★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S SPELLS FOR THE DEAD ABOUT?
PsyLED is called to the home of a country music superstar to investigate some mysterious deaths—the and her band had recently returned from a pretty successful tour and now many of them are dead and several of those who aren't are in desperate need of First Responders to act quickly.

Sadly, no First Responder is equipped to cope with whatever happened to them, much less recognize and understand it. That goes for people later to the scene, including PsyLED. However, under the direction of T. Laine, their witch, they're able to makes some guesses about treatment. Nell, Occam and Lainie focus on documenting everything they can as well as beginning preliminary interviews.

One of the first things they determine is that a witch was not behind this attack. Sadly, they reach this conclusion too late to prevent a local sheriff, with the aid of a less than ethical senior FBI agent, to lock up the band member who is a witch. Their logic is impeccable—paranatural crime, arrest the nearest paranatural. This anti-paranatural tendency shows up frequently among the humans in this book—particularly when it comes to witches. I appreciated the way that Lainie dealt with it (both in her more honest and then in her more politic approaches). Our trio being joined by their upline boss, Ayatas FireWind, helps in this manner somewhat (both because of his rank, and FireWind's general demeanor).

On a semi-related note, you would think that people who believe/proclaim very loudly that lycans, witches, vampires, and so one are horrible monsters that want to kill all humans would be a little more circumspect when they're around. Maybe it's just me, but if I thought someone wanted to rip my limbs off and snack on them, I would go out of my way to not antagonize them.

Anyway, the team's focus here is a little split—on the one hand, they need to both identify the type of magic behind the attack and continue to find better ways to treat those fighting off the effects; and on the other, figure out who had the motive and/or means to carry it out. Neither goal was really that easy.

SO THAT'S THE MAIN STORY, WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?
As with all books in this series, as much as this is about the PsyLED team, it's really about Nell Ingram, her integration into the world outside the cult she left, even as she continues to deal with it and her family. God's Glory Church really doesn't factor heavily in this book, but it's always in the back of her mind, shaping (either directly or in reaction to it) how she reacts to things.

There is a pretty intense moment related to the Church, but it has more to do with Nell's family, than the Church itself. Nell doesn't yet have full custody of Mud, but everyone's pretty much acting as if she does. Mud's continuing to settle in and push Nell in ways she wasn't prepared for. Which is just fun. Both Nell and Mud are having to deal with their very pregnant sister, Esther. Esther's pregnancy is causing her powers (and flowers) to come forward, and unlike her sisters, she's not that interested in them. It's a nice contrast—and it provides Mud with some great opportunities for growth.

On the work side, the team's recent successes—particularly as the only predominately non-human team in PsyLED—are causing the Agency to make some changes to the way the Agency works—and this is going to spill over onto the team. By and large, the changes look positive and will provide good opportunities for the various members of the team. However, Nell doesn't like change—doubly so when it applies to those things in her life she holds most dear. And since we read all this from her perspective, it's hard to look objectively at all this.

If we're looking at the Venn Diagram of Nell's families (natural and found), the overlap is Occam. I've always loved this relationship, and now that they're openly seeing each other and professing love? Occam's so good, saying all the right things, doing all the right things, he's practically a Gary Stu/Marty Stu. That "practically" there is important—Hunter's written him in such a way over these few books that he comes across as earnest in all this, he's not perfect, he's just really close to perfect for Nell. They're just fun together.

As for Nell herself? She's continuing to work on herself, her approach to life. She makes some wise decisions and actions with her relationship with FireWind. She makes some great leaps with the relationship (if you can call it that) with the Vampire Tree. And we get some of the most solid information on just what kind of paranatural creature Nell is (watching her stifle her curiosity on this front to focus on the case was a great moment). Basically, Spells for the Dead contains more of that sure and steady, organic character development that's been the hallmark of this series.


SO WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT SPELLS FOR THE DEAD
One of my favorite parts of these books is Nell's reactions to new-to-her foods. We don't see her introduced to anything here, but we still get to see her relish a few things she wasn't exposed to for most of her life—Krispy Kreme donuts and pizza. This is actually kind of a good way to think about most of this book—unlike the previous books (particularly the first two), we're not seeing Nell experience much that's new here—mostly she's living in this new world, rather than figuring things out. Hunter has established her world, has set up the characters, creatures, overarching conflicts, and whatnot. Now she gets to play with that world.

