Unholy Ghosts Review

Unholy Ghosts (Downside Ghosts #1)

-       Stacia Kane

Publisher: Harper Voyager

 THE DEPARTED HAVE ARRIVED.
The world is not the way it was. The dead have risen, and the living are under attack. The powerful Church of Real Truth, in charge since the government fell, has sworn to reimburse citizens being harassed by the deceased. Enter Chess Putnam, a fully tattooed witch and freewheeling ghost hunter. She’s got a real talent for banishing the wicked dead. But Chess is keeping a dark secret: She owes a lot of money to a murderous drug lord named Bump, who wants immediate payback in the form of a dangerous job that involves black magic, human sacrifice, a nefarious demonic creature, and enough wicked energy to wipe out a city of souls. Toss in lust for a rival gang leader and a dangerous attraction to Bump’s ruthless enforcer, and Chess begins to wonder if the rush is really worth it. Hell, yeah.

I admit that I avoided this series for a long time as I knew Chess, the main character was a drug addict and that meant that I didn’t want to connect with her. I was wrong! While she may be an addict, she is one because she wants to be and it is far from the defining element to her character. As well as drugs, Chess is a debunker for the Church, making her money by disproving ghost sightings and banishing the odd real one she comes across. The Church is not religious in a way that we understand – they don’t preach God or gospel – but they do protect humanity from the ghosts of the dead.

This is a fascinating world that Stacia Kane has created – like Bladerunner crossed with Poltegeist with so many interesting characters – even if none of them are ‘good’. Terrible, the drug lord’s enforcer is good at violence, but is still smart, brave – and developing a soft spot for Chess. Chess’s fellow Church workers pretend to be good on the surface but beneath them seem to be just as broken and messed up as everyone else.

Chess isn’t a kick-ass heroine – she get kidnapped and slapped around a lot. She forgets innocents and sometimes all she wants to do is loose herself in the pipes. But despite all this, there is something appealing and honest about Chess. She doesn’t try to be anyone she isn’t – she doesn’t lie to herself at all and that is refreshing. There is enough action and creepy ghosts to keep most Urban Fantasy fans happy and despite no overt romance, there are some great foundations for possible relationships in the future. This series has bags of potential and I have to admit I’m not sorry I didn’t start this sooner! Another series for me to catch up on!

Recommended for fans of Jeaniene Frost and Ilona Andrews. 9 out of 10.