Spells for the Dead (Soulwood, #5)

by Faith Hunter

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.

• ISBN10: 0399587969
• ISBN13: 9780399587962
• Publish Date: 28 July 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Imprint: Ace
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780399587962

Reviews

[littleread1]

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.

[Quirky Cat]

I received a copy of Spells for the Dead in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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.

Check out more reviews over at Quiry Cat's Fat Stacks