Oh Chess.

This was a good book. I'm honestly impressed with how the author manages to convey Chess's discomfort with situations, and my chest tightens reflexively when she's attempting to deal with something that's completely out of her arena and the only thing she can really come up with is flat terror. Like Terrible. Like Lex.

It also makes the books hard to read sometimes, but this one was cathartic. I'm concerned for her future, but at least she's sorted out her present. I'm really curious to have some more information about the activities at the end -- the investigation, Chess's part in it -- and I hope we get more details in the next book. Either way, good show.
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There sure was a lot of angst in this one. I think I broke some kind of personal record for length of time to finish something that should really only take me a few days.
That said, I like this world, and now that Chess and Terrible are finally together and hopefully the worst of the hand-wringing is over, I plan to continue with the series.
Parts dragged, but the last 100 pages or so were whiz-bang. There was more Terrible and slightly less self-loathing on the part of Chess as the book hit the home stretch. And the scenes at Lauren's and in the City, also toward the end, were the most exciting ones in the book.
I still recommend this series for its fresh take on urban fantasy and its interesting characters. I just want one of those characters not to mope so much in the next book.
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These just keep getting better. Can't wait for the next one. Going to squeeze in the novellas next. ( )

Oh god, the angst! It was almost physically painful to read some of this. I suppose it says a lot about me how much I can relate to Chess and how so much of what Kane writes hits home. Chess and Terrible are my new favorite couple since ever. They're both so profoundly damaged, but god, their story is so painful and beautiful.

Re-read in 2017: These books twist my heart up so much! I get so sucked into the amazing world Kane creates and I've never loved characters quite so much. Terrible may be one of my favorite male protagonists/love interests ever. I just want a full book of basking in the afterglow of the final two pages of this book, but I know there is more pain up next, so I might just stop the re-reading here... ( )

Chess has messed up. In the last book she let herself be blackmailed to lie to the church thanks to her drug addiction. She killed a pscyhopomp, a crime punishable by death. She nearly died. Worst of all, she shattered Terrible's heart by sleeping with one of his sworn enemies, and got caught in the process of doing it.

Needless to say this is not a high point in Chess's life. She doesn't have a great self image of herself to begin with, but she at least had her Churchwitch powers and a man who thought she was as close to angelic as he was ever going to meet. Now, after breaking Terrible's trust she's feeling like a drugged out whore and she's not so convinced her Churchwitchiness is even that impressive. Than the church calls on her to join up with the Black Ops squad and solve a crime that has Lamaru written all over it. She gets paired up with the Grand Elders daughter Lauren, and they don't exactly get along.

Lauren is dead set on ignoring Chess's every recommendation and running the investigation her way. Chess already prefers working alone, but dealing with a spoiled princess makes it all even worse. As the investigation goes on it becomes obvious the Lamaru aren't the only troublesome creatures afoot. Genetic freaks stalk the streets. Dogs are being killed and bodies are showing up with evidence of bite marks. When the Church's magic can't be trusted and the enemy can turn it back against you, what does a debunker like Chess have to work with? Terrible's certainly not interested in dealing with her and she's avoiding Lex as much as possible, now that she's tryin to stay out of her bed.

Probably my favorite thing about Chess is that for a druggy and a semi-depressed individual she just doesn't give up. She's fanatically attached to the Church and hell bent on not letting it down. I'll admit from book 1 I have not been convinced the Church is really a good entitiy. Rather they seem to benefit an awful lot from evil ghosts, while the other groups would like to get rid of evil ghosts. Is that so bad? Of course I don't trust the Lamaru either, so rock and a hard spot?

Chess is also not like so many other female heroines. She continally gets trapped in bad situations and I keep expecting Terrible or Lex to sweep in and save her. Not happening. I won't spoil things, but she's got some survival skills! She doesn't need any man to come rescue her. Maybe a ride here and there after a near death experience, but then who doesn't?

Terrible fans like myself will be in for a bumpy ride this book. He spends a lot of it avoiding her. Even more time is spent fighting. In the end though I think we all know our boy loves his Chessiebomb, which is the most adorable, ridiculous nickname ever. If you loved the first 2, you'll love this one. I stayed out well past my bed time to finish it and walked around with my face glued to my kindle for days. Only the Ilona Andrews Christmas gift managed to slow me down on this one. ( )