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Downside Ghosts #0.5
Finding Magic
The Downside Ghosts series is “dark, sexy urban fantasy at its finest.” Now, in this breathtakingly suspenseful eBook novella, Kane has written a prequel to her thrilling series. Perfect for fans of Charlaine Harris, Laurell K. Hamilton and Kim Harrison.
Before Chess Putnam was a magic-wielding Churchwitch, she was a student in the Church of Real Truth—with a keen sensitivity to magic, a strong rebellious streak, and a penchant for self-destruction. And in Finding Magic, a grisly ghost murder becomes Chess’s baptism of fire.
When eighteen-year-old Chess Putnam is offered the chance to train with a special team of investigators known as the Black Squad, she feels torn. She’s never been a team player and hates how one male Inquisitor condescends to “the new kid.” But at her first bloody crime scene, she gets a taste for investigation—and is hooked on the high. Though the seasoned Inquisitors consider the series of ghost murders random events, Chess starts to detect a pattern. Is a psycho killer summoning ghosts from the City of Eternity and using them as murder weapons? As Chess gets closer to the dark truth, she puts herself in grave danger and risks losing everything she’s fought so hard for.
Includes a special preview of Stacia Kane’s upcoming urban fantasy thriller, Chasing Magic!
125 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 4, 2012
16 people are currently reading
1335 people want to read
About the author
Stacia Kane
35 books2,535 followersStacia Kane is the author of the light-hearted romantic urban fantasy "Megan Chase" series starting with PERSONAL DEMONS.
She currently writes the gritty dystopian urban fantasy "Downside" series starring Chess Putnam and featuring ghosts, human sacrifice, drugs, witchcraft, punk rock, and a badass '69 Chevelle. She bleaches her hair and wears a lot of black.
She currently writes the gritty dystopian urban fantasy "Downside" series starring Chess Putnam and featuring ghosts, human sacrifice, drugs, witchcraft, punk rock, and a badass '69 Chevelle. She bleaches her hair and wears a lot of black.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
June 18, 2012
The Downside Ghosts series is my favorite. Not just of books, my overall favorite thing in life. (that may be a tiny exaggeration) So you know I liked this novella.
It is a little peek into Chess' life, during schooling and training. That poor girl can't catch a break. Her very first day of training, she gets to see 2 bodies strewn about a living room. That's enough to make anyone re-think their career choice. But she has something to prove, not just to herself but to the world. And she isn't about to let blood and guts and arms and legs stop her.
It is a fascinating look into her downward spiral into drugs and self loathing. Following her into The City for the first time as she discovers it isn't what she thought it would be, was probably her biggest motivator to not give up when she thought she was going to die. That realization, that death was not an escape, is what makes her stronger, and gives her to will to fight through each day, not matter what happens. Not just in this book, but in all her stories. I was a bit surprised she was not as self destructive as I had imagined her at that age.
Even though this is a prequel, I would not recommend reading this until after reading at least the first two, Unholy Ghosts (Downside Ghosts) and Unholy Magic (Downside), as I don't think it would have as much meaning unless you already knew Chess.
The only reason this doesn't get 5 stars is because we don't really get to see Terrible. I mean, we shouldn't, not at this point in her life, but since he is my book husband (yes, we are married, back off) I want any glimpse into that world to include him.
It is a little peek into Chess' life, during schooling and training. That poor girl can't catch a break. Her very first day of training, she gets to see 2 bodies strewn about a living room. That's enough to make anyone re-think their career choice. But she has something to prove, not just to herself but to the world. And she isn't about to let blood and guts and arms and legs stop her.
It is a fascinating look into her downward spiral into drugs and self loathing. Following her into The City for the first time as she discovers it isn't what she thought it would be, was probably her biggest motivator to not give up when she thought she was going to die. That realization, that death was not an escape, is what makes her stronger, and gives her to will to fight through each day, not matter what happens. Not just in this book, but in all her stories. I was a bit surprised she was not as self destructive as I had imagined her at that age.
Even though this is a prequel, I would not recommend reading this until after reading at least the first two, Unholy Ghosts (Downside Ghosts) and Unholy Magic (Downside), as I don't think it would have as much meaning unless you already knew Chess.
The only reason this doesn't get 5 stars is because we don't really get to see Terrible. I mean, we shouldn't, not at this point in her life, but since he is my book husband (yes, we are married, back off) I want any glimpse into that world to include him.
June 6, 2012
I wasn't sure what to expect from this prequel novella in the Downside series. I knew it would feature a young Chess, just getting started in the Church. I knew she would be untried and I knew she would already be damaged by her horrible childhood. What I didn't expect was how much she would be colored by hope; or how sad it would be to know what her future would hold.
Basically, the story follows Chess on her first real training mission. She's been studying with the Church for two years, but this her first foray out into the field. She must work with members of the Black Squad to solve a string of seemingly unrelated ghost-murders. The plot is interesting enough, but where I was really affected was in how Chess was portrayed.
Yes, she was damaged by her childhood. She is plagued by those feelings of inadequacy that follow her into later books. But she is not on drugs. She's been clean since the Church took her in. The worst way she indulges is with a gulp of vodka now and then to dull the pain, but she castigates herself for it. She sees the Church as an infallible savior. The one step between safety and a life on street corners, whoring for food. She's determined to be worthy of them. It's just so hard.
I've never had an overabundance of patience with Chess or her self-destructive behavior. But here, she is somehow both naive and jaded. She carries both hope and despair. And we see these defining moments in her life as they unfold. We see the groundwork for the ill-fated tryst with Agnew Doyle referenced in Unholy Ghosts. The first tendrils of a relationship with Elder Griffen. The feelings of communion with Downside. That first Cept. Her first glimpse of Terrible. It's a lot to take in. It makes me hurt for her. It makes me more sympathetic to where she ends up. And for all of this, Stacia Kane is brilliant.
All that being said, I don't think this is a story for new readers. It's for fans who already think they know Chess, to show us just how much we didn't know. It's an important part of the Downside world, but it doesn't have the single most compelling element of the novels, and that's Terrible. He is the heart of the series for me, and his absence was felt.
