I listened to this audiobook because I wanted to check out a new to me narrator, Bahni Turpin. She was awesome.

I don't know how Stacia Kane does it; she makes the most unlikely protagonists sympathetic and very real. I'm really uncomfortable with drug addictions and yet, I understand Chess Putnam's issues and why she does what she does and admire her for being so effective in her calling. At the same time I can barely resist yelling at her "you'd be able to think so much more clearly if you weren't high as a kite you dufus!"

This book, like the first one, is full of action and the pacing is spot on.

Unholy Magic was an amazing story for me to read several years ago, and listening to it made it more. More emotions. More connection with the characters. More in-depth story-telling. I was completely engrossed from start to finish. Bahni Turpin is so good at doing the different voices, accents… it’s easy to know who is talking with her narration.

I was also even more amazed with Chess while listening to Unholy Magic. She is so strong and capable, but at the same time, so filled with doubt and insecurities. And especially when it came to her relationship with Terrible, she had such a hard time figuring out what she wanted, what she needed and what she felt comfortable with. There are two big plots in Unholy Magic, one is an alleged haunting in a movie-star’s home, the other is about prostitutes being killed, with their eyes taken from them. Both in Bump’s and in Slobag’s territories. This brings Chess’ two worlds on a collision course, and it’s hard for her to keep up with everything.

As the story unfolds, though, my heart was bleeding for Chess! All her recent bad decisions came to bite her in the butt, and so her self-doubt grew to horrendous proportions before she was able to snap herself out of it during a fight with several ghosts, hosts and black-magic users. Dark and gritty, there is just something about the Downside Ghosts series that appeals to me. Of course, the stories are extremely well written, with characters that are flawed, but that I still can’t help but love. The whole universe is edgy and sad, but Chess still gets up every day to get the job done. Hiding big parts of herself wherever she is, and whoever she is with.

I look forward to listening to the rest of the series, Kane and Turpin make me want to hug Chess but at the same time shake her and make her see how incredible she truly is.

When the synopsis says this book is dark, what they mean is that the story is based around a main character who is a drug addict. somehow this character manages to stay alive with so many people trying to use her for their own ends. I was curious about this series I thought would I like a heroine so flawed? I do like her that is. I don't always agree with her reasoning or her choices but I do like her. Our heroine never speaks her mind when others try forcing her to do her bidding. She simply agrees to everyone's demands regardless of how unreasonable they are. Of course most of the time she's just pretending to do what they want in the hopes to feed her addiction and live another day. So no one around her really knows her or why she chooses to do what she does. At the end of this book it is painfully clear she is lonely and her love interest thinks she betrayed him. I'm hoping she can mend fences in the next book. I'm also wondering if she will learn to strike bargains rather than simply agreeing to all the demands others place on her. I am also hoping she will somehow kick her addiction Haha as you can tell I'm quite invested in this series and can't wait to see some character growth.

I love this series! I love the Cajun meets Old English meets Yoda accents from Downside. Her two guys are sexy & I think she got the raw end on the Terrible debacle. She functions really well considering but no one gives her a break. She does more than the rest of the church together with her crazy self & none appreciates her outside the church just cause she needs the mess to dull her past

This series just keeps getting better. The first book introduced this new world, and the characters. This book expands and develops these characters. Chess is such a messed up addict, that seems to do her job well, but can't get her personal life in order. The book is non stop action, and emotional turmoil. The main problem is getting away from the narration, it's so good. The voices are unique, and she captures the feelings of everyone she speaks for. I read the first novel, but do believe I will have to listen to the rest of them.

The narrator is terrific. she really can interprate (sp??) the characters emotions well, brings the characters to life. there is a lot of slang and i believe it is a better listen than read. she does a great job. this story had a real creepy mystery, i got goosebumps!

This book is truely unique. the ideas of the world they live in and how things are run really stand out. the graffic crime scenes and darker side of things are intense, maybe compare to a little early laurell k hamilton.

the roof top talk between terrible and chess. also there is an intense scene earlier in the book with her drug use that brings you to tears. great writting.

absolutely!!! i finished it in 2 days.

start with book one and keep going! i am downloading the next and really enjoy the unique style of these books.

dark, mystery & magic

The characters! Even though sometimes I wanted to shake them, I really liked them. They made me want to keep reading/listening.

No. I really liked. She does a good job of the slang. If I read it I don't think it would have been the same.

The Narration on this is simply superb! Let me start with that as the narration is can make or break an audiobook. In this case, it is more than merely good or adequate --- it actually elevates the story.

It's difficult to describe this series - as the world is so rich & complex- so I will refrain from trying for the sake of brevity. I will say that while I enjoy both the paranormal aspects of the story as well as the mystery/detective story componet of the story/series, This particular book is all about the characters' growth and development for me. It's all about the romance --- and not the flowery kind, but the punch-in-the gut, emotional highs and lows kind.

This series should definitely be read in order to fully fall in love with Chess and Terrible and the like and, you know, to be properly emotionally eviserated later. That may not sound pleasant, but I personally love when a writer can pull extreme emotions from me. And this particular book brings empathy to new heights.


Great Series, Great Characters, Unique World, Fantastic Writing & Amazing Narration.

Great narration. I like to list this first as it can make or break a story.

Took some getting use too, to start with, due to the street slang and the drug addiction (which I can't relate too). But I have now become caught up in the series. Just finished the 4 book and can't wait for book 5. Best to follow series in order if possible.

I really enjoy it when readers with similar reading interests list their favourite authors and series. It really helps me find new authors too follow. Mine are Charlaine Harris, Jeaniene Frost, Jennifer Estep, Faith Hunter, Molly Harper, Ilona Andrews, Kresley Cole, Deborah Harkness, Nalini Singh, Coreene Callahan, Stacia Kane, Kelly Medding and Sherrilyn Kenyon.

Happy Reading

I LOVE Stacia Kane and am ADDICTED to this Urban Fantasy series. Can't get enough. Not such a fan of Bahni's reading though.

Chessiebomb and Terrible... LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM!!! They are both unconventional heros that most people dont believe have the right to exist. Together, they make an unbeatable team

I'm not such a fan of Bahni's reading of this partictular series. Sure, everyone has their own inner-voice in which they read things, but Chess is not ment to be a whiny person and Terrible isn't ment to SOUND so dumb.

YES! Absoluetly, but I say definitely READ THE BOOKS. The printed word gives you such a different impression.

Check out Stacia Kane's other work. You WONT be dissapointed.