Spells for the Dead (A Soulwood Novel Book 5) by Faith Hunter
Authentic Worldbuilding
Nell Ingram faces a dark magic with no known origin in the newest pulse-pounding paranormal procedural in the New York Times bestselling Soulwood series.
Nell 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 direst magic and the most twisted 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, has never seen magic that can steal life forces like this. PsyLED needs to find this lethal killer fast. But when a paranormal-hating FBI agent tries to derail the investigation, and the dark magics begin to spiral out of control, they find themselves under attack from all sides.
I haven’t read as much of Faith Hunter as I’d like but that offered me the rare opportunity of reading this book and finding out how it compares to other urban fantasy novels I’ve read and find out if it’s appealing. I always try to be fair with my reviews because that is what I’m asked to do but in this case, it was a pleasure to read and discover an author with the ability to not only weave a fantastic story but also create authentic worldbuilding.
Nell Ingram is not your ordinary special agent, she works for a paranormal investigative team but she’s also non human with special abilities, including the gift of reading the earth and communicating with plants. One of the best compelling parts of the character is how well the paranormal aspects are woven with an investigation into the deaths and spreading decay surrounding their new case. And while it is clear Nell is a newer agent, her abilities both mental and special give her unique insight. But will that allow her and her team to contain the decay and death before it escapes control?
I love the Southern flavor of the character voice, the little intricacies that show a depth of knowledge about politics and procedures in the region while highlighting the strengths of the area and doesn’t play into stereotypes. That’s part of what makes the storytelling so brilliant. The other aspect that makes the worldbuilding unique is the complexity surrounding the paranormal team, the details of casework, how they build the case, how they investigate both mundanely and magically. I loved Nell but I also love the other characters, how they interact, how they care about each other and how they work together to solve the deaths. I also loved Nell’s family and how she works to help her sisters.
The magical aspects are equally intricate and well thought out. I can see how the author has taken systems of magic and woven them into her own unique take. While there isn’t much that is new, it is how Faith Hunter puts it together into a harmonious whole, including bringing in references to her other series and other characters.
It is very crime procedural in the story. I love that style, especially with magic woven in. The only element that might take away from the engaging story is a surplus of details. They all tie together in the end but it can be a bit dry at points and there are certainly some graphic descriptions of the bodies that might turn off more fastidious readers.
I know this book whet my appetite for more. I love the crime procedural elements, the worldbuilding is exquisitely built and the characters are engaging and unique. If this sounds intriguing to you, I suggest you check out Spells of the Dead by Faith Hunter.
5 out of 5 decaying bodies

The Soulwood series continues to hold my attention with every installment.

I enjoy following along on Nell adventures and learning more about her and her team.

The romance between Nell and Occam continues to move along at a nice pace for the characters, but I am excited to see more between the two. They are a great pair.

I am always excited to see what Faith will do next with these great characters and world.

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.

4.5 stars

The absolute first thing I’m going to say is that yes, this is the fifth book in a series. But I’m going to try and avoid talking about spoilers in my review. The other thing I’m going to say is that these books are so easy and fast to read. Seriously, I’ve read the entire Soulwood series this month…actually books two through five I read in the past week. So even if you haven’t read these books at all yet, if the concept sounds interesting to you, then pick up the first book–Blood of the Earth–and give it a try.

There is just something about Nell that drew me in from the very beginning. I’ll mention again that I only read the first Jane Yellowrock book, and that is relevant because Nell is first introduced in that series. So I first met Nell as she became the leading lady in her own series. And while I liked Jane and Beast when I read Skinwalker, I just wasn’t drawn into their story as easily. Maybe that’s why I had to try to read that book three times. With Nell I was just absorbed into the tale.

Her interesting earth magic is a curiosity, and like her you do want to know more about her capabilities, as well as try and figure out exactly what she is. Then add to it that Nell was formerly part of a cult and so she is still learning about the freedoms and technologies and everything of the modern world. I don’t know. I like the meeting of Nell’s simple and hard-working idealogies and the chaotic jumble of modern sensabilities.

Nell’s mind works in an interesting way as well, which definitely makes her an asset first as a PsyLED consultant, then new agent, and now an agent with some experience under her belt.

