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Soulwood #6
Rift in the Soul
Nell Ingram draws her powers from deep in the earth, and uses them to help Psy-LED, the Psychometric Law Enforcement Division, which solves paranormal crimes. When a local vampire calls to report a dead body on her compound, Nell knows she and her team have to be ready for anything.
But the dead body is just the beginning of a mystery that involves supernaturals of all kinds, including some of the most powerful vampires in the country. As Nell gets closer to the truth, she begins to understand that the perpetrator is tracking her too—and that there is something personal about this crime. Something with roots that go almost as deep as those in Soulwood.
But the dead body is just the beginning of a mystery that involves supernaturals of all kinds, including some of the most powerful vampires in the country. As Nell gets closer to the truth, she begins to understand that the perpetrator is tracking her too—and that there is something personal about this crime. Something with roots that go almost as deep as those in Soulwood.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2024
345 people are currently reading
986 people want to read
About the author
Faith Hunter
94books5,691followersFaith Hunter's Junkyard Cats novella series is available in Audible, eBook, and "ridiculously expensive" (her words) trade paperback books at this time.
Faith's Jane Yellowrock series is a dark urban fantasy. Jane is a full blooded Cherokee skinwalker and hunter of rogue-vampires in a world of weres, witches, vampires, and other supernats. 15 books and several compilations of shorts
The Soulwood series is a dark-urban fantasy / paranormal police procedural /para-thriller series featuring Nell Nicholson Ingram, an earth magic user and Special gent of PsyLED. 6 books
Her Rogue Mage novels—Bloodring, Seraphs, Host, and the RPG Rogue Mage—feature Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage in a post-apocalyptic alternate reality.
Faith is a full time writer who finally hired a housekeeper when the dust bunnies multiplied, She bakes homemade bread and loves to cook.
Faith researches in great detail, and tries most everything her characters do. Research led to her life’s passions � jewelry making, orchids, Japanese maples, bones, travel, white-water kayaking, and writing.
Faith loves orchids. Her favorite time of year is when several are blooming. Pictures can be seen at her FaceBook page. And yes, she collects bones and skulls. She has a fox, cat, dog, cow skull, goat, a boar skull, a deer skull, (that is, unfortunately, falling apart) and the jawbone of an ass. Her prize skull is a mountain lion (legally purchased from a US tannery) hit by a car in the wild.
Her latest love is Japanese maples, and she has managed to collect over thirty.
She and her husband RV, traveling to whitewater rivers to kayak all over the Southeast. Whitewater Kayaking is her very favorite sport, discovered when she was researching her (Gwen Hunter) mystery book, Rapid Descent. She took a lesson and—after a bout of panic attacks from fear of being upside down trapped in a boat—discovered she loved the sport.
Under other pen names, notably, Gwen Hunter, she writes action adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Gwen, she is a winner of the WH Smith Literary Award for Fresh Talent in 1995 in the UK, and won a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2008. As Faith, her books have been on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists, been nominated for various awards and won an Audie Award with Khristine Hvam, among other awards. Under all her pen names, she has more than 40 books, anthologies, and complications in print in 30 countries.
For more, including a list of her books, see , . To keep up with her daily, join her fan pages at Facebook: and see her website blog at
Faith's Jane Yellowrock series is a dark urban fantasy. Jane is a full blooded Cherokee skinwalker and hunter of rogue-vampires in a world of weres, witches, vampires, and other supernats. 15 books and several compilations of shorts
The Soulwood series is a dark-urban fantasy / paranormal police procedural /para-thriller series featuring Nell Nicholson Ingram, an earth magic user and Special gent of PsyLED. 6 books
Her Rogue Mage novels—Bloodring, Seraphs, Host, and the RPG Rogue Mage—feature Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage in a post-apocalyptic alternate reality.
Faith is a full time writer who finally hired a housekeeper when the dust bunnies multiplied, She bakes homemade bread and loves to cook.
Faith researches in great detail, and tries most everything her characters do. Research led to her life’s passions � jewelry making, orchids, Japanese maples, bones, travel, white-water kayaking, and writing.
Faith loves orchids. Her favorite time of year is when several are blooming. Pictures can be seen at her FaceBook page. And yes, she collects bones and skulls. She has a fox, cat, dog, cow skull, goat, a boar skull, a deer skull, (that is, unfortunately, falling apart) and the jawbone of an ass. Her prize skull is a mountain lion (legally purchased from a US tannery) hit by a car in the wild.
Her latest love is Japanese maples, and she has managed to collect over thirty.
She and her husband RV, traveling to whitewater rivers to kayak all over the Southeast. Whitewater Kayaking is her very favorite sport, discovered when she was researching her (Gwen Hunter) mystery book, Rapid Descent. She took a lesson and—after a bout of panic attacks from fear of being upside down trapped in a boat—discovered she loved the sport.
Under other pen names, notably, Gwen Hunter, she writes action adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Gwen, she is a winner of the WH Smith Literary Award for Fresh Talent in 1995 in the UK, and won a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2008. As Faith, her books have been on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists, been nominated for various awards and won an Audie Award with Khristine Hvam, among other awards. Under all her pen names, she has more than 40 books, anthologies, and complications in print in 30 countries.
For more, including a list of her books, see , . To keep up with her daily, join her fan pages at Facebook: and see her website blog at
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
March 5, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy. Below is my honest review.
I love Nell Nicholson Ingram and her ragtag crew of strays that have formed not only her PsyLED team, but a little found family. This one throws them all into the middle of a very old vampire's machinations, which really gets complicated when the implications of Jane's Angel giving the vamps their souls back and removing the curse on weres comes into play. (This does beg the question - what happens to the grindylows? Because I love them!) In addition to that, Nell's connections to Soulwood *and* the creepy tree with a mind of its own also toss some crazy into the mix.
I really liked this one, and hope hope hope this isn't the end. With Jane ending last year, I'm not ready to lose Nell too. Fingers crossed!
Highly recommended, but please AT LEAST read the rest of the Soulwood series, but be warned that it does exist in the Jane Yellowrock world and is affected by events of that series as well.
I love Nell Nicholson Ingram and her ragtag crew of strays that have formed not only her PsyLED team, but a little found family. This one throws them all into the middle of a very old vampire's machinations, which really gets complicated when the implications of Jane's Angel giving the vamps their souls back and removing the curse on weres comes into play. (This does beg the question - what happens to the grindylows? Because I love them!) In addition to that, Nell's connections to Soulwood *and* the creepy tree with a mind of its own also toss some crazy into the mix.
I really liked this one, and hope hope hope this isn't the end. With Jane ending last year, I'm not ready to lose Nell too. Fingers crossed!
Highly recommended, but please AT LEAST read the rest of the Soulwood series, but be warned that it does exist in the Jane Yellowrock world and is affected by events of that series as well.
March 11, 2024
LOVED it! Every part was so pitch perfectly written for the series it inhabits. By that I mean Ms. Hunter accomplished what she does better than almost any author I have ever read - which is to dot every single i and cross every single t so elegantly that when turning the last page, each and every thread has been tied off to perfection. I absolutely marvel at the author’s ability to weave intricate storylines so deftly that one never need question the whys and hows or what abouts.
And, in this specific book, she was able to do it while keeping the storyline incredibly interesting, the characters beautifully human and relatable (while still being “other�) and the action and intrigue grippingly nail-biting! *sigh*. It’s Faith doing what she does best - to perfection.
And, in this specific book, she was able to do it while keeping the storyline incredibly interesting, the characters beautifully human and relatable (while still being “other�) and the action and intrigue grippingly nail-biting! *sigh*. It’s Faith doing what she does best - to perfection.
March 10, 2024
Splendid book in a splendid series. When is the next one coming out?
July 18, 2024
3.5 stars
This was one of my favorite UF series - even at the height of the UF boom, which is saying a lot. It somehow has a good mix of investigative plots within a paranormal framework. And it’s cool that even though Nell is the star, the whole PsyLED team is very much the focus.
So, I reread the series in preparation for this book, since it’s been ages. I have noticed - perhaps due to big gaps - the character and relationship arcs don’t feel quite as cohesive as they have in the start.
In this particular book, I enjoyed seeing everyone again (something exciting happening in Nell’s life too!) It was also good to see the aftermath of the Jane finale.
