I am actually torn as to whether i love jane yellowrock or nell more! This spin-off series is becoming more and more fleshed out. The characters are growing, and nell’s own background is even more interesting. Looking forward to more!

Nell isn’t your normal paranormal. She doesn’t drink blood (Well, lately she’s had a problem with the bloodlust that wants her to drain people down into the earth), and she doesn’t turn into an animal (although she was on “disability” for six months when she became a tree, and she has to trim the leaves growing from her hair and fingers in the morning). She can make things grow, and communicate with the earth by touching the dirt, and she is the voice we hear in Circle of the Moon, the fourth novel in Faith Hunter’s Soulwood series.

Nell, raised in a polygamous sect in Kentucky (some men want her as a plural wife to get the land she owns, and others want her burned as a witch), is working for the Psy Law Enforcement Division, on a team with werefolk, a witch, an empath, and a computer hacker. Witch circles with dead animals in them are showing up in the area, making Rick, the team leader, black out and turn leopard. Blood magic is afoot, and Nell feels traces of vampires in the ground near the circles when she makes contact.

Nell’s focus is split by the presence of Mud, her sister, of whom Nell is trying to become guardian, taking her away from their church and helping her deal with some growing paranormal powers. Bringing the house into the twenty-first century and legal matters cost money, and Nell doesn’t have a lot of it.

Then, there’s the vampire tree spreading from the church compound into Nell’s Soulwood forest, the result of a day Nell needed urgent healing. It seems to be developing a will and personality of its own.

The delights of Hunter’s book include Nell’s attempts to master popular idioms, her near-Sherlockian deductive reasoning, and her slowly-developing relationship with a team member. There is wry humor, mild levels of snarkiness, cross-pollination with Hunter’s characters and events from her Jane Yellowrock series, and passages setting a breakneck pace that may cause you to forget to breathe.

Circle of the Moon is intricate, convoluted, and it’s worth the reading.

Nell and the team have to deal with a mysterious black magic wielder who is casting huge circles with sacrifices for an unknown reason. The circles draw Rick, in his cat form, but not Occam in his cat form and it also draws vampires to it. Local witches deny knowledge and refuse to help. As the circles become stronger and the sacrifices become larger it is a race to discover who is casting them and why before Rick is lost and the magic wielder achieves their evil goal. We also have more on Nell’s private life as a churchman attacks her and she continues her intention to gain custody of her younger sister known as Mud.

This takes place after the events in the Jane Yellowrock novel, Dark Queen, and the character of Ayatas FireWind is present in his capacity of PsyLED special agent in charge of the eastern seaboard. The team gains a new member in FBI agent Margot Racer who has secrets of her own.

The action is non-stop and the team becomes even more of a family unit. I really enjoy this series as well as Ms Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock series, and I highly recommend both series.

This novel is a good one that I’ve read this year! The characters are so dynamic yet relatable. I loved the flow of the story. It held my attention the whole time.

“If your cells were any closer they’d be making cell-babies”

Although the Soulwood series is set in the same universe as Jane Yellowrock, I always felt like I could read it independently – which was a good thing, since I was not up to date with the NOLA vamps. That is not the case anymore. In fact, it took me only till chapter two for the threat to spoilers being so severe that I had to make a choice either to continue and ruin Jane forever, or, put my big girl panties, and put Nell on hold till Jane was all read. So, if you’re not up to date with Jane either, DO NOT TOUCH THIS ONE TILL YOU DO.

“That sounds like a dirty word, but if’n I get a greenhouse outta that, then I’m okay with it.”

That been said, Circle of the Moon was worth both the wait, and the “sacrifice” to be put on hold and facing the last three Jane books. We get witches, foul magic, Rick in trouble, we get to see how Nell and Mud are interacting with the “new” church. And how unit 18 is all coming together as a team, as a family. We also discover that Faith Hunter is a master at weaving threads and connect dots that are… all kinds of awesome. I do want me some happiness for Ricky Boo… and maybe a little more steam with Occam and Nell, because that guy… dang… I need me some of that!!!

