Chasing Magic

By: Stacia Kane

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

Length: 12 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

Stacia Kane has been a phone psychic, a customer-service representative, a bartender, and a movie-theater usher, and she thinks that writing is more fun than all of them combined. She wears a lot of black, still makes great cocktails, likes to play music loud in the car, and thinks Die Hard is one of the greatest movies ever made. She believes in dragons and the divine right of kings and is a fervent Ricardian. She lives in Devon, England.

©2012 Stacey Fackler (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Gripping…Vivid characters, superior world-building, and a wonderful sense of pace…I was enthralled.” (Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author, praise for the series)

“Kane delivers dark, sexy urban fantasy at its finest.” (Karen Marie Moning, #1 New York Times bestselling author, praise for the series)

“Fans of urban fantasy will find themselves sleep deprived after they start this new series. It’s that hard to put down…This is an exciting world you’ll want to escape into again and again.” ( RT Book Reviews, Top Pick 4½ stars)

Magic, death, truths and epic fights

Great performance again by Bahni Turpin. I really enjoy the non tragic ending, but have ti admit in some minor disappointment in the final state of her friendships. Overall though, a unique and crazy story.

I am obsessed something Terrible!

I absolutely loved this series and Turpin narrated it perfectly. There were times when Chess’s self loathing was a bit frustrating, but it was easily looked past in the twists and turns of the story. I was emotionally invested in each character and I even shed a tear or two toward the end. I wholeheartedly enjoyed every minute I spent with each one of these books.

Love this series

Best narrator I have ever heard and the language is this alternate reality is amazing and engaging. Looking forward to

Amazing

Book 6 is definitely needed. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes magic, drugs, and romance. The perfect combination.

I think we need an intervention.

Would you consider the audio edition of Chasing Magic to be better than the print version?

Oh Yeah!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Chasing Magic?

The good-bye scene on the roof top.

What does Bahni Turpin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Bahni Turpin brings each of the characters to life and makes you forget only one person is performing.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes,and I almost suceeded .

Any additional comments?

I understand Chess' addictions are her coping mechanism for the abuse she suffered in foster care. Several times though it was all i could do to keep from fast forwarding through her stumbling and fumbling after taking an ever escalating amount of one drug or another. It's frustrating to listen to the character when things are starting to improve for her,but her drug problem seems to be getting worse. How long can Bump put up with a junkie church witch if she's too messed up to be of any use? Come on,Chess,if you don't get help at Charter,please get help somewhere.

love it so much!

I love these characters, am happy to have spent many hours in this world. many thanks to this truly gifted writer. I am a vomplete fan and will read anything she writes!

An Emotional Ringer

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.

great

wonderful book. I am hopeful that there will be another book in this series

I didn’t want it to end

Perfect storyline for this series. Enjoyed this one the most. But the saga of Chess and Terrible shouldn’t be over. However if it is, it’s ending in the best way possible. The relationship between Chess and The Elder broke my heart but it was so vital to this entire series. Love love love

LOVE LOVE this series!

Stacia Kane can do no wrong in my book. Man this series just grabs you by the balls and will not let go! This review will be hard to write without spoilers; that’s for sure. (The only reason Chasing Magic didn't get a the full 5 stars is that I felt like Chess back peddled some in her relationship with Terrible and I feel like they are solid and she should be over some of her self destructive ways. So I have high hopes that we will see a new an improve Chess in the next book.)

Terrible equals awesomeness. He is the best male character I’ve read since Karen Marie Moning’s Barrons. He is exactly what Chess needs in her life. He is strong but can also be sweet and kind but Chess is the only one that gets to see that side of him. These two complete each other (yes that is the most freaking cheesy thing to say about these two but it’s the Truth. And Truth is Fact and Fact is Truth. Dig!)

I’ve send it before and I’ll say it again; I have a love/hate relationship with Chess. And in Chasing Magic I wanted to freaking killer her in one part. (Those that have read it know what part I’m talking about) All I could think was that botch better not hurt Terrible again. But Chess pulls her head out of her sorry ass just in time and I loved Terrible’s reaction to the guilt he saw on her face. That scene with them two is in second place with the bathroom scene from an earlier book for hotness.

We get to see Chess and Terrible out of their element when she brings him to Elder Griffin’s wedding. And I could have died at Terrible's answer to Griffin's husband's question as to if Terrible and Chess were going to get married....

I think that Chess has done some growing and realizes that she can no longer sit on the fence about some things in her personal life. I just hope that her small growth stays with her and that we see more personal growth in the future from her. DO NOT BACK PEDDLE.

Ok let’s move away from the personal side before I spoil you guys…

This time around Chess and Terrible are dealing with people in Downside going crazy and dyeing from speed that some new dealers are selling on the street. The speed is special in the fact that it has magic mixed in with it. All kinds of bad and bloody crap goes down because of this new “designer” drug. Chess and Terrible find themselves up against an angry mob of “zombies”.

And in the middle of them trying to figure out who is behind it, they have to deal with Lex. See he has big plans now that he is in charge of the other side of town. He got plans, big plans. Like trying to get Terrible to work for him or kill him if he says no. I am so done with Lex.

Also Terrible is still having problems with the sigil that Chess put on him a few books back that saved his life. In true Chess fashion all her bad choices are coming back to bite her and everyone around in her in the ass.

If you are a Urban Fantasy fan and you have not started this series you need to do so NOW! Great writing, great characters, just LOVE LOVE LOVE this series. I pre-ordered Chasing Magic while I was reading the FREE ARC from Netgalley because I know this is a series I will re-read so many times. Honestly, I own this series in ebook and audio book and I enjoy it in both formats. And once Chasing Magic is out in audio I will be paying it again!