year ago.
Every time they tried to refer to this corrosive curse, the author wrote death and decay in italics. This was a little jarring for the reader, but it was even more confusing given how a person can't really speak in italics. "Death and decay" are ordinary words in English, but in context, it was like the characters were using some formal term. It just didn't make sense. At least it didn't make any sense why it had to be italicized every time, or why the characters would act like this was a good name. Why not "The Corrosion"? Or "The Curse!" Or "The Death Curse"? I dunno.
As usual for a PsyLed investigation, the mystery was convoluted, and the actual bad guy was someone you had trouble bringing yourself to care about.
All the best parts of the book were about small moments of characters interacting with each other, or figuring out how magic worked, or discussing how their species got along. The actual murder mystery? Dragged like fucking molasses.
February 21, 2022
Fifth in the Soulwood urban fantasy, police procedural series, a spin-off from the Jane Yellowrock series (13.5 in that series) and revolving around Nell Ingram, a plant person and PsyLED agent, who lives just outside Knoxville.
My Take
Ooh, creepy. That plague? virus? mutant germ? Is way beyond nasty. Just ask the hospital.
I do love this series. It's homey and comfy with plenty of paranormal action. Its protagonist, Nell, is walking that line between the restrictive church life in which she grew up and her escape from it and the much broader life she's experiencing as a federal agent. It's a restrictive culture versus one in which Nell is accepted as an equal whose ideas are as good as anyone else's. Talk about culture shock!
Still, it's a fascinating life for Nell, and we know all about what she thinks and feels from first person protagonist point-of-view from Nell's perspective. From the restrictive life of the church with technology forbidden to this life where she's accepted and supported by men and using all this amazing technology...like coffeemakers, microwaves, and laptops. I gotta laugh when Nell reckons that "the best reasons for entering the modern world were Krispy Kreme donuts and tech".
That vampire tree is so intriguing. It's certainly been an evolution from the start, in growth, temperament, how it feels toward Nell. It'll be an interesting evolution to watch. Yep, there's a tree that has its own character arc, lol. And, oh boy, that tree may be helpful, but it's a scary kind of aid. Claiming land everywhere. Hmmm, invasion anyone? A'course, Nell, Mud, and Esther do some claiming back and that list of the vampire tree wood's beauty sure sounded nice.
Of course, that tree's behavior and that of Soulwood's does keep me on my toes. At the moment both are interested in Nell's survival, but how they help her survive is creepy and rather painful...all those rootlets. Hmmm, that scene with the squirrel...who knew the tree could be "shy", lol.
More character arcs include that bitchy Esther. Geez. I know Mud has her own arc with her enthusiasm for her greenhouse. That lecture Nell gives the two of them makes part of their individual arcs really clear. "My house, my rules" and a come-to-Jesus moment may create some changes. One contributor to a number of characters arcs is that conflict between Esther and Jedidiah that brings out one of those rules in the church constitution. Hee-hee-hee... Nell's family has their own arc, as they tiptoe further and further into the twenty-first century.
Occam's got his own character arc...mostly physical as he heals from events in Flame in the Dark , 3. He definitely plays a big part in Nell's evolution.
That conflict between law enforcement agencies is such a constant from books to television...ya just know it has to be true for real life as well. And ain't that sad...That said, I do enjoy how Unit 18 gets around the local LEOs.
That take-down T Laine did on FireWind was lovely, lol. It's too bad that so many men fear women, need to control them, look down on them. I wonder how that "fear" ties into outside-the-norm sex? I find I prefer the Cherokee approach to love and sex. Although FireWind's behavior at the office seems to warp that a bit...the team thinks it's part of that tragic event in his past.
Stella's approach to love and family is certainly...laidback. I do like her philosophy about how she trains her horses and the reasons for who she hires.
It's a character-driven story with lots of action and a decent pace...it'll keep you flippin' those pages! A minor "reason", as if I need one, to continue on with Soulwood is to watch Nell evolve...she's been a tree...
And guess what? Humans do not taste like chicken.
The Story
It's a corruption, a death and decay, that eats and ages everything, everything. Shovels, tires, carpet, drumsets...people.
The Characters
Soulwood is…
…Special Agent (SA) Nell "Maggots" Ingram‘s land. She’s a widow who lives off her very interactive land and has a green magic that can sense what’s happening on it, make things grow. Etain thinks Nell's an earth sprite, a yinehi. She has three cats: Jezzie, Cello, and Torquil. It's because of John Ingram, a more tolerant churchman, her deceased husband, that Nell has this land. Leah had been John’s primary wife.
Mindy, a.k.a. Mud, and the constantly, whining, sniping, and pregnant Esther are Nell's sisters who are living with her these days. And they're both tree-creatures-in-hiding like Nell. Cherry is Mud's dog. Jed is Esther's jerk of an estranged husband.
