I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Thoroughly!

It begins as just another PsyLED case, tracking down a mysterious supernatural killer. What none of the team can know is just how tough this case will be.

An invisible assassin targets a powerful senator, burning down the house he was visiting. What seems a simple enough case has many disturbing elements. A supernatural foe more powerful than any PsyLED has encountered before may destroy them all.

The best part of the story for me was the interplay between Nell and the rest of the team, especially Occam, as she works on figuring out where she fits in.

Things get a little more serious between Nell and Occam, and there’s some serious competition for Occam coming from the church people that Nell just can’t seem to stay away from.

The relationship between Nell and her sister, Mud, who is different in the same way she is, deepens in a very satisfactory way.

Nell also finds out more about what she is during the case. The question is if she will lose her humanity in the process.

I recommend this book wholeheartedly. It is a great addition to the Soulwood series and the Jane Yellowrock universe.

Our review is posted here: http://kingsriverlife.com/01/13/flame-in-the-dark-by-faith-hunter/
And it came to pass that Faith Hunter did create Jane Yellowrock, a vampire hunter who works for vampires, and the series of books was good.

And in those days, out of the Yellowrock series, did Faith Hunter bring forth Nell Ingram, who can communicate with the land, and—oddly enough—the series was good, too. And the third of Nell’s Soulwood books was Flame in the Dark, and it was really good.

bookHunter breeds strong female characters like they were thoroughbreds, but Jane and Nell are from different bloodlines. Jane is a Native American shapeshifter who slices and dices her opponents. Nell is more cerebral, collecting clues and thinking her way to a solution, a Jane Austen heroine with paranormal powers. She reaches into the earth to track where creatures trod, gains strength from plants and soil, can feed enemies to the earth, and she can cook, too.

Raised in a religious community that marries their females young and isolates them from society, Nell fights to be her own person, and struggles to fit in with the outside world: slang, fast food, pop culture references, relationships, and the paranormal branch of Homeland Security where she now works. The team is called in to an assassination attempt on a US Senator, or was he the target? How did the shooter vanish? Why did the house catch fire? The clues are there, but it takes time and thought to link them into an answer and a culprit.

Just because this is a mystery-based urban fantasy, don’t expect a lack of action. Shootouts, confrontations with a blood-lusting tree and a malignant remnant of a scoundrel Nell put under the ground, and a fiery conclusion raise the adrenaline level rather well. Do you need a touch of romance? After Nell’s upbringing, it will take Nell a long time to be ready for anything resembling love, but Occam, a feline shape-changer, is patient enough to let her go at her own speed, and those first steps are funny to watch.

Faith Hunter has constructed a thinking-person’s urban fantasy, a modern Sherlock Holmes in long skirts and hands in the dirt.

Nell Ingram's series of books is perhaps slightly more loved by us than Jane Yellowrock's and that's saying something because we love us some Jane Yellowrock.

What we like about Nell not only how she's accepting her transition from human to something very much not, but how she's also dealing with her transition from ingrained cult life into the regular world.

And out of the three books focusing on her that have been released so far, this one is easily the best.

There's so much discovery in terms of her magic and her power. She's grown stronger and smarter in demonstrating the intelligence she so obviously possesses.

And we love that.

The mystery delivered in Flame in THE Dark is wonderfully construed because it turns in on itself and grows that we honestly couldn't predict the outcome the first time around.

The second and third time's, yes because we remembered the story, but it was no less enjoyable.

We had Nell and Mud and Occam and more to keep us entertained.

Two things we'd like to note before concluding our review is how well Rick fits in this series compared to how badly he existed in Jane Yellowrock's territory of New Orleans and how much we missed Pakka in this installment.

We hadn't been aware of how fond we were of her until she was gone.

To finish, you need this book. It's great urban fantasy that can only compete with few others like Ilona Andrews and Nalini Singh who are our absolute favourites. And Faith Hunter is already contracted to write a further two books with Nell as the protagonist and the fourth one already has a title.

Circle of the Moon. Isn't it cool?

HOO boy.

I’ve been an advocate for Faith Hunter’s SOULWOOD series since the first book. That being said, Hunter hits her stride in FLAME IN THE DARK.

