Unholy Magic (Downside Ghosts, #2) in Q&A with Stacia Kane

Jan 29, 2011 Cat Russell (Addicted2Heroines) rated it it was amazing

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

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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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Jul 09, 2010 mrsj rated it it was amazing

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 in he ...more

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Mar 24, 2011 MISS VAIN rated it it was amazing

Shelves: series-that-i-m-obsessed-with, stacia-kane

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Mrs.Kane and her wonderful Dystopian Downside world she had created. She's an absolute genius for her role in creating the amazing characters Chess and Terrible. If you haven't jumped on Downside bandwagon yet, I highly recommend it!

One of my favorite quotes from the book:

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

...more

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Apr 30, 2011 Mrs.Vishous-Kattalakis-Belikov :::Para Itch Reviews::: rated it it was amazing

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

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

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Aug 24, 2010 Jamie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: addicted-hero-heroine, favorites, series-i-can-t-wait-to-continue, dark-and-gritty, magic, books-that-break-my-heart, books-i-obsess-over, killer-cliff-hangers, ghosts

Like many before me, it's safe to say that I'm a fully blown addict of this series. I was hooked after the first book, but after this one, I'm so far into it, I'm going to go into withdrawl before Book 4 is published!

Chess is still letting her addiction run her life. More of her dark past is revealed in this book, and she gets even more of my sympathy because of it. It's amazing to me that she's able to function on this level with the turmoil in her past. She has already survived some of the wo Like many before me, it's safe to say that I'm a fully blown addict of this series. I was hooked after the first book, but after this one, I'm so far into it, I'm going to go into withdrawl before Book 4 is published!

Chess is still letting her addiction run her life. More of her dark past is revealed in this book, and she gets even more of my sympathy because of it. It's amazing to me that she's able to function on this level with the turmoil in her past. She has already survived some of the worst things anyone can imagine, and she's still holding her life and job together. Of course, our heroine is making a mess of her life. She's still doing favors for Bump and Slobag because of her addiction. She's still toying with Lex (because of the free drugs and companionship) and Terrible, the only person in the world who is trustworthy to her.

We learn a lot more about Terrible's past, too. We see a heartwrenching speech from Terrible that seems so out of character for a gang enforcer, yet seems so right coming from him. I want to say he's a good guy, but how can I say that about a gang enforcer? But he is - I'm cheering for both Terrible and Chess in this book.

And I like Lex - I mean, he's not all that bad to Chess. Stacia Kane does not give the reader the easy scapegoat with Lex - Chess is responsible for her own decisions. There's no one to get mad at except for Chess. She has it all - a good job, her addiction fed, and the admiration, trust and love of the only important person in her life and she seems hell bent on destroying it all. Maybe Chess really does have a deathwish.

With the bumps and bruises (physically and emotionally) that Chess deals with in this book, she's still dragging herself up by her bootstraps, dusting herself off, and continuing to try to put the pieces of her life back together. There is great strength and resiliance in this character.

The ending of this book is also heartwrenching, from Terrible's realization of Chess' poor choices, to the harshly worded fight between Terrible and Chess, to the selfless final scenes. The action doesn't stop for one minute. I seriously couldn't put this book down.

As you can see, I can't say enough about this book and this series. It's only getting better. ...more

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Jul 07, 2010 Chelsea rated it it was amazing

Shelves: uf-pnr, favorites

In Unholy Magic, we dive deeper into the two worlds Chess exists within: The Church of Truth and Downside.

Prostitutes in Downside are being murdered in heinous ways with the tinge of dark, sex-tinged magic hanging over their mutilated and branded corpses. The moment her official dealer Bump has the chance, he calls in ‘his’ churchwitch to figure out the cause. Chess has maintained her booty call/drug connection with Lex, so she ends up agreeing to work the same job from rival dealer Slobag’s sid In Unholy Magic, we dive deeper into the two worlds Chess exists within: The Church of Truth and Downside.

Prostitutes in Downside are being murdered in heinous ways with the tinge of dark, sex-tinged magic hanging over their mutilated and branded corpses. The moment her official dealer Bump has the chance, he calls in ‘his’ churchwitch to figure out the cause. Chess has maintained her booty call/drug connection with Lex, so she ends up agreeing to work the same job from rival dealer Slobag’s side, too. She’s wedged between warring drug lords, where one wrong step could lead to death, not just hers.

All the working girls are convinced it’s a specific serial killer’s ghost. The ghosts they’re focused on has been in Church prison for years. As such, we get to see more inside the Church of Truth headquarters. Stacia Kane paints the scenes vividly, particularly when Chess ventures into one of the deepest Church ghost prisons to confirm the serial killer is still caged. Her description of our heroine’s descent into this man-made hell for ghosts is startling, adding to the overall understanding of this alternate future Kane has created.