At the same time, to me, this book felt more Jane’s than Nell’s in spirit, so it wasn’t my favorite. Lots of action with vampires and arceniels, less investigations. I couldn’t care too much about the resolution, as the stakes never felt personal to the characters I care about, nor was I intrigued by plot twists. So�.ok installment, for me.
This was one of my favorite UF series - even at the height of the UF boom, which is saying a lot. It somehow has a good mix of investigative plots within a paranormal framework. And it’s cool that even though Nell is the star, the whole PsyLED team is very much the focus.
So, I reread the series in preparation for this book, since it’s been ages. I have noticed - perhaps due to big gaps - the character and relationship arcs don’t feel quite as cohesive as they have in the start.
In this particular book, I enjoyed seeing everyone again (something exciting happening in Nell’s life too!) It was also good to see the aftermath of the Jane finale.
At the same time, to me, this book felt more Jane’s than Nell’s in spirit, so it wasn’t my favorite. Lots of action with vampires and arceniels, less investigations. I couldn’t care too much about the resolution, as the stakes never felt personal to the characters I care about, nor was I intrigued by plot twists. So�.ok installment, for me.
October 19, 2024
Sixth in the Soulwood urban fantasy series, a spin-off from Jane Yellowrock, and revolves around Nell Ingram who uses her powers from deep in the earth to help Psy-LED in Knoxville, Tennessee. Rift in the Soul is also 15.1 in the Jane Yellowrock series. If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the If you're interested, there is a of the Soulwood books on my website.
My Take
Major changes are afoot in Jane Yellowrock’s world as a result of Final Heir , 15, and PsyLED is working hard to understand how it’s changed. Everything. They’re not alone in trying to understand.
Just ask Ming Zhane of Glass! Well, actually, we’ll need to understand her perspective through Hunter’s use of first person protagonist point-of-view from Nell’s perspective.
Vampires are being, um, happy?? It’s kinda scary when Hunter describes Cai’s and Ming’s reactions. It’s a tension that’ll keep you wondering, for Ming has some wicked intentions for Nell. And a fashion sense that will leave you blind and laughing.
The grindylows haven’t been seen. And we learn a heckuva lot about the history of the God’s Cloud of Glory Church � it’ll be way interesting to see where Hunter plans to go with this! It does provide the back story on plant-people and gwyllgi.
I do love that introduction of the Green Knight into the series. Each encounter Nell has with him is simply fascinating. Yeah, the Green Knight and Soulwood have their character arcs. That Hunter has such a way with characters, making them so very individual and endearing in some crazy ways. Nell’s character arc has been fascinating as we’ve struggled along with her to recover from her upbringing and discover the joys of love and friendship, the gentleness a man can show, the help he can be.
Yummy. We learn all sorts of new things about Yummy’s more recent past. It’s her feelings that give us an up-close and personal take on how these changes are affecting vampires, for the good. Talk about a character arc!
Nell does have an intriguing “relationship� with that tree and its scions. As for Yummy claimed her as a “bestie�, ooh, boy. Then there’s Esther whose character arc has been moving forward, beginning to accept who she really is and it’s vicious, lol. Another character arc that’s evolving is Firewind’s as is the Church’s!
I do love how the Green Knight and Soulwood combine to protect the girls. I know, I know, I can be so mean! These two are tricky.
Occam . . . I hadn’t thought of it, but that sweet cat-man looks ahead and plans. The military on the other hand, lol, oh, boy. Too typical. They want what they want and pay no attention to reality and have no concerns or morals about citizen rights
Hunter uses a blend of regular English and Church English � it helps us understand when Nell is really ticked off, *more laughter*. Nell also calls her daddy on his hypocrisy � you go, girl!
I do have a nitpick, because I do not remember Ming of Glass being as nutty as Hunter now says she is. Oh, sigh, I guess I’ll have to go back and re-read the Yellowrock series *grin*.
Hunter sets a quick pace with plenty of action and a wide range of characters, and betrayals a’plenty. Those thank-you gifts offered up by that angel certainly are wreaking havoc and causing Nell to question Occam’s love.
And yep, Hunter is already setting us up for what the future may hold: Yummy’s new course, Esther’s changes, Ricky-Bo’s potential future, the new tricks Nell, Mud, and Esther are learning . . . and the vampire tree is part of a wedding ceremony, lol. The planning for which included more drama.
The Story
The supernatural world is in an upheaval, total chaos, made worse with Torquemada on the loose and seeking the Blood Tarot and power (and a way to go back into the past to change all things).
All are becoming free of what they had been.
The Characters
Nell “Maggot� Ingram isn’t quite sure what she is, she does know she’s not fully human but a plant-woman � Jane thinks she’s a sprite. She’s managed to escape the Church and found independence as an agent of PsyLED. She has a nice piece of land outside the city, Soulwood, an active participant in protecting Nell and her family. Nell has three cats: Jezzie, Cello, and Torquil. Mud Nicholson is her sister with similar earth powers who lives with her � Nell just got granted full custody! Cherry is Mud’s tricolor English springer spaniel puppy � and PsyLED’s office pup. The dour, complaining Esther Nicholson, Nell and Mud’s sister, is also a plant-woman in major denial. She’s just given birth to twins � Noah and Ruth. Esther’s one acre of Soulwood � Tulip Tree House � is quite protective! (And becomes five acres.)
The Green Knight is the how the vampire tree sees itself, a semi-willing ally of Nell’s. An evolved tree who likes to eat meat. He has a useful warhorse.
PsyLED is . . .
. . . the Psychometric Law Enforcement Division with Ayatas Firewind, Jane Yellowrock’s skinwalker brother, the regional director for PsyLED Unit 18, a mostly para unit. Their headquarters is expanding. Rick “Ricky-Bo� LaFleur, a black wereleopard who recently lost his curse and is Jane’s ex-boyfriend, is the special-agent-in-charge of Unit 18. T. Laine Kent is the moon witch agent with strong earth magic. "JoJo" Jones, a.k.a. the Diamond Drill, is Rick's second-in-command and a brilliant computer . . . hacker. We try not to let that information out into the world. Occam, another black leopard, is engaged to Nell. I do love this guy! Margot Racer, a former FBI agent descended from a line of witches, is their truth-reader. She became infected, turned into a black leopard, and is now with PsyLED but not with Rick ( Circle of the Moon , 4). Tandy Dyson is a lightning-struck empath dating JoJo. Clementine is the dictation software.
Soul, a.k.a. She Who Guards the Rift and Keeper of the Rift, (she’s undercover and at the end, she and the other arcenciels leave our dimension; she’s jheartsick that she let those Lost Boys be tortured because she was obsessed with freeing other arenciels; she wants to go home and heal) is an assistant director and an arcenciel, a dragon of light from another dimension, who has been missing for days. (�Riding the dragon� refers to the arcenciels� ability to go back and change the past.) Opal and Pearl are suspects, the more wild Cerulean, and հéڴDz are other arcenciels. Mackey is the national director of PsyLED.
Dora Wincome, the new head tech, includes Sandra and Jack as part of her CSI crew. Pinchot is also with CSI. The University of Tennessee Medical Center is a local hospital with trained staff and forensic pathologists for paranormal creatures. Dr Gomez, the weekend pathologist (she does not like Nell), has trained with a pathologist who had trained with witches and a vampire doctor. Brenda Jabroski is with ICE (she’s impersonating one anyway) and a Mithran hater.
Lieutenant Colonel Leann Rettell, DO, ( Curse on the Land , 2) is from the office of General David Schlumberger, who heads up the military version of PsyLED. (She’s hit with a mating bond with Rick.) In 2006, in Afghanistan, Rettel was turned into an Asiatic cheetah.
Brother Thaddeus Rankin and his son, Deus, own Rankin Replacements and Repairs and are always fixing up Nell’s house and being supportive for her.
The God’s Cloud of Glory Church is . . .
