The Unholy, A Novel

by Paul DeBlassie III

A young curandera, a medicine woman, intent on uncovering the secrets of her past is forced into a life-and-death battle against an evil Archbishop. Set in the mystic land of Aztlan, "The Unholy" is a novel of destiny as healer and slayer. Native lore of dreams and visions, shape changing, and natural magic work to spin a neo-gothic web in which sadness and mystery lure the unsuspecting into a twilight realm of discovery and decision. PAUL DeBLASSIE III, PhD, is a psychologist and writer living in his native New Mexico. A member of the Depth Psychology Alliance, the Transpersonal Psychology Association, and the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, he has for over thirty years treated survivors of the dark side of religion.

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Urban Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

202 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2013

About the author

Paul DeBlassie III, Ph.D., is a psychologist and award-winning writer living in his native New Mexico, crafting visionary thrillers energized with trickster mischief and natural magic.

Reviews

[megHan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally finished this book, which took forever, and I'm frustrated. I mean REALLY frustrated.

Here's the gist of the story: When Claire is very young, she witnesses the murder of her mother, a medicine woman in the "mystic land of Aztlan," by a man in a dark cloak with very intense blue eyes. When she reaches the age her mother was when she died, she goes through the journey of finding herself and trying to discover her mother's killer, all while trying to learn the deep secrets of the Ecclesia Dea and the truths about the deaths of young women in her community.

The storyline itself was interesting and that's what kept me reading - I wanted to know what was going to happen next - but I'm disappointed in the actual writing of the book. The author tried WAY TOO HARD to make this an "American Indian" book. At one point I even said: "If I read the words mesa, adobe or ponderosa ONE MORE TIME, I think I'm going to explode." And the fact that several parts are repetitive - we get that the mother died when she was young, you told us at the beginning ... and then again ... and then again ... and then again. Every time something bad happens or she freaks out about something, we come right back to the fact that her mom died - and repeat the details. (And this isn't the only thing that is repeated over and over again; another example is who Francesca is. WE KNOW!) Some of the conversations just feel awkward, like they were forced - I assume it's so the author can give information to the reader without it feeling like an info dump, but I would rather have that info dump than the first conversation she had with her boyfriend at the restaurant.

I like how the author describes the characters, but they still feel kind of flat to me. I didn't care much for the main character (for all kinds of reasons), but I did like Elizabeth and Francesca. They were interesting characters that I wanted to know more about.

The mystery wasn't really a mystery, not completely. Like when watching an episode of Columbo, you already knew who the bad guy was, which was really neat, especially with the twists that were stuck in throughout.

I am completely torn. It could have been a 5 star book. I expected so much more from this book and this author.

(Until I went to write this review, I had not noticed that the book description on Amazon could use some editing too. I may not have agreed to read the book had I seen that before saying yes.)

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. No other consideration was offered, expected or received.

[Icy-Cobwebs-Crossing-SpaceTime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: THE UNHOLY by Paul DeBlassie

If you like to read of the indigenous peoples who inhabited the American Southwest, of their spirituality and customs, then you will definitely enjoy Paul DeBlassie's excellent psychological thriller THE UNHOLY. Set in a contemporary panorama, the novel focuses on a young woman who is a practitioner of natural healing coupled with psychology, daughter of a murdered curandera.

[Michaela (Journey into Books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

*I received this an electronic copy of this book as part of the Blackthorn Book Tour in exchange for an honest review*

The premise of this novel sounds really interesting but unfortunately it just feel a little flat for me.
This novel is an urban fantasy that incorporates Indian American culture and follows Claire who is on a journey to find herself while searching for her mother’s killer. The plot was interesting enough to keep me reading but I didn’t feel gripped by I did enjoy the discussion around religion in this however as it’s something I haven’t seen much of in books. One of the big things that annoyed me throughout this book was the constant repetition for example I know that Claire’s mum died and I understand that this is a big part of the novel but do you really have to keep reminding me of that fact every few pages, I know my memory isn’t the greatest but it’s not that bad, and this isn’t the only thing that is continuously reiterated to us. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters either they were just kind of there and I didn’t really care much what happened to them.

Overall, I gave this 2.5 stars.

[Isobel Blackthorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A prologue of a young girl standing in the wilderness watching her mother as she’s attacked by a murderous and plainly evil man in black sets the tone of this supernatural thriller. The girl is saved by wolves who take her to a cave and protect her. The first chapter then opens in a psychiatric hospital situated in the desert of mythical Aztlan where Claire Sanchez – the girl now grown – works as a natural therapist. She’s struggling to deal with her angry patient Elizabeth who has an important message for her, one Claire does not want to hear. She has shunned her medicine ways after witnessing her mother’s death, realising they expose you to too much evil. Yet the evil that killed her mother is coming for her too and she needs to face it. Ecclesiastical evil, no less, corrupted by power and greed.

I was excited to read The Unholy as I have a background in Transpersonal Psychology, including the medicine ways of native Americans and last year I visited for the first time some of the desert regions of the United States and experienced the deep spirituality of the landscape. I am happy to say Paul deBlassie III did not disappoint. The Unholy is a slow-paced and absorbing read peppered with tension and fear and plenty of action to hold the interest. The writing is strong, the plot well-conceived. Evocative descriptions of landscape and well-executed introspection fuel this read. The author demonstrates good characterisation, particularly regarding the protagonist, and provides just enough exposition to let the reader in on the most important theme in the book: native American spirituality versus the dark side of institutionalised Christianity. An entertaining and informative read leaving the reader with much to ponder.

[Kasey Cocoa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Underneath everything there seems to be an interesting story, an idea that could become a popular novel. To get that story though, the reader has to wade through endless descriptions for everything possible, badly worded and overused phrases, and grammatical mistakes. I didn't get a fleshed out feeling for any of the characters and found it difficult to connect to any of them. Perhaps with more experience and a rewrite this will earn better reviews and stars.

[Narayani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: The Unholy
Author: Paul DeBlassie
Genre: Suspense, Drama, fantasy
..
My Rating: 4/5
⭐⭐⭐⭐
..
This is my first book of author and I'm glad I could pick it. Writing style was so good and detailed. Author worked really well for the character description but the character development is amazing.

Story revolves around the protagonist who witnessed the murder of her mother at a very young age that leads her way to explore the world of religious conspiracies.

This journey of her, took her not only to reach the murderers of mother but she found much more than she expected, a archbishop. Read this book to know the connection of the archbishop and the murder of her mother.

This journey made her to explore herself. I love the storyline filled with enough twists and turns. This was my first read of this genre and I enjoyed it.
Author used enough elements to make book interesting.
Author worked on every small details.
I like the book cover too.
Overall an amazing read.

I Highly recommend it to all.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

The Unholy by Paul DeBlassie III is an urban fantasy with mystery, suspense, drama, American Indian beliefs/culture, religion, good vs evil, and some supernatural elements.
Claire is on a journey of discovery- hoping to find herself as well as tracking down her mother’s murderer. Along the way she finds a lot more than she had bargained for- secrets are revealed, truths are uncovered, and darkness and horror are confronted.
I was very intrigued by the elements of this story, having read some of Mr. DeBlassie’s work before I was curious about where he would lead us on this adventure. He piqued my interest right from the get go and I zipped through the pages reading as quickly as my eyes would allow to discover what would happen.
I liked Claire and was rooting for her the whole way through. All the characters were well developed, and all contributed to the overall storyline.
I wonder what Mr. DeBlassie has in store for us next?

Thank you, Mr. DeBlassie!

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book filled with symbolism and mysticism while weaving a tale of good vs evil. While this story is set in a fictional location, it feels as if could be a real destination. After all, it is "the belly button" of the southwest.

This book has multi dimensional characters who don't always appear as they truly are. There are situations that develop that just captured my attention and kept me reading from beginning to end.

This is not a book I would normally choose on my own and I'm so grateful that someone recommended it to me.

[Allyson Ware · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Unholy by Paul DeBlassie III - Review by Allyson Ware

This novel took off like a bolt of lightning across the sky. From the very beginning it held my interest. It dove right into the action and never ceased. Any horror fans would love to get their hands on this book. A very fast read, great character development, and intense plot. It is not scary in the sense of shock, but it is definitely scary in the sense of the reality that this story takes on. It terrifies me to think about the fact that there are probably priests out there in this world that behave in these ways.

[Moriah Venable · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Unholy is a novel by Paul DeBlassie III. This is my second novel by this author.

This is the story of a young girl who goes on a journey of self discovery and to find out who murdered her mother years earlier.

I don’t want to give anything away. The author has a way of engaging the reader with colorful and relatable characters as well as a well thought out plot.

There’s a lot of twist and turns once the story picks up.

I highly recommend this novel.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Unholy is gripping tale of good vs evil. I found this novel hard to put down and finished it in one day. I would love to see a prequel to this story about the relationship between Lucia and the Archbishop.