When a senator’s home is attacked during a gathering of Knoxville’s prominent citizens, the local law enforcement doesn’t think the crime was perpetrated by, or directed at supernaturals, but Nell’s PsyLED team is called in due to the presence of Ming Glass, the numero uno vampire of the city.

A good thing too, b/c when Nell “looks things over” as only she can, she discovers a villain who is her antithesis.

Everywhere it stepped the plants are dying or dead in a way Nell can do nothing to stop. The damage is irreparable. The death as permanent as if the earth had been salted in the unknown creature’s wake.

For one with a tangible connection to growing things, this is understandably upsetting.

As a reader with no connection to growing things whatsoever (I can’t even keep a rubber tree alive—Seriously, I’ve managed to kill at least two of them), this thing joins the ranks of most sinister villains ever. For real. It’s death incarnate. How do you kill death incarnate? Can it be killed?

Fortunately for everyone involved, Nell keeps her head better than I did, methodically researching the people involved and narrowing the list of potential creatures down to half a dozen options, and that’s when things get interesting.

You: Interesting how?

Me: Interesting in that one of the possibilities makes Soul, the heretofore unflappable Assistant Director of PsyLED, lose her damn mind.

So that’s fun. Especially when Nell doesn’t hesitate to suggest that Soul remove herself from the investigation as her emotional involvement may prevent her from dealing with the creature(s) according to PsyLED policy (rather than just killing it/them with fire).

Nell might talk real country, and she’s usually pretty laid back, but dollface has a spine of steel.

In her own way, Nell is every bit as badass as Jane Yellowrock, and that becomes clear in this installment.

Also clearly defined by FinD is Nell’s relationship with Occam.

In the prior books, neither his interest nor Nell’s discomfort (at the feelings his interest evoked) were secret, but there wasn’t sufficient development for me to be emotionally invested in the final outcome.

That is no longer the case. #ishipit

Also, also, various side plots that have been flailing since they were introduced have been resolved: (view spoiler)

All in all a satisfying and eventful chapter in the story that is Nell Nicholson Ingram. SO. If you love urban fantasy and you haven’t already started reading SOULWOOD, get on that immediately. If you wait much longer, you’ll start complaining about the number of installments to get caught up on, but you won’t be able to blame anyone but yourself, and who needs that kind of self-inflicted regret? NOT YOU. If you aren’t new to Nell, but for unfathomable reasons have fallen behind, now is the time to play catch up. Seriously. You’ll be missing out on ALL THE THINGS if you don’t. Highly recommended.

This is the third book in the Soulwood series. This was my favorite book in this series yet. Nell grows a lot as a character in this book and I really enjoyed some of the revelations she made about her magic.

This was a great investigative urban fantasy and I enjoyed the mystery and plot a lot. There is a self-contained mystery that is solved in this novel but we also see more about Nell’s personal mysteries and that storyline makes more progress as well. I also love how Nell is trying to find her way in the “real-world” while still keeping involved some with her family who are living on church grounds.

I love that this series is introducing other types of paranormals into the mix. It was fun to read about these new types of creatures and I also loved the new types of magic we see here.

Overall this was a wonderful installment in this urban fantasy series. I loved the plot, characters, new creatures, and interesting magic. There is so much that is new and interesting here and I love watching Nell and her PsyLED team deal with it all. I look forward to reading more books in this series.

Nell Ingram is no longer a "churchwoman." She has grown into being a probie in Unit 18 of the PsyLed division of Homeland Security. PsyLed specializes in policing the paranormals - witches, vampires, werewolves, and more.

Nell is also growing into her powers as whatever she is paranormally speaking. She is able to draw on the earth for various reasons and to read its current state in a given area.

The PsyLed unit is called to the site of an assassination attempt on a senator because Ming of Glass, a vampire, is on site. Also, the attempt has a weirdness to it. There seems to be a pyro aspect as well as wondering how the assassin was able to approach the house unseen when there was security personnel on site.There are further attacks on the senator and his family. PsyLed continues to be involved in the investigations.

There is a romance subplot. Nell and Occam seem to be getting closer. And her mama sets her up with someone as well.

The characters in the novel are well developed and multifaceted for the most part. They feel like real people who just happen to have these different abilities. Especially well developed are the PsyLed team and Mud, Nell's little sister.

