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universalbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. There is so incredibly much to unpack with this read. This novel addresses cultism, blind faith in authority, female empowerment, gender equality, violence against women, and in my mind most importantly how all of the above intersect and build of one another.
Nell, as a lead character, works so well for me because she isn't your typical "strong female lead" found in most modern fiction. Her struggles for independence are real, and have fatal consequences that are realistic even though this is a work of fantasy. Nell's biggest risk isn't being discovered by the government, or losing a romantic interest; no. The biggest risk in Nell's life is being captured by a misogynistic, sadist, and violent cult that she escaped from in her youth. I found these stakes to much more worthy of my attention as a reader that the more typical tropes found in urban fantasy.
The dynamic with her family, revealed closer to the end of the novel, was particularly enthralling for me. It was refreshing in it's surprise factor. I didn't see it coming and felt it added an emotional element to the conclusion that was missing beforehand.
This is a tale of strength. And all of it's various incarnations. From the persecuted, and abused womenfolk of the cult, to the young men in the cult who bide their time to avenge and protect, to Nell who comes into her own surrounded by those she can't trust because she has been so mistreated.
I loved this read, and recommend it to those looking for a read with teeth that will keep you up to the wee hours of the morning.
Nell, as a lead character, works so well for me because she isn't your typical "strong female lead" found in most modern fiction. Her struggles for independence are real, and have fatal consequences that are realistic even though this is a work of fantasy. Nell's biggest risk isn't being discovered by the government, or losing a romantic interest; no. The biggest risk in Nell's life is being captured by a misogynistic, sadist, and violent cult that she escaped from in her youth. I found these stakes to much more worthy of my attention as a reader that the more typical tropes found in urban fantasy.
The dynamic with her family, revealed closer to the end of the novel, was particularly enthralling for me. It was refreshing in it's surprise factor. I didn't see it coming and felt it added an emotional element to the conclusion that was missing beforehand.
This is a tale of strength. And all of it's various incarnations. From the persecuted, and abused womenfolk of the cult, to the young men in the cult who bide their time to avenge and protect, to Nell who comes into her own surrounded by those she can't trust because she has been so mistreated.
I loved this read, and recommend it to those looking for a read with teeth that will keep you up to the wee hours of the morning.
hgranger's review against another edition
3.0
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.
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Blood of the Earth
4 Stars
Exiled from a religious cult, Nell Ingram lives off the grid and uses her uncanny connection to the woods as protection. Now, after meeting Jane Yellowrock, Nell is approached by Rick LaFleur, an agent with PsyLED, the government agency responsible for policing paranormals, with a request for help in solving a series of abductions possibly connected to Nell's old church. Forced out of isolation, Nell joins the PsyLED team, but in order to stop the malign agenda unfolding, she will have to confront the deepest and darkest fears of her past.
Series note: This is a spin-off of the Jane Yellowrock series and slots in after the events of book #10 Shadow Rites. While it is not strictly necessary to read Jane's books prior, they do provide background information that will provide the reader with a better understanding and appreciation for Hunter's world building and the crossover characters.
For readers of Jane Yellowrock, Rick LaFleur will be a familiar, if not particularly welcome, face. That said, the concern that his character would impair my appreciation for the story were completely unfounded for three reasons. First, because he is not a love interest for Nell, which prevents the angst that characterizes his relationship with Jane; second, because Hunter manages to evoke a measure of sympathy for his situation, and third because Nell has her own special way of putting him in his place.
Nell's character is very intriguing due both to her fascinating abilities, which walk a fine line between good and evil, and to her background as a former cult member. The description of the God's Cloud of Glory Church are both thought-provoking and infuriating. On the one hand, their despicable treatment of women makes the blood boil, but on the other, the sense of family and community is very appealing. It is the mark of an excellent storyteller that Hunter succeeds in merging the two so skillfully.
The abduction plot appears straightforward at first, yet it becomes more complex as the details emerge and there are several compelling twists and turns as well as numerous action packed scene to make for a very satisfying read.
In terms of the writing, several reviewers have mentioned Nell's "church speak" as being distracting. For me, this was not an issue as Khristine Hvam's narration of the audiobook in gripping and immersive. Nevertheless, there is a certain amount of repetitive description that is problematic, and it feels as if Hunter had a page quota to fulfill.
In sum, Blood of the Earth is a fascinating beginning to the Soulwood series and I'm eager to see the direction in which Hunter takes her exceedingly intelligent, resourceful and spirited new heroine.
4 Stars
Exiled from a religious cult, Nell Ingram lives off the grid and uses her uncanny connection to the woods as protection. Now, after meeting Jane Yellowrock, Nell is approached by Rick LaFleur, an agent with PsyLED, the government agency responsible for policing paranormals, with a request for help in solving a series of abductions possibly connected to Nell's old church. Forced out of isolation, Nell joins the PsyLED team, but in order to stop the malign agenda unfolding, she will have to confront the deepest and darkest fears of her past.
Series note: This is a spin-off of the Jane Yellowrock series and slots in after the events of book #10 Shadow Rites. While it is not strictly necessary to read Jane's books prior, they do provide background information that will provide the reader with a better understanding and appreciation for Hunter's world building and the crossover characters.
For readers of Jane Yellowrock, Rick LaFleur will be a familiar, if not particularly welcome, face. That said, the concern that his character would impair my appreciation for the story were completely unfounded for three reasons. First, because he is not a love interest for Nell, which prevents the angst that characterizes his relationship with Jane; second, because Hunter manages to evoke a measure of sympathy for his situation, and third because Nell has her own special way of putting him in his place.
