Review: 5 Stars for Finding Magic
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 11, 2012
Finding Magic is a prequel to Stacia's `Downside Ghosts' series. The series is an Urban Fantasy about 18 year old Cesaria `Chess' Putnam, a professional paranormal Debunker. There is a high level of paranormal activity in this book and makes mention of Magic, but not a lot of it is shown. This book delves us into the psyche of our Heroine Chess and where she came from before earning her position with the Church.This storyline gives us a wonderful look into where she came from. Stacia does an excellent job describing Chess' inner fears and a great look at her abusive history. The author perfectly describes her as the hard-edged, soft-hearted female she is. The plot starts in the last year of her education and a week-long training period on the Black Squad.After accepting the training request from Elder Hancock, she is thrown into the middle of a murder investigation. Chess' trainer, Jillian, and the other members of the Black Squad want to blow this off as another random ghost killing and leave Chess in the classroom where she belongs. These are accepted occurrences since Haunted Week 15 years prior when the ghosts made their presence known and put an end to all organized religion.Chess disagrees with their decision and pushes to do her own investigation into the subjects involved. Jillian allows Chess to investigate the killings, thinking she can placate her and teach her a lesson at the same time. The investigation drags up bad memories of her past that she is forced to deal with the only way she knows how: Vodka.Chess' hunches prove correct, quite to her dismay, as she and her trainer are captured by the ghost controlling assassin. Thanks to her quick (or drug induced) thinking the ending is a complete surprise to this reader and makes me crave the rest of the series, that I MUST now go purchase to follow the rest of the exploits of Chess and her Debunking career.After reading this book from front to back in a 5 hour period, I can honestly say it is riveting and will definitely keep your interest peaked and your free time full. 5 stars from this reviewer, and I am now a fan of Stacia Kane. Thank you for writing this series.