Sacrificial Magic

Downside Ghosts, Book 4

By: Stacia Kane

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

Length: 13 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Reading, writing, and raising the dead.

When Chess Putnam is ordered by an infamous crime boss—who also happens to be her drug dealer—to use her powers as a witch to solve a grisly murder involving dark magic, she knows she must rise to the challenge. Adding to the intensity, her boyfriend, Terrible, doesn’t trust her, and Lex, the son of a rival crime lord, is trying to reignite the old sparks between them.

Plus, there’s the little matter of Chess’ real job as a ghost hunter for the Church of Real Truth. She’s investigating reports of a haunting at a school in the heart of Downside, where someone seems to be taking a crash course in summoning the dead—and if Chess doesn’t watch her back, she may soon be joining their ranks.

As Chess is drawn into a shadowy world of twisted secrets and dark violence, it soon becomes clear that she’s not going to emerge from its depths without making the ultimate sacrifice.

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

“Whether [the reader’s heart] is pounding in fear or breaking in sympathy, this book was satisfying on pretty much every level…. This is such an addictive, compelling series.” ( Urban Fantasy Book Reviews)

Still Riveting

So glad I found this series. Will miss Chess and Terrible when it is over!

Terrible!!!

What did you love best about Sacrificial Magic?

Terrible.

Have you listened to any of Bahni Turpin’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, But only the other ones in this series. She has a very pleasing voice and I like her characterizations- particularly Bump.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I definitely got a little misty during certain parts. The sappy parts.

Any additional comments?

I love that although Chess is a hot mess, she is legitimately trying to be a good person. I have enjoyed watching her grow.

One of the best series, I've ever listened to

This is the 4th of the 'Downside' series, and I absolutely love them. I listened to this whole book in one day. I know how Chess feels about having to have her pills, because this series it very addictive. The narrator is superb, I can't imagine anyone doing a better job of bringing these characters to life, and they do come to life. You imagine yourself in their funky messed up world, and it all seems normal. Chess always is trying to solve a mystery, along with keeping herself high, to try to forget her past. Personally she has a struggle accepting her love for Terrible, and can't believe he'd really love her, because of that past. In her world, nothing has ever been good for her, except the Church. So, she feels Terrible, will be gone from her someday too.
The book is nonstop action, mystery, and emotionally it will pull on your heartstrings.

Like it-but need a break from the unrelenting noir

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

When Lex and Blue stuck around to help Chess out with the ghost in the school. They're not always *good* characters, but I'm often surprised at the loyalty and overall commitment Lex (and to some degree Blue) have to Chess. The bickering between Lex and Blue was pretty funny, too, especially as someone with an older brother.

Which character – as performed by Bahni Turpin – was your favorite?

Weirdly enough, Beulah was probably my favorite out of the cast. I got a very clear picture of her mannerisms and her appearance through Turpin's narration, and thoroughly enjoyed the sarcasm and implied eye rolling.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I liked the choice at the end, to keep the flawed and imperfect because it was more true than the perfect and painless.

Any additional comments?

I get it. Chess is f****d up. REALLY f****d up. She's had an incredibly crappy life. Right. Got it. I swear to God, I *got it.* At this point, it's been beaten into the ground and I'm finding myself hitting the 30 second advance button a few just to get past the latest trip through the swamp in Chess's head. Again, I get it. Chess had a HORRIBLE childhood. HORRIBLE. Awful horrible. I'm just a little tired and a little depressed with it all. Not a wonderful escape and it took me a lot longer to slog through this one than it did the first three.

each book in this series gets better!

i absolutely love this series and this writer. she is sophisyicated in her storytelling, and the description is out of this world. the sheer genius of the story as it is written, showcased with the talented narrator makes this book unbearably wonderful!

Fabulous and Surprising!!!

This series has been a real find and a total surprise. I purchased the first one after reading some amazing reviews but was unsure what to expect. The heroine is a drug addict?? However, Chess is such a vulnerable and complex character that the listener can't help but love her. She is insecure, brave, clever, and full of contradictions. She is a fascinating protagonist and gets more interesting with each installment. Stacia Kane's world is edgy and unique. At times it is genuinely scary and at others it is grim, yet there is still love and hope to be found. Terrible and Lex add to a wonderful cast of rich characters. The other great thing about this series is the magnificent performances by Bahni Turpin. I honestly think the best way to experience these books is to hear her read them. She is superb - probably the best narrator I have heard. The books come to life and the characters are voiced so well its impossible to think of them sounding any other way. If you're a fan of urban fantasy with an edge this series is one of the best. I bought the first one and was so captivated I purchased all the others and had them finished in a week. Then I started again!

excellent series

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

i would recommend this book, the series just gets better and better

What did you like best about this story?

i like that the characters are complicated

Have you listened to any of Bahni Turpin’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

she is a terrific narrator, she brings these books to life, good with making each character stand out

Any additional comments?

this is a great series, you really need to start with book one, i think the reviews of book one are pretty accurate, check those out and give the series a shot!

