Unsympathetic Magic [Dramatized Adaptation]

Esther Diamond, Book 3

By: Laura Resnick

Narrated by: full cast, Colleen Delany, Thomas Keegan, Bob Payne, KenYatta Rogers, Dawn Ursula, James J. Johnson, Julie-Ann Elliott, James Lewis, Jefferson A. Russell, Maggie Donnelly, Michael John Casey

Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Acting jobs don't grow on fire escapes, so struggling actress Esther Diamond is outraged when her guest role as a hooker on controversial TV drama The Dirty Thirty is jeopardized by zombies, angry spirits, and a voodoo curse. 

Meanwhile, the talented teens Esther is coaching at a Harlem cultural center are also being attacked by the sinister supernatural power that's spreading through Manhattan. Since the show must go on, Esther boldly helps her friend, the 350-year-old sorcerer Dr. Maximillian Zadok, combat the Evil forces at work - all while attempting to salvage her love life with her would-be lover, Detective Connor Lopez. But will Esther's courage backfire and end up leading her to become a human sacrifice on the altar of the sinister supernatural powers that are taking over New York City?

Performed by Colleen Delany, Thomas Keegan, Bob Payne, KenYatta Rogers, Dawn Ursula, James J Johnson, Julie-Ann Elliott, James Lewis, Jefferson A Russell, Maggie Donnelly, Michael John Casey, Erika Rose, Deidra Starnes, Mavonte Johnson, Eva Wilhelm, Gregory Linington, Ken Jackson, Todd Scofield, Lily Beacon, Terence Aselford, Peter Holdway.

©2010 Laura Resnick (P)2017 Graphic Audio, LLC

Series peaks here

I still think this would’ve rocked as cozy urban fantasy, but at least the F bombs are less than in book 2.
Also, the book opens with an overacted scene from a crime show and contains an actor calling a woman the C word and it was a little jarring to me. If the story and characters consistently matched the grittier language, I’d be more accepting of the cussing. However, the romance remains fade to black after kisses and the vibe is generally comic book pulpy. So, I feel like the language is unnecessary.

Once past the adult opening, the cussing goes way down and the magical mystery digs into voodoo.
I was fascinated and very impressed at the research into Haitian vs New Orleans mojo. This installment also benefits from more magic and a better variety of creatures. I wish there was a greater cast of series regulars, because I find Esther herself rather vanilla. I confess that my favorite characters are mage Max and his familiar.

From here, each book diminishes, rehashing the same formula of 1 supernatural element surrounded by a never ending on again-off again romance and focused on show biz and Esther’s actress struggles. Given than I came for the urban fantasy, this series peaked at this book 3.

not as thrilling

the story wasn't as suspenseful as the previous one. but was informational to the lore of Haitian voodoo history.