The First Sign of the Zodiac
When she was sixteen, Joanna Archer was brutally assaulted and left to die in the Nevada desert.
By rights, she ...
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Dec 16, 2009
Seth
rated it: 
It looks good. New author, first novel, recommendations on the cover by Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris, and Diana Gabaldon(2). Woman becomes a Super-Powered Heroine fighting forces of darkness and it's supposed to have non-stop action, some hot sex scenes, and it's set in Las Vegas, always a great setting for supernatural action.
But look more closely. The back cover has a big, glossy picture of the author: an atractive brunette with a decidedly Linda Carter look. Large pictures of More...
But look more closely. The back cover has a big, glossy picture of the author: an atractive brunette with a decidedly Linda Carter look. Large pictures of More...
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Aug 12, 2011
Simone
rated it:
This was an odd book for me...on the one hand, there are more plot holes than you can shake a stick at, and they're all big enough to drive a fleet of trucks through. It was one of those that kept me up at night after I finished it, thinking "WTF was [plot point X] all about? That makes no freakin' sense! And then there was [Y]! What was THAT?" On the other hand, the main character was very compelling, and the writing generally very good, so I'm giving the second book a try.
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Jun 18, 2008
Harry
rated it: 
“The Scent of Shadows” by Vicki Pettersson for me is probably one of the best books I have had the pleasure to read in a while. It can be described as gritty, dark, violent and one of the more captivating Urban Fantasy titles on the market. A lot can be said about the book, the ideas it conveys and the quality of the writing. By my rating standards this novel exceeds the maximum ten points and skyrockets far in the distance.
“The Scent of Shadows”, which actually is only the first ins More...
“The Scent of Shadows”, which actually is only the first ins More...
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Nov 10, 2007
Jamie
rated it: 
I've started this, but so far I don't like it very much. There's something about the writing that bugs me - too much exposition, maybe.
Followup:
I gave it up 100 pages in. The story didn't capture my interest and the writing was too melodramatic for my taste. I mean, the heroine seriously says things like: "The knowledge of violence is my playmate."
I also don't like the details of a character's psyche to be spelled out so explicitly. I prefer to get to More...
Followup:
I gave it up 100 pages in. The story didn't capture my interest and the writing was too melodramatic for my taste. I mean, the heroine seriously says things like: "The knowledge of violence is my playmate."
I also don't like the details of a character's psyche to be spelled out so explicitly. I prefer to get to More...
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Dec 17, 2009
Schnaucl
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May 12, 2008
lynne
rated it: 
There are plenty of good ideas in this book. Most of them work pretty well. The idea of a brigade of the Light (and their Shadow counterpart) in the form of Signs of the Zodiac mixes a new angle with a tried-and-true idea. Having a child that is of both the Light and Shadow is also not unique, but is explored quite well here.
Thankfully, the passages that would put this into the "romance" category were few, and not over the top. Yay!
I'm also thankful that More...
Thankfully, the passages that would put this into the "romance" category were few, and not over the top. Yay!
I'm also thankful that More...
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Dec 04, 2010
Andrea
rated it:
I went into this book thinking it would be an average read from the reviews and I'm thrilled to say I was blown away. V.P. did a great job introducing a whole new wave of supernatural in this book. Her plot kept me on my toes, the leads had just the right amount of everything to make me like them, and the ending has me eager for more of the series. I'm so glad I did not just go by the reviews of this book and actually read it.
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Mar 21, 2008
Danielle
rated it:
I thought that this would be a great book, but I was kind of disappointed. It wasn't anything amazing but very typical, with a super hero swing. It is a definite good verses bad story. With the main character Joanna being a cross between the two. Joanna has just found her powers and the demons are after her. She joins with the Light side only to find she doesn't fit in there either. This was more of an self vs self book as Joanna comes to grips with who she is. It has outside action that pro
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Jul 11, 2011
I am officially done with this book. BUT I am not rating it or adding it to my d-n-f shelf because I couldn't make it past page 30. I tried, I really tried.
