Chasing Magic (Downside Ghosts, #5) (Chess Putnam, #5)

by Stacia Kane

A DEADLY HIGH
 
Magic-wielding Churchwitch and secret addict Chess Putnam knows better than anyone just how high a price people are willing to pay for a chemical rush. But when someone with money to burn and a penchant for black magic starts tampering with Downside’s drug supply, Chess realizes that the unlucky customers are paying with their souls—and taking the innocent with them, as the magic-infused speed compels them to kill in the most gruesome ways possible.
 
As if the streets weren’t scary enough, the looming war between the two men in her life explodes, taking even more casualties and putting Chess squarely in the middle. Downside could become a literal ghost town if Chess doesn’t find a way to stop both the war and the dark wave of death-magic, and the only way to do that is to use both her addiction and her power to enter the spell and chase the magic all the way back to its malevolent source. Too bad that doing so will probably kill Chess—if the war doesn’t first destroy the man who’s become her reason for living.

• ISBN10: 0345527534
• ISBN13: 9780345527530
• Publish Date: 1 June 2012 (first published 1 January 2012)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Del Rey Books
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[Berls]

My Initial Reaction...

Stacia Kane sure knows how to put you through an emotional ringer! By the time I was done with Chasing Magic I'm pretty sure I'd experienced every single emotion possible - happiness, frustration, anger, fear, sadness, disappointment, arousal, surprise, excitement, and for the first time in this series a bit of hope.

The Narration...

I've said it with every single book in this series and Chasing Magic is no different - Bahni Turpin nails it! At this point, I don't know if I could even finish the series if they changed narrators because Bahni Turpin IS Chess, she IS Terrible, she IS Lex and every other character I've come to know and love (or hate). She's definitely an A++ narrator!

The Characters...

Oh Chess! Why must you be so colossally damaged? She does things that make you want to just reach into the book and shake her - her using continues to be a problem in Chasing Magic and then there's her extremely complicated relationship with Terrible. You can't help but worry she's going to ruin it - ruin HIM - because she's just so screwed up. But I can't hate her. Can't even begin to hate her because she's so incredibly down on herself. She breaks my heart over and over - yes, she's screwed up, but so much of that is BECAUSE she doesn't love herself. This fact was made so incredibly vivid in Chasing Magic - and it was so hard to see happening. Chess takes some hard hits in Chasing Magic, one in particular that I did NOT see coming and am still a bit wounded from myself. Poor Chess! But, for the first time ever in this series, I really do think something has changed and Chess FINALLY has a chance. FINALLY I actually have hope for her to have some sort of HEA in this messed up world.

And then there's Terrible. I guess we all love him right? So what else is there to say - except that you'll love him 100 times more my time you finish Chasing Magic? I wish he saw himself more clearly - saw what we see, what Chess sees, because even though he's way more together than Chess, way stronger, he's got a whole ton of insecurities and they break my heart all over again. He sure knows how to love with 100% of himself though and if anyone can bring Chess out of her cycle it's gonna be Terrible.

Then there's Lex. I don't know how most people feel about Lex in this series - but I like him... and damn it! I feel sorry for him too! (Why must I feel so badly for every character I love in this series?) The thing about Lex is - he jokes around and womanizes (is that a word?) - but I don't believe it for one minute. Just like Chess uses her drugs to shield herself, and Terrible his fierce strength, Lex uses his could-give-a-care attitude. Stacia hasn't confirmed it for us yet in so many words - but I JUST KNOW that poor boy loves Chess and it's killing him to see her with Terrible. Is he right for Chess? No. But do I wish he could find happiness - and that somehow that could involve not destroying Chess's world? Yes please. Please?

The Story...

Although the story in Chasing Magic, like in all the Downside Ghosts books is fantastic, it's not memorable for me because I'm just so caught up in the characters. I feel like you could replace the story I just read with any other mystery (and it could be crap, honestly) and if the characters were still having the same interactions they had, I would probably still love Chasing Magic. So it's really just a bonus that the story is pretty fantastic.

Unlike most Downside Ghosts stories - there's really just one big bad magical problem. Chess isn't working a case for the Church (all though things are definitely happening there - but I'll leave it at that). All over Downside people are going crazy - like they're being possessed and they can't be killed. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Magical Zombies!! So it wasn't quite zombies in the technical sense - no brain eating... but the concept is there. And of course, Chess has to figure it out and try to save the day. The other BIG, HUGE THING going down is Lex... he's got plans and step one involves Terrible. I'll leave it at that, but I have to say - Lex's plans caused me more anxiety than all the magic because it involved Terrible and I care way more about him than hordes of faceless people.

Concluding Sentiments...

As usual Chasing Magic was an emotional roller coaster, spiced up with loads of magic, action, and sex. The only bad thing? I'm now officially caught up on this series and have NO IDEA when then next book is coming!!

This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.

[Melanie]

**NO SPOILERS for this book, there are spoilers for previous books**



I think this is the best one yet. Chess does not have much going on with the Church in this book. Most is a problem going on in Downside. Of course, there are issues between Lex and Terrible. Chess has a new friendship with Blue (but we don't see much of her in this book, hope to see more of her in future books). Chess has several very hard decisions in this book. I think she is growing and coming into her own. I can't wait to read more.