This means (at least for me, and at least for this book), that without the earth-shattering reveals, the Big Moments in Nell's (or other characters') life, the book has less of an impact on me. Spells for the Dead is just as good as the rest of the series has been, it just doesn't hit me the same way. Which leads to a slightly lower rating. Hunter's plotting, writing, and characters are still top-notch, it just didn't blow me away. I got to spend some time with some really good friends—and I'm so happy I did—but it was comfortable, not exploratory. I trust that won't always be the case, and that Hunter will certainly do things in this series that will cause my jaw to drop, but sometimes it's simply going to be a really good/great novel instead of a fantastic one. Still making it one of the best series I follow.

I really got into this case—it wasn't as fraught as some of the previous ones were, but it was interesting and unexpected. The side stories did everything they needed to. Spells for the Dead just solidifies the Soulwood books as one of the best UF series going.

Faith Hunter’s SPELLS FOR THE DEAD (Soulwood #5) is enthralling. In this story, rookie PsyLed agent, Nell Ingram and her team investigate the murder of a Tennessee country music star where death magic took place.

SPELLS FOR THE DEAD is a thrilling addition to the Soulwood series. It is told from Nell’s point of view. The plot was captivating and unexpected. The story highlights law enforcement politics, death magic, and prejudices. SPELLS FOR THE DEAD was interesting and complex.

I appreciate how Nell’s character has grown throughout the series. I like that she analyses her reactions to things and tries to grow from her experiences. I enjoyed discovering more about FireWind (Jane Yellowrock’s brother). I like that Nell does not back down from him, even though he is intimidating.

I recommend SPELLS FOR THE DEAD (Soulwood #5) to people who enjoy paranormal crime stories. Followers of Faith Hunter will not be disappointed. I believe you would be able to follow this book as a standalone, but I recommend reading the other books in the series first to understanding Nell’s growth. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

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.

PsyLED Unit Eighteen also has a new up line boss, Ayatas Firewind, who readers will would have met in Jane Yellowrocks series. He, like Jane, are Skinwalkers and they love to shake things up. No, Rick LaFleur has not been given his walking papers. He's got more responsibilities as PsyLED Tennessee is rapidly expanding. He and Margot are teamed up on another case for most of the story. Nell is steadily growing, learning her place within the team. She is the person who does most of the research while also understanding that she is something nobody has ever seen before. We have had a debate about what Nell really is. A witch named Etain Doyle actually calls her a Earth spriggan as well as a sprite.

At the home of superstar Stella Mae Ragel, Nell, who was requested to be there by her new boss Ayatas, and her teammates T. Laine Kent and Occam, discover some rather disturbing discoveries. Not only is Stella dead, but so are her housekeeper, and members of the band and the list is growing. The disturbing discovery is that the bodies are rapidly decaying. Is this a chemical, biological, or radiological attack, or something darker? While Kent can detect and identify blood and dark magic, her connection to other witch covens has slowly shattered. The solution to this mystery may something that Nell and her connection to the Earth might be able to deal with.

While Nell and her team are hard at work uncovering a twisted mystery, Nell's personal life has taken a giant leap towards adulthood. With the forthcoming adoption of her younger sister Mud aka Mindy, and her very pregnant sister Esther living in her house, Nell has to pay big sister, mother, and referee to all the issues that seem to pop up whenever she's not around. Nell's sisters are just like her, but Esther is the one who is having major issues dealing with what she is. For the first time, I find myself actually liking Nell's family, especially her brother Sam who seems to have accepted all her eccentricities and her relationship with Occam.

Nell's relationship with Occam has come to the point where they can no longer hide the fact that they are together. While Occam sometimes feels the need to be overly protective, I assure you it is with good reasoning as Nell continues to put herself in harms way and sometimes doesn't know when to stop until Occam or Ayatas tell her to. I think at this point, it is all but a formality that Nell and Occam will end up walking down the aisle and marrying. But, with that said, will that end the series as well? Can they really expect to work together in the same office while being married?

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!

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.

Spells for the Dead is the fifth novel in the Soulwood series by Faith Hunter. Fans of the Jane Yellowrock series will be familiar with this world, as it is connected to her main series. Only the focus is less on vampires, and more on the rest of the creatures that roam the world. Specifically one very special one by the name of Nell Ingram.

Nell Ingram is no longer the baby agent on the field, but she's still the newest one around. You'd think that'd be enough to shield her from the world that PsyLed has to investigate, but you'd be wrong. Nell has been called in to help with a high profile case, one that is rapidly going to get out of control.

Any time the bodies start adding up (not to mention rapidly decaying) you just know things are going to get worse before they get better. The real question is, can the find the cause - and more importantly, contain it - before it is too late?

“My fingers itched to dig into the soil, to feel the life in it, explore it with my nature magic, and let my own roots grow.”

