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Unholy Magic (Downside Ghosts #2)

by Stacia Kane (Goodreads Author)

4.22 of 5 stars 4.22 · rating details · 3,913 ratings · 506 reviews

ENEMIES DON’T NEED TO BE ALIVE TO BE DEADLY.

For Chess Putnam, finding herself near-fatally poisoned by a con psychic and then stopping a murderous ghost is just another day on the job. As an agent of the Church of Real Truth, Chess must expose those looking to profit from the world’s unpleasant little poltergeist problem—humans filing false claims of hauntings—all while st...more

Mass Market Paperback, 343 pages

Published July 6th 2010 by Del Rey

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Sep 01, 2012 Ceridwen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: alternate-history, america-and-environs, cats-and-dogs, daddy-drinks-because-you-cry, ghost-stories, omg-were-all-going-to-die, pulp, reviewed, sexy-nihilists, urban-fantasy

Before I set into bitching - this is going to be the review for this series where I lay out my gripes with this world - I want to make sure I underline how much fun I've had reading these books. There are more than three at this point, but the first three seem to constitute an emotional arc. While I'll probably check the others at some point, my lost weekend of slamming through the Downside Ghosts series is done since I just closed the third book a couple minutes ago.

So, as a middle in a trilog...more Before I set into bitching - this is going to be the review for this series where I lay out my gripes with this world - I want to make sure I underline how much fun I've had reading these books. There are more than three at this point, but the first three seem to constitute an emotional arc. While I'll probably check the others at some point, my lost weekend of slamming through the Downside Ghosts series is done since I just closed the third book a couple minutes ago.

So, as a middle in a trilogy, or even as a second in a series of books, this one is going to lag a little on the enjoyment level. Kane is very consistent in her writing style and plotting, which I count as a good thing - but consistency is the hobgoblin of readers getting a little wearied of certain things. As a second book, you're not in that sparkle of new environments and the rush of new characters. You're at that point in the relationship where you start noticing how your new beau has a tendency to snore or to clear his throat all the freaking time seriously what is that? The opening half is characterized by a lot of wheel spinning and the solving of mysteries I don't care about, which brings me to the next thing.

Chess Putnam is a ghostbuster is a profoundly alternate history. In 1997 there was a ghostacalypse which tore down every religious and governmental institution we know. All institutions were replaced by The Church, a mystical but ultimately non-theistic order which is the only thing that can keep the ghosts at bay. One the one hand, it's just fine to gesture to this profound upheaval, running your characters from their limited perspectives from street level, a street level I found richly detailed and, well, just cool. On the other, oh, come on. While I appreciate the lack of infodumps - well, Bob, you recall how the Elders of the Church formed a council which blahblahblah - sometimes the haziness was a little too hazy. Even when paying pretty close attention, I don't really get how this whole ghost thing works, exactly, and there was more than one occasion where Chess would be in a dire magical situation and be like, oh, yeah, if I do this thing it'll neutralize this other thing, and wheee! Now I'm out of that scrape. It's not so much that the magic was inconsistent, it's that I didn't know enough about how it worked to do anything but roll my eyes and think, well, that's convenient. Which is not to say that Chess doesn't continue to be one of my favorite fuckups in urban fantasy.

The opening mystery is one of those locked houses with a bunch of perverse rich sickos. Which is fine or whatever, but it took maybe longer than necessary for this to snick up with the other plot line, because you totes know it will. As I've said before, this is pretty straightforward detective Noir plotting, where everything is going to brew up into one giant clusterfuck. And whoo boy, when it does, the cluster fucks so godamn hard. Even while loving Chess as a character, she's not a good person, and her failings come home to get her in a powerfully awful way. She's a junkie, and while I didn't think this ran entirely convincingly in the first book, there's a withdrawal sequence here which had ants running all over my joints. Gah. But that sequence is just a warm up to her serious comeuppance for betrayals that you can dig why she did them, but oh, Lordy, being the betrayer is no fun park. Specially when you get caught out.

Oh, and, quick edit, I'm on record as having a boner for city stories, ones that write a city as character. Triumph City, and its underside, the Downside, is really compelling to me. I like its markets and orphans and physicality. I like how Chess talks about neighborhood, the Street, the interactions of the poor and destitute, the ways the rich are insulated and clueless. Much as I love Downside, the fact that this must be a recognizable American city rankled me a bit. Is this DC? Where the fuck are we? I noticed this more in this book, with its casual chatter about LA and Hollywood. And, can we talk about the City of Ghosts? Is this place accessible from any city in the world? Or just in Triumph City? What happened in Russia during Haunted Week? Again, I'm not really complaining - this book is about the concerns of a person, and her concerns aren't about the global experience of the ghostacalypse. But it would be sweet if this were addressed even sorta passingly.

