Sacrificial Magic - Stacia Kane

Sacrificial Magic (Downside Ghosts # 4)- Stacia Kane
Grade: Adult UF
Rating: 5/5 Stars

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: Chess’s boyfriend, Terrible, doesn’t trust her, and Lex, the son of a rival crime lord, is trying to reignite the sparks between him and Chess.

Plus there’s the little matter of Chess’s real job as a ghost hunter for the Church of Real Truth, investigating reports of a haunting at a school in the heart of Downside. 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 (Description from Goodreads)

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I cannot begin to explain just how excited I was when I had this book in my hands (yes, there may have been some jumping). The Downside Ghosts series has become one of my favourites and I’m always eager for more.

Another book, another case for our favourite Debunker. Being one of the best Debunkers the Church has (I always wonder just how more amazing she’d be without those drugs in her system), Chess has been given the task to investigate a school- a school in Slobag’s territory- that had made the previous Debunker on the case go crazy. That right there are just two things that make this case dangerous.

But that’s not the only thing Chess has to worry about. Someone is killing Bump’s men using dark magic and Chess has to find out who it is before a war breaks out between Slobag and Bump, putting her beloved Terrible in danger.

I know in my past reviews I tend to go on about Terrible, and this book increased my Terrible Fever, but what really impressed me in this book was Chess.

Now, some might think Chess is weak, taking all those drugs to erase her past. But I don’t. Chess is such a strong character. She has the will to live despite her horrific past. I adore Chess. This book had a larger emphasis on her relationships, and what I admire about Chess is that even though she’s terrified- has every reason to be that way- she still takes the chance in relationships. Chess grew as a character, and it was an amazing thing to see. The one thing that worries me is what would happen if the Church ever finds out about her addiction. So much has gone wrong in her life that I hope that the one thing she’s proud of- her job and her ability- never gets taken away from her.

Sacrificial Magic is dark, gritty and absolutely un-put-downable. Stacia Kane, you have done it again. Another epic read!



Kerrie

Originally posted on Goodreads