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kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
Fourth in the Downside urban fantasy series revolving around Chess Putnam.
My Take
It always blows my mind how well Kane does all the dialogs in this series. The primary point of view and the voice in the stories is Chess with her more educated elocution. The residents of Downside, the ratshit neighborhood where she lives, are much more, shall we say, interesting. It's difficult to switch back and forth and choosing where to stop and start and Kane has got it down.
Kane also provides a lovely bit of preaching on books and their covers. Terrible's looks may live up to his name, but Chess knows that there are so many more beautiful people who are only that on the outside and not inside where it truly counts. Think about it. When you get to know people, do you really describe them as this "gorgeous chick" or that "hunk'a hottie"? Or are you more likely to describe them as "really nice" or "such a jerk"?
Okay, this is the first positive I've read about the Church...Elder Griffin has fallen in love. With Keith. And it's no big deal. As for Blue gettin' up in Chess' face...nah, she hasn't a leg to stand on and if Chess had more self-esteem, she'd see that. Nor do I see why Chess has to be the one to move the body. She doesn't owe 'em anything!
Oh, brother, I just wanted to smack Chess! It's that whole self-esteem thing. The way she was raised, how she was treated by those asshat foster parents. oh god.
Kane doesn't really paint a detailed picture of this new world. The one that evolved after the ghosts "came to life", but what she does write stimulates the imagination so intensely that you feel and step carefully through the Downside. You hold your breath when dealing with the Church. And you feel every bit of panic Chess undergoes.
The Story
Oops, it seems as if Chess' past may be coming back to haunt her when Slobag seems to be getting inside information and Bump's people are being sacrificed in ritual magic in Bump's territory. There are rumors about Slobag having his own witch. It would have to be now that Elder Griffin wants her to take on a special case. One that has her crossing into Slobag's territory. Encountering Lex. Terrible is never going to believe she isn't betraying him. Again.
Making things worse is Lex showing up at the school. Kissing her. The little acts of sabotage plus at the school that threaten Chess' continued health, not to mention her life. The supplies for black magic that just happen to show up at the school.
It's also the time of greatest crisis for Chess. Not trusting in Terrible. Not trusting in herself.
It's that last sacrifice that truly becomes a sacrificial act for Chess. She must choose between forgetting all the people she loves to revel in having none of the horrible memories of her childhood. Or, she can remember Terrible and his love for her at the cost of keeping them.
The Characters
Chess Putnam is a Church witch and comes with all the credentials for exorcising ghosts back to the City of Eternity. She's also an addict and we learn a lot more about just why she needs those damned pills. A good reason to examine any foster care system.
Terrible is Bump's enforcer. And Chess' lover. Bump is a pimp, drug dealer, and anything else that'll make money in Downside; he has a hold on Chess' services due to her drug habit. Slobag is Bump's rival in Downside and Lex is his son. The same son Chess was screwing (and betraying Terrible with) in exchange for pills a while back.
Elder Griffin is Chess' boss at the Church and he's planning to put in for a promotion. He's hoping that Chess will put in a good word for him...even if she would probably kill to keep him where he is. Aros Burnett was the Debunker who fled the job Griffin is sending Chess on. He...he didn't survive with his sanity intact. Elder Lyle does the autopsy on Bill Pritchard, a victim of a nasty, vicious plot. Agnew Doyle, Dana Wright, and Elders Ramos and Jones help rescue Griffin and Chess.
It's interesting that the Mercy Lewis School isn't all that concerned with actually aiding Chess when she shows up. They're antagonistic. As if they have something to hide. The adults associated include Beulah as the community liaison; Laurie; Monica Freeman is the secretary to the headmaster, Master Elder Conrad; and, Wen and Martha Li are chair and co-chair of the Student Association. Students with some input include Vernal Sze, Maia, and Jia Zhang. Students of the past include Chelsea Mueller whose book on black magic is in Jia's possession and Lucy McShane is a student who killed herself 25 years ago.
The Cover
The cover is dark with an extreme close-up of Chess peering down to look at the elaborate tattoo on her bicep as she's hunkered over a dark, stony hall lit by overhead fixtures. I do like that touch of sparkles in the "c"s of the title.
It is a Sacrificial Magic that threatens to end the world and presents difficult choices for Chess.
My Take
It always blows my mind how well Kane does all the dialogs in this series. The primary point of view and the voice in the stories is Chess with her more educated elocution. The residents of Downside, the ratshit neighborhood where she lives, are much more, shall we say, interesting. It's difficult to switch back and forth and choosing where to stop and start and Kane has got it down.
Kane also provides a lovely bit of preaching on books and their covers. Terrible's looks may live up to his name, but Chess knows that there are so many more beautiful people who are only that on the outside and not inside where it truly counts. Think about it. When you get to know people, do you really describe them as this "gorgeous chick" or that "hunk'a hottie"? Or are you more likely to describe them as "really nice" or "such a jerk"?
Okay, this is the first positive I've read about the Church...Elder Griffin has fallen in love. With Keith. And it's no big deal. As for Blue gettin' up in Chess' face...nah, she hasn't a leg to stand on and if Chess had more self-esteem, she'd see that. Nor do I see why Chess has to be the one to move the body. She doesn't owe 'em anything!
Oh, brother, I just wanted to smack Chess! It's that whole self-esteem thing. The way she was raised, how she was treated by those asshat foster parents. oh god.
Kane doesn't really paint a detailed picture of this new world. The one that evolved after the ghosts "came to life", but what she does write stimulates the imagination so intensely that you feel and step carefully through the Downside. You hold your breath when dealing with the Church. And you feel every bit of panic Chess undergoes.
The Story
Oops, it seems as if Chess' past may be coming back to haunt her when Slobag seems to be getting inside information and Bump's people are being sacrificed in ritual magic in Bump's territory. There are rumors about Slobag having his own witch. It would have to be now that Elder Griffin wants her to take on a special case. One that has her crossing into Slobag's territory. Encountering Lex. Terrible is never going to believe she isn't betraying him. Again.
Making things worse is Lex showing up at the school. Kissing her. The little acts of sabotage plus at the school that threaten Chess' continued health, not to mention her life. The supplies for black magic that just happen to show up at the school.
It's also the time of greatest crisis for Chess. Not trusting in Terrible. Not trusting in herself.
It's that last sacrifice that truly becomes a sacrificial act for Chess. She must choose between forgetting all the people she loves to revel in having none of the horrible memories of her childhood. Or, she can remember Terrible and his love for her at the cost of keeping them.
The Characters
Chess Putnam is a Church witch and comes with all the credentials for exorcising ghosts back to the City of Eternity. She's also an addict and we learn a lot more about just why she needs those damned pills. A good reason to examine any foster care system.
Terrible is Bump's enforcer. And Chess' lover. Bump is a pimp, drug dealer, and anything else that'll make money in Downside; he has a hold on Chess' services due to her drug habit. Slobag is Bump's rival in Downside and Lex is his son. The same son Chess was screwing (and betraying Terrible with) in exchange for pills a while back.
Elder Griffin is Chess' boss at the Church and he's planning to put in for a promotion. He's hoping that Chess will put in a good word for him...even if she would probably kill to keep him where he is. Aros Burnett was the Debunker who fled the job Griffin is sending Chess on. He...he didn't survive with his sanity intact. Elder Lyle does the autopsy on Bill Pritchard, a victim of a nasty, vicious plot. Agnew Doyle, Dana Wright, and Elders Ramos and Jones help rescue Griffin and Chess.
It's interesting that the Mercy Lewis School isn't all that concerned with actually aiding Chess when she shows up. They're antagonistic. As if they have something to hide. The adults associated include Beulah as the community liaison; Laurie; Monica Freeman is the secretary to the headmaster, Master Elder Conrad; and, Wen and Martha Li are chair and co-chair of the Student Association. Students with some input include Vernal Sze, Maia, and Jia Zhang. Students of the past include Chelsea Mueller whose book on black magic is in Jia's possession and Lucy McShane is a student who killed herself 25 years ago.
The Cover
The cover is dark with an extreme close-up of Chess peering down to look at the elaborate tattoo on her bicep as she's hunkered over a dark, stony hall lit by overhead fixtures. I do like that touch of sparkles in the "c"s of the title.
It is a Sacrificial Magic that threatens to end the world and presents difficult choices for Chess.
yodamom's review against another edition
5.0
Omg Chessiebomb, what are you doing, stop, stop, stop. I'd normally say take a chill pill and relax but dang girl you already took them all. It broke my heart to see you open your mouth and spew all that poison out. if I could have I would have taped you shut and sat on you for a while. geesh talk about self destruction. Way to go on taking Terrible in the car, at least that shut you up ! Please in the future when in doubt, shut it, shut it fast, and open your effing eyes.
Terrible darling, you are such a sex on stick kinds guy and so much more. You handled things with more patience then I would have expected. Lex, Blue, drugged and crazed girlfriend, rival gang violence, ghostly nastyness, and heartbreak, phew that's a lot of trouble. I worry for you and what that sigil on your chest is going to bring. I hope Chess gets it together in time to save you. Lex is a sneaky one watch him. Oh and I love that line of hair too.
Great gods this was a good book. I had the tissues out and ate way too much chocolate while dealing with all the intensity. If I didn't love Terrible before after this book I couldn't stop myself. he and Chess really had some issues and damage to dig through. It was nasty and painful. It was written so well I felt like I should turn away and give them privacy at several points. The feelings so raw and bleeding flowed off the pages and did the happiness and pure joy.
if you have not read the other books in the series, do. Yes, there is drug abuse, physical abuse and horrible deaths. Look past these into the heart of the book and you can't help falling in love with these characters and their world.
Terrible darling, you are such a sex on stick kinds guy and so much more. You handled things with more patience then I would have expected. Lex, Blue, drugged and crazed girlfriend, rival gang violence, ghostly nastyness, and heartbreak, phew that's a lot of trouble. I worry for you and what that sigil on your chest is going to bring. I hope Chess gets it together in time to save you. Lex is a sneaky one watch him. Oh and I love that line of hair too.
Great gods this was a good book. I had the tissues out and ate way too much chocolate while dealing with all the intensity. If I didn't love Terrible before after this book I couldn't stop myself. he and Chess really had some issues and damage to dig through. It was nasty and painful. It was written so well I felt like I should turn away and give them privacy at several points. The feelings so raw and bleeding flowed off the pages and did the happiness and pure joy.
if you have not read the other books in the series, do. Yes, there is drug abuse, physical abuse and horrible deaths. Look past these into the heart of the book and you can't help falling in love with these characters and their world.
rchll's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
ac223's review against another edition
4.0
Stacia Kane has yet to disappoint with her Downside series. Chess is working another case, but this time she has to be in Slobags territory. Immediately upon arriving at the school with the haunting, her life is threatened. Of course Chess doesn't get the easy cases, and before she figures out who the culprit is, she may not make it through another attempt. She and Terrible are back together, not sure when that happened b/c I thought the last book ended with them apart. Either way, he is awesome for Chess. Her own self loathing won't let her believe that he actually wants her, and if anyone can destroy their relationship it's her. Lex is still around in that carefree way he has. He enjoys making Chess uncomfortable with little remarks, or jokes now that she chose to stop seeing him.
************************************Spoilers/ Recap******************************
The haunting at the Mercy School introduces several new characters, including Lex's sister Beaulah, or Blue. She and Chess are mostly at each others throats the entire book, but do end up as friends. During the final summoning, Slobag is shot and killed while trying to help Chess get away from the rogue debunker. His death leaves Lex in charge of the territory, and number one enemy of Terrible. Somehow a snitch found out about Terribles weakness with magic since Chess had to put the sigil on him, and now Lex knows.