And, I would have really liked there to be at least one lady in this whole world other than Chess. There's some bitchy librarian types and some dead whores, a psycho wife and a teenage daughter, but none of these women matter. Or they don't really matter to Chess. This is pretty common in urban fantasy, or in romance more generally - the lone chick in a world of dudes - but it's bunk to fail the Bechdel test no matter what the gender of the writer, no matter what the gender of the protagonist. (Aside on the Bechdel test - yes, this was developed for movies; yes, it's not a measure of quality; yes, it's not exactly fair to bring this up in a very specific instance. It's a statistical test, a way of polling the relevance of women's relationships within a genre. Which is why I get so disappointed when I see fucking sweet ass characters, girl characters who have real personalities and failings, written by sweet ass women writers whom I respect a good deal and still have those sweet ass characters only exist in a world where women don't talk, don't have real relationships.) Which is not to say this book doesn't deal sensitively and convincingly with certain touchy subjects that are alarmingly common in women's experience, things like the legacy and recovery from rape, prostitution and trafficking, and some other dire ass shit. The experience of women does matter in this world, which is why it seems notable that Chess doesn't have even one ladyfriend at all.

Anyway, blahblah, feminist hobbyhorse aside, this is an incredibly fun series, and the slackness of the early sections of this book give way to some really knuckle biting conflict, conflict that won't rightly be resolved until the next book. Not that is is uncompleted - the locked house mystery comes to its little end - but the trajectory of Chess's betrayals is still mid-arc. I kinda like downbeat, uncompleted endings, hanging in a welter of shame and survival, but mileage varies. I can say the next book deals with that stuff in a satisfying way to me, but that's a retroactive assessment, fwiw. Booyah. (less)

31 likes · like · see review

May 16, 2012 Dija rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, 2010, my-reviews, surprisingly-good, uf-or-pnr, buddy-slash-group-read

Thoughts before reading:

I'm going to give this series one more chance, for this and this alone:

“Readers have the right to say whatever the fuck they want about a book. Period. They have that right. If they hate the book because the MC says the word “delicious” and the reader believes it’s the Devil’s word and only evil people use it, they can shout from the rooftops “This book is shit and don’t read it” if they want. If they want to write a review entirely about how much they hate the cover, the

...more

25 likes · like · see review

Feb 08, 2012 new_user rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

I am appeased. Unholy Magic delivers the meat missing from predecessor Unholy Ghosts (Downside Ghosts #1). While still imperfect, Magic offers intricate, clever plotting, powerful prose, and most importantly, a healthy serving of character development.

Ghosts irritated me because author Stacia Kane romanticizes drug addiction and drug peddlers. Witch-sleuth protagonist Chess Putnam -the significance of whose surname I will discover eventually!- unaccountably escapes addiction's lowest moments i...more

15 likes · like · see review

Dec 03, 2011 Penny rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: lovers of urban fantasy

Recommended to Penny by: Wicked Incognito Now

Shelves: dystopian, grrrl-power, guilty-pleasures, i-see-dead-people, witchy-woman, penny-s-favorite-books, mystery, reviewed-books

Kat, fellow Goodreader (and my favorite Australian) summed up this book best: gut-wrenching. This book ripped out my innards, tap danced all over them, unceremoniously shoved them back inside me, and sewed me up haphazardly. Sure, in the end, my guts were no longer all over the place but serious damage was done. And I liked it. Sounds like I'm being over-dramatic, I know, but you should see my Unholy Magic status updates.

This book, Stacia Kane's writing, sent me on an emotional roller coaster ri...more Kat, fellow Goodreader (and my favorite Australian) summed up this book best: gut-wrenching. This book ripped out my innards, tap danced all over them, unceremoniously shoved them back inside me, and sewed me up haphazardly. Sure, in the end, my guts were no longer all over the place but serious damage was done. And I liked it. Sounds like I'm being over-dramatic, I know, but you should see my Unholy Magic status updates.

This book, Stacia Kane's writing, sent me on an emotional roller coaster ride from hell. Now, don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad thing. I mean, I do love roller coasters. I love the sensation of plunging down steep slopes and shooting through loop-de-loops at eleventy-billion miles an hour. I love screaming like a maniac, thinking I might die any second (knowing I won't). But see, that's just a regular roller coaster ride.

Unholy Magic, is more like a terrifying ride on a rickety old roller coaster that may or may not be missing some track. While being stark naked. Halfway through the ride you see that, indeed, there is a section of the track missing, and you realize you're about to die--But, wait! Instead of flying off the track and plummeting to a gruesome death, the roller coaster sails across the gap--Speed style--and lands on the other side, tracks lined up and everything. It's unbelievable.

In the end you're still alive and you feel exhilarated and invincible and you want to do it again. You see that you can because, hey, there aren't many people in line. But as you prepare to get up you vomit in the lap of the stranger sitting next to you. Oh, and hey, you're still mysteriously naked.

It's horrible, but in the best way possible. Does that make sense?

Now you're probably thinking I don't like like this book--I mean, "horrible in the best way possible" doesn't sound like high praise, amirite? Well, you couldn't be more wrong. I enjoyed Unholy Magic despite all the feelings--some downright beautiful, some so cringe-worthy I wanted to crawl in a hole and die--it stirred within me.

I don't know, I guess the best way to describe the experience is by saying Kane's writing is such that I felt as though I was there, within the pages of the book, watching everything play out. Not only that but I felt all of the characters emotions and it was amazing and terrifying and overwhelming all at the same time.

It was great.

I'll be reading Unholy Magic again, sooner rather than later, I just need a little time to recover. Four stars.