Nell's character is very intriguing due both to her fascinating abilities, which walk a fine line between good and evil, and to her background as a former cult member. The description of the God's Cloud of Glory Church are both thought-provoking and infuriating. On the one hand, their despicable treatment of women makes the blood boil, but on the other, the sense of family and community is very appealing. It is the mark of an excellent storyteller that Hunter succeeds in merging the two so skillfully.
The abduction plot appears straightforward at first, yet it becomes more complex as the details emerge and there are several compelling twists and turns as well as numerous action packed scene to make for a very satisfying read.
In terms of the writing, several reviewers have mentioned Nell's "church speak" as being distracting. For me, this was not an issue as Khristine Hvam's narration of the audiobook in gripping and immersive. Nevertheless, there is a certain amount of repetitive description that is problematic, and it feels as if Hunter had a page quota to fulfill.
In sum, Blood of the Earth is a fascinating beginning to the Soulwood series and I'm eager to see the direction in which Hunter takes her exceedingly intelligent, resourceful and spirited new heroine.
aemac27's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Started off strong but was too long, could have benefitted from more editing.
angie_stl's review against another edition
4.0
Great start to a new series
I've read all of the Jane Yellowrock series, whose world Soulwood is set in, so I feel like I have a decent feel for Ms Hunter's writing style. I almost gave up on Jane early on because of the overly descriptive sections of the books, but I liked the characters, especially Rick LeFleur who is now in Soulwood's world, so I stuck it out and the descriptions became shorter and a little less often. Apparently the overly descriptive style is how Ms Hunter builds her worlds, because those extremely long, overly done descriptions were back in Blood of the Earth. At one point I noticed one descriptive paragraph was longer than the page of my kindle. I'm going to stick it out with this series, hoping that it does as Jane's did and evens out, because Nell is just too interesting to give up on this early in the game!!
I've read all of the Jane Yellowrock series, whose world Soulwood is set in, so I feel like I have a decent feel for Ms Hunter's writing style. I almost gave up on Jane early on because of the overly descriptive sections of the books, but I liked the characters, especially Rick LeFleur who is now in Soulwood's world, so I stuck it out and the descriptions became shorter and a little less often. Apparently the overly descriptive style is how Ms Hunter builds her worlds, because those extremely long, overly done descriptions were back in Blood of the Earth. At one point I noticed one descriptive paragraph was longer than the page of my kindle. I'm going to stick it out with this series, hoping that it does as Jane's did and evens out, because Nell is just too interesting to give up on this early in the game!!
lyndz_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
kinfolk's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
reasonpassion's review against another edition
5.0
Faith Hunter has a way of enlarging the first-person perspective that allows the reader to slip in as if they were reading a version of their own lives. The differences become no less jarring but they are experienced as a form of self-reflection. With Nell, a character as strong as she is witty, as family-centered as she is independent and prone to as many errors as the rest of us, Hunter has created a profoundly human character even as she is anything but. If you want a walk into a new world, one where the existent of vampires is actually less strange than the puritanical cult right next door, then prepare to be drawn in and not let go.
local_hat's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
pjonsson's review against another edition
3.0
I have quite enjoyed Faith Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock series so I had some hopes that I would like this one as well. Well, it is not at all a bad book. The writing is as good as one has come to expect from this author. Unfortunately I found the story to not really be my cup of tea.
The book introduces a new character in the Jane Yellowrock universe. Well, kind of new at least. She was briefly mentioned in one of the Yellowrock books. This new character is a bit of a hermit and woefully uneducated about life outside of her own little bubble.
I think this is were the story starts to disagree with me. Nell starts off being next to brainwashed by the church she was more or less born into. This church seems to be pretty much a parody of Christianity filled with a bunch of rasist and chauvinist assholes treating women like slaves good for nothing but house chores and giving birth. Unfortunately the entire book circles around these asswipes and it became way too much for me rather quickly.
Also, the main protagonist is not only pretty much the opposite of Jane Yellowrock. She does speak up for herself occasionally but, to me, there was a definite lack of spunk. Her powers is quite unique but I found them fairly uninteresting and, for lack of a better word, useless. At least when more offensive tactics were required. I guess it is just the first book so I would suppose both Nell and her powers might grow.
Obviously these are quite personal objections and other people may, and probably will, like the book a lot more. After all, the writing itself is very good and the accompanying characters, the werecats, are quite likable. I didn’t like LaFleur much in the Yellowrock series and do not like him much now either though.
I guess the bottom line for me is that it is a good book but it didn’t work that well for me. I might try having a go at the second one but I do not really feel like I am in a hurry to do so.
The book introduces a new character in the Jane Yellowrock universe. Well, kind of new at least. She was briefly mentioned in one of the Yellowrock books. This new character is a bit of a hermit and woefully uneducated about life outside of her own little bubble.
I think this is were the story starts to disagree with me. Nell starts off being next to brainwashed by the church she was more or less born into. This church seems to be pretty much a parody of Christianity filled with a bunch of rasist and chauvinist assholes treating women like slaves good for nothing but house chores and giving birth. Unfortunately the entire book circles around these asswipes and it became way too much for me rather quickly.
Also, the main protagonist is not only pretty much the opposite of Jane Yellowrock. She does speak up for herself occasionally but, to me, there was a definite lack of spunk. Her powers is quite unique but I found them fairly uninteresting and, for lack of a better word, useless. At least when more offensive tactics were required. I guess it is just the first book so I would suppose both Nell and her powers might grow.
Obviously these are quite personal objections and other people may, and probably will, like the book a lot more. After all, the writing itself is very good and the accompanying characters, the werecats, are quite likable. I didn’t like LaFleur much in the Yellowrock series and do not like him much now either though.
I guess the bottom line for me is that it is a good book but it didn’t work that well for me. I might try having a go at the second one but I do not really feel like I am in a hurry to do so.