PsyLED is...
...the Psychometry Law Enforcement Division that reports to Homeland Security, the National Security Agency/Central Security Service, CIA, the DoD, the Secret Service, and the FBI. Unit 18 is led by now-healed Special Agent-in-Charge Rick LaFleur, a wereleopard, and is based near Knoxville. SA JoJo Jones, a.k.a. Diamond Drill, is the second-in-command and a brilliant hacker. SA Occam, a wereleopard who spent twenty years in a traveling circus cage, has a thing for our Nell. SA T Laine Kent is the resident witch, with vet training. SA Tandy Dyson is the unit's empath. The truth-sensing SA Margot Racer is a recent addition, a swap from the FBI ( Circle of the Moon , 4), who'll become a lot more permanent. Clementine is the software that takes meeting notes for the team. Senior Special Agent Ayatas FireWind is their new up-line big boss, the regional director in charge of the eastern US...and Jane Yellowrock's brother. Yep, that means he's Cherokee and a skinwalker. Jane is busy being the Dark Queen and stopping a worldwide vampire war. Igohidv Adonvdo, a.k.a. Forever Heart, had been Ayatas' wife. Soul is the assistant director of PsyLED and an arcenciel shifter.
The FBI...
...is still greatly annoyed by PsyLED for what they did in Blood of the Earth , 1 (9.25). Special-Agent-in-Charge Macauley Smythe is a racist, a misogynist, and a witch hater. Special Agent Gerry Stapp is everything Smythe hates.
Cookeville PD
Sheriff Jackett's trying to decide which side his bread is buttered on. Deputy Alvin Hembest is one of Jackett's relatives. Sergeant Wherry is a grizzled veteran.
Patrick Hooper is a defense attorney hired by Etain. Jamie Lee Frost is the Para Hazmat team leader. AK Montgomery is Cale's parole officer.
Morgan County Sheriff's Department
Sergeant Gunter and Deputy Prince.
Holcomb Beresford, a.k.a. Holy Bear, who's worried about his land, is not an evolved thinker.
Campbell County Sheriff's Department
Deputy Robb.
Seems that Knoxville SWAT's Captain Joaquin Gonzalez ( Circle of the Moon , 4) gave T Laine some pointers on smoothing troubled waters.
Melody Horse Farm is...
...a horse breeding and training farm owned by Stella Mae Ragel, a superstar singer just back from a tour. Tondra is Stella's mother; Sophee Ann Ragel and the pregnant Josette Lynn Ragel Jenkins are Stella's sisters. The band members include Catriona Doyle, a backup singer and musician who just happens to be a member of the Doyle witch family from Ireland; Miren is Catriona's daughter. Cale Nowell is the guitarist (and one of Stella's husbands); Thomas Langer is the drummer (Robinelle is his sister and a tax attorney); Connelly Darrow plays bass guitar; and, Erica Lynn Quinton plays lead guitar. Theron Workham is one of the roadies. Regenia Apple is the band manager; Genneille Booker is the accountant; and, Augustina Mattson is Stella's attorney.
Verna Upton is the housekeeper. Monica Belcher is Stella's personal assistant. Credence Pacillo is in charge of the horses. Adrian's Hell is Stella's best horse. Pam Gower is the full-time farm manager. Riders include Bevie Rhoden, Carmen, Ingrid Wayns, and Elisa Yhall.
Merry Promotions is the company that handles Stella's promotional merchandise. Clyde MacMahan is a race car driver and an old friend of Stella's.
The Commune...
...included Elizabeth Racine Alcock, Stella, Connelly, Thomas, Erica, Cale, Donald Murray Hampstead, and Hugo Ames. Ethel Myer is Hugo's landlady. Tina Ames is Hugo's mother. Carollette Myer Ames, Hugo's estranged wife, used to work at Merry Promotions. Reba Myer had been Carollette's mother.
"Cadence Blue Thompkins" married Luther Merriweather, a CEO in Kingston. Dominique Goode is Cadence's attorney.
The North Nashville Coven is...
...led by Astrid Grainger of the Grainger clan. Catriona is one of hers, however temporarily. Etain Doyle is Catriona's sister.
Wendy Cornwall is a Knoxville witch along with Theresa Anderson-Kentner, Suzanne Richardson-White, and Barbara Traywick Hasebe.
The University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC) has...
...a Paranormal Unit. Dr Gomez is the pathologist with a minor in paranormal medicine who discovers there's all sorts of offerings the hospital ignored. Marielle Higgins is part of the failure to communicate. Ginny is a nurse. Dr Ruth Pench is an hospitalist.
God's Cloud of Glory Church where...
