Review! Unholy Magic by Stacia Kane

Unholy Magic 

Downside Ghosts, book 2

Stacia Kane

Del Rey 

July 6, 2010

ISBN-10: 0345515587 

ISBN-13: 978-0345515582

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.  

Unholy Magic is the second book in the Downside Series and right off the bat, I'm going to start by saying that it's the best book by far. I'm in love with it and I want to have its babies. Okay, Terrible's babies. For real. Chess is back and more messed up than ever. She's a druggie working for the Church as a debunker and her latest case is finding out who or what is killing all these prostitutes and stealing their eyes. Literally. And that's not all, Chess is also trying to break another case about a celebrity's house being hunted and before you know it, she's in deep and her life might just end up on the line.

I never thought that a druggie with an insane amount of problems would bring me so much joy. I absolutely love Chess as a character. She's so sick and messed up and not for a second have I ever felt bad for her. Not once. She owns up to her huge short-comings and she's one of my favorite characters ever. Kane has done a superb job developing her characters. Terrible, one of the gangster's right-hand man is just fabulous. He's a man of few words that the ones he does say carry a hell of a punch and from the first book (Unholy Ghosts) I just fell for him. I'm dying for these two to finally get together yet I'm so worried that because Chess is so broken that things just won't last. I'm hoping that he's her prince in drugs-dealing-people-beating-scary-dude armor and completely turns her life around. I definitely have big hopes for these two but Kane's got a sick sense of humor and I just know she's going to make me suffer and wait for anything to happen between these two. It's okay, though - Bring it, Kane!


The plot itself is insanely original and fun to read. I wasn't bored at any point because the characters and the plot and just everything comes together so well and from the get-go, I was 100% invested in the story. Unholy Magic is made of awesome, no doubt about it. I love the characters, I love the story and honestly, I can't say enough good things about it! Highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a kickass Urban Fantasy series with unforgettable characters and a plot that will keep you up at night.


Lush Rating: 5!