One day, maybe, he'll get a novella of his own. A girl can hope, right?
Rating: B+
Basically, the story follows Chess on her first real training mission. She's been studying with the Church for two years, but this her first foray out into the field. She must work with members of the Black Squad to solve a string of seemingly unrelated ghost-murders. The plot is interesting enough, but where I was really affected was in how Chess was portrayed.
Yes, she was damaged by her childhood. She is plagued by those feelings of inadequacy that follow her into later books. But she is not on drugs. She's been clean since the Church took her in. The worst way she indulges is with a gulp of vodka now and then to dull the pain, but she castigates herself for it. She sees the Church as an infallible savior. The one step between safety and a life on street corners, whoring for food. She's determined to be worthy of them. It's just so hard.
I've never had an overabundance of patience with Chess or her self-destructive behavior. But here, she is somehow both naive and jaded. She carries both hope and despair. And we see these defining moments in her life as they unfold. We see the groundwork for the ill-fated tryst with Agnew Doyle referenced in Unholy Ghosts. The first tendrils of a relationship with Elder Griffen. The feelings of communion with Downside. That first Cept. Her first glimpse of Terrible. It's a lot to take in. It makes me hurt for her. It makes me more sympathetic to where she ends up. And for all of this, Stacia Kane is brilliant.
All that being said, I don't think this is a story for new readers. It's for fans who already think they know Chess, to show us just how much we didn't know. It's an important part of the Downside world, but it doesn't have the single most compelling element of the novels, and that's Terrible. He is the heart of the series for me, and his absence was felt.
One day, maybe, he'll get a novella of his own. A girl can hope, right?
Rating: B+
October 31, 2012
A fantastic novella about 18 year old Chess before she became a Debunker. It answers a lot of questions about how she came to be, and neatly adds insight into Chess as a person, her insecurities, trauma, drug abuse, and skill and dedication with her role at the Church.
It's a great place to start as a tester to whether you'd like the Downside Ghosts series or not.
Check out my blog for more reviews!
It's a great place to start as a tester to whether you'd like the Downside Ghosts series or not.
Check out my blog for more reviews!
June 16, 2012
In Finding Magic we're introduced to an eighteen year old Chess who's in her final year of her studies. Because of her impressive exam results, Chess is given the opportunity to work with the Black Squad for a week in order to help her choose her furture career in the Church. With no training, Chess has to dive straight in when the Black Squad are called to investigate a murder caused by a ghost. Chess is desperate to prove herself worthy of the Church, but it's not easy as she finds it very difficult to work in a team. Chess struggles with spending time with her mentor, Jillian, and the only way she can cope is by drinking vodka. The more Chess finds out about the murder the more eager she becomes to solve the case even if it means displeasing her mentor.
After reading 4 books in the series and getting to know a Chess who is confident and sure of herself, well at least when it comes to her job, it was strange reading about a young Chess who had zero confidence and no self esteem in regards to anything in her life - herself, work, friends or men. It was actually comforting to already know that future Chess would be good at her job and be aware of her worth when it came to her abilities at work.
I did find the mystery of the murders to be a tad predictable. Then again since it's a novella there really wouldn't be much room for a complex mystery.
I enjoyed the scenes with Elder Griffin, I initially thought that Elder Griffin had took Chess under his wing when she first started with the church at age 15, so I was suprised to see that it was only until she was 18 that they started to have a friendship. I also liked the brief scene with Doyle, he was actually quite a nice guy and in reading his scene I never would have suspected that he'd turn out to be such a douche.
I liked Trent and Vaughn and their interactions with Chess..I kind of want them to appear in future books. I prefered Trent over Jillian, Jillian was very snake-y, at least Trent didn't pretend to like Chess.
That end glimpse of Terrible was brill! Chess's perception of Terrible's looks have come a long way..I bet she never thought she'd be attracted to him.
For a short story there's a lot of important background and history that's covered. We find out how Chess became an addict, I had always assumed that it started in childhood so this gives readers some much needed insight into the origins of her addiction. We also get to see how and why she became a debunker, the start of her relationship with Elder Griffin, more insight into how important the church and her work is to her, Chess's first visit into the underground City, why she decided she'd rather live in Downside than in Church accomodation and more understanding of her inability to have friendships and relationships.
After reading 4 books in the series and getting to know a Chess who is confident and sure of herself, well at least when it comes to her job, it was strange reading about a young Chess who had zero confidence and no self esteem in regards to anything in her life - herself, work, friends or men. It was actually comforting to already know that future Chess would be good at her job and be aware of her worth when it came to her abilities at work.
I did find the mystery of the murders to be a tad predictable. Then again since it's a novella there really wouldn't be much room for a complex mystery.
I enjoyed the scenes with Elder Griffin, I initially thought that Elder Griffin had took Chess under his wing when she first started with the church at age 15, so I was suprised to see that it was only until she was 18 that they started to have a friendship. I also liked the brief scene with Doyle, he was actually quite a nice guy and in reading his scene I never would have suspected that he'd turn out to be such a douche.
I liked Trent and Vaughn and their interactions with Chess..I kind of want them to appear in future books. I prefered Trent over Jillian, Jillian was very snake-y, at least Trent didn't pretend to like Chess.
That end glimpse of Terrible was brill! Chess's perception of Terrible's looks have come a long way..I bet she never thought she'd be attracted to him.
For a short story there's a lot of important background and history that's covered. We find out how Chess became an addict, I had always assumed that it started in childhood so this gives readers some much needed insight into the origins of her addiction. We also get to see how and why she became a debunker, the start of her relationship with Elder Griffin, more insight into how important the church and her work is to her, Chess's first visit into the underground City, why she decided she'd rather live in Downside than in Church accomodation and more understanding of her inability to have friendships and relationships.
June 4, 2012
This review was originally posted at Vampire Book Club.
One of the reasons I recommend Stacia Kane's Downside Ghosts books so often is the remarkable character development. Heroine Chess has hard edges, deep-seated issues and a big problem with seeing herself as valuable. While Kane provided more insight into Chess' past in Sacrificial Magic, this new prequel novella lets us to see what Chess was like before.