I received a free ARC from the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

“I love you, Nell, sugar. I love you with no demands. Nothing held back. I love you to the exclusion of all others. I love you now, when you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I loved you when you were a tree. I will love you when you grow gray haired and your leaves are brittle and brown. I want to make love to you. When you happen to be ready. When you know you love me that exact same way.”
― Faith Hunter, Circle of the Moon

Nell Ingram is a one-off. A singular combination of genetics and environmental factors woke a power within her and now she is considered a new and singular supernatural being....or so everyone in psyLED thinks. Circle of the Moon is the fifth book in the Soulwood novels. This is a spin-off series that exists in the Jane Yellowrock universe and contains several characters who crossover both series. Nell Ingram has learned how to contribute to her supernatural law enforcement team but she doesn't know the limits of her power or what she'll have to sacrifice to use that power. Nell's battles are often more internal than external and when she does enter a physical fight the results are unpredictable. It makes for very intriguing battle scenarios. Circle of the moon was an excellent read, with great character development. I personally love that as a reader we've seen so much of Rick LaFleur's character development (he's one of the many characters introduced first in the Jane Yellowrock series), as well as the different kinds of supernaturals we're exposed to and the ongoing development of Nell's relationships with the individuals in her psyLED team and her family. If you like urban fantasy you should give the Soulwood novels a try.

This was again a fabulous addition to the Soulwood series. Nell is coming into her own after having a rough few years. She is a strong protagonist and I love how she can manipulate people by using the "church lady" persona. I like Nell because she has a lot of common sense and she uses it. She's relatable. Her magic is of the land and grows like the land would grow.

This book developed more of the PsyLed connections than anything. Occum has moved up in her estimation and I delved into Ricky Bo's past a little more. I have to admit that I do feel sorry for the guy even though he broke Jane Yellowrock's heart. The story also involved some of Jane Yellowrock and alluded to things going on in her world. Things that will be coming up, I'm sure.

I loved this series as soon as I started reading them. Nell is a character that has flaws. She loves with her whole heart but she also has a pretty hot temper. I know I wouldn't want to do wrong by her! This is a total 5 star book.

I enjoyed reading this book, as I have for the previous ones in the series. Definitely would like more answers to questions that popped up regarding certain events that occurred in the story line. Would love to read more in this series if there are to be more.

I'm a huge fan of Faith Hunter. Her Jane Yellowrock series is life and her Soulwood series is becoming the same. Vibrant characters, intense plotlines, a constantly evolving world, and a heroine whose own coming of age blends beautifully with the storyline keeps this series fresh and innovative.

The 4th Soulwood picks up where the 3rd left off. Nell is getting her house ready for her sister to come live with her and she is finally no longer a probie. When her boss's past comes back to haunt him with a vengeance, Nell and the team must hunt down a blood witch with a vendetta before they use Rick to unleash a fury upon the city. Toss in family, a blossoming romance, and Nell's own awakening power and Nell more then has her hands full this go around.

Faith Hunter is such a master craftsman of urban fantasy. All of her books in her Jane Yellowrock/Soulwood world are just so dense and layered… in plot, in backstory, and in the characters. The Soulwood books are the spinoffs and if you have not read Dark Queen, the latest Yellowrock book, be prepared for some spoilers because there is some overlap.

Nell, our heroine, has grown so much over the course of this series. She started off as this— I don’t want to say backward, but off-grid woman who has never known I truly modern life. She grew up as part of a polygamist cult and lives in the middle of the woods in a house off the power and water lines. But while she may never truly be free of her upbringing and the impact of its effects, she has now embraced a lot of the modern world in her job as a probationary Psy-Led agent. Not only that, she is bringing her sister, Mud, along with her. Nell is working towards adopting the 12-year-old, but has to make a few more changes to her lifestyle in order for that to happen.

In the meantime, she is continuing to develop a relationship with Occam and I absolutely adore these two together. Occam is really the perfect hero for her. He is so respectful and patient and willing to be beta to her alpha, to let her set all of the terms of their relationship so that she can feel comfortable with it. It is just lovely.

And while this budding romance wrapped up a lot of my heartstrings, believe it or not, the real star of this story is Rick Lefleur. I hated Rick so much in the Jane Yellowrock books, that in conversation about him I would call him Rick the Dick. I thought I would never be able to have any sympathy for him at all, but it is amazing how the different perspective from a different narrator changes how I feel about him. I would never, never want him with Jane. And I hate him through her lens. But through Nell’s eyes, he is actually quite tragic.

Someone or something is targeting Rick or maybe Rick is just getting caught in the crosshairs, but either way something is making him lose control of his cat. Something is aging him. And Nell and her coworkers need to dig deep into Rick’s past to try to solve the mystery. We learn more details about things we’ve been introduced to in previous books and novellas, but a much more complete picture of Rick is painted here than ever before. And I’ll admit, I’m kind of sad for him.