. . . a centuries-old hypocritical cult where women had no rights, no property, no authority, no say. The Nicholson clan is Nell’s family. Micaiah, her father and a church elder, is now a preacher in the Church (he’ll marry Nell to Occam) and married to three women, sister-wives, one of whom is Nell’s mother, Mama Cora. The other sister-wives include Mama Carmel and Mama Grace. Priss and Judith are other adult sisters of Nell, Mud, and Esther’s. Sam* is their brother who’s married to SaraBell, Amos*, Rufus*, Zeke, Harry, Rethel, Narvin, and Rudolph are half-brothers (destined to become Lost Boys). Annah is one of the grandbabies. Mamaw is Maude Hamilton Vaughn, Nell’s maternal grandmother, a former townie who married in. Bethany, Sabtah, and Becca are half-sisters. Joel is a half cousin on Mama Grace’s side; Dinah and Miriam are Joel’s sister-wives. Zebulon is another half-brother whose father had been Brother Ephraim and a product of rape. Mattie. The Vaughns are another clan.
The Lost Boys are former Church boys cast out (Brother Ephraim had been in charge of that program) and include Arial Holler, Gab Purdy, Uriah Lambert, and Harmon Stubbins. Thomas Benton IV ( Blood of the Earth , 1) had been a Lost Boy as was an ancestor of those townie Hamiltons. Colonel Jackson had been an evil Church leader. Other churchmen and boys include Balthazar Jenkins (cousin to Boaz Jenkins), Obed Jackson, and Jedidiah (Esther’s ex-husband). Seems it was a Welsh prince, Madog ab Owain Gynedd, who led the Church to America.
The Vampires are/were . . .
. . . soulless. The crazy Ming Zhane of Glass is the Master of the City of Knoxville, a position granted her by Jane Yellowrock (Jane suspects both Ming twins of sedition). Cai (he dies) is Ming’s human primo, her number one blood-servant. Charlainn had been one of Ming’s people. (Ming’s home is burned down.)
Yvonne “Yummy� Colstrip, blood child of ҰéǾ, the Blood Master of Clan Arceneau and the Warlord of the Dark Queen, has been chummy with Nell since Blood in Her Veins: "Off the Grid", 7.9 (Soulwood 0.5). (Yummy is removed from service from Ming’s family and made the head of her own blood clan and she rooms up with Nell until she gets her own place organized; she’ll also be guarding Nell from Torquie. Nell thinks that Esther’s tree might be adopting Yummy.) Yummy will become Nell’s Warlord. Occam knew Yummy by several other names, including Abella and ChristyLu. Yummy’s blood-servants include Charlie and Felicity. A blood clan family will be built in Oliver Springs.
Lincoln Shaddock is the Master of the City of Asheville. Seems he’s been married to Bedelia Everhart Shaddock, and most of his daughters are the Everharts, a witch coven. Amy Lee Brown is Lincoln’s scion who can bring Mithrans back from devoveo, a long period of madness suffered by newly turned vampires.
Mithrans are a kinder version of vampires while the Naturaleza are what we’ve seen as the evil vampires. The coronation of Edmund I, the Emperor (vampire) of Europe, took place last week.
Tomás de Torquemada, the Grand Inquisitor from the Spanish Inquisition (b. 1420, believed to have been turned before 1484, and claimed to have died 16 Sept 1498), is still alive, sort of, and he’s worse than a Naturaleza (he’s also demon-possessed), for he seeks the final death of all, and I do mean all. His father had been Pedro Fernández de Torquemada. Four assistant inquisitors (guards) were appointed by Pope Alexander IV, including Don Inigo Manrique (The priest from the Vatican with whom Yummy had fallen in love, is also a vampire and one of Torquemada’s original guards. (Yummy’s heard that Don Inigo’s first act after the soul-freeing was to let Torquemada go even though he knew how vicious Torquie was), Don Martin Ponçe de Leon, Don Francisco Sanchez de la Fuente, and Don Fernando Sanchez de la Fuentelsaz, all bishops who were turned. In 1649, additional guards were Alvaro Cardoso, and Domingo Ponçe (dies), Miguel de la Peña (dies), and Escobar Sarmiento. Carlos Contreras is a still-later guard added in the 1700s. Torquemada likes using the Boot.
Knoxville PD
Knoxville SWAT’s Captain Joaquin Gonzalez ( Circle of the Moon ) is still dating Laine. So far. David Jones Meechum is a city LEO.
Jane Yellowrock, a Cherokee skinwalker, is the Dark Queen of the Vampires � she met Nell in Final Heir . She’s currently on her honeymoon. Eli Younger is her secundo and in charge of security. Alex Younger, Eli’s younger brother, is Jane’s IT guy. Jane considers the Youngers her brothers. Reach is/had been a researcher and information broker to Jane. Koun had been a blood-servant to Leo Pellisier until he signed up with Jane.
The Blood Tarot deck, a.k.a. Holy Deck and Tarot de Sanguis, is one of three still in the world. John Ingram had been Nell’s protective yet duplicitous husband; Leah was the first wife who had died. Gwyllgi are Welsh devil dogs, a.k.a. Dogs of War, from Blood of the Earth , 1. We do learn more about how the young gwyllgi are being retrained by the Montana Bighorn wolf pack (Soul took Occam to them when she freed him from his cage). The Prophecies of the Torah’s Coda is fascinating. Psysitopes are paranormal energies. Magic is energy used in ways some people can’t see or understand. An Anzu is a Mercy Blade ( Mercy Blade , 3). Sleepers are sleeping sentient self-aware life forces of the earth ( Blood of the Earth ).
The Cover and Title
The cover is very appropriate in its rainbow of colors making up an arcenciel body, who, along with a drably garbed Nell are rotating in the background of blues and greens. On the left is a narrow border with a light green teal and black tracery on top. The author’s name is at the top in the same teal. Below that is an info blurb in white with the title also in white. Lower, on Nell’s right elbow is the series info in white. At the bottom is a testimonial in white.
The title is a blend of important events in Rift in the Soul.
My Take
Major changes are afoot in Jane Yellowrock’s world as a result of Final Heir , 15, and PsyLED is working hard to understand how it’s changed. Everything. They’re not alone in trying to understand.
Just ask Ming Zhane of Glass! Well, actually, we’ll need to understand her perspective through Hunter’s use of first person protagonist point-of-view from Nell’s perspective.
Vampires are being, um, happy?? It’s kinda scary when Hunter describes Cai’s and Ming’s reactions. It’s a tension that’ll keep you wondering, for Ming has some wicked intentions for Nell. And a fashion sense that will leave you blind and laughing.
The grindylows haven’t been seen. And we learn a heckuva lot about the history of the God’s Cloud of Glory Church � it’ll be way interesting to see where Hunter plans to go with this! It does provide the back story on plant-people and gwyllgi.
I do love that introduction of the Green Knight into the series. Each encounter Nell has with him is simply fascinating. Yeah, the Green Knight and Soulwood have their character arcs. That Hunter has such a way with characters, making them so very individual and endearing in some crazy ways. Nell’s character arc has been fascinating as we’ve struggled along with her to recover from her upbringing and discover the joys of love and friendship, the gentleness a man can show, the help he can be.
Yummy. We learn all sorts of new things about Yummy’s more recent past. It’s her feelings that give us an up-close and personal take on how these changes are affecting vampires, for the good. Talk about a character arc!
Nell does have an intriguing “relationship� with that tree and its scions. As for Yummy claimed her as a “bestie�, ooh, boy. Then there’s Esther whose character arc has been moving forward, beginning to accept who she really is and it’s vicious, lol. Another character arc that’s evolving is Firewind’s as is the Church’s!
I do love how the Green Knight and Soulwood combine to protect the girls. I know, I know, I can be so mean! These two are tricky.
Occam . . . I hadn’t thought of it, but that sweet cat-man looks ahead and plans. The military on the other hand, lol, oh, boy. Too typical. They want what they want and pay no attention to reality and have no concerns or morals about citizen rights
Hunter uses a blend of regular English and Church English � it helps us understand when Nell is really ticked off, *more laughter*. Nell also calls her daddy on his hypocrisy � you go, girl!
I do have a nitpick, because I do not remember Ming of Glass being as nutty as Hunter now says she is. Oh, sigh, I guess I’ll have to go back and re-read the Yellowrock series *grin*.
Hunter sets a quick pace with plenty of action and a wide range of characters, and betrayals a’plenty. Those thank-you gifts offered up by that angel certainly are wreaking havoc and causing Nell to question Occam’s love.
