APRIL FEATURE #1: Sacrificial Magic by Stacia Kane

[paulgoatallen]

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[paulgoatallen]

Youy know, I can't say enough about this series – when the first three installments of the Downside saga were released in the summer of 2010 (Unholy Ghosts, Unholy Magic, and City of Ghosts), I described the novels as “a saga that not only features deeply realized and meticulously described world building but also profoundly moving themes that are more than topical in today’s society” and I boldly stated that these novels are redefining paranormal fantasy as we know it.

Yep. Stacia Kane's Downside saga is redefining paranormal fantasy. There is no other series quite like it – it's dark and gritty and heartwrenching and erotic and absolutely and utterly powerful. Arguably the best series out there, right up there with Kim Harrison's Hollows, Kat's Greywalker, etc. 

I have IMPATIENTLY waited almost two years for this new novel, Sacrificial Magic, which I have in my hands right now. I'll be reading this book tonight so stayed tuned for my thoughts when I'm finished.

Seriously though, isn't this series just some of the very best paranormal fantasy that you've EVER read? Someone back me up here......

[BrandieC]

Paul, I'll back you up!  (You've got a lot of backers, too, on Sacrifical Magic's product page, where the reader reviews are uniformly glowing.)   I thought the decision to release the first three books essentially back to back (I think their releases were a month apart) was wonderful; I downloaded all three to my NOOK and devoured them one after the other.  I felt a pleasant sense of closure after the third book, though, so I will be anxiously awaiting your review of Sacrificial Magic to see whether it lives it up its predecessors.

[SciFiCanuck]

Well that decides it...I HAVE to start this series.  :-)  I have the first 3 and just picked up this one.  So many books!!!!!    Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh...  

[BrandieC]

@SciFiCanuck:

At least these are so much fun that they are relatively fast reads .

[AngieG]

Well you piqued my interest; I just downloaded the first one to my Nook, it was only 99 cents!

[jgmme]

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AngieG wrote:

Well you piqued my interest; I just downloaded the first one to my Nook, it was only 99 cents!

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Cool.....I am going to get it too for 99cents, thanks for the heads up.

[SciFiCanuck]

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AngieG wrote:

Well you piqued my interest; I just downloaded the first one to my Nook, it was only 99 cents!

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Woohoo, cheap like borstch!  LOL

[paulgoatallen]

Okay friends, here are my thoughts about this book – and this series. Feel free to agree or to call me crazy!  

http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Explorations-The-BN-SciFi-and/Love-Hate-Love-Why-Stacia-Kane-...

[Fangbanger]

I am definitely going to check this series out.  I have been seeing a lot of people on the boards here are reading and loving the series, and now that it has Paul's stamp of approval I am going to pick them up on payday.  Chess sounds like my kinda paranormal fantasy heroine, dark, twisty, and damaged.  Bring it on.

[SciFiCanuck]

Okay I did it!!  Just finished Deliverance by Dakota Banks and grabbed Unholy Ghosts...on Chapter 1.  Long ways to go to get to this book, LOL!

[paulgoatallen]

You know what's interesting about the Stacia Kane blog I posted last week? Not 1 comment! For me, this speaks volumes – while I think that the "hardcore" paranormal fantasy fans know about this awesome saga, it seems as though no one else does.

Do you think the realism of these novels – namely a drug abusing heroine – turns readers off? Just curious because in my opinion this series is just a towering literary achievement – mainstream readers should've discovered these novels by now and it should be a series just as popular as the Hollows, Anita Blake, Sookie, etc.....

[BrandieC]

Paul, I thought about posting a comment to your blog review of Sacrificial Magic, but I figured another "thanks for a great review, now I'm running out to buy the book" comment wasn't particularly useful .

To answer your question, though, I would be surprised if readers are turned off by Chess's character once they start to read the series.  I suspect the issue is more likely to be that, if you are not already a fan of this genre, you may not even pick up the first book, so you don't have the opportunity to get hooked.  I think I've mentioned this before elsewhere, but I had never even heard of paranormal fantasy until I purchased my NOOK and B&N offered the first Dresden Files book as a Free Friday giveaway.  It sounded interesting enough that I was willing to try it because it was free; then I got hooked, found your blog, and started exploring other authors.

