Review: Chess Is More Empathetic
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 26, 2012
I read these books like they are drugs...but my biggest problem with the books has always been Chess's drug use.  Only in the last installment was I ever able to muster any empathy to her whatsoever.  I hate the place that she is in, she is whiny, she doesn't deserve Terrible.  (Who really is loveable and endearing as a character despite the lifestyle he leads).  But in learning more about her background, I did feel a sorry for her.  With "Finding Magic" I found myself really feeling for Chess and empathizing with her.  "Finding Magic" is very much worth the .99 cents its being sold for right now.  It is a nice length, fully fleshout out story.  It shows us Chess and her life when she was just finishing up her Church training and trying to find which career to pursue with the Church.  She is invited to train with the Black Squad but is treated like a know-nothing kid.  Her ideas are pushed aside and she is patronized by her trainer Jillian time and again. What readers know, but Jillian and the Black Squad don't, is that Chess is one smart girl.  She makes connections and figures things out despite everyone not believing her capable.  In these aspects we can see the Chess we have come to know.What I found most compelling about this novella wasn't the (very interesting) story of the ghost murders.  It was watching Chess start with a sip or two of vodka to make it through the bad parts of her day...it was seeing how the drugs hooked her at the start...it was seeing her relationship begin with Elder Griffin.  Most of all it was being privy to all of her inner turmoil.  She is so afraid of being dropped by the Church and of being unworthy and disguarded.  This is what remains of the abused, neglected girl she was before the Church took her in.  It is absolutely heartbreaking.I'd love to see Chess clean herself up.  I know its a far away place from where she is now in the series but I believe she can do it.  Even if it takes a long time that is fine by me.  I'd be more than willing to read every book Stacia Kane needs to write to get her there.