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.
**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.
