Blood of the Earth by Faith Hunter – Review & Giveaway
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Description:
Set in the same world as the New York Times bestselling Jane Yellowrock novels, an all-new series starring Nell Ingram, who wields powers as old as the earth.
When Nell Ingram met skinwalker Jane Yellowrock, she was almost alone in the world, exiled by both choice and fear from the cult she was raised in, defending herself with the magic she drew from her deep connection to the forest that surrounds her.
Now, Jane has referred Nell to PsyLED, a Homeland Security agency policing paranormals, and agent Rick LaFleur has shown up at Nell’s doorstep. His appearance forces her out of her isolated life into an investigation that leads to the vampire Blood Master of Nashville.
Nell has a team—and a mission. But to find the Master’s kidnapped vassal, Nell and the PsyLED team will be forced to go deep into the heart of the very cult Nell fears, infiltrating the cult and a humans-only terrorist group before time runs out…
Review:
Blood of the Earth by Faith Hunter is the first book in her new Soulwood series. In Blood of the Earth, Faith Hunter keeps us in the Jane Yellowrock world, as the heroine of this book is Nell Ingram, whom we met recently in a Jane Yellowrock novella. Nell has magical powers using the earth and all the surrounding land where she lives in Soulwood.
Nell is in continuing danger by those from the local Church and the cult that runs it. She manages to keep the cult at a distance using her powers, which even she is not sure what she can do or what she is. The PsyLED is a security agency that handles paranormals, and is headed by Rick LaFleur, the former lover of Jane Yellowrock. Rick, having been alerted by Jane, wants Nell to join his team, especially with the investigation of kidnappings of young girls, which includes one girl belonging to the Master of Nashville Vampire Clan. It will be Rick, and his team that will come to Nell’s rescue, when she is attacked by the Church men. This will be the start of Nell finding a way to learn more about herself, and use her powers to good use and being part of a team, instead of always being alone.
What follows is a complex and exciting story, where Nell will slowly discover more about her powers, as well as accept who she is and to become part of a team. Nell is truly the lead in this series, and she was a great heroine, especially as we see throughout her growing powers; her changing into a stronger and wiser person, and what she can do. It was amazing and different to see her use those powers to fight off the nasty evil villains. The Nell Ingram we meet at the start rises up over time to become someone to reckon with and a true member of the PsyLED team. Besides the villains of God’s Cloud of Glory Church, there is also another group call Human Speakers for the Truth, whom is suspected of working together to kidnap the girls. It was an interesting, and complex story, but very tense and exciting. I loved near the end when Nell and her family, whom she had not seen much of for a long time, rebel and bond together to fight the terrible evil being done to woman of the church.
The PsyLED team is made up of different types of paranormals, such as werecats, vampires, empaths, and other species. Now with Nell added, it promises to be even better. Blood of the Earth was a very good start to the Soulwood series, and I look forward to what comes next. I will add that there were a lot of details that slowed things down somewhat, but many times the first book in a fantasy genre will have this due to introductions to the world building. Lastly, I am not a fan of Rick LaFleur and was happy he is not with Jane; and he did not change my opinion of him in this book. Hopefully though, he will stay here and not go back to Jane Yellowrock. 🙂 If you like Urban Fantasy, Paranormal and a great heroine in Nell, then you should read Blood of the Earth.
Reviewed by Barb
Copy provided by Publisher
Faith’s publisher is graciously offering a paper copy of BLOOD OF THE EARTH to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe
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