This series is basically a paranormal buddy cop mystery adventure. The world has witches and werecreatures and vampires and all sorts of other beings and creatures, and so naturally a new government agency is formed to police these beings, since the standard police don’t have the proper resources and knowledge to handle these things.

Honestly, I really enjoyed my binge-read through this series, and since I only own these books (aside from the first one) in e-book, I’m going to have to pick up the paperback copies soon so they can join my Jane Yellowrock books and the first Nell Ingram solo book.

This series has magic and action and mystery and romance and a team of paranormal beings working together and forming a strong trust and friendship. I flew through these books, and now I am definitely excited to see what will come next.

Oh, I guess I didn’t really talk about Occam or Rick or T. Laine, or really any of the rest of the team…but I’ve always liked the whole team dynamic. I think they all work well together, and they learn more about each other with each installment in the series, which means that we learn more about all of them, and we can see the bonds between them all as they grow. I’ve always liked the Occam and Nell relationship, so it’s cool to see how that naturally progresses as the series develops.

There’s so much I could probably say and gush about with this series, but I’m just going to say that if you like urban fantasy/paranormal stories, give these books a try.

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.

Country music star Stella has been mysteriously killed. Even worse, whatever magical force killed her is spreading though her house and land. Nell and the team need to find the culprit quickly because a para-hating FBI agent is determined to pin it on an innocent witch.

On the home front, Nell’s pregnant sister Esther is staying with her and their younger sister, Mud. Well. Esther has moved in since her husband has divorced her in the eyes of their fundamentalist polygamous church. He accuses her of being unfaithful but the truth is he cannot deal with the fact she, like Nell, is a paranormal with unnamed earth magic.

Nell learns more about her magics and what kind of paranormal she is, helps her sister Esther break free of their church and her relationship with the were-cat, Occam, progresses.

I have loved this series from the beginning and this entry was not a disappointment. I raced through it in a day and half. The action is fast and the character development is satisfying. This series is highly recommended, I can’t wait for the next installment. ~~ Stephanie L Bannon

Genre: UF, Paranormal, Violence

Nix GoodReads Shelves: Paranormal, romance, violence, magic, part of a series, First – POV, police, death

Content Warnings: Forced marriage, recollection of rape, violence, abuse, misogyny.

Writing Style: First POV

Plot :

The plot starts with a Magical case. People seem to be dying through a magically spread contagion. No one can find it, no one can limit its spread, but it feels to Nell like “death and decay”. The deaths start with a famous singer (with a lot of secrets) and so the pressure is on everyone to find the source of it.

It is clearly magical in origin which gives the local PD (who are full of supernatural haters) the opportunity to arrest a local witch. But whilst she is sitting in jail, the disease keeps spreading and people keep slowly rotting to death. Can Psy-LED find the origin before it spreads out of control?

With tensions running high within the team as Firewind tries to both stamp his authority and work out the team dynamics, it’s more important than ever that they pull together to defeat this virus. Especially as the local PD hates Supernatural beings so much they find each step of their investigation thwarted and questioned…



Characters :

The usual characters all make an appearance (with the exception of Soul) but Rick is away for the majority of the book. The team is led by Firewind and we learn more about him; I am still not a fan. He is far too easy to ask Nell to risk her life and it was clear he was struggling to adjust to the dynamics of a Paranormal team. I don’t know about him yet…

Nell is dealing with a lot of emotions in this book. She starts to process what has gone on at the Church (lot of flashbacks – there are some disturbing ones and CW for talk of abuse of a minor) and also the entire case makes her learn more about her powers, and some of the knowledge disturbs her. I enjoyed watching her realise the responsibilities of having powers. She has never considered that she may be dabbling with forces she knows nothing about; she simply considers them as hers to with as she wishes. Confronted with the fact that they are open to abuse and becoming dark, she realises that she may have to learn more about her plant-magic or become dangerous herself.

Nell and Occam have already taken their relationship to the next stage at the start of this book. They are a couple, with them spending nights together (no on-page sex occurs BTW) and having active roles within each others lives. I do love to read about them … they are so well suited. Both of them are dealing with parts of the relationship in this book and, I have to say, I much preferred one characters struggle to the other.

