Bad Magic and Whiskey

by Melissa Jacobson

Mary Catherine "Mick" Kelly McClellan—former Pinkerton death mage and, on paper, respectable widow—swore off bad magic a decade ago. Mostly.Now, in 1880, she’s scraping by on a dusty homestead in Trinidad, Colorado. But her pigs are mysteriously dying, her money’s run dry, and she's desperate. So when a rookie agent from the Bureau of Magical Investigations shows up promising cash in exchange for exposing supernatural wrongdoings in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Mick’s tempted—by the money, and maybe by a shot at redemption.

But Las Vegas is a town on the edge—women are dying, their magic stripped. Someone’s playing a long, dark game, reeking of bad magic that could devour the entire West. And when Mick starts asking questions, her blood-soaked past comes calling.

To stop it, she’ll have to face the consequences of her violent history—and the power she promised never to use again.

A great read for fans of Red Rabbit, Gunnie Rose, or Godless.

Ride with Mick Kelly—a complicated woman with a violent past and dangerous magic—into a dark historical fantasy steeped in arcane power and haunted Americana, where the dead don’t rest and magic always collects its due.

Read Bad Magic and Whiskey today.

Genres: Fantasy

339 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 10, 2025

About the author

Melissa Jacobson writes historical fantasy about power, consequence, and women who court trouble with the scars to prove it. But they're too busy for romance, because surprisingly women can be fully actualized without a love interest!

Melissa's stories blend Western history, supernatural mystery, and a touch of horror to explore second chances, redemption, and the cost of claiming power in a world determined to keep you in your place.

Her debut series, Bad Magic, unfolds in a cursed version of the American West—where magic is real, creatures roam the frontier, and supernatural Pinkertons ride hard in the long shadow of the Civil War.

A former tech executive turned author, Melissa draws on a lifelong love of forgotten histories, folklore, and the kind of buried truths you only find with your boots in the dust. She lives in Colorado with her writer husband and three scheming cats, and is a proud member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers.

Reviews

[Sonja Charters]

This is the first book in the exciting Bad Magic series and my first read by this author.

I was instantly drawn to this book by the front cover image as I absolutely love anything magical and loved all the symbols and colours.

Then I spotted what looks like a cowgirl and that totally piqued my interest.

 

As you know, I never read blurbs, so went into this totally blind and well, I don't think I've ever read this combination of genres before - and I loved it!

A western historical fiction with some magic thrown in for good measure and what a great combination it was.

 

I loved the writing style from the off. The elements of death magic obviously send us down a dark path at times, but we never feel overwhelmed at all as there is also a wonderful dose of humour threaded throughout, making this an easy read that feels light overall.

 

Our main character Mick was such and interesting character to get to know and explore.

I loved that she was a little on the more mature side, making her very relatable to all.

Her magic was something I've not seen before and the way it manifests takes a toll on Mick psychologically, which unfolded as the story progressed.

 

I enjoyed seeing the family unit and other characters who all added to the storyline to give this a more personal element and I wonder whether we might see more from some of them through the series.

 

This was a great first read and I'm so excited that I also have book 2 heading my way soon.

This is such a refreshing concept and I can't wait to see where it goes next.

[Singer_of_Stories]

3.75 stars rounded up!

Alternative history (especially with a fantasy twist) is a favorite for me, and I'm always on the lookout for a new book to try. This one tackled a part of alternative history that I hadn't tried before, taking me to the wild American west in a book that mixed the high stakes of a good high fantasy with a lot of the tropes of a good ol' western. On the whole, I enjoyed the combination. The worldbuilding was fresh and different with enough texture and variety hinted at to make me curious about the rest of the world not explored in this specific story, and the magic system intrigued me as it touched on things I haven't personally seen much in fiction. I also enjoyed the characters and found them both real and likeable.

My two main complaints with the book are 1) there were times when it slipped into telling over showing that I found somewhat distracting, and 2) the character arc for one of the main characters just didn't strike me as fully compelling. I watched her struggle and dig herself deeper and deeper into the problems she was experiencing and then suddenly figure out how to resolve the problem and not struggle again for the rest of the story. The build-up of her struggle was so well done that I would have liked to see a more nuanced resolution to her arc.

I'd recommend this book to people who want a unique western-style fantasy world and don't mind the death-magic that's lurking there.