The plot is well written. The pace is good. There is more than one seemingly climactic scene. The further on I read, the more hooked I was. I needed to know what happened next.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. If you like urban fantasy that is a little on the dark side, the Soulwood series is a good one for you. I also like that Faith Hunter stretches to have more than the typical paranormal characters. She has a lovely imagination. I've read Flame in the Dark twice now and enjoyed it both times.

Flame in the Dark by Faith Hunter was released December 5, 2017 by Ace Books. For a taste of the series, you can read a short story, "Black Friday Shopping with Nell and Occam," which takes place right before this book here.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions herein are my own and freely given.

There’s a lot happening in this third installment of Faith Hunter’s Soulwood series, so as with all of Hunter’s books, you’d better get comfortable and pay attention or you might miss something! Here, Nell is transitioning even deeper into her power at the same time she is making some decisions about her future that have been a long time coming. Specifically, she’s coming to grips with the place of her family and of the church in her life while considering whether she’s willing to open the door to love. (<– By the way, I vote yes.)

Nell is still a probationary officer with PsyLed, but she has come a long way. She knows her weapons and procedures, but more importantly, she understands people. One of her greatest gifts is in making connections; she understands what motivates people and why they behave the way they do–and beyond her ability to commune with the earth, it’s one of the biggest ways she helps her team.

Their new case centers on a hit-man with some possibly high profile targets. Nell’s team first has to figure out whether the killer is after a politically connected human family, a master vampire, or someone they hadn’t considered. They’ve got to figure out if the bad guy is some kind of supernatural and what’s driving him to kill. It’s a convoluted investigation, especially since the perpetrator keeps striking over and over again.

There’s a lot of action and the mystery is interesting, but for me, it was Nell’s personal journey that carried the book. She is becoming not just someone different, but something different as well. The way she’s used the earth (and continues to do so) is changing her physiology. She’s sprouting leaves and bark and stuff; she’s growing a sort of bloodlust. Even more significant, though, she is figuring out who she is as a woman and what kind of treatment she deserves. She’s experimenting with city life: Krispy Kreme and coffee shops. And yet, she’s looking for balance with the family she left behind.

Then there’s Occam. I love this guy and there is so much of his backstory that is still a mystery, but at the same time we know enough to empathize with him and root for him to end up with Nell. It’s hard for her. God knows, she’s got such a screwed up history, I wouldn’t blame her if she never wanted to even look at a man again, but I know they could be so good together. Then things happen. I won’t spoil you, but I will say this was written like it could have ended the series and if this were really it, I would be so frustrated right now. Thankfully, Hunter says she is contracted for at least two more books, so I will try to be patient until I can see where she will take us.

Overall, while it was a little complicated and somewhat uneven at times, it was a good book. I just wish we would have had one more scene to pay off on one particular promise that never quite delivered.

Rating: B/B+

I cannot praise Faith Hunter enough.  First she got me hooked on Jane Yellowrock and then as Jane's world expanded, Faith brought in Nell Ingram.  This is an action packed adventure with plenty of story and character advancement.  There is no sex, no swear words, a little graphic violence and best of all no cliffhanger.  I thought there would be, but Faith Hunter saved me from wallowing in cliffhanger self pity.
The story was great.  I don't mean on the low side of 5 great - I mean as high on the high side of 5 as the meter will go.  There were monsters.  You think there maybe isn't monsters at first, but you know better since PsyLED is involved.  These are monsters that give me that feeling like the movie Jaws did to the ocean.  If you listen closely, you can figure out where the monsters are coming from but the why that is answered in the end is just plain dark!  It was GREAT!!!
The other part of the book was fun too.  Not just a little bit, but a lot!  I got to ride around with Nell and live her day.  I liked how she got home and had to put logs into the stove to make heat for the house.  I found her life interesting in an everyday kind of way.  I enjoyed how she used her "church speak" to her advantage.  I loved how Nell put her own father in his place when no one else could.  Not even the Mamas. Go Nell!!  I loved how Nell's love life changed and she had to do a lot of soul searching to figure out what to do. The will they/won't they between Occam and Nell was palpable.  I could nearly feel the tense vibes that Occam was sending.  Why tense? Well, there is a new man on the scene - if you are on team Occam, you'd better dive in and see what it's about.
You think that's all? Um, no.  There is still the whole Brother Ephram thing, the Vampire tree thing and the Mindy "Mud" thing.  There is a whole lot happening in this book.  I was riveted and the conclusion was very satisfying.  Now, I read a blog that claims this is the end of the series.  Oh, boy.  I hope not.  I still want to be a part of Nell's life.  I want to ride with her on her journey of life.  In some ways she is more wise than a woman twice her age and in other ways, she's as wise as a woman half her age.  It's a interesting and investing kind of story.