(a copy of this review is posted at my blog)(less)

16 likes · like · see review

Sep 19, 2012 Kelly Maybedog Hawkins rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: what-modern-fantasy, why-author-rocks, why-favorite-authors, why-favorite-series, why-favorites

Update 7/19/12: Stacia Kane is extremely cool:
http://www.staciakane.net/2012/07/11/...
_____________________________

This book hurts. Well, if that lovey dovey stuff matters to you it might. It's not romance at all, it's painful and raw and sick but I cried. I didn't even know I was crying until my lip felt wet.

I also couldn't put it down. I started trying to read around eleven but the kids kept interrupting until after twelve when I was already exhausted. By two I was having trouble keeping my ey...more

16 likes · like · see review

Sep 22, 2011 Book Chick City rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, book-list-2010, favorites

After reading and absolutely loving Unholy Ghosts, I was somewhat nervous about reading Unholy Magic. I've been caught out before with a new series, reading and liking the first book only to be disappointed with the second, but thankfully, this was not the case with Unholy Magic. This book is AMAZING and I am totally in love with this series!

Unholy Magic begins roughly where Unholy Ghosts ended. Chess is still working for the Church of Real Truth as a debunker and popping pills, Terrible is stil...more After reading and absolutely loving Unholy Ghosts, I was somewhat nervous about reading Unholy Magic. I've been caught out before with a new series, reading and liking the first book only to be disappointed with the second, but thankfully, this was not the case with Unholy Magic. This book is AMAZING and I am totally in love with this series!

Unholy Magic begins roughly where Unholy Ghosts ended. Chess is still working for the Church of Real Truth as a debunker and popping pills, Terrible is still Bumps enforcer and Lex is Chess' new drug of choice.

To me this book is very character driven, which is one of the reasons I love it so much - you may have noticed that my reviews are character driven too - if I don't like the characters then it doesn't matter whether the plot is good or not, I just won't be able to connect with the book. But I didn't have that problem with Unholy Magic. It has two of the best characters I've read in the urban fantasy genre; Chess and Terrible. However, although this book is very much about the characters there is also an engaging storyline.

I really enjoyed reading about the world Kane has created. Downside is very gritty and dark, where drug dealers and gangs rule, prostitutes and pimps sell you their business and ghosts kill. The ghosts in Downside are scary, evil entities and it's Chess' job as a debunker for the Church of Real Truth to make sure that any claims of ghost sightings or hauntings are legitimate. One such case is given to her by an Elder of the Church for a celebrity who claims there's two ghosts in his house. This part of the story, although secondary to the relationships between the characters, is really enjoyable and we get to see Chess fighting ghosts and banishing them, and using her witchy magic.

In Unholy Ghosts, Chess unwillingly helped Lex with a problem he had and because of this she is now getting most of her drugs for free, which enables her to pop as many pills as she likes, and we see her falling into her addiction even further. The thing with Chess is that she enjoys them. She likes blocking out the harsh side of her life, the memories of her past filled with physical and mental abuse, and losing herself in the freedom the pills give her. Chess understands what is happening but doesn't really want to face her addiction and although she is fairly strong and brave in her job as a debunker, in life not so much. If something doesn't go to plan or if she feels letdown by someone then she leans on her drugs - uses them as a replacement for people. However, even though Chess is a drug addict it doesn't prevent her from doing her job - most of the time.

I heart Chess so much - she is flawed and vulnerable and that's what I love about her, but I can also see strength and determination. She cares about people and desperately wants to help them, even if it's at the risk of her own life. I have a feeling we are going to see Chess grow enormously in future books, there's so much scope for her character and I can't wait to find out how she evolves.

We also learn more about Terrible, which shows him in a softer light and makes him even more loveable. Terrible is so endearing he melts my heart, even though I know he has no qualms about killing someone with his bare hands - I know this and Chess knows this, but somehow it just doesn't matter. Terrible reveals quite a bit about his feelings in this instalment. There's a scene between Chess and Terrible that had my heart pounding in my chest, I just couldn't read the pages fast enough to find out what happened next. I won't go any further but let me just say it's heart-wrenching romance at its best.

Lex is still very much in the picture, although he does take a bit of a back-seat to the growing dynamics between Chess and Terrible. But he's growing on me. I'm still not convinced he's trustworthy, but I like him.

I'm also impressed by the street-speak, or as Kane puts it, "Down-speech". I think it takes a very talented writer to pull-off accents, but Kane does just that. It's different to anything I've read before but it gives the gangs of Downside a very distinctive and original flare.

VERDICT:

For me, Unholy Magic has the precise combination and balance of everything I love about the urban fantasy genre: action, romance, complex but likeable characters and world building. I adored this book so much from beginning to end - just perfect.(less)

10 likes · like · see review

Aug 14, 2012 Jeann rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, paranormal-uf, magic, 5-star, buddy-reads

Unholy Magic is the 2nd in the Downside Ghosts series and boy, is it emotionally gripping and extremely intense.

Chess is a debunker for the Church who exterminates ghosts and more frequently, busts those who are set up fake hauntings for financial gain. She's also an extremely drug dependent, which helps her deal with the scars that early life experiences have caused.