A STEP ABOVE THE REST!!!

Any additional comments?

If you have ever read or listen to a story that has you talking to, laughing at, or shaking your head at the characters, then that story has engulfed you and pulled you into their world. And for me, that’s the best natural high a book reader can achieve. And seriously if you think about it, it’s the only reason to read a book. This is by far one of best series of urban fantasy that I have had the privilege of listening to.

Stacia Kane's delivered a spellbinding and very unique story. Scary at times, dangerous at times, over the top at times, however brought together through life trails, love and hope. The characters are well developed and very interesting.

Although at times, I thought Chess needed to rein in the insecure emotional drama, I can’t wait for the saga to continue.

Bahni Tupin brings each character to life with his/her own distinct personalities. Tupin is one of the best narrators on Audible

Okay, Chess continues to make the same mistakes

This was the fourth book in the Downside Ghosts series by Kane. I haven’t been a huge fan of this series, but I got books 4 and 5 as eGalleys to review through NetGalley(dot)com so I keep reading the series. If you liked books one and two this book is very similar to those ones.

Chess is given a case from the Church of Truth to investigate a haunting at a school in Downside..which just happens to be in enemy gang territory. Around the same time Bump, Chess’s drug dealer, wants Chess to check out a grisly murder that seems to be some sort of ritual killing. Chess will need all her wits (and drugs) to figure who are doing the black summonings and why.

I didn’t think this book was as good as the third book, City of Ghosts. This book returns to the story structure used in books 1 and 2: Chess gets a case from the Church and Bump wants something looked into; it just so happens that the two things are related. Maybe it’s because I am reading these so close together, but the stories seem a bit formulaic to me with no storyline (outside of the Chess/Terrible romance) that really flows from novel to novel. I really wish that this story had dealt more with the Church again because I find that a lot more interesting than these miscellaneous Downside disasters.

Chess does grow a little as a character, but she still keeps making a lot of the same mistakes. There are so many times she does incredibly stupid things, I was kind of hoping at points that Terrible would dump her.

If there is anything that does flow well and change from book to book it is the relationship between Terrible and Chess. There are some incredibly intense emotional scenes between the two that are very gripping. Although I do get tired of how flawed these characters are and at how they keep making the same mistakes over and over.

The world continues to be the same gritty post-apocalyptic world we’ve had in previous book. Chess continues to pill pop like crazy and somehow manages to not get killed.

Honestly I am just tired of these books right now. I don’t like that characters and the stories from book to book are very similar. I am going to take a break for a while and then decide if I will read Chasing Magic or no at a later date.

Overall an okay book in this series. If you loved the first two books in this series I think you will love this one; they are structured very much the same way. Chess is the same pill-popping somewhat functioning church witch she’s been in previous books, she makes a lot of the same stupid mistakes. There are some excellent scenes between her and Terrible, but aside from that there wasn’t a ton here I loved. Recommended to those who have really been enjoying this series. I would also recommend giving the first book a read if you are a fan of gritty urban fantasy; the first book is a very good example of the rest of the series.

I hope there's more to come

***Spoiler Alert ****
I loved this book, its fantastically written with complex characters, the inner monologues that Chess has is sarcastic, witty, & make the worst choices though not out of malice. Chess & Terrible seem like they're just getting started working through the problems in their city, they have me hooked, & thrilled it's included & hoping that Ms Kane will make at least one more book, but the Loose ends have me feeling this should be at least a 10 book series 😉
will Lex become his number 2? if Sloebag(sp?) can die then so can Bump?
Will Chess find out who her family is?
will Roger & the family be back?
will Chess be save her friendships East of 43rd?
This is an Excellent narrative, there a few blips buy the voices are quite funny & I find it easy to know who's talking before it's said.
& I feel Lex told Devil not to Kill Terrible.