This book was freaking fantastic. As much as I liked the first book in this series, this on just blew it out of the water. There is still a lot of mythology being built around what you're reading, and sometimes you have to pause to think about what is really happening, but it doesn't take take away from the story at all. The characters are so relatable. You just want to hug/pat their head/kiss/beat the crap out of them. And the end? Sheesh. The END. I can't WAIT to read the third book. In fact, More...

This is 100% better than the first in the series, making it about as good as the average first novel. The major plusses are some actual spine in the main character, a nice (if transparent) plot by the Bad Guys(TM), some deus ex machina that fits the comic genre very well, and an attempt to clean up some of the absolutely horrible holes in the world setup.

Our heroine, the superhero with no discernable special powers other than the body of a playmate (a real playmate--she was in the magazine about More...

Joanna Archer is back for her second adventure. She is still trying to fit in with her new group of superheroes, the Light Zodiac Troop. And she is trying to figure out a way to stay in contact with the love of her life, Ben.

On top of that, the Shadow Zodiac Troop is trying to kill her and a mysterious virus has been unleashed on the citizens of Las Vegas. Oh, and she still wants to kill the Shadow Agent who attacked and left her for dead years ago.

The writing and the story is impeccable. I grew More...

When we last left Oliva/Joanna she had rooted out the spy in the light, met the Tulpa and come to terms that are life had changed forever. In The Taste of Night, Oliva/Joanna must live with the results of her decisions. Though she has developed an attraction for Hunter, her heart still belongs to Ben. The fact that she belongs to shadow and light continues to cause friction between her and the shadow warriors. She fears that they will never trust her. Within the turbulence of all the conflicts, More...

The Scent of Shadows was one of the first urban fantasies I read, but I knew it was different even then. Many people said the first book was too much setup and not enough follow through, and that it was confusing. I saw it as exciting, unique, and interesting. It was not the typical butt kicking ultra powerful super perfect girl that everyone loves running around killing bad guys. The Taste of Night simplified things a bit, but was still interesting. The best part: the characters.

Joanna Archer i More...

This was the second book of the Signs of the Zodiac series by Vicki Pettersson. I didn't think book was quite as good as the first one, but it was still a fast-paced and fun adventure to read.

With the second sign of the Zodiac looming imminent over the city of Las Vegas, Joanna Archer is desperate to figure out what the Shadows next move is. Unfortunately the rest of Light team is happy that things are in balance and are content to let things stand as they are. Will Joanna act on her own and for More...

Oh wow. So this is more like your superhero type of UF... no vamps or werwolves so far. :) Nice to see this type of UF. I'm sure there are others out there that might be better. I'm sticking with this series first. I'm not particularly a fan of superheroes... they tend to get cheesy and dramatic.

I would actually give this book a 5 star but there were moments that I was "well duh. Didn't you figure out that yet?" But otherwise great twists and turns in the story. There are moments that it felt l More...

I really wanted to give this book more stars. I have really enjoyed the concept, characters, world, etc.

WARNING: There will be spoilers if you continue to read on. You've been warned!!! :~) :~)

Lets start with what I liked:
~The heroine's growth and more accepting attitude toward her new life.
~Most of the other heroes. Hunter, Felix, Venessa, Tekla are all great and add extra depth.
~Ben's love for Joanna and protectiveness of Oliva (OK so they are one in the same at this point, but he doesn't kno More...

Favorite lines: “It’s funny how a name can change the world’s perception of you. Your perception of yourself.” (1)

Joanna Archer aka Olivia Archer is being sold for charity. She gets bought by a Shadow warrior and thus begins another round of non-stop adventure that is the Zodiac series. Joanna is the prophesied Archer born on both her mother and her father’s birthday. She is equal parts light and dark. The Light and the Dark want her, as it has been foretold that the side she chooses will rule s More...

