Curse on the Land by Faith Hunter Series: Soulwood #2
Publisher: Roc on November 1, 2016
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Adult
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Source: Blog Tour
Purchase: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads
Rating:
Before Nell Ingram met skinwalker Jane Yellowrock, she had no one to rely on, finding strength only in her arcane connection to the dark woods around her. But now she has friends in the newly formed PsyLED team to keep her grounded — even if being part of the agency responsible for policing paranormals comes with dangers of its own…
After training at the PsyLED academy, Nell returns home to her woods to find the land feeling sick and restless. And that sickness is spreading. With the help of her team, under the leadership of agent Rick LaFleur, Nell tries to determine the cause. But nothing can prepare them for the evil that awaits: an entity that feeds on death itself. And it wants more….
At A Glance
Soulwood is one of my new favorite series.
The Good
Curse on the Land starts off with Nell returning from PsyLED Academy training. Rick calls her on a case right away, one that requires her unique abilities. This book has so many plotlines to follow. First we have the case with people dying from really weird crap like repetitive motion and fungus. See? Weird.
Then there is Nell trying to fit in with her new unit. That was my favorite part. Nell really comes into her own. She plays the newbie in the beginning but her instincts take over real fast and she starts bending the rules like a badass. Go Nell! She takes crap from no one. I love this new confident Nell. It suits her. Plus, we meet a few new characters, some have secrets that just tickled me pink!
Then we have Nell reconnecting with her family, which is going swimmingly. It’s really nice to see everyone changing for the better. Oh, and there is that weird tree doing weird things. That’s another whole story. I do wish the evil soul stuck in Nell’s land was addressed more though.
I love reading about Nell experiencing new technology, new people, and new concepts. It’s like a kid in an effed up candy shop. The new revelations were pretty shocking as well. OMG, Rick, I just can’t believe how far his storyline went. Crazy!
The Bad
There was nothing overtly bad in Curse on the Land. There was a lot of technical information that got a bit tedious, but more than anything, I just like the first book a bit more.
The Snuggly
There is no romance in this one but we are finally seeing a small glimpse of interest between Nell and Occam. Yay!
Final Thoughts
Curse on the Land was amazing in almost every way. I freaking love this series!!!! It’s not perfect but it’s perfect for me. Very, highly recommended.
About Faith Hunter
New York Times and USAToday bestselling fantasy author Faith Hunter was born in Louisiana and raised all over the south. Altogether she has 40+ books in print under the names Gary Hunter, Gwen Hunter, and Faith Hunter. As Faith, she writes two contemporary Urban Fantasy series: the Jane Yellowrock series, featuring a Cherokee skinwalker who hunts rogue vampires, and the Soulwood series, featuring earth magic user Nell Ingram. Her Rogue Mage novels are a dark, post-apocalyptic, fantasy series featuring Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage. The role playing game based on the series, is ROGUE MAGE, RPG.
Giveaway
This is a Tour Wide Giveaway
Christy LoveOfBooks
Sigh. One of these days …
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
You would love this series.
miki
i really want to read this spin off even more now that i got my brother to become a fan of the main series
Diane
So, looking forward to learning more about Nell.
Ren
Thank you for the early review. I am looking forward to this book. I loved the first Soulwood book and the glimpses you provided have wetted my appetite more.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
The second book really hit the spot.
Stephanie F.
I love Ms. Hunters writing, this series sounds fantastic. Nell was an intriguing character so I’m very curious to see her on her own.
Larisa
Thanks for a spoiler free yet detailed review. Thrilled my local library is stocking this series.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
You are very welcome.
Jessica
I can’t wait to read book two! Nell is a strong main character, and I really want to see what’s in store for her! Thank you for hosting a stop on the blog tour!
kindlemom1
Great review for this, it sounds like something I would really like as well!
JenM
The first book sounded really good so I’d love to start this series.
Ashley Martinez
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I love the cover
Tammy
Thanks for the review! I love Nell, and can’t wait for Curse on the Land!
Lisa Richards
I love it when an author can do a spin off of a loved series!
Angi Hoagland
Looking forward to the next installment of Nell and crew!! I really missed Ricky-beau in the Yellowrock books so its a special treat to read more about him and that mate-stealer he’s shacked up with! LOL I always get the audio book version and Kristine Hvam is amazing.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
OMG, What Rick goes through in this one!!!! It’s crazy.
Pauline E.
Thanks for the review! Looks like there’s a lot happening in this book compared to the first.
Melissa (Books and Things)
I am so behind on the Faith Hunter books and now she has come out with another brilliant series. Yep, this one is firmly on my wishlist. So glad you enjoyed it!
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Both series are just like magic!
Chris W
So looking forward to this next book in the Soulwood series! There’s something about Nell that just draws me.
Barbara Elness
I’ve been looking forward to continuing the Soulwood series – I loved the first book, Blood of the Earth. 😀
Melissa (My World...in words and pages)
Not only do I want to get to this series, but I need to get to all her series’s. lol. Thank you!
bn100
nice review
Melissa
Sounds like there is a lot going on here..glad it all works!
Brenda R.
Even if you just want to know what happens to Ricky-Bo, you need to read this book.
JoDawn
It’s awesome! Yes, I lucked out into an early reading and, you’uns best not miss this one!!
Anna
Fingers crossed. This series looks too good to miss. 😉
Anna from elements of emaginette
Melliane
Oh I was so curious about this one and I also asked for it but realized that it was book 2 and someone told me that I couldn’t try without book 1 so well I need to buy book 1 now
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
You HAVE to read book 1 for sure.
Carol Gilreath
Have read Blood of The Earth and loved it, can’t wait for the next book in the series. Faith Hunter does not disappoint.
Olivia Roach
I’m glad you could enjoy this novel a lot. I love the cover and I’m glad to see the content is just as good. I like the sound of this one being about reconnecting with the family and investigates a lot of new things, like technology and concepts. I can see why it might lean into quite a few technological explanations from time to time.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
I love this series so much. Highly recommended.
Brandi Breathes Books
Been looking for something different and the unit and sounds of these might be a good fit