Sacrificial Magic (Downside Ghosts, #4) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Nov 30, 2011 Chelsea rated it it was amazing

Shelves: uf-pnr, favorites, fantasy, magic

This review was originally published at Vampire Book Club.

Chess needed to grow for the Downside Ghosts series to truly move forward, and Stacia Kane didn’t disappoint. Sacrificial Magic pushes on Chess from all sides. She needs to evaluate her position at the Church of Real Truth and what the trust she’s earned there means. She fights her own nature to attempt a relationship with Terrible.

At the crux of Sacrificial Magic is Chess rebelling against her self-imposed isolation and self-hatred. She’ This review was originally published at Vampire Book Club.

Chess needed to grow for the Downside Ghosts series to truly move forward, and Stacia Kane didn’t disappoint. Sacrificial Magic pushes on Chess from all sides. She needs to evaluate her position at the Church of Real Truth and what the trust she’s earned there means. She fights her own nature to attempt a relationship with Terrible.

At the crux of Sacrificial Magic is Chess rebelling against her self-imposed isolation and self-hatred. She’s still the Chess who sees little value in herself, but she’s trying to reconcile that with the realization people might care for her as more than a means to an end.

As one of the Church’s debunkers, it’s not surprising when they ask Chess to take up a sensitive case. It’s not even all that surprising they’ve passed a case on to her that another debunker failed with – actually, he went missing after the case. But nothing is ever simple for her. Three books have proved that. The case has Chess spending a lot of time in Slobag’s territory among less-than-helpful witnesses who hate the Church for prohibiting their culture.

At the same time, Bump has his favorite Churchwitch looking into arson on his side of Downside – and it looks like ritual sacrifice is part of the problem. When more ritual murders pop up in Downside – on both sides of the drug territory – Chess has to solve things quickly. She doesn’t want Terrible thinking she’s spending time with Lex when she’s really working a case.

That’s just the tip of the Chess and Terrible drama. Kane gives us more insight into Chess’ trust issues and a much more expansive examples of her neuroses. Chess is someone who has never been truly loved. She’s never had a relationship where her partner wasn’t using her for something. Terrible caring for her simply for the strength of her being confounds Chess, and at the same time the possibility of losing it terrifies her. And, because she’s Chess, that means she does idiotic things to try and prove herself. This isn’t an easy relationship, but one that’s worth the trouble and necessary pain.

Chess will infuriate you. She will break your heart. She will surprise you. And by the end you’ll be both exhausted and sated. Sacrificial Magic is dark, and brings the requisite Downside craziness of sex, drugs and magic, but it’s also the most introspective of the novels to date. Clever plot twists, character surprises and brutally honest writing make Sacrificial Magic a must read.

And, because I know several of you want to know, “Chessiebomb” makes a return and Elder Griffin dispenses dating advice. No, really. It’s awesome.

Sexual content: Sex, sensual scenes and Chess contemplating the relationship of sex and trust. ...more

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Jan 29, 2012 AH rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, ghosts, arc-netgalley, babr-reviews, own, 5-stars, witches, dark, zzread-feb-2012

Awesome!

Once again I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to smack Chess or hug her. Sacrificial Magic took me on a fast paced, action-packed emotional ride. I could not put this book down.

Why was this book so wonderful? First of all, Stacia Kane is a genius. Her excellent world building and well-crafted story had phenomenal character development. The reader becomes emotionally invested to these characters

Let’s take Chess, for example. Chess is one of those characters that could have everything going fo ...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Naomi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Another fab instalment in the Downside Ghosts series. This one is just as action packed & sexy as the others & Terrible is still as lovable as ever!!

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Dec 04, 2011 Mandapanda rated it really liked it

Shelves: urban-fantasy, paranormal-romance

Continues the difficult and dangerous journey of Chess, a ghost hunter for the Church of Real Truth. The world of Downside seems to draw a lot of inspiration from the real Dark Ages. It's a post-apocalyptic setting in which the Church wields enormous power due to the resurrection of ghosts several years earlier. It's a scary place to live in.

Chess is the ultimate anti-hero. No matter how much you feel sorry for her or become caught up in her romance with Terrible, it's difficult to really like ...more

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Sep 10, 2013 ~♥*Marianna*♥~ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: five-stars

Wow, Stacia Kane can really give me the feels. I'm crying and sobbing and scared and relieved and don't even BAM! the end. WTF?! HA!

It's funny because I already have the next book and I'm not stopping! Straight ahead on the Downside Ghosts train.

Choo-Choo! Horrible, here I cooome! ...more

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