Warnings: Spells for the Dead covers several extremely graphic elements. We're talking details about advanced rates of decomposition, including the smells to go with it. There's also no shortage of animal death, with two main scenes coming to mind.

Spells for the Dead is easily the most graphic of the series so far, and yet it was so intensely and brilliantly written. I loved every gross moment of it, all while cheering for Nell and her team to sort things out (in a timely manner, ideally).

Where other events in the series had more at stake (no pun intended) on a personal level, this novel was excellent at showing us what a paranormal investigation team should look like. And the cases they would get stuck dealing with.

I love the Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood series for a lot of reasons, but one of the main reasons is for the way paranormal entities interact with one another. Also, for the way that human politics comes into play. I'm bringing that up now, because I feel like Spells for the Dead did a brilliant job of highlight all of this – as well as the inherent xenophobia that would come into play (combined with any other -ism you can think of).

That is one of many reasons to love this novel. Fans of police procedural will love every minute I'm sure, as this comes closer than any other novel thus far. There's also plenty of character development to be had, thanks to Nell, her extended family, her friends, coworkers, and boss. Needless to say, there's a whole lot going on within these pages.

One thing I was delighted to see: Ayatas Firewind made a larger appearance in this novel. Several, actually. Nell (and the rest of the team) are still adjusting to working with him, but I personally enjoyed seeing that transition occurred.

Speaking of delightful elements; Nell's family. More specifically, her sisters. I won't spoil any details, but I will say that it's so refreshing to see a bit more of her family in a different light. Though I have no idea how far Faith Hunter plans to push it.

All things considered, I absolutely loved Spells for the Dead, though I am already finding myself wishing I hadn't read it quite so quickly. At least there's already news of the next Jane Yellowrock novel (True Dead) on the horizon.

Full review to be published online in late July.

SPELLS FOR THE DEAD is the fifth book in the engaging “Soulwood” UF series by Faith Hunter. I have some mixed emotions here. The storyline was good, different, but it dragged 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 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.

I started reading Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock series in May of 2019.

I devoured all the books, even read all the short story collections. I got the latest, Shattered Bonds, when it came out in October. I finished it in days.

Then I didn't know what to do with myself because I was totally immersed in the Jane Yellowrock world but I finished all the books.

Checking out the author's website I realized the Soulwood Novels were a spin-off series featuring a character Jane met in one of the books. It also features some side characters from Jane's books.

YES!!!! I was so excited to have more books to read in this world. Once again, I devoured them all quickly.

Nell is so different than Jane it took some adjusting to get used to her voice but I still fell into the books easily.

Nell is rather new to working with people outside her church, living in the real world is still strange to her. What's even more strange is using her powers in front of people. She spent years hiding who she was and what she could do for fear the church would try to kill her.

Now working with PysLED she uses her abilities to help solve supernatural crimes.

She has no idea what she really is and every day she learns something new about herself and her powers.

In book 5 Nell faces something no one understands. Death magic that quickly destroys everything it touches.

How can they fight something unknown? They don't know what kind of magic it is or who is controlling it. They don't even know why. And to make matters worse they have paranormal haters within the human law enforcement agencies that don't want to work them.

This book will suck you right in.

Twists, turns, deceit, and strange bedfellows leave you wondering who is behind the magic and why.

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 make 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 as slowly eked out as they were, make me look forward to the next book to see what happens next to Nell and the rest of her work and home family.

This book was a fantastic read! I loved spending more time with these characters! It was a little different, since Nell isn't the probie anymore, and Rick is investigating another case-which is good because it gives him a break after everything that happened in Moon-in another town with Margot, our new kinda probie, kind of because she was FBI before this. And so Ayatas FireWind is the head honcho, and I really enjoyed seeing his and Nell's dynamics in this book!

There's a lot of change in this book. After the last one, well, there's her sisters Mud and Esther staying with her, which is causing some tension. There's the Vampire Tree/Green Knight situation. Her romance with Occam had some developments, which were so sweet to read. And of course the magic in this book is new and shakes things up a bit!

T. Laine takes the lead in this book, for a variety of reasons, including that some sort of witch magic caused this, meaning that witch magic is needed to contain it. I really enjoyed seeing her take charge, she really puts a lot of herself into this investigation, and she'll need a break after this case is done, that's for sure!

We did explore more into Nell and her family being one-offs, and we learn more of what she could be. I really enjoyed how it was woven in, because I totally didn't expect it to go in that direction! I think there's still more to learn, and I can't wait for that!

This was a fantastic book, and I can't wait for more from this world!