Having an attitude and being "tough" are two different things and I don't think that the author or Joanna understand that. You have an "attitude" when you break into someone's house to kill them but then end up having to be rescued... You're "tough" if you can get yourself in to and (more importantly) OUT of trouble. I guess I was hoping for another Rachel Morgan, Mercedes Thompson or Kitty Norville kind of character.(Bad ass!) Joanna talks the talk but can't walk the walk. She's a selfish chara More...

I started reading it yesterday and I'm already half-way through. The reason this is a big deal is because I'm also a college student and I really need to be writing a paper instead, but I CAN'T STOP READING.
I loved the first in the series. Pettersson is good at sticking humor in without it feeling out of place or unrealistic. I have a serious love-hate relationship with the main character, which, I think, makes her a pretty good character. A character written well enough that you have to actuall More...

Like the first book in the Zodiac series, this book kept me involved and intrigued from the beginning. I had dreams about the storyline and the characters, I wished I had two sets of eyes and two brains so that I could read while at work, read while driving, read while in the shower... I even wanted to skip sleep altogether just to finish this book! I highly recommend it. It shows that even superheroes have faults and make mistakes.

Ok , I'll admit it. Maybe I was just expecting too much after The Scent of Shadows. Because even though I know this was a well-written, cleverly plotted book - I couldn't help but be disappointed. Before I get into why, I just want to reiterate that this is an amazing series. Vicki Pettersson has created a genuinely unique universe in an already saturated market. I guess these next comments could be considered the nit-picking of a fan.

My trouble was with the main character, Jo. While I had quite More...

This series so far is like junk food. It's not really filling, but you can't help yourself from coming back for more. In this book we see Joanna do more of what she does best: mope, brood, get angry, & generally not be a team player. It would get annoying, except it is so much fun to watch her act this way & all things considering, it's not entirely unreasonable for her to act this way. However, the one complaint I do have is that there has been no development in Joanna's maturity level. More...

I admit, it's been a few months since I read book one in this series. Having said that I'm now reading book two 'The Taste of Night' and have found myself more than once looking up the order just to confirm I didn't miss any because it doesn't feel to me as if this picked up where it left off.

I also want to add that at the beginning of this book there are a lot of reference to what happened in book one without any explanation so readers just starting this series be warned - do NOT start with thi More...

Took this on vacation as an emergency book - it was really bad. Couldn't finish it. I really wanted to like it - I really did and I admire the author for creating a heroine and new world. I just can't get beyond a hero that continually puts people in dire straits (her troop, a little girl, a would-be boyfriend, an old boy friend...)

Wow, the series gets even better. A kickass series with comic book superheroes — the light fighting the shadows. A great story that revolves around the zodiac and the balance of power of yin and yang.

Our heroine, Joanna has serious anger issues. She acts without thinking — cause and effect — she must get that from her father. She is in serious need of some therapy, but who can blame her she has been through a lot:
1. She has people wanting to kill her
2. She doesn't know who to trust
3. She has s More...

I love Joanna more and more as the series goes on. This is an outstanding book and you really feel like she is coming into herself. Joanna isn't as nervous about who she is as she was in the first book and her strengths are STARTING to come out. I only say starting, because Joanna is just learning that the biggest obstacle we usually have in succeeding is ourselves.
The plot is AWESOME. we are starting to learn so much about each character and how they inter-relate.
This plot does have a little More...

I'm torn about this book. On one hand there are several plot holes that I get hung up on. These mostly revolve around the lead characters ability to keep her identity a secret. On the other hand the author has gotten me to care about the heroine. For part of this book she was getting on my nerves. She is so hung up on her own desires that she puts many others at risk. I was getting pretty tired of her selfishness and some of her very stupid decisions. Even when she realizes that her friends coul More...

After initially quitting this book in disgust, I went back to it out of desperation- I read a lot faster than the library acquires. Anyway, I was able to get through it after letting my initial reaction fade a bit.