And yep, Hunter is already setting us up for what the future may hold: Yummy’s new course, Esther’s changes, Ricky-Bo’s potential future, the new tricks Nell, Mud, and Esther are learning . . . and the vampire tree is part of a wedding ceremony, lol. The planning for which included more drama.
The Story
The supernatural world is in an upheaval, total chaos, made worse with Torquemada on the loose and seeking the Blood Tarot and power (and a way to go back into the past to change all things).
All are becoming free of what they had been.
The Characters
Nell “Maggot� Ingram isn’t quite sure what she is, she does know she’s not fully human but a plant-woman � Jane thinks she’s a sprite. She’s managed to escape the Church and found independence as an agent of PsyLED. She has a nice piece of land outside the city, Soulwood, an active participant in protecting Nell and her family. Nell has three cats: Jezzie, Cello, and Torquil. Mud Nicholson is her sister with similar earth powers who lives with her � Nell just got granted full custody! Cherry is Mud’s tricolor English springer spaniel puppy � and PsyLED’s office pup. The dour, complaining Esther Nicholson, Nell and Mud’s sister, is also a plant-woman in major denial. She’s just given birth to twins � Noah and Ruth. Esther’s one acre of Soulwood � Tulip Tree House � is quite protective! (And becomes five acres.)
The Green Knight is the how the vampire tree sees itself, a semi-willing ally of Nell’s. An evolved tree who likes to eat meat. He has a useful warhorse.
PsyLED is . . .
. . . the Psychometric Law Enforcement Division with Ayatas Firewind, Jane Yellowrock’s skinwalker brother, the regional director for PsyLED Unit 18, a mostly para unit. Their headquarters is expanding. Rick “Ricky-Bo� LaFleur, a black wereleopard who recently lost his curse and is Jane’s ex-boyfriend, is the special-agent-in-charge of Unit 18. T. Laine Kent is the moon witch agent with strong earth magic. "JoJo" Jones, a.k.a. the Diamond Drill, is Rick's second-in-command and a brilliant computer . . . hacker. We try not to let that information out into the world. Occam, another black leopard, is engaged to Nell. I do love this guy! Margot Racer, a former FBI agent descended from a line of witches, is their truth-reader. She became infected, turned into a black leopard, and is now with PsyLED but not with Rick ( Circle of the Moon , 4). Tandy Dyson is a lightning-struck empath dating JoJo. Clementine is the dictation software.
Soul, a.k.a. She Who Guards the Rift and Keeper of the Rift, (she’s undercover and at the end, she and the other arcenciels leave our dimension; she’s jheartsick that she let those Lost Boys be tortured because she was obsessed with freeing other arenciels; she wants to go home and heal) is an assistant director and an arcenciel, a dragon of light from another dimension, who has been missing for days. (�Riding the dragon� refers to the arcenciels� ability to go back and change the past.) Opal and Pearl are suspects, the more wild Cerulean, and հéڴDz are other arcenciels. Mackey is the national director of PsyLED.
Dora Wincome, the new head tech, includes Sandra and Jack as part of her CSI crew. Pinchot is also with CSI. The University of Tennessee Medical Center is a local hospital with trained staff and forensic pathologists for paranormal creatures. Dr Gomez, the weekend pathologist (she does not like Nell), has trained with a pathologist who had trained with witches and a vampire doctor. Brenda Jabroski is with ICE (she’s impersonating one anyway) and a Mithran hater.
Lieutenant Colonel Leann Rettell, DO, ( Curse on the Land , 2) is from the office of General David Schlumberger, who heads up the military version of PsyLED. (She’s hit with a mating bond with Rick.) In 2006, in Afghanistan, Rettel was turned into an Asiatic cheetah.
Brother Thaddeus Rankin and his son, Deus, own Rankin Replacements and Repairs and are always fixing up Nell’s house and being supportive for her.
The God’s Cloud of Glory Church is . . .
. . . a centuries-old hypocritical cult where women had no rights, no property, no authority, no say. The Nicholson clan is Nell’s family. Micaiah, her father and a church elder, is now a preacher in the Church (he’ll marry Nell to Occam) and married to three women, sister-wives, one of whom is Nell’s mother, Mama Cora. The other sister-wives include Mama Carmel and Mama Grace. Priss and Judith are other adult sisters of Nell, Mud, and Esther’s. Sam* is their brother who’s married to SaraBell, Amos*, Rufus*, Zeke, Harry, Rethel, Narvin, and Rudolph are half-brothers (destined to become Lost Boys). Annah is one of the grandbabies. Mamaw is Maude Hamilton Vaughn, Nell’s maternal grandmother, a former townie who married in. Bethany, Sabtah, and Becca are half-sisters. Joel is a half cousin on Mama Grace’s side; Dinah and Miriam are Joel’s sister-wives. Zebulon is another half-brother whose father had been Brother Ephraim and a product of rape. Mattie. The Vaughns are another clan.
The Lost Boys are former Church boys cast out (Brother Ephraim had been in charge of that program) and include Arial Holler, Gab Purdy, Uriah Lambert, and Harmon Stubbins. Thomas Benton IV ( Blood of the Earth , 1) had been a Lost Boy as was an ancestor of those townie Hamiltons. Colonel Jackson had been an evil Church leader. Other churchmen and boys include Balthazar Jenkins (cousin to Boaz Jenkins), Obed Jackson, and Jedidiah (Esther’s ex-husband). Seems it was a Welsh prince, Madog ab Owain Gynedd, who led the Church to America.
The Vampires are/were . . .
. . . soulless. The crazy Ming Zhane of Glass is the Master of the City of Knoxville, a position granted her by Jane Yellowrock (Jane suspects both Ming twins of sedition). Cai (he dies) is Ming’s human primo, her number one blood-servant. Charlainn had been one of Ming’s people. (Ming’s home is burned down.)
Yvonne “Yummy� Colstrip, blood child of ҰéǾ, the Blood Master of Clan Arceneau and the Warlord of the Dark Queen, has been chummy with Nell since Blood in Her Veins: "Off the Grid", 7.9 (Soulwood 0.5). (Yummy is removed from service from Ming’s family and made the head of her own blood clan and she rooms up with Nell until she gets her own place organized; she’ll also be guarding Nell from Torquie. Nell thinks that Esther’s tree might be adopting Yummy.) Yummy will become Nell’s Warlord. Occam knew Yummy by several other names, including Abella and ChristyLu. Yummy’s blood-servants include Charlie and Felicity. A blood clan family will be built in Oliver Springs.
Lincoln Shaddock is the Master of the City of Asheville. Seems he’s been married to Bedelia Everhart Shaddock, and most of his daughters are the Everharts, a witch coven. Amy Lee Brown is Lincoln’s scion who can bring Mithrans back from devoveo, a long period of madness suffered by newly turned vampires.
Mithrans are a kinder version of vampires while the Naturaleza are what we’ve seen as the evil vampires. The coronation of Edmund I, the Emperor (vampire) of Europe, took place last week.
Tomás de Torquemada, the Grand Inquisitor from the Spanish Inquisition (b. 1420, believed to have been turned before 1484, and claimed to have died 16 Sept 1498), is still alive, sort of, and he’s worse than a Naturaleza (he’s also demon-possessed), for he seeks the final death of all, and I do mean all. His father had been Pedro Fernández de Torquemada. Four assistant inquisitors (guards) were appointed by Pope Alexander IV, including Don Inigo Manrique (The priest from the Vatican with whom Yummy had fallen in love, is also a vampire and one of Torquemada’s original guards. (Yummy’s heard that Don Inigo’s first act after the soul-freeing was to let Torquemada go even though he knew how vicious Torquie was), Don Martin Ponçe de Leon, Don Francisco Sanchez de la Fuente, and Don Fernando Sanchez de la Fuentelsaz, all bishops who were turned. In 1649, additional guards were Alvaro Cardoso, and Domingo Ponçe (dies), Miguel de la Peña (dies), and Escobar Sarmiento. Carlos Contreras is a still-later guard added in the 1700s. Torquemada likes using the Boot.
Knoxville PD
Knoxville SWAT’s Captain Joaquin Gonzalez ( Circle of the Moon ) is still dating Laine. So far. David Jones Meechum is a city LEO.