In this book, we see her making horrible decisions that lead her to drive a divide between her personal relationships and the on...more

7 likes · like · see review

Feb 21, 2012 Mimi Smith rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.25 stars

"The dead do not offer forgiveness. They do not feel. They do not advance or grow. They remain frozen as they were, save for the replacement of love with hate.
—The Book of Truth, Veraxis, Article 329"

Downside World 201 by Mimi

All right, in addition to the information I got and mentioned in my review of Unholy Ghosts, here are some other details/facts/questions

1)Remember the Church employees that go to the City and do something with ghosts? They're called Liaisers and apparently they...more

7 likes · like · see review

Mar 07, 2012 jD rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012_5-stars, 2012, 2_kindle_own, fantasy_adventure_worldbuilding, fantasy_ghost, fantasy_urban

If you are looking for a review that discusses this book, keep looking. This one is more of an internal dialog, you know, notes to self.

Self, you have reached the point where you need to examine your relationship with this series. Why? Because you are not a die-hard fan of urban fantasy and this one is pure UF.

Let’s see…you are married to Night Huntress, Dresden Files, and Tales from the Nightside. You are living with Rachael Morgan, Kate Daniels, and the Iron Druid Chronicles. You are dating B...more

9 likes · like · see review

Oct 10, 2012 Estelle (E) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ghosts, series-to-finish, favorites, 5plus-stars

4.5 stars
I understand why people think it's one of the best UF series out there.

Chess grows on you as you read along, which I love. I found myself imagining full conversations between characters, because I wanted them to happen but they didn't. That's how hooked I was.

I have realised that I am reading this quite fast because I'm in need to read about Terrible at all times. (I think it's because the story doesn't evolve around the love story and it makes it more gripping, same happened when I r...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jul 14, 2010 Sophia (FV) rated it 4 of 5 stars

To say that I love the Downside Ghosts series is a ridiculous understatement. Two books in and I think it’s safe to say I am fully addicted, complete with the sweats, itching and panic after having read the last page in Unholy Magic. I tried to read slowly, I did, but it was so-damn-good! 368 pages was not enough, I needed more. Now.

I’ve tried many different ways to summarize this story but I feel in doing so I’m just giving too much away. Since I can’t figure out how to summarize without spoil...more To say that I love the Downside Ghosts series is a ridiculous understatement. Two books in and I think it’s safe to say I am fully addicted, complete with the sweats, itching and panic after having read the last page in Unholy Magic. I tried to read slowly, I did, but it was so-damn-good! 368 pages was not enough, I needed more. Now.

I’ve tried many different ways to summarize this story but I feel in doing so I’m just giving too much away. Since I can’t figure out how to summarize without spoiling in some way, I’ll just get right down to my thoughts.

In Unholy Magic Chess is still very much addicted to drugs and still associating with both her regular drug dealer’s main muscle Terrible, as well a rival drug lord Lex. She lives a dangerous, chaotic life with no clear indication that things will settle down anytime soon. A good deal of her chaos is self imposed but such is the nature of the life of a drug addict. However in Unholy Magic, things get a bit more personal. We get a glimpse into Chess’s tragic background and a better understanding of they reasons she abuses drugs. Chess uses the drugs and both creates and allows chaos in her life as a way of coping—or perhaps not—with things that are just too big to handle. Chess has really grown on me as a heroine which is actually quite surprising to me since there were several times in this book where I literally wanted to wring her neck. She is a mess and makes bad decisions left and right. But on the other hand her basic moral core is solid and underneath it all she is quite vulnerable.

Chess is not the only character that has grown on me. I liked Terrible in Unholy Ghosts but I’m going to put myself out there and say I’ve moved on to loving him after reading Unholy Magic. We get to know a lot more about Terrible and although his reality is danger and violence, somehow after pealing back his layers and getting to look a little deeper it’s easier to sympathize and understand who he is. He still had a moment or two that made me say, “Oh no he didn’t!” but Terrible wouldn’t be Terrible unless he actually did. (I’m still firmly supporting team Terrible)

When it comes to mystery and suspense, Stacia Kane writes with gusto. She is a master of surprises and she simply does not hold back, pushing the boundaries with every turn of the page. This book will make you shiver, shudder, cringe and wince but at the same time, you’ll find yourself caring deeply for characters that are far from perfect and who’s redemption seems questionable at times.

In trying to come up with an adjective to describe the over all tone and feel of this story, I came up short. Gritty seems weak in reference to this book and just does not cover it. I had a brief twitter conversation about the Downside series and I eventually came up with this: Unholy Magic spits on gritty and calls it’s mother names. Yes, this book is that bad ass! Stacia Kane has written an amazing, spine tingling novel in Unholy Magic, taking me by surprise by surpassing even the brilliance of it’s predecessor Unholy Ghosts.

Favorite Quotes:

“Ain’t think I hear you right,” Terrible said in calm, quiet voice. “Wanna loud up?”

She took a deep breath. It felt weird to be telling him this, to be telling anyone this, but she owed him. She had a secret of his now, one so big it was pushing one of her out to make room.
(less)

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Jan 05, 2012 HeatherJay rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, badass-heroine

I now have a seemingly unhealthy crush on a fictional character with protruding eyebrows, scars on his face, pomade in his hair and mutton chops that would make any Elvis impersonater weak with envy.

I originally started this series right after I finished reading the Fever series.I was in a bit of a Jericho Barrons detox phase that resulted in a lot of good books being tossed aside. Luckily, I picked these up again and can say it is one of may favorite series that I have read. Chess has grown on...more

16 likes · like · see review

Jan 28, 2013 Emmy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, downside

Uh, yeah. There might be spoilers here. And I write this while listening to the Stooges. That seems appropriate.

