Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Spells for the Dead by Faith Hunter
Series: Soulwood #5
Published by Ace on July 28, 2020
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 368
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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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.
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.”
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- COYER-20
I’m loving this series. I can’t wait to see what Nell and Co. are up to.
A LOT happens in this one, although it feels like it doesn’t because the case is so confusing at first.
Faith Hunter is an author I’d love to start reading at some point, but I feel like I’ve missed my chance because her series are so long. Ugh, there are just too many books!
Don’t worry Tammy, at some point I will do a Read-along and you can read about 1 a month with me. Both are great series. You could try her newer Junkyard cats stuff which only has 1 out and one on the way.
I am brand new to the series.. I am addicted to anything vampires, and I can’t wait to get started!!
I love both of Faith Hunter’s series. The Jane Yellowrock one has a big focus on vampires. The Soulwood series has much more diverse types of paranormal species. I hope you love them.
i am a sucker for a great cover. just looking at it makes me want it
The covers on this series have been especially lovely.
Yea! So glad the spinoff series is still working for you. Is Jane Yellowrock still active or is that series over?
Jane Yellowrock is still active with another book set for next year. I think she’s doing a book about every 8 months? I sometimes think I like this series better than Jane but I do really enjoy both.
I am loving the Soulwood series & Nell’s adventures. I read all of the books in the series, then I listen to them in order on Audible. I am also a BIG fan of Faith Hunters ‘Jane Yellowrock series’.
I’m a big fan of all Faith Hunter’s works. These are especially terrific. I tend to read them the first time and do some rereading on audio also.
I only tried one book by the author but I need to read more!
Yes I highly recommend this author.
I think I’d like to try her Junkyard Cats. This is a great review, Anne. I’m intrigued.
Junkyard Cats would be a quick way to try the author as it is just starting. It’s a bit of a different genre leaning more towards scifi.
I have at least the first audio book of the Jane Yellowrock series, and I started listening to it a while back but I wasn’t in the mood and then never went back to it. I need to get to it. Nice to hear you’re enjoying this new series as well. What a lovely giveaway, too!
I really enjoy the JY series and this one. I have some of the JY on audio and all of this one except this new one isn’t out on audio quite yet, but it’s coming.
I need to add this series to the list of series I want to read… Faith Huter has been on my radar for a while but it’s a case of so many books and not enough time. 🙁
I have that problem with series I have wanted to read but not managed. That’s partly why I am doing a Read-along every year. Well every other year is a new one, and the other is a reread for me. I also try to do the Read A Series in a Month that Because Reading does twice a year, at least for the shorter series.
I’m not familiar with this series but it sounds wonderful!
I’d probably start with Jane Yellowrock to get here but yes I love this series.
I thoroughly enjoy well written urban fantasy – and I haven’t yet read anything from this author, so I’m hoping to give her a go once I’ve completed a few more series this year! Thank you for sharing, Anne:)
Thank you. I really enjoy this author. She’s a lovely person also. I would start with Jane Yellowrock as this is a spinoff. You could read just this but you would be missing a bunch of world and character development as they start in the other series, I’m sure I will do this as a Read-along some year.