Occam is struggling with professional/personal boundaries at work. Nell doesn’t want any PDA (unless she is injured and then she is fine with it – she is confusing) and she wants to be in charge of the decisions she makes in terms of her power. All completely reasonable, right? Well, it depends. See, Nell puts herself in unnecessary danger. A LOT. And she expects Occam to just accept that. It didn’t feel right – I am all for people being in charge of their own destinies but, in a relationship, there is an expectation that you don’t hurt the other person by doing reckless and dangerous things. I really felt sorry for Occam as she kept on putting her own life at risk – she didn’t seem to consider his feelings.

Nell is struggling with jealousy and it is completely unreasonable. When I say jealousy, I mean anyone that even looks at Occam gets death stares. Although this is the first “real” relationship Nell has been in, the jealousy felt out of character and petty.

Also featured in this book are Nell’s two sisters. Mud has been living with Nell permanently and, over the course of this book, Ester moves in too after her husband kicks her out for growing leaves. Ester is heavily pregnant which is making her plant magic WILD. I really liked their character development over the course of the book; Mud has to learn that there are boundaries outside of the church and Ester, whilst she is still reeling from being abandoned by her husband and Church whilst pregnant, has to learn to deal with living in a whole new world quickly. There is the added difficulty that she has to face with her developing powers as, not only is she a woman with power, she is about to give birth to child with those powers. I really, really enjoyed this part of the book and cannot wait to see how this develops.

Favourite Moment:

“Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love you to the full moon and back.” His lips twisted wryly. “That right there is a little bit of slightly mangled Shakespeare. I learned it because I know you love his writing. I don’t understand every word , but I understand the meaning. And I never have, and I never will, quote them words to another creature as long as I live”

Re-readability:

Yeah, I’ll read this. I shall also get the audio book as I usually do – I like the way it reads 🙂

I read a lot of books and heroines have one thing in common, most of them are as smart as they are going to get at the start of book 1, Nell is a huge exception, she gets smarter and better with every book. This story seemed better than the others a bit because every little thing she is doing was interesting to me, I could not put this book down it was so good. The link between here, Soulwood, The Green Knight/Vampire Tree riveting and you are never sure if you should be cheering the tree on or expecting it to try to kill her. Add in her romance and the appearance this time in the majority of the book of Ayatas FireWind just adds even more to this series. I seldom give books 5 Stars anymore because they are just not that exceptional ..... this is the exception, 5 Stars and deserving more.

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.

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.

Spells for the Dead by Faith Hunter is the 5th book in her fabulous Soulwood series. Brief refresher: Nell Ingram is a member of PsyLed (Unit Eighteen), a Homeland Security division that investigates paranormal cases and is based in Knoxville, TN, close to Soulwood. The PsyLed team is made up of witches, werewolves, empaths and Nell fits right in with her Soulwood powers; they make a great team, as they are all very likeable (Occam, T-Laine, JoJo, Tandy & Rick).

Nell is now a full-fledged agent of PsyLed; though she is considered a rookie. Nell and T. Laine are the first called to a Tennessee mansion, belonging to a famous music country star. The scene is horrific, as not only are there many people dead slowly decaying, but everything surrounding them (objects, clothes, house, grounds, etc.) is also disintegrating. A powerful death magic is in effect, and anyone who comes close or touches things will slowly decompose and die. The whole team (with the exception of Rick until later in the book) comes together to try to figure out who and why this is happening at the Mansion, and other places that have some sort of connection to the country music star. We get to know more about, Ayatas Firewind (Firewind), who is the regional director (also Jane Yellowrocks’s brother and Rick’s boss), as he plays a major part of this story.

What follows is an intense, exciting, gripping and violent story, where Nell and team become immersed into stopping the person behind these horrible deaths. The PysLed team spend a lot of time at many sites, investigating, and getting help from various covens to try to contain the “death and decay” from spreading further. In the early part of the story, Hunter gives us a lot of details, which slows things a bit.
I loved how Nell continues grow as she utilizes more of her earth powers, and especially the bond she has with her teammates, which continues to build as they are all in danger. An added element to the story was Nell and her relationship with her two sisters, Mud who moved in with her previously and now Esther, who is getting divorced and moves in with Nell and Mud. It was fun to see Nell give Esther advice how to get her dowry back and build her own home on Nell’s land.