Not before the damage that pushed her to chemical dependency. But before the pills. Before the autonomy of living in Downside. Before love. Eighteen year old Chess is still working hard to prove herself worthy of being a part of the Church of Real Truth. She agrees to do a week of job shadowing with the Black Squad not because she wants to be one of their elitist club, but because she's frightened saying no will land her ass back in foster care. That she could lose it all.
The pressure of the job and the case she works to help solve -- while earning her dirty looks and nasty comments from the Black Squad team -- pushes her toward familiar coping mechanisms. Kane manages to help fans of the Downside series understand Chess a bit more by giving us this vulnerable view into her youth.
Also, there are ghosts, bitches getting in her way, reference to old religions and sex magic. Expect a trip or two to the City of Eternity in this one. (And, yes, it still skeeves me out.)
This quick read is great way to get insight into Chess before diving into Chasing Magic on June 26.
One of the reasons I recommend Stacia Kane's Downside Ghosts books so often is the remarkable character development. Heroine Chess has hard edges, deep-seated issues and a big problem with seeing herself as valuable. While Kane provided more insight into Chess' past in Sacrificial Magic, this new prequel novella lets us to see what Chess was like before.
Not before the damage that pushed her to chemical dependency. But before the pills. Before the autonomy of living in Downside. Before love. Eighteen year old Chess is still working hard to prove herself worthy of being a part of the Church of Real Truth. She agrees to do a week of job shadowing with the Black Squad not because she wants to be one of their elitist club, but because she's frightened saying no will land her ass back in foster care. That she could lose it all.
The pressure of the job and the case she works to help solve -- while earning her dirty looks and nasty comments from the Black Squad team -- pushes her toward familiar coping mechanisms. Kane manages to help fans of the Downside series understand Chess a bit more by giving us this vulnerable view into her youth.
Also, there are ghosts, bitches getting in her way, reference to old religions and sex magic. Expect a trip or two to the City of Eternity in this one. (And, yes, it still skeeves me out.)
This quick read is great way to get insight into Chess before diving into Chasing Magic on June 26.
January 27, 2014
That was a bit strenous.
Chess, the protag - doesn't ring true to call her a heroine - seems to have a boatload of problems. Had a shitty life. Has addictions. Has deep issues with herself.
And this was so prevalent, that I couldn't enjoy this book much.
It had a fairly good story line, some inventive world building, some ok mystery part - but Chess is just not a good protag for me. There is no humor, no courage, no self esteem in her. Just darkness, doubt and self-hate. And all the inner monologue doesn't help to make her more endearing - I just got impatient.
So this didn't make for an enjoyable read. At least for me.
Merged review:
Hm, was a bit strenuous Chess, the protag - doesn't ring true to call her a heroine - seems to have a boatload of problems. Had a shitty life. Has addictions. Has deep issues with herself.
And this was so prevalent, that I couldn't enjoy this book much.
It had a fairly good story line, some inventive world building, some ok mystery part - but Chess is just not a good protag for me. There is no humor, no courage, no self esteem in her. Just darkness, doubt and self-hate. And all the inner monologue doesn't help to make her more endearing - I just got impatient.
So this didn't make for an enjoyable read. At least for me.
Chess, the protag - doesn't ring true to call her a heroine - seems to have a boatload of problems. Had a shitty life. Has addictions. Has deep issues with herself.
And this was so prevalent, that I couldn't enjoy this book much.
It had a fairly good story line, some inventive world building, some ok mystery part - but Chess is just not a good protag for me. There is no humor, no courage, no self esteem in her. Just darkness, doubt and self-hate. And all the inner monologue doesn't help to make her more endearing - I just got impatient.
So this didn't make for an enjoyable read. At least for me.
Merged review:
Hm, was a bit strenuous Chess, the protag - doesn't ring true to call her a heroine - seems to have a boatload of problems. Had a shitty life. Has addictions. Has deep issues with herself.
And this was so prevalent, that I couldn't enjoy this book much.
It had a fairly good story line, some inventive world building, some ok mystery part - but Chess is just not a good protag for me. There is no humor, no courage, no self esteem in her. Just darkness, doubt and self-hate. And all the inner monologue doesn't help to make her more endearing - I just got impatient.
So this didn't make for an enjoyable read. At least for me.
January 24, 2016
This is a pretty dark novella. Gritty. Chess is a girl abandoned at a very young age and raised by The Church, but this is not any church you or I have been to. Her past is traumatic, she has very little sense of self worth. She drinks and gets high to deal with the life she is struggling through. And she's 18. But Chess is smart. Street smart, yes, but with an inner intelligence that not everyone has. She's on the cusp of adulthood and she's scared, but she's smart enough to know it. She takes risks. She hides very well. And all of this she has experienced comes into play when she is tested by events happening around her and she is forced to rely on those wits to not only save her life, but the life of a trainer that doesn't really give two shits about her.
Was this a perfect read? No. But I grew attached to the sadness inside Chess, and I want her to succeed when those around her expect her to fail. Hopefully the next book will show us something brighter for her.
Was this a perfect read? No. But I grew attached to the sadness inside Chess, and I want her to succeed when those around her expect her to fail. Hopefully the next book will show us something brighter for her.
June 25, 2018
This was a well done prequel to the series. This shows us a young, 18 yo Chess while she's still in training. She is struggling to put her past abuse behind her. She's so insecure and so desperate to have a "normal" life. Sad for the reader cuz you know how things are going to turn out for her.
January 6, 2016
This is an introduction to the Downside Ghosts series and my least favorite since it occurs before Chess meets Horrible. There are series inaccuracies here in that Chess meets people that in a later book she meets again for the first time. That really bothers me, But other than that it's a good read, well written, with good pacing. Chess is filled with even more angst, which is appropriate since she's younger here. We see how she begins her drug use and how she justifies it to herself. Other series characters are introduced but only half the story is here since Chess doesn't even go Downside, which contains my favorite parts of the plots, characters and settings.