Faith Hunter continues her exceptional Soulwood series with this very entertaining 2017 publication.

I like Soulwood for the same reasons I like Terry Pratchett’s witch books – I like that the strong female characters are independent and are impressive with their work-related skills. Pratchett described Granny Weatherwax and Tiffany Aching as accomplished and powerful witches who used their formidable powers sparingly; most of the magic they demonstrated was of the domestic and practical kind – midwifery, husbandry and various and sundry kinds of stewardship that made lives around them better and more healthy and secure.

Nell Ingram, late of the God’s Cloud Church in Eastern Tennessee is now a capable law enforcement agent working for PsyLED – but she still lives on her mountain home amidst her claimed land, still boils water for tea, feeds the cats, bakes bread, tends the plants, and handles whatever comes her way in a self-assured and proficient way. "She can skin a buck and run a trotline, cuz country folks can survive."

This latest edition of the series finds Nell and the other members of Unit Eighteen trying to solve some strange goings on in Knoxville involving some assassination attempts and some peculiar fire. Meanwhile Hunter continues to develop the characters and this outstanding world building, sharing the same universe as her Jane Yellowrock stories.

What is Nell? She’s not a witch. Is she a dryad, a wood nymph, or something like that? Hunter also continues to develop her magic building in an X-Man like scenario of “what the hell kind of creature are you?” Any urban fantasy that makes me break out my ancient edition of Dungeons and Dragons Deities and Demigods has my attention and admiration. She’s on to something really cool.

Recommended.

This is my favorite Nell book yet. We have a real mystery going on in this one, supernatural in nature, with a satisfying and exciting love story on the side. Nell keeps getting better and better.

Faith Hunter really is having fun in the Soulwood series, fleshing out the background of the Jane Yellowrock universe and complicating Nell Ingram's life all to pieces. Nell is starting to get used to being a member of PsyLED when her team is called in to an attempted assassination on a U.S. Senator. Things are not right in regard to the victims, the fire that occurred, and the dying plants on the ground. Then another attack at the Senator's house. A family car exploding. And always fire. Eventually, almost too late, the team manage to put pieces together and interrupt the planned takeover of the Tolliver family fortune. Nell also had to deal with personal and family business, juggling two males courting her, and dealing with a vampire tree and a sister that shares her paranormal skill set. By the end, some things are wrapped up, but plenty of loose ends remain for future books. Looking forward to those!

Faith Hunter gives us the third Soulwood paranormal story of Nell Ingram in Flame in the Dark. Nell is an officer in PsyLED, the paranormal police of Homeland Security. A powerful senator and his family is targeted for death and the perpetrator is not human. Nell can diagnose the health of the land and is connected to her property, Soulwood, by psychic ties. Will her romantic connection to a werecat on the team go anywhere? How does her psychic power work? What are the forces arrayed against the senator. Read this acttion packed fantasy and find out.

This is by far one of favorite series! Faith is an incredible writer, who has created an awesome world! This series is a spinoff from the Jane Yellowrock series, and it's awesome! The characters that Faith has created, will suck you in! I highly recommend checking out both series! Very worth it!

Catnip for process nerds and urban fantasy fans alike, riding along with Nell Ingram on any given day is a treat. FLAME IN THE DARK is a particularly fraught for her, both personally and professionally, but the rich texture of Nell's day to day life often drowns out window dressing like "plot".

Nell’s growth, her social and professional development, her compassionate navigation of disparate communities... there is so much to enjoy in this series, and FLAME IN THE DARK brings most of these to a head. But to be fair, I'm more interested in how Nell warms up her skillets or plans her meals than the preternatural threat PsyLED spends this book investigating. And while I greatly enjoyed Nell's romantic growth, her latest suitor served much more as a catalyst for Nell to process past and present than to be an actual character, making her ultimate choice a foregone conclusion. But these events don't detract from enjoying Nell's thoughtful competence and continued growth.

