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The Charm Collector #3
Unholy Magic
The shadows have eyes.
Returning to Luma after being promised their records would be wiped clean had been a no-brainer for Harlow and company. Especially when the only requirement for hub society reintegration was to meet with Sorceress Rhiannon at the Collective’s Tower to share intel about vampires, ferals, and Lachlan Shade’s potential master plan. Yet within minutes of crossing the veil, Rhiannon postpones their appointment due to a brewing faction war among the sorcerers. This welcome reprieve is dampened by a pack of werecats barricading Harlow, Caspian, Camila, and the sword in Caspian’s house until the foursome is given the all-clear to visit the Tower.
Worried their side won’t win the war—thereby landing Harlow and Caspian back on Luma’s Most Wanted list—the pair is determined to prove they’re worth more to the Collective outside a jail cell. They believe the key to the worrying surge in portal activity and a window into Lachlan’s schemes both lie somewhere near Lake Nacimiento—the same lake connected to the sword’s dormant twin.
Their impending escape only grows more complicated when Zander Welsh drops the bomb that his days-old bite from a hybrid is infected. Rumors are already swirling that hybrid vampire bites have begun turning fae—a feat previously thought impossible. In the rare instances that a fae survives the transition, their magic mutates into something unholy. Harlow and Caspian must find a cure for Welsh’s blood-poison before it kills him—or, perhaps worse, turns him into a monster unable to discern friend from foe.
Returning to Luma after being promised their records would be wiped clean had been a no-brainer for Harlow and company. Especially when the only requirement for hub society reintegration was to meet with Sorceress Rhiannon at the Collective’s Tower to share intel about vampires, ferals, and Lachlan Shade’s potential master plan. Yet within minutes of crossing the veil, Rhiannon postpones their appointment due to a brewing faction war among the sorcerers. This welcome reprieve is dampened by a pack of werecats barricading Harlow, Caspian, Camila, and the sword in Caspian’s house until the foursome is given the all-clear to visit the Tower.
Worried their side won’t win the war—thereby landing Harlow and Caspian back on Luma’s Most Wanted list—the pair is determined to prove they’re worth more to the Collective outside a jail cell. They believe the key to the worrying surge in portal activity and a window into Lachlan’s schemes both lie somewhere near Lake Nacimiento—the same lake connected to the sword’s dormant twin.
Their impending escape only grows more complicated when Zander Welsh drops the bomb that his days-old bite from a hybrid is infected. Rumors are already swirling that hybrid vampire bites have begun turning fae—a feat previously thought impossible. In the rare instances that a fae survives the transition, their magic mutates into something unholy. Harlow and Caspian must find a cure for Welsh’s blood-poison before it kills him—or, perhaps worse, turns him into a monster unable to discern friend from foe.
- GenresUrban Fantasy
468 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2024
2 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Erin Jackson
27 books530 followersMelissa is a professional pet sitter and an author of paranormal mysteries. There are two books out in her Riley Thomas mystery series--The Forgotten Child and Shuttered Secrets. Her Witch of Edgehill cozy paranormal mystery series is complete at five books. The first two books in her urban fantasy series, The Charm Collector, are out now. Unholy Magic and A Mythical Case of Arson are up next! She owns too many pets and lives in Northern California with her equally pet-obsessed boyfriend. For information about her books, you can join her newsletter at melissajacksonbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 10, 2025
Hot Dang?!! I didn't want it to end ... I'm soooooooo ready for the next book!
April 21, 2025
This is the third in the Charm Collector series and they just keep getting better. This book has multiple POVs, alternating not only between Harlow and her best friend Kayda, (as Harlow is still outside of Luma and Kayda is still working inside Luma) but also with Lachlan, our villain. Lachlan's POV is mostly past tense, giving us not only his backstory, but also letting us in on his motivations.
This was an excellent book, and just as well written as the prior books. Also with relatable and loveable characters and a gripping plot. A lot is on the line in this book and it ends, not in a cliff hanger, but with much still up in the air and so much still to be overcome, I'm anxious for the next installment, due out in a few months.
I enthusiastically recommend this series for fans of well written Urban Fantasy, but start with the prequel novella, Veiled Threats to learn why Harlow, a human, grew up in a paranormal hub city and what happened to make her a target of our villain.
This was an excellent book, and just as well written as the prior books. Also with relatable and loveable characters and a gripping plot. A lot is on the line in this book and it ends, not in a cliff hanger, but with much still up in the air and so much still to be overcome, I'm anxious for the next installment, due out in a few months.
I enthusiastically recommend this series for fans of well written Urban Fantasy, but start with the prequel novella, Veiled Threats to learn why Harlow, a human, grew up in a paranormal hub city and what happened to make her a target of our villain.