But the story is self-contained and enjoyable to read on its own. The plot is interesting and the characters believable. If I hadn't yet read further along in the series I would have enjoyed it much more, I recommend this for fans of the series and those interested in Kane's writing. Just don't use this to judge the series itself because it doesn't really show Chess's interaction with the characters that are the most interesting or the innercity culture and street slang that really makes the series special.
But the story is self-contained and enjoyable to read on its own. The plot is interesting and the characters believable. If I hadn't yet read further along in the series I would have enjoyed it much more, I recommend this for fans of the series and those interested in Kane's writing. Just don't use this to judge the series itself because it doesn't really show Chess's interaction with the characters that are the most interesting or the innercity culture and street slang that really makes the series special.
December 8, 2013
Loved it! To justify the 5 star. I haven't read any Downside in 153 books! I needed a two day read and it was perfect timing! I feel like I have been loose with the stars lately but to be honest I have been on a roll of books I LOVED! I can't help it if I'm a good stalker. :o)
April 17, 2017
This series was one of faves, ever since reading that first chapter of Chasing Magic, so I loved going back to the very beginning to read this prequel. Chess is a sweet, young, naive girl of only 18 here and has been studying and working hard at the Church. She is still very negative about herself and cannot see her worth, but when she gets invited to join the Black Squad for a week's training, she finally finds that she can do this, all the hard work will pay off and she finds something she is good at, even if others don't necessarily see it themselves.
A couple are murdered by ghosts, but Chess doesn't feel it was as simple as a random killing, but unfortunately her investigations and questions are not valued by the rest of the team until it is almost too late.
I loved seeing Chess evolve in this short novella, She started off as quite meak and mild and although she always was a strong character, we got to see a softer side to her here, before she toughened up and became the Chess we loved it the rest of the series.
A couple are murdered by ghosts, but Chess doesn't feel it was as simple as a random killing, but unfortunately her investigations and questions are not valued by the rest of the team until it is almost too late.
I loved seeing Chess evolve in this short novella, She started off as quite meak and mild and although she always was a strong character, we got to see a softer side to her here, before she toughened up and became the Chess we loved it the rest of the series.
November 24, 2020
The story line was great, the execution of said story line could have used some help. A majority of it was repetitive and redundant. Over and over the main character did nothing but claim how useless she was, what a horrible person she was, and that she didn't deserve anything good. The first 3 or 4 times I read this I got it, but every other page was reminding you of the same thing and it got tiring after awhile to the point where I honestly did not want to finish the story. I did finish because I really like the series. I'm really hoping this was just a one time deal of "woe is me".
June 18, 2017
This prequel to the Downside Ghosts series is a little slice of life look at Chess when she was eighteen, just on the brink of completing her training to become a Church Witch. Which readers of the series will know is about the only thing that Chess is proud of in her life. And it's evident that right from this young age she showed tremedous promise in investigating and reading people. This short story shows how she chose Debunking as her forte, and how she started her professional relationship with Elder Griffin.
The plot itself was a little slow and I'm not sure how well it would work as a stand alone prequel for new fans, but for existing readers of the series, it's a good companion novel. It also showed how Chess ended up on the road that led to her current substance abuse problem. Back then, at eighteen, it was sips of Vodka rather than pills, but she's clearly always needed some kind of crutch to help her through the day. The abuse at the hands of her foster parents seems closer to the surface here- obviously the booze doesn't dull it as much as the Cepts do- and she's very wary of anyone getting too close, both physically and mentally.
As usual, Chess' internal struggles are morbidly fascinating, although I have to say I found some of her vacillating inner monologues a trifle annoying this time. The way she switches tracks and abruptly cuts herself off mid-thought for some reason was grating in this novella. Possibly because I wasn't as absorbed in the story as I usually am with her full-length works. Or possibly it's my constant peeve over the use of third person even though it's only from Chess' POV. Whichever it was, it stood out more than usual.
Or maybe it was because there was no yummy Terrible to distract me!
I'm still waiting for Stacia to write me something from Terrible's point of view. We get a tiny little mention of him in this story and it's Chess' first sighting of him so her thoughts are quite funny knowing what we know now about their future. But I want Terrible's first impressions! He says something in book one along the lines of "You're so pretty. Never thought---" Never thought what? What did you think when you saw her the first time or saw her hanging around the market stalls? Did you think she was out of your league? Stuck up, maybe?
Now wouldn't that make a GREAT novella? *please make it happen*
3 Stars ★★★
Review Copy: Received from the publisher for an honest review
The plot itself was a little slow and I'm not sure how well it would work as a stand alone prequel for new fans, but for existing readers of the series, it's a good companion novel. It also showed how Chess ended up on the road that led to her current substance abuse problem. Back then, at eighteen, it was sips of Vodka rather than pills, but she's clearly always needed some kind of crutch to help her through the day. The abuse at the hands of her foster parents seems closer to the surface here- obviously the booze doesn't dull it as much as the Cepts do- and she's very wary of anyone getting too close, both physically and mentally.
As usual, Chess' internal struggles are morbidly fascinating, although I have to say I found some of her vacillating inner monologues a trifle annoying this time. The way she switches tracks and abruptly cuts herself off mid-thought for some reason was grating in this novella. Possibly because I wasn't as absorbed in the story as I usually am with her full-length works. Or possibly it's my constant peeve over the use of third person even though it's only from Chess' POV. Whichever it was, it stood out more than usual.
Or maybe it was because there was no yummy Terrible to distract me!
I'm still waiting for Stacia to write me something from Terrible's point of view. We get a tiny little mention of him in this story and it's Chess' first sighting of him so her thoughts are quite funny knowing what we know now about their future. But I want Terrible's first impressions! He says something in book one along the lines of "You're so pretty. Never thought---" Never thought what? What did you think when you saw her the first time or saw her hanging around the market stalls? Did you think she was out of your league? Stuck up, maybe?
Now wouldn't that make a GREAT novella? *please make it happen*
3 Stars ★★★
Review Copy: Received from the publisher for an honest review
June 13, 2012
I wasn't sure if I was really going to like this novella. I mean my most favorite character ever was not going to be a main part in it. But after I seen some talk about it, I had to give it a try and I am really glad I did. I was hooked in just like I always am when reading a Downside Ghost book.