The book features some great love to hate villains. Not only in Rick’s past, but with Nell’s old church as well.

Awesome secondary characters, as always, from the other members of the Psy Led team, to Yummy and Ming’s vampires, Nell’s family, and even a few new faces.

A very very well-crafted book, with the amazing detail I’ve come to expect from Faith Hunter. A lot of threads here, but I was able to follow it better than some of the more intricate Jane Yellowrock books from the past. Overall, a fantastic book and I am so glad there is at least another one still to come in this series. I highly recommend.

Rating: A

Where the Jane Yellowrock series focuses on the process of paranormal politics, Soulwood has traditionally been all about the process of paranormal policing. Just as Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. takes place in a world that is informed by the larger Marvel movies, CIRCLE OF THE MOON shows Nell and her team doing their day to day jobs after the explosive events of DARK QUEEN. And much like Thor, Jane stays off camera.

Soulwood has always fascinated me with the details, both of Nell's day to day life and her police work. I've also enjoyed glimpses of Rick LaFleur's "life after Jane" (he is just the right amount of "ok" and "emotionally devestated", as any disappointing ex-boyfriend should be). CIRCLE OF THE MOON focuses very closely on the minutia of police work involving Rick, so I expected this book to be my favorite of the series. Instead, I found myself less and less excited to pick up a book that felt dry and unengaging. While Nell plugs along accumulating clues and data, the narrative never really feels like it's building to a cohesive picture. Part of what I love about a procedural is feeling like I'm putting together information alongside the main character. And while we see Nell slowly turning things over in her mind, neither she nor I seemed like we were getting anywhere solving this mystery. I was more emotionally engaged with Nell's plans for a house renovation than the villains leaving magical sacrifices all over the countryside.

Hints and teases and inklings... and then *kerblam*, mystery solved. While that last "blam" was good and the epilogue satisfying, it was a bit slog getting there. Even Occam and Nell's budding romance couldn't keep me excited. Any Soulwood book is worth picking up to try, but I don't think this one requires rushing out get right away.

Circle of the Moon is another wonderful entry into the strange, plant-based world of Nell Ingram. Circle of the Moon behaves very much like a procedural as it focuses much more heavily on Nell's newfound career and her position and requirements within that law enforcement career. But, there are also the challenges associated with becoming a legal guardian and moving into the world of debt and onto the grid. It also provides even more connection to Jane Yellowrock's world via Rick LeFleur, his magical tattoos, and the story behind them.

Nell is a powerful character growing and learning in the midst of strange happenings. There are hints at her growing powers and the greater conspiracies at play, but this book is much more focused on her day-to-day life. That isn't bad per say, but I'm not that big a fan of police procedural and this entry into the series was closer to that than I'd like. But, it still provides the soul of Nell and for that it's well worth the read.

Why did it take me this long to discover this series? Why? I’ve been diving into a lot more UF since last year or so and the Soulwood & Jane Yellowrock series have been recommended by a lot of readers who love genre.

Circle of the Moon is the fourth Soulwood book and it does tie into Jane Yellowrock a lot so I recommend that series to be read first before reading this book otherwise you would be lost.

Nell Ingram is fast becoming a favorite character and this book just cemented her appeal. The way she relates to all of the members of the PsyLed team is one of the highlights for me.

I don’t want to say more about the plot because I feel that it’s best to go in without knowing anything except prior knowledge gleaned from the series. The twists and turns are par for the course in this series but my favorite elements are the still relationships and character interactions.

Faith Hunter's second series about Nell have become as exciting as her Jane Yellowrock novels. Whereas Jane built a family for herself over the course of the series, Nell comes with a large intriguing family involved in a cultlike religious group that still believes in polygamy. In the prior novels, Nell was able to rescue one of her sisters from the life, and this novel shows Nell and Mud learning to live together.

But the main focus of the story are the magical tattoos on Nell's boss, Rick. There is a witch using black magic circles and the tattoos to curse and call Rick for some unknown reason.

Nell is an interesting character: after having been raised in the patriarchal family, she is learning how to deal with men differently. What was especially intriguing was the concept that she and her sister needed to learn how to deal with each other differently than the women in the family did.

Overall, the final chapters are tense, well-written, and nerve-wracking, just like the best Jane Yellowrock story.

Nell bears little resemblance to the "widder woman" she once was. She is now a full-fledged probie with PsyLED. One night Rick, her boss, changes unexpectedly into his cat form. He wakes up near a witch circle where there is a dead black cat and contacts PsyLED. Nell and Occam are dispatched to check things out and help Rick.

