Stacia Kane

Unholy Ghosts (Downside Ghosts, Book 1)

Rhiannon Mansfield

Chess Putnam is a troubled young witch who hunts down and banishes angry spirits. Still haunted by the memories of her abusive childhood, she has developed a drug problem in order to stifle her thoughts. But her problem frequently gets in her way and it could see her lose everything.

Unholy Ghosts

Jasmine

Re read Oct/31/2021
Whiches and ghosts, morally grey characters, and amazing unexpected slow burn romance are why I keep coming back! This is becoming one of my most re-read series these books and characters never seem to want to let me go and the next thing I know another year and another re-read haha. This time around Halloween which is perfectly fitting for this series vibes. Gosh Chess and Terrible, especially Terrible I don't have words for how much I love them!! ALL THE FUCKING FEELS! They own me! Chess can't see it yet but the fact she feels so comfortable around him, they have an unspoken connection, she grew to trust him, wants to be around him, and likes how he genuinely listens to her. They have this very small little banter thing that happens from time to time, and I swear I hear a click every time it happens. 

 It's so early on but the way she lets herself lean on him and it's very telling for their future. The fact even early on you can tell he'll drop anything for her and is willing to put himself at risk to protect her. He doesn't judge her for her addiction because he can tell she's had a hard life. I love that every re-read I pick up on new details and it only makes me appreciate their build-up even more every time. Kills me the only time he thinks the time she wanted him is because she was so fucked up on drugs. Her thinking he stopped anything from happening because he was disgusted with her when really he didn't want to take advantage of her in that state. Then her pretending it never happened the next day, and him letting her have that out even if he could tell she was lying. Damn, they give me good angst even in book 1!! Can't wait to experience it all again, even the pain because it turns into something beautiful! Even though I think where it ends is okay this series is still incomplete and I'm not giving up on the hope that one day book 6 will be released. 

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Re read November 8, 2020
I'm a lot in love and a little bit addicted to this series I think!!
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Update 10/01/2018
5 Stars for this reread 
I had so much fun rereading this series, I often say I'm going to get around to rereading some of my favorite series but it's so rare it actually happens!! Couldn't have asked for a better fall read and I love me some stories with ghosts, witches, and beautifully flawed characters!! XD

so many things I forgot and got to experience again, and the moments I did remember I got to see from a slightly different perspective. Poor lost me I really missed out on so much the first time around. Also, Chess's motives for using is very evident, even if every time her mind starts to go into the dark parts she instantly slams those memories down, those moments insights we do get form a very clear puzzle.

I still think if you're first reading this series this book is harder to get into, but that being said when you already love the characters like I do (especially Terrible!!!) then all those first problems I had pretty much evaporated. Funnily enough out of all the books, this one was the most interesting to look back on because of the very drastic change in my opinion as my love for the series continues to grow. 

Experiencing everything from the beginning made me appreciate my love for this series, the whole gritty downside world Stacia has created, and all the different relationships between the characters so much more than I thought possible.

Also, the slow build of Chess and Terrible's relationship was magnificent to see some of the subtler moments that went completely under my radar but now I can see as plain as day. I really never realize how early that connection started to form and ugh I love it so much!!<3

*I really need to do more re reads because they're 100% worth it, even though I own way too many books I also have and want to get to haha! In the end, I think as long as you're enjoying a good book it doesn't matter which one you choose to read!! 
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Original Review:
3.5 Stars overall
(but bumping it up 4 because it made do a complete turn around by the end)
Yeah, I think this book has potential and I'm definitely willing to read more to find out more! Lately, I've kinda been on an urban fantasy kick and while I still have my favorites(Fever, EIT, Graveyard Queen) most are ending soon, or have already ended. This is also why I've been reading a lot more lately in hopes of discovering some new favorites.

This one surprised me because at first I really didn't think this would be a book I'd enjoy. The character's names certainly didn't help I mean Bump, Terrible, Chess, Hunchback... my mind kept conjuring up these different caricatures instead of real people and as a result, I couldn't connect to any of them at first. As a personal rule, I try my hardest not to DNF books and I do read them all the way to the end and give the author a fair chance to change my mind. Besides, at the time I was commuting to my class so it's not like I had anything better to do than try to continue on.

And surprise of all surprises once I got past a few of my original hangups this book really started to grow on me. For example, I like how imperfect the characters are and how dark and gritty the downside world is. Chess is a hard character to like because of the constant poor choices she makes, like the fact she is a drug addict and shows no signs of giving up her addiction is hard. I wish there was more backstory to understand her motives better but maybe that will come in later books. There are definitely hints from Chess that before she got taken in by the church she suffered abuse from her foster dads or siblings. I think it's safe to say based on specific parts of the book it's clear she went through a lot at a young age to survive when she was an orphan.