It was pretty neat seeing a young 18 year old blonde, un-tattooed and doesn't do drugs Chess. You get to see a more vulnerable side to her. She is really trying to be a good person but she still has her doubts she can do it. She wants to be good like the people at Church are but her past is still right there under the surface. It was sad to see how close to the surface her past was. To see her touch a sex spell and get so affected from it. To see her just trying to get those events out of her head. In the beginning just a few drinks of vodka helped chase away the pain.
She is just about to graduate Church when she goes on an assignment with The Black Squad. I think this case and the people she worked with really set her up to be the person she is now. It might have happened anyways but these people where just not nice, they where back stabbing and treated her like a child. It is also where that little temptation came in to play when the people on her team fail to take what Chess says seriously. But Chess proved that even at a young age she is one awesome witch even with no tattoos.
We get to experience her first time in The City, her first time meeting Elder Griffin, her first glimpse of Terrible, and when she finally decides to become a debunker.
I really enjoyed seeing the young Chess. I even want to see more. Like when she does finally move to Downside, or how she got in good with Bump. Her story is always a fun ride. Stacia Kane really knows how to tell a story!! And if you are like me and just can't get enough of this series then this is definitely something to check out. But now that we did get a little taste of Chess from before maybe we can one of Terrible! :)
June 26, 2012
I have had Stacia Kane's Downside Ghosts series on my wish list for ages now but for some reason I'd never actually got around to picking up a copy of the first book Unholy Ghosts. So when I saw this prequel novella available on Netgalley I jumped at the chance to review it. As someone who is completely new to the series I was a little worried that there might be things in the novella that didn't make much sense to me - I've had that happen a lot where a story that is supposed to be a prequel is actually better when read after at least the first couple of books. Luckily that wasn't the case with Finding Magic, yes I was left with questions after I finished reading but it had me so keen to find out more that I immediately ordered the first book!
Chess is 18 years old and has been training to become a Churchwitch for the last three years. From what we've seen of her so far she isn't the typical heroine that you come across in urban fantasy novels. She has had a difficult childhood being passed from one foster home to another and has obviously been left emotionally scarred by the abuse she has suffered. We don't find out the full information about what happened to her so I'm assuming that is something that you discover more of as the series progresses but we see enough to know that she is haunted by the past. She is desperate to make something of her life but at the same time she doesn't feel worthy of any of the good things that happen to her. It was sad to see how she uses alcohol as a crutch to make it through each day but I have a feeling things are going to get worse for her before they get better.
I enjoyed finding out about the world Stacia Kane has created, I want to learn more about Haunted Week and exactly what happened during it and am looking forward to getting to know Chess better as the series continues. Anyone who is curious about the series could easily read this novella as an introduction and if you're anything like me it will leave you wanting more.
Chess is 18 years old and has been training to become a Churchwitch for the last three years. From what we've seen of her so far she isn't the typical heroine that you come across in urban fantasy novels. She has had a difficult childhood being passed from one foster home to another and has obviously been left emotionally scarred by the abuse she has suffered. We don't find out the full information about what happened to her so I'm assuming that is something that you discover more of as the series progresses but we see enough to know that she is haunted by the past. She is desperate to make something of her life but at the same time she doesn't feel worthy of any of the good things that happen to her. It was sad to see how she uses alcohol as a crutch to make it through each day but I have a feeling things are going to get worse for her before they get better.
I enjoyed finding out about the world Stacia Kane has created, I want to learn more about Haunted Week and exactly what happened during it and am looking forward to getting to know Chess better as the series continues. Anyone who is curious about the series could easily read this novella as an introduction and if you're anything like me it will leave you wanting more.
June 22, 2012
The intricate details of how Ms. Kane's main character in her 'Downside' series came to be a Church Debunker thread through the plot perfectly. Eighteen year old Cesaria Putnam, in training with the Church of Real Truth, gets placed on a tryout basis with the Church Black Squad. They investigate murders. The grisly string of mutilated corpses in an ongoing case fascinates the young trainee, Chess. She rightly correlates the murders to ghosts, much to the surprise of her difficult handler Jillian and the rest of the Black Squad. Tying in Chess’s beginning problems with alcohol and drug abuse, coupled with her background of being abused in foster homes, explains her difficulties in throwing off the addictions. This prequel has its share of murder and ghost mayhem, entwined with human avarice, in an enthralling, fast paced story. Chess connects with her mentor, Elder Griffin, and shows off the impressive detective skills she exhibits throughout the series as a Debunker who investigates real ghost hauntings from fraudulent claims which the Church would have to pay off. She also catches a glimpse at the end of her future lover, the ‘Downside’ enforcer, Terrible.
If you’re a fan of the series, or wanting an introduction to the ‘Downside’, I highly recommend Finding Magic. This series is not for the faint of heart however. It revolves around people scratching out an existence in a very dark ‘Downside’. Their ways of coping with a depressing arena of life, where they are under constant threat by murderous ghosts and other human predators, may not sit well with many readers. For those who can suspend the real world, this series will jerk you into its dark hole of human and ghost interaction completely.
If you’re a fan of the series, or wanting an introduction to the ‘Downside’, I highly recommend Finding Magic. This series is not for the faint of heart however. It revolves around people scratching out an existence in a very dark ‘Downside’. Their ways of coping with a depressing arena of life, where they are under constant threat by murderous ghosts and other human predators, may not sit well with many readers. For those who can suspend the real world, this series will jerk you into its dark hole of human and ghost interaction completely.
September 9, 2015
While I rarely read novellas and never consider them "required" reads, this one has proved that sometimes they are time and money well spent.
In Finding Magic, Chess is a young, impressionable 18, just starting out at the Church. While she still has her demons and the vices that accompany them, she is mostly sober and focused on pleasing her new saviors. She gave up drugs before being accepted into the Church program and it was quite different to see a less dependent side of Cesaria, aside from her love of vodka, of course. But as readers of this series know, she didn't give them up for good. Aside from not depending on drugs to retain her sanity, a little of that which drove her to seek chemical escape is revealed a bit more. Stemming from being shuffled from foster home to foster home and living through many a horror found within those homes, Chess is insecure, unable to find anything worthwhile about herself. She now sees the Church as her saving grace and is desperate to please them. Of course, being as lowdown as she is, a ton of self-doubt often gets in the way.