Don't let these criticisms fool you into thinking FLAME IN THE DARK isn't a satisfying conclusion to a really enjoyable series. More so than even the Jane Yellowrock books, Soulwood is a series made captivating by its main character. FLAME IN THE DARK is a great cap to the series, but having more opportunities to ride along with Nell would be even better.

I liked a lot of things about Flame in the Dark. The main story arc is good, always moves forward, and captures your attention. I have two main issues with this book: there's a lot of rambling in the middle of narration and big problems aren't addressed in a timely manner. I've noticed both of these issues is the more recent Faith Hunter books, both this and the Jane Yellowrock series. I think I got hooked on the latter before she started doing these things and now I can't stop reading them even though the frustrate me.

An example of the rambling:
Person 1: What do you want for dinner?
[Several pages of narration that is somehow an offshoot of eating dinner or going to dinner or what they're doing before or after dinner]
Person 2: Tacos.

By the time we get to the "tacos" part I am so confused because I don't even remember that there was a question to begin with. I really hope this is something that the writer and editor notice and work on, because these books could be so much better without the rambling. Not that it's bad information that we're getting, but it would be better to do it not between dialogue.

As for big problems taking a while to be addressed or resolved, this is also an issue in both series. It would be like every time you turn your head to the left your nose bleeds. You turn your head and think, "oh, I should get this looked at." But do that 50 times and you see what I mean. The character doesn't seem to think the nosebleeds are that urgent but it is clearly something that needs addressing and we don't know why they're happening in the first place.

If you're interested in either of these books, I HIGHLY recommend the audiobook versions. Khristine Hvam is a gift to the audiobook community.

Thanks Berkley Publishing Group and netgalley for this ARC.

Only Faith Hunter could make this genre believable and not weird.

Late last year I read a random book and discovered myself instantly hooked on author Faith Hunter. When I saw she had a new book coming out I knew I had to have it. Silly me didn’t stop and think maybe I should read the first two in the Soulwood series. Hindsight tells me I would have enjoyed starting the series from the beginning and probably would have had a better understanding of the who/whats/whys but frankly, I don’t care. Nope, I jumped in with both feet and started reading Flame in the Dark. Annnnd…. I. Loved. It.

This is one busy story. So much going on from Nell’s family to her fitting in the PsyLED all while trying to solve a murder/crime. Nell herself I found to be a sweet enigma. It took me the longest time to understand what her power was. Had it been discussed in previous books? I’ve read enough paranormals that I should have figured it out, but I didn’t. That right there tells you how unique she is! I really enjoyed her character. So simple, refreshing, intelligent, but good gosh do not piss her off because her power is…WHOA!

Now her family, the cult she came from and her past life had me both curious and horrified. Obviously, I’m missing out on a lot jumping in mid-series but there was plenty of info that I was able to grasp what was going on. Escaping a cult, YIKES! I’m still a bit lost when it comes to Ephraim and the vampire tree but Nell’s time with Mud more than made up for it. Side note: Please tell me there will be more books that include Mud. I would love to know what happens to her.

All of this circles around Nell’s new position with PsyLED, her co-workers and the assassination attempt on a powerful senator. That is one mystery that took me completely by surprise. It has so many twists and turns, by the time the whodunit is revealed, let’s just say Nell and what she is isn’t the only new experience for me in this book. And her co-workers, ack! T. Laine, Tandy, JoJo were all a blast and Rick and Occam’s cat fights…oh yeah, this is a team worth reading about. I love-love-LOVE how Occam was toward Nell. A properly improper kiss. *SIGH* That little dangling carrot has me dying to know what happens next.

Despite not having read the series from the beginning, I found Flame in the Dark to be an exceptionally enjoyable read. The hardest part for me was not what I missed but putting the book down. Honestly, sleep is so over-rated when you find yourself sucked into a story that is too intriguing. I’m giving this one 2 thumbs way up and declaring it a must read.

I received this book from The JeepDiva with the express purpose of an honest review. The opinions, contents, and rating of this review are solely mine
Stars - 5, Flames - 1
reviewed by Jac

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Flame in the Dark returns to the darkly magical realm of Soulwod, pitting Nell Ingram and the PsyLED team against an unknown paranormal with deadly intentions.

