Smokinhotbooks Gets Addicted to Downside Ghosts
19 Jul, 2010 in 5 Star Reviews, Urban Fantasy 33 Comments
Book # 1 Unholy Ghosts Amazon
Book #2 Unholy Magic Amazon
Genre: Urban Fantasy
It’s not often that you will find me reading a book about a drug- addicted heroine who makes more terrible choices than Lindsey Lohan on a four day coke bender; but at the urging of my blogger friends I decided to stop being such a square and see what all the hoopla was about. As the rehab therapists would say, I had to “trust the process’.
Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghost series is dark, thrilling and gut wrenching. Chess Putnam works as the ‘Churchwich’ for a new order Church that indoctrinates the motto “Facts Are Truth”. They employ debunkers who use magic to rid the world of murderous ghosts. The world is in a post-genocide era, where the dead have risen and attack the living. The government has fallen, and the Church of Truth is now in power …
At first, I was worried that I would have a hard time connecting with Chess. Writing your main heroine as a drug addict whose life is spiraling dangerously out of control is an intricate balance. To create a sort of alternative, anti-hero who still has some redeeming qualities that allow her to appear vulnerable without playing the “Im a victim card” is the make of a truly talented writer. And that is the genius of Kane’s writing. She really makes the reader understand the depth of Chess ability to survive a life that most would turned in the keys and signed off. Abandoned and placed in foster care, her life is filled with one violation of trust after another. You truly understand that to forget the pain of the past, to live a somewhat ‘normal’ life you need something to numb the past. You don’t battle the demons without a few toxic coping mechanisms.
I was so taken with how vibrant and alive Kane has made her characters. Her dark, urban setting was fascinating rather than graphic and I have fallen head over heels with Terrible. (The body-guard/bouncer for Chess drug-dealer of choice, Bump). The intensity of Chess and Terrible’s budding friendship shows that even the most hardened shell can be cracked with just a little kindness, a little compassion. Although, their relationship is tenuous at best, you can’t help but be captivated and root for them.
Unholy Ghosts and Unholy Magic are two of the best books I’ve read of 2010 and 2009. I’m not going to lie, the second book will tear your heart out, you may even find yourself emotionally ‘stress eating’ but so worth it. I promise! This series has grit, angst, violence, and pulls you in with each page – if you haven’t read this series, get thee to a bookstore post haste!
Other Reviews:
Fiction Vixen 5/5 Unholy Magic and Unholy Ghosts
PS. “Facts are Truths”, my friends
PPS City of Ghosts #3 is coming out next Tuesday (July 27th) I’m white knuckling until next week…
Possibly Related Posts:
- Smokinhotbooks June Recommend Reads – Books Made of Awesome
- Smokinhotbooks Recommend May/June(ish) Reads
- Let’s Talk About Nightshade by Michelle Rowen
- Dreams of Dark Warrior – Kresely (Mother Effin’ ) Cole Blows SHB’s Paranormal Panties Off
- Shadowfever Review – Welcome Mac 5.0
Oh Em Gee!! I’m so glad you decided to ‘trust the process’. These books blew me away and I feel like a drug dealer trying to get everyone hooked on them too! LOL. Great review.
Oh crap, with my excitement I just realized I was the first commenter. You know how I hate to be the first one at the party KC. Crap!! Oh well, I got a little giddy.
I’m already very intrigued by Chess and a dark, emotional processes is a huge trigger for me, I like it when characters go through all the highs and lows, and take me with them! So you bet these books are coming my way
Wooo AND hooo!!!!
Amazing books!
Now, I must go and get these books!
Do we all get to say We Told You So? lol
@Fiction Vixen I’m so glad I succumbed to peer book pressure, I love love love this series.
@Leontine you’ll love ‘em I promise, so worth buying
@Mandi it was your final words that had me buying book 1 not long after our chat.
@iheartreading dooooo it!!!!!!
@Nat I remember, you were the first one to start ‘KC needs to read this series” campaign, lol
I am sooooooooooooooooooooooo happy you read these and enjoyed them as much as the rest of us. I always worry when I rave and rave about something that it will do the opposite and deter people from reading or that the hype will rise expectations unrealistically. Anyway, we just have a week left for City of Ghosts and I think that majority of us will be calling in sick that day
@Spaz *fake coughs* I feel a cold coming on, which will cause me to ‘have to’ call in sick on July 27th.
*Salutes* Will place my awaiting B&N order today with these two additions.
