The Lost (Celestial Blues, #2)

May 21, 2013 Shelley aka Gizmo's Reviews rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-releases, urban-fantasy, edelweiss-arc

*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3-3.5

*First Thoughts*

The Lost is the continuation of the Celestial Blues series featuring former PI now Centurion Griffin Shaw who was given a second chance to find out who murdered him and intrepid rockabilly girl reporter Kit Craig who Griffin saved in The Taken and has a few skeleton's in her closet as well.

The Lost actually takes place four months after the ending of The Taken. Once again Petterson sends readers on an emotionally dark path that includes Kit's p...more *Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3-3.5

*First Thoughts*

The Lost is the continuation of the Celestial Blues series featuring former PI now Centurion Griffin Shaw who was given a second chance to find out who murdered him and intrepid rockabilly girl reporter Kit Craig who Griffin saved in The Taken and has a few skeleton's in her closet as well.

The Lost actually takes place four months after the ending of The Taken. Once again Petterson sends readers on an emotionally dark path that includes Kit's past that she's trying hard to forget including the fact that her father's death has never been solved, and Griffin's inability to put his supposedly deceased wife Evie out of his mind while focusing on his new relationship with Kit.

The Lost's front story is the fact that apparently a Russian mob has moved into Las Vegas with a new drug called Krokodil that is so powerful, that it leaves the abuser on death's bed. As a side story, there's a very dangerous Fallen Angel named Scratch is after Kit because she burns brightly and is pure in spirit. If that weren't enough suspense for you, Kit's Aunt Marin seemingly has some secrets that she's kept away from Kit since she was 16. It's also apparent that Pettersson wants to stir up a hornet's nest by introducing Detective Dennis Carlisle into the storyline.

For readers who finished The Lost, the main subject and mystery has been and always will be Griffin's determination to find out who killed him and his wife, and for what reason. Tying up loose ends that span 50 years in length is not an easy thing to accomplish. Call it frustrating if you will, but, I found Kit's mock determination to continually badger and judge Griffin over the fact that he still dreams about his not so perfect wife, a little much.

The ending of The Lost has left me feeling emotionally drained, and I really should have seen it coming since Pettersson likes to torture her readers. The ending is going to haunt me until the next book is released. I find myself having serious doubts about liking Kit at the moment even though I understood her reasons for her actions in the end. In my humble opinion, they were totally, and absolutely WRONG! But, it is something that Kit's personality would tell her to do. She also spends the entire book in a mood, and not a good one. She's absolutely feeling jealously towards Evie, a woman she's never met. She rushes into situations without thinking about what the consequences are first. For the most part, Griffin is there as her protector but he can't be everywhere at once.

I feel really, really bad for Griffin after everything he did in order to save Kit's life. It wasn't a shock to see Sarge's interference in Griffin and Kit's lives by revealing a shocking secret or the fact that another character puts serious doubts into Griffin's mind. Sarge obviously planned this strategy out in order to get Kit back in line. I can only hope that Petterrson doesn't drag out the question about who really killed Griffin Shaw. The Lost laid the foundation for the big reveal by introducing and revealing several key players in Shaw's demise and the reasoning behind it.

Recvd via Edelweiss 01/25/2013* Expected publication: March 19th 2013 by Harper Voyager (less)

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May 13, 2013 Lise rated it 5 of 5 stars

Book 2 in Vicki Pettersson's Celestial Blues series (don't you just love that series title? I do!) is another journey through the rockabilly culture with Griffin Shaw - Centurian and tour guide to the beyond for the soon-to-be deceased and "Kit" Craig, the rockabilly chick he saved from fated death in The Taken, only to find himself in holy trouble after breaking the rules. Their forced companionship to solve the crime that did occur, as well as Griffin's quest to track down his own killers - fr...more

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Apr 08, 2013 OpenBookSociety.com rated it 3 of 5 stars

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

*Beware of possible Spoilers*

Grif and Kit have been living together for four months now and have happily started creating a life together. They can even anticipate what the other is thinking or what they’re going to do. But one thing still haunts their relationship. Grif’s former wife, Evie. Finding out who killed her and himself has become an obsession to Grif, one that even haunts his dreams or make that his nightmares. The one thing that constantly fills Ki...more Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

*Beware of possible Spoilers*

Grif and Kit have been living together for four months now and have happily started creating a life together. They can even anticipate what the other is thinking or what they’re going to do. But one thing still haunts their relationship. Grif’s former wife, Evie. Finding out who killed her and himself has become an obsession to Grif, one that even haunts his dreams or make that his nightmares. The one thing that constantly fills Kit with doubts; He’s living with her, but dreams of his perfect Evie.

When Kit tries to reach one of Grif’s takes in the hopes of preventing his death, the duo stumble upon a terrible new drug. A drug so addictive that the user is doomed from their first dose, a drug that causes their very flesh to rot off of their bones. And, worse it’s cheap and easily made. Now Grif and Kit are on a mission to find out who is responsible for bringing this Russian drug to the Vegas streets and to stop them once and for all.

But during their investigating they find a fallen angel that is stealing souls before the Centurions can get to them to take to the Everlast. And, if that wasn’t bad enough, this fallen angel has his sights set on kit and will stop at nothing to possess her and lock her way for eternity.

I have to say that I found this book to be pretty interesting. The storyline was intriguing and I enjoyed ‘watching’ everything play out. The new drug, krokodil, was some seriously nasty stuff and the way it was introduced on the streets as a way to end a turf war was sadly believable.

This book was plagued with emotion with Kit’s fears of not being enough for Grif and feeling as though she plays second fiddle to Evie coming to light. It was sad to see, but something you could easily understand. Who wouldn’t feel the same way in that situation? It also led to a little bit of a love triangle, but one that I didn’t feel was truly going anywhere, at least at that time.