Maybe when I'm in the mood for a dark and gritty UF I'll come back to it-that's the advantage of books-they're always there waiting for me.
The premise sounds super interesting, and the fact that it takes place in my hometown is awesome! But I'm shelving it for a while, and I will come back to it, just for now, I'm moving More...
Maybe when I'm in the mood for a dark and gritty UF I'll come back to it-that's the advantage of books-they're always there waiting for me.
The premise sounds super interesting, and the fact that it takes place in my hometown is awesome! But I'm shelving it for a while, and I will come back to it, just for now, I'm moving More...
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Dec 17, 2009
Janon
rated it: 
I read this book on the recommendation of some invisible friends online. I liked that the heroine was fairly strong, but with flaws, and flaws that I could understand and empathize with. One challenge I have with the later Anita Blake novels is that I really, really don't like her.
The only thing I really didn't like about this novel is the physical transformation that happens midway, because again - what a surprise, the heroine is a mega-babe. Jeez, aren't there any just ordinarily More...
The only thing I really didn't like about this novel is the physical transformation that happens midway, because again - what a surprise, the heroine is a mega-babe. Jeez, aren't there any just ordinarily More...
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Nov 09, 2011
Jessica
rated it:
"I began reading this and almost put it down and then I got to the line: ""..I mean really."" I like witty and sarcastic characters so I thought to keep going.
I found myself really liking the heroine and even the basic plot. The characters were great and very likeable. The scenarios were believable and well thought through. There was just so much to understand though. Events would happen and would have reasons that were told but not explained. I spent so much time being More...
I found myself really liking the heroine and even the basic plot. The characters were great and very likeable. The scenarios were believable and well thought through. There was just so much to understand though. Events would happen and would have reasons that were told but not explained. I spent so much time being More...
Dec 24, 2011
Dan
rated it:
This book was full of plot holes.
Here is my favorite plot hole. All of the main characters' actions are automatically recorded in comic books. But they're magic comic books, so if a Light character touches a comic book about the Shadow team, or vice versa, they get horribly burned. So these comic books function as evil-detectors. The Light team also has cats which function as evil-detectors. Curiously, they've also known for several months that one of their team is a traitor, but More...
Here is my favorite plot hole. All of the main characters' actions are automatically recorded in comic books. But they're magic comic books, so if a Light character touches a comic book about the Shadow team, or vice versa, they get horribly burned. So these comic books function as evil-detectors. The Light team also has cats which function as evil-detectors. Curiously, they've also known for several months that one of their team is a traitor, but More...
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Nov 25, 2011
Lynn
rated it:
What a nice little surprise!
I liked this book - in fact, I liked it a lot and order the follow-up-volumes as soon as they come out.
(Okay, I don't like it enough to NOT swap them away when read, but I have VERY limited space and a huge stash!)
I quite enjoyed the unusual idea of this book of weaving the signs of the zodiac into a story. The writing is good, the plotting well done, the story capivating, and besides very well written action scenes, there is a steamin More...
I liked this book - in fact, I liked it a lot and order the follow-up-volumes as soon as they come out.
(Okay, I don't like it enough to NOT swap them away when read, but I have VERY limited space and a huge stash!)
I quite enjoyed the unusual idea of this book of weaving the signs of the zodiac into a story. The writing is good, the plotting well done, the story capivating, and besides very well written action scenes, there is a steamin More...
Mar 02, 2011
Laura
rated it:
I am so glad I looked at this cover in the bookstore. This book was in the fantasy/sci-fi section and I thought the cover was interesting. This story is based on Joanna Archer who comes to find out she is a real superhero. It might sound corny but the author weaves a whole new world around Light superheroes and Shadow superheroes. There is a unit of both Light and Shadow in major cities around the world. They call each side the Zodiac because each side has a corresponding member of each star sig
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Dec 30, 2010
Karissa
rated it:
The Scent of Shadows is the First Sign of the Zodiac; the first book in Petterson's Zodiac series. This book exceeded my expectations. I was braced for yet another paranormal series featuring an angsty heroine; but what I got was so much more than that. This book is something both men and women would greatly enjoy; it is much more of a super hero story than a paranormal romance.