Another aspect of this novella I appreciated was there was more background on the world that this story is set in. Triumph City, Downside, and the City of Eternity were each described a bit more and I especially like that I gained a bit more clarification prior to continuing on with the series.
Bottom line - great novella that gives a little more insight to Chess and the accompanying details of the Downside Ghosts series. I recommend this both for lovers of the series or those who are uncertain about starting the series because this can actually be read any time. It doesn't lack any details needed for comprehension and gives a little taste of what to expect from Stacia Kane and Chess.
In Finding Magic, Chess is a young, impressionable 18, just starting out at the Church. While she still has her demons and the vices that accompany them, she is mostly sober and focused on pleasing her new saviors. She gave up drugs before being accepted into the Church program and it was quite different to see a less dependent side of Cesaria, aside from her love of vodka, of course. But as readers of this series know, she didn't give them up for good. Aside from not depending on drugs to retain her sanity, a little of that which drove her to seek chemical escape is revealed a bit more. Stemming from being shuffled from foster home to foster home and living through many a horror found within those homes, Chess is insecure, unable to find anything worthwhile about herself. She now sees the Church as her saving grace and is desperate to please them. Of course, being as lowdown as she is, a ton of self-doubt often gets in the way.
Another aspect of this novella I appreciated was there was more background on the world that this story is set in. Triumph City, Downside, and the City of Eternity were each described a bit more and I especially like that I gained a bit more clarification prior to continuing on with the series.
Bottom line - great novella that gives a little more insight to Chess and the accompanying details of the Downside Ghosts series. I recommend this both for lovers of the series or those who are uncertain about starting the series because this can actually be read any time. It doesn't lack any details needed for comprehension and gives a little taste of what to expect from Stacia Kane and Chess.
June 4, 2012
Stacia Kane has always hinted about Chess Putnam's past growing up in foster homes and in an orphanage. However, she never really told the readers how Chess began her career with the church, how she started using drugs and how she met Terrible. "Finding Magic" answers these questions and it is quite an interesting tale. This story is basically a prequel to "Downside Ghosts."
The story showcases a very insecure, self deprecating 18 year old Chess. Even at 18 she was a loner and had good instincts about finding and destroying evil. She is asked by Elder Griffin to work with the elite Black Squad for a week and is assigned to work with Jillian Morrow. Chess is not a team player and does not cherish working with a team. However, she does what she does best, fake it. On her first day, she receives a case involving an attack on a family by ghosts. A couple of veteran members of the team attempt to belittle her and test her skills of observation. However, she refuses to be rattled. Although the team feels this is just a random attack, something is bothering Chess and when she shares her opinions with Jillian, she is basically shut down. However, Chess is able to discern so critical information that the veterans overlooked and eventually they have to listen to her.
The story is full of mystery and intrigue. However, it is a little sad to see Chess to downtrodden and vulnerable. She does not see that she has the potential to be the best in the business because she cannot overlook the events of her past. This was really good background information and I enjoyed reading about the young Chess.
The story showcases a very insecure, self deprecating 18 year old Chess. Even at 18 she was a loner and had good instincts about finding and destroying evil. She is asked by Elder Griffin to work with the elite Black Squad for a week and is assigned to work with Jillian Morrow. Chess is not a team player and does not cherish working with a team. However, she does what she does best, fake it. On her first day, she receives a case involving an attack on a family by ghosts. A couple of veteran members of the team attempt to belittle her and test her skills of observation. However, she refuses to be rattled. Although the team feels this is just a random attack, something is bothering Chess and when she shares her opinions with Jillian, she is basically shut down. However, Chess is able to discern so critical information that the veterans overlooked and eventually they have to listen to her.
The story is full of mystery and intrigue. However, it is a little sad to see Chess to downtrodden and vulnerable. She does not see that she has the potential to be the best in the business because she cannot overlook the events of her past. This was really good background information and I enjoyed reading about the young Chess.
November 28, 2014
I wasn't sure what to expect from this prequel novella in the Downside Ghosts series, all I knew was that it was darker than Stacia Kane's other series, which I loved. It also came highly acclaimed by trusted Goodread friends, so I decided to give it a try. Now, after reading it, I'm not so sure this was the right place to start, and I had to spend a lot of time piecing together the world she lives is, rather than Chess herself.
In the prequel novella we meet 18 year old Chess, who's just getting started in the Church of Real Truth. She's diligent and obviously a gifted student, but she is also untried and untested. Which is why she's sent on a week-long training mission with the Black Squad who solve ghost related crimes. Chess is a damaged individual, there's a lot of neglect and abuse in her past. As a result she doesn't handle interpersional relations well and has serious trust issues and low self-esteem. Unfortunately this translates into a poor working relationship with her temporary colleagues.
What I found most compelling wasn't the story of the ghost murders or the horrid city of eternity. It was watching Chess start with a sip or two of vodka to make it through the bad parts of her day, being privy to all of her inner turmoil. Really sad.
Finding Magic wasn't love at first sight, but I will most likely give the first book in the series a try to see if it makes more sense.
3 stars, mainly because I didn't get to now the world as much as I would have liked. In retrospect, that's my faul and not the athor's, so it's possible I'll do a re-evaluation of my rating after I have read the first full length Downside Ghosts novel.
In the prequel novella we meet 18 year old Chess, who's just getting started in the Church of Real Truth. She's diligent and obviously a gifted student, but she is also untried and untested. Which is why she's sent on a week-long training mission with the Black Squad who solve ghost related crimes. Chess is a damaged individual, there's a lot of neglect and abuse in her past. As a result she doesn't handle interpersional relations well and has serious trust issues and low self-esteem. Unfortunately this translates into a poor working relationship with her temporary colleagues.
