I never expected to like this book.I had read all sorts of reviews and most of them were fairly positive but to read a story about a heroine with a drug addiction problem (no pun intended) – I wasn’t sure if this book would be for me.Unholy Ghosts is a dark, dirty, gritty, read. The world building is imaginative. Set in a world where ghosts need to be controlled by debunkers, drug lords roam freely, and magic exists, Unholy Ghosts is a compelling read.The main character Chess (Cesaria) Putman is a debunker for the church. In this world, the church is akin to the government. Chess is a kind of a witch. She wears special magical tattoos and carries all sorts of magical paraphernalia. Chess is very good at her job. Chess is also a drug addict, high as a kite most of the time. I found that Chess’ obsession with drugs was a little disconcerting for me. Sure, she functions well, but how effective can she be when she owes the local drug lord a lot of money. Her addictions make her a pawn of anyone that can feed her addiction. She feels no remorse; she makes no attempt to reduce her usage or detoxify. Her view of the world through the drug induced haze is very egocentric.The drug usage acts as an entry ticket to the underworld of her city. She gains access to places that would not be open to her otherwise. I loved the characters in this book. They were well fleshed out, with a lot of depth. I loved Terrible – an enforcer with a sense of honor. The action scenes were spectacular. I sat at the edge of my seat and experienced the darkness, the fear, and the panic of the main character. The scene at the airport was absolutely breathtaking and scary at the same time.I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
