Karen E. (thebakerswife) - , reviewed on 2/5/2011 + 10 more book reviews

The third book in a terrific new series. Each book has just gotten better and better. The complex world building, the morally ambiguous characters, and a plot that really moves add up to a book that kept me riveted. Set in a world where there are no longer any governments or religion - there is only the Church of Real Truth, the only protection against ghosts bent on the murder and destruction of the living.
The heroine, Chess, is a church witch who investigates reported hauntings and either debunks them (there is a significant financial settlement if a person is found to have ghosts in their home) or banishes the ghosts if it turns out to be a true haunting. Chess is also a hardcore drug addict and the choices she makes are often cringe inducing but the character is so well written that her behavior is always believable. There are reasons why Chess is as screwed up as she is but the author is smart enough to use those reasons to explain without ever trying to excuse the heroine's behavior. The supporting characters are also well drawn, not stock characters but unique three dimensional people.
The author has taken a lot of risks with this series, it is not the typical UF, and I think it really pays off. This is a gripping, thrilling, vivid story that pulls no punches.
A hard to put down read.

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