I think I have determined that I really wouldn't like this author much if I met her in person. Why? Well, even her "good guys" are entirely willing to throw friends under the bus to get what they want. Everybody in these books resorts to back biting eventually. And, well,the heroine wo More...

This is the second book in the Zodiac series. Joanna Archer has been forced to deal with the terrible events of her past and has yet to really embrace her new role as a super hero. She is more interested in vengeance and her personal interests and friends than with working with the team of people who depend upon her.

In this book, a plague strikes and she must find out why and how to cure it, while at the same time protecting Ben and also Olivia's friends, Cher and Suzanne.

This is an interesting More...

This is a little bit generous--it's probably more like a 3.5.
The beginning and ending are strong, filled with plenty of the kick-butt action I enjoyed in the first book. But the middle bogs down quite a bit, with too much do they/don't they/will they/won't they between Joanna and the troop. It's perfectly understandable that the troop wouldn't instantly trust someone who's half Shadow and that didn't grow up with them in Sanctuary. It's perfectly understandable that as a damaged lone wolf who ne More...

Joanna (Olivia) Archer has to help save Las Vegas from a mysterious plague. She is always dealing with the uncertainty of her troop members. She is also dealing with a new member of the Shadow troop who is following her every move which does not make things any easier for her. She fights her attraction to Hunter while still pining for her lost love Ben Traina. Will Joanna ever let Ben go so he can move on with his life? It doesn't appear that Joanna will be allowing that to happen anytime soon. More...

Imagine a world where comic book heroes walk amongst us fighting the age old battle of good vs. evil. In The Taste of Night, the battle is between the Light and Shadow forces, each divided into a corresponding sign of the Zodiac. Their actions are chronicled by two comic book writers who publish manuals for both the Light and the Shadow sides of the Zodiac.

Set in Las Vegas, the author built a world that is not out of the realm of possibility. Las Vegas provides a rich and colorful background, fu More...

The Taste of Night picks up where The Scent of Shadows left off. Joanna (in the body of her sister, Olivia) is still trying to adjust to her life with the merry band of superheros who battle the Shadow Zodiac. She continues to hunt down her rapist Joaquim, a big baddy with the Shadow.

Meanwhile in Gotham City Vegas, the Light is chillaxin' in their hideout with the belief that things are quiet because the Shadow must regroup and all is well. Joanne doesn't agree and does what she does best - diso More...

Synopsis: Even as a mortal, Joanna Archer was nobody's idea of a victim. But now, infused with the power to alter the supernatural battle between Shadow and Light forever, what she's become is a target. And when a toxic virus invades the valley, so do all of her allies. It's up to Joanna to find the cure that will save them all, but in order to do so she'll have to embrace her Shadow side even if it leaves her with nowhere to hide in an all–out battle with the demons of her past.

Equal parts Ligh More...

UG. How could I have liked the first book so much and then hated this one?

Let me tell you how >.<

This book stank of filler. It stank of, "Well, the original plotline I had in mind would probably end the series too soon, and my editors want to stretch this out into a longer series, so hmmm, what can I randomly stick in there to pad out the series?" So 3/4 of the book was the heroine making the SAME MISTAKE over and over again. And over again. One more time? Sure, why not? Should we get any More...

After reading the first book in the series, I went and downloaded the second to my Nook in and effort to read a series through to the end before starting a new one. I was not disappointed with this plan in the least. It was almost as if it was an extension of the first book, flowing right into it.

As I expected, there was none of the slow intro that there is many times in the first book in a series. If you read the first book, you would already know about the paranormal world Jo lives in. This al More...

After reading the first book in this series I was so excited to start this one. I found a lot of mixed reviews on it but I gave it go and loved it. The Scent of Shadows was a solid start to this paranormal series, but The Taste of Night brings on a whole new roller coaster ride. Now that the characters have been introduced, I dove right into the action packed book, which The Taste of Night does right in the first chapter.

Joanna Archer's life changed forever since the night her sister died. Now More...