...women have no rights, no property, no authority, no say. Colonel Ernest Jackson had wanted Nell as his concubine. Yep, he's dead now. Unfortunately, his son, Ernest Jr, a.k.a. Jackie, picked up his daddy's bad habits. Brother Ephraim, a gwyllgi ( Blood of the Earth , 1 (9.25)), had been the second man Nell fed to the land. Some of Jackie's allies include the Lamberts, Brother Vaughn and his family, and the McCormicks.
Sister Erasmus is Brother Aden's second wife and quite sympathetic to Nell and her family. Ben Aden is one of their sons who has been interested in Nell. His brother Larry had not been a good one ( Circle of the Moon , 4).
Nell's family...
...the Nicholsons, are still part of the church, still live on its lands, and includes Mama Grace, sisters Priss and Judith and brothers — full and half — include Sam, Amos, Rufus, and Zebulun, who is half Ephraim's.
Old Lady Stevens has a vegetable stand and helps the church ladies handle and bank their money.
The vampire tree sees itself as the Green Knight, Nell's protector, so far. The Blood Tarot ( Circle of the Moon ) is one of three magic decks known to be in existence. Sonsee-array's mother was a woman of power among her people. The truth about Marilyn Monroe. Brett Hudgins, a retired farmer and deacon in his church, was a victim. Paka is a black wereleopard and an enemy, who had been Rick's wereleopard mate. Wrassler, one of Leo's blood-servant security people, is the nickname given him by Jane.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a blend of purples and lime greens. Yum. The deepest purples are at the top and bottom. The left edge is a border of both colors in a Celtic knot. Coming down from the top is a roofline that changes to a lighter blue-purple to yellow-green floor-length windows. From the bottom up, it feels more like a field of swirling blue-purples, greens, and lime green as the sexily dressed Nell (not her style) looks up, one hand raised, her reddish-brown hair swirling. At the very top is the author's name in lime. Below that is an info blurb in white with the title, also in white, below that and over Nell's head. To Nell's right is the series info in white with more white in the testimonial at the very bottom.
The title is what Nell and her team are battling, the Spells for the Dead.
My Take
Ooh, creepy. That plague? virus? mutant germ? Is way beyond nasty. Just ask the hospital.
I do love this series. It's homey and comfy with plenty of paranormal action. Its protagonist, Nell, is walking that line between the restrictive church life in which she grew up and her escape from it and the much broader life she's experiencing as a federal agent. It's a restrictive culture versus one in which Nell is accepted as an equal whose ideas are as good as anyone else's. Talk about culture shock!
Still, it's a fascinating life for Nell, and we know all about what she thinks and feels from first person protagonist point-of-view from Nell's perspective. From the restrictive life of the church with technology forbidden to this life where she's accepted and supported by men and using all this amazing technology...like coffeemakers, microwaves, and laptops. I gotta laugh when Nell reckons that "the best reasons for entering the modern world were Krispy Kreme donuts and tech".
That vampire tree is so intriguing. It's certainly been an evolution from the start, in growth, temperament, how it feels toward Nell. It'll be an interesting evolution to watch. Yep, there's a tree that has its own character arc, lol. And, oh boy, that tree may be helpful, but it's a scary kind of aid. Claiming land everywhere. Hmmm, invasion anyone? A'course, Nell, Mud, and Esther do some claiming back and that list of the vampire tree wood's beauty sure sounded nice.
Of course, that tree's behavior and that of Soulwood's does keep me on my toes. At the moment both are interested in Nell's survival, but how they help her survive is creepy and rather painful...all those rootlets. Hmmm, that scene with the squirrel...who knew the tree could be "shy", lol.
More character arcs include that bitchy Esther. Geez. I know Mud has her own arc with her enthusiasm for her greenhouse. That lecture Nell gives the two of them makes part of their individual arcs really clear. "My house, my rules" and a come-to-Jesus moment may create some changes. One contributor to a number of characters arcs is that conflict between Esther and Jedidiah that brings out one of those rules in the church constitution. Hee-hee-hee... Nell's family has their own arc, as they tiptoe further and further into the twenty-first century.
Occam's got his own character arc...mostly physical as he heals from events in Flame in the Dark , 3. He definitely plays a big part in Nell's evolution.
That conflict between law enforcement agencies is such a constant from books to television...ya just know it has to be true for real life as well. And ain't that sad...That said, I do enjoy how Unit 18 gets around the local LEOs.
That take-down T Laine did on FireWind was lovely, lol. It's too bad that so many men fear women, need to control them, look down on them. I wonder how that "fear" ties into outside-the-norm sex? I find I prefer the Cherokee approach to love and sex. Although FireWind's behavior at the office seems to warp that a bit...the team thinks it's part of that tragic event in his past.
Stella's approach to love and family is certainly...laidback. I do like her philosophy about how she trains her horses and the reasons for who she hires.