So this was my favorite book out of the 3 out so far. The plot is crazy. There are dead prostitutes with missing eyeballs. This brings together both sides (and I'm not talking the Church) working with Chess to put a stop to it. The other storyline is her debunking a case for an actor and his family which leads to such an emotional and horrible scene with Chess going through withdrawal....more

5 likes · like · see review

May 20, 2013 Heather Book Savvy Babe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, witches-magic

I really loved this installment in the series. I felt that it was more emotional that the first book, more of Chess' past is revealed which helps explain why she turns to drugs so much. The same goes for Terrible in a way, both of them had a tough upbringing and as they get to know each other more, their relationship evolves.

Chess is a busy girl, working both a celebrity assignment where nothing is as it seems, and trying to keep 1 step ahead of the drug dealers as she is once again called in t...more

4 likes · like · see review

May 19, 2012 Anzu The Great Destroyer rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of the first book (don't expect something different)

Shelves: buddy-or-group-read, the-fantasy-of-urbans, a-bit-of-mush, to-the-mystery-machine, dafuq-did-i-just-read, dropped-in-the-toilet, fat-kitty-judges-you, hop-on-a-broom, is-it-just-me-goddammit, kill-it-with-fire, fucking-love-triangles, paranormal-fix, wtf-am-i-doing, me-no-like-at-all, masters-of-snoozeville, reviewed-2012, casper-ate-my-sandwich, zzzzzzz, facepalm

Things I hate about Downside Ghosts
- Chess’ attitude;
- Chess’ drug addiction;
- Chess’ way of handling her problems;
- Terrible’s vocabulary (it messes with my head a lot);
- No likeable characters;
- The love triangle.

Things I’m neutral about regarding Downside Ghosts
- The ghost theme.

Things I love about Downside Ghosts
[empty]

So I guess that sums it up. I said that I’ll give the second book a try (since I hated the first) because Downside Ghosts is such a popular series. I really want to kno...more

5 likes · like · see review

Nov 04, 2011 Mrs.Norman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: downside, magic, ghosts, favorites, love-triangles

This series is one of the greatest!! Its like being sucked in to a whole new world thats dark and scary and full of the unknown. I didnt think I would like a book about the protaganist being an addict with no dreams of recovery....but it worked and I wouldnt have it any other way! One of the sweetest moments in literary history:

"I figure you really wanted me you'd say. Like now, maybe, if you dig. I'll fuckin carry you down your place on a run, you tell me aye, get you on your back afore the nex...more

8 likes · like · see review

Feb 18, 2011 Cat Russell (Addicted2Heroines) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: highly-recommend, favorites

"Somewhere in the back of her mind she thought if she kept kissing him, she'd get more secrets, get answers to questions she didn't know she had, and it excited and scared her in equal measure, made her dizzy."

I loved this book! I love living in Chess's (and Terrible's) world!

It's a little surprising the direction that Kane is taking this character in. Instead of showing her improving and battling her addiction, her situation seems to be drastically declining. I was able to grasp a better unde...more

7 likes · like · see review

May 03, 2012 Anna (Bobs Her Hair) rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Urban Fantasy fans

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Grade: B+ ...Intense, fast-paced, emotional! You ride all the highs and lows with Chess. There's murder, blackmail, manipulative drug lords, heartbreak, and the horrible monkey that rides the emotionally-scarred heroine's back. I can't wait to read City of Ghosts!

Memorable Quote

The little smile that crossed Bump's face bothered her a lot more. He was planning something, oh yes, and she was already steeling herself. Not that she'd have much choice in the matter, but it made her feel a little bett

...more

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May 16, 2012 mrsj rated it 5 of 5 stars

My new obsessed series for year 2010!
I'm hooked & addicted to this series and I think missing my sleep is well worth it!
I blame it on Chess Putnam!
She lives dangerously and never seems to be out of any action!
SO, she is keeping many secrets now and we read more about Chess's past.
My heart goes out to her and I can't blame her for being so messed up. BUT I am still not approving on her pill popping way! At the rate that she is popping the pills, I wondered when will her brain be fried.
2 men i...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Magda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

ETA: I came back to change this book to 5 stars. I can't stop reading Terrible's confession.
I've probably read it 20 times today alone.

I'm confilcted.

Debating between 4 & 5 stars for this book so I'll settle for 4.5.
Much better than Unholy Ghosts but still heartbreaking.

I really don't know how I feel about Chess. She is one HOT MESS but she has heart.
It's awkward/frustrating seeing how she rationalizes her actions, realizing they're wrong, and excusing them anyway.
I know this is a UF n...more

4 likes · like · see review

Feb 11, 2013 Susana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, favorites, stacia-kane, urban-fantasy, 2013-favorites

Just because you make mistakes doesn’t mean you don’t love someone.”

Reading this book was akin to having my heart ripped out of my chest, and posterior having someone tap dancing on the poor thing.
This read was deep, ugly, raw, desperate, intense, painful...but it was done, in the most (heartbreaking, yes) realistic way. In the gender of urban fantasy, and in the make believe world, Chess Putnam is up until now, the most human character that i've ever read about. Her life is one ugly mess, and s...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 17, 2012 Duchess Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-pcs, h-love-triangles, genre-urban-fantasy, read-in-2012, favorites

Chess, Chess, Chess! Aaaah! I love her. She needs a hug and a big freaking smack upside her head. Gosh, she just seems to make all of the wrong decisions!

