The Neon Graveyard (Signs of the Zodiac, #6)

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The Neon Graveyard (Signs of the Zodiac #6)

by Vicki Pettersson (Goodreads Author)

4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 · rating details · 1,271 ratings · 144 reviews

The Final Sign of the Zodiac

Once she was a soldier for the Light, the prophesied savior who would decide the outcome of the eternal conflict raging in the dark corners of her glittering hometown.

Now Joanna Archer is just another mortal – still born of an impossible union of Shadow and Light … still hunted by both – and carrying the unborn child of a lover held captive by a...more

Paperback, 372 pages

Published May 31st 2011 by Harper Voyager

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May 21, 2011 Crystal ♥ RBtWBC rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: request-netgalley, best-of-2011

4.5 stars

After a volatile adventure of love, loss, denial, betrayal, revelations, heartbreak, mystery and war, Joanna Archer’s journey reaches its climax in this final installment of the brilliant Signs of the Zodiac series, The Neon Graveyard.

***This will have series spoilers and maybe minor spoilers for the book*** You really should read the first five books before starting The Neon Graveyard, or you most likely will be lost and you will miss a lot of great action. Which, if you haven’t yet re...more

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May 06, 2012 Dangerous Romance Book Reviews rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I remember when I read the first book to this series, The Scent of Shadows, back in 2007. It was so different; it really stood out from the bookshelves filled with Buffy Vampire slayers and Werewolf lovers, or vice versa. Not that there is anything wrong with either one of those things if done right but it was so refreshing to find a brand new world. In Pettersson’s Urban Fantasy, there is not a Vampire, or a werewolf to be found, but there are all kinds of new crazy villains and screwed up hero...more I remember when I read the first book to this series, The Scent of Shadows, back in 2007. It was so different; it really stood out from the bookshelves filled with Buffy Vampire slayers and Werewolf lovers, or vice versa. Not that there is anything wrong with either one of those things if done right but it was so refreshing to find a brand new world. In Pettersson’s Urban Fantasy, there is not a Vampire, or a werewolf to be found, but there are all kinds of new crazy villains and screwed up heroes.

Set in the already loco world of Las Vegas, the series is mixed with two troops of supernaturally powerful people, both good and evil, whose powers came from their zodiac signs and who continuously fought each other, with the balance in Las Vegas always in jeopardy. The books also featured children who ran a comic bookstore and knew the truth about these superheroes. They provided a sanctuary of sorts for either side and created comic books that told the truth about their activities. The Comic store kid’s belief actually provided the power for the characters. The books were exciting, and while the violence and the action were extreme, in an almost Manga like way, the world of Signs of the Zodiac was refreshing in its creativity.

Joanna Archer was a seriously damaged protagonist, her entire life riddled with tragedy. A victim of a terrible assault, a stepfather never loved her and her mother abandoned her, she had two people she believed in and loved, her sister Olivia and her boyfriend. When Olivia was killed, and with Joanna coming into her powers, the troop took her in but changed her appearance to match that of her dead sister’s to hide her from the one person who wanted her dead more than anything and hated her with a passion, her true father, the Tulpa, a Darth Vader to Luke Skywalker situation. This of course caused a problem as her boyfriend couldn't know she was her dead sister. It sounds more confusing then it was. Or maybe not. It was pretty confusing with all the identities going around.

Joanna learned her mother had been a member of the troop and had left her as a way of trying to avoid her coming to the Tulpa’s attention, to protect her. As the series continued we learned her mother had actually never really left her but had watched over her and protected her. Joanna was trained by the troop to control her newfound abilities, learned to fight her evil father, and found a new, albeit dysfunctional family and a new love, Hunter.

Then a few books ago, she lost everything she’d gained. In order to save a human child, she lost her super powers, without those her new family “the troop” kicked her out, and the man she’d given her heart to, appeared to abandon her for another. Joanna had to learn how to survive on her own and find a reason to live.

As the series progressed, a plot convention, Midheaven, threatened to derail my enjoyment of the series. Midheaven is a place between our world and the next where a former superhero Solange had become an evil goddess, trapping men and using their energy to fuel her world. Joanna’s lover Hunter got trapped in Midheaven a couple books ago, and I felt the series got stuck a bit too.

Action and dialogue are Pettersson’s strengths and Midheaven did not play to those, as it was so dreamy and hard to visualize.

Traveling there and back was particularly hard to keep track of, with crazy spiritual doorways, and astral traveling, cigarettes that wouldn't kill the smoker but would destroy anyone whose smoke they touched. There was a saloon with men gambling away pieces of their souls, and people’s eyes were getting turned into gems. I really struggled to keep track of what was happening, and just gave up on why. There was one room where a lot of the action took place that I never was able to grasp how it looked in my mind, which kept throwing me out of the scene. I actually got out a paper and pen and tried to draw it and gave up.Midheaven just seemed to bog down for me, with the description leaving me flailing to understand where I was. I wished that part of the story arc was wrapped up a couple books ago. Back in Las Vegas, on solid ground the books would always pick right back up and be exciting and easy to visualize.

In this, the final installment Joanna reminds me of the Lynda Hamilton’s character, the mother in Terminator 2. She’s human, but she’s a total badass. Tried in the fire , Joanna makes better choices in this book and will not give up, she will not leave Hunter to be tortured by the evil Solange. She goes back and back and back. There in lay the strength and the weakness for me. Despite the risks (which were higher now than ever) Joanna must try to rescue Hunter/overcome Solange, try to keep her new troop of other outcast troop members, "the Grey's" together, must protect her secret and finally kill her evil father.