November 16, 2024
I was so eager to read the next book in the series, I immediately dived into this after finishing the one before it. This installment is just as good as the previous ones, if not better. Multiple POVs are one of those qualities in books I think can be either really good or really bad, but this author does it exceptionally right. I believe this helps readers become so invested in all the characters pretty much equally, which I have, and it makes me not want to let them go. I’m hoping the author continues this series even after she ends this arc. This is a very rich, complex, well-written, engaging, interesting universe and latest book, and I just can’t wait to read the next one in the series. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
November 10, 2024
I have been eagerly waiting for the third book in this series and boy was it worth the wait. This one is more emotional and story based with a little less action. Harlow and her gang are seeking answers about the portals and battling to find a cute for one of their friends. A wonderful story full of intrigue and emotion, beautifully written, with new and characters and a nice selection of new creatures, love the pixies, and now we have two swords to enjoy. Fabulous and I look forward to The next chapter. I received a complimentary copy from the author and am leaving a voluntary honest review.
November 14, 2024
Harlow and Caspian have plenty of challenges, but luckily they have packed their sense of humour and wit to help them cope. They need to find a way to help save their grumpy friend Zander, because they don't want to lose him. I enjoyed this addition to this great story, and look forward to the witty comments in the next instalment.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 14, 2024
I’ve loved every book in this series and this one is no exception. The only thing I would have liked is more interaction amongst the characters. I really miss the friendship between Harlow and Kayda, Caspian and Welsh, even Kayda and Henri are not teams here. They are all off doing their own things. Good things. Fascinating things. Important things. I just miss the friendships amongst them.
Still, I did thoroughly enjoy the book and I’m looking forward to the next one.
Still, I did thoroughly enjoy the book and I’m looking forward to the next one.
December 1, 2024
Highly recommended for fans of urban fantasy.
December 2, 2024
Ferals!
This series has kept me intrigued since Book 1. I really like how we got to know each character more and find out important details of events that happened in the first 2 books. Things are starting to really come together now. Pixies, sentient swords, vampires and some real nasties...all hiding in the fringes of veils placed in the mundane world. This book is much darker than the first two for sure, but I loved it!
This series has kept me intrigued since Book 1. I really like how we got to know each character more and find out important details of events that happened in the first 2 books. Things are starting to really come together now. Pixies, sentient swords, vampires and some real nasties...all hiding in the fringes of veils placed in the mundane world. This book is much darker than the first two for sure, but I loved it!
May 5, 2025
An ARC was received with thanks from the author via Booksprout in return for an honest review.
05.05.25
I was so glad to finally get to book 3 in this series, which I had been enjoying so much. It was well worth the long wait, as I love the world, the characters and the shenanigans to date... and especially the magical weapons Harlow has had bond to her!!!
Apologies to the author for being so late with this review. I read it months ago, before release I think, so I can't recall all the details. But I do know that we got some answers from the ending of the last book, met some new characters, revisited some old ones, including a surprise one, and got a twist in the character dynamics. A potential new threat, from someone close to home, had me on the edge of my seat, so now I can't wait for the next one!
Admittedly, as someone who prefers to read a series back to back, I think if I'd had the time to reread the earlier books first, I'm sure I would have enjoyed Unholy Magic even more. I struggled a bit with the pacing somewhat, but also, the timing was off for me. The ARC notification turned up direct from the author (thanks for remembering me, Melissa!) right in the middle of an incredibly stressful and unexpected house move which came just a few months into a very challenging new job. And those came after a long and severe bout of depression, which has, even up until now, gotten in the way of me engaging in my GR as I had done before. Hence the reason for the extreme lateness of my review.
And the absolute best thing about this volume in the story... that it was obvious early on that the series would be continuing for at least one more book. For some reason, I had it in my head that it would end up as trilogy, so I was over the moon to find out otherwise.
If you love Urban Fantasy, a group of friends (some perhaps reluctantly!) working together, sentient swords (plural!) and hidden magical communities hidden within the mundane world, give this series a go.
Also, gotta love a thief/con-artist adjacent female MC!!!
05.05.25
I was so glad to finally get to book 3 in this series, which I had been enjoying so much. It was well worth the long wait, as I love the world, the characters and the shenanigans to date... and especially the magical weapons Harlow has had bond to her!!!
Apologies to the author for being so late with this review. I read it months ago, before release I think, so I can't recall all the details. But I do know that we got some answers from the ending of the last book, met some new characters, revisited some old ones, including a surprise one, and got a twist in the character dynamics. A potential new threat, from someone close to home, had me on the edge of my seat, so now I can't wait for the next one!
Admittedly, as someone who prefers to read a series back to back, I think if I'd had the time to reread the earlier books first, I'm sure I would have enjoyed Unholy Magic even more. I struggled a bit with the pacing somewhat, but also, the timing was off for me. The ARC notification turned up direct from the author (thanks for remembering me, Melissa!) right in the middle of an incredibly stressful and unexpected house move which came just a few months into a very challenging new job. And those came after a long and severe bout of depression, which has, even up until now, gotten in the way of me engaging in my GR as I had done before. Hence the reason for the extreme lateness of my review.
And the absolute best thing about this volume in the story... that it was obvious early on that the series would be continuing for at least one more book. For some reason, I had it in my head that it would end up as trilogy, so I was over the moon to find out otherwise.
If you love Urban Fantasy, a group of friends (some perhaps reluctantly!) working together, sentient swords (plural!) and hidden magical communities hidden within the mundane world, give this series a go.
Also, gotta love a thief/con-artist adjacent female MC!!!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews