Genre: Urban Fantasy, Dystopian
Series: Downside Ghosts #5
Publication Date: June 26, 2012
ISBN: 978-0345527523
Page Count: 400
Review Copy: Received from the publisher for an honest review
A DEADLY HIGH
Magic-wielding Churchwitch and secret addict Chess Putnam knows better than anyone just how high a price people are willing to pay for a chemical rush. But when someone with money to burn and a penchant for black magic starts tampering with Downside’s drug supply, Chess realizes that the unlucky customers are paying with their souls—and taking the innocent with them, as the magic-infused speed compels them to kill in the most gruesome ways possible.
As if the streets weren’t scary enough, the looming war between the two men in her life explodes, taking even more casualties and putting Chess squarely in the middle. Downside could become a literal ghost town if Chess doesn’t find a way to stop both the war and the dark wave of death-magic, and the only way to do that is to use both her addiction and her power to enter the spell and chase the magic all the way back to its malevolent source. Too bad that doing so will probably kill Chess—if the war doesn’t first destroy the man who’s become her reason for living.
REVIEW
She's done it again! How does she keep doing this to me? Just when I think Stacia Kane has sent me on every possible emotional roller coaster imaginable, there she is again with ride tickets clutched in her hand and a wicked gleam in her eye.
I am somewhat conflicted about certain elements of this book. As flawed as Chess is, and Lord knows she's one of the most, if not the most, flawed Urban Fantasy characters out there, I've still always respected her. Even as hard as that is to do sometimes with the way she's constantly telling you what a shitty person she is. I was always able to see through that and admire her strength anyway.
In this book she did something I didn't like. I'm not going to say what it was, not even a hint, save to say I actually had to put the book down and didn't pick it up again for 4 days. I still haven't decided if I'm mad, sad, disappointed or what, but I had to take a break to put my thoughts in order.
Aside from that, though, it was business as usual. Except these days Chess' business comes with lots more Terrible! I loved the amount of time they were able to spend together in this book. They're relationship is very intense and they have a lot of issues, but they're also a pretty freaking great team and they worked together on the crime/case like they've been doing it for years. Chess is the investigator, Terrible is the muscle, and it just works perfectly.
They also made some more progress as a couple. Although with Chess it's likely always going to be one step forward for every two steps back, I ended the book feeling more confident in Chess for the future. There are no major changes happening yet, but maybe in the next one....
Outstanding job, Ms Kane. Next one please!
4 Stars! ★★★★ ♥
Review Copy: Received from the publisher for an honest review.
I am somewhat conflicted about certain elements of this book. As flawed as Chess is, and Lord knows she's one of the most, if not the most, flawed Urban Fantasy characters out there, I've still always respected her. Even as hard as that is to do sometimes with the way she's constantly telling you what a shitty person she is. I was always able to see through that and admire her strength anyway.
In this book she did something I didn't like. I'm not going to say what it was, not even a hint, save to say I actually had to put the book down and didn't pick it up again for 4 days. I still haven't decided if I'm mad, sad, disappointed or what, but I had to take a break to put my thoughts in order.
Aside from that, though, it was business as usual. Except these days Chess' business comes with lots more Terrible! I loved the amount of time they were able to spend together in this book. They're relationship is very intense and they have a lot of issues, but they're also a pretty freaking great team and they worked together on the crime/case like they've been doing it for years. Chess is the investigator, Terrible is the muscle, and it just works perfectly.
They also made some more progress as a couple. Although with Chess it's likely always going to be one step forward for every two steps back, I ended the book feeling more confident in Chess for the future. There are no major changes happening yet, but maybe in the next one....
“I ain't...Don't know how to say it up right. Never--Fuck, Chess. Thought you was dead once before, you recall? Never felt so bad in my life, not ever. Then on the other day, thought you was gone and just....I can't do it, bein without you.”All in all, another fantastic book, despite my hiccup. And, hey, it's only a testament to how involved with these characters I am that it was able to affect me so much.
Outstanding job, Ms Kane. Next one please!
4 Stars! ★★★★ ♥
Review Copy: Received from the publisher for an honest review.
CHASING MAGIC is an emotionally draining and yet somehow exhilarating book. Chess is this fragile butterfly trapped in a drug addicted, self loathing body. She's so real I almost can't stand to read about her at times. I can feel her contempt for herself, her paralyzing fear that she is nothing but a stain on the lives of those she cares about, her fluttering hope that dies every time she recognizes it. She's one of the most tragic characters I've ever read and she's also one of my absolute favorites because despite all her crippling emotional issues, she is a fighter. Time and again, no matter the cost, she does what needs to be done without hesitation.
ReplyDeleteI'm genuinely afraid for Chess's future. Her drug dependency has grown over the past five books and even though Terrible loves her with a ferocity that borders on scary (in a good way), I don't know if it will be enough. I don't know if there even is a way to save Chess from herself...I hope desperately that there is. The whole outlook for Downside is in jeopardy. Lex is determined to wrest control away from Bump, which would literally be over Terrible's dead body. Dark and deadly magic continues to stalk the streets and Chess looks to be on her last life by my count.