Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane doesn’t bother easing you in. It drops you straight into a city where the dead don’t stay dead, religion’s been replaced by bureaucracy, and the main ghost hunter is a tattooed witch with a drug problem. It’s urban fantasy stripped of polish, fast, dark, and oddly addictive.

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What is Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane all about?

In Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane, Chess Putnam works for the Church of Real Truth, banishing spirits that harass the living. When a drug debt puts her in the pocket of a crime boss, she’s pulled into a job involving black magic, human sacrifice, and a creature that could consume an entire city’s souls. It’s messy work.

Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane Book Review

This was a completely different read for me! Yes, it’s urban fantasy, yes there’s ghosts and Chess is somewhat of a ghost hunter, but I was not expecting the storyline to be what it was. To say I was surprised would be an understatement. So I figured the easiest way for me to review this is in a What I liked and What I didn’t format.

What I liked:

• The otherness of the story. Really. I haven’t read anything quite like it. With so many books out there that all feel the same, this one does stand out.
• The names of the characters. I mean, come on, you gotta love a guy named Terrible, Bump, Slobag, Slipknot LOL
• The book was very well written, I enjoyed Ms. Kane’s writing style, even at tough times it seemed to flow.
• Tortured heroine. Chess is a witch working for the The Church of the Real Truth banishing ghosts, and she is a hot mess! Not a character I could relate to, or actually like much, but we slowly start seeing why she’s become the way she is. A product of bad foster homes, not knowing her parents, being used. I think her character was developed well.
• The concept of all religion being a thing of the past and the world now following The Church of Real Truth. I’m quite intrigued by the world building. And I also enjoyed the snippets from the Book of Truth
• The Dream Stealer. Excellent villain.
• Among this whole big mess, someone is trying to kill her with a “spell/magic”. There was certainly no lack of action and intrigue!!
• Terrible was the perfect sidekick in this story. He was supposed to be there to protect her, and that he did in all circumstances.
• The language. Yes, I actually liked that they didn’t speak perfect english because it went perfectly with the story.

What I disliked:

• The heroine’s addiction to drugs. I felt at some point she had to overcome the problem, but that never happened. This was my major problem with the story. How could she be effective at performing her work while all she could think about is popping another pill or snorting a line?
• Some parts were a bit gross and disturbing. Mainly when Terrible got almost eaten alive by a book. Enough said.
• Lex. No, not his character. His character was alright. But did Chess really have to go there? I was annoyed by it, and it felt out of place and unnecessary.
• Then she’s working for a drug lord, well, it’s in her best interest since she seems to have a back debt for the drugs she’s “bought” from him. But she’s most excited about the prospect of some free drugs at the end of the deal. Is this her only concern?? She even admits at one point she wouldn’t have to live in the crappy place she lives in if it wasn’t for her drug habit.

Will I read the next book? Yes, but I’ll have to better time when so I’m a mood to enjoy this story more, at least I won’t be caught off guard again!

Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane isn’t here to make you comfortable. It’s a shot of something strong and bitter in a genre that can run sweet. If you want urban fantasy with bite, where the ghosts are terrifying, the magic has consequences, and the heroine is one bad decision away from disaster, you’ll find it here.

About the Downside Ghosts series by Stacia Kane

The Downside Ghosts series starts with Unholy Ghosts and dives deep into a world where magic is as common as corruption. Across the books, Chess navigates dangerous supernatural cases, uneasy alliances, and her own self-destructive patterns, all against the backdrop of a city that never quite sleeps, or stays safe.

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• Next in the series: Unholy Magic by Stacia Kane
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