But after finishing this book, all I can really think about is the ending. Talk about heart-wrenching! I could feel the book heading in this direction, but truly didn’t think it would come to fruitation. But at some point I resigned myself to the outcome, but then there was a moment that gave me a little sliver of hope, only to have it instantly dashed and leaving me incredibly sad. I’m not really sure how this series moves forward from here, but I assume it will and we’ll just have to see what Pettersson has in mind…

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Mar 25, 2013 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, arcs, fiction, urban

There is no denying the technicolor beauty of Vicki Pettersson's rockabilly heroine, where each crisp, thoughtful details brings the scent, feel, and lush sensuality of her perspective to life. In THE LOST, however, Pettersson reveals the fragility beneath Kit's meticulous habits, the dark correllary of her structured world.

Though I adore the moments when I can lose myself in Pettersson's writing, in the poetry of Kit and Griff's experiences, those immersive action shots do not span the entire...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Zee rated it 2 of 5 stars

I am having an extremely hard time getting through this one.

I really liked The Taken and couldn't wait to get stuck into this one. I'm 2 hours and 36 minutes in (listening to the audiobook) and am having a hard time continuing. The story is still very good, but the heroine, Kit, is becoming beyond annoying.

In the first book I could understand her desire to solve the case and not leave until it was solved even with her own life at stake. She had lost two people she cared about to this story so...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you are familiar with Vicki Pettersson’s Zodiac series then you know she doesn’t hesitate to deal out emotional devastation to her protagonists. She writes dark urban fantasy and that means characters must make hard decisions and sacrifices to do what is right. The Lost is the second book in the Celestial Blues trilogy, and what I love about trilogies is the series arc has to move at a fast pace. Vicki has crammed many complex and intriguing storylines into this trilogy including three series...more If you are familiar with Vicki Pettersson’s Zodiac series then you know she doesn’t hesitate to deal out emotional devastation to her protagonists. She writes dark urban fantasy and that means characters must make hard decisions and sacrifices to do what is right. The Lost is the second book in the Celestial Blues trilogy, and what I love about trilogies is the series arc has to move at a fast pace. Vicki has crammed many complex and intriguing storylines into this trilogy including three series arcs: the mystery behind Griffin Shaw’s murder 50 years ago, Kit’s family past involving the murder of her father and the love triangle between Griff, Kit and the memory of Griff’s dead wife Evie. We get some shocking information in regard to all three storylines in this book and I for one am dying to know how this is going to play out.

Each book also has a thriller mystery that is solved by the end of the book. In The Lost, Kit and Griff stumble into a turf war between drug gangs. There is a new drug called krokodil that causes the flesh to fall off the bones of users. The mystery has some twists I didn't see coming and the gang leaders are truly dark and twisted characters. We also finally get to meet a fallen named Scratch, and I really liked this character and his role in the world building. Vicki nailed what a creature from the Eternal Forrest would be like.

I have a love hate relationship with this series and therefore this book. I love Griffin Shaw; he is a dark and tortured character that uses few words, but feels so deeply. His struggle is an amazing journey to experience. But… I don’t like the heroine, and Griff’s love interest, Kit. I get her character and that she is hurt and damaged on the inside so she over compensates by being bubbly and self-confident on the outside. I understand her purpose in this story, but she just doesn't work for me. She is supposed to be a smart reporter yet makes some stupid choices from a professional stand point and using her exaggerated sense of doing what is right to justify it. To me she seems like more of a plot device to move along the story of Griffin. Which is okay with me cause I “heart” Griffin Shaw HARD.

I might be harsh on the main heroine, but don’t let that keep you from reading this series. It is passionate and rich in so many aspects and like Vicki’s Zodiac series many times I wanted to throw the book across the room and shout NOOOOOO! Vicki has built an original and fascinating world involving angels that urban fantasy fans will enjoy. Did I mention Griffin Shaw’s character is and old fashion charming alpha? Well, he is

I loved the description of Griffin’s wings:

“She cried out, but it was drowned out by another that squalled like a winter wind. The loosening of a thousand simultaneously unsheathed blades ripped the air behind her, and a thunderous crack sounded, like an old oak snapping at its base.”
:Swoon:

Grif trying to explain the fallen to Kit:

“The fallen angels hate God and everyone on His Christmas list. They especially hate humans.”

4 “Lost” Sheep
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Mar 01, 2013 Sarah Beth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: firstreadsgiveaways

This is a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway Review.

Grif and Kit are back in their second book. It's been 4 months and "their passion was now set to a low burn, yet it could still ignite with one sidelong smoky look."

They are investigating a dangerous drug that has infiltrated a Vegas neighborhood, fighting an evil angel who is stealing lost souls, and trying to solve Grif's wife Evie's murder of fifty years ago.

At the center is Grif and Kit's relationship. Key questions that are explored are: Can a...more

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Apr 12, 2013 Victoria rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-in-a-series, fantasy-science-fiction

The second book in Pettersson’s Celestial Blues series is a pretty fast and fun read. This follow-up to The Taken continues to blend an interesting and unique mix of genres. This one is less of a murder mystery, but still shines a light into the dark underbelly of Las Vegas. Kit Craig, investigative reporter and rockabilly chick, and her half-human, half-angel lover, Griff Shaw have been together now for a few months and the honeymoon phase has begun to crumble. More of Griff’s past comes in tan...more

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Mar 17, 2013 Karissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Celestial Blue series by Pettersson. I really enjoyed it. I love the well done investigative urban fantasy and how it has a bit of old-fashioned flare to it. This is supposed to be a trilogy, but I haven’t heard any information about the 3rd book yet.