Joanna Archer is an heiress. Her father Xavier Archer is a Las Vegas tycoon who owns a number of casinos in L More...
Joanna Archer is an heiress. Her father Xavier Archer is a Las Vegas tycoon who owns a number of casinos in L More...
Aug 23, 2010
Domino
rated it:
The Scent of Shadows by Vicki Pettersson. Eos Books 2007.
By way of background, I knew nothing about this book beyond the fact that this was one of three I had seen while lurking around the traps, ie couple of bookstores, the library and mentioned while stalking, (ahem), researching other urban fiction authors. It’s scarce here Down Under.
When I decided to read it I didn’t look up a thing about it beyond the assurance it was urban fiction. I didn’t even read the blurb.
More...
By way of background, I knew nothing about this book beyond the fact that this was one of three I had seen while lurking around the traps, ie couple of bookstores, the library and mentioned while stalking, (ahem), researching other urban fiction authors. It’s scarce here Down Under.
When I decided to read it I didn’t look up a thing about it beyond the assurance it was urban fiction. I didn’t even read the blurb.
More...
Jun 21, 2010
Lesley
rated it:
Wow. This was different than anything I've ever read - the magic system, the types of supernatural people - ok, those were really the big differences. No vampire or werewolves, thank god. That has been beaten to DEATH. In this case, it was agents of Light and Shadow. But they aren't demons. Or anything else. The can smell each other and chase their enemies down by scent. They fight with weapons, not magic. They are sort of superheroes with secret identities. They aren't human, but sort of anothe
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Feb 16, 2010
Kay
rated it:
Pettersson throws us straight into the action - leaving us to work out the universe as Joanna does. It is a complicated one too, as we have zero frame of reference to go on. Put simply, this series is about a war between two superhero factions: the forces of Light and Shadow. Their battles are depicted in comic form after the fact, then sold to humans as fiction.
Had I understood this before starting, I likely wouldn't have continued. While I appreciate the whole superhero thing, it j More...
Had I understood this before starting, I likely wouldn't have continued. While I appreciate the whole superhero thing, it j More...
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Sep 19, 2009
Irisheyz77
rated it:
The final book that I read while on vacation was the start of another series called Scent of Shadows by Vicki Pettersson. This series takes place in Las Vegas and pulls elements from astrology as well as comic books. Here there is another definition of just what it means to be a superhero.
The main character is Joanna Archer, the eldest daughter of one of the richest men on the planet. But she is far from being the socialite that one would expect from someone raised in wealth. Instead More...
The main character is Joanna Archer, the eldest daughter of one of the richest men on the planet. But she is far from being the socialite that one would expect from someone raised in wealth. Instead More...
Jun 17, 2009
Baby
rated it:
The plot of this book is basically The Matrix with a female hero. The writing is just ok, although some of the scenes got a big "huh?" Like when Joanna "shows her shadow side" to someone- what exactly does that mean? A lot of it seems so contrived and cheesy and the characters say/act in ridiculous ways. Plus, things just come too easily for Joanna once she comes into her powers. She can magically use a bow and arrow and a whip without ever practicing those weapons before. Ho
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Jan 01, 2011
Yolanda
rated it:
This is the first in The Signs of the Zodiac Series. Once again, I read this about a week ago and absolutely LOVED it. Wow. I got totally caught up in this story and couldn't wait to see how everything would unfold. Honestly, things got so bad for Joanne so many times, that I just didn't know how the hell she was going to survive this book.
The concept is intriguing. A mix of the superhero mythos with the paranormal, and a good dose of horror. Man, this story is fantastic, and even he More...
The concept is intriguing. A mix of the superhero mythos with the paranormal, and a good dose of horror. Man, this story is fantastic, and even he More...