This is an interesting and absolutely engrossing series. Now that the drug addict issues aren't so much of a shock, I've settled in to just enjoy the story. But my GOD! I am in such a mess right now, emotionally. Chess is so messed up! Her relationship with Terrible during the first book and the beginning of this book is fairly settled, I thoug...more Chess, Chess, Chess! Aaaah! I love her. She needs a hug and a big freaking smack upside her head. Gosh, she just seems to make all of the wrong decisions!

This is an interesting and absolutely engrossing series. Now that the drug addict issues aren't so much of a shock, I've settled in to just enjoy the story. But my GOD! I am in such a mess right now, emotionally. Chess is so messed up! Her relationship with Terrible during the first book and the beginning of this book is fairly settled, I thought. Terrible is her big, badass protector from all things negative, really. Someone says something to hurt Chess' feelings? Terrible threatens to break their neck. Someone does something to Chess that they shouldn't be doing? Terrible beats their face in. Terrible is AWESOME!!!

Not only is he an awesome, protective badass, but he has also become her one and only friend. And we learn a couple of new things about the real Terrible; the man behind the legend, that make him even more endearing. Deep down, he's a wonderful guy. I love how Chess sees him when he smiles. She says it changes him. Lets the real Terrible show. So here comes Chess, to EF IT ALL UP! This is where wishful smacking comes in, because goodness! I don't know when I've wanted to scream at a character more. Thing is, I don't think anyone could beat up Chess more than she beats up herself. This girl is just so down on herself.

"She woke up with the sheets tangled around her like a snake, sweaty and shivering on her rumpled bed, feeling like she'd been fighting instead of sleeping. Her head ached. her muscles ached. She felt dirty and tired and old, so old, like she'd been alive a hundred years instead of twenty-four. Like everything good that would ever happen to her had already happened, and all she had to look forward to now was death."

And in this dreary, dystopian Downside, everyone seems to be out for themselves. To me, the ghosts and the magic aren't what make this story. It's the people. Its as if the atmosphere of hopelessness pervades everywhere, and it forces people's true colors to shine through. Granted, most of the colors are black and brown and gray. But though Chess has issues, she also can still see the beauty in the world, for what it used to be. One scene hit me really hard. And this scene happens just a few moments before a huge turning point for Chess, a crushing blow that just tore me up. Chess is contemplating an angel statue in a graveyard. In this world, religion is outlawed, as it has been proven to be false.

"Chess had seen images of angels before, of course. The Archives were full of them. But something about this one, its stone head bowed as if under a terrible weight of sadness, its wings half unfurled, its hand pressed together, make something in her chest ache. So peaceful. What had it felt like, to have faith like that? To believe that death brought something better, brought peace and unity with something greater than oneself?"

What a poignant moment for Chess, a woman so good at self reflection. Only she gets it so wrong, every time.

"...as if her soul had tried to claw its way out of her body and failed. Or perhaps it hadn't failed. She felt particularly empty this morning. Maybe that's what was missing. She almost hoped it was."

So I suppose this sounds like a sort of depressing book, but its not. It actually really gives me hope for Chess. She's a good person, doing bad things. Rarely do we get an anti-heroine, but Chess is definitely one. And the fact that we get to be inside her head and walk through these struggles with her, see the reasons behind her actions, makes her almost forgivable. Certainly loveable. I am so READY for the next book. It's going to be a long night, because though its midnight right now, I've GOT to move on. I generally have to savor a series or I get bored with it, but I feel so connected to these characters! Chess and Terrible are so intense! Even Lex, Chess's pseudo-lover/boyfriend/drug supplier, isn't a bad guy. I certainly don't want Chess to end up with him, but I've gotta know what happens!!! Ms. Kane, please, please, PLEASE say there is a light at the end of this tunnel! I can't envision a perfectly rainbows and sunshine ending, but I think I'll go into a major depression if I don't get SOMETHING good for Chess, and SOON!(less)

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Jul 19, 2010 Smokinhotbooks K.C. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: uf, 5-star-books

(Combined review of Unholy Magic and Unholy Ghosts)

It’s not often that you will find me reading a book about a drug- addicted heroine who makes more terrible choices than Lindsey Lohan on a four day coke bender; but at the urging of my blogger friends I decided to stop being such a square and see what all the hoopla was about. As the rehab therapists would say, I had to “trust the process’.

Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghost series is dark, thrilling and gut wrenching. Chess Putnam works as the ‘Churc...more (Combined review of Unholy Magic and Unholy Ghosts)

It’s not often that you will find me reading a book about a drug- addicted heroine who makes more terrible choices than Lindsey Lohan on a four day coke bender; but at the urging of my blogger friends I decided to stop being such a square and see what all the hoopla was about. As the rehab therapists would say, I had to “trust the process’.

Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghost series is dark, thrilling and gut wrenching. Chess Putnam works as the ‘Churchwich’ for a new order Church that indoctrinates the motto “Facts Are Truth”. They employ debunkers who use magic to rid the world of murderous ghosts. The world is in a post-genocide era, where the dead have risen and attack the living. The government has fallen, and the Church of Truth is now in power …

At first, I was worried that I would have a hard time connecting with Chess. Writing your main heroine as a drug addict whose life is spiraling dangerously out of control is an intricate balance. To create a sort of alternative, anti-hero who still has some redeeming qualities that allow her to appear vulnerable without playing the “Im a victim card” is the make of a truly talented writer. And that is the genius of Kane’s writing. She really makes the reader understand the depth of Chess ability to survive a life that most would turned in the keys and signed off. Abandoned and placed in foster care, her life is filled with one violation of trust after another. You truly understand that to forget the pain of the past, to live a somewhat ‘normal’ life you need something to numb the past. You don’t battle the demons without a few toxic coping mechanisms.

I was so taken with how vibrant and alive Kane has made her characters. Her dark, urban setting was fascinating rather than graphic and I have fallen head over heels with Terrible. (The body-guard/bouncer for Chess drug-dealer of choice, Bump). The intensity of Chess and Terrible’s budding friendship shows that even the most hardened shell can be cracked with just a little kindness, a little compassion. Although, their relationship is tenuous at best, you can’t help but be captivated and root for them.

Unholy Ghosts and Unholy Magic are two of the best books I’ve read of 2010 and 2009. I’m not going to lie, the second book will tear your heart out, you may even find yourself emotionally ‘stress eating’ but so worth it. I promise! This series has grit, angst, violence, and pulls you in with each page – if you haven’t read this series, get thee to a bookstore post haste!

(less)

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Jan 16, 2013 Dawnie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, guilty-pleasures, reviewed

Sooooo good!!!

Ugh! I was a zombie while reading this book.

I usually prefer a book that pulls me and and let's me go at the end so I can, say, live my life when it's over. Stacia Kane did not extend that courtesy. This was a rip roaring emotion tangle that left me breathless and aching. She does leave you a tiny thread of hope to hold onto at the end, but man oh man. She is not afraid to reach into your chest Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom style (Kali mah, Kali mah!!!) and taunt you with y...more

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Feb 21, 2012 Lady Jaye rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, stars-4, autobuy, awesome-heroes, magic, part-of-a-series, people-criminals, people-magic-users, really-liked-it, dark-or-gritty-or-raw, pb-ghosts, owned-kindle

Much of the reason I am rating this four stars is Terrible.

Okay. Here are my thoughts:

1. I am fascinated by the world Ms. Kane has created. Oh I am still confused by a lot of it, but it's still rather unique in terms of UF worlds. It's dystopian (which is commonplace in UF), but the part of the world we see/spend time is not common: the underworld. It's dark, raw, gritty, and an unpleasant place to be. The books are about a high functioning druggie who lives smack in the inner city, who deals w...more
Much of the reason I am rating this four stars is Terrible.

Okay. Here are my thoughts:

1. I am fascinated by the world Ms. Kane has created. Oh I am still confused by a lot of it, but it's still rather unique in terms of UF worlds. It's dystopian (which is commonplace in UF), but the part of the world we see/spend time is not common: the underworld. It's dark, raw, gritty, and an unpleasant place to be. The books are about a high functioning druggie who lives smack in the inner city, who deals with drug lords who run prostitution rings, sell drugs, have their henchmen brutalize people, where street fights kill people, and where most people are victims of circumstances. It isn't a pretty world. The characters are not people you should be rooting for: a drug addict who realizes that her drugs are ruining her life but who still makes no move to try and stop, and an enforcer who, as Mimi puts it, "is a professional bully" for a drug baron. But that is the genius of Stacia Kane. Like Regina says, "[Ms Kane] is able to surprise us with our feelings about Terrible."

2. Terrible is awesome. And Ms. Kane did one of the best jobs in any UF anywhere when she came up with this guy. He's not someone we should root for. He's not your normal hero; or anti-hero. He brutalizes people for a living (never mind that he was a victim of circumstances, the truth is still the truth), he also oversees his drug lord's prostitution business. Seeing him in action as th thug was...harrowing. I hated it. But he still manages to be kid, sweet, considerate..... in some ways he is more than the usual heroes we have in UF: not many people can live the life he has, in the circumstances he has and still be an honorable person through and through. Yet Terrible manages to be believably so. A very big part of what keeps me coming back to this series is Terrible.

3. Chess: again, to quote Mimi, she is not so TSTL as she is TUTL (too unstable to live). She is supposedly a high-functioning drug addict. She is always high and can still solve mysteries while high. If she can do that, I don't see why she can't exercise some of that good sense and NOT hurt Terrible; and NOT make bad decision after bad decision; and NOT decide she needs to get her life together and wean herself off drugs. You see glimmers of growth here and there, but for the most part....oh Chess - get it together, girl!!

4. I still don't get a lot of the ghost mythology and stuff. For example, how the heck big is this so-called City of Ghosts? The spirit of every person who ever lived is kept there? Don't they run out of space? These ghosts are supposed to b incorporeal, but thy act like zombies half the time. Pyschopomps? Huh?!!

5. I am not amused with the way things ended.(less)

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Nov 09, 2012 Gyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Plot summary:

Chess gets high. Chess miraculously stumbles into a ghost plot. Chess gets high. Chess has sex with lex and fucks over terrible. Chess gets high. Ghost plot gets solved Chess gets high.

Let me be clear. 2.5 of these stars are for Terrible. The other half a star is for the fact that I will forever have the perfect pimp image in my head after Bump an Slobag meeting! Velvet and fuzz and a gold topped cane! How original!

