Review: how it all began
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 31, 2012
Novella length origin story for Chess. Although it could be seen as a prequel to Stacia Kane's Downside Ghost series, it's probably best for established fans who want to dig into Chess' past, rather than as an alternate beginning to the series.More than anything, Finding Magic made me long for the chance to see Chess from someone else's point of view - to see what Elder Griffin sees, what her colleagues see, what the frauds who she meets during her working hours as a Debunker see. What Terrible sees, maybe, though I feel like I have a sense of that; I want a look at Chess through a stranger's eyes.I loved having a taste of the Downside series, and I'll take a hit of Chess in any form I can get it, but I'm just not a novella person. I don't like the short format and while Finding Magic told a complete story, it felt very familiar to me - Chess' complex self-loathing issues, the strange way that the Church functions as a kind of abusive parent for her, her faith in the institution constantly reinforcing her own dim view of herself; the mix of insight and simple hard work that distinguishes her as a gifted investigator; her poor social skills; the way her abrasive exterior hides a too-soft interior.That's about that, I guess. If you like Downside, you'll like Finding Magic.