************************************Spoilers/ Recap******************************
The haunting at the Mercy School introduces several new characters, including Lex's sister Beaulah, or Blue. She and Chess are mostly at each others throats the entire book, but do end up as friends. During the final summoning, Slobag is shot and killed while trying to help Chess get away from the rogue debunker. His death leaves Lex in charge of the territory, and number one enemy of Terrible. Somehow a snitch found out about Terribles weakness with magic since Chess had to put the sigil on him, and now Lex knows.
bhookjunkhie's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic!..I cant wait to see what will happen in the next book..eeek:)..what a set up...and I still want MORE Terrible!...yum!
parpacifica's review against another edition
2.0
My own self-deprecation is not good for my health.
A narrator's self-depreciation on top of that?
Will I even have a self-esteem left?
Chess is constantly loathing herself, and righthfully so, considering her HORRIBLE decision making skills.
I can't read about her ruining herself.
I can't.
A narrator's self-depreciation on top of that?
Will I even have a self-esteem left?
Chess is constantly loathing herself, and righthfully so, considering her HORRIBLE decision making skills.
I can't read about her ruining herself.
I can't.
alikatson's review against another edition
5.0
“Think you’re high enough now?” Was she kidding? The question was so odd, Chess stared at her for a second. “It’s never enough.”
In this book, Chess continues to break my heart. For her the poor abused child she was, for her current addictions to chase away the demons, for her inability to see herself as someone who deserves love. In the first book I wasn’t sure how much I would like her, but now I really care about her – she’s so broken but cares deeply about doing her job, and protecting the world at large those she has come to see as friends, and the one she loves above all others. I just want to crush her in a big hug and tell her she is doing great.
I enjoyed the mystery in this book which involved a high school and of course dark magic. As usual Chess throws herself into danger while showing how insanely talented a witch she is. She’s so smart and quick thinking – her ability to explain magic in depth make the scenes where she can barely communicate her feelings so much more depressing. However the book does not wallow on Chess’s problems – and most of the book is exciting action and mystery.
I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.
In this book, Chess continues to break my heart. For her the poor abused child she was, for her current addictions to chase away the demons, for her inability to see herself as someone who deserves love. In the first book I wasn’t sure how much I would like her, but now I really care about her – she’s so broken but cares deeply about doing her job, and protecting the world at large those she has come to see as friends, and the one she loves above all others. I just want to crush her in a big hug and tell her she is doing great.
I enjoyed the mystery in this book which involved a high school and of course dark magic. As usual Chess throws herself into danger while showing how insanely talented a witch she is. She’s so smart and quick thinking – her ability to explain magic in depth make the scenes where she can barely communicate her feelings so much more depressing. However the book does not wallow on Chess’s problems – and most of the book is exciting action and mystery.
I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.
jesslynh's review against another edition
4.0
At times, I was really over Chess's angst, but it was true to her character (as written). I am looking to see if there is more than incremental growth in her character for the next couple of books.
I hope so.
I hope so.
amotisse's review against another edition
5.0
So I have finished rereading the first four and am waiting for the 5th to arrive.
I enjoyed them just as much as and find this version of the world to be a curious one indeed. The grittiness can be hard to fathom and I still find Chess to be almost too desperate and with so little self faith or love but placed in context it works. It will be interesting to see how the story develops.
I enjoyed them just as much as and find this version of the world to be a curious one indeed. The grittiness can be hard to fathom and I still find Chess to be almost too desperate and with so little self faith or love but placed in context it works. It will be interesting to see how the story develops.
mlcreads's review against another edition
4.0
Chess and Terrible have a budding relationship but Chess is good at sabotaging anything good in her life. Chess's drug dependancy also complicates her life, along with balancing her job with the Church and her life in downside mixing with unsavoury characters. Chess's job has her working with Bump's opposition and puts her relationship with Terrible on shaky ground. Chess is messed up and has major flaws but you really just want to hug her and make it all better and in this book we get an understanding of what made her that way. She and Terrible are so good together. Look forward to more of this series.