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May 15, 2012 Amber I. (AwesomeSauce Book Club) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads

Chess is my new FAVORITE flawed heroine. Shes a drug addict, a liar, kinda whorish, breaks the guys heart who I love, a little selfish and I totally LOVE her! She has just grown on me. I can't explain why I love her so much even though she is all those things but I do. Just trust me on this.

Then there is Terrible, who in the first book is described as UGLY. Hes not suppose to be a looker, he beats and kills people, he works for a drug dealer, hes large and scary and I just can't wait to see him...more

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Aug 13, 2010 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010, favorites

The ‘Downside Ghosts’ series. I’ve never read anything like these books. So raw and gritty. So intense. Yes, I’ve read books that have raw and graphic moments, but this book kept my heart rate high from the moment you pull open the cover. You almost feel like hiding your eyes while reading them…almost. The characters are dark. The setting is dark. The story is dark. Even the humorous elements are dark. But all this makes for a remarkable tale about human nature. “Unholy Magic” is the second book...more The ‘Downside Ghosts’ series. I’ve never read anything like these books. So raw and gritty. So intense. Yes, I’ve read books that have raw and graphic moments, but this book kept my heart rate high from the moment you pull open the cover. You almost feel like hiding your eyes while reading them…almost. The characters are dark. The setting is dark. The story is dark. Even the humorous elements are dark. But all this makes for a remarkable tale about human nature. “Unholy Magic” is the second book in Stacia Kane’s newest series. Once again, it has received much praise and let me tell you, it’s all well deserved. The world she has created is very powerful.

I want to talk about the imagery in this series. As I’ve said before, I am not a “wordy book” girl. Authors tend to lose me if they go on too long about a room’s decor or about the feelings a certain situation bring out. I’m a “just get to the point so we can get to the action” kind of reader. ‘Over-wordiness’ is not the case in this series. I have never encountered imagery as I have found in Stacia’s series before. It is, simply put, stunning. The words she uses to describe Chess’ emotions or Bump’s outfit or Terrible’s dwelling are perfection. Stacia paints such a picture that you can’t help but lose yourself in the story. Yes, the picture is grim, but it’s striking just the same.

Chess is a captivating character. To me, her vulnerability is still her most fascinating trait. When trapped in a client’s house during a snow storm, she begins to go through drug withdrawal. My mouth hung open the entire time I read about her suffering. I have never personally experienced withdrawal. Hell, I haven’t even ever tried drugs, so I have nothing to compare what Chess is going through. But for the duration of that scene, I was thinking that yes, that is what it would be like and I felt it. I’m telling you, Stacia Kane can write!

The other character that is hard to forget is Terrible. He’s described as being ugly and sporting mutton chops – not your usual hero. Even though he has a reputation as a hard ass and he’s a confessed killer (all part of his job as Bump’s enforcer), he has an incredible soul. His scenes with Chess are really what make you care for him. Terrible’s honest words to Chess made my heart ache, and break. He trusts her with his secret, his life and his heart. It’s just too bad Chess has trouble confronting her inner demons long enough to fully trust him. I hope Terrible is more patient than he seems because he and Chess ‘together’ would be a wonderful pairing to watch. (And just a little aside. From the way Terrible is described in the books, I don’t think of him as ugly. I picture Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. Am I right?!)

This series is as captivating as my blogland friends say it is. They also told me that the second book is even better than the first – and they were right in that respect too. “Unholy Magic” is breathtaking. Enthralling the whole way through. I just received the third book in the series, “City of Ghosts”, in the mail and I am very much looking forward to starting it and spending more time in Downside’s dangerous and ruthless surroundings. It’s next on my list.

4.5 stars (less)

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Jul 28, 2012 Lise *friends don't flag* rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fav-series-downside

"Naw," he said. "Naw, Chess, you ain't a whore. A whores's honest.”

Poor Terrible... my heart breaks for him...

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Sep 07, 2010 Donna The Happy Booker rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, read-in-2010, favorites, dystopian-or-post-apocalyptic, ghosts, witchery

This series is amazing. Unholy Magic finds Chess still struggling with addiction as well as overcoming her past. Its made very clear in this book how her drug use causes her no end of problems in her life. There is a powerful scene where she goes through a horrific withdrawal, also her addiction leads to her being blackmailed and used by various people for their own benefit. I love that Kane makes her characters so realistic and believable.
Through all the personal issues and stuggles with her r...more

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About Stacia Kane

Stacia Kane is the author of the light-hearted romantic urban fantasy "Megan Chase" series starting with PERSONAL DEMONS.

She currently writes the gritty dystopian urban fantasy "Downside" series starring Chess Putnam and featuring ghosts, human sacrifice, drugs, witchcraft, punk rock, and a badass '69 Chevelle. She bleaches her hair and wears a lot of black.

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Quotes from Unholy Magic

“I figure you really wanted me you'd say. Like now, maybe, if you dig. I'll fuckin carry you down your place on a run, you tell me aye, get you on your back afore the next word comes out your mouth. But you oughta have yourself certain, causen I ain't lookin for charity, an I ain't lettin you go after. Once...once ain't enough for me, dig?” — 92 people liked it

“I sink you, that I will not be sunk by you.” — 38 people liked it

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Unholy Magic (Downside Ghosts #2)

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