Reviews

Blood of the Earth by Faith Hunter

marimoose's review against another edition

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4.0

Full review found at Story and Somnomancy.

Initial thoughts: A wood-fairy-thing woman who knows how to use a shotgun gets sucked into consulting for a paranormal investigative unit full of WERECATS and other non-humans. Um. YESTHANKYOUFORTHIS.

ulrikedg's review against another edition

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1.0

I was pretty sure this was a spin-off when I started listening, so I was prepared to miss some nuance from the world and for a bit of exposition to set the stage. Instead of giving readers the necessary information and moving on, the author goes on and on and on about what happened before the book started. Very little of it seems NECESSARY. The conversation between Nell and Rick covered most of the important bits, throw in a bit of internal dialog, and it's all covered. Or it should have been.

On top of the excruciatingly slow start, the lack of research is jarring. The author refers to "red deer" on the land (there are five deer species in North America: white-tailed deer, mule deer, caribou, elk, and moose). Any red deer in Tennessee are escapees from farms, a fact worth noting (imagine reading about hyena or kangaroos running wild in the US without any explanation).

Nell talks about being taught to shoot, and then uses the most abysmal and unsafe methods imaginable! I know tiny 12 year olds who learned to shoot shotguns. One was so light he literally slid back along the bench he was seated on the first time he fired. It didn't leave him with a "shoulder so bruised" he "couldn't use the arm for two weeks." Anyone familiar with a shotgun would know this! If you're that bruised, it's because you weren't holding the gun properly (pull it snuggly into your shoulder, don't give it extra room to "smack" into you). If it knocked you down, you need to lean into it. If you're worried about dislocating your shoulder, you definitely shouldn't brace your back against something solid! A 3" shell will recoil more than a 2.5" shell, but there's no indication the character is abnormally tiny, and no reason she shouldn't be able to shoot a shotgun if someone who knew anything about guns taught her.

Then there's the idea that a horny dude would over look a .32 S&W revolver in her bib overalls pocket when exposing her breasts. It weighs over a pound!

At the end of chapter 3, Nell decides to sleep with the .32 S&W in her pocket, and I realized she was TSTL. DNF

528's review against another edition

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3.0

War iwie nicht in der richtigen Stimmung dafür und hab sehr viel überflogen.
Muss ihm nochmal eine Chance geben dann könnte ich es glaub ich sehr mögen.
Occam und fmc könnte was wirklich gutes werden.

ac223's review against another edition

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4.0

This review can also be found at www.thepaperbackaddict.com

Soulwood is a great new spinoff series based in the same world as Hunter's Jane Yellowrock series. Nell was recently pulled into Jane's world when Jane asked for her help rescuing a missing Clan Glass vamp. The polygamist cult Nell escaped from and has been attempting to avoid since was responsible for the kidnapping and Jane needed access to their compound which sits adjacent Nell's land. After the rescue attempt, Jane went back to New Orleans leaving Nell to deal with the remaining members who weren't happy with her helping outsiders. In the last few months, things have gotten pretty intense, and are only getting worse, that is until Rick Lafleur and Paka show up. Jane was supposed to send help but they're late in coming, and when they do show up they need Nell's help too. Psyled is working a case that may involve the cult and they want Nell on their team.

Nell is so naive about the world around her having been raising in such isolation. I love the simple joys she finds in things most people consider so normal. She doesn't know what she is or what kind of powers she holds but the coming months will give her plenty of opportunity to test those things out. I never liked Paka much for the role she played in Rick's leaving Jane, but she did grow on me a bit in this book. Even better was Occam, the other were-leopard who just happens to be from Texas and seems to be awfully smitten with Nell!! The other team member I find completely endearing is Tandy, the empath in unit 18. He's basically a human lie detector but he's very sensitive to the emotions of those around him and Nell is very kind to him.

wetdryvac's review against another edition

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5.0

Really enjoying this series.

peppermintbat's review against another edition

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adventurous 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

4.25

cris3ma's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional fast-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

4.0

chllybrd's review against another edition

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5.0

BLOOD OF THE EARTH might be set in the same world as the Jane Yellowrock series, but it is a whole different story. I could not put down BLOOD OF THE EARTH and when it was over, I desperately wanted more.

I had not read OFF THE GRID before jumping into BLOOD OF THE EARTH, so I had no idea who Nell was before jumping in. I didn't feel like I missed anything, but if I could go back, I would read it just to get to know Nell a little better before jumping into her part of the world because I loved her and wanted more. Nell is nothing like Jane Yellowrock, but she is just as kick ass in her own way. For someone that has been so sheltered she still have a great understanding of how things in the world worked and her reasoning skills made her an essential part of the PsyLED team she found herself thrust into helping.

Even though I think Nell is awesome, the secondary characters definitely helped to make BLOOD OF THE EARTH more of a success for me. I really liked how the PsyLED team just came into Nell's life and started treating her like part of the team and one of their own—even if she didn't particularly want any of them in her life in the beginning. I just loved how different each of them were, but how close they were to each other. I should also mention that I actually didn't hate Rick in BLOOD OF THE EARTH. I still have some big issues with him, but I don't despise him as much and even understand him a little better.

I will absolutely be continuing with the Soulwood series. In fact, I can not wait to get my hands on book two. Thankfully I wont have to wait too long, CURSE ON THE LAND is set to release November 1, 2016.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

joie881's review against another edition

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3.0

Captivating and fast-paced storyline. Big down side: the repetitiveness. Yes, I get that Nell does not know what she is. Yes, I know her history with Jane Yellowrock has a heavy bearing on her current situation. Really, I get it. Let's move on already! This happens throughout the ENTIRE book. Also, the minute details of her herbal remedies get rather tiresome. Maybe for others who are fascinated with concocting their own medicines, but these recipes were a big SKIP for me. Hopefully, her next installment does away with the monotony and lets the story itself shine through.

ink_and_pages_'s review against another edition

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4.0

Blood of the Earth is a great read with interesting new characters and a return of some from the Jane Yellowrock series.
Loved the whole PSYled team and how they welcomed Nell so quickly without any bullshit or drama.
Love Nell's feisty attitude in spite of her traumatic childhood/adutlhood and also love her unique abilities/magic, cannot wait to learn more about both her and her magics.
Great storyline and protagonists with a good twist towards the end too.
Was hoping this would be just as awesome as the Jane Yellowrock series and while Jane is my absolute favorite, Nell is great too and cannot wait to read more about her.