Most of all I loved how her relationship with Occam (a werecat) progresses to a full-blown romance, with their chemistry sizzling. They are great together and I look forward to when they solidify their relationship, as well as Occam becoming part of the family. I also loved how Nell and Firewind respected each other, and their bantering was fun.

Spells for the Dead is another fabulous addition to this series, as it is action-packed, suspenseful, exciting, with a violent dangerous death magic that destroys so many people and land. The last half of the book was an edge of your seat thriller, and Nell was totally amazing stepping up in a wild and fantastic ride to the climax. We are used to Faith Hunter always having a fantastic group of characters, an amazing heroine in her series. This is a difficult review to write, as there are so many details, as well as horrible ‘death and decay’ throughout the entire book, and to say too much would be spoilers. Nell is a great heroine, and in this book, she evolves to be even more powerful. Faith Hunter has once again given us a fantastic story, with so many emotions throughout.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
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.

Superstar Stella Mae Ragel dies in a mysterious way and PsyLed is called in to investigate. Naturally, Nell Ingram’s talents of reading the land are an important part of solving the case. As with all of Hunter’s books, the plot is a complex mix of traditional sleuthing and the unique paranormal magic that is the hallmark of her books. I could pick up a manuscript blind out of a pile with completely new characters and know it was written by Faith Hunter within one chapter. Her voice is distinct and that’s why her fans love her. She sounds like no one else in the genre, and while others may try to sound like her, they can’t compete.

Nell is one of my personal favorite Hunter characters and this book carries Nell’s story further in her development. We see Nell continually learn how to use her powers better but she never becomes a superhero with limitless ability. She still has boundaries and makes mistakes; she still has doubts and things to learn. Her relationship with Occam does take a lovely turn.

Ayatas FireWind is a special delight in this book. FireWind is a bridge between Nell’s story and Jane Yellowrock’s and I enjoy seeing him from both Nell’s perspective and Jane’s since they see him differently. He is more vulnerable in this story and there is a particular scene in which Nell observes him with a horse that I absolutely loved. We see through Nell’s eyes as FireWind calms a throughbred and later witness Nell’s thoughtfulness as she must communicate something about that horse to FireWind and recalls that moment in her mind. It is a beautifully crafted piece of storytelling and character development that is a signature of Hunter’s deft hand.
https://slipperywords.com/2020/07/spells-for-the-dead-by-faith-hunter/

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!

Nell, now a rookie for PsyLED, is called out to the home of a famous country music star where she and her team find the dead and rapidly decomposing bodies of the star and a few members of her staff. What looks to be an aggressive form of magic turns the situation dangerous not only to them but to the general public. Nell and her team need to quickly solve this mystery but local law enforcement prejudices make investigating difficult and her team becomes the center of a magical fire storm.

A few months have passed since the previous novel Circle of the Moon has ended and it seems that Nell’s life has moved forward rapidly. Her sister, Mud, is still living with her and going to school in town, but now her other sister Esther has also come to live with them. Esther’s advanced pregnancy has made her true nature come out and her husband divorced her in front of the church, ending his support and opening her up to abuse by their elders. Nell has always wanted to provide a safe haven for the women in her family but the bickering between her sisters has caused a lot of tension in the house, something that she’s trying to find the energy to resolve. Another relationship that has changed is with her boyfriend Occam. Now, completely enmeshed in their love for each other, that added emotional bond creates an interesting dynamic in their working relationship. I loved how Occam has helped Nell stay true to herself but to also evolve past the strictures of her upbringing. He may be an alpha male but he keeps to his promise of letting her make her own decisions and I loved how that dichotomy amped up the tension in his reactions to her doing her job.

