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

Jan 01, 2012 HeatherJay rated it it was amazing

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

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Dec 26, 2011 Emmy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

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

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Oct 29, 2011 Heather Book Savvy Babe rated it it was amazing

Shelves: witches-magic, urban-fantasy

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

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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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Jan 03, 2012 Jenne rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2012, ghosts

I enjoyed this more than the first one. Terrible and Chess' relationship is so complex and awkard. I want to grab the two of them and shake them! I hope Ms. Kane will have Chess get clean. At one part she was going through withdrawls it was so intense and horrible. She needs some peace and needs to bury her demons. Can't wait for the next one! ...more

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Dec 28, 2011 Jenn Doyle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Unholy Magic gets a 4.5 star rating. I LITERALLY could not put this book down. While I still don't like the inclusion of the sheer amount of drugs that Chess takes to get through her daily life....you get more back story on Chess in this book that really makes it understandable as to WHY she is okay with being an addict. And if you're a fan of a Chess/Terrible hookup....holy WOW. There was a ton of emotional stuff going on here for Chess. Readers didn't get much of Edsel in this book, but the ot ...more

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Oct 17, 2011 Becky rated it really liked it

In the second book of Downside Ghosts, Chess finds herself working for the Church of Real Truth and for Bump yet again. Her new assignment from the church has her investigating the validity of a celebrity's household haunting. Meanwhile, Bump has her looking into the recent murders of Downside's hookers. While Terrible and Chess are working together to solve the mystery of the gruesome murders, Chess is spending her downtime with Bump's competitor, Lex. She knows it's only a matter of time unti In the second book of Downside Ghosts, Chess finds herself working for the Church of Real Truth and for Bump yet again. Her new assignment from the church has her investigating the validity of a celebrity's household haunting. Meanwhile, Bump has her looking into the recent murders of Downside's hookers. While Terrible and Chess are working together to solve the mystery of the gruesome murders, Chess is spending her downtime with Bump's competitor, Lex. She knows it's only a matter of time until Terrible finds out about Lex, but she just can't seem to stay away.

My opinion of the series has definitely gone up with this book. I've gotten over my issue with the Downside speak. In the first book I felt like I was translating everything I read but now it doesn't seem to slow things down at all. Chess is not only still completely addicted to her pills but is even worse now that she's getting free pills from Bump's competition as well. In one of the scenes where Chess has to go without her pills, Kane describes a very vivid portrayal of her withdrawal in which you actually felt bad for Chess and her addiction. One of my favorite scenes with Terrible is in that as well. Chess is one of the most flawed characters but it certainly doesn't prevent her from doing her job. The way she treats Terrible just makes me want to shake her. I realize he is a murdering drug enforcer for one of the most powerful drug dealers in town, but... he's so sweet. Yes, I said it- good thing he can't hear me. He's such a gentleman with Chess, opening the car doors, taking her to dinner, always looking out for her, he respects her and what does she do... continues to climb into bed with Lex. Even after Chess finds something out about him that only one other person knows she still wont let him in. The scene near the end in the graveyard... I wont give anything away,but... I just wanted to give Terrible a giant hug! I will try not to say anything more on that, but it's hard :)

I love that Stacia Kane can portray Terrible as a scarred, heavily tattooed, ugly man with horrible hair and Elvis sideburns and none of us care. What's the saying... beautiful on the inside? Well, it may be deep down inside but it's there.

This is a suspenseful, gritty and dark urban fantasy that I'm growing to really like (I would say love, but I have to see where Kane takes us with the Terrible/Lex/Chess saga from here). I couldn't put this book down once I got about halfway through it. Quickly moving on to book 3 now :)

http://underworldloveaddiction.blogsp... ...more

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Nov 11, 2011 Tiffany rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle

I think this second installment may have been even better than the first, which seems to rarely be the case in a series. I love poor Chess and was happy to get a little more of her background. She continues to be a messed-up addict with a genuinely good heart (and the more you find out about her, the more you understand how she could have become an addict- she has a horribly sad history and consequently, avoidance and trust issues are just the tip of the iceberg). More good mystery in this book ...more

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May 03, 2011 Carrie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: stacia-kane

I own the print and e-version of this book, for the sole fact that Amazon was taking too long to send it to me, I had finished the first book and was jonesing for the second one. This was even better than the first book, which I didn't think was possible, and it took me on an emotional roller coaster. I cried so much at the end. By the time I was finished, I knew I would keep reading this series until it was over and mourn its loss when it was. ...more

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