I Gots Terrible Fever discussion

Use this thread to discuss City of Ghosts with other who have finished the book. If you haven't read the book yet, turn away lest you learn what happens between Terrible, Chess, Lex and the rest of Downside.


Now, then, where do we want to start? Chessiebomb? The bar? The tunnels? Those creepy toads? The Black Squad?

Let's start when Bump calls Chess and wants her to spill her secrets and Terrible knees her in the back and forces her to the floor. That shocked me. I knew he was mad but somehow I didn't think he's ever get physical with her.

You're absolutely right. I knew he was angry, and I knew he wanted her to hurt emotionally, too, but I certainly wouldn't have thought he'd ever act physically. I know it shocked her, too, but I also think we were supposed to see him trying to treat her like he would any other person Bump was 'chattering at.'

His reaction immediately after, when Chess started bleeding from the binding scars, show us it was all a front, but still shocking.

When he got all concerned-I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief. I was like, "Yea, he still cares." I have to say that Bump is one of my fav characters in the books. He's just so "pimpish" lol

Lol I was pretty glad when he showed concern. I mean, of course it was all a front, but....wow. Like you, didn't think he'd go that far. But hey, he had to act like she was a regular person, as you said. So, even though the Binding spell wasn't good, and it was painful, it was a chance to show Chess and all the rest of us anxious readers that he still did care.

OMG! I loved the way Stacia wrote it because it just says that she's on the floor with a knee in her back and you just know that it's Terrible. I think I wrote "HOLY SHIT" at that point on my Goodreads update. lol

Hahaha. I know right?

Not gonna lie, when he had the knee in her back is when I got all teary-eyed. Don't think it let up for the rest of the book!

If Terrible really wanted to hurt her, he would have. I'm pretty sure he pulled the punch, so to speak. I felt worse for him than I did Chess. Can you imagine catching the woman you love with your enemy AFTER she said she wanted to be with you? I would have changed my number, too.

I enjoyed the car ride, with Terrible's date after their Bathroom Bump 'n Grind routine. I found that quite entertaining. And we got to see how Terrible was reacting through her decription.

Mollie wrote: "I enjoyed the car ride, with Terrible's date after their Bathroom Bump 'n Grind routine. I found that quite entertaining. And we got to see how Terrible was reacting through her decription."

I enjoyed the car ride as well Mollie. I just had to read Bathroom Bump 'n Grind and now I want to read that scene again! LOL!

Was anyone surprised that Terrible thought it was a good idea to have Chess climb out the window after the bar bathroom encounter?

Chelsea wrote: "Was anyone surprised that Terrible thought it was a good idea to have Chess climb out the window after the bar bathroom encounter?"

I did. I thought it was hilarious as well. lol

Kindlelicious wrote: "Not gonna lie, when he had the knee in her back is when I got all teary-eyed. Don't think it let up for the rest of the book!"

OMG I know! I felt myself crying throughout the whole book! I was so glad that Chess and Terrible got their grove on, the heat between the two of them would power New York City for a week!lol

Oh, sweet Lawd I'm finished with the book and I could have died at the kitchen scene in the end. Chessiebomb... OH. MY. GAWD!!!!

Loved everything about it. The tunnel, the bathroom, her saying I love you... The KITCHEN for goodness sake!!

OK, I need to go calm down... :D

Just finished this and all I can say is Chessiebomb, puddle of bear and being carried into the bedroom.

How am I going to survive till Fall 2011 to know the deal with Terrible and Chess?

Katie(babs) wrote: "Just finished this and all I can say is Chessiebomb, puddle of bear and being carried into the bedroom.

How am I going to survive till Fall 2011 to know the deal with Terrible and Chess?"

Your support group buddies are here for you! We are all suffering together. Perhaps you could go to the book discussion section and choose your favorite scene to discuss. Or, click under polls on the right hand side and choose from your favorite scene in COG. :D

About Terrible letting Chess climb out the window of the bathroom: he thinks she is ashamed to be seen with him (like when she realized that he is embarrassed by his face).