Living in Nashville, I’ve always loved the East Tennessee setting for this series. I can hear the accents I’m reading on these pages because I’ve heard them spoken in my daily life. Throw in our murder victim’s occupation as a country singer and I knew I was going to enjoy how Faith Hunter would add in that paranormal twist. The magical phenomenon when combined with this murder’s “ick” factor really made me hold my breath through a great portion on this novel. This one is not for the faint of heart, folks, but the emotional tale underlying the mystery really makes up for the sticky subject matter.

If you’re a fan of Urban Fantasy and you haven’t read a Faith Hunter novel I’d have to say, ‘where have you been!’ Followed quickly by pick up the first book in this series! You don’t have to read the Jane Yellowrock series first, but I know you’ll want to after the first couple of books. These characters stand on their own, but there are a couple that you’ll want to find out more about and you’ll find those answers in the very lengthy Jane Yellowrock books. Spells for the Dead is a wonderful story on all it’s own but my feelings for it are enhanced by the fact that I’ve read the other books in the series and I’ve witnessed the journey of this fascinating woman named Nell.

I received a copy of this ARC from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest results and they were honest.

4.5 stars
This fifth installment in the series had my heart soaring! I love Nell and her cat man so much! Also, the mystery element in this particular one really kept me invested in the story. The family aspect in this novel as well really fed into the future that Nell is looking into. I really love the direction of this series, and I hope that we get more in future. I highly recommend this series as a whole, and this book completely.

Spells for the Dead is the fifth book in the Soulwood series by Faith Hunter and is currently scheduled for release on July 28 2020. I highly recommend reading this series in order, and having read the Jane Yellowrock series would not hurt although is not as needed, to really enjoy the read and know what is going on. Even as a return reader it still takes a bit to remember the details and get entrenched in Nell's world.

Nell 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 direst magic and the most twisted 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, has never seen magic that can steal life forces like this. PsyLED needs to find this lethal killer fast. But when a paranormal-hating FBI agent tries to derail the investigation, and the dark magics begin to spiral out of control, they find themselves under attack from all sides.

Spells for the Dead is a mystery with significant twists and turns and character growth. I enjoyed seeing Nell continue to grow, in her understanding of herself, the world in general, and the people that mean the most to her. The story of Nell, PsyLED, and Nell's family is all very well told. So much introspection and exploration of how the magic of the worlds works, and how seemingly small things can mean a great deal. The mystery was very intriguing, and the magic very dark. Nell and crew follow the trail and the twists make them look closer at the pasts of those involved, and the skills they have, much closer than anyone really wants to. I thought the work with Mud and Esther was pretty much perfect, and I am interested to see where their lives take them, and Nell's relationship and future has me equally hooked. Hunter, as always, has me just as interested in the individuals and small moments as the larger story.

I think I took longer to read this than I would have normally because of that darkness. I was just in a place that I needed to be reading something much lighter (because of the real world) but I needed to know what happened next so badly that I could not put the book away. If the real world was not a dumpster fire with people proving how horrible they can be, I would have enjoyed the skill that was clearly displayed in this book so much more.

Spells for the Dead is a solid continuation of the series, and I am eager to see what Hunter does with this world next.

The death of a famous country singer draws a lot of attention, especially considering the gruesome nature of her death and the many deaths that quickly follow. The Psychometric Law Enforcement Division (PsyLED) of Homeland Security is called in as it appears something paranormal is at work. Nell Ingram isn’t sure where she can assist initially, as her powers involve her connection to the earth and the magic at work is a death magic. However, Nell may be the only one who can defeat the death working they call “death and decay”.
SPELLS FOR THE DEAD is the fifth book in the Soulwood series and is best appreciated in the context of the series as a whole. Nell is growing in her powers and it helps for the reader to have at least a basic understanding of Nell’s background and how her knowledge of her powers have evolved.

Nell is one of my favorite urban fantasy heroines! Not only is her power and her paranormal classification so unique (she’s a “plant person” or a yinehi), but she has experienced horrific trauma in the cult-like church she grew up in… and she has not only survived but thrived. I love her gutsiness in the face of possible death as she strives to help others she loves. SPELLS FOR THE DEAD puts her in some sticky situations where she has to trust others with some of her darkest secrets even as her own life is on the line.