Jane Yellowrock, a Cherokee skinwalker, is the Dark Queen of the Vampires � she met Nell in Final Heir . She’s currently on her honeymoon. Eli Younger is her secundo and in charge of security. Alex Younger, Eli’s younger brother, is Jane’s IT guy. Jane considers the Youngers her brothers. Reach is/had been a researcher and information broker to Jane. Koun had been a blood-servant to Leo Pellisier until he signed up with Jane.
The Blood Tarot deck, a.k.a. Holy Deck and Tarot de Sanguis, is one of three still in the world. John Ingram had been Nell’s protective yet duplicitous husband; Leah was the first wife who had died. Gwyllgi are Welsh devil dogs, a.k.a. Dogs of War, from Blood of the Earth , 1. We do learn more about how the young gwyllgi are being retrained by the Montana Bighorn wolf pack (Soul took Occam to them when she freed him from his cage). The Prophecies of the Torah’s Coda is fascinating. Psysitopes are paranormal energies. Magic is energy used in ways some people can’t see or understand. An Anzu is a Mercy Blade ( Mercy Blade , 3). Sleepers are sleeping sentient self-aware life forces of the earth ( Blood of the Earth ).
The Cover and Title
The cover is very appropriate in its rainbow of colors making up an arcenciel body, who, along with a drably garbed Nell are rotating in the background of blues and greens. On the left is a narrow border with a light green teal and black tracery on top. The author’s name is at the top in the same teal. Below that is an info blurb in white with the title also in white. Lower, on Nell’s right elbow is the series info in white. At the bottom is a testimonial in white.
The title is a blend of important events in Rift in the Soul.
July 18, 2024
Holy Moly, there was a lot crammed into this book. Some good , some not so good as is FH’s norm is to be excessively descriptive about inconsequential things. There were a LOT of convenient, plot contrivances going on that were rushed to attain resolutions.
I still enjoyed the book and will continue the series because I love Nell and all the characters in the series and yes, even Rick lol.
I still enjoyed the book and will continue the series because I love Nell and all the characters in the series and yes, even Rick lol.
March 11, 2024
There is no one else like Nell Ingram (well except for her sister's Mud and Esther) she is a plant lady. She can commune with the earth she knows it is alive and aware and she is able to make it do her bidding. When we first meet Nell this means making her crops grow strong and healthy with bumper harvests. But as time goes on (and after meeting Jane Yellowrock) Nell realises her magical connection to the earth is capable of so much more, but there is cost. With each connection Nell makes to the earth her physical body is changing, she now has leaves growing from her nail beds and hairline, these changes are getting harder to hide. If this is your first experience with Bell I suggest you start with the first book in order to see Nell's progression from rebellious church woman to special agent fighting supernatural crimes. In this series we also have Rick LaFleur (werecat) and Ayas Firewind (shapeshifter)........ both from the Yellowrock series............. One other thing you need to be aware of is Neil's "church" she comes from a polygamous sect which subugates women, the daughters are married off to old men (the elders) at around age twelve and the boys are expelled from the "church" at sixteen. Nell herself was saved from such a marriage but only by marrying an alternate male. So anyone who may have an issue with grooming, sexual abuse and rape this is not the book for you. The subject matter is handled with tact but there's no escaping the nastiness.......................
March 4, 2024
Thank you, Berkley Pub and Ace Books Pub, for my free book for review.
Faith Hunter's "A Rift in the Soul," the sixth entry in the acclaimed Soulwood series, deftly stands on its own, offering an accessible entry point for newcomers as well as a satisfying continuation for fans of the series. Hunter's prowess in world-building shines through, with a rich tapestry that weaves together a vivid setting and a deep history that touches on character development, political intrigue, and theological underpinnings.
One of the book's most commendable aspects is its diverse cast of characters. Not only does Hunter explore racial diversity, but she also delves into the complexities of the paranormal, providing a broad spectrum of beings that enriches the narrative.
The integration of police procedural elements is executed with finesse, following the Psyled agents as they unravel the perplexing cases of vampire murders and the kidnapping of one of their colleagues. This layer of mystery adds a compelling dimension to the urban fantasy framework.
Nell Ingram, the protagonist, is portrayed with a fascinating blend of strength and vulnerability. Her unique abilities to manipulate the earth and flora are balanced by her principled stance on not using her powers for lethal means against her foes. She navigates her journey with a strong moral compass, and there's an air of mystery surrounding her past that begs to be uncovered.
What personally resonated with me was the setting of the story—it mirrors the place I call home, which added an extra layer of excitement to the adventure. Hunter's depiction of an alternate reality, populated with vampires and other paranormal entities, is both imaginative and relatable.
A must-read for enthusiasts of the genre.
Faith Hunter's "A Rift in the Soul," the sixth entry in the acclaimed Soulwood series, deftly stands on its own, offering an accessible entry point for newcomers as well as a satisfying continuation for fans of the series. Hunter's prowess in world-building shines through, with a rich tapestry that weaves together a vivid setting and a deep history that touches on character development, political intrigue, and theological underpinnings.
One of the book's most commendable aspects is its diverse cast of characters. Not only does Hunter explore racial diversity, but she also delves into the complexities of the paranormal, providing a broad spectrum of beings that enriches the narrative.
The integration of police procedural elements is executed with finesse, following the Psyled agents as they unravel the perplexing cases of vampire murders and the kidnapping of one of their colleagues. This layer of mystery adds a compelling dimension to the urban fantasy framework.
Nell Ingram, the protagonist, is portrayed with a fascinating blend of strength and vulnerability. Her unique abilities to manipulate the earth and flora are balanced by her principled stance on not using her powers for lethal means against her foes. She navigates her journey with a strong moral compass, and there's an air of mystery surrounding her past that begs to be uncovered.
What personally resonated with me was the setting of the story—it mirrors the place I call home, which added an extra layer of excitement to the adventure. Hunter's depiction of an alternate reality, populated with vampires and other paranormal entities, is both imaginative and relatable.
A must-read for enthusiasts of the genre.
March 13, 2024
Yeesssss!
March 1, 2025
A great addition to the series.
New adventures for Nell, her sisters and her friends. Some new events and some from the Jane Yellowrock series face them.
New adventures for Nell, her sisters and her friends. Some new events and some from the Jane Yellowrock series face them.
September 30, 2024
Omg........................The audiobook reader read the heck outta this book. It was like a good female dancer working the heck out of a guy who can't dance well and treating the guy like a stripper pole. Your like wow she's tearing it up out there and you look at the guy with a WTF is that.
The lead male is flat, and annoying. He doesn't really have a point or a duel plotline. He's sort of her handbag in the same way male writers write female romance interest. I get he's a cat man but cute names don't make a great relationship. Plus, his rickybo vibes and the way he called her pet names nearly out the gate just gross me out on him. The native american boss is a more interesting guy and has more levels. He normally has more stakes and movivation. It's to bad they are in the same chain of command because the relationship would be more interesting.
I really like any church plotline from this series but we never really dig into the church in an active way. It's always listening to some family member tell you the interesting part and not actually showing the interesting part. I love mud, the sister, and when they are on her land. I almost hate everything about the team because they never fight as a team and it's always very pnr FBI in an unfun way. I enjoy later in the book when they finally do something as a team. Honestly, a part of me wonders if it would have been a better series as a whole if nell worked for the local shieff fighting against and then joining into the pnr fbi thingy. so less characters are enter into the plot and would be used more. I have no idea but there's a flatness to this that I'm just not here for.
ok I know what ruined this for me. Rick got one more were honey and I just couldn't take it
this book is so weird. I don't know any of the villians. it's confusing.
The lead male is flat, and annoying. He doesn't really have a point or a duel plotline. He's sort of her handbag in the same way male writers write female romance interest. I get he's a cat man but cute names don't make a great relationship. Plus, his rickybo vibes and the way he called her pet names nearly out the gate just gross me out on him. The native american boss is a more interesting guy and has more levels. He normally has more stakes and movivation. It's to bad they are in the same chain of command because the relationship would be more interesting.
I really like any church plotline from this series but we never really dig into the church in an active way. It's always listening to some family member tell you the interesting part and not actually showing the interesting part. I love mud, the sister, and when they are on her land. I almost hate everything about the team because they never fight as a team and it's always very pnr FBI in an unfun way. I enjoy later in the book when they finally do something as a team. Honestly, a part of me wonders if it would have been a better series as a whole if nell worked for the local shieff fighting against and then joining into the pnr fbi thingy. so less characters are enter into the plot and would be used more. I have no idea but there's a flatness to this that I'm just not here for.
ok I know what ruined this for me. Rick got one more were honey and I just couldn't take it
this book is so weird. I don't know any of the villians. it's confusing.
