I thought that this book really just expanded our knowledge of the world and people we were introduced to in Unholy Ghosts. This book picks up about four months after the events in the first book. 
 Whereas Unholy Ghosts really introduces the readers to the characters and gives us a look into their past, and introduces us to the world of Downside, Unholy Magic digs even deeper on the character side of things. There's not too much additional knowledge of the world that we learn, instead we learn a lot about our characters. Namely, Chess and Terrible. 
 There are reviewers who have called this book heartbreaking and I would have to agree. There are moments that I feel so sad for these two characters and what they have been through and what they will inevitably go through. I know Chess has a lot of problems in her past and she uses drugs in her present to keep those thoughts from coming back and haunting her. I think if Chess could find that one thing that is worth more (cough* Terrible cough*) she would see herself better. I was saddened by the comments she would make about herself not being worth it. While I'm not much for a pity party, I think Stacia Kane did the right amount to remind readers how Chess feels about herself, but not throwing it directly in our faces at every turn. 
 Terrible really grows in this book. We get to see beyond the enforcer that he is, and we really get to see his heart. We saw the beginnings of it in Unholy Ghosts, but in this book he really opens up which makes it that much harder to see what he believes in come crashing down. Stacia Kane really did a wonderful job with making you want to see the characters find happiness, only to watch it get ripped away. 
 But I haven't given up hope. We do see at the end Chess fully realizing what it would mean to lose Terrible and it really is a beautiful moment. I am interested to see how things will be for them in City of Ghosts. 
 I really am enjoying this series and I can't wait to read the third book. I little sad that I will have to wait until March for the 4th book, but from there I don't thik there will be as big of a gap between the books in this series. Until Then!