It's a character-driven story with lots of action and a decent pace...it'll keep you flippin' those pages! A minor "reason", as if I need one, to continue on with Soulwood is to watch Nell evolve...she's been a tree...
And guess what? Humans do not taste like chicken.
The Story
It's a corruption, a death and decay, that eats and ages everything, everything. Shovels, tires, carpet, drumsets...people.
The Characters
Soulwood is…
…Special Agent (SA) Nell "Maggots" Ingram‘s land. She’s a widow who lives off her very interactive land and has a green magic that can sense what’s happening on it, make things grow. Etain thinks Nell's an earth sprite, a yinehi. She has three cats: Jezzie, Cello, and Torquil. It's because of John Ingram, a more tolerant churchman, her deceased husband, that Nell has this land. Leah had been John’s primary wife.
Mindy, a.k.a. Mud, and the constantly, whining, sniping, and pregnant Esther are Nell's sisters who are living with her these days. And they're both tree-creatures-in-hiding like Nell. Cherry is Mud's dog. Jed is Esther's jerk of an estranged husband.
PsyLED is...
...the Psychometry Law Enforcement Division that reports to Homeland Security, the National Security Agency/Central Security Service, CIA, the DoD, the Secret Service, and the FBI. Unit 18 is led by now-healed Special Agent-in-Charge Rick LaFleur, a wereleopard, and is based near Knoxville. SA JoJo Jones, a.k.a. Diamond Drill, is the second-in-command and a brilliant hacker. SA Occam, a wereleopard who spent twenty years in a traveling circus cage, has a thing for our Nell. SA T Laine Kent is the resident witch, with vet training. SA Tandy Dyson is the unit's empath. The truth-sensing SA Margot Racer is a recent addition, a swap from the FBI ( Circle of the Moon , 4), who'll become a lot more permanent. Clementine is the software that takes meeting notes for the team. Senior Special Agent Ayatas FireWind is their new up-line big boss, the regional director in charge of the eastern US...and Jane Yellowrock's brother. Yep, that means he's Cherokee and a skinwalker. Jane is busy being the Dark Queen and stopping a worldwide vampire war. Igohidv Adonvdo, a.k.a. Forever Heart, had been Ayatas' wife. Soul is the assistant director of PsyLED and an arcenciel shifter.
The FBI...
...is still greatly annoyed by PsyLED for what they did in Blood of the Earth , 1 (9.25). Special-Agent-in-Charge Macauley Smythe is a racist, a misogynist, and a witch hater. Special Agent Gerry Stapp is everything Smythe hates.
Cookeville PD
Sheriff Jackett's trying to decide which side his bread is buttered on. Deputy Alvin Hembest is one of Jackett's relatives. Sergeant Wherry is a grizzled veteran.
Patrick Hooper is a defense attorney hired by Etain. Jamie Lee Frost is the Para Hazmat team leader. AK Montgomery is Cale's parole officer.
Morgan County Sheriff's Department
Sergeant Gunter and Deputy Prince.
Holcomb Beresford, a.k.a. Holy Bear, who's worried about his land, is not an evolved thinker.
Campbell County Sheriff's Department
Deputy Robb.
Seems that Knoxville SWAT's Captain Joaquin Gonzalez ( Circle of the Moon , 4) gave T Laine some pointers on smoothing troubled waters.
Melody Horse Farm is...
...a horse breeding and training farm owned by Stella Mae Ragel, a superstar singer just back from a tour. Tondra is Stella's mother; Sophee Ann Ragel and the pregnant Josette Lynn Ragel Jenkins are Stella's sisters. The band members include Catriona Doyle, a backup singer and musician who just happens to be a member of the Doyle witch family from Ireland; Miren is Catriona's daughter. Cale Nowell is the guitarist (and one of Stella's husbands); Thomas Langer is the drummer (Robinelle is his sister and a tax attorney); Connelly Darrow plays bass guitar; and, Erica Lynn Quinton plays lead guitar. Theron Workham is one of the roadies. Regenia Apple is the band manager; Genneille Booker is the accountant; and, Augustina Mattson is Stella's attorney.
Verna Upton is the housekeeper. Monica Belcher is Stella's personal assistant. Credence Pacillo is in charge of the horses. Adrian's Hell is Stella's best horse. Pam Gower is the full-time farm manager. Riders include Bevie Rhoden, Carmen, Ingrid Wayns, and Elisa Yhall.
Merry Promotions is the company that handles Stella's promotional merchandise. Clyde MacMahan is a race car driver and an old friend of Stella's.
The Commune...
...included Elizabeth Racine Alcock, Stella, Connelly, Thomas, Erica, Cale, Donald Murray Hampstead, and Hugo Ames. Ethel Myer is Hugo's landlady. Tina Ames is Hugo's mother. Carollette Myer Ames, Hugo's estranged wife, used to work at Merry Promotions. Reba Myer had been Carollette's mother.
