A wholly original storyline with a strangely likeable 'unlikeable' heroine who is almost damaged beyond all functioning yet somehow manages to keep her head above water - albeit barely. I found this series to be a 'grab you by the scruff of the neck, drag you through the mire' urban fantasy, as we duck and bob and weave with our almost anti-hero Chess. I highly recommend this to lovers of quality urban (dark, noir whatever YOU call it) fantasy and have made this series a must have every book, and elevated it as a keeper on a bulging library of 6500++.
 - Stacia Kane)