The Unholy by Paul DeBlassie III – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

The Unholy: A Supernatural Tale by Paul DeBlassie III
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Unholy by Paul DeBlassie III is a supernatural horror story that draws on a number of spiritual traditions to provide a rich background to the characters and their experiences. The title refers to the antagonist, Archbishop Anarch, whose quest for power and fortune within the church has led him to moral and spiritual corruption.
Claire is one of the few people working at the Ecclesia Dei Psychiatric Hospital who isn’t a member of Anarch’s congregation, and so is outside of his control. She brings to the hospital her in depth knowledge of both natural therapies and mental health work, drawing on her educational background and her upbringing amongst medicine women. She is committed to her patients and critical of some of the hospital’s approaches to caring for them.
As well as her battle against the corrupt Archbishop, Claire is fighting against her own destiny. She is called to follow in her mother’s footsteps to be a medicine woman but has resisted this call as she is afraid that it will lead to her death. Having reached the age of 25, the age her mother was when Claire witnessed her violent death, Claire is increasingly worried about what her future holds.
One of my favourite characters was Francesca, Claire’s spiritual guide and foster mother. I liked how down-to-earth and observant she was, and how often Claire referred to her wisdom.
For me, this is a four-star book. If you’re looking for a battle between good and evil with a deep spiritual background and some interesting characters, this is worth a read!

View all my reviews