"Cadence Blue Thompkins" married Luther Merriweather, a CEO in Kingston. Dominique Goode is Cadence's attorney.
The North Nashville Coven is...
...led by Astrid Grainger of the Grainger clan. Catriona is one of hers, however temporarily. Etain Doyle is Catriona's sister.
Wendy Cornwall is a Knoxville witch along with Theresa Anderson-Kentner, Suzanne Richardson-White, and Barbara Traywick Hasebe.
The University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC) has...
...a Paranormal Unit. Dr Gomez is the pathologist with a minor in paranormal medicine who discovers there's all sorts of offerings the hospital ignored. Marielle Higgins is part of the failure to communicate. Ginny is a nurse. Dr Ruth Pench is an hospitalist.
God's Cloud of Glory Church where...
...women have no rights, no property, no authority, no say. Colonel Ernest Jackson had wanted Nell as his concubine. Yep, he's dead now. Unfortunately, his son, Ernest Jr, a.k.a. Jackie, picked up his daddy's bad habits. Brother Ephraim, a gwyllgi ( Blood of the Earth , 1 (9.25)), had been the second man Nell fed to the land. Some of Jackie's allies include the Lamberts, Brother Vaughn and his family, and the McCormicks.
Sister Erasmus is Brother Aden's second wife and quite sympathetic to Nell and her family. Ben Aden is one of their sons who has been interested in Nell. His brother Larry had not been a good one ( Circle of the Moon , 4).
Nell's family...
...the Nicholsons, are still part of the church, still live on its lands, and includes Mama Grace, sisters Priss and Judith and brothers — full and half — include Sam, Amos, Rufus, and Zebulun, who is half Ephraim's.
Old Lady Stevens has a vegetable stand and helps the church ladies handle and bank their money.
The vampire tree sees itself as the Green Knight, Nell's protector, so far. The Blood Tarot ( Circle of the Moon ) is one of three magic decks known to be in existence. Sonsee-array's mother was a woman of power among her people. The truth about Marilyn Monroe. Brett Hudgins, a retired farmer and deacon in his church, was a victim. Paka is a black wereleopard and an enemy, who had been Rick's wereleopard mate. Wrassler, one of Leo's blood-servant security people, is the nickname given him by Jane.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a blend of purples and lime greens. Yum. The deepest purples are at the top and bottom. The left edge is a border of both colors in a Celtic knot. Coming down from the top is a roofline that changes to a lighter blue-purple to yellow-green floor-length windows. From the bottom up, it feels more like a field of swirling blue-purples, greens, and lime green as the sexily dressed Nell (not her style) looks up, one hand raised, her reddish-brown hair swirling. At the very top is the author's name in lime. Below that is an info blurb in white with the title, also in white, below that and over Nell's head. To Nell's right is the series info in white with more white in the testimonial at the very bottom.
The title is what Nell and her team are battling, the Spells for the Dead.
July 28, 2020
This book really lead them all on a huge chase. Every time it seemed like the team would learn something pertinent it wouldn't be quite right, there would be secrets behind it. Each secret lead to more and more til they finally got to the heart of things, which was a bit eye opening for Nell.
With this book Nell seems to find her stride within PsyLed, she feels more confident as an agent doing what needs to be done, manages to develop a good relationship with the boss that has intimidated her, come clean with what her magic has done and used her magic a ton. It was almost too much that Nell used her magic and I hated how depleted she would become. It was a good thing that Occam was there to pick her up after.
And wow, I love Occam and Nell! Love that in this one they clearly know they love each other and where they stand in their relationship. I especially love how it will be changing for them.
In between all the action Nell had on the crime her sisters were a bit high maintenance, especially Ester. I really liked how Nell dealt with Ester, laid out what was wrong and what her options were. After stewing on things a bit Ester made her move and what a move it was! I loved that Nell had the knowledge to help Ester negotiate from a place of strength.
The ceremony the sisters did at the end was a bit odd, yet it worked for them being plant people. The only thing better was how the house reacted to Ester and how it protected her. I have a feeling it will do the same to the family members.
With this book Nell seems to find her stride within PsyLed, she feels more confident as an agent doing what needs to be done, manages to develop a good relationship with the boss that has intimidated her, come clean with what her magic has done and used her magic a ton. It was almost too much that Nell used her magic and I hated how depleted she would become. It was a good thing that Occam was there to pick her up after.
And wow, I love Occam and Nell! Love that in this one they clearly know they love each other and where they stand in their relationship. I especially love how it will be changing for them.
In between all the action Nell had on the crime her sisters were a bit high maintenance, especially Ester. I really liked how Nell dealt with Ester, laid out what was wrong and what her options were. After stewing on things a bit Ester made her move and what a move it was! I loved that Nell had the knowledge to help Ester negotiate from a place of strength.