Grif has been given time to remain on the mortal plain and solve his murder if he concedes to help guide souls that would otherwise be Lost. When a new drug hits the streets people start dying in horrible ways. Grif is...more This is the second book in the Celestial Blue series by Pettersson. I really enjoyed it. I love the well done investigative urban fantasy and how it has a bit of old-fashioned flare to it. This is supposed to be a trilogy, but I haven’t heard any information about the 3rd book yet.

Grif has been given time to remain on the mortal plain and solve his murder if he concedes to help guide souls that would otherwise be Lost. When a new drug hits the streets people start dying in horrible ways. Grif isn’t allowed to interfere, but that same can’t be said for Kit. As an investigative reporter she is determined to find where the new drug is being distributed from and save the lives of these addicts before they become Lost.

This was a fun investigative urban fantasy. I really enjoy, Kit, the heroine. She has an upbeat approach to life that is fun to read about. We learn a lot more about Kit’s past in this book and about the darkness that lies there. We learn about why she has chosen a Rockabilly lifestyle and how she fights her personal darkness.

Grif, is an excellent male lead for Kit. He is complex and a bit confused about his purpose as a temporary mortal angel. He is still absolutely supportive and respectful of Kit. We also learn a lot more about Grif’s past. He works to solve the mystery of his murder and along the way we learn more about his lovely dead wife that he pines after so badly.

This story presents an excellent, and slightly gorey, mystery to be solved. The mystery is well done and nicely wrapped up in this book. There is both the mystery of the mysterious and vicious drug source to be solved which is self contained to this novel, and the bigger mystery around Grif’s murder that has spanned multiple books.

The book is well written and moves forward at a good pace. I enjoyed reading the story and found it to be engaging and entertaining.

Overall a well done urban fantasy with old fashioned flare. I enjoyed it. The combination of Rockabilly elements and angelic lore make this something a bit different than other urban fantasy reads out there. Recommended to those who like investigative urban fantasy. The heroine is unique and upbeat.(less)

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Apr 02, 2013 Lolly's rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazon-vine, angelic-host, paranormal-mys-suspense, paranormal-romance, part-of-a-series

I hate to say it, but despite some flaws and occasionally wonky writing, Pettersson's second outing in the series is marginally better than the first.

I'll admit it, even I was rather taken aback by my urge to read this book when I wasn't all that enthused about the first one. Perhaps it's my insatiable curiosity: I had to know if Pettersson did a better job of things the second go 'round than she did in the first. Well, to that I have to say 'Eh.' Some things were improved, but some of the same...more I hate to say it, but despite some flaws and occasionally wonky writing, Pettersson's second outing in the series is marginally better than the first.

I'll admit it, even I was rather taken aback by my urge to read this book when I wasn't all that enthused about the first one. Perhaps it's my insatiable curiosity: I had to know if Pettersson did a better job of things the second go 'round than she did in the first. Well, to that I have to say 'Eh.' Some things were improved, but some of the same issues I encountered in the first book popped up again in this book. Not to mention the mystery wasn't all that mysterious and anyone with half a brain could figure out the identity of the enigmatic woman who shows up in the narrative and is revealed early on to be the mastermind of the troubles in which Kit and Grif get embroiled. Yet, for all that, I still have a weird compulsion to read the next book when it comes out. I can't chalk it up to a “So bad it's good” compulsion, because the book is just good enough to ease out of that category, yet I can't call it a “Must read” compulsion either. My guess is because the second book is slightly better than the first book, by the time Pettersson gets to the sixth book in the series, it'll be so good my socks will be knocked off. Whatever the case, the series and the characters have sunk hooks into my psyche.

In The Lost, Kit is still the same incessantly positive, spunky, stubborn, foolhardy-disguised-as-brave, so-upbeat-you-want-to-beat-her-over-the-head-with-a-baseball-bat rockabilly chick we met in The Taken. However, this time around, her rockabilly schtick seems less of a veneer as it was in the first book (which led to the awesome and apt term Rockabilly Barbie. Sadly, I can't take credit for inventing that; instead my friend came up with it in her fabulous review). We're given a better explanation as to why Kit has gravitated towards this lifestyle and why she dresses the way she does and why her house is decorated the way it is, giving Kit more substance than what she had in The Taken. What hasn't changed is Kit's insistence on running straight into a dangerous situation, especially right after someone (usually Grif) tells her not to. I get that Pettersson is trying to show Kit as fearless, but there's fearless and then there's just plain stupid and lacking the basic sense of self-preservation. During the climax of the novel, Kit does this over and over, running into situations most people would look at and think, “Um, you know what? I like my skin just where it is. I think I'll call the authorities and let them handle it.” Frankly, it's a toss-up between this behavior and her insane chirpiness over which makes you want to punch her in the face more.

Grif is little better. Once again the now half human-half angel P.I. is obsessively hung up on his ex-wife Evie and with solving her (and, by extension, his) half-century-old murder. The only difference between this novel and the previous one is that in The Lost, Kit finally starts to get a bit more ticked off with Grif on the subject, especially when he keeps calling out Evie's name in his sleep (which finally makes her seem a bit human--after all, what woman would like having her lover call out another woman's name in his sleep?--instead of some doll programmed to be chipper and optimistic 24 hours a day). The thing is, though we're told over and over that he's a P.I., both in his former and present life, he seems to really suck at it. Whenever he runs into a roadblock in his Evie investigation, he basically gives up until the next lucky hint/tip/clue falls into his lap. He does nothing active to move the investigation forward. For example, Grif has been looking for a woman who might have information pertaining to Evie's murder; when he goes to his source, he discovers that the woman has remarried (several times) and has moved away. So he basically gives up that lead as dead. The stupid thing is, he knows the woman's name and he knows where she's moved. So, in this day and age of Google and other public information sources, not to mention the fact that Grif is sleeping with a reporter who has access to even more information and contacts, to just give up on a witness because she's moved away is just.... brainless. Worst. P.I. Ever.