I loved, at the very end of the book, finding out that Chess used to sleep on her couch with the light on just in case Terrible would come over. It was a great glimpse of what we missed between UG and UM, that they saw each other almost every night.

I just hope in the next Chess book she and Terrible are happy and Chess doesn't do something stupid to ruin things between them.

I think Lex will be lurking around to shakes things up though.

Katie(babs) wrote: "I just hope in the next Chess book she and Terrible are happy and Chess doesn't do something stupid to ruin things between them.

I think Lex will be lurking around to shakes things up though."

The idea of Chess not being self-destructive is wishful thinking. I have a feeling she'll have trouble in a normal relationship even with Terrible. But he knows her so well, I'm hopeful he'll catch on and keep her from screwing up their relation too badly.

That said, until Downside 4 comes out, I will remain happy believing Chess and Terrible are blissful. :)

Agreed, Chelsea. Just like the scene at the bar when she tells him, "Quit looking like you." She didn't mean what Terrible thought she meant, and look what happened. I see that type of situation happening again. And I'm sure the mark she put on Terrible is going to have some interesting side effects.

Chelsea wrote: "Katie(babs) wrote: "I just hope in the next Chess book she and Terrible are happy and Chess doesn't do something stupid to ruin things between them.

I think Lex will be lurking around to shakes th..."

and lots of hot sex in bathrooms and tunnels? Hopefully a bed at one point ;)

Or in a car... hm.

LOLOL I keep forgetting these books aren't romances. I'm betting on one or two sex scenes max, so I want something unique! Katie, would you accept a bed...in a strange place? Chess and Lex did it on a bed, but that totally doesn't count.

Jackie wrote: "LOLOL I keep forgetting these books aren't romances. I'm betting on one or two sex scenes max, so I want something unique! Katie, would you accept a bed...in a strange place? Chess and Lex did it o..."

How about a nice bubble bath? Poor Chess has been Terrible sexed up in the most disgusting of places.

I want car sex. Can you imagine big Terrible in the backseat? hehe

Jackie wrote: "I want car sex. Can you imagine big Terrible in the backseat? hehe"


His car has great shocks.;)

i love how we're all such suckers for "Chessiebomb".
that totally got us ALL! (besides the 'TERRIBLE' sex)

Jackie, I can think of several people who would die for some action in the back of that Chevelle.

Chelsea wrote: "Jackie, I can think of several people who would die for some action in the back of that Chevelle."

Amen!!

I'm going to do a re read. *sigh* I need book 4 NOW!!!!!

Chelsea wrote: "Jackie, I can think of several people who would die for some action in the back of that Chevelle."

In the back, on top, on the sides.... ;)

Blaring Black Flag. : )

Tori wrote: "I'm going to do a re read. *sigh* I need book 4 NOW!!!!!"

We were thinking of doing a mass re-read and discussing the chapters here. What do you think about that Tori?

Bells wrote: "Tori wrote: "I'm going to do a re read. *sigh* I need book 4 NOW!!!!!"

We were thinking of doing a mass re-read and discussing the chapters here. What do you think about that Tori?"

Great idea! I love this series so much. *sigh*

Anyone else surprised at Lex in this book? That he stuck around after Terrible beat him down, that he offered to help move the body so Chess could tell the Church about it, that he went looking for her at Terrible's b/c he thought Terrible was killing her (and this is after TErrible beat him down!) and then that he risks his life and that of his men by going down into the City. I was surprised by him and impressed. I think Chess really sells herself short and people like her, are imperssed by her -- so no matter what Lex wanted, he ended up liking her.

Terrible -- what a name. :) I do wonder how a relationship between the two of them will be. They understand each other so well, have similar insecurities and they need each other.