A vicious killer out for blood, and a young woman still feeling out her place and purpose in life, cross paths in Faith Hunter's fast-paced urban fantasy Flame in the Dark.

PsyLED Unit Eghteen is part of a team investigating attacks against Tennessee senator Abrams Tolliver and his family, ones with potential paranormal origins. As the attacks escalate, it becomes clear that there is something terribly wrong. Multiple shootings and fires claim life after life, and the race is on to identify this unknown assailant before the entire family is assassinated.

As if crazy, possibly pyromanic, paranormals weren't enough, Nell is undergoing changes of her own. Each contact, every healing, with Soulwood draws out her inhuman nature. Not to mention not one, but two potential love interests. Will she give in to family pressure to marry Ben Aden, or explore her new options with wereleopard Occam?

This was my first foray into Faith Hunter's works. I have several of the Jane Yellowrock books in my TBR mountain though. I'll get there one day! Hopefully, one day soon. I enjoyed the overall storyline of Flame, but think the enjoyment would have been greater if I'd read the previous two books in the series- Blood of the Earth and Curse on the Land. The writing had a very modern noir feel to it, with hints of X-Files and Grimm.

I love the idea of a paranormal branch of Homeland Security. This book felt like the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series could have been, before being taken over by rampant sex scenes. I enjoyed the worldbuilding. It was certainly a pleasure to see something other than werewolves as a staple. Wolves get old, and cats are so much more intriguing. We don't see much of the vampires of this world in this book, so I didn't get too solid a feel for them. I want to know more about the arcenciels, and grindylows! The grindys seem so cute, but clearly they have a function shepherding weres. I look forward to seeing more of Nell’s evolution, as she discovers what she is. My guess- hamadryad. In her gift, and in Soulwood, there is healing, there is peace, and there is the reminder of Nature’s bloody fury and impersonal destruction.

There was a lot in the story that felt more telling than showing, and some things felt over-emphasized. Nell’s past in the church was like that. At times, I felt bludgeoned with it. Part is personal grievance on my part, I know. I tend to get my hackles up with anything remotely Christiany, and this backwards-seeming church pushed all my buttons and then some.

If you enjoy urban/paranormal fantasy and unique preternaturals, you're sure to enjoy Flame in the Dark!

*** Dos mere to Penguin/ Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

FLAME IN THE DARK (Soulwood #3)
Faith Hunter
Ace Books
December 5, 2017

The Soulwood series is an offshoot of Faith Hunter's urban fantasy Jane Yellowrock series, set in the same world and featuring some of the same characters. The difference between the two heroines is profound, however. Soulwood's Nell Ingram is a hill woman raised in a polygamous fundamentalist cult, God's Cloud of Glory Church. Women of the church are second class citizens, no strangers to terror and abuse. Nell is a young widow who has left the church, starting over away from her family who remains there. She lives close by on the property that her late husband willed to her. The church does not like that, and previous books have covered the conflict. Nell has an unusual ability; a marked affinity with the land and the plants and animals who live on it. PsyLED, the division of Homeland Security that deals with paranormal crimes got wind of her through Jane Yellowrock and recruited her into their ranks, made up of were-creatures, witches, empaths, and other paranormal creatures.

Nell is now fully integrated into PsyLED Unit 18 after months of intensive training. The unit is assigned to investigate the attempted murder of a Senator, resulting in multiple deaths and a devastating fire. Since the shooter literally disappeared, it is deemed a paranormal crime. As the bodies pile up and fires continue, Unit 18 can't decide whether it is a turf war between paranormals or something even more nefarious. Nell's ability to "read" the land around the Senator's mansion helps them to discover what they are up against. It is frightening and dangerous to all.

Nell Ingram is a unique character, smart, strong, compassionate, determined and possessed of a power of which even she doesn't know the limits. She has come such a long way from the first Soulwood novel, Blood in the Earth. She will never go back to the church but loves her family and has gained acceptance in their ranks. There is even a romance for her among her colleagues that I was afraid ended in tragedy, but Hunter didn't leave us hanging on that!

I highly recommend both Jane Yellowrock and the Soulwood series. I know that I will be re-reading (or listening to the audiobook) before the next is out. Many thanks to NetGalley and Ace Books for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.