The main thrust of the story revolves around the deaths of, let's say undesirable members of the population, from a new drug, krokodil, which hooks a user after one trip, but is made of such awful stuff that it actually eats the person alive from the inside so you start dying the moment you take it; however, if a user tries to stop, the withdrawal is so bad, you can also die from it. So you're pretty much damned if you do and damned if you don't with the drug. Again, I have to give props to Pettersson for coming up with yet another despicable plot as she did with The Taken. However, as I mentioned earlier, the mystery behind who introduced the krokodil and why isn't as convoluted as one would hope and is fairly easy to figure out. A secondary plot involves a fallen angel called Scratch, who is having a grand time seeking out those who find themselves Lost (hence the title, see?) and taking their souls. Of course, once Kit gets introduced to Scratch, she has to get all righteous and shake her fist at it with a “I'll fight you, you evil thing!” attitude; naturally, Scratch becomes enamored of Kit's purity and vows to corrupt her, so throughout the book, the two engage in a tug-of-war, with Grif standing on the sidelines, wringing his hands and telling Kit (futilely) not to engage with Scratch and, most importantly, don't let Scratch get his hands on Kit's tears, which contain all her emotional history along with her goodness. As you can probably guess, Kit ignores every single thing Grif says. And, of course, the third plot line is the one about Grif and Evie, which is basically more of the same from the first book, though it does lead to a denouement at the end in which Kit has to make a difficult choice about whether to stay with Grif (having to do with her being mortal and will age and die, and Grif isn't, so he'll have to stand around and watch her age and die). The climax of the book somehow manages to use all three plot threads to make for one big showdown between all the different participants involving a lot of action and a lot of blood.

In the end, there was just enough improved in this book from the first to keep me interested in the third book (dammit!).(less)

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Mar 27, 2013 Rich Tate rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

I couldn’t help but feel a bit irritated as I read through this installment at the completely recycled emotional angst displayed by Kit. It was so overdone that the cliffhanging surprise at the end of the book came as absolutely no shock. In fact, it was the only conceivable option after nearly three hundred pages of canned doubt and anger.

I enjoyed the book and the characters, I just hope the final installment won’t try to lay it on so thickly, and once again in the exact same manner of the pre...more

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Apr 19, 2013 Sandra rated it 2 of 5 stars

I struggled with this instalment and ending up skimming the second half because I found myself really disliking Kit. She was judgemental, self rightteous, manipulative and whiny. She made very poor, impulsive decisions with no thought for the consequences or how her decison would effect other people simply because she was convinced of her own superiority and righteousness. And her behaviour to Griff and jealousy of his first wife was selfish and childish. Griff has horrible nightmares about his...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Zeenat rated it 4 of 5 stars

Summary: Kit and Griff have had a steady relationship for months, but their romance is far from perfect. For one, Griff is part human and part Centurion, and all dead. Also, Griff's been tasked to find "The Lost" and it leads them to an unusual but potent drug. Kit is haunted by Griff's ex-wife and her own past. But the big question still looms over them: "Who killed Griffin Shaw?"

Review: I'm really growing fond of the Celestial Blues series. From the characters to the world building to the sett...more Summary: Kit and Griff have had a steady relationship for months, but their romance is far from perfect. For one, Griff is part human and part Centurion, and all dead. Also, Griff's been tasked to find "The Lost" and it leads them to an unusual but potent drug. Kit is haunted by Griff's ex-wife and her own past. But the big question still looms over them: "Who killed Griffin Shaw?"

Review: I'm really growing fond of the Celestial Blues series. From the characters to the world building to the setting, Pettersson has created something fresh to the Urban Fantasy genre.

As a second book, the world already has a strong framework. There were new additions, such as meeting the fallen, and learned how evil they are. We see more of Griff's past and Evie's current location. We see more of Kit's rockabilly lifestyle, and how her lifestyle intersects with Kit's life and modern day life.

The strength of these novels is the characters. Griff is in love with Kit, but his past love for his wife keeps pulling him back. Kit is a happy person with a sparkly personality, but that's just a mask for her deeper pain. We see the multiple dimensions of the secondary characters as well, like Marin, Dennis, and Evie.

I love Griff and Kit's relationship in this book. In The Taken, it was passion heavy, and represented roses and kisses, and extremely hot and heavy sex. But in the second book, the relationship was 5 months later, and it was more representative of real life. Sure, they still had chemistry, but the relationship settled down to a natural pattern. No ridiculous intense passion that is not humanly possible, but a calming burn that a good relationship should have. Plus, they had some real relationship problems. They have insecurities that happen to all of us at some point, all with a backdrop of the supernatural and mystery.

The few issues I had with The Taken were less of a problem in this book. The "film noir" language coming out of 21st century people came more naturally, and the book was also "fantasy lite", but I barely noticed. The only reason why I rated the book 4 stars instead of 5 was because the ending was predictable. This story can take so many directions, and I was expecting something new and original from our author. Yet, it was cliche. And for a story that has much intrigue and uniqueness, the ending left me feeling "that's it?" I should be terribly excited to have the next and final book in the trilogy, but I have no strong feelings.

If you read Taken and liked it, you are bound to appreciate this installment in The Celestial Blues trilogy. If you want an (almost) fresh story in the fantasy genre, Then pick up these two books, and you'll be both hip and groovy!

Sex: Love making scenes, kissing, not explicit.
Violence: Fighting, drugs, possessions. A lot milder than the last book.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Series Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Quote:
Grif stared at her. “You want me to wear a hat that beeps?”
Kit folded her arms. “Is this a guy thing? Like asking for directions when you’re driving?”
“It’s a hat. That. Beeps.”(less)

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May 07, 2013 Charles rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, relational, mystery, first-reads, reviewed

First Reads Review - The Lost by Vicki Pettersson

So I signed up for this book out of a relatively new and growing appreciation for romance novels, and for paranormal romance more specifically because that's just where my interests are, in a more speculative setting. So I saw this and saw it was fairly popular and lucked out when I won it from the First Reads giveaways. I have to say, though, I am glad that I got into romances with other books, because The Lost was rather disappointing in most wa...more First Reads Review - The Lost by Vicki Pettersson

So I signed up for this book out of a relatively new and growing appreciation for romance novels, and for paranormal romance more specifically because that's just where my interests are, in a more speculative setting. So I saw this and saw it was fairly popular and lucked out when I won it from the First Reads giveaways. I have to say, though, I am glad that I got into romances with other books, because The Lost was rather disappointing in most ways, and it ended up being more of a chore to read through this than I would have liked.

The premise isn't all that bad. Grif, a half-human, half-angel dead-but-alive-again man has come back to the material plane to seek answers surrounding his death. In the first book he apparently helped save a woman, Kit, and now the two are lovers. They set out to solve the mystery involving drugs and murder and nothing is quite what it seems and their relationship hits some rocky patches as well and on and on. So yeah, not a bad set up or plot, and I didn't feel lost (kind of pun!) coming to this series in the second book. At the same time, there was very little effort put in to really hook me early on.

Perhaps that is a little unfair, as there is a fallen angel that decides it wants to attack Kit and there is some new drug that is killing people, but aside from that the relationship between the two characters, a rather important thing in a romance, was rather flat and boring. If that is what they are like when they are getting along then it's not surprising that they are constantly inventing things to fight about. Because they do. Here the book had the chance to put some sex in early and let me see how passionate these people are about each other but instead I get chapter after sexless chapter of them just sort of bickering. For a second book in a series that is disappointing.

The fire that is so much fun to read in romance books is almost completely lacking between these two, and they spend most of the book fighting and worrying about things that adults their age should be over by now. It made me rather annoyed with them, really, and less invested in whether or not they could get through the various strains that the plot puts on their relationship. Most of the other characters are okay, though the stereotypes used for the villains are rather grating at times. But again, the plot is fine and the writing good enough to keep things moving along.

It was hard to tell, though, what exactly I was reading in regards to mythology. So the novel uses a tilted Christian mythos, with angels and fallen angels and such, and it remains fairly chaste in the relationship show, with Grif and Kit only really having sex once late in the book and it being, well...angelic, I guess. But then they're not married and they don't go to church so I really don't know what kind of system is being set up, like Christianity is only partly right? This is one thing I think may have been covered in the first book which I wish they would have gone more into, because the rules didn't quite seem defined enough for me to know how much of traditional Christianity was "true" in the setting.

And in the end I just couldn't get past the various problems I had with the relationship to care about the characters. They were constantly having problems but these seemed artificial, not the sort of things that would shake people. And I know the events are supernatural and might be more strenuous, but the characters take those aspects so much as given that I just didn't know why they were together. And while the plot was okay and the writing sound, the novel just kept pushing me out. And beacuse of that I can give it only two stars out of five.(less)

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Apr 22, 2013 Kai rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

The Lost starts off with the story of Griffin (Grif) Shaw receiving an assignment from Everlast to retrieve a lost soul. Grif shared the information with Katherine Craig (Kit). Kit couldn't stand aside and not help this lost soul identified as Jeap Yang. She went to help Jeap Yang and encountered a fallen angel who ended up obsessing about Kit's soul.

Grif and Kit discovered a new drug that is more addicted than any drugs on the street and the drug eat the flesh of any drug addicts using it. Gri...more

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Mar 31, 2013 Katy rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of urban fantasy, noir, 50s, rockabilly, paranormal romantic suspense

Recommended to Katy by: Amazon Vine

Shelves: galley-for-review, vine-book

Book Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy/Noir
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: fans of urban fantasy, Noir, Rockabilly lifestyle, paranormal romantic suspense
Trigger Warnings: drug use, abuse, and overdose; gangster/mobsters; murder

My Thoughts: I have to say that I think I would probably kill for a car like Kit's. I looked it up and the Duetto is just a gorgeous piece of machinery.

I was really impressed by a bit of detail I noticed in the story, and that is Sergei and Yulyia Kolyadenko. Sergei is des...more

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Apr 20, 2013 Francesca the Fierce (Under the Covers Book Blog) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-2013, genre-urban-fantasy, read-audio-books

There is something sort of magical about this series. I’m not sure if it’s the dark and gritty world, the fallen angels mixing with the humans, or just the Rockabilly feel of the story. It perfectly blends two eras by having a fallen angel that is kind of stuck in the clothes and mentality of the 50s (he’s the original), and the human girl he’s dating in the present, who has embraced the Rockabilly lifestyle (the wannabe).

I love both of their characters. Griffin Shaw, the Centurion, is just tor...more

There is something sort of magical about this series. I’m not sure if it’s the dark and gritty world, the fallen angels mixing with the humans, or just the Rockabilly feel of the story. It perfectly blends two eras by having a fallen angel that is kind of stuck in the clothes and mentality of the 50s (he’s the original), and the human girl he’s dating in the present, who has embraced the Rockabilly lifestyle (the wannabe).

