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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
This book doesn’t require a lot of thinking but it’s pretty good entertainment. It should have been shorter; there’s a bit too much repetitive pontification happening, and I’m still salty about the mistreatment of Rick (SO much better than Bruiser. Blech!) but otherwise it was decent and I liked Nell.
A good one! Not sure if I would have enjoyed it if I hadn't already read the Jane Yellowrock series, tho.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
May not read the next book.
A decent paranormal mystery. The MC was dynamic.
I couldn't help but be annoyed with the partial forgiveness/redemption of a cult. Feels like when people say they don't support JKR but still go to Wizarding World attractions
A decent paranormal mystery. The MC was dynamic.
I couldn't help but be annoyed with the partial forgiveness/redemption of a cult. Feels like when people say they don't support JKR but still go to Wizarding World attractions
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Probably 3.5 stars, really. It looks like the author is looking for a different sort of protagonist from her Jane Yellowrock books, and she certainly succeeds with Nell Ingram. I didn't read the Yellowrock book in which Nell was introduced, but that was no problem. Nell was raised in a polygamous cult. She managed to marry a man who actually had some respect and care for her even though he was part of this cult, but since his death the cult wants her back entirely within the fold. Her land and home (inherited from her husband) are close enough that some of the male cultists can come over and harass her pretty much at will.
However, Nell has powers that they don't suspect. She has some sort of supernatural connection to her woods, and it turns out to life forces in general. It's funny to read her perspective after Jane has become used to dealing with vampires. Nell senses the death that vampires exude very strongly- so much so that she can scarcely stand to touch one, so I don't see her becoming very acclimated to them.
These books are urban fantasy with a bit of romance. The romance isn't the focus of the plot and is a slow burn, but Faith Hunter has done this before and you can see where things are going. I tend to like her books for that very reason- she has strong, interesting female characters who don't need to be all about a man, but they have eyes and desires.
The first part of the book is a bit of a slog. There's a very long opening scene in which you learn a bit about how Nell's house is off the grid, has "dampers" (I am way too urban to know what those are, but she messes with them a lot) and then get an intro to characters that you'll recognize from the Yellowrock series if you've read it. There's a long fight scene, too, in which we learn a bit about what Nell can do. I didn't feel very tense during any of this first part- tedious was more like it, and I skipped a bit to later in the book, where I became interested enough in what was going on to settle in again.
The author does hit the country girl thing a bit hard for my taste. Nell says "you'uns'" in what she calls "church speak", although I'm not sure that church speak is much different from dialect. The cultists were also hard for me to relate to, although they are not all painted as villains (just most of the men). At times Nell seems to have a lot of insight, but then she acts like she's never been to town before (maybe she hasn't?) and the characterization didn't feel quite consistent. Nell is young, and I suppose it might have been interesting to read about a widowed female character who is more than barely twenty, but that happens but rarely in this genre.
I am interested enough to read more and see what happens next.
Probably 3.5 stars, really. It looks like the author is looking for a different sort of protagonist from her Jane Yellowrock books, and she certainly succeeds with Nell Ingram. I didn't read the Yellowrock book in which Nell was introduced, but that was no problem. Nell was raised in a polygamous cult. She managed to marry a man who actually had some respect and care for her even though he was part of this cult, but since his death the cult wants her back entirely within the fold. Her land and home (inherited from her husband) are close enough that some of the male cultists can come over and harass her pretty much at will.
However, Nell has powers that they don't suspect. She has some sort of supernatural connection to her woods, and it turns out to life forces in general. It's funny to read her perspective after Jane has become used to dealing with vampires. Nell senses the death that vampires exude very strongly- so much so that she can scarcely stand to touch one, so I don't see her becoming very acclimated to them.
These books are urban fantasy with a bit of romance. The romance isn't the focus of the plot and is a slow burn, but Faith Hunter has done this before and you can see where things are going. I tend to like her books for that very reason- she has strong, interesting female characters who don't need to be all about a man, but they have eyes and desires.
The first part of the book is a bit of a slog. There's a very long opening scene in which you learn a bit about how Nell's house is off the grid, has "dampers" (I am way too urban to know what those are, but she messes with them a lot) and then get an intro to characters that you'll recognize from the Yellowrock series if you've read it. There's a long fight scene, too, in which we learn a bit about what Nell can do. I didn't feel very tense during any of this first part- tedious was more like it, and I skipped a bit to later in the book, where I became interested enough in what was going on to settle in again.
The author does hit the country girl thing a bit hard for my taste. Nell says "you'uns'" in what she calls "church speak", although I'm not sure that church speak is much different from dialect. The cultists were also hard for me to relate to, although they are not all painted as villains (just most of the men). At times Nell seems to have a lot of insight, but then she acts like she's never been to town before (maybe she hasn't?) and the characterization didn't feel quite consistent. Nell is young, and I suppose it might have been interesting to read about a widowed female character who is more than barely twenty, but that happens but rarely in this genre.
I am interested enough to read more and see what happens next.
Nell Ingram lives on Soulwood. That's the name of her property. She is connected to the land. Not sure what that makes her, she is content to just be. Life would be good if the people from her old church (or cult) would leave her alone. They want her and they want her land. They will take both by force if need be. She is all alone, knowing that if enough of them come, she doesn't stand a chance no matter how many guns she has. Then, along comes PsyLED, a paranormal Homeland Security unit. They are looking for some kidnappers and believe they have ties to her old cult. To help them, Nell is going to have to let go of all the nonsense she was taught by the church and embrace who she really is. I absolutely loved this book!!! It grabbed me right from the start and left me wanting more. The story was great, and I loved the characters. Faith Hunter does it again! I received a copy of this book from Net Galley.
Good but definitely a first in a series. There were parts that were plodding and parts that were engaging. I like Nell, the NellSugar got a bit tedious. Clearly there’s a relationship developing.
If you enjoy the Jane Yellowrock series, this is a good companion series to show what’s going on with Rick.
If you enjoy the Jane Yellowrock series, this is a good companion series to show what’s going on with Rick.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated