Nocturnal Book Reviews: Urban Fantasy Review: Sacrificial Magic by Stacia Kane

Urban Fantasy Review: Sacrificial Magic by Stacia Kane

Tuesday, November 20, 2012 | Posted by kara-karina@Nocturnal Book Reviews

Sacrificial Magic by Stacia Kane (Downside Ghosts #4)

bought

Synopsis from Goodreads

When Chess Putnam is ordered by an infamous crime boss—who also happens to be her drug dealer—to use her powers as a witch to solve a grisly murder involving dark magic, she knows she must rise to the challenge. Adding to the intensity: Chess’s boyfriend, Terrible, doesn’t trust her, and Lex, the son of a rival crime lord, is trying to reignite the sparks between him and Chess.

Plus there’s the little matter of Chess’s real job as a ghost hunter for the Church of Real Truth, investigating reports of a haunting at a school in the heart of Downside. Someone seems to be taking a crash course in summoning the dead—and if Chess doesn’t watch her back, she may soon be joining their ranks.

As Chess is drawn into a shadowy world of twisted secrets and dark violence, it soon becomes clear that she’s not going to emerge from its depths without making the ultimate sacrifice.

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10/10

* * *

Nothing prepares you for Stacia Kane's writing. One of the best urban fantasy series, Downside Ghosts grabs you from the first sentence, and does not let go until the very end. Even then relief is questionable.

It's heart-wrenching, so very gritty and full of characters who literally jump from the page. Chess herself and her lover Terrible, they are both very difficult, prickly and morally questionable main characters.

Terrible is a thug who maims, beats up and kills people for his mafia boss. However he's got history, he's got heart and he truly feels deeply for Chess.

Chess is a Church witch and ghosts debunker, but she is also a very damaged soul and a full time junkie. She literally can not function without this or that pill for every occassion. This addiction, and her horrible past both hangs over her like Damocle's sword and doesn't let her live and feel in full.

Stacia Kane made a huge gamble with Chess's character, and I think it truly paid off. We all feel for this girl, we really want her to sort her sh*t out, we want her to keep living. Chess's head is a very dark, messed up place and she seems to be always on the edge between life and giving up living, and all we want for her is to be happy.

Plotwise the series is impeccable, but what spices everything up is Chess-Terrible-Lex dynamics.

Chess and Terrible is all about gut-wrenching, raw emotions, awkward conversations, sobs, blinding pain and just as blinding happiness... Lex has a completely different feel to him as Chess's ex-lover and son of a Chinese drug lord on the opposite crime turf. Lex is cunning, warm and flirty. If Terrible is a lion, Lex is a fox (Macchiavelli's references aside).

The book picks up a very fast pace from the beginning and does not slow down at all. Like all Stacia's books it's very creepy, full of gore and horrors, hauntings, magic and horrible acts of violence that only we, people, are capable of.

If you are a fan of horror, urban fantasy and ghosts this series is a MUST READ. I pretty much guarantee that you'd love it from the very first book.

* * *

Как обычно, Стасии Кейн удалось вырвать у меня сердце и разрезать его на кусочки. Совершенно чумовая книга как и вся серия Призраков Даунсайд!

Я как то давно рецензировала первые три книги в ЖЖ и рассказывала в каком совершеннейшем восторге я от них была. С того момента ничего не изменилось.

Чесс и Террибл продолжают вызывать у меня слёзы своими сложными, глубокими эмоциями друг к другу, их жизнь становится всё трудней и трудней от книги к книге да и сама Чесс загоняет себя потихоньку в гроб своим наркоманством, что само по себе очень трагично.

Динамика Чесс-Террибл-Лекс работает прекрасно. Лекс - экс любовник Чесс и сын китайского криминального лорда. Она считает его другом, но так как его присутствие причиняет Терриблу боль, Чесс пытается свести отношения с Лексом к минимуму. Если Террибл - это Лев по Маккиавелли, то Лекс - самый настоящий лис :) Осторожный, быстрый, хитрющий и очаровательный.

В этой книге Чесс ставит себя в очень сложную ситуацию, работая на территории Лекса и его сестры. Положение усугубляет её увеличивающееся употребление наркотиков. Оба мужчины следят за тем, сколько таблеток она принимает, но ни один пока не может ничего ей сказать, хотя обоих грызёт тихое и постоянное беспокойство... О, напряжение в этой книге накалено добела!

Сюжет всё также интенсивен, нополнен экшном и не заставляет скучать ни минуты - то есть, вне каких либо нарицаний. А по всему остальному я лучше промолчу, чтоб не спойлерить! :)

Пожалуйста, вс фанаты городского фэнтэзп, ЧИТАЙТЕ! Ибо НАДО!

Tags: 10/10, ghosts, magic, stacia kane, urban fantasy, городское фэнтези, магия, призраки

6 comments:

Blodeuedd said...: I did read 3 books but I never fell for this series. I did like the world and her, and Lex but no, never fell; 20 November 2012 06:26
Melliane said...: AAAAh I really need to read the second book, I'm so late in this series.; 20 November 2012 19:44
kara-karina@Nocturnal Book Reviews said...: Blodeuedd, such a shame because she is a fantastic author! :(

D., ooo, you have to continue reading! She is awesome!; 25 November 2012 09:54
My keeper shelf said...: I can definetly see Lex as a fox and Terrible as a lion, I spend most of my time worrying about Chess and the mistakes she makes and yet I love her character to bits. Fantastic review and I absolutely second that urban fantasy fans should read this series .; 25 November 2012 10:13
kara-karina@Nocturnal Book Reviews said...: Chess is breaking my heart with her addiction, Lesley! really want her to get better, but she is so messed up... Love this series!; 25 November 2012 10:21
Christina said...: Alright, I can't read this one, because I haven't read this series yet and want to, but I just have to stop by and say hell yeah to the 10/10!; 27 November 2012 16:48