I love both of their characters. Griffin Shaw, the Centurion, is just tortured by so many things. He’s on earth looking for his killer (well, his and his wife’s killer) while also trying to solve cases assigned to him. In between all that he sometimes has to transport souls of the recently deceased to the Everlast. He has a lot on his plate and in this book, I think he showed he was having a hard time prioritizing.

Kit on the other hand is awesome! She always shows an air of happiness and a tough exterior. However we come to realize it’s not all roses underneath. She’s in love with Griffin but deep down is hurting to have to compete with his dead wife’s memory. She tries to be happy, and she tries to do the right thing, and what’s good. And sometimes, in that search of justice and righteousness, she finds herself in the center of trouble. Her vulnerability made me cry at times.

In this book, Kit tries saving Grif’s takes. And by trying to save the ones marked for death they discover a new drug circulating that needs to be stopped, and they also find a fallen angel who is out stealing souls before the Centurions can take them to the Everlast. Of course, once the fallen angel sees Kit, he zeroes in on her and makes it his mission to possess her.

The storyline was very interesting and the author does an amazing job at drawing out the world and the scenes, it just felt as if I was watching things happen. This was also an emotional book for Kit and her search of what makes her happy and how to deal with what’s bringing her down.

I’m looking forward to the ending of this trilogy in the next book and finding out ….Who killed Griffin Shaw?

If you want to try an urban fantasy that is new and fresh, with a touch of old charm, angels and mystery, then this is the series for you!

*ARC provided by publisher(less)

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May 03, 2013 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Once again, Vicki Pettersson is able to weave an exceptional storyline that continues to keep me in a celestial spell. "Why does so much of life have to be about letting go?" Exactly. That one line sums up so many aspects of this second book in the Celestial Blues Trilogy. And unfortunately, "The Lost" keeps you hanging on at the end, wondering just how much will they have to let go to work out the way you want it to?

Grif and Kit are quite the couple, but not a match made in Heaven. "The Lost"...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Michelle Leah Olson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: march-2013-author-events, literal-addiction-books, edelweiss-arc, reviewed

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha – Michelle L. Olson:
*eARC received from Edelweiss

Like its predecessor, The Taken, The Lost is a highly emotional, deep, mysterious and entertaining urban fantasy read.

Again, Vicki makes a clear underlying statement with The Lost. The Taken taught us that life is worth living and should be enjoyed one day at a time never fearing death, and The Lost explores the very human weaknesses that we all suffer from – jealousy, insecurity, doubt, etc – by bring...more Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha – Michelle L. Olson:
*eARC received from Edelweiss

Like its predecessor, The Taken, The Lost is a highly emotional, deep, mysterious and entertaining urban fantasy read.

Again, Vicki makes a clear underlying statement with The Lost. The Taken taught us that life is worth living and should be enjoyed one day at a time never fearing death, and The Lost explores the very human weaknesses that we all suffer from – jealousy, insecurity, doubt, etc – by bringing them to light and working through them via the characters. Seeing the struggle and resolution through the leading couple made me as a reader believe that despite what it feels like some days, all things are possible and love can conquer all with some determination, hope and faith.

The Lost explores a brand new mystery base – this time a turf war between rival drug cartels, and a new street drug that is simply sickening. It’s thrilling, surprising in many places, and you can’t help but root for the good guys and sneer wickedly at the villains throughout the tale.

We also got get to meet more of the supporting cast in The Lost and get introduced to some wonderful new destinations within the CELESTIAL BLUES universe. We’re introduced to a very intriguing ‘big bad’ in Scratch, see the Eternal Forest, and learn more about The Fallen as well. In addition, we learn more about Grif’s situation and get some more bits and pieces in the mystery of “Who Killed Griffin Shaw?”, plus we find out additional information regarding Kit’s past and her mysteries.

The arc of this series is progressing quickly, but it’s to be expected with a planned trilogy. I can’t wait to see how things play out with the investigation into Grif and Evie’s 50 year old murder and Kit’s need to know what happened with the murder of her father. I also can’t wait to continue the journey with Kit and Grif as they grow as individuals and deal with the things that are determined to tear them apart while learning more and more about just why they love each other.

CELESTIAL BLUES is a unique and fascinating series and I feel that romantic suspense, mystery romance, paranormal romance and urban fantasy readers while like it. I do, however, suggest that you read the series in order and not try to read The Lost as a standalone novel.

LITERAL ADDICTION gives The Lost 4 Skulls and I can’t wait for the thrilling conclusion to the CELESTIAL BLUES series. Thank you Vicki for giving me something thrilling and unique to sink my sometimes bored reading teeth into. :)
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Apr 01, 2013 All Things Urban Fantasy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-march-hotp, reviewed-by-julia

There is no denying the technicolor beauty of Vicki Pettersson’s rockabilly heroine, Kit Craig. Each crisp, thoughtful detail brings the scent, feel, and lush sensuality of her perspective to life. In THE LOST, however, Pettersson reveals the fragility beneath Kit’s meticulous habits, the dark correllary of her structured world.