More circles appear with more sacrifices. And it seems someone is trying to force Rick to change into his cat. Nell reads the earth and can tell that somehow vampires are involved, but not how they are involved.

Meanwhile, Nell is trying to prepare her house for her sister Mud to move in permanently. And a man from the compound where the rest of her family lives wants to court Mud. This is not a good thing.

This book takes place after the events of Dark Queen by Faith Hunter - a Jane Yellowrock book which takes place in the same world as the Soulwood series featuring Nell and PsyLED. In Circle of the Moon, Nell tries to reach out to Jane and has difficulty making contact with her. If you read Dark Queen, you'll understand why this is so.

Also in Circle of the Moon, some of Rick's background is explained which I think made him a little more of a sympathetic character. We finally find out more about what his tattoos mean and how he got them. His life has not been without trauma.

There is a subplot involving the relationship between Nell and Occam. And another subplot involving Nell preparing to be guardian to Mindy, aka Mud. These both make excellent subplots and help to further characterize Nell, Occam, and Mindy.

Nell's abilities to read the land and use the magic of Soulwood in various situations continues to grow and change. This makes Nell a very interesting protagonist.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. The writing and plotting are well done. I had an issue with how the book ends, but it was minor. To say what my issue was would risk spoilers so I will leave it at that. This is not a good standalone novel. It would be best if you start the Soulwood series at the beginning. And if you read some of the Jane Yellowrock series as well, you will get added depth. The series overall is worth reading and Circle of the Moon is no exception.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions herein are my own and freely given.

PsyLED Unit Eighteen Senior Agent Rick LaFleur has a problem and it is going to take the whole team to solve it. He’s woken up naked near a magical working with no clue as to how he arrived there. Worse yet, he’s been antsy lately as his wereleopard is close to the surface even when the moon would dictate otherwise. Is someone specifically summoning Rick? Unit Eighteen knows the magical working is dangerous, but who or what is behind it? Meanwhile Nell Ingram is still trying to find her way as the probie on the team, even as her own powers remain much of a mystery. Can Nell and the rest of Unit Eighteen help stop whatever is going on before it’s too late?

CIRCLE OF THE MOON is the fourth book in the <i>Soulwood</i> series and should be read in the context of the series as a whole. Readers familiar with Faith Hunter’s <i>Jane Yellowrock</i> series will note that events are beginning to occur concurrently between the two series. There may be spoilers in CIRCLE OF THE MOON if you aren’t familiar with the <i>Jane Yellowrock</i> series. However, the <i>Soulwood</i> series can be read on its own merits, although, like me, you’ll find yourself wanting to read the <i>Jane Yellowrock</i> books to get more of this great world Faith Hunter has crafted!

I love Nell and her fight to be independent! She’s come a long way from the polygamous God’s Cloud of Glory Church and I love that she’s empowering her sister, Mud, to make her own choices rather than take ones foisted on her. We’re still learning more about what powers Nell has as even she doesn’t know the depth of them. Faith Hunter does a great job at showing us Nell’s struggle between doing what is right versus what is expedient for various situations.

And oh, Occam! Occam is perhaps my favorite male shapeshifter of any book series I’ve ever read! He’s protective and caring of Nell and her feelings without smothering her. I’m normally not a fan of a lot of romance in my urban fantasy series but watching him court her is heart-warming.

CIRCLE OF THE MOON is a top-notch urban fantasy series! For readers like me who are still mourning the loss of the Ilona Andrews’ <i>Kate Daniels</i> series, the <i>Soulwood</i> series helps soothe that grief as Faith Hunter has one heck of good story on her hands with CIRCLE OF THE MOON. Nell Ingram is an innovative heroine as she’s part PsyLED newbie, part hillbilly, and part tree- and it’s the creativity surrounding the tree aspect that hits this one out of the park. If you love urban fantasy and want a book with spectacular world building, complex and multidimensional characters, and an intriguing story line, then CIRCLE OF THE MOON is exactly what you are looking for!

*review is in the editing queue at Fresh Fiction*

Nell has joined the PsyLED team which allows her to learn more about her powers and to make friends, which she’s definitely going to need when a blood-witch sets out to kill. The story is full of wonderfully strong, bold characters that readers can really get behind as they cheer them on and the magical side and uniqueness of these characters adds lots of spice and intrigue to the story. There’s a bit of upset between the team members as it seems as though the bad guy is targeting Rick which adds to the sense of expectation and suspense, especially as the more the team discovers, the more they realize that they are in a race to stop the bad guy from unleashing an apocalyptic event.