What I found most compelling wasn't the story of the ghost murders or the horrid city of eternity. It was watching Chess start with a sip or two of vodka to make it through the bad parts of her day, being privy to all of her inner turmoil. Really sad.
Finding Magic wasn't love at first sight, but I will most likely give the first book in the series a try to see if it makes more sense.
3 stars, mainly because I didn't get to now the world as much as I would have liked. In retrospect, that's my faul and not the athor's, so it's possible I'll do a re-evaluation of my rating after I have read the first full length Downside Ghosts novel.
May 12, 2013
I read another review that said this was not for new readers but those who kind of already know the story. I agree and disagree. I think those of us who already know Chess got a lot more insight into who she is but a new reader would get to see the development of her.
This was a lot of fun. I enjoyed hearing more about the Church's training program and about Chess as young person. (I really liked knowing her natural hair color. I just wonder if it was still cut in the Betty Paige style?) Chess didn't seem as jaded as in the books but you can see how she got there. Seeing her take the Cept was interesting, too, especially in comparison to Jillian.
Oh, I loved getting to see the foundation of the relationship she would develop with Elder Griffin.
And at the end, the glimpse of Terrible, the sentence "He was the kind of person she'd be getting herself involved with if she answered the question in the affirmative; he was the kind of life she'd be setting herself up for, and that should make her feel a lot worse than it did." Oh, the things that sentence did to me. Just knowing how right and wrong she is about that makes my heart beat a little erratically.
Stacia Kane is amazing. Ah-Maze-Ing. Love the way she makes me fall in love with this damaged, drug addicted, rough living character that I shouldn't like but I do. The whole of Downside and Triumph City is amazing.
This was a lot of fun. I enjoyed hearing more about the Church's training program and about Chess as young person. (I really liked knowing her natural hair color. I just wonder if it was still cut in the Betty Paige style?) Chess didn't seem as jaded as in the books but you can see how she got there. Seeing her take the Cept was interesting, too, especially in comparison to Jillian.
Oh, I loved getting to see the foundation of the relationship she would develop with Elder Griffin.
And at the end, the glimpse of Terrible, the sentence "He was the kind of person she'd be getting herself involved with if she answered the question in the affirmative; he was the kind of life she'd be setting herself up for, and that should make her feel a lot worse than it did." Oh, the things that sentence did to me. Just knowing how right and wrong she is about that makes my heart beat a little erratically.
Stacia Kane is amazing. Ah-Maze-Ing. Love the way she makes me fall in love with this damaged, drug addicted, rough living character that I shouldn't like but I do. The whole of Downside and Triumph City is amazing.
June 8, 2012
FINDING MAGIC is a prequel to the Downside Series, one of the best UF series on the market. This novella fills in some of Chess's back story, from when she is still in school before she became a Debunker and drug addict.
As with the rest of the series, Kane has provided excellently written, wonderful urban fantasy. Kane manages to do something extremely difficult--create characters who are so very broken and nearly despicable yet so empathetic that you want them to succeed.
As with the rest of the series, FINDING MAGIC's pacing grabs you, runs, and keeps going. The complexity is just right for the length; Kane delivers and resolves a complex mystery plot, as usual, blending in plot elements from and into the other books, and even tosses a cameo in the last few paragraphs which made me squeal with fangirl delight.
I really can't say too many good things about this series and this story. Kane is one of the few authors who are an autobuy for me. If you haven't read the Downside series, do so. FINDING MAGIC is a great intro to the series.
(Edited to correct spelling and remove an excess of "very." Clearly I was very excited when writing this review.)
As with the rest of the series, Kane has provided excellently written, wonderful urban fantasy. Kane manages to do something extremely difficult--create characters who are so very broken and nearly despicable yet so empathetic that you want them to succeed.
As with the rest of the series, FINDING MAGIC's pacing grabs you, runs, and keeps going. The complexity is just right for the length; Kane delivers and resolves a complex mystery plot, as usual, blending in plot elements from and into the other books, and even tosses a cameo in the last few paragraphs which made me squeal with fangirl delight.
I really can't say too many good things about this series and this story. Kane is one of the few authors who are an autobuy for me. If you haven't read the Downside series, do so. FINDING MAGIC is a great intro to the series.
(Edited to correct spelling and remove an excess of "very." Clearly I was very excited when writing this review.)
June 7, 2012
This is a prequel to the Downside Ghosts series and we get to find out about Chess when she is training for the church before she becomes a debunker. I have mixed feelings about people reading this before they get to know Chess. I think you would appreciate it more if you read about her struggles first.
I really enjoyed it...way more than I thought I would. I liked seeing how Chess was and how she handled or didn't handle things. We got a few tidbits about her past and what the drinking helps her with. I loved seeing some of her natural talent come out. We also get to see how her relationship starts with Elder Griffin although I wish we would've gotten a bit deeper.
I was a little disappointed not to get to read about when she got her tattoos and her own place. But we did get a quick bit about Terrible...."poor scary thug who chews rocks for fun"! Of course, I would have loved MORE about him but that part was great.
I really enjoyed it...way more than I thought I would. I liked seeing how Chess was and how she handled or didn't handle things. We got a few tidbits about her past and what the drinking helps her with. I loved seeing some of her natural talent come out. We also get to see how her relationship starts with Elder Griffin although I wish we would've gotten a bit deeper.
I was a little disappointed not to get to read about when she got her tattoos and her own place. But we did get a quick bit about Terrible...."poor scary thug who chews rocks for fun"! Of course, I would have loved MORE about him but that part was great.
June 15, 2012
Stacia Kane's Downside Ghosts series continues to be one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series. This is a "prequel" to the series, but I would definitely read it after already being introduced to the series. I don't think it would be very meaningful to read this book before the rest of the series.
WOW! The author really showed the depth of Chess's (unfortunate) self loathing. She is a character that shouldn't be very likable. But I find myself desperate to see her happy and to have some sense of worth! She effing rocks at her job! Why can't she see that? Ugh. But, the cover of Chasing Magic gives me some hope for Chess. This is the first cover where we see her smiling!
Now, that I have had a small (but intense) dose of this series I am begging for more! I am ready for June 26 and more Terrible!
