The world is not the way it was. The dead have risen, and the living are under attack. The powerful Church of Real Truth, in charge since the government fell, has sworn to reimburse citizens being harassed by the deceased. Enter Chess Putnam, a fully tattooed witch and freewheeling ghost hunter. She’s got a real talent for banishing the wicked dead. But Chess is keeping a dark secret: She owes a lot of money to a murderous drug lord named Bump, who wants immediate payback in the form of a dangerous job that involves black magic, human sacrifice, a nefarious demonic creature, and enough wicked energy to wipe out a city of souls. Toss in lust for a rival gang leader and a dangerous attraction to Bump’s ruthless enforcer, and Chess begins to wonder if the rush is really worth it. Hell, yeah.My Thoughts: Dear God! Can anyone say OBSESSION? Since there are no pages on a Kindle, I don't know at what specific point I became a drooling minion I just know that I'd been reading for about half an hour, thoroughly enjoying my time in the Downside, by the way, when all of a sudden I realized I couldn't stop reading. It sucked me in and beat me mercilessly with a tire iron.
AND I WAS COMPLETELY OKAY WITH THAT!
Here's the thing that gets me: I adore Terrible. I just think he's the best. And I totally don't get that because he's a guy who beats people up for a living and has no problem killing people. He deals drugs. He works for a street king and pimp and I still absolutely adore him! I lay the blame for this entirely on Stacia Kane's shoulders. If she had written him a little ... less ... maybe he wouldn't have become a sympathetic character. Maybe I would have found him despicable. Maybe I would have been screeching at Chess to run like hell whenever he came near. But she didn't. She turned him into a guy I wanted to care about.
And it worked.
I like him. I like him with Chess. I want to see them work out their issues and end up together.
And then there's Chess. She's messed up. She's a wreck. Frankly, the way she lives her life, she's lucky to be alive. And yet I never felt like she fell into the realm of being beyond redemption. Sure, she's a junkie with a serious problem who's let her life fall apart, but she accepts the mistakes she makes and keeps pushing forward.
As for the world all this takes place in- it's dirty and rundown and fading around the edges and I pretty much don't think I could survive in it, but I loved it. Every shadowed alley, every filthy corner were vivid and alive as I read them.
I really don't think I can recommend this book enough. It's one of the best and most enthralling books I've read lately. And, yes, I've already read and finished book #2, thankyouverymuch.
Awesome shout out to Vampire Book Club for reccing this one! Thank you!
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Downside Ghosts
The Brave Tale of Maddie Carver
1. Unholy Ghosts
2. Unholy Magic
3. City of Ghosts
3.6. Home
4. Sacrificial Magic
5. Chasing Magic
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I totally agree with your review.
ReplyDeleteI was completely taken by surprise when it came to this series. I went into it with very strong reservations and as it turns out I totally fell in love with it. Just like you, I was not expecting to like Terrible; he is certainly not your typical love interest material...but I couldn't help rooting for him & Chess, and I did think they were totally right for each other (despite the emotional roller coaster they put each other through). I adore Stacia Kane's writing; it's so wonderfully descriptive & engrossing. And there was so much action & suspense. I too definitely recommend this series to others.