Though I adore the moments when I can lose myself in Pettersson’s writing, in the poetry of Kit and Griff’s experiences, those immersive set pieces do not span the entire...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Carmel (Rabid Reads) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

I feel like I’m the odd woman out here but I actually enjoyed this installment more than the first one. Pettersson toned down the rockabilly and angelic aspects this time around which are, oddly enough, what make this trilogy so unique but also what annoyed me in The Taken because they were overdone. I found The Lost to be a more balanced read with equal attention given to world building and to the storyline. I enjoyed Vicki Pettersson’s dark writing style, complex charac...more Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

I feel like I’m the odd woman out here but I actually enjoyed this installment more than the first one. Pettersson toned down the rockabilly and angelic aspects this time around which are, oddly enough, what make this trilogy so unique but also what annoyed me in The Taken because they were overdone. I found The Lost to be a more balanced read with equal attention given to world building and to the storyline. I enjoyed Vicki Pettersson’s dark writing style, complex characters and, the way that the past and present collide.

Pettersson seems to have gotten into the groove of things with her second crack at Celestial Blues. The world building and character development have evened out and she focuses on the action rather than on Kit’s 1950’s fashion sense. As much as I enjoy the rockabilly aspect of these books I have a low tolerance when it comes to lengthy wardrobe and hairstyle descriptions. It’s a nice little sideline but these books are shelved as Urban Fantasy not as fictional versions of Vogue magazine. Vicki did a great job of incorporating these elements this time around and I actually found myself wishing that there’d been more.

The murder investigation is well constructed and succeeded in keeping my interest the whole way through. Krokodil is an especially nasty drug and I had a vested interest in seeing the dealers caught. The cartels involved cast a wide scope of potential perps and as a result, the story kept me on my toes with trying to figure out “who done it”. There’s a great deal more romance in this installment which helped lighten up some of the grittiness and kept things interesting because not only are there murders to solve but conflict within the couple as well.

I was happy that I wasn’t bombarded with angels in this installment and found the celestial aspects much clearer and easy to comprehend. Unlike in the previous book, I was able to distinguish the different subgroups and their individual traits with ease. I also found that the dialogue between the two main characters was vastly improved. It flowed well, felt natural and more importantly, there was more of it. Grif’s still not a chatty Cathy but at least he demonstrated that he’s capable of stringing more than just three words together at a time.

The Lost is proof that all series’ deserve a second chance; Vicki Pettersson successfully convinced this on-the-fence reader that her Celestial Blues trilogy is worth the read.

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Feb 15, 2013 Christal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: angels, multiple-leads, pi-detective-cop, urban-fantasy, arcs, 2013-rlftci-book-count, 2013-nbrc, drugs

See this review and others like it at BadassBookReviews.com!

The Celestial Blues series has one of the best premises that I have seen in a while. It’s original, filled with great characters, and oh so stylish. The Lost wasn’t quite as action-packed as the series debut, The Taken , but it was still a great read. I love the spin that Vicki Pettersson has put on angel lore and I really enjoy her use of the rockabilly subculture. The pacing of this book was a little slow at times, but it included lot...more See this review and others like it at BadassBookReviews.com!

The Celestial Blues series has one of the best premises that I have seen in a while. It’s original, filled with great characters, and oh so stylish. The Lost wasn’t quite as action-packed as the series debut, The Taken , but it was still a great read. I love the spin that Vicki Pettersson has put on angel lore and I really enjoy her use of the rockabilly subculture. The pacing of this book was a little slow at times, but it included lots of emotionally charged scenes between Grif and Kit and some pretty jaw-dropping reveals.

Grif is an intriguingly flawed character. He is the only being to ever be part human and part angelic and he struggles with balancing his human compassion with his angelic duties. Grif is still dedicated to finding out who killed him and his wife, Evie, but he is also trying to make a new life with his mortal girlfriend, Kit Craig. I’ve always been drawn to Grif’s character the most in this series, but sometimes I wanted to hit him over the head here. He’s not good at reading Kit’s more negative emotions and doesn’t know how to deal when his girl starts doubting his feelings. As readers we get to see what is going on in his head, but Grif has always been of the strong, silent type so he doesn’t share a lot of those thought with Kit. If he would just open up to her more, I think Kit would feel more secure in their relationship and with her place in his world.

Kit has always known that Grif still loves Evie, but her feelings become very conflicted in this book. She wonders if Grif really does love her more than the memory of Evie or if he is just settling for her because his true love is already dead. She knows that Grif loves her, but she can’t help the doubts and jealousy that slip in from time to time. These emotions cause some major issues in Grif and Kit’s relationship, especially when it seems like everyone is working against them — Ethereal beings and Earth-bound friends and family members included.

I was very happy to see Kit’s character was fleshed out much better in this book than the debut. We learn about her tragic past and how the loss of her parents, especially her father, affected her. We also learn why she was drawn to the rockabilly world. She proves herself to be very strong here, but I also feel like she has a tendency to make assumptions and jump to conclusions sometimes. As a reporter, she is always in search of the truth, but outside sources can’t always be counted on for reliability. I really loved a scene at the end where Grif told Kit how much he loved her and just how “in” the relationship he was. Heartbreaking!

Aside from dealing with emotional and relationship issues, Grif anf Kit are trying to track down the sellers of a new, deady drug called “krokodil” that is killing anyone who uses it. users become addicted after just one hit and the drug quickly eats away at their bodies until they die. It was pretty gruesome and involved members of two rivals gangs, the Russian brutva and the Cuban marielitos. On top of this, Kit has drawn the eye of a very sick, evil fallen angel and Grif is determined to protect her. He learns some new facts about the fallen and how they operate, but he has no idea how to kill one, and this one, Scratch, is determined to have Kit’s soul no matter the cost. On top of everything else, Grif and Kit also slip in some time to investigate Grif’s murder and get a few new interesting leads that we should see play out in the next book. All of these plots connect and interweave throughout the story to make one very interesting read.