WOW! The author really showed the depth of Chess's (unfortunate) self loathing. She is a character that shouldn't be very likable. But I find myself desperate to see her happy and to have some sense of worth! She effing rocks at her job! Why can't she see that? Ugh. But, the cover of Chasing Magic gives me some hope for Chess. This is the first cover where we see her smiling!
Now, that I have had a small (but intense) dose of this series I am begging for more! I am ready for June 26 and more Terrible!
June 5, 2012
Finding Magic is a great little slice of Kane's Downside Ghost series, a prequel showing Chess moving towards who she becomes during the series. Showing how she ends up being a Debunker, why she is drawn to Downside, what drives her to her addictions - and how she is already adept at living the lie that she is a normal person. It also shows her solving the puzzle, when she is getting her first taste of field work during her training with the Church of Truth, and as messed up as Chess is, her instincts are sharp and I love watching her put things together. And, since inquiring minds need to know, yes, there is an oh so brief glimpse of a bowling shirted someone who will become important to Chess in the future.
So Finding Magic is a decent short, one that fans of the series will appreciate, but also one that would serve as a fairly decent introduction to Kane's series.
So Finding Magic is a decent short, one that fans of the series will appreciate, but also one that would serve as a fairly decent introduction to Kane's series.
June 13, 2012
This story about Chess while she is still in training with the Church was entertaining but had its faults. I really like Chess as she is in current novels and that Chess was lurking in the Chess in Finding Magic but there was much too much talk about how inadequate she was and general indecision. Chess may still feel inadequate "today" but it does not come across in the annoying constant way it did in Finding Magic. I thought all of this was accurate for the character she has become but it is frustrating to read self-doubt on every page. The story was good but there wasn't much mystery to it (bad guy was pretty clear), but there was mystery to how everything would come together. I enjoyed the glimpse at characters we know well now also. Really the only thing holding the novella back for me was the constant self-doubt that can ruin anything!
August 10, 2012
This story is about Chess's first major case for the church while she is in her last year of education. She is still a student, only about 18-19 and assigned to shadow the Black Squad, the elite in investigating paranormal happenings.
She expected to just shadow them a couple of days and not really experience much, but that was not what happened! Instead she walked into the middle of a grisly series of murders. Not exactly a normal week for her of the squad.
This was such a great peek into Chess's head. We see her dealing with an alcohol addiction, and the beginning of her drug addiction, and what really drove her to it. We also see the beginnings of her relationships with her Elder and fellow debunkers. And of course Kane is awesome enough to give us the tiniest glimpse of Terrible which I loved!
All in all a fantastic addiction of the Downside series!!!
She expected to just shadow them a couple of days and not really experience much, but that was not what happened! Instead she walked into the middle of a grisly series of murders. Not exactly a normal week for her of the squad.
This was such a great peek into Chess's head. We see her dealing with an alcohol addiction, and the beginning of her drug addiction, and what really drove her to it. We also see the beginnings of her relationships with her Elder and fellow debunkers. And of course Kane is awesome enough to give us the tiniest glimpse of Terrible which I loved!
All in all a fantastic addiction of the Downside series!!!
April 1, 2013
As a huge fan of this series, Stacia Kane somehow keeps surprising me with her depth. I should be used to it by now, shouldn't I? Downside Ghosts is so special merely because of Chess, of the dark places we are taken to see through her character and of her unflinching honesty in accepting her flaws. Finding Magic doesn't even have a glimpse of Terrible in it, but the insight we get into Chess's past is monumental. Although her view of herself is less-than-honorable, we see her for the person she is inside - the person even she can't see - and her constant strength, even from the very beginning, is something I admire immensely. Now, all I want to do is crawl up with this series all over again and re-read them with my newfound understanding of Chess. Or, you know, just give this girl a hug.<3
September 29, 2013
3.5 stars. I definitely liked this one better than
. One of my issues with the first book was the super slow pace (at least for the beginning and middle of the book). Since this novella was much shorter, it worked for me. It's still pretty dark, but it was interesting to see how Chess gets to where she is.
I'm not sure this novella got me any more excited about reading
though. So far, this isn't one of my favorite series, but I'll push through to the 3rd book to see what all the fuss is about.
. One of my issues with the first book was the super slow pace (at least for the beginning and middle of the book). Since this novella was much shorter, it worked for me. It's still pretty dark, but it was interesting to see how Chess gets to where she is. I'm not sure this novella got me any more excited about reading
though. So far, this isn't one of my favorite series, but I'll push through to the 3rd book to see what all the fuss is about.
June 12, 2012
This novella is a prequel to the Downside Ghosts series. It shows us a Chessie who isn't quite as jaded, isn't quite as rough around the edges.
Chess is in her final year of training at the Church. We get to see her desperation to be accepted and her constant fear of failing. We also get to see her begin her descent into drug addiction.
I liked that Chess used her quick thinking and survival instincts to save herself and others. I also loved the little glimpse of Terrible at the end.
This was a very enjoyable tidbit to help tide us over until Chasing Magic is released.
Chess is in her final year of training at the Church. We get to see her desperation to be accepted and her constant fear of failing. We also get to see her begin her descent into drug addiction.
I liked that Chess used her quick thinking and survival instincts to save herself and others. I also loved the little glimpse of Terrible at the end.
This was a very enjoyable tidbit to help tide us over until Chasing Magic is released.
June 9, 2012
This is a prequel of the Downside Ghosts series by Stacia Kane and provides a fascinating insight into the character of Chess Putnam before she officially became a debunker for the Church of Truth and tangled with a certain enforcer who we all love.
Even without the Chess/Terrible dynamic this story is still good and although Chess' lack of self worth can be very dark, Stacia Kane still manages to portray her as a worthy and intelligent character who sometimes makes very bad choices.
A worthy prequel to a unique and dark but captivating series.
Even without the Chess/Terrible dynamic this story is still good and although Chess' lack of self worth can be very dark, Stacia Kane still manages to portray her as a worthy and intelligent character who sometimes makes very bad choices.
A worthy prequel to a unique and dark but captivating series.
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