It's funny because I think Lex thinks he isn't good enough for her. He was so forlorn when she broke things off. He said he knew it was going to happen, but didn't think it would happen so soon. It may have started out as just sex, but I'm telling you, he really cares for her.

I think so too. I like Terrible and care for him (as much as one can for a literary character!), but I do feel for Lex. He also went after Doyle on her behalf ...... and both Lex and Terrible were in similar situations. Their bosses had them get Chess to use her.

Regina wrote: "I think so too. I like Terrible and care for him (as much as one can for a literary character!), but I do feel for Lex. He also went after Doyle on her behalf ...... and both Lex and Terrible wer..."

I think Lex wants Chess more than he lets on... I'm hoping book four brings us a true love triangle. BUT, with Chess always going for Terrible in the end FOR SURE!

Lex and Terrible both see more in Chess than she sees in herself. The fact that they were willing to work together to find her and help her at the end is pretty awesome, and Kane makes it believable.

Terrible is so good for Chess that I'm hopeful -- though I know she'll screw things up, because she's such a mess -- that the following books will show her slowly moving (in a two-steps-forward,one-step-back kind of way) in a better direction, and maybe starting to heal from her past a little bit.

I think I need to start at the beginning and re-read all three books, sigh. That will at least help pass the time until book 4.

When it comes down to it, Lex is a decent bloke. I can't recall him doing anything to Chess to deliberately compromise her dignity. And while I don't think he was necessarily emotionally invested in their sexual relationship (like, I don't think he considered her his girlfriend, but an easy piece of ass), I do think he DOES like her and respect her as much as he can.

If ever there were a so-called "deleted scene" that I'd want to read, it's the one where Lex shows up in full battle mode ready to rescue Chess from Terrible. Because like as not, Terrible was at Bump's, and Lex and his men came through the sewers.

I think the fact that he was willing to do that demonstrates the level of his respect and feelings that Lex has for Chessie. Diana that would be an amazing scene! Maybe we should post a request on Stacey's blog!

I like your theory Penny. Interesting, as it is very similar to what the Lamaru are attemtping to do -- create chaos so they can control.

Pennyddreadful, that would be an interesting angle to the book. Something I could see Chess struggling with toward the end of the series, since she LOVES the Church so much; it's given her strength, stability, a purpose, a job, and recognition and training for her skills. But I do find them (with the exception of Elder Griffin, who seems a genuinely kind man) rather creeptastic.

The farther the series progresses, the creepier the Church gets. Stacia's done an excellent job of using the epigraphs and other details to paint a gradually darker picture of them. I do keep thinking that Chess is going to eventually be confronted with something about the church that just tears it all apart for her, but I don't know what that would be.

@ Lily - I totally agree.

I think there are a lot of directions to explore in the new books - how Chess started her addiction, more on her and Terrible's pasts, the sigil in Terrible, the aftermath of Chess killing the psychopomp, looking more closely at the Church, how Lex really feels about Chess, etc. And doesn't Chess seem rather powerful, but she just doesn't know it yet?

I get worried, though, when characters like Chess and Terrible are put together. I'm always scared that someone will screw it up. We know we get at least 2 more books in this series - Terrible and Chess can't be a happy couple for 2 entire books? I mean they can...I don't want to see them apart, but you know how things go....as long as they end up together in the end :)

I am finally on the list at the library for this book. I can't wait!

Just so you guys know, the only reason I don't post a lot here is because I can NOT emotionally handle it. I'm an obsessive freak about these books and would drive you all mad. -plus I would never leave here, work would suffer, I would get fired, my kids would starve. #IgotsTERRIBLEfever

Karen @kujo317

Does anyone here besides me think that the Elder Griffin(?) has a past with Chess? He seems to go out of his way to find her when she's at the church and REALLY seems to care about her more then just an employee.

I'm interested in learning more about Elder Griffin too! It's so hard to wait. I can't wait to see where Stacia takes the series!

GAHHHH...I want book 4 NOW!! lol