March 14, 2024
Best book of the year.
This is my favorite all time series. I love these books, love the characters (some of them being characters I loved in the Jane Yellowrock series) and this book was one awesome addition.
Perfectly complicated world building, it's so intertwined, enthralling and epic. There's no filler and every page is important.
Filled with unique beings, the intrigue of a vampire society, the rules of the shape-shifting creatures (plus a few other beings ) and the federal government that wants to control all the weapons of power.
Then there's Nell. Plant woman, paligamest church escape, she's gone from scared young woman who knew she wanted more than what she was raised to be and becomes a power all her own (then bringing quite a few family members with her).
This is just a beautiful story of strength, love and the will to live and be so much more.
Faith Hunter is one of the best authors I've ever read. If you haven't read anything by her you should.
This is my favorite all time series. I love these books, love the characters (some of them being characters I loved in the Jane Yellowrock series) and this book was one awesome addition.
Perfectly complicated world building, it's so intertwined, enthralling and epic. There's no filler and every page is important.
Filled with unique beings, the intrigue of a vampire society, the rules of the shape-shifting creatures (plus a few other beings ) and the federal government that wants to control all the weapons of power.
Then there's Nell. Plant woman, paligamest church escape, she's gone from scared young woman who knew she wanted more than what she was raised to be and becomes a power all her own (then bringing quite a few family members with her).
This is just a beautiful story of strength, love and the will to live and be so much more.
Faith Hunter is one of the best authors I've ever read. If you haven't read anything by her you should.
March 5, 2024
I think my mistake with this one was not realizing it was the 6th book in a series. This reminded me of back when I was younger and I was gifted the 4th Harry Potter book, and not realizing that it was the 4th book. I had never read any of the prior books. So while it was good, I also felt a bit lost the whole time. The same happened here.
However, I did find myself really intrigued. There is a whole world here built on top of the world that we know, and there are some many fantastical elements that I think separate it from the normal fantasy tropes we read. The characters are very lovable, and I found myself wanting to know more about them. I felt like I was missing something, which I’m sure was likely explained in the first 5 books! It seems almost like it can be read as a standalone, in the sense that it is a mystery and there is this paranormal case being solved, but in terms of the characters and just background of the world, I would definitely recommend reading the series from its beginning. Nevertheless, I did really enjoy the writing, the glimpse into the world this book gave me, and what a wonderful love story between Occam and Nell! Also as a resident of New Orleans, I loved all the references!!
Thank you again Berkley and Ace Books for the read!
However, I did find myself really intrigued. There is a whole world here built on top of the world that we know, and there are some many fantastical elements that I think separate it from the normal fantasy tropes we read. The characters are very lovable, and I found myself wanting to know more about them. I felt like I was missing something, which I’m sure was likely explained in the first 5 books! It seems almost like it can be read as a standalone, in the sense that it is a mystery and there is this paranormal case being solved, but in terms of the characters and just background of the world, I would definitely recommend reading the series from its beginning. Nevertheless, I did really enjoy the writing, the glimpse into the world this book gave me, and what a wonderful love story between Occam and Nell! Also as a resident of New Orleans, I loved all the references!!
Thank you again Berkley and Ace Books for the read!
April 5, 2024
LOVE this series. The climax at the end had me chewing my nails. What a crazy unexpected end. Loved the vows. I hope we get more of the Nicholson sisters. I hope this wasn't the last book.
May 30, 2024
These are so much better than the latest franchise versions of Jane Yellowrock. Just the right number of interesting characters and events.
July 25, 2024
It took way too long to read this one. It was okay. I wasn’t completely invested. Too much was going on and there wasn’t enough explanation at time. I replay many sections thinking I missed something only to realize it just wasn’t explained well. I didn’t finish the Jane Yellowrock series (last book or two) and I never will. So the references to her also fell short. I don’t know. It was a bad book but not a great one either. 3.5 rating
March 11, 2024
I really hope this isn't the end of Nell's story. After losing Jane, I don't think I'm ready to say a final farewell to that world. (★★★★½)
April 23, 2024
I am just over the series.
August 29, 2024
Nell Ingram has settled in her home on Soulwood with custody of her sister Mud and in a nearby house, her other sister Esther (with her twin babies) is now living. All three sisters are “plant people� and are still learning everything they can do with their connection to the land. Nell is also planning her wedding to Occam, her cat shifter fiancé. An ancient Spanish vampire and his people come to the area, seeking an artifact that PsyLED recently lost, and then the vamps begin hunting the “devil dogs,� who also come from Church people but have been kicked out as “Lost Boys,� the body count starts growing and the action really picks up. The team is also searching for their boss, the light dragon who hasn’t been seen for weeks and it’s all mixed up with the Spanish vampire and his group. The action really gets going, and it takes everything the team has to figure out what is going on, find a way to save the young “Lost Boys,� defeat the evil vampires, and make sure all of their team comes through in one piece. Nell and her sisters learn from each other how to best use their power, and learn from their family some of the mysteries and history of their people. I loved this story and although it felt like things were wrapped up and it was perhaps an ending to the series, I certainly hope it’s not and there are more Soulwood books in the future.
July 23, 2024
1.5 “I should’ve called it quits at book 3.� Stars
Unpopular opinion: I’m not a fan of Nell for multiple reasons; I'll list my top 3 annoyances. 1. Her attitude towards the cult and her continued acceptance of their disgusting behavior were tiresome. 2. I absolutely abhorred the way she spoke. Listening to the audio version only cemented my feelings. I cringed anytime they used that vernacular, aka “church speak.� 🤷🏻♀� I said it. 3. Little to no character growth. Nell was pushed into her role & her character is resistant to any significant growth. She barely functions outside her cultist ways. She's like a child who wants to get into the pool and swim, but can't get past the cold water.
About 46% into the story, I decided this would be the final book I'd purchase in this series. I lost interest & it took me an age to get to the halfway mark. Turns out I'm not the only one who's had enough of Soulwood.(According to the author, lack of sales has ended the series earlier than expected.) I for one, am happy to say goodbye and good riddance to Nell.
Unpopular opinion: I’m not a fan of Nell for multiple reasons; I'll list my top 3 annoyances. 1. Her attitude towards the cult and her continued acceptance of their disgusting behavior were tiresome. 2. I absolutely abhorred the way she spoke. Listening to the audio version only cemented my feelings. I cringed anytime they used that vernacular, aka “church speak.� 🤷🏻♀� I said it. 3. Little to no character growth. Nell was pushed into her role & her character is resistant to any significant growth. She barely functions outside her cultist ways. She's like a child who wants to get into the pool and swim, but can't get past the cold water.
About 46% into the story, I decided this would be the final book I'd purchase in this series. I lost interest & it took me an age to get to the halfway mark. Turns out I'm not the only one who's had enough of Soulwood.(According to the author, lack of sales has ended the series earlier than expected.) I for one, am happy to say goodbye and good riddance to Nell.
March 6, 2024
Brilliant Ending to a beloved series
There are characters and stories that stay with you. Soul wood has been one of those imaginary worlds that I have returned to multiple times. Nell's journey from terrified widder woman to matriarch of a new and powerful family of choice has been a story worthy of my time and attention.
When Faith announced that this would be the end of the story, I was concerned about how many loose ends there were to be completed in one last shot. Faith completely met the challenge. And additionally brought light to a dark secret world that many polygamous child brides and lost boys are caught in. Beautiful read, great series,
And now, to begin it again...
There are characters and stories that stay with you. Soul wood has been one of those imaginary worlds that I have returned to multiple times. Nell's journey from terrified widder woman to matriarch of a new and powerful family of choice has been a story worthy of my time and attention.
When Faith announced that this would be the end of the story, I was concerned about how many loose ends there were to be completed in one last shot. Faith completely met the challenge. And additionally brought light to a dark secret world that many polygamous child brides and lost boys are caught in. Beautiful read, great series,
And now, to begin it again...
