Set in the same world as Faith Hunter’s New York Times bestselling Jane Yellowrock novels, the third, thrilling Soulwood novel stars Nell Ingram, who draws her powers from deep within the earth.Nell Ingram has always known she was different. Since she was a child, she’s been able to feel and channel ancient powers from deep within the earth. When she met Jane Yellowrock, her entire life changed, … her entire life changed, and she was recruited into PsyLED—the Homeland Security division that polices paranormals. But now her newly formed unit is about to take on its toughest case yet.
A powerful senator barely survives an assassination attempt that leaves many others dead—and the house he was visiting burns to the ground. Invisible to security cameras, the assassin literally disappears, and Nell’s team is called in. As they track a killer they know is more—or less—than human, they unravel a web of dark intrigue and malevolent motives that tests them to their limits and beyond.
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In this third book in the Soulwood series, Nell Ingram is working with PsyLED on a particularly tough case involving paranormals that are attacking a senator with not only powerful rifles, but with fire as well. If it wasn’t for her connection to her land, Nell might not have survived several of the attacks. This was an interesting mystery with unusual creatures, where Nell learns a lot more about her powers, despite a few mistakes that she must rectify and learn from. She also wants to help her younger sister Misty (Mud) not only get away from the church, but learn how to use her power to connect with the land in a safe way. I’m looking forward to seeing how Nell changes and grows, as well Mud, in future stories. And then there’s her burgeoning relationship with Occam, I love their dynamic and look forward to seeing how it develops.
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+
Nell is back. A new case is about to land in PsyLED’s lap and change is about to come at them all like a freight train. Nell has always known that she’s different, but since her becoming a member of PsyLED she has been changing…mentally AND physically. Her non-humanness has gradually become more pronounced with each choice she makes. But this new case…it threatens to put paras in a strong light and smells of war…but is it? A senator seems to be under attack. Multiple agencies quickly get involved. Figuring out what is going on is going to be a true test of the team and it is going to push the team into rough territory. The question arises…can Nell handle this and everything else that is going on with her family as well?
Flame in the Dark by Faith Hunter is book three in her Soulwood series. The character development in this book and the storyline growth is fantastic! Nell is still battling the darkness in the land that is Brother Ephraim, but she’s about to have a few more things dropped on her plate and her little sister Mud is one of them with a plate of problems that need attention right away. But Faith Hunter makes this book intense with the new case that PsyLED has to take on when a Senator is attacked. Things aren’t what they seem and the team really has their work cut out for them to figure out what is going on. I absolutely loved the development of the romance between Nell and Occum. The back and forth between them is so much fun to read and it truly pulls at your heart strings. I couldn’t get enough of it and it honestly made me long for my own Occum.
There is nothing that I don’t like about this book! Everything that is touched on in this book is there for a reason. I loved how true to life and flawed the characters are. You can almost imagine the possibility of meeting them. That’s how good this book is. This book is truly hard to put down and every time I had to I desperately wanted to grab it back up and read some more. But I will say this…I have one complaint… The author teases us with the promise of a certain scene between Nell and Occum…but we don’t get it! LOL! I wanted to read it, but instead…we just have to imagine it. LOL! I wanted it all.
This is a book, a series, an author that I absolutely love. This story is truly fantastic and I love getting to know these characters more with each book that I read. I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I am eager for the next book in this series. I can only imagine what case is going to come up next for the team and how it is going to push them. Plus, I’m eager to see where Nell and Occum’s romance is heading. If you’ve read the series thus far…grab this book! You won’t be disappointed!
I have to admit my biggest fear was that she was ending the series with this book. Thank heavens I was wrong! I don’t want it to end with the fourth book either!
Faith Hunter is one of the greats at creating and embodying characters. Her characters in this series are so alive in my mind that I truly felt like I could call them on the phone and ask if Nell ever got that kiss. If Occam was able to get Nell to settle down into a relationship. If leaves ever stopped sprouting from her fingertips. If Rick ever explained, and consequently resolved what is going on with him outside of the Yellowrock books. So much I’d want to ask!
This book, this series, this fabulous storyline, filled with creatures old an new and danger and laughter and romance has captivated me so thoroughly I hate having to wait for the next installment. Nell and the gang go through some horrifying traumas in this one, some extremely dangerous situations yet come out the other side whole with joy and laughter in their lives each time no matter how awful the trauma. We still need clarification with Rick and Soul, both of whom are spinoff characters from the Yellowrock series. Hopefully we’ll get more about them in the next Yellowrock book, but until then they are still mysterious people who’s lives aren’t fully disclosed yet. But we have plenty to fill our imaginations with Nell, Occam, JoJo, Tandy and T. Laine. The budding romance that is the worst kept secret in their PsyLED team, between JoJo and Tandy is as cute as cute can get. And the equally budding and secretive (NOT!) romance between Nell and Occam is exciting to watch bloom (pun intended) Introduce new creatures (which I won’t name so I don”t inadvertently create a spoiler) and this third book is full of excitement, heartbreak, laughter, and surprise. Just shows how incredible Faith Hunter is at creating fiction that is truly epic.
You probably don’t need to read the Jane Yellowrock series to understand the Soulwood series, but to not do so is to deny yourself the beauty of Faith Hunter at her best. My suggestion is, read Jane Yellowrock first. Then, when it fits in timeline-wise, get into the Soulwood series. You won’t regret a single moment of it.. I promise.
You go Faith! So excellently done! I am forever your most exuberant (not to mention literarily ardent) fan!
Good book, part of Faith Hunter’s second series.
Love all of her books.
This is a good read. Character development is continuous throughout the series. Faith Hunter has not written a book that I did not enjoy. Please keep up the good work.
Not quite done reading yet, will update review when finished.
Faith Hunter is an amazing author. Her world building and character creation are among the tops I’ve ever read. The Jane Yellowrock series and the Soulwood spinoff always drag me in and envelop me in the sights and sounds of the world. Flame in the Dark is no different.
Nell’s struggles to figure out who she is are something everyone can understand. I can’t wait to see how everything works out for her. The next book can’t come soon enough for me.