Jul 17, 2010
Trak
rated it:
I really do not what to think about this book. There was an amazing anount of back story crammed in which tended to slow down the pace. There were so many good ideas which needed further development. I mean does anyone really know why light and shadow fight? Except for the obvious that they are opposites, I mean what is the big prize in all this? A couple of things that bugged me:
the superhero reference - all the time
jo-jo - I know its his pet name for her - but all the time
t More...
the superhero reference - all the time
jo-jo - I know its his pet name for her - but all the time
t More...
Jul 29, 2011
Fangs for the Fantasy
rated it:
I know that some will argue that this book does not fall into the category of urban fantasy, because it does not involve, fae, vampires, werewolves, or any of the other usual suspects; however, I am going to call this urban fantasy, because it takes place in Las Vegas, which is an urban setting. I know that this is thin ground to stand on, but I am going to nonetheless.
The Zodiac warriors actually have powers and special weapons assigned to them based on what astrological sign they a More...
The Zodiac warriors actually have powers and special weapons assigned to them based on what astrological sign they a More...
Apr 02, 2011
Scooper
rated it:
Favorite lines: “The first thing I do every morning is make coffee, put on sunscreen, and take my birth control…the goal, of course, to be alert, and protected at all times.” (43)
The Scent of Shadows is Vicki Pettersson’s first book in the sign of the Zodiac series. There are supposed to be six books in the series, and Pettersson reeled me in with book one like I was a fish on her fishing line.
Joanna Archer was attacked as a teenager in the desert outside of Vegas. She barely More...
The Scent of Shadows is Vicki Pettersson’s first book in the sign of the Zodiac series. There are supposed to be six books in the series, and Pettersson reeled me in with book one like I was a fish on her fishing line.
Joanna Archer was attacked as a teenager in the desert outside of Vegas. She barely More...
Dec 31, 2009
Linda
rated it:
The main character, Joanna Archer is a brooding, cynical kind of personality due to a tragic event that occurred at the age of 16 years. This event effected her that she developed into a loner persona, untrusting and she has a big chip on her shoulder. The storyline is different that it has super heros which fall under the different 12 Zodiac signs. The super heroes inherit this responsibility from the matriarchal line and usually the family descendants are very possesive in keeping the Zodia p
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Jun 09, 2010
Carien
rated it:
To be honest.... I didn't like it.
But why that was is hard to explain. I mean: it is well written, it has a good, intriguing plot and a nice dark mood. Maybe a bit too dark though: The story felt really frustrating at times as one crappy thing after another came flying at Joanna. And another thing I didn't like was how Joanna reacted to things. One moment she was agonising over something supposedly 'evil' she had done and which was in my opinion not exactly nice, but certainly not evil. Th More...
But why that was is hard to explain. I mean: it is well written, it has a good, intriguing plot and a nice dark mood. Maybe a bit too dark though: The story felt really frustrating at times as one crappy thing after another came flying at Joanna. And another thing I didn't like was how Joanna reacted to things. One moment she was agonising over something supposedly 'evil' she had done and which was in my opinion not exactly nice, but certainly not evil. Th More...
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Jul 11, 2009
Paula
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Nov 14, 2011
Ryoko
rated it:
This was an altogether interesting read, such that I was unable to put it down. Certainly has its share of flaws, but like potato chips you just have to keep going once you've had a taste. Dead serious in one regard but totally absurd (think "Tiger & Bunny" if you've ever watched the show) in another. I rolled my eyes a lot at the dubious logic that the reader is supposed to follow. But in the end there was more to like than to disparage.
One thing I can say for sure is thi More...
One thing I can say for sure is thi More...
Feb 05, 2011
Cathy
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Sep 24, 2007
Elizabeth
rated it:
This is an excellent choice for fans of sci-fi/fantasy who like strong female leads. A Scent of Shadows, unlike the usual paranormals, doesn't revolve around vampires or werewolves; instead, it reads more like a graphic novel as literature, featuring teams of superheroes and super-villains, all taking a stand in my hometown of Las Vegas. This book is filled with action, and I found it original and thrilling.
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