The ceremony the sisters did at the end was a bit odd, yet it worked for them being plant people. The only thing better was how the house reacted to Ester and how it protected her. I have a feeling it will do the same to the family members.
July 4, 2020
I received a free copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads
4 Stars
Spells for the Dead is the fifth installment in the Soulwood series, and it absolutely cannot be read out of series order or as a standalone. Start with Blood of the Earth. But honestly, I'd suggest you start at Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock #1), because this is a sister-series to Jane Yellowrock. This would avoid any confusion, as well as organically explain the world-building in an easy to digest fashion as the reader learns along with the heroine.
Faith Hunter creates the most original heroines I've ever read, and Nell Ingram takes top honors. Nell's background, the 'cult' culture in which she was raised, her family, her widowed status, and even her home, I have never read anything so unique. Then add in the fact that her magic is quite literally communing with earth...
Nell is no longer a probie. She's a full-blown PsyLed agent. While everyone treats her with respect as a major part of their team, Nell still feels the insecurities of being the rookie. She's still finding her footing, after the conditioning of her past. Especially now that her boss's boss is looking over her shoulder.
More police-procedural than the last installment, I won't go into detail over the crime PsyLed is investigating. I will admit, while I love a good who-done-it, this portion dragged the novel down. I appreciated the crime-solving, threading the pieces together, but it was slow as molasses and not holding my attention as the more personal issues did. I was more curious about Nell, more so than what PsyLed was up to.
The crime-solving is a major focus of the novel, with a minor focus on Nell's personal life. With her sisters moving into her home, the reader sees more of the impact their past has on the women. Nell is still navigating her budding relationship with Occam, which I enjoyed their interactions and the slower pace involved, befitting Nell's personality and background.
Nell is still developing her magic, learning what all she can do, flexing her abilities. I think this is the perfect vehicle to allow the reader to discover it with her, without being bombarded with too much information. Masterfully done, as the reader's curiosity spikes.
I highly recommend this novel to Urban Fantasy fans. Faith Hunter is always at the top of my recommendation list. Nell with her intriguing background and unique magic abilities, and Jane with her inner Beast, Native American ancestry, and vampire political connections. Two unique heroines, one highly recommended author.
4 Stars
Spells for the Dead is the fifth installment in the Soulwood series, and it absolutely cannot be read out of series order or as a standalone. Start with Blood of the Earth. But honestly, I'd suggest you start at Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock #1), because this is a sister-series to Jane Yellowrock. This would avoid any confusion, as well as organically explain the world-building in an easy to digest fashion as the reader learns along with the heroine.
Faith Hunter creates the most original heroines I've ever read, and Nell Ingram takes top honors. Nell's background, the 'cult' culture in which she was raised, her family, her widowed status, and even her home, I have never read anything so unique. Then add in the fact that her magic is quite literally communing with earth...
Nell is no longer a probie. She's a full-blown PsyLed agent. While everyone treats her with respect as a major part of their team, Nell still feels the insecurities of being the rookie. She's still finding her footing, after the conditioning of her past. Especially now that her boss's boss is looking over her shoulder.
More police-procedural than the last installment, I won't go into detail over the crime PsyLed is investigating. I will admit, while I love a good who-done-it, this portion dragged the novel down. I appreciated the crime-solving, threading the pieces together, but it was slow as molasses and not holding my attention as the more personal issues did. I was more curious about Nell, more so than what PsyLed was up to.
The crime-solving is a major focus of the novel, with a minor focus on Nell's personal life. With her sisters moving into her home, the reader sees more of the impact their past has on the women. Nell is still navigating her budding relationship with Occam, which I enjoyed their interactions and the slower pace involved, befitting Nell's personality and background.
Nell is still developing her magic, learning what all she can do, flexing her abilities. I think this is the perfect vehicle to allow the reader to discover it with her, without being bombarded with too much information. Masterfully done, as the reader's curiosity spikes.
I highly recommend this novel to Urban Fantasy fans. Faith Hunter is always at the top of my recommendation list. Nell with her intriguing background and unique magic abilities, and Jane with her inner Beast, Native American ancestry, and vampire political connections. Two unique heroines, one highly recommended author.
July 30, 2020
Very good mystery! Every time I thought I knew who did it, I was wrong! My only complaint is the over use of the term "death and decay"!
August 9, 2020
It’s been a long time since I finished a book in a few days. Covid-19 has me binge watching tv.
But this book got me excited about reading again. I like this series way better than the other. Jane Yellowrock irks me, though I still listen to her series. I hate her love interest and what he did in the past to her was unforgivable in my eyes. But I’m a me too survivor, so maybe I see things differently.
This series, I like Nell. I like Oakum (listening, have no idea for spellings). I love Rick found redemption in this series.