In Unholy Ghosts, Chess was without anyone in her life. No one relied on her or was invested in her welfare for altruistic purposes. In this series we see lots of people use Chess, but we start to see a real connection form between Chess and Terrible. She has trouble accepting the possibility of trust, but wants it. Her loose relationship with Lex begins to weigh on her. She crashes with him, lets him supply her drugs and keeps it all from Terrible. She finally has to begin looking at what damage she could be doing to these potential friendships, a first for her.

That worry though, can’t overcome her addiction. In Unholy Magic we see the depths of Chess’ addiction, the truth that functional addiction is an unrealistic hope. As a result, we also see more clearly how easily Chess can be manipulated. She’s lost control – not just to her addiction, but also to her freedom. She’s miserable and sees the steps to regaining her life as giving up. In Unholy Magic she has to face the truth of her situation and make the decision if her life with the Church, with friends, with lovers is worth a change.

With increased intensity, Kane delivers an action-packed, dark urban fantasy novel that will leave you reeling for days after finishing it. (We actually pre-ordered the third novel, City of Ghosts, the day after completion of Unholy Magic because we don’t want to waste even a day not knowing what will happen with Chess, her job, the love-triangle and the others within Downside.)
...more

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Sep 03, 2010 Danielle Barclay rated it it was amazing

I haven't been this thoroughly engrossed in a paranormal world since I discovered Sookieverse. Unholy Ghosts, Unholy Magic and City of Ghosts are the first three books in the Downside Ghosts series.

Stacia Kane has created a completely fascinating take on Urban Fantasy and she writes a brilliant mystery. Book after book after book! What impresses me the most, this author is not afraid to strip her protagonist down to the bare bones--Chess is vulnerable, lost and real, but she's a survivor. Kane b ...more

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Aug 19, 2010 Bernard DeLeo rated it it was amazing

Unholy Magic is a superlative second book in the ‘Downside’ series. The relationship between Church Debunker Chess Putnam and ‘Downside’ enforcer Terrible escalates with every passing page of revelation. The drug withdrawal scene Chess suffers through when shut in by a snowstorm during a haunting investigation ranks as one of the most intense emotional scenes I’ve ever read. Terrible’s timely arrival to save her, followed by his complete disavowal of Chess when he finds out about her dalliances ...more

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Sep 21, 2010 Leigh rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wow!!! This was just fabulous! Review to come!

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Dec 06, 2010 Kathy (Kindle-aholic) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my-favorites, uf

I know I am going to have to come back to this review later - that I won't be able to do it justice right now.

A few thoughts after finishing: this is a really, really good series. I need to get the next book ASAP. There are few series out there where I NEED to have the next one, and this is one of them.

Chess's life is seriously messed up, and it doesn't get any better. The few good things in her life are in danger, and I can't even talk about them because it would be a spoiler and I don't want t ...more

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Jul 08, 2010 Kay rated it it was amazing

Shelves: uf-or-paranormal, faves-highly-recommend, 2010-reads

Wow. What can I say about this book? I loved it!!! Chess' own tormenting self is so heartbreaking. I really felt for her & her inner struggles. There were decisions that she made that made me sick to my stomach with grief. I understand that she couldn't help it but damn, it just sucks how life is sometimes.

I highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a good Urban Fantasy....you won't be disappointed. ...more

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Apr 14, 2011 Mona Bliss rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

This one just about killed me. I couldn't stop reading but it literally kept breaking my heart. Ms. Kane knows a thing or two about addiction, withdrawal and how a woman can miss an important thing or two while involved with low companions sporting even lower self worth. I'm still recovering from how close to home this one hit and can't be too coherent regarding plot and so on, I was a little too distracted by the parts that were terrifyingly accurate from my personal experience. None of those i ...more

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Jul 13, 2010 Lisa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

This is a 5 star book without question! I could hardly put it down! And when I am not reading it, I keep trying to figure out what is going to happen next...very addicting! Chess' drug addiction continues to grow & her realization of how it is effecting her life/decisions is heartbreaking. The characters continue to develope and surprise! The plot/story is a page turner and I have picked up the next book because I just know I will enjoy that as much! A must read! ...more

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Sep 21, 2010 Stacey rated it really liked it

Oh T, don't you see? You're the only one who hasn't been used. ...more

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Nov 13, 2010 Kitten rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ghosts, witches, favorites

Kane has managed to blow her last book out of the water. I LOVED this book. Terrible...oh poor baby, come here and let me give you a hug. Gah! I'm addicted to this series now<3 ...more

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