Someone else noted that the first eBook in the Downside Ghosts saga is currently being offered at $0.99, presumably as a promotion for Sacrificial Magic, so that may attract more readers.  Ultimately, though, I think what this and other great series which have not found a broader mainstream audience need is for cheerleaders like you to reach that broader audience.  I don't know how you decide which reviews to post to the Explorations blog and which to the Unabashedly Bookish blog, but it may be significant that your Stacia Kane reviews can be seen as "preaching to the choir."  I think it would be really interesting if it were possible to track purchase trends after you post your reviews, to see if the location of the posting has an effect on how many people purchase the book.  Based on comments to your previous blog posts, I suspect your reviews lead many people to purchase books they might not otherwise notice; maybe you need to negotiate some sort of commission deal with the authors .

[Fangbanger]

It is somewhat surprising to me that this is the first I'm hearing about this series.  I am a longtime lurker/poster on the boards and have gotten a lot of my urban fantasy series recommendations from the different threads and only recently did I start seeing things about this series.  

I can understand how Chess's character could turn people off.  She is kind of unabashed and unapologetic about her drug use yet at the same time in no way does Kane glorify addiction.  I actually really like Chess so far, but that may change since I am only a few chapters into the first book.  I have always been surprised that a lot of heroes/heroines from urban fantasy novels aren't substance abusers because of all the stuff they go through.  I like that the books are written in third person, I think that helps with objectivity.  If Chess was narrating, there may have been a lot of justifications and excuses, in third person, even though it is told from her perspective, it is never made to seem glamourous. 

[MADIS]

Sorry Paul.  I considered commenting on the blog too, but "You are right" did not seem like a good enough response. 

I find the conversation about this book possibly being a turnoff to some fans as interesting.  I actually used it to get a friend to read urban fantasy.  We agreed to read a book recommended by each other.  It took me a long time to make my decision, but I decided on the Downside series as I did not want to give him something with the stereotypical sexy vampires and werewolves that he always teased me about.  The unique concept highlights the creative edge that urban fantasy has. Also, this series has a lower "romance" level than many.  I thought the grittiness of the series made it a good starting point for a guy not really familiar with the genre.  He loved it!

BUT, I did feel like I had to have a frank conversation with him with regards to religion.  It does have the potential to raise some hackles in that area.  I am not a person who has this conflict, but I was unsure of his reaction to that aspect.  He was fine with it, but after reading it he understood why I ask about it.

[SciFiCanuck]

I'm a chapter or two into the book and think that people may find some of the dialogue hard to read.  Obviously because some of the characters appear to have grown up on the street and not really had proper schooling.  I seem to remember people complaining about it before.  But hey, it makes sense...I'm okay with it.  :-)  Yeah I can also see some people taking the religious stuff, and possibly being offended by some of it but I grew up going to church and realize this is, HELLO, fiction.  It doesn't bother me.  :-)

Enjoying the book so far!

[paulgoatallen]

Excellent comments you guys.

And Brandie and MADIS, please feel free to write anything positive on that – and future – blogs, even if it is a "I agree." You would be surprised at who reads these blogs – and not just the authors. Lots of industry people – publicists, publishers, other authors, etc.

I know for a fact that Stacia reads the Explorations blogs and that she would love to see the support. Also, FYI: Chasing Magic hits the shelves June 26th! 

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[Fangbanger]

I was totally going to mention the church and religion stuff, but I forgot.  I agree that the way that religion is handled could be a turnoff for some people, but I for one think that it is another thing that makes this series unique.  Other series, have had religious sects pop up that are populated by supes or that further a supernatural agenda, but Christianity was still out there and the prevalent religion.  It is interesting that the church has been done away with totally and no one really believes anymore.  I love the throwaway lines from Chess about it.  At the end of the last chapter I finished she said something like, "I'd pray, if prayer was allowed anymore."  Brillaint.

The dialogue of some of the Downsiders took a little getting used to, but after reading "Their Eyes Were Watching God" this was nothing.

[SciFiCanuck]

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Fangbanger wrote:

I was totally going to mention the church and religion stuff, but I forgot.  I agree that the way that religion is handled could be a turnoff for some people, but I for one think that it is another thing that makes this series unique.  Other series, have had religious sects pop up that are populated by supes or that further a supernatural agenda, but Christianity was still out there and the prevalent religion.  It is interesting that the church has been done away with totally and no one really believes anymore.  I love the throwaway lines from Chess about it.  At the end of the last chapter I finished she said something like, "I'd pray, if prayer was allowed anymore."  Brillaint.

The dialogue of some of the Downsiders took a little getting used to, but after reading "Their Eyes Were Watching God" this was nothing.

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LMAO, I just read that today...I think you and I are in the same place!  :-)

[Fangbanger]

That is awesome, SciFi.  I am loving this series.  I just finished Unholy Ghosts and now I am moving on to Unholy Ghosts.  I cannot get enough.  When I am at work all I can think of is what is going to happen next.  I am hooked.