City of Ghosts

Downside Ghosts, Book 3

By: Stacia Kane

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

Length: 13 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

From rising star Stacia Kane comes the third novel in her dark and sexy Chess Putnam series, perfect for fans of Kim Harrison and Patricia Briggs.

Chess Putnam has a lot on her plate. Mangled human corpses have started to show up on the streets of Downside, and Chess’ bosses at the Church of Real Truth have ordered her to team up with the ultra-powerful Black Squad agency to crack the grisly case. Chess is under a binding spell that threatens death if she talks about the investigation, but the city’s most notorious crime boss—and Chess’ drug dealer—gets wind of her new assignment and insists on being kept informed. If that isn’t bad enough, a sinister street vendor appears to have information Chess needs. Only he’s not telling what he knows, or what it all has to do with the vast underground City of Eternity. Now Chess will have to navigate killer wraiths, First Elders, and a lot of seriously nasty magic—and the only man Chess can trust to help her through it all has every reason to want her dead.

©2010 Stacia Kane (P)2000 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Best one yet!

I love Chessie and Terrible and Lex. I love the mystery and surprises, the action and adventure. I can’t wait for the next.

a good story but

I love this series. everything about it is great except for her drug addiction. it just makes me angry. it's what she thinks about the majority of the time. I realize that this is the way it is fir some people but, it just makes me mad.. sorry

Can’t put down!

This series has me hooked! The story, the characters, and the narrator is superb. I’m gonna be sorry when it ends!

the best book in a great series

i love this writer. such imagery and feeling! amazing worlds and magic and characters that are absolutely true to themselves and beautiful.

They get better and better

Each book gets better and better. Chess has been through some things and her and Terrible are breaking my heart! Terrible is so delicious. I love that these characters are perfect in their imperfections and the narrator is wonderful.

URBAN FANTASY AT ITS BEST!!

First let me just say, I haven’t been this thrilled... For quite a long time.

After listening to the next 2 books in the series, I have reconsidered my take on this novel, and these are my final thoughts.
There’s nothing better than a well written and original- dark Urban Fantasy ride, and Stacia Kane has created just that - even though this is not the best book in the series, it is the introduction to this enthralling world... darkness is all around, it's neither pretty nor easy… but grab you, it will!

This was my first novel by this author, and wow! I’m so glad I listen to the friend that recommended it, the writing is flawless and the setting captivating.
The characters are unconventional, the lingo is original, the plot is fresh, but most important; she has gone outside the box by creating a heroine that will challenge your reasoning and will demand your emotions; disdain, compassion, anger, sympathy and hopefully, understanding.
One thing though, amidst the darkness, drug use and low-lifers, we get a shining star; the most unusual hero, an anti-hero some call him, yet another departure from the norm when it comes to a leading male character, but I assure you! He will inevitably capture your heart.
Besides the terrific character development and the skillful introduction to Chess's world, we get action, suspense, mystery, and in the small glimpses of Chess’ happiness we also get a hot romance (tortured, but steaming)
Once thing is for sure, the world and the characters will stay with you, and you will be downloading the next novel in this incredibly gripping series, before you are even finished with this one.
I highly recommend it to any fan of UF genre that can approach the ride with an open mind, so just buckle up, and let the Author hurdle you into this emotional spin.

NARRATION:
An excellent performance!!! Yes, Bahni Turpin didn’t read these novels, she perfectly executed them.
I knew she sounded it familiar, I just couldn’t place her, and then I remember that she was one of the narrators for the book, Help, that was a terrific performance, and once again she absolutely shines with her rendition of this novel.
She expertly brings Chess to life conveying all the complexity of her character. She performs the dialogue in absolutely natural and convincing way.
I would dare to say, this is a much better book on audio than in print, at least for me. I think that my inner voice for Chess wouldn’t have had the vulnerability the Ms. Turpin layered in her character.
All in all, Bahni Turpin is the perfect narrator for this gritty, emotional and absorbing ride.

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Sensuality: HOT

BRAVO! Another Great book in this UF series.

BRAVO!!! Kane has done it again. Each book replaces the last as my favorite in the series.

Kane’s cast of misfits is back in City of Ghosts. Chess is still working for the Church as a debunker and yes she still has her drug addiction. Terrible is still the best anti-hero EVER! We even get to see some of Lex and Bump in this installment.

“Most Debunkers spent their money on actual things, rather than just buying anything they could swallow, smoke or snort. Unlike Chess.”

Just when I thought that Unholy Magic was an emotional ride, here comes City of Ghosts to continue ripping my heart out. I feel like I’m on Chess’ pills with all the highs and lows that the two go through.

After the events in Unholy Magic, Terrible wants nothing to do with Chess and she is miserable without him. And I was miserable wondering when he would show up in the book. Once he did my heart was pounding just as much as Chess’.

“She knew what she saw, and that was all that mattered. Knew what was behind those hard dark eyes, and wanted it more than anything.”

I love when an author creates characters that make me feel the way they feel. My heart was breaking for Terrible and Chess. I was crying when she was crying; I was pissed when he was pissed. I’m so totally involved in these characters and their world that I go into withdrawals waiting for the next book.

“You let people into your life and you ended up getting hurt. Or hurting them. Either way, the road to pain was paved with other people, and she wanted no part of it anymore”

I have never had such a love/hate relationship with the heroine of a series as much as I do with Chess. Terrible and Chess are my addiction and Stacia Kane is quickly rising to the top of my Urban Fantasy list as my favorite author in the genre.

Again if you are a fan of dark and gritty Urban Fantasy you MUST read this series. I cannot wait for Sacrificial Magic to be released on audio so I can devour it and then wait impatiently for Chasing Magic.

A paranormal, ghost hunter like never before!

City of Ghosts
Downside Ghosts, Book 3
By: Stacia Kane
Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
Wow! An emotional roller coaster! Kane knows how to bring out all emotions! Sad, horror, fear, tenderness, regrets, forgiveness, anger, lust, love, hate, hope, loss, self sacrifice, and so much more! The narrator knows how to get into the character's head and convey those emotions.
This book has Chess working a case, a case so sensitive that the Church bond her to silence. If she talks, she bleeds, but she could die. She normally works alone but has to work with a high elder's daughter.
Chess' drug Lord wants to know what is going on. She can't tell him, literally. So she has to investigate with the Church appointed woman and for the drug Lord and keep the information separate and secret from each other. It is a wild ride! Especially the ending!

Begging for more of this series!!

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened/read this series. It is one of the best series I’ve ever read. The world, the people and the story is so unique that it cannot be matched. PLEEEAAAASEEEE write more Stacia!!!!

The Ghosts are starting to get NAUGHTY!

So far I have fully enjoyed all three of the City of Ghosts books. I can't say enough positive praise about the amazing job that Bahni Turpin does in this series. Her voices make each character unique and come to life. So far over the three books she has not had any trouble keeping her character voices on the mark, which is a problem I have experienced from other narrators in past series.

I do want to warn readers who are more sensitive. The series continues to have plenty of strong language and the main character's drug addiction remains a major part of the story line. One thing that does change in the third book is that Stacia Kane has started to add little bet of intense romance on the edge of porn. There are only two instances that I would say are on the side of pornish, but it does not dominate the story by any means.

I rated this story lower than I did the first two because I did not feel the story was as well put together as the first two and went off on several tangents that in my opinion took away from the story rather than strengthened it. I hope this is not an indication of problems to come with the series as at this time I completely plan to continue listening.