Unholy Magic (Downside Ghosts, #2) in Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group

Oct 26, 2010 Francesca the Fierce (Under the Covers Book Blog) rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-read-2011, genre-urban-fantasy, read-audio-books, ghost-spirit-necromancer

This review was posted at Under The Covers

After reading book one, and being shocked by the storyline in this series, I find myself a lot more comfortable with Chess and her issues in this book. Don't ask me why. I get it. It didn't bother me as much.

Now that being said... Chess is a lot more vulnerable in this book. She is trying to do her job, which now consists in going to a celebrity's house to prove that he doesn't really have a ghost problem.

Well, that is her mission with the Church. But of This review was posted at Under The Covers

After reading book one, and being shocked by the storyline in this series, I find myself a lot more comfortable with Chess and her issues in this book. Don't ask me why. I get it. It didn't bother me as much.

Now that being said... Chess is a lot more vulnerable in this book. She is trying to do her job, which now consists in going to a celebrity's house to prove that he doesn't really have a ghost problem.

Well, that is her mission with the Church. But of course, she has to do side jobs for her "friends". Terrible asks her to investigate something going on at an abandoned airport. Lex on the other hand also has interests in that same investigation. So she ends up working for both behind both backs.

And there in lays the problem. This book was a royal mess! A big fuck up. A WHAT THE HELL WAS SHE THINKING???? I mean, if the fact that she keeps getting high, especially when she's on the job, is not enough to make you think she's missing a few screws, then her actions in this book have made her certifiably nuts.

Here is a wonderful guy, Terrible. Yeah, I know, he's ugly, he works for a drug dealer/pimp. Not your standard hero material. But I can't help but feel an attraction to him. It's in the way he cares for Chess. How he's always there for her, and would give his life (and almost does) for her. He can look pass her issues and see the good inside of her that she can't see herself. And what she does to him in this book, well, it simply puts her on my bad side. Yes, I cried. I wanted to scream at her! How could she do this? This is not going to be an easy fix.

Can I bitch some more about that? Because it really got to me. Yeah? OK, how can you have a guy open up his heart and serve it on a platter for you the way he did, and you just stomp all over it. And tap dance on it. Damn! It just broke my heart.

But at least Chess was on her game with her investigations! I loved the story! This series is dark and intense. Ms. Kane has created a very unique world an I'll be back for more!

Favorite Quote:

"But I ain't, I ain't think I can take it. Waking up next to you on the morn, have you fake like nothing happened. Or say, aight thanks, maybe we can try that again on the sometime. I know how you run it. Keepin' it cool and no repeats, and I dig it aight? Got your reasons. So I figured...I figured you'd really wanted me, you'd say. Like now, maybe, if you dig. I'll fucking carry you down to your place on a run if you tell me aight. Get you on your back before the next word comes out your mouth. But you oughta have yourself certain, 'cuz I ain't looking for charity, and I ain't letting you go after. Once? Once ain't enough for me. Dig?" ...more

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Jan 07, 2011 La La rated it liked it

I really can't give the best review of this book because I actually wound up skimming through it. The story started out good, prostitutes in the area are getting knocked off and Chess is asked by the head of one of the neighborhood gangs to look into. She find that there is sex magic tied to the dead bodies and is on a quest to find out whose using ghosts and magic to do their dirty business. The book kind of lost me after Chess had a withdrawal episode at the house of one her church cases. I lo I really can't give the best review of this book because I actually wound up skimming through it. The story started out good, prostitutes in the area are getting knocked off and Chess is asked by the head of one of the neighborhood gangs to look into. She find that there is sex magic tied to the dead bodies and is on a quest to find out whose using ghosts and magic to do their dirty business. The book kind of lost me after Chess had a withdrawal episode at the house of one her church cases. I love how the author acknowledges the shame Chess feels about being an addict especially when when confronted by others. Being an addict and working for the Church is huge no no and makes even the people of Downside look down upon her, but even as I sympathize with Chess every chapter I lose a little more respect for her. I really can't root for a heroine whose not even trying or thinking about getting clean and putting herself in some awkward, sleazy and dangerous situation due to the need to continuously feed her addiction. It was even pointed out to her that she was sleeping with a guy from a rival gang just because he was giving her free drugs. She seem never put two and two together on that one especially since she said she never wanted to be that woman. But even after she acknowledge that was biggest reason she was sleeping with Lex it wasn't even a low enough point for her to think maybe she needs to try and kick this habit. At one point I had to laugh when she made a face about drinking some hallucinogenic in a dirty cup she was given as she was trying infiltrate an illegal seance but in the previous book she took drugs off a decomposing dead body ran across in an underground sewer system. Uh yeah.

The most interesting part of this series to me is the dynamic of Chess and Terrible, the enforcer to the gangster Chess buys her drugs from. Throughout the series she grows closer to the man she once was afraid of and thought was ugly as they are thrown together time after time to check into neighborhood dealings that threaten Terrible's bosses various businesses. Because Chess is too afraid to acknowledge her feeling for Terrible she finds herself doing even more self destructive things to keep herself numb and erect walls. But as situations come to head it forces Chess to acknowledge that Terrible is someone she would jeopardize everything for if it meant losing him. ...more

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May 13, 2011 Mariya rated it it was ok

Shelves: urban-fantasy, magic-users

UNHOLY MAGIC is most definitely the better read than the previous UNHOLY GHOSTS, but apparently this will have to be categorized as the series everyone loves but me.

After UNHOLY GHOSTS I was greatly let down, and from recommendations that the series does get better I took a shot at the second, UNHOLY MAGIC. I admit that I was able to understand what was going on better and understood the Downside talk more which was a plus, but I was unable to really get into the book. Reading this book still fe ...more

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Mar 11, 2012 Seena Seena rated it really liked it

There is so much I want to say but don't know where to start.

Firstly, these books are taking me forever to read because they freak me out way too much! I'm too scared to read them!

Secondly, Chess just effin frustrates me! I really have a love/hate relationship with her! The whole drug use is wearin thin on me! And what terrible said about her is true! She was worse than a whore!

Thirdly, I LOVE TERRIBLE! Even after his whole heart broke because of Chess he goes & be a human shield for her!

If ...more

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Oct 01, 2010 Christina rated it really liked it

I liked this book a lot more then book 1. Chess' drug use/ bad choices actually has consequences . I am intrigued and will read the next installment for sure. ...more

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Feb 12, 2012 Merita rated it it was amazing

I LOVE TERRIBLE!!!

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Feb 06, 2012 Jess the Romanceaholic rated it it was amazing

Shelves: raped-or-abused, favorite-heroes, favorite-heroines, betrayal, angsty-read, blackmail, blame-it-on-your-parents, magick, ghosts, drug-addiction

{Read February 8, 2012. Reread August 2013}

Did I really never write a review on this one? Very remiss of me. I'll have to come back and fix that when my life calms down a bit.

5/5 ...more

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