SPELLS FOR THE DEAD is yet another hit in the phenomenal Soulwood series! Nell Ingram continues to shine as her mixture of hillbilly, superb PsyLed agent, and plant person make her one of the most intriguing urban fantasy heroines and Faith Hunter continues to provide depth to her character. I look forward with joy to each new installment in the Soulwood series, and once again Faith Hunter has captivated me. SPELLS FOR THE DEAD and the Soulwood series are must-reads for all urban fantasy fans!

*review is in the editing queue at Fresh Fiction*
*book will also be featured as part of my Fresh Fiction urban fantasy column in August*

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2020/07/21/spells-for-the-dead-by-faith-hunter/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

4.5 hearts

I was excited to be back in the world of the <em><strong><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/144830-soulwood" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Soulwood</a></strong></em> series. As with most urban fantasy, I would definitely read these in order. I have read the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/161451" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Jane Yellowrock</strong></em></a> series which I think also helps one to understand more of the world and characters. Plus it is just great reading. The <em><strong>Soulwood</strong></em> series is a spin-off from <em><strong>Jane Yellowrock</strong></em> 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 <em>mostly</em> 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.

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<h3>Excerpt:</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">“Was someone impersonating them on the phone?”</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">“The band members insist not. They say it was Stella and she sounded fine, which, if correct, means extremely accelerated decomp.”</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Which provided one small reason why a PsyLED special agent might have been called in, but there were now three on the premises.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">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.”</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">“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.”</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">“Why was someone opening a box of T-shirts when her boss was dead at a crime scene?”</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">“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.”</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">“And the bodies are all three necrosing at an accelerated rate,” I said, just to be clear.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">“Yup. And listen to you talking cop-speak, Special Agent No-Longer-a-Probie Ingram.”</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">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?”</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">“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.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">“Uh-huh. The case, please?” I said, sounding all starchy.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">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.”</span>

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Nell and her crew are called to a scene that is unlike anything they have ever worked where many people are dead in a horrible way while some are dying. T. Laine, their team witch, takes charge at the forefront of the investigation, but she is stymied along with everyone else. Country superstar Stella Mae and some of her posse are the ones found dead on her sprawling farm. They are not just dead; their bodies have become a festering mass of nothing resembling a human. Added to the mix is a racist, anti para FBI agent who hinders the investigations branding one of Stella Mae’s people as the perpetrator with no clear evidence.

Nell is now a fully-fledged PsyLed agent though she is still the bottom of the food chain. Her unique talents and abilities are once again called into play despite the risk to her life. Ayatas FireWind, much to Nell’s consternation and whom she has some serious problems with, decides to office permanently with Unit Eighteen. He is on scene for much of the investigation riling up folks while challenging Nell and her team to do their best. Ayatas definitely has a different method than his sister, Jane Yellowrock, whom Nell likes, her brother though, not so much.

The putrid and rank contagion the team fights takes quite of bit of meticulous investigating to uncover. Nell’s skills come up against one of her fieriest enemies, and yet, something is uncomfortably familiar about this toxic destroyer. She will have to call all her skills into play in order to overcome this horrific threat.

Back home at Soulwood, Mindy and Esther are giving each other grief, squabbling over just about everything so as usual, Nell has several matters going on including dealing with new issues regarding the Vampire tree who literally has a mind of its own. With three very strong-willed and related females in the house, Nell has lost some of her peace and quiet. Nell and Occam’s relationship continues to deepen as she and her “cat-man” work together as a team fighting to contain this deadly force. Since Nell and Occam’s intimacy level progressed off the page so to speak, don’t expect any details. Nell has some serious decisions to make regarding the state of where they are going as a couple.

I enjoyed Ayatas FireWind’s enhanced role in this fifth book of the Soulwood series. Ayatas irritates and intrigues Nell in equal measures and as readers have seen with Rick LaFleur, his character becomes more fleshed out than just being Jane’s annoying, arrogant, and another “A” word, younger brother. With his stronger presence as the big boss-man on scene, more is revealed about Ayatas’s prior life and how it has influenced his attitudes and demeanor. Readers with a weak stomach be warned, things get rather gross in places; however, fans of the series will deem it a must read.