RATING- 5 Stars

Picking up not long after book two, Curse of the Land, Flame in the Dark opens to Nell arriving at a crime scene where a senator has been attacked at a fundraising party and the whole situation has a strong supernatural feel to it. Especially when the prominent guest list comes to light. Was it the senator, Abrams Tolliver, or perhaps Ming of Glass, the Blood Master of Clan Glass. who was the intended victim? When Nell arrives, she discovers that Rick LaFleur, her boss, is back from New Orleans, along with the head of the PsyLED, Soul. Nell senses something is amiss with Rick and Soul but before she can divulge deeper into it, Nell picks up instantly that there is something odd about the assassin. She uses her gift only to discover the assassin is a supernatural and she has no idea who or what they are. She only knows they are a threat to the land and therefore a threat to her.

As the investigation progresses, the clues pile up with little direction until a chance discovery reveals a history that leads back to one of their own and is rich in violence and betrayal. When the villain comes after Nell and those she has come to care for, she will finally let go of the last remaining ties that bind her.

This was my magic, my dark power. To take the life of anyone who bled onto the land I claimed as my own.

NOTE: This series coexists with Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock world. There are signs of increased intermingling so there may be some light spoilers in here. If you haven’t read her Yellowrock series, start now. It is sublime and is the base on which both series are built on. You can read my reviews here.

Special Agent Nell Ingram is back though she remains on probationary status with PsyLED as she continues to stretch her wings and test her boundaries more each day, some time to the detriment of Unit eighteen. Her ‘romance’ with fellow agent Occum remains in the infant stage while Nell attempts to understand the social nuances of dating. Her family’s attempts to matchmake doesn’t help. Add in a case that is going to test the limits of everyone involved…and Nell has her hands full this go around.

Nell is an interesting and complex character who continues to evolve in a slow and sure fashion. Raised in a fundamentalist church sect where polygamy and abuse are the norms, Nell escaped by choosing a different prison though she has since reconciled with her parents. She straddles these two worlds as she seeks to shake the remaining shackles of her upbringing and push boldly into the future. Her supernatural abilities only add to her confusion as she cannot forget her church practiced the notion to “never suffer a witch.” With her youngest sister showing signs of the same powers, Nell is determined to protect her… no matter what. She not only fears Mud may end up making the same mistakes she did but fears the church will force her into marriage and stifle all her abilities.

“…if he was gone, then no one stood between the churchmen and Mud. They would force her…force her to marry one of them.”

This energetic story overflows with action, suspense, intrigue, and just the right amount of dark humor as Nell discovers more about herself and those around her while she helps to look for a killer. One of the main reasons that draws me to Faith Hunter’s writing is the fact she thinks outside the box. While the common paranormal entities are seen in here, she also brings in new entities and seamlessly integrates them into the arc as if they always existed. This storyline is no exception. Fans will love the unique villains in here and the cunning way Hunter uses them in the story. The already solid character base increases in size, introducing new faces while expanding on the older more established ones as she guides readers through this latest adventure. For once, the mystery had me completely stumped as Hunter kept me guessing until the very end.

The story lines stay in motion, circling around each other as the information pours in from all sides. Sometimes a little too much information. I became confused a few times and had to backtrack as Hunter adds a few stringers to misdirect us and answer a few ongoing questions. The cryptic conflict blends well with the emotional and physical changes in Nell. Important alterations to the various relationships around Nell are noted and I am excited about some of them. Her feelings for Occum, her claiming of Rick, her confession to her parents, her teammates, etc…all show signs of change though into what remains to be seen.

Hunter gave longtime fans what they wanted in Cold Reign (Book 11-Jane Yellowrock series). Rick apologized to Jane for everything. Not only for humiliating her but for his actions from the very beginning. Nell addresses this in here, acknowledging Rick’s sorrow and curious as to what he will do now.

The ending is a high octane finale that endings the main conflict and some personal conflicts on a high note with Hunter giving us some intriguing hints as to what is coming. Nell leaves us stronger, more confident, and ready to take on the world. With the way this story ends, I am more than ready for book four title and release date to be announced.

“…I’m going to kiss you, Nell, sugar.”

“A proper improper kiss?”

“The most improper kiss I can think of, Nell, sugar.”



Grade: B