[Sherri]

***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review

Mary Catherine "Mick" Kelly McClellan, former supernatural Pinkerton agent, is just scraping by on a dusty homestead in Trinidad, Colorado. She is running out of money, and her pigs are mysteriously dying. So when a rookie agent from the Bureau of Magical Investigations shows up promising cash in exchange for exposing supernatural wrongdoings in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Mick jumps at the opportunity.. When they arrive, they discover that women are dying, their magic stripped. To combat what is happening Mick will have to confront her past, and use powers she had sworn she would never use again.
This is the first fantasy book I have read that was set in the wild west. It is a historical fiction/fantasy story that has humor, dark magic, friendship, and of course...whiskey. It is a quick read that is perfect for anyone who loves a good fantasy mystery.

[Wendy]

4.5⭐ What a unique story and world that melds history, magic, and the paranormal with the history of the American West. I found myself believing this alternate time possible --like the banning of vampires from the United States and the Wild West being more wild with magical, not just gun shootouts.

Mick's passion to protect women who have been harmed and ignored by the magical BMI in Las Vegas was inspiring. The greenness of Ernest trying to earn his stripes and go on adventures like his Uncle Pete made for some hilarious and courageous moments. Morgan was a strong example of chivalry and loyalty to friends and the mission.

The magical mystery was intriguing. The cast of side characters were various and fascinating and added to the depth of the magic. Everything came together in the end, including Mick's past with coming to terms with her Gleaner power and who it makes her become, and how she can redeem it.

I'm so curious to see what happens in San Francisco in book 2!

[Tea_with_a_book]

This book was seriously good time! I got the sample to check out and then downloaded the whole thing. I read it in a day!!! Oh my word. Historical fiction (the Wild West) meets magical realism- my favorite thing. This book has a setting you are just sucked into from the very start. You have a flawed, scarred bad ass FMC that I wanna meet and hang out with. Side characters that give the book such great dimension. And a plot that went in a direction I didn’t see coming. It had humor, darkness, light, family, friendship, all the things that make for a great novel. Melissa Jacobson-well done! You can be sure I will be A) buying a hard copy of this book and B) waiting impatiently for the next one.

Thank you Booksirens for the arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given of my own volition.

[Michelle Hunter-Gray]

A long time ago I loved cowboy stories. Bad Magic & Whisky reminded me of just how much. There were however, a couple of differences. In this book there was a strong, well written female protagonist and a unique magic system. What more could I ask for?

Mary Catherine McClellan aka Mick Kelly, used to work for the Pinkerton agency but left and left wielding magic too, a long time ago. Now she runs a farm with her sister and the rest of her family. But now the pigs are dying and Mary suspects someone is using death magic, as she once had.
So when someone from the Magical Bureau of Investigations asks her to help investigate mysterious happenings in Las Vegas in exchange for a large sum of money, she agrees to go.

I enjoyed Bad Magic & Whisky, although I felt it was rather slow But even so there was plenty of adventure leavened by a good dose of humour. It made a change to see an older MFC rather than a teenager and this, I felt, brought a different dimension to the story. If you enjoy alternative history’s, magic and the Wild West, this is the book for you.

[aishareadsnrambles]

BOOK: BAD MAGIC AND WHISKEY
AUTHOR: MELISSA JACOBSON
PUB DATE: 10TH AUGUST, 2025
👩🏼‍🌾🪄🕵🏼
REVIEW- 3.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🕵🏼🪄👩🏼‍🌾
THINGS I LIKED
1. The unique, different storyline. I really liked it and I've never read anything like this
2. The FMC, Mick Kelly is okay, but she has a lot of issues, but at least she's working on discovering herself and it's understandable
3. Edison Colt, the young idealistic partner to Mick Kelly.
4. The rest of the side characters were okay, especially the people who helped take the bad guys down.
5. Again, I liked the supernatural twist in the book, the new version of magical stuff, especially the FMC's gleaning which is kinda similar to necromancy, but still different.
6. The suspense was good, with the dying animals and women and discovering what was actually happening
👩🏼‍🌾🪄🕵🏼
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE
1. The book was slow, but steady. It was annoying sometimes, but the storyline and the suspense kept me turning the page. It could be with fewer pages
🕵🏼🪄👩🏼‍🌾
The book was okay, I liked how it was packed with Mick's history, the author's description of unfamiliar terms and the fitting ending. However, it took me a long time to finish this book, it was just too slow, but I would love to read more about Mick Kelly's adventures, preferably faster this time.