[Chinelo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things to do when reading this book
1. Read it in the day time
2. Do not eat while reading
3. Have google ready if you are not familiar with some Native American terms( really helpful i learnt a lot)
4. open your mind ( if you are a religious person, calm down )
5. Have fun

well now that we are done with guidelines, i was given this book in exchange for an honest review
To start with the plot was an engaging, the reluctant heroine of the story Claire Sanchez had a traumatic experience as child and it hunts her for most of the story. She would have to face her fears and answer to the call of destiny( she is the last medicine woman) else she would loose everything.
What i liked:
i. Francesca. She was a lovely mother figure for Claire and she guided her through most of the story. she emanated a warm cozy feeling
ii. The wolves: They were Claire's protectors. What i was trying to understand is if they were reincarnations of the medicine women or just deities
iii. The good versus evil...evil almost winning kind of plot ( almost wished he did because i really wanted to kick Claire's butt)
The antagonist was hmmm whats the word oh yes...ICKY refer to reason 2 on guidelines to reading this book. He is the result of a twisted manipulating mother and as a result grew up to become a raving psychotic priest who hates women.
The things i did not like
I. although the plot is engaging, its easy to get tired because of the repetitiveness of some parts.
II. Unnecessary death of some characters
and
III. The end of the book did not really cut it for me. I felt a lot more could have happened with the final show down.
That being said it was okay. Clear and easy to read.

[Aimeekay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed The Unholy. When I finished it I could understand why it was an International Book Awards Winner. The descriptions are amazing. The story drew me in and I liked seeing the characters inner selves slowly revealed as it progresses. It is an interesting take on good and evil. It reveals how religion can be twisted and used for evil as well as good.

While I liked The Unholy, there were a few things that prevented it from completely blowing me away. Unfortunately they are tied in with things I did like so I'm going to do this review a bit differently and let you know what I liked while at the same time what I didn't. Instead of just separating it into two different categories.

Let's start with the characters. The story centers on two main characters, on good and one evil. It does an enthralling job of showing the reader exactly how each are not only driven by their chosen side, but how they got to be where they are in their respective lives. By the end of the book I could completely understand why Claire choose the path she did and why she reacted to the people in her life as well. I could also see why Archbishop Anarch had chosen the path he did and why he was so driven to willingly sell his soul for the power he desired. However the other characters in the book...While the reader could relate to them, their background was not nearly as satisfying. Also while some of their motives were made clear, others just seemed to be lacking. A perfect example of this is the archbishops assistant, Father Gall. He is obviously evil and it's hinted at that he has had a history that brought him to know the things he does now and how to do them. But considering how much effort was put into the main characters, it just seemed not as much was put into his background, just bits and pieces. I would have loved to find out more about some of the supporting characters and how they became involved, both in Claire's life and Anarch's.

The story itself pulled me in from the beginning. Besides the obvious fight between good and evil, there are also the family secrets that surround both Claire and Anarch. I turned each page eagerly awaiting to see what would be revealed next. The only issue I had with it was at the end. I don't know if the author needed to keep the story a certain length or what, but the end just felt rushed. It all comes to a sudden climax in the last few pages. After reading the entire novel I just felt that there could have been, should have been, more. The book is quite obviously a stand alone novel and the ending leaves everything tied up in a neat little bow, but the way it ended was just so sudden. After pages of in depth descriptions of the world, as well as the characters and their experiences, I just expected more for the grand finale.

The descriptions that I just mentioned are the only thing that I have no issues with. I was there in the wilderness with Claire. I easily followed Anarch's decent deeper into madness. I could smell and feel the magic, both good and evil in the air. DeBlassie's world is based on a framework similar to our own and I think that also helps to make the reader feel as if they are there.

Overall I would definitely recommend The Unholy. My main issue being I wish there was just a bit more to certain parts of it the book itself. I'm giving it 4 out of 5 stars. It is available both in print and e-format so if you are looking for an intriguing read to pick up I think it is worth putting on your list to get.



I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review to be included as part of the Blogging from A to Z April (2015) Challenge on my blog. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Paulina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This psychological thriller is quite interesting and could have had a higher rating if it wasn't for the writing. Let's break it down...

The plot:
A young woman, the last descendant of the medicine women (curanderas) of Aztlan, has rejected her destiny for a very long time since she doesn't want to die like her mother did. But, when one of her patients at the psychiatric hospital she works at is murdered, she begins to find that she can't escape her destiny and that she must face her biggest fears.