Though the world building troubles me. Jane and Rick couldn’t have relations because he was a were cat which put a strain on their relationship.
Nell and Oakum can and I feel like I missed something. I don’t remember how and why they could overcome it. Especially when Oakum said in this installment they couldn’t pass it to other supernaturals??? Did the world building change in this series from Jane’s???
Anyway, I enjoyed this book. It was a bit predictable as I assumed Nell would overcome all, but I didn’t guess The Who done it. Win!!!
Narrator great as usual.
But this book got me excited about reading again. I like this series way better than the other. Jane Yellowrock irks me, though I still listen to her series. I hate her love interest and what he did in the past to her was unforgivable in my eyes. But I’m a me too survivor, so maybe I see things differently.
This series, I like Nell. I like Oakum (listening, have no idea for spellings). I love Rick found redemption in this series.
Though the world building troubles me. Jane and Rick couldn’t have relations because he was a were cat which put a strain on their relationship.
Nell and Oakum can and I feel like I missed something. I don’t remember how and why they could overcome it. Especially when Oakum said in this installment they couldn’t pass it to other supernaturals??? Did the world building change in this series from Jane’s???
Anyway, I enjoyed this book. It was a bit predictable as I assumed Nell would overcome all, but I didn’t guess The Who done it. Win!!!
Narrator great as usual.
October 1, 2020
The case in this book was less interesting than all the personal interactions Nell had, with her family, her team, and the people she met working the case. She has done a lot of learning and growing, and it really shows in this book. She also learns a lot about herself and what she might be, or at least about what she might be able to do.
I am really looking forward to the audio version, because of the narrator and how she voices Nell and the rest of the gang, I always feel like I learn a bit more and sink a bit more into the story.
The way this book ends (not a cliffhanger at all folks) leaves me really excited to see the next chapter of Nell's life.
**AUDIO SPECIFIC**
I really love these audio books. They just ... they are amazing. Khristine Hvam really gets you into Nell's head and you really learn right along with her. I adore the personal growth for Nell and her friends and family in this book. They really lean into her need to take care of herself, while she leans into letting other people help out every once in a while.
I am really looking forward to the audio version, because of the narrator and how she voices Nell and the rest of the gang, I always feel like I learn a bit more and sink a bit more into the story.
The way this book ends (not a cliffhanger at all folks) leaves me really excited to see the next chapter of Nell's life.
**AUDIO SPECIFIC**
I really love these audio books. They just ... they are amazing. Khristine Hvam really gets you into Nell's head and you really learn right along with her. I adore the personal growth for Nell and her friends and family in this book. They really lean into her need to take care of herself, while she leans into letting other people help out every once in a while.
June 7, 2020
The 5th book in Faith Hunter's magically delicious Soulwood series, Spells For The Dead., picks up a little bit after book 4. Nell is no longer a probie, she now has two roommates, and her love life is on track. When she is called to the gruesome murder scene of a famous country singer, she discovers that revenge is a powerful motive
I adore Faith Hunter's stories. Her female eccentric story lines, while paranormal in nature, focus on very real world issues such as racism, misogyny, and domestic violence, While I enjoyed Nell's interactions and narrative with the various parts of her world, she is still learning and growing, I did find the mystery dragged a bit. Hunter tends to over explain certain issues, obliterating points as she hammers them home. Not sure why this is an issue here and not in her Yellowrock series. Regardless, the main story line was quite riveting and I enjoyed it. The ending is not a cliffhanger but does leave readers with a need for book 6.
I adore Faith Hunter's stories. Her female eccentric story lines, while paranormal in nature, focus on very real world issues such as racism, misogyny, and domestic violence, While I enjoyed Nell's interactions and narrative with the various parts of her world, she is still learning and growing, I did find the mystery dragged a bit. Hunter tends to over explain certain issues, obliterating points as she hammers them home. Not sure why this is an issue here and not in her Yellowrock series. Regardless, the main story line was quite riveting and I enjoyed it. The ending is not a cliffhanger but does leave readers with a need for book 6.
August 3, 2020
Excellent as always. I love the way Nell is stickin' up for herself and her sisters with the religiots. and how her sisters are learning that same thing for themselves.
And her BF is just soooo freaking perfect for her and they are so sweet together that it's got me thinking he's probably not going to live long and Nell's going to end up, eventually, with Jane's brother (who is seen a lot in this entry). There's absolutely nothing to say that's how it's going to go, just my hunch I am immortalizing here so later I can either say "I told you so" or "doh! wrong again." :D
The topic of the primary story was a bit disgustingly squishy, which was kinda kewl. I love these characters and this story. I may be at a point where I'm enjoying it more than Jane Yellowrock. Or maybe it's just my mood of the moment. But this is a good UF series.