The fast paced plot flows smoothly throughout the story ensuring that readers are completely enthralled by all the adrenaline pumping excitement, thrilling intrigue and dangerous bad guys. Nell not only is working on the case that has quite a few unexpected twists and some very malicious happenings, she also has to deal with some personal family issues and of course she also has to handle the Church and their opposition against her ‘evil’ ways. This keeps things real interesting so there’s never a dull moment to be found and the conclusion to this story is one explosive and energetic endeavor that has readers biting their nails in apprehension and expectation.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆☆
Circle of the Moon is the fourth installment of the Soulwood series, and I strongly suggest against reading it out of order or independently as a standalone. As this is a spin-off of Jane Yellowrock – where I don't believe it necessary to read that series first to grasp anything without confusion – it would be beneficial to the reader to read Jane Yellowrock followed by Soulwood. They share the same urban fantasy universe, the worldbuilding, and a set of characters. While this is an offshoot of the Jane Yellowrock series, Rick's continuing thread is connected to Jane Yellowrock, and the readers would have a more fulfilling emotional connection if the reader has read both Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood in series order.

The main thought scrolling on repeat in my mind as I read Circle of the Moon in one sitting... I cannot wait to carve out a large portion of time, where I go back all the way to the beginning, to spend time with Jane and Beast, working my way in order to experience Nell and company, catching all the things that tie it all together.

For me, this series isn't so much about the world building or the sleuthing for clues, but more so the character building and development over time. This obviously makes this a spoiler-free review.

Nell is coming into her own. She's no longer that widow woman from a cult, who was selfless and wouldn't speak up for herself. Nell now knows her worth. It's been empowering to hitch a ride alongside Nell as she grew as a strong, independent woman over the past four books. The fear and feeling of worthlessness from book one have slowly built into the woman Nell is today. Those experiences color Nell's actions and reactions, creating a 3D heroine with a unique voice.

Another favorite of mine in this series – as I said, it's not so much the original world-building or the mystery solving – it's the connection Nell and her team has forged. Nell doesn't bow down to Rick anymore. She offers her input and expects to be listened to, and I believe this is something Rick needs right now in his life (I won't spoil Rick's trials and tribulations for those who haven't read the book, as it all ties to events that have taken place in Jane Yellowrock).

Rickie Boo. Rickie Boo. Rickie Boo, I'll read anything featuring you. Ha!

Then there is Occam, who is beyond patient and understanding of Nell's cult past. I'm a sucker for a bad boy, so while this is sweet and beautiful, the romance portion hasn't quite hooked me. Occam at times comes off as too perfect, flawless in how he handles Nell. While there is some angst surrounding it, I like a few flaws in my characters.

The cult family, yet another facet where Faith Hunter concentrates on rebuilding relationships that were toxic to begin with, creating something that is realistic yet healthy. Salvaging the best out of a bad situation is the best way to put this.

Even as I write this review, I have such a strong desire to revisit Jane and Beast, weaving Nell in the lineup where these books best fit, to get the most emotional bang for my buck.

This is the fourth book in the Soulwood series, which is a spinoff of the Jane Yellowrock series and does have ties too it. Circle of the Moon takes place after Dark Queen and has spoiler for it.

I like Nell. She is growing so much in her relationships with other paranormal and her family and her team. She is also a good detective. When Rick is caught up with a blood witch doing sacrifices, its going to take all of Nell's skill to do stop the witch. It was a strong plot and a good mystery.

In the latest Soulwood book, Nell Ingram is still adapting to the changes that took place after she accidentally became a tree. The changes in her personal life, particularly as they relate to her family and to her potential love interest (Occam), have to take a backseat when SAC Rick’s past becomes entwined in the Psy-Led team’s present case. Mysterious black-Magic spell circles are calling Rick and the local vampires for unknown purposes. With the main agent in charge down, Nell and her connection to Soulwood end up pulling much of the weight in the investigation.

Readers will be glad to note continued progress on the relationship between Nell and her family and between her and Occam. Once some of Rick’s secrets are revealed, there is also hope that he will heal and finally find happiness (for everyone who has rooted for him since his first appearance in the Jane Yellowrock series). Readers should also note that this take place chronologically after the events of Dark Queen (Yellowrock #12) and some of the events of that book are spoiled (albeit in very brief mentions).

Thanks to Netgalley and to Ace for the ARC of this book!