The main characters:
-Claire, the main character, was not very complex, she was interesting enough but there wasn't that much more to her other than the usual heroine who has to embrace her destiny.
-Francesca, Claire's, adoptive mother is so interesting, she is complex and deep. I was always looking forward to the parts of the book where she appeared.
-Archbishop Anarch, the villain of the story, is really quite twisted, he has made a deal with the devil and in doing so has lost his humanity. He's a really interesting character and I was quite surprised by him at times

The style:
The main problem that I had with this book was the repetitiveness of everything, from the fact that Claire lost her mother, to Claire's "investigation" (so many other ways to say that...), and other phrases that were just repeated over and over again. It really slowed the pace of the book and took away from the suspense that had been building just a few sentences before. The one part that really stood out to me in the style was when the psychological traumas were happening, the hallucinations, the dreams, the psychic abilities were really well described so I really enjoyed that.

The themes:
One of the main themes was definitely "religion is evil"; however, it is also the fact that people can be corrupted by religion, and that religion can be used to manipulate and hurt people.
There's also the theme of spirituality, or the "powers" that the curanderas have, which they explain could be developed by anyone who is perceptive enough.
Strong women abound in this book but they are thrown so many obstacles and hurdles. I enjoyed reading a book that featured plenty of strong women different ways.

Trigger warnings:
-Violence against women
-Animal abuse

In summary:
I liked the story but I wish the execution had been better. I did like the mixture of Native American and Mexican lore, but sometimes there were words and phrases in Spanish that were not correct and that was a bit annoying to me (simple things like accents on words that don't have them, or ways to say certain things that are never said like that...).

***I was sent this book by the author for an honest review***

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unusual and different read for me.
Supernatural and flashes of memories that were dark and weird.
I enjoyed the tale of a medicine woman who wasn’t so much into her talent then....well you will have to read it to find out! I don’t do spoilers.
It had terms I hadn’t heard of so I learnt as I read, it was interesting and deep & dark.

[Majanka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/book-tou...

In The Unholy, Claire Sanchez is the daughter of a curandera, a medicine woman. At age five, she sw her Mom getting murdered by an evil creature in the woods. Growing up, she’s never been able to shake the memory of that fateful night. She decided not to take up her heritage and become a medicine woman. Instead, she works as a psychologist and tries to help people in her own way.

On the other hand, we have the villain, Archbishop Anarch, who is the leader of some kind of cult. Anarch is truly wicked – he has no problem killing others when they stand in his way, or convincing people to kill themselves when he stands to gain money from it. His followers are tightly in his grasp, and he abuses his power at every turn. The only one who has some form of control over him, would be his mother. But Anarch is convinced what he’s doing is right, which makes him one of the worst kinds of monsters.

When the evil Archbishop turns his eye to Claire, she has to rediscover herself and her heritage to find against the powers of darkness, to protect herself, and the people she loves.

The theme of the novel is pretty basic, good vs. evil. But the author takes that theme, twists it around, comes up with intriguing characters who often walk the balance between right and wrong, and takes things to a whole new level. Anarch would be completely evil, in the eyes of most, yet in his own point of view, he is not. He knows his actions are wrong, but justifies them in the name of the greater good. There’s action, suspense, a hint of romance, and definitely enough darkness to share around in this book.

The writing style is very descriptive, almost poetic. On the downside, that means it’s a bit wordy at times. Once you bite through that though, and start focusing on the story, then the book becomes really intriguing.

[Yasmin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Let me see. Where to start?

Claire Sanchez is the daughter of a curandera she saw murdered at 5 years old. She grows up knowing that she's destined to be a curandera herself, but chooses instead to avoid her heritage and live out life as a natural healer instead.

Whatever.

There's also an evil religion extorting money from it's wealthy parishioners and sacrificing women. And it's not really difficult to guess how it ends.

I really wanted to care. I really wanted to like this novel with the beautiful descriptions and snapshot view of the mestizo culture. But in all honesty, this book was a mess. I mean how many times does the author have to explain the history behind the women of Lozen? Three times in the first 75 pages, word for word.

Characters were one-dimensional. Plot-lines were predictable. I kept expecting the villain to suddenly shout, "Bwah ha ha," like you see in the cheesy Saturday morning cartoons. It was that bad.

I received a free copy for review and I don't recommend it. Unless there's some kind of drinking game involved.

Then again, maybe not even that.

[Ally Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

---4.5 Stars---

This book was compelling, captivating, thought-provoking, reflecting, and stimulating!!!

This book is filled with many suspenseful, mysterious, mystifying, and thrilling scenes!! There are dark corners, hidden secrets, dangerous forces, haunting memories, scary superstitions, and supernatural elements at play!!