When is the next book coming out??????

Listening to audiobook now. Love this narrator.

[Linda]

This and other reviews can also be found on my blog.

Oh my goodness! Chessiebomb - you are so damaged, and I can't help but loving you anyway. Chess is always fighting her demons, and most of the time, she truly does do the right thing. She tries so hard to be good, but underneath it all is that lack of self-worth that has been instilled in her since she was only a little girl. Even just the hinting of what she has been through is really heavy stuff, and I hope that one day, she will feel worthy of the love she and Terrible shares.

Terrible is terribly wonderful (heh, see what I did there?) he is always on Chess' side, and even comes to Elder Griffin's wedding with her just because she wants him there. How can such a tough, hard guy be so completely sweet and chivalric when it comes to love?

Of course, Terrible and Chess has a lot of things to overcome in Chasing Magic as well, and the title is just right for this book, as Chess literally has to chase magic at one point. I caught myself cheering for both Chess and Terrible, especially towards the end, when they both had to fight for their lives.

And I don't think I have ever felt more sorry for Chess than I did when she met Elder Griffin in his office after she had told him everything about Terrible and the sigil on his heart.

The writing is like a roller-coaster, just when you think the worst fall that can make you scream in a mixture of enjoyment and fear, there is another, bigger one right around the corner. Every chapter, every page had its' fill of both heartache and sweet love, fear and courage, and I just couldn't put my kindle down.

Here are some of my favorite quotes :

Love wasn't one emotion, she didn't think. It was a combination of a whole bunch of them, and each one had a slightly different formula.

Love was like that, and the formulas were always changing. It never sat still and let her get used to it; she didn't feel as if she ever quite had her balance.

Another pause; she could see him trying to come up with another argument and plastered a don't-eve-fucking-try-it look on her face.

"Shit. You so fuckin Pretty, Chessie. True thing. So...ain't even can breathe sometimes."

"Aren't you going to ask what I'm going to do with it?" "You want me to?" "No, I just - no, it's fine." Warmth spread through her chest and up to her face, warmth that had nothing to do with pills or booze or anything else. It was trust heating her from the inside, making her feel like a real live person who mattered. The kind of trust she didn't think he gave to anyone else. The thought made something swell inside her, something wonderful and painful all at once.

She couldn't be good. She couldn't be the person Terrible needed her to be. The person he deserved. Fuck, Lex was right, wasn't he?

I know that all Downside Ghosts fans will love this book, I also know it will be on my to-read-again list, because that's just how good Chess and Terrible make me feel, in the midst of all their problems and what they have to deal with just to stay alive.

[littleread1]

Oh. My. God.

Without question, this is now my favorite book in the series. A title that was previously held by City of Ghosts. This book starts with Chess finishing up a Debunking assignment. It is the only real "church" work you see her doing. Fine by me. That just means more Chess + Terrible. Which is really what we all want at this point, now that they are FINALLY together, and secure in their relationship. And they are so damn cute.

"Shit. You so fuckin pretty, Chessie. True thing. So ... ain't even can breathe sometimes."

He broke the kiss but kept holding her for a long moment, resting his cheek against the top of her head. "Love you Chess."

Damn, it was so hard pretending she didn't really care about him, pretending she didn't feel as if someone had poured her out of a jug to puddle all over everything, so turned on she could hardly breathe.

"I ain't ... Don't know how to say it up right. Never-Fuck, Chess. Thought you was dead once before, you recall? Never felt so bad in my life, not ever. Then on the other day, thought you was gone an just ... I ain't can do it, bein without you." He rubbed his neck, pressed his palm into his furrowed brow and took a swipe at his eyes.

This whole book is full of quotable moments. I had so many favorites, that the ones listed are a small selection. Me, whoo rarely quotes anything, had 30 sections highlighted. I read part of it on a plane, and actually laughed at loud at parts. And by laughed, I mean giggled like a mentally deranged leprechaun. I got some odd looks.

The plot is great as well. Of course Chess ends up working, indirectly, for her drug dealer, Bump, again. You get a little bit more of a peak into his feelings toward both her and Terrible.

What? Had Bump-had Bump just been nice to her?

Someone is selling tainted drugs, and as we all know that hits close to home for Chess. I don't want to say too much, as the information is slowly leaked to you throughout the book in such a brilliant way, that you are always following along, but never 100% sure what is going to happen next.

Speaking of percentages, 95% of the book made me happy as a clam, but there was 5% that upset me. Not that I disagree with what happened, just disappointed in reactions and in decisions made. And for once, not with Chess! There is another character, that I have a love-hate relationship with, Lex. He is an ex-something to Chess, and he does some things that really upset me. It was just business, but I don't have to like it.

There was so much in this book ... so much love, so much self-realization, so much OMG, so much character development from characters I would have considered fully developed ... I really can't find fault with this book. At all.

And if you have read any of my reviews, there is always something that bothers me about a book. Not always something that makes me rate it lower, but something.

Nothing is perfect.

Except this. Chasing Magic easily gets 5 stars from me.