[Lisa reads alot Hamer]

A dark historical western fantasy, a new genre for me and I really enjoyed it.
With magic interwoven in the story I found it fascinating and gripping, it was an easy read and if you like a bit of spooky then this is a great book to pick up.
Mick Kelly is a well written character that was easy to like and I loved how this had lots on content not just a good plot but the family element plus written with humour, the story had a lightness but also darkness within.
Unique and entertaining highly recommend

[Quilted.reads]

gritty historical fantasy where the Wild West meets dark sorcery. In 1880 Colorado, former Pinkerton death mage Mick Kelly swore off bad magic years ago but when her farm fails and a Bureau of Magical Investigations agent offers her a dangerous job in Las Vegas, New Mexico, she’s drawn back into the shadows. Women are dying, their magic stolen, and the trail reeks of a power that could consume the West. To stop it, Mick must confront her violent past and wield the very magic she vowed never to touch again. All I can say is hell yeah brother lol. Loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. #bookrecs #bookrecs #reader #bookstagram

[Sue Wallace]

Bad Magic and Whiskey by Melissa Jacobson.
I really did enjoy this book. I loved the cover and blurb of this book. I liked the writing style and the story. This is a new author for me. I love a bit of fantasy. This was a different read being western. I read this in 2 sittings. I loved Mick. she was my favourite character. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Natalia]

Bad Magic & Whiskey by Melissa Jacobson
🌟🌟🌟3/5

Publication Date: 10th August 2025

Thanks to @Netgalley and @Blackridgepublishing for a free copy in exchange for a honest review.

Mary Catherine "Mick" Kelly Mcclellan, former death mage and respectable widow, swore off Magic a decade ago. But now her pigs are mysteriously dying on her homestead in Trinidad, and moneys run dry. So when a rookie agent from the bureau of magical investigations shows up, and promises cash in exchange for exposing wrongdoings in Las Vegas, Micks tempted by the money.
But women are dying, their Magic stripped, someone is playing a long, dark game, reeking of magic. And when Mick starts asking questions her past starts calling.

Historical fiction meets Wild west, with a large dose of magic. This was a fun read, loveable characters and mystery from the start. Also sheds a lot of light on family and friendships, with many heartfelt moments. A great book for debut novel! And loved the 1880s feel, it had a very unique feeling

[Willy Nichter]

An exciting Western fantasy with a fun and inventive magic system! Definitely an enjoyable read! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Garry Breland]

This spell-binding novel is set in the late 19th-century wild West, wilder than usual for its infusion with magic, shapeshifters, and necromancers--Oh My! The story is propelled by a protagonist, Mary Catherine McClellan--whose nom de guerre is Mick Kelly. Mick hangs up her six-guns (not to mention her magical armaments) to lead a quiet family life as a pig farmer. But, of course, her past as an ace operative in the Bureau of Magical Investigations (BMI) catches up with her as a fresh outbreak of bad magic erupts in the territory and Mick is charmed back into service.

Not by accident, most of the other characters allied with Mick are female, using all their wiles to make their way in a man's world. There are also a couple of male characters allied with the women, one drawn as a wise mentor and the other as a sidekick. On the antagonist's team are men driven by a thirst for power and willing to stoop to hellish evil to acquire it.

All the principal characters have distinctive arcs (even a couple of ghosts!) that merge in satisfying ways as the story reaches its climax. And what a climax! Every good western has to have a showdown at the end, but Melissa Jacobson pulls out all the stops with a heart-clenching face-off between the forces of good and evil.
Jacobson writes not only from the first-person point of view of the protagonist but also in the present tense, which adds to the effect of her striking prose to draw the reader into the world she creates. Settle in when you reach for this book and hang up the do-not-disturb sign because you won't want to put it down once you start.