This book starts right off with a dark, intense scene of young, 5-year-old Claire Sanchez, hiding among the tree line watching her mother being murdered by a scary black cloaked man. This scene is quite catching and pulls you in quickly with so many questions and worries about little Claire. However, it just as fast drops you out of this gripping scene as the next scene promptly fast forwards twenty years as Claire is now an adult, at twenty-five-years-old and is working at the Ecclesia Dei Psychiatric Hospital in this giant desert near the region of Aztlan. She is working in a unique position as a licensed natural therapist with a background in mental health services working specifically with Hispanic and Native American patients. This position couldn’t be more perfect for her as she had previously worked as a mental health worker while she was in training for her natural therapeutics license. That plus her being raised in a medicine women culture – “Women of Lozen,” that had taken her in after Claire became a “huerfana,” an orphan. With her strong upbringing in these traditions and the connection to her mom having also been part of this society it was easy to see why Claire chose a similar path and how she was excelling in it. However, Claire is hesitant to follow directly in her mom's footsteps as a medicine woman; when called out, she firmly insists she is a natural therapist, not a medicine woman, as Claire knows following directly in her mom's steps would only lead to danger. But now that Claire is the same age her mom was when she died she is starting to get curious and wanting to find out the truth behind the mystery of her mom's death. Claire goes on a self-discovery journey while also tracking down her mom's killer. What she finds is not only shocking and disturbing - it's more than she ever could have imagined!! Sorry, no spoilers here!! But you will definitely want to read this book and find out what happens and what Claire discovers!!!

I really liked Claire and easily connected with her!! She is strong, intelligent, caring, compassionate, respected, driven, persistent, polite, and kindhearted. However, she has many heavy weighted memories, nightmares, and demons that haunt the little girl she was when she watched her mom get brutally attacked and killed. That understandably would make anyone anxious, scared, fearful, worried, and on edge. I loved Claire’s passion and drive about wanting to truly help her patients, to understand their pain, and help them heal. She truly went above and beyond for her patients - putting them first.

This is the second book I have had the pleasure of reading from Paul DeBlassie III. I must say one of things I have noticed and come to enjoy in his writing is the intense force of the ying and yang themes and how he compels the reader to look at and discover both sides of the coin. For example, his books focus on good vs. evil, church vs. state, right vs. wrong, villain vs. hero, love vs. hate, Native American Spirituality vs. the dark side of institutionalized Christianity, etc., and even though many of us may unwittingly jump quickly to one side Paul pushes us to see and interpret both directions. And shows us that each one is not always so black and white – there are many shades of gray!!

I really liked all the Native American cultural and historical references that were sufficiently placed throughout the book. I also enjoyed the Native American language that was integrated into the story. I appreciated that the author defined each word in the passage on the fly, but I would have loved to have had a glossary word list at the end of the book that showed all the words included and their definition/sentence example.

I really enjoyed the in-depth amount of research the author did while constructing this book that is well-established throughout the story. That plus his strong background in psychology, and his love, passion, and respect of all things Native American is clearly evident from page one.

This book is an enjoyable, satisfying read. Although only 222 eBook pages, it does feel longer than that and it is not a quick read. In addition, this is definitely not a book that you can read while multitasking. There is too much to the story and it really does need your full attention, otherwise, it will be easy to get lost or confused – found this out the hard way lol. Not a flaw, I just normally juggle many things at a time, but it was nice to stop, take a break, cozy up, and focus on just getting whisked away into the story.

However, I have to say there were a few times I felt the story was repeating itself as it re-described many pervious scenes. I know what happened, I was there, I read it. So, I felt this detracted a bit from the story and stretched it out longer than it needed to be.

There are some predictable scenes. However, there are still a few unexpected twists and turns that you won’t see coming!

At this time, it does not appear that this book is part of a book series. Therefore, this book can be read as a standalone.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and would absolutely recommend it! I think all thriller readers will like this book too! So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading - you won't be disappointed!

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.**

[Kristy Centeno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warning: No spoilers ahead.
The Unholy is a novel with just the right amount of darkness yet its subtle enough to make it a very entertaining read. I found myself connecting with Claire, and enjoyed reading about her struggles to accept who she is and how she manages to transition throughout the book.
A battle between good vs evil with enough twist and turns to keep you guessing from beginning to end. Suspenseful and intriguing, it will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

What hooked me about the book was both the name and the cover; it just has the feel of a mysterious and intriguing narrative. What kept me reading was the hope for a really good, nail-biting end because most of the story was well-written, well-researched, and provided the want to keep turning the pages. However, the flaws of the book that made me give it a 3 instead of a 4 are the ending that seems to wrap up too quickly and easily, and the lack of depth. This book was the first of its kind that I've read, and I wasn't even sure what to categorize it as - definitely a thriller-suspense, religious-cult related, and I'm not sure - everything in between I guess. So that being said, I'd agree though I'm being slightly harsh in my judgment, maybe take it with a grain of salt that this was my first time reading a book of this kind. But what I mean by lack of depth is that I wish the characters (especially the minor ones) had been developed a little more; what you know about each character is almost exactly what you need to follow the story (which is also impressive considering the book is only 200 pages). Just would've like to know more about some of the minor characters' stories. And also, with the events leading up to the ending progressing so quickly, I kind of felt the ending was a little too easy and quick as opposed to all the trials that Claire had to endure leading up to the end, I was hoping for a little more satisfying ending. Don't get me wrong, the ending was just and perfect, but so quick. Then, no follow up of what the characters would do after. However, here are some things I liked: the heroine - she was strong, actually likable, and not a damsel whatsoever. I also liked the scenery and descriptions the author uses to describe the territory and world of Aztlan. And the amount of research and knowledge he clearly had to talk about the culture of the territory, and the church. I compared it to the movie "Spotlight" only because of its view of what appeared to be the Catholic Church or a similar religion. And some events that take place in "Spotlight" are referenced in this book, otherwise there are not many other similarities. All-in-all, if you're looking for a quick and definitely suspenseful read that also includes psychological twists, this is one good that should entertain you over a weekend.

[Tara Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the tender age of five years old Claire Sanchez watched in horror as her mom was brutally killed in front of her. Cowering in the bushes, young Claire watches helplessly as a figure dressed in black ends her mom’s life suddenly leaving Claire an orphan. Twenty years later Claire, is now working at the Ecclesia Dei Psychiatric Hospital as a licensed natural health therapist with a background in mental health. Claire is reluctant to follow in her mom’s footsteps as a medicine woman, preferring to refer to herself as a natural health therapist. Still haunted by the memories of that horrific night, Claire is now at the age where she is seeking answers for what happened to her mom all those years ago. As Claire delves deeper, she starts unravelling the mysteries of her past and is confronted by the true face of evil.

The dark and evil presence that took her mom’s life all those years ago is disguised in the form of the evil Archbishop Anarch. Archbishop Anarch has a thirst for power and will stop at nothing to get it. He has been lurking in the shadows waiting for the right moment to end Claire’s life as viciously as he ended her mother’s life twenty years prior. Now at the same age as her mom was when her life was taken, Claire is forced to confront the demons of her past to save her own life. Now Claire is forced to battle against the dark forces of evil and religion. Will Claire be able to face the demons of her past and gain the strength she needs to battle the forces of evil? Or will evil win?

The Unholy is a book that was impossible to put down and fast paced from the first page. There are many facets of this book as the author takes the reader on an intense ride into the darkest parts of religion. This book takes us into the world of shapeshifting, magic, and the ruthless hunt for power. The characters are ones you either love or hate, as in the cases of Claire and Archbishop Anarch. Claire is easily relatable, and one can quickly get drawn to how warm, genuine, and kind she is. You can’t help but admire her strength and hope for the best for her. Archbishop Anarch, on the other hand, is someone you instantly loathe and despise with every fiber of your being. You can’t help but hope that someone puts a stop to him and his reign of terror. This book was an intense read and did not disappoint!

[Lorrene Huisman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel to say the least is amazing, full of knowledge and you can tell the author put a lot of work into writing this well structured novel. I was very impressed as well as engaged. I felt it would be a crime to turn away as I read through this book! I was very happy that I got to read this, as well as a bit enlightened!

I loved how Claire was written, she had a good soul and a good heart doing what she did and loved, which was helping people in the ways of medicine. You throw in Anarch who is on a deep quest for power and goes for everything Claire is against, and you have the true battle of evil and good. Where would the line be drawn and where would people or things stand in the end? I enjoyed the religious aspect of this book, with the knowledge and education this novel bad given to me. I was a bit enlightened and became more familiar with things outside my roots or what I believed I knew of such things.

Claire to me was more than strong, but she was truthful to who she was and what she was. Anarch was made to be exactly who he was, corrupted by power, and this is something that had to be stopped and Claire knew what she had to face, no matter what sacrifice or what ordeals she was to face. I swear she had an Angel over her shoulder, she endured a lot and was a remarkable character. Anarch was very evil yes, he was the type of character I would never want to cross paths with, to read how evil he really was, makes me fear who exists out there that is perhaps similar to him. The writing of this novel was outstanding and gripping. I loved it and enjoyed as said, the religious aspects and knowledge included.

To me this was a very intelligent book with the type of fear and horror only a book that was as real as this was that can send straight into your heart. It was very realistic and full of knowledge, I highly enjoyed this read and I feel this is a must read for sure. It was very well done. Yes, I truly know the author put their heart and soul with information an the knowledge they gave they wrote it! Amazing read!