 Terrible is a character who currently intrigues me maybe the most, his dialog sometimes can be hard to understand at first, but there is still something that I gravitate towards. It's sad but I think this might actually be the first urban fantasy series where the main guy isn't your typical "so unbelievably hot, it's almost inhuman archetype of a hero" idk that was sorta refreshing and I've never come across that in any series. There's more to him than meets the eye and I think we just scratched the surface. Although he's seen as uneducated and while never having a formal education he's actually pretty smart and intuitive. I think he is highly underestimated by most people and I'm glad Chess picked up on some of that. Even if she seems taken back by how quickly he understands certain things.

 The gore that is in this book might be just a tad too much for me because certain images won't be leaving my head anytime soon (worms in the skin, yep wish I could erase that one!). The romance was a pretty small aspect and I found there to be a good balance between the storyline and the more character driven aspects. It's clearly a character driven book but it has a fast-moving and fairly intriguing plot too. I look forward to seeing how this story develops, I might not be hooked yet but my interest is piqued and that's all I need to read on!!

Elizabeth Neill

I really enjoyed the world building and it made me feel like I was in this world. I love anything dealing with ghost and the after life. The only problem I had with the story I really didn't like the main character. She was really well written but I just didn't like her. Maybe I will like her better as I continue with the series.

Sarah Escorsa

· A MacHalo Freaks buddy read! Yay and stuff! ·



DNF at 60%

I'm in a pretty foul mood these days so I'm afraid this is not going to go well. Actually I don't even feel like reviewing this, I've wasted enough time with this book as it is. BUT I need to get it all out of my system so here goes.

If you love this book you might want to either take a few steps back or not read this review at all. If you do read it, don't even think of giving me hell about it afterwards, I've had it with trolls.

What this book isn't:
✔ Original
✔ Weird
✔ Dark
✔ Creepy
✔ Gritty
✔ Horrific
✔ Gripping

I'm pretty sure the author wanted the book to be all these things but guess what? EPIC FAIL.

What this book is:
✔ Boring
✔ Boring
✔ Boring
✔ Boring
✔ Boring
✔ Boring
✔ Boring



✘ No I didn't think the story had potential.
✘ No I didn't think the world building was mind-blowingly creative.
✘ No I didn't think the book was uber cool because drug use is a character in itself (someone please kill me).
✘ No I didn't think the characters were either interesting or well-developed.
✘ No I didn't think Chess was a badass (you're kidding right? Please tell me you're kidding).
✘ No I didn't like Terrible the "bad boy with a heart" (can I scream here?).
✘ No I didn't think the supposed "action" scenes were either exciting or well-written.



✔ Yes I thought that the author was trying too hard to be original and failed miserably.
✔ Yes I thought that this was one of the flattest, most unemotional, lacklustre stories I've ever read.
✔ Yes I thought that the characters had zero depth and less personality than barnacles.
✔ Yes I thought that Chess was the weakest, most pathetic heroine ever.
✔ Yes I thought that Terrible was the most clichéd character ever. Then again I've probably seen too many noir movies from the 1940s.
✔ Yes I thought that Terrible was the lamest character name ever.
✔ Yes I thought that I would eventually OD from all the drugs Chess was doing.



Anything else? Let me think. Oh yes, I know. Please don't even think of selling me a UF series by telling me there will eventually be romance or a love story of sorts between some of the characters. This is not what I'm looking for when I read UF. If I want to read a freaking love story I'll get myself some PNR. Get it? Good.

One last piece of advice for Chess:



Are you still here? I have to say writing this was one of the most cathartic experiences ever and I feel much better now. Thanks for staying with me through it all.

Now time for me to go and read an actual book.

Nickie Mohler

After the world was overrun with ghosts, government failed, and The Church of Real Truth emerged to save the day. The Church employs people with magical abilities and that are capable of sending the ghosts back where they belong. Chess is a Debunker for the Church of Real Truth. She gets a file, goes out to see if they have a legitimate haunting, or if they are just scammers. Chess is also a drug addict. Strange things have been happening. Is it real, or just a side effect of the drugs? I kept seeing posts about this series on this site in The Urban Fixation book club, and finally got around to starting the series. They are right, it is a good series! Thanks for the recommendation!

I have to say, I liked it even more the second time around! This time, I'm going to continue on with the series right now!!

Lacey

This was a very interesting book. Not exactly sure of my thoughts on it, but I did enjoy it. I can't decide between a 3 or 4 star rating, but I'll go with a 4 because the second half of the book really hooked me in. Chess is a likeable character, although far from perfect, and I really want to see more of Terrible. I loved that one scene between the two of them! Very hot ;)

Unholy Ghosts (Downside Ghosts, Book 1)

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