Kit’s aunt, Marin, and her cop friend Dennis also make appearances during the investigations. Marin seems to be hiding some very important information about Grif’s father and I have a feeling that Dennis will be much more important in the next book. I was a little disappointed that we didn’t spend mush time with Kit’s rockabilly friends in this book, but one did get one fun scene at a dance club with Fleur and Lil. They are very fun characters.

I really enjoy the Celestial Blues series and have been pleased with both books overall, but I have to say the ending of this book has me a little worried for the next (and final?) entry. Ms. Pettersson has ended this book with one heck of a game changer and I think the next book will see a completely different chemistry between Kit and Grif than what readers have come to expect. It’s a risky move, but one I am very excited to see play out.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Voyager for providing an ARC copy of this book!(less)

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Apr 08, 2013 Kay_Vee rated it 3 of 5 stars

More 3 than 4 stars, 3.5 stars

Another pretty and retro cover... just not as engaging as the first book's cover and this can be said for the story too I guess. Like the first it took a little bit for me to get into this one, but it does pick up. The Lost does it's job as a middle book in a trilogy: picks up the story threads where the first left off and sets in motion where things should lead for the final installment, plus throws some conflict in for plot.

There was this TV show a couple years b...more More 3 than 4 stars, 3.5 stars

Another pretty and retro cover... just not as engaging as the first book's cover and this can be said for the story too I guess. Like the first it took a little bit for me to get into this one, but it does pick up. The Lost does it's job as a middle book in a trilogy: picks up the story threads where the first left off and sets in motion where things should lead for the final installment, plus throws some conflict in for plot.

There was this TV show a couple years back about a cop transplanted back in time. Set in 70's it was the procedural aspect of the show, with current ethics on evidence gathering, interrogation, etc... at odds with that era's procedures that was the strength of the show. The whole reason he was transported back in time and mysterious communications on the time travel were handled in a pretty hoaky way, so that I always would find myself thinking this would be good cop show if it didn't have the whole transported back in time thing mucking it up. Yet the modern day cop as the fish out of water with that era was a big part of why it was interesting. You just could not separate the goofy things that did not work from the core part of the premise that made it stand out.

In a way this suffers the same split of personality. On the one hand if Griffin was not an otherworldly being out of his time the the whole vintage Vegas murder case that is the overriding arc for the series would just be irrelevant and that is some of the more interesting bits- although there was not as much of that in this book. The relationship conflict also stems directly from the displaced what do you do when you can't let go of your past deal he's got going. On the other hand there is a big chunk of otherworldly stuff that just didn't seem to work that we'll in conjunction with the drug mystery. Still the creepy but distracting character could not have been cut because it is a result of the outcome of that storyline that makes the ending of this book have some emotional teeth.

Also the emergence of a potential love triangle seemed to just pop up out of thin air mid way through which I did not love (no pun intended... oh or wait maybe pun intended). If you're going to introduce a love triangle there needs to be some groundwork so I am at least a little torn with who to root for not just nothing, nothing, nothing, then "hey Kit we've had nothing but friend chemistry up until chapter xx but you're a fine woman and if you were not all obviously taken then clearly I have the potential to rival your dude, but hey whatever" thrown into the mix.

So the first one was better. I did still enjoyed the charters and plot enough to give it 3.5 stars and although the core drug plot-line was not quite as compelling as the last book's plot it still worked to a decent and believable conclusion. I'm on board to see how the next one ties it all up and get the answer to who killed Griffin Shaw.(less)

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Apr 06, 2013 Sillylittlefishey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: advance-copies

I really enjoyed this book for the most part, I found the storyline intriguing and there was lots of emotion throughout, which always seems to reel me in. But that ending was heart-wrenching! And right when I thought I was being given a sliver of hope, it was dashed instantly.

crying photo: crying tumblr_lr0q5qssbu1r00qjs.gif

I'm not sure how the series progresses from here....but I guess it will somehow.....

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Aug 29, 2012 ♫♥✿LovLivLife Reviews✿♥♫ (Chasity) marked it as to-read

Shelves: 2013-mar

March 19th 2013 by Harper Voyager The Lost (Celestial Blues #2) by Vicki Pettersson

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Jun 11, 2013 Samantha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Vicki Pettersson pulls you once again into the world of Kit and Grif. A roller coaster of a ride - will they choose each other, are they fated to be and multiple mysteries are threaded throughout. At the end of this chapter, I was left chocked with emotion and anxiously waiting for the third and final instalment yet not entirely sure how I want the story to end for these characters.

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Jan 16, 2013 Mel rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: angels, e-book, edelweiss, urban-fantasy

I wasn't blown away by The Lost like I was The Taken but I did like it. Grif is a fantastically complex character and his world has been turned upside-down. I really like the world that Vicki Pettersson has created and am curious how the Celestial Blues trilogy will end. I give The Lost 3.5 stars. Full review to come closer to release date.

*ARC PROVIDED BY EDELWEISS*

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Apr 09, 2013 Marianne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance

I think this is the best book she ever wrote. I simply cannot find fault with it in any way (and that's rare for me).

The plot and action are compelling, the romance is true and poignant. I just loved it.

One thing I love about Pettersson is how she portrays women. Her women are confident and complete, whole human beings. They may have their histories, but they rise above them. I read about Kit, and it inspires me to do more with my life, because she lives it to the fullest. The women in the Zod...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Bobbie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Totally love this series. Finished reading it a 3:00AM this morning (couldn't put it down...lol). This new type of genre is intriguing. I really love Vicki's books. Can hardly wait for the final book of this trilogy. Keep 'em coming.

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May 26, 2013 Leni Rayburn rated it 2 of 5 stars

Definitely not my genre, but needed something to read. Not a great book, but I did keep reading till the end. Weird on so many levels.

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