[Roxsanne Lesieur · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Aztlan, a country known for its superstitions, the Ecclesia Dei are a religious order overseen by a Patriarch and his right hand man the Archbishop William Anarch, he has a religious fervour like no other and preaches his gospel to the thousands who attend his services. This group also run a number of charitable organisations of which a hospital and also the work place of Claire Sanchez. Claire Sanchez is a young woman with a past wrought with trauma and grief, however, the things she has learned from the women around her as she grew up have put her in good stead for the challenges she faces in adulthood.

Claire is the daughter of a medicine woman and so is a medicine woman herself, she has learned how to tune into the environment in which she lives, as well as the emotions of those around her and she uses these innate skills to heal those in need through the art of curanderismo. She lives alone, but has people who she shares her life and love with surrounding her, that is until she comes head to head with the Archbishop of a religious order and strange things start to happen around her. As she investigates these incidents and digs into the past and the present, she uncovers things which people have worked hard to keep hidden and those associated with those secrets will do whatever is necessary to prevent them being shared with the world.

Claire soon realises that she will have to use all she has learnt to fight off this dark religious fanatic and the unholy manner in which he works to gain all the power he can, but can Claire use the mysticism, native folk lore and traditions which surround her to defeat this evil power, or will she fall victim to the dark mysticism surrounding her? This is a gothic horror with elements of the supernatural wound within an exploration of rigidly institutional and more fluid religions and how they can be both dark and light depending on how they are used by those wielding them.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before I begin, I want to say that I received this book from Blachthorn Book Tours in return for an honest review! I’m happy to be a part of the Blackthorn Book Tours team, and look forward for more tours in the future.

If this book was about only one thing, it would be about struggle. Whether internal or external, this book captures struggle in a brilliant way.

I haven’t read too many books that delve too deep into the idea of religion, and even fewer that show religion as a bad thing, but I think The Unholy was a nice touch to both.

The main character Claire is having a sort of internal struggle about whether she can and should embrace her culture, that she was raised with, or fall to Christianity, which rules with an iron fist in her town.

Just because one person feels relief and freedom in religion, but to others it can be the cause for abuse, suffering, and long-lasting pain.

Personally, I’m not big on religion, but I enjoyed seeing two sides of the conflict, which were both different perspectives than my own.

Common stereotypes about religion are broken, and the battle between good and evil isn’t as clear cut as people might assume.

I enjoyed the struggle in the book, and though this book wasn’t my favourite, I did appreciate it for what it was. It was a thought provoking piece and had very few things wrong about it.

Other than a few parts of the story being harder to follow, some grammatical and structural issues, and a few loose ends being left at the end of the story, I don’t have much to complain about.

It wasn’t a bad story per se, it just wasn’t completely for me.

Have you read The Unholy, or other books by Paul DeBlaisse III? Let's talk about it in the comments, or follow me on social media.

[Nikkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Unholy by Paul DeBlassie III opens with a 5 year old girl witnessing a fight between her mother and a black-cloaked man.

“As he left, she heard his thought: The child is dead”.

Fast forward to present time in this dark tale and we join Claire Sanchez, Chief Attending Physician at Ecclesia Dei Psychiatric Hospital. I really admired Claire as a main character as she was very likeable, relatable and thought through all of her actions before jumping into a battle with the novels “villain”.

“You are a medicine woman – of Lozen – like your mother, Claire”.

Queue our villain, the evil Archbishop William Anarch of the Ecclesia Dei Church. A man who uses his religion as an excuse to commit bad acts, who is evil through and through. Claire is drawn into a battle of life and death with the Archbishop.

“Business. That's what it always boiled down to, Claire realised in horror”.

This is a dark, fantastical, supernatural thriller, with many twists and turns, set in the mythical land of Aztlan. I found the visuals chilling, and did enjoy reading this book. I would normally have steered away from something I would have deemed “religious” but I’m glad I didn't, as the book wasn’t what I had expected at all. It was a lot darker than I would have expected, but this worked in my favour and I felt like the writing style was very much suited for this, Paul is a great story teller.

“Let me reiterate, we're here to serve the Church. If that's not your intent, I'll expect to find your letter of resignation on my desk”.

Thank you to Booktasters and Paul DeBlassie III for the copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Anya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did enjoy this book. The descriptions were phenomenal, the characters gave you a multitude of loveable and despicable qualities, and the plot was thrilling. Overall there was very little I could complain about with this book at all.