June 14, 2024
I'm so happy with Nell and this series. her powers, her sisters and family, Occam, the Psyled family and the investigations. Now that I'm all caught up I have to wait for the next book and it will be hard. I may have started Jane Yellowrock since I was curious and the series did overlap quite a lot. Not only with characters like Rick, but with big events. I do not know if I'll do the 15 books, but I'm curious enough and have a year until we get our next Nell instalment 😭
May 21, 2024
I still love Nell and all her family, chosen and blood, land and vampire tree. She is amazing!
November 3, 2024
So much better than the last two books in this series! I really hope it continues and takes the focus off of the vampires and put it back on Nell, her family and co-workers.
November 9, 2024
Why did that end as if it’s the last one???
August 5, 2024
This was from the audio book which I listened to - somehow that edition not on goodreads.
I enjoyed this book - I think it had been awhile since book five. The author is always bringing in new concepts though I felt like she mostly wants to continue the series from the Jane Yellowrock books but without Jane Yellowrock (who is more interesting in a lot of ways than Nell the protagonist of this series). There were some interesting moments.
I enjoyed this book - I think it had been awhile since book five. The author is always bringing in new concepts though I felt like she mostly wants to continue the series from the Jane Yellowrock books but without Jane Yellowrock (who is more interesting in a lot of ways than Nell the protagonist of this series). There were some interesting moments.
May 26, 2024
4,5 ⭐️
Eu comecei essa série uns 10 atrás e fiquei muito feliz quando descobri que saiu o sexto livro.
Eu lembrei como o mundo dessa série é complexo, como os personagens são maravilhosos, e como uma série de fantasia deveria ser: com plot twists, disputas entre diferentes espécies, cenas bem detalhadas e nenhum capítulo chato. Mud, Nell e Occam 💖
“And a plant-woman. She plays a very important part for the rest of us. She and her land are the soul of us.�
Eu comecei essa série uns 10 atrás e fiquei muito feliz quando descobri que saiu o sexto livro.
Eu lembrei como o mundo dessa série é complexo, como os personagens são maravilhosos, e como uma série de fantasia deveria ser: com plot twists, disputas entre diferentes espécies, cenas bem detalhadas e nenhum capítulo chato. Mud, Nell e Occam 💖
“And a plant-woman. She plays a very important part for the rest of us. She and her land are the soul of us.�
November 5, 2023
So so so good! This book does need to be read in order, but I love this series and, specifically, this lead character Nell. This Soulwood line is a spin off from the author's Jane Yellowrock series, which I started reading after I read "Blood of the Earth". Nell is still my favorite, though. I appreciate the author taking the time to flush her out, flaws and all, while still letting her kick butt in a way that's different from most of the fantasy books I've read. This follow up hit all the good notes for me - although I will say it felt a tad rushed at times, but maybe that's my own brain not being fast enough or just the different rhythm of interactions? I'm not sure but regardless, I've been a fan of Faith Hunter and this book, with it's storyline of Nell and her family and friends continuing to evolve as they try to stop the baddies, makes my heart happy.
July 9, 2024
I really LOVE this series.
There are just a couple of series that really are better when listened to in audio. This is one of those. Khristine Hvam has been the narrator since the beginning and she has such distinctive voices for Nell and the church folk, and well, all of the characters that it is actually fun to listen to.
If you haven't read this series, this isn't really the book to start with. I would seriously recommend going back to the beginning and starting with book 1. It is a great series. It is actually also tied into the Jane Yellowrock series, but I don't think it is a pre-requisite that you have to have read those (even though that is a great series as well).
One of the things that I am really liking in these last couple of books is the character development and growth that we have seen in Nell. And, how Nell's growth is impacting the women in her family - women that were destined for a very not nice life- but who have now embraced the power available to them. It really has been a joy to watch/listen/read?
This book is crazy. There is a whole lot going on in the supernatural world and the PSYLed team is running around like crazy trying to solve their case in time.....yep, lots of drama.
Loved every minute and am hoping that there are many more books to come :)
There are just a couple of series that really are better when listened to in audio. This is one of those. Khristine Hvam has been the narrator since the beginning and she has such distinctive voices for Nell and the church folk, and well, all of the characters that it is actually fun to listen to.
If you haven't read this series, this isn't really the book to start with. I would seriously recommend going back to the beginning and starting with book 1. It is a great series. It is actually also tied into the Jane Yellowrock series, but I don't think it is a pre-requisite that you have to have read those (even though that is a great series as well).
One of the things that I am really liking in these last couple of books is the character development and growth that we have seen in Nell. And, how Nell's growth is impacting the women in her family - women that were destined for a very not nice life- but who have now embraced the power available to them. It really has been a joy to watch/listen/read?
This book is crazy. There is a whole lot going on in the supernatural world and the PSYLed team is running around like crazy trying to solve their case in time.....yep, lots of drama.
Loved every minute and am hoping that there are many more books to come :)
March 9, 2024
� � � � 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at .
---
WHAT'S RIFT IN THE SOUL ABOUT?
As is so often the case with books in this series, there's a lot going on--issues with Nell and her powers, Nell and her sisters/pets/family, and some sort of supernatural-based crime for starters. So this isn't going to be exhaustive (I hopefully never am, but I felt like I should say that here).
Nell is summoned to appear before Ming of Glass, the vampire Master of the City. They've had an interesting relationship in the past, and from the moment the two encounter each other in these pages you know things are going to be much more so. Because this book happens after the events of Final Heir and Ming and her vampires aren't quite like they were last time Nell crossed paths with them.
There's a body on Ming's land that she wants Nell to take away and investigate. Her people aren't responsible for the death--and none of them understand it. As it's on Ming's property, it's a PsyLED problem.
Before PsyLED can do anything about it, Nell catches the attention of vampires that aren't associated with Ming. And...I don't know what else to say about that beyond, drama, violence, and other tense nouns ensue.
Oh, and in the middle of all this, Nell has to prepare for Christmas with her expanding family and a wedding. Because even for a PsyLED Special Agent, there's more to life than just ancient vampires on the hunt.
THE JANE YELLOWROCK RIPPLES
I may spill a bit more from the end of the Yellowrock books than people who haven't finished might like. If that's you, read this next paragraph and then skip to the next heading, okay?
As I've said frequently when it comes to this series--if you haven't read the Jane Yellowrock books that it spun off from, you're going to be okay. You have all the information you need in the Soulwood books. However, if you have read both, you're going to get a lot more from the series.
Boy howdy, is that true here. Yes, it seemed like almost everything got resolved and wrapped up in a pretty little bow at the end of the Yellowrock series. Buuuut...there were enough things dangling to make it seem realistic and maybe allow for short stories from those characters and so on--or, for Soulwood to pick them up and do something with them.
For example--is everything peachy keen in the vampire world now? Is everyone getting along? (I think we know the answer to that) What does it mean for vampires to have their souls back? That's a bigger question than this book can really answer, but we get a peek into the answers.
There are some other things, too--but you should find those out for yourself.
I found this aspect of the novel very satisfying and it scratched an itch I didn't realize I had. We don't see Jane or hear from her directly. But we get to hear a vague update on her and a couple of familiar names pop up to help out here.
THE VAMPIRE TREE/THE GREEN KNIGHT/SOULWOOD
Every time we readers--or Nell--seem to think we all have reached some solid conclusions about Nell's abilities and her land, Hunter comes along, shakes her head at our naiveté, and shows us how little we actually get.
This is all the clearer when it comes to The Vampire Tree and The Green Knight persona. As both seem to be developing and evolving, it's understandable that we (readers andNell) keep being surprised. It's also kind of nice that we can't get complacent. Nell was rocked by some of what she experiences in this book--and, reader, you will be, too. You will almost certainly want more details--like 4+ bonus chapters just about these things (you'll know it when you see them), and will likely have a couple of dozen questions to ask Nell and/or Hunter.
But wait, there's more. We get to see the way that Mud and Esther connect to all this--and it is not precisely the same way that Nell does.
Fans are going to sink their teeth and/or claws into this aspect of the book--and might not care that much about the plot in contrast to this. Well, that might be overstating it--but many fans would be content to hit "pause" on the action for a bit to focus on it.
SPEAKING OF THINGS THAT WE READERS THINK WE UNDERSTAND...