[Karolyn]

Here’s my review for Bad Magic and Whiskey by Melissa Jacobson

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this historical fantasy where ten years ago Mick Kelly swore off death magic and she settled down. Now the livestock are starting to die and they cannot find a cure for them. Her sister's family faces financial ruin with how things are going. The only way to survive is to accept the government's agent of a lucrative offer to investigate the magical murders of women in Las Vegas using the death magic she stopped using all those years ago. Also, she secured an offer for Morgan to go too. Mick finds the deaths and anything else that could be happening is a revenge scheme which traces back to a vampire she thought she had killed years ago. This was a great story which was so easy to get into and so easy to read. The characters were interesting as you had mages and vampires along with stolen essence. I love a good fantasy story and this one had a great plot which had been well thought out. I liked Mick Kelly as she seemed like a really strong character with a back story of using death magic and it looked like she would have to use it again! The author used her imagination well to create this story and all that happened in the past to Mick. I'm so looking forward to the next book in this series.

Blurb :

She swore off death magic a decade ago. Her family's survival depends on breaking that promise.
When the livestock start dying on Mick Kelly's Colorado homestead, financial ruin looms over her sister's family. A government agent arrives with a lucrative offer: investigate magical murders in Las Vegas using the death magic she abandoned a decade ago. The same dark power that once made her the most feared mage in three territories is now the only thing standing between her family and destitution.
As women in a frontier saloon are drained of their life force, Mick uncovers a conspiracy that reaches across the American West. Cursed artifacts, stolen essence, and a necromancer's revenge scheme all trace back to the vampire she thought she'd killed years ago. Every step closer to the truth pulls her deeper into the violent past she's desperate to escape.
This gritty supernatural western blends frontier justice, dark magic, and fierce female characters into an epic tale of redemption and sacrifice. In a world where power demands blood and loyalty can be bought with cursed gold, some debts can only be paid in death.
Can a retired death mage save her family without losing her soul?
Get your copy today before the next installment hits the shelves!

[Cat Treadwell]

I never used to read Westerns - until the whole 'Weird West' subgenre appeared a few years ago and hauled me in! The West with magic, monsters and a whole new world of threats, it's everything you want in an adventure. Melissa Jacobson delivers that in spades.

We follow Mary Catherine 'Mick' Kelly McClellan from quiet farmsteader to revisiting her younger days as a magical gun-for-hire, taking on the black mages and trying to control her own dark proclivities. Fighting for yourself and those you love is the key thread here, and Mick is like a junkie yearning for a fix, with her powerful death magic a constant tug at the back of her mind, wanting to be released in the name of vengeance and protecting the vulnerable.

We have an immensely likeable posse (including feisty horses!), shapeshifters, evil brewing over Las Vegas and a showdown to beat the bad guys against all odds. I was reminded of the best elements of adventures like 'Resident Evil' here, combined with the Wild West vibe - a desperate quest, battling sub-bosses and a Big Bad threatening the world. 

The magical system and world-building are top-notch, and the history strikes the right chords to combine real-world with Clint Eastwood movies - just with a lot more woman-power! I really appreciated the strength of the ladies here, but the entire cast are solid... which means that when one of our bookish friends is taken down, it hits that much harder. The West never was a Nice Place, and this is about survival, after all.

Saddle up for a great adventure by the side of a badass lady gun - and magic - slinger. Then head on back for the sequel!

I was kindly sent an early copy of this book for the ZooLoo Book Tours, but the above opinions are entirely my own.

[Noah Jackson]

** This review is based on an e-ARC provided by BookSirens **

Bad Magic and Whiskey is about a woman trying to escape her past and live a better life with her family. When her past pulls her into a new job and a new mystery to solve, Mick Kelly must decide what lengths she is willing to go in order to solve said mystery. What will she choose between desire and responsibility? Can she find the redemption she seeks from the past that haunts her?

Mick Kelly’s unique power is part of a wider world that is only hinted at in Bad Magic and Whiskey. The lore draws the reader in without bogging the story down in the minutiae of details. It adds a uniqueness to this western tale that makes for a fun read that doesn’t rely on the gun-slinging tropes of other westerns.

Edison Colt, the rookie agent that pulls her back into the life Kelly left behind is a compelling foil for the protagonist. His eager inexperience contrasts well with Kelly’s jaded, world-weary views without becoming annoying. Rather, the reader wants to believe in his cause and wants the heroes to win.

The mysterious events happening in Las Vegas immediately draw the reader into the mystery. Who is stripping women of their magic? What dark machinations are at play? The action is quick and the magic packs a punch as the mystery unfolds.

Bad Magic and Whiskey drew me in and wouldn't let go until I finished it. This is a strong entry in the weird western genre. A tale of confronting one’s past to face the future that shouldn’t be missed.