Our lead protagonist and antagonist were almost like the perfect yin and yang, their conflicting forces making for great character development and interaction. I’m a sucker for a strong female character and this book contained plenty. I found Archbishop Anarch very interesting and the supernatural element to him was intriguing too! He was my favourite character, his backstory, his unravelling, his interactions with the people around him, I loved it. I also loved Francesca, the mother figure in Claire’s life, I’ve always had a fondness for the older, caring, wise matriarchs in stories so I’m glad there was such a character here.

My biggest gripe with this book is the ending. It felt super rushed. I was reading it and there was about five pages left, and I was incredibly confused because the story felt like it was nowhere near wrapping up. I’m not sure what happened there, where there’d been such carefully crafted description and detail throughout, to suddenly have a bit of a crammed ending. I felt like this book could have been much longer, as there were some areas where, like I say, it just seemed a little rushed and I wanted more.

That all being said, very enjoyable good v evil supernatural thriller. Slight hint of a classic gothic tale, with a little bit of a Da Vinci Code vibe too!

Many thanks to Booktasters and the author, Paul DeBlassie III, for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Unholy by Paul DeBlassie III is a mystery and suspense book. This is not my first book by this author but it has just become my favorite. He has a way of bring the world of supernatural alive in his plot. His story is engaging and pulled me in right from the beginning. His characters are creative and connectable. They took me on a journey of twists and turns that left me sitting on the edge of my seat. This is a story that takes place in the mountains where a woman goes to reclaim her heritage and trying to find out what happened around her mother's death. Claire is a natural medicine woman who has been fighting her heritage until she couldn't anymore. She is determined to figure out her past and why there is a mystery around it. What will happen when she finds herself in a battle of her life? She is forced to confront the dark side of religion and the horror of one man's will. What does a healer and a slayer have to do with each other? What will she discover and will she find more then she realized? I enjoyed Claire's character. She is strong headed but has a past that she seems to be reminded of constantly. I felt compassion for her because she felt like she was a little lost. She wanted to do what she wanted and not what was expected of her. The secondary characters are supportive for the most part. They add to the story and keep it flowing. There is an evil about one or two of them that you will have to form your own opinion on but I didn't really care for them but they are a necessity for the story. I highly recommend this story. Find out what happens to Claire and what fate has in store for a healer and slayer.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Church corruption and sacrificial offerings in a mystical land. A battle between good (local medicine women) and evil (religious authorities). What’s not to like about this book?

The Unholy is a well-written story that moves quickly. It focuses on Claire, a born medicine woman who denies her heritage for a more traditional role in the local psychiatric hospital. Her nemesis is the head of the local religious authority, the Ecclesia Dei. The story is a bit mystery, thriller, and horror blended into one — with Claire single-handedly taking on the church. Plus, there are several smaller stories within the story to keep this well paced and interesting, including the demise of a local psychiatric patient that kicks off the mystery within the story.

Not only is the story entertaining, but I also appreciate the characters. Claire is a strong, female lead who takes care of herself and fights her own battles throughout the entire story. Also, the level of depravity shown in the Archbishop is one of the more fascinating parts of the story for me. Sometimes I balk at an entirely evil character, but when they’re done right, in that Hannibal Lector kind of way, I can enjoy it. It’s always fascinating when you see how power and prestige, even within the church, can blind people to evil … and how it creates evil as well.

If you like stories with a touch of the mythical or those Dan Brown kind of church conspiracy stories — or better yet a combination of the two — I think this book will be right up your alley.

[Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Laura Furuta · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Unholy
By: Paul DeBlassie III
5 out of 5 stars

The story The Unholy by Paul DeBlassie III is a book that I enjoyed reading. It is a story that includes plenty of mystery, suspense, and danger. I was taken on a journey that had me wondering what was going to happen next and who was going to be left standing in the end. You are introduced to Claire Sanchez. She is a caring and compassionate woman who wants to help others. She is a very likeable character who at times is experiencing doubts about situations in her life. She is also trying to uncover secrets and get answers to questions regarding her past. Will Claire find the answers that she is searching for? Archbishop William Anarch is a man that wants to gain power no matter the cost. The actions that he takes and the plans that he puts into motion show him to be a truly evil person. Claire begins to have suspicions regarding the Archbishop. What has she discovered and how much danger does this put her in? There are other secondary characters that interact with Claire that I enjoyed reading about. They are helpful to Claire and give her support. Then there are others who help the evil Archbishop and work against Claire. Will good win and evil be defeated? There are legends and stories that are included in the story. There are also dreams and visions. What are the meaning behind them and will they be of help to Claire? A well written story with wonderful characters. I look forward to reading more by the author.