And her BF is just soooo freaking perfect for her and they are so sweet together that it's got me thinking he's probably not going to live long and Nell's going to end up, eventually, with Jane's brother (who is seen a lot in this entry). There's absolutely nothing to say that's how it's going to go, just my hunch I am immortalizing here so later I can either say "I told you so" or "doh! wrong again." :D
The topic of the primary story was a bit disgustingly squishy, which was kinda kewl. I love these characters and this story. I may be at a point where I'm enjoying it more than Jane Yellowrock. Or maybe it's just my mood of the moment. But this is a good UF series.
July 23, 2021
REREAD 2021
I now know the team apart, but I still felt like there were too many players in this book. That said, I loved the dynamic of Nell and her sisters, and I desperately want to know how things are going with her family!
Keeping the original rating.
---------------------------
The only bad thing I can really say about this book is that it has too many characters. I had trouble keeping the team apart before, and now there were so many characters involved, it was hard keeping up on who was/did what. Other than that, though, I flew through this book and really enjoyed it!
Looking forward to see what more may happen in Nell's life in future books!
I now know the team apart, but I still felt like there were too many players in this book. That said, I loved the dynamic of Nell and her sisters, and I desperately want to know how things are going with her family!
Keeping the original rating.
---------------------------
The only bad thing I can really say about this book is that it has too many characters. I had trouble keeping the team apart before, and now there were so many characters involved, it was hard keeping up on who was/did what. Other than that, though, I flew through this book and really enjoyed it!
Looking forward to see what more may happen in Nell's life in future books!
July 23, 2020
Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
It's blog tour day today for one of my favorite authors and book #5 in the Soulwood series, Spells for the Dead. If you haven't checked out the rest of the tour stops yet, start here for excerpts and more opportunities to win prizes in the giveaway!
I’m always excited for a new Faith Hunter book, and it’s no different for Spells for the Dead. One reason is I know there will be character growth and that remains true in Spells for the Dead.
Nell is leaving her past further behind with every installment in this series, mentally if not physically. She’s still in her house, on her land, “next door” to the church. But she's no longer PsyLED's rookie, she's no longer a churchwoman, and she's definitely no longer meek or afraid to ask questions.
Spells for the Dead is dark. It opens on a murder, with multiple people dead, and in gross and gruesome fashion. (You know that you should never, ever piss off an author, right? Right? Well, now you do!) But even with all the gross and gruesome, I enjoyed the familiarity of the PsyLED procedures, even with a new boss - and I liked Ayatas FireWind, too. We learn a bit more about him in this fifth installment of Hunter's Soulwood series, but my curiosity still runs rampant.
There's plenty here to keep you turning the pages, not least of which is WHODUNNIT?!?! Never mind the how. Or all the other things occupying Nell's mental space, especially her sisters. I love how she uses her knowledge of Church rules to help Esther stand on her own two feet - and I love how well Esther does it, too. There's just so much to read, you'll be amazed when you're done. And then you'll start all over from the beginning.
drey's rating: Excellent!
Have you read Spells for the Dead? What did you think?
Giveaway!
There's a giveaway for some lovely prizes, including Tea with Faith (via Zoom) and some lovely leather arm/wristbands (see picture below). Open to US residents only, enter now!
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Images are not representative of actual item size
This review was originally posted on drey's library
It's blog tour day today for one of my favorite authors and book #5 in the Soulwood series, Spells for the Dead. If you haven't checked out the rest of the tour stops yet, start here for excerpts and more opportunities to win prizes in the giveaway!
I’m always excited for a new Faith Hunter book, and it’s no different for Spells for the Dead. One reason is I know there will be character growth and that remains true in Spells for the Dead.
Nell is leaving her past further behind with every installment in this series, mentally if not physically. She’s still in her house, on her land, “next door” to the church. But she's no longer PsyLED's rookie, she's no longer a churchwoman, and she's definitely no longer meek or afraid to ask questions.
Spells for the Dead is dark. It opens on a murder, with multiple people dead, and in gross and gruesome fashion. (You know that you should never, ever piss off an author, right? Right? Well, now you do!) But even with all the gross and gruesome, I enjoyed the familiarity of the PsyLED procedures, even with a new boss - and I liked Ayatas FireWind, too. We learn a bit more about him in this fifth installment of Hunter's Soulwood series, but my curiosity still runs rampant.
There's plenty here to keep you turning the pages, not least of which is WHODUNNIT?!?! Never mind the how. Or all the other things occupying Nell's mental space, especially her sisters. I love how she uses her knowledge of Church rules to help Esther stand on her own two feet - and I love how well Esther does it, too. There's just so much to read, you'll be amazed when you're done. And then you'll start all over from the beginning.
drey's rating: Excellent!
Have you read Spells for the Dead? What did you think?
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This review was originally posted on drey's library
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