Dayum KC, you freakin’ sold me on these. I wasn’t even interested until now. You’ve got some mad skillz girl.
@VFG *salutes* aye aye captain (wait, I think I’m getting pirate speak confused with military phrases O_o) I swear, you will love this series.
I haven’t read these yet but they have been getting so much book love that I need to check them out! I love books that explore the gray areas in life and I really feel like I need to check out this Terrible guy – perhaps I will be adding a new book boyfriend to the list
I have become a junkie for this series! I’m starting to have withdrawals! Next week can’t come soon enough. I wants me some more Terrible!! Trying to convince Mr. K to place fake tattoos all over his body and grow mutton chop side burns. He’s so high maintenance, can’t believe he won’t do this for me!
@ Kc I blame YOU for why I couldn’t sleep the night before I had to travel out of town for work! Warning do not read this series before any important meetings and or bedtime, you’ll be up the whole night obsessing about the characters. Team ChessTerr all the way.
LADIES! LADIES! Town Crier, here! You’ve been mentioned on Stacie Kane’s latest blog and contest post! Congrats, I am doing a virtual happy dance for you
@Heather D *shock face* you are my go to girl for anything UF (book) related. I think you’ll really like this series, if not I’ll cry or something
@Mrs K please don’t’ try and reenact the ‘wall scene’ from Unholy Magic while I’m visiting.
@ Pamela Oh MY GOSH!! I just made an inhuman animal noise at Starbucks as I am taking advantage of their free Wi Fi while on my lunch hour. I’ll be forever known as that girl in the stripped shirt that made a grunt/piggy noise. It’s hard living with that kind of celebrity.
@ KC You just made me uncomfy. I have to go back to work ‘ya know, and now all I can picture is that scene over and over and over again. (starts fanning).
Hi hon,
How are you? Hope you are well. Keep missing you at Twitter, I finally have some more time to catch up with all of you lovely book addicts. Quite a buzz about the Kane books going on, I was so not going to buy them but I cannot allow to miss two of the best books you have read in 2009 and 2010! So they are coming to my part of the world! Great review!
Hugs!
*G* Trust the process… *G* Yes. That’s a good way to word it. So glad you trusted the process…
@Marissa Where have you been?!!! Its been too long!
You’ll be so proud of me, I recently read *whispers* a historical romance.
@Shiloh Walker I find myself saying ‘trust the process’ with a Southern drawl. Mrs. K and I were watching a show where the (southern) therapist kept uttering that phrase. She also would say pillow as pill-lah.
I can’t tell you how much I’m addicted to this series, I couldn’t sleep a wink after reading Unholy Magic because I needed to know what happened to Terrible!
I need to read these pronto. I’m holding out hope that I’m going to win them in Bells’ contest, but if I don’t, I’m buying them immediately. I need in on all the Terrible action:)
I know I missed you all!! Actually went back to evil dayjob, so I have a hard time getting into new daily routine… but try to visit more faithfully!!
Ah man… I’ve heard such great things about this series. Now I need to move it up my wishlist. *sigh* I think everyone should thank you for getting the economy going again. Unfortunately, I’ll have to eat dog food for a week. Maybe that’s not so bad. I really think they eat better than I do anyway.
Mrs. K… Start photoshopping his fave people with mutton chops (yea, even the females) that way he will think that is the only way to be “in” and look normal.
@ Melissa, pure genius! We just got our wedding photos back so I’ll make sure to use a glue stick and paste some mutton chops on him.
@ Marissa Damn day jobs! I can’t even go on the internet unless I bring my laptop and go to Starbucks. Then of course I have to have a grande drink which is making my piggy bank go to empty.
WOW! I didn’t realize these books were getting such great reviews. Thank you for your informative review!
@Jenny *crosses fingers*
@Melissa who needs food when you could have books?
@Twimom227 I don’t think I’ve come across a bad review of these books.
No time to comment on you fab review, because I’m running off to search the ebookstores for my own copy of these books!
@Janna *pinky wave* have fun shopping on online
OMG I LOVE THESE BOOKS! I’m in love with Terrible! I am dying for CoG.. [/fangrl]
@Wendy I’m completely absolutely ok with you letting me know of CoG is ::innocent face::
I love this review!! These books just pull you right in. They catch you by surprise-I didn’t think I’d like Chess as much as I do or get Terrible Fever.
Thanks for your thoughts… I know I am enjoying the series so far…
E.H>