[Pauline Render]

In a previous life, Mary Catherine ‘Mick’ Kelly McClellan was a supernatural Pinkerton agent. Now she just wants to live a quiet life at her homestead with her family. But when death magic is used and a young agent comes knocking on her door, asking for help in investigating the disappearances and deaths of women in Vegas, Mick knows that with her special skill set, albeit reluctantly, she can’t turn away what’s happening and agrees to help. Mick is a great character, feisty and determined, and although by her own admission she’s not getting any younger, she’s going to do every she can to bring the perpetrators to justice. There’s plenty of action which starts off as a bit of a slow burn, but as the story progresses it steadily ramps up until the almost nail biting climax. There’s humour sprinkled throughout and plenty of the supernatural, from shape shifters to ghosts. There’s bravery and heroism and a true sense of place as I did feel as though I was right there with Mick. I also loved the fact that the majority of characters in the book were strong and determined women.
I loved this book, and after reading Bad Magic and Whiskey, although I may not quite be a fan of the western genre, I am definitely a fan of Mick and can’t wait to read what adventure Melissa is going to send her on next.

[Siobhain]

Magical realism, historical setting and a touch of fantasy? Sign me up. This is the first novel in the Bad Magic series and when I say I am hooked I am not exaggerating. I was hooked from the first page. I am a bit of a sucker for Wild West stories but normally I go for a more horror themed, now I see what I have been missing out on. Jacobson’s writing is fun, entertaining and best of all keeps you hooked. I loved the characters, particularly Mick our lead and how they all worked well together.
I can’t wait for the second book in the series and highly recommend to fans of magical realism and historical novels. It’s entertaining and enjoyable and one I couldn’t put down. I actually read it over the course of a day and half!
As always thank you to ZooLoo’s Book Tours, publishers and author for the copy to review. My reviews are always given freely and my honest opinion of the book is given.

[Naturalbri (Bri Wignall)]

I absolutely loved this book! I am so glad it is part of a series because I want more. I really enjoyed the whole premise of the book and the glorious cover.
The main character is brilliant. She is strong, clever and fun to get to know. From the start she shows that she wants nothing more than to have her space and enjoy what she has, especially with having a duty that was not really the most enjoyable for her. Then as things start to get tricky she jumps to try and figure out why so much darkness is spreading, who is doing it and what the end goal is with it all
The book moves at an exciting pace, making it very easy to read. I really enjoyed the author's writing style and found it very easy to just dive into the story and not want to put it down.
I highly recommend this book and I know I cannot wait to read the next in the series.

[Kat M]

This was a strong opening chapter to the Bad Magic series, it had that Western element that I was wanting and enjoyed in this type of book.. It uses the historical fantasy element in a unique way and had that overall feel that I was expecting from this type of book. Melissa Jacobson wrote a strong storyline and characters that I was wanting and am excited for more in the series. I loved the use of 1880 and how the western element was used in a unique way. I enjoyed getting to go on this journey with the characters and can't wait for more.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Therese T.]

Pleasantly surprised!

I'm new to this author &, it turns out I'm new to this genre because this book was not at all what I was expecting!
That said, I did thoroughly enjoy it. It's also the perfect time of year for this type of read.
The world-building is incredible; the characters are not only believable but also likeable & made me LOL more than a few times. The book has great pacing, too. All in all, this was a great read full of character interactions that you could easily get invested in!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Steve]

I enjoyed this book. The story itself was excellent, with a good and consistent magic system. I loved the characters, both the protagonists and the antagonists. The pacing was excellent and the book kept me enthralled from start to finish. I look forward to reading more books in the series. Thank you to Netgalley and Blackridge Publishing, LLC for the advance reader copy.

[Maria]

If a gritty fantasy western with a sprinkle of dark humor is your sort of book, I recommend you give this one a try. The writing is good, the characters are multi-faceted, and the plot was becoming very interestingly complex by the time I decided not to finish it (almost halfway).

So why did I DNF? I just wasn't the right reader for this book. It was too gritty for my taste. Nothing unexpected for the genre, but past my tolerances for dark plotlines, suspense, and strong language.

Very disappointing because I had enjoyed the prequel so much, but not unexpected. The prequel was similar, just not quite as much as this installment.