Flame in the Dark

In this third book of Faith Hunters Soulwood series, Probie Special Agent Nell Ingram is starting to find her footing in her PsyLED unit which handles paranormal cases. They are called out to a situation after a senator is attacked by a sniper during a party and then, suspiciously, the home burns down. Nells special talents in communing with the land and animals is essential in figuring out what kind of paranormal her team is dealing with and why the senator and his family are targets. Several strange clues do not make sense to Nell and her team including her bosses, Soul, and Rick LaFleur who keep sending her out to read the land. They assist the local and federal law enforcement agents in an effort track the shooter and protect the senators family.

While trying to handle her demanding workload, Nell also has the complicated task of figuring out how to help and protect her young sister, Mindy, who is like Nell: not human and also having her special talents and connection to the earth. Adding to all this, she is trying to deal with the bizarre and dangerous, almost sentient, vampire tree on church property, and the evil that is left of her old adversary, both of whom are causing problems so Nell has several challenges.

Those of you who follow the Jane Yellowrock series will be interested to see how Rick fares after his last encounter with Jane. Life is weighing heavily on the former player and ladies man who is still learning to deal with his recent ability to finally shift. With the full moon coming soon, Rick and Occam have catty issues to deal with adding to the fun.

So much of the townie world is still new to Nell including Occams romantic interest. Since they work together, Nell has to figure out not only what she wants, but how to deal with it on the job. She constantly fights with learned behaviors leftover from growing up in an extremely restrictive fundamentalist church coupled with her experiences as a very young wife and widow. In this book, Nells confidence in her skills and determination to be her own woman unfettered by the past figure greatly. She likes who she is becoming, but all the new complicated feelings especially for Occam, new people in her life, and her evolving connection to Soulwood keeps Nell very unsettled indeed.

Faith Hunter always gives her readers much to chew on concerning her characters, their complicated and often dangerous jobs, and complex relationships. Nell is a captivating woman whose continued evolution is quite unique and fascinating to watch. The unfolding story of what kind of being Nell is with her unusual growing abilities continues to be an exciting tale to be told.

I’m very happy that Faith Hunter decided to expand her Jane Yellowrock world to include Nell Ingram in it. She’s a smart heroine who thinks before acting. Her strength comes from the land. Her power comes from Soulwood. Nell is able to communicate with the land and if necessary defend herself using it.

In this latest installment, Nell has finished spook school and now she’s the new probie with Unit 18 for the PsyLED. She’s getting used to her job and learning the natural interactions outside the Cloud Glory Church sect. The rest of the team is composed of Rick LaFleur, T. Laine, Occam, Jojo and Tandy.

At the beginning of the novel, Unit 18 gets assigned a new case. It has a paranormal component to it and Nell will be very useful in helping determine what is attacking several important families. The case is full of suspense. As always, Nell’s intelligence and power of deduction are a great asset to the team. The baddies in this one gave me the creeps. Nasty things!

Flame in the Dark is full of character development. Not only for Nell but for the rest of the team too. Of course, the one which was the most impressive was Nell’s. She’s learning about her true power and how to use it. She’s also helping her younger sister “Mud” understand she’s not human either. Nell has learned from her past mistakes and she wants to protect Mud from her family and her own power.

Nell will also have to deal with other thorns in her way. There’s the issue of the vampire tree who seems to be getting more powerful but also more demanding, and of what to do with evil Brother Ephraim, who seems ready to attack her.

In regards to the romance, slowly but surely Occam is becoming Nell’s leading man. He’s a very patient man who’s smart enough to give Nell time to adjust to a life outside the “church”. Yet, he made his intentions towards her clear as day.

Don’t hesitate to grab Flame in the Dark. Faith Hunter knows how to write great Urban Fantasy!

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

WOW! First off let me point out that while I LOVE Jane Yellowrock and this whole world, she is pretty unique BUT there has never been another heroine like Nell, she is the most original character in urban fantasy in many years.

This time she seems to be up against something they can’t even identify and add that to the normal trials and tribulations of a woman who had spent her whole life as a “churchwoman” in a near cult-like existence, she is proving to be one heck of a strong heroine.

Nell is in touch with the world around us like no other heroine ever and that has some serious pros and cons, add more into the mix that her sister is exhibiting signs of being like Nell.

This story has a lot going on and you can’t scan any pages or you might miss something important and a lot of it is just Nell learning how to be normal as she can.

I won’t drone on and repeat the synopsis but, this was just an absolutely exceptional story and while it seemed to be written like it could be the last one in the series, I am assured that there will be at least 2 more in this exceptional story.

5 Stars easy

Holy WOW! I am blown away by this book. I truly didnt know how it could be better than the last book, but it was!!!
Nell has found not only her backbone, but her authority as her own person. She is learning to trust. Trust her family again. Trust her PSYled team. And trust herself.
And the paranormal side? Holy moly, Im not sure where to start without giving spoilers!! But Nell learns MUCH more about not only herself, but an ancient war between civilizations of creatures thought a myth!
And remember properly improper, because its gping to really make you smile!
WARNING!!!!!!!!
Do NOT go past 1/2 way on the book if you are getting close to bedtime. You wont get to sleep that night!!!

I’ve really loved this spin-off series from Jane yellowrock i love the main character she doesn’t quite get the “normal ‘ world but Nell tries her best i do hope she gets a happy relationship with Occam in the next book. She is flawed but she tries a wonderful heroine and great book. A book that made me happier for reading it a rare gift – thank you Ms Hunter

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