Unholy Magic
by Stacia Kane
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Del Rey
Available: July 6, 2010
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Book received from: Random House
ENEMIES DON’T NEED TO BE ALIVE TO BE DEADLY.
For Chess Putnam, finding herself near-fatally poisoned by a con psychic and then stopping a murderous ghost is just another day on the job. As an agent of the Church of Real Truth, Chess must expose those looking to profit from the world’s unpleasant little poltergeist problem—humans filing false claims of hauntings—all while staving off any undead who really are looking for a kill. But Chess has been extra busy these days, coping with a new “celebrity” assignment while trying on her own time to help some desperate prostitutes.
Someone’s taking out the hookers of Downside in the most gruesome way, and Chess is sure the rumors that it’s the work of a ghost are way off base. But proving herself right means walking in the path of a maniac, not to mention standing between the two men in her life just as they—along with their ruthless employers—are moving closer to a catastrophic showdown. Someone is dealing in murder, sex, and the supernatural, and once again Chess finds herself right in the crossfire.
Reviewer: Fiction Vixen
To say that I love the Downside Ghosts series is a ridiculous understatement. Two books in and I think it’s safe to say I am fully addicted, complete with the sweats, itching and panic after having read the last page in Unholy Magic. I tried to read slowly, I did, but it was so-damn-good! 368 pages was not enough, I needed more. Now.
I’ve tried many different ways to summarize this story but I feel in doing so I’m just giving too much away. Since I can’t figure out how to summarize without spoiling in some way, I’ll just get right down to my thoughts.
In Unholy Magic Chess is still very much addicted to drugs and still associating with both her regular drug dealer’s main muscle Terrible, as well a rival drug lord Lex. She lives a dangerous, chaotic life with no clear indication that things will settle down anytime soon. A good deal of her chaos is self imposed but such is the nature of the life of a drug addict. However in Unholy Magic, things get a bit more personal. We get a glimpse into Chess’s tragic background and a better understanding of they reasons she abuses drugs. Chess uses the drugs and both creates and allows chaos in her life as a way of coping—or perhaps not—with things that are just too big to handle. Chess has really grown on me as a heroine which is actually quite surprising to me since there were several times in this book where I literally wanted to wring her neck. She is a mess and makes bad decisions left and right. But on the other hand her basic moral core is solid and underneath it all she is quite vulnerable.
Chess is not the only character that has grown on me. I liked Terrible in Unholy Ghosts but I’m going to put myself out there and say I’ve moved on to loving him after reading Unholy Magic. We get to know a lot more about Terrible and although his reality is danger and violence, somehow after pealing back his layers and getting to look a little deeper it’s easier to sympathize and understand who he is. He still had a moment or two that made me say, “Oh no he didn’t!” but Terrible wouldn’t be Terrible unless he actually did. (I’m still firmly supporting team Terrible)
When it comes to mystery and suspense, Stacia Kane writes with gusto. She is a master of surprises and she simply does not hold back, pushing the boundaries with every turn of the page. This book will make you shiver, shudder, cringe and wince but at the same time, you’ll find yourself caring deeply for characters that are far from perfect and who’s redemption seems questionable at times.
In trying to come up with an adjective to describe the over all tone and feel of this story, I came up short. Gritty seems weak in reference to this book and just does not cover it. I had a brief twitter conversation about the Downside series and I eventually came up with this: Unholy Magic spits on gritty and calls it’s mother names. Yes, this book is that bad ass! Stacia Kane has written an amazing, spine tingling novel in Unholy Magic, taking me by surprise by surpassing even the brilliance of it’s predecessor Unholy Ghosts.
Favorite Quotes:
“Ain’t think I hear you right,” Terrible said in calm, quiet voice. “Wanna loud up?”
She took a deep breath. It felt weird to be telling him this, to be telling anyone this, but she owed him. She had a secret of his now, one so big it was pushing one of her out to make room.
Purchase a copy of Unholy Magic 
Other books in the series:
- Unholy Ghosts Book 1 – May 25, 2010
*My review here*
- City of Ghosts book 3 – July 27, 2010
Other reviews on GoodReads
Visit Stacia Kane at:
"Unholy Magic spits on gritty and calls it’s mother names." — lol
This series is intriguing me. I'll definitely have to check it out! Great review FV Doritos.
I'm reading this series next week..between you and Tori I feel the shakes coming on. I can't wait!!
I'm glad this one was just as good as the first book in the series. I so can't wait to read this one! I'm glad we see more of Terrrible in this book-I loved that quote from him.
Oh my. This series sounds amazing. How have I missed it? I'll have to add this to my TBR list as well.
I got my copy! I got my copy!! I CAN'T WAIT I just want to go home and read!!!
Somebody got a Amazon gift card for her b-day I've got mulah to burn FV, Stacia Kane just made my list.
Well, I think you know how I feel about this book. lol
I believe this is one of the best new series for 2010. And I am Team Terrible all the way.
Great review FV and I'm so glad you found something else to say beyond…"OMG…OMG…just read it…OMG…"
WOW, what a review FV! I feel like I've been missing something huge and I must get it NOW! A badass book huh, *grin* this so fits me as a reader
Julie–Yes, read it! Now, don't wait!! Unholy Ghosts is awesome and Unholy Magic is even better!
Mandi–Yay, we can twitch together! LOL. Can't wait to talk about these books with you!
Buckeye girl–Oh yes, more Terrible. I lurve him.
Jess–It is amazing! Get it!!
Spaz–Hurry, read. We'll chat!
KC–Yay, your hubs rocks. I love amazon cards. So many options!
Tori–This is by far the best new UF of 2010! By far!!
Leontine–Bad ass doesn't even describe it. So good.
Did I not TELL you to put everything else down and read this damn book?! I almost cried when I had 10 pages left, I'm a crack head.
I LOVED Unholy Ghosts and now I´m dying to get my hands on Unholy Magic. But my fovorite online bookstore hasn´t delivered it. Let me tell you, sometimes, it just s**** living in Germany!
I´m so glad there´s more of Terrible in this book. I´m such a fangirl!
Thanks for your great review!
Pix, girl!! Dayum. Yeah. LOL. I can't wait for the next one but then what do we do after that? I'm already sweating.
Christine–Oh no, I hope you can get a copy soon. You need to email that book store today!
I have to say I fell for Terrible in the first book.
I can't wait to get back into this world. I am soooo glad to hear you loved this one. Now I will be making a trip to the book store very very soon. 
Thanks for the great review!
Isn't it great to get addicted to a new series! Your review rocks, hon!
Book two already and I haven't even read book one yet…
Us readers are so fickle – I for one complain about series books that take too long to get here and when an author actually tosses them at us in a pretty decent time frame..
I slack off…
Mst go read, must go read… this weekend…
E.H>