Unholy Magic (Downside Ghosts, #2) in Crazy Challenge Connection

Jun 22, 2012 Kelly (Maybedog) rated it it was amazing

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

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

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Apr 14, 2011 PepperP0t rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, series, series-r-us, paranormal, urban-fantasy

3.75stars actually

I just don’t know if I’ll ever even get to like this series. I’m more neutral than anything on it. There’s one thing I really like and one thing that really drives me drives me insane and one that I’m doing my best to go with for the moment. The thing I like: Terrible. For me he was the saving grace to continue the series. The thing I hate: the way Terrible talks – it drives me absolutely insane, it takes me out of the book. It’s almost a stereotype and it bugs me. The thing I 3.75stars actually

I just don’t know if I’ll ever even get to like this series. I’m more neutral than anything on it. There’s one thing I really like and one thing that really drives me drives me insane and one that I’m doing my best to go with for the moment. The thing I like: Terrible. For me he was the saving grace to continue the series. The thing I hate: the way Terrible talks – it drives me absolutely insane, it takes me out of the book. It’s almost a stereotype and it bugs me. The thing I am trying to be neutral about: the leads – and surprisingly it isn’t Cassie’s drug use. The leads here are not insanely beautiful or handsome. Nor are they noble and always fighting the good fight. While Chess doesn’t offend my sensibilities (as much as she possibly should) I find the choice of male lead less than appealing. It’s more like cheering for the proverbial bad guy and Chess’s choice is between bad guy and worse guy. C’mon, they’re both thugs and the bone they are fighting over is a high-functioning drug addict!

If you can get past the patois there is a better story here than in the series opener, this being more layered and complex. For her second outing, Chess’s shall we say talents are desired by all three major factions of Downside, but there is much more to the story than the ghost activity. Chess is a multi-tasking maven. While investigating a possible series of murders against the Downside prostitutes that may have been committed by a ghost, she also splits her focus between Terrible & Lex while trying to reconcile and justify her feelings. Not to be outdone, Chess is also chosen for a career-solidifying assignment by the church that keeps her on edge. That is quite a bit of stress and uncomfortable situations in her life to deal with a once. What’s an addict to do? We find out just how deeply rooted Chess’s flaws and insecurities are as her past and present have a head on collision at a critical time for her. Terrible was brilliant for his turn in the spotlight as character depth and growth through revelations and motivations came out dark and gritty.

While there is an issue or two that keep me from becoming lost in the story and enjoying this world as much as I would like, I will proceed to book 3 before giving up on the series.
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Jul 21, 2012 Colleen rated it liked it

Shelves: romantic-subplot, supernatural, urban-fantasy

I really like the world-building in this series -- the setting, the characters, the entire premise is very engaging. I also like the fact that Chess isn't a stereo-typical heroine. I don't like the forced UST between her and Terrible, but understand that it's a series and that resolving it too soon wouldn't make for a very long series. ...more

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