As one would expect, things (outside of Nell's personal life) bring us back to God's Cloud of Glory Church/cult/compound. We end up circling back to events of Blood of the Earth and Curse on the Land in troubling ways. This leads Nell to rethink some of the theories and conclusions she reached back then, and to ask uncomfortable questions.
It's only when you get a series to this kind of length that it becomes this rewarding to come back and take a second look at things like this (sorry for the vagueness). But in the light of these new circumstances, it's good that we readers and Nell get that second look. It really pays off.
I wouldn't mind a little less from this group in the future, but I don't know if that's possible given the way this series has been build. (at the same time, I don't mind seeing them, I'm just worried that it's becoming a rut)
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT RIFT IN THE SOUL?
I don't want to overstate this, but I'm not sure how I could. Nor am I going to explain this. No future Soulwood book is going to be like the ones that came before this one. Yes, yes, yes--the crimes, the monsters, the magic in each is a different kind of problem. But beyond all that, there's a lot to each of these books that take on similar shapes, and patterns--just in the characters, but outside that, too. That all changes here.
And it's a good thing--as comfortable as it is to watch the same set of investigators run down leads, do some magic, shift into wereforms/other shifts, and so on. A good, healthy series grows and develops--like, a garden or a forest (golly, why would someone think in botanical terms when it comes to this series?).
Rift in the Soul acts as a pivot point, or maybe a stepping stone between versions of these two (let's go with a stepping stone, so I don't have to keep hearing Ross Geller yell "PIVOT!" in the back of my mind). There are some hellos, some goodbyes, some..."huh, that's new." (some of which I alluded to above, a lot I haven't). This novel acts as a cap and a launching pad at the same time for the series.
It's tough to consider this book without reference to that, honestly, because so much of the warp and woof of the novel is that. But let's try: you've got some solid vampire action, you've got strange vampire action, too. Some great action scenes. Good, strong character development. Solid emotional beats that are well-executed and earned. Things might not be the same soon, but for now, this is a good time with your group of friends.
Obviously, I don't recommend this as a jumping-on point for the series, but it would be okay if you decided to. (but don't, go back to the beginning). I think you'll like the time in this world. But for people who've been with Nell and her team/work family/blood family since the beginning? You're going to walk away very pleased.
Oh, one last note before I go: Faith Hunter/Publishers: Mud deserves at least a solo-novella. You've got something great here, use it. (unless you wanted to team her up with Jane Yellowrock's Angie)
My thanks to for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including the book via NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group) they provided.
This originally appeared at .
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WHAT'S RIFT IN THE SOUL ABOUT?
As is so often the case with books in this series, there's a lot going on--issues with Nell and her powers, Nell and her sisters/pets/family, and some sort of supernatural-based crime for starters. So this isn't going to be exhaustive (I hopefully never am, but I felt like I should say that here).
Nell is summoned to appear before Ming of Glass, the vampire Master of the City. They've had an interesting relationship in the past, and from the moment the two encounter each other in these pages you know things are going to be much more so. Because this book happens after the events of Final Heir and Ming and her vampires aren't quite like they were last time Nell crossed paths with them.
There's a body on Ming's land that she wants Nell to take away and investigate. Her people aren't responsible for the death--and none of them understand it. As it's on Ming's property, it's a PsyLED problem.
Before PsyLED can do anything about it, Nell catches the attention of vampires that aren't associated with Ming. And...I don't know what else to say about that beyond, drama, violence, and other tense nouns ensue.
Oh, and in the middle of all this, Nell has to prepare for Christmas with her expanding family and a wedding. Because even for a PsyLED Special Agent, there's more to life than just ancient vampires on the hunt.
THE JANE YELLOWROCK RIPPLES
I may spill a bit more from the end of the Yellowrock books than people who haven't finished might like. If that's you, read this next paragraph and then skip to the next heading, okay?
As I've said frequently when it comes to this series--if you haven't read the Jane Yellowrock books that it spun off from, you're going to be okay. You have all the information you need in the Soulwood books. However, if you have read both, you're going to get a lot more from the series.
Boy howdy, is that true here. Yes, it seemed like almost everything got resolved and wrapped up in a pretty little bow at the end of the Yellowrock series. Buuuut...there were enough things dangling to make it seem realistic and maybe allow for short stories from those characters and so on--or, for Soulwood to pick them up and do something with them.
For example--is everything peachy keen in the vampire world now? Is everyone getting along? (I think we know the answer to that) What does it mean for vampires to have their souls back? That's a bigger question than this book can really answer, but we get a peek into the answers.
There are some other things, too--but you should find those out for yourself.
I found this aspect of the novel very satisfying and it scratched an itch I didn't realize I had. We don't see Jane or hear from her directly. But we get to hear a vague update on her and a couple of familiar names pop up to help out here.
THE VAMPIRE TREE/THE GREEN KNIGHT/SOULWOOD
Every time we readers--or Nell--seem to think we all have reached some solid conclusions about Nell's abilities and her land, Hunter comes along, shakes her head at our naiveté, and shows us how little we actually get.
This is all the clearer when it comes to The Vampire Tree and The Green Knight persona. As both seem to be developing and evolving, it's understandable that we (readers andNell) keep being surprised. It's also kind of nice that we can't get complacent. Nell was rocked by some of what she experiences in this book--and, reader, you will be, too. You will almost certainly want more details--like 4+ bonus chapters just about these things (you'll know it when you see them), and will likely have a couple of dozen questions to ask Nell and/or Hunter.
But wait, there's more. We get to see the way that Mud and Esther connect to all this--and it is not precisely the same way that Nell does.
Fans are going to sink their teeth and/or claws into this aspect of the book--and might not care that much about the plot in contrast to this. Well, that might be overstating it--but many fans would be content to hit "pause" on the action for a bit to focus on it.
SPEAKING OF THINGS THAT WE READERS THINK WE UNDERSTAND...
As one would expect, things (outside of Nell's personal life) bring us back to God's Cloud of Glory Church/cult/compound. We end up circling back to events of Blood of the Earth and Curse on the Land in troubling ways. This leads Nell to rethink some of the theories and conclusions she reached back then, and to ask uncomfortable questions.
It's only when you get a series to this kind of length that it becomes this rewarding to come back and take a second look at things like this (sorry for the vagueness). But in the light of these new circumstances, it's good that we readers and Nell get that second look. It really pays off.
I wouldn't mind a little less from this group in the future, but I don't know if that's possible given the way this series has been build. (at the same time, I don't mind seeing them, I'm just worried that it's becoming a rut)
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT RIFT IN THE SOUL?
I don't want to overstate this, but I'm not sure how I could. Nor am I going to explain this. No future Soulwood book is going to be like the ones that came before this one. Yes, yes, yes--the crimes, the monsters, the magic in each is a different kind of problem. But beyond all that, there's a lot to each of these books that take on similar shapes, and patterns--just in the characters, but outside that, too. That all changes here.
And it's a good thing--as comfortable as it is to watch the same set of investigators run down leads, do some magic, shift into wereforms/other shifts, and so on. A good, healthy series grows and develops--like, a garden or a forest (golly, why would someone think in botanical terms when it comes to this series?).
Rift in the Soul acts as a pivot point, or maybe a stepping stone between versions of these two (let's go with a stepping stone, so I don't have to keep hearing Ross Geller yell "PIVOT!" in the back of my mind). There are some hellos, some goodbyes, some..."huh, that's new." (some of which I alluded to above, a lot I haven't). This novel acts as a cap and a launching pad at the same time for the series.
It's tough to consider this book without reference to that, honestly, because so much of the warp and woof of the novel is that. But let's try: you've got some solid vampire action, you've got strange vampire action, too. Some great action scenes. Good, strong character development. Solid emotional beats that are well-executed and earned. Things might not be the same soon, but for now, this is a good time with your group of friends.
Obviously, I don't recommend this as a jumping-on point for the series, but it would be okay if you decided to. (but don't, go back to the beginning). I think you'll like the time in this world. But for people who've been with Nell and her team/work family/blood family since the beginning? You're going to walk away very pleased.
Oh, one last note before I go: Faith Hunter/Publishers: Mud deserves at least a solo-novella. You've got something great here, use it. (unless you wanted to team her up with Jane Yellowrock's Angie)
My thanks to for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including the book via NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group) they provided.
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