Despite my frustration with the plot device of Midheaven, this was a very enjoyable series finale. She did a great job of wrapping up all the pieces and providing a solid ending to the Signs of the Zodiac series. It's been a fun ride, and while I am sorry to see it end, I'm glad to see the way it ended.
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Mar 14, 2013 Kat rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

This was a roller coaster ride of a book! After the shockers in book 5 I didn't think there was much left to pull out of the hat, boy was I wrong. I have to say for once I got the HEA I was pulling for! Happy dance! (I usually don't.) I ran through all 6 of these books in less than a week I was so enamored of the mythology. It was pleasure learning it along with Joanna & seeing the final sign come to pass was very satisfying, even if I wish more violence was involved! Joanna keeps her sarcas...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Angela Risner rated it 5 of 5 stars

Okay, first, I need a moment. Why? Because Pettersson announced that this is the final book in the series. I fell in love with these characters and now they're going to go away. SO unfair, but I guess it's better to leave it while the series is still good.

That being said, this was a really great ending to the series. Was everything wrapped up completely? Not quite. But it was still a great ending.

There was a LOT going on in this book. A LOT. And while Pettersson did offer some back story here an...more

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Apr 13, 2012 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Au revoir to a Superb Dark Urban Fantasy Series!

Au revoir to a Superb Dark Urban Fantasy Series!
I strongly recommend you read the previous books in the series (The Scent of Shadows, The First Sign of the Zodiac; The Taste of Night The Second Sign of the Zodiac; The Touch Of Twilight, The Third Sign of the Zodiac; City of Souls, The Fourth Sign of the Zodiac; and Cheat the Grave, The Fifth Sign of the Zodiac; Vicki's Prequel novella "The Harvest" in the Holidays are Hell anthology and Dark Matter...more

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Sep 07, 2011 Fangs for the Fantasy rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Neon Graveyard is the last book in the Pettersson's Zodiac series. I didn't feel any sense of sadness when I finished reading and perhaps because by the time this book ended, I was more than ready for this series to come to an end. What started off as an amazing idea with a unique and a large world ended up being tired and overly drawn out. Having read all six books, I think that this series could easily have been reduced to four books. A book for each sign just dragged out the inevitable en...more The Neon Graveyard is the last book in the Pettersson's Zodiac series. I didn't feel any sense of sadness when I finished reading and perhaps because by the time this book ended, I was more than ready for this series to come to an end. What started off as an amazing idea with a unique and a large world ended up being tired and overly drawn out. Having read all six books, I think that this series could easily have been reduced to four books. A book for each sign just dragged out the inevitable end of the series. Honestly, from book one, was there ever any doubt that this series would end with the death of the Tulpa?

The Neon Graveyard could easily have been renamed to everyone gets theirs in the end. In The City of Souls: The First Sign of the Zodiac much time was spent confronting the issue of absolutism. It was clear that for Warren the means justified the ends in every situation and if someone had to suffer or die, then so be it. This made him no different than the Tulpa and so basically from that point on it was clear that though Warren was official a member of the Light warriors that he was closer to a Shadow warrior. In The Neon Graveyard Warren's hatred of Joanna/Olivia was a driving force. He threatened several times and made it clear that it was his goal to see her dead.

Ultimately what Warren wanted was power. When he realized that Joanna/Olivia may not be the Kairos he was determined to cross over the Midhaven to steal away Hunter and Solange's child and raise her as light. So wrapped was he in this mission, that he did not care about his troop's reaction to Felix's death. I was Joanna/Olivia who recovered his body. When Vanessa sacrificed herself so that Joanna/Olivia could escape Midhaven with Hunter, Warren once again ignored the pain that his troop was feeling because he saw an opportunity to kill Joanna/Olivia. In the end he was trapped in Midhaven and Tekla became the new leader of the light.

To Warren, Joanna/Olivia's greatest fault was her refusal to obey his commands and sacrifice herself to his every whim regardless of what this cost her. It seems that what Warren forgot is that in a matriarchal society, women have power and do not necessarily have to submit to a man. In the end, Joanna/Oliva, Chandra and Tekla, the three women whom he had wronged imprisoned him in midhaven. I suppose one could see this as an empowering act but it still does not explain how it is that a man became leader of a matriarchal society to being with.

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Jun 27, 2011 Schnaucl rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, june, library, read_2011, series, urban_fantasy

It's possible I just don't remember Cheat the Grave very well but I feel like we skipped some important steps between book 5 and 6 so I felt like I was playing catch up for the first few chapters.

It was an anti-climactic end to the series.

(view spoiler)...more

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Jun 02, 2011 Bailey (IB Book Blogging) rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have been waiting years for this final novel of the zodiac series to come. Sure, there is one book released every year in the zodiac series but each one brings much pain and anger for Joanna. When I found out that The Neon Graveyard would be the final novel in the series, I think I might have sighed. While I have enjoyed each and every book in this series, they have all made me cry for all that Joanna has to go through on her journey. This series is raw and real and doesn't skimp on the detail...more I have been waiting years for this final novel of the zodiac series to come. Sure, there is one book released every year in the zodiac series but each one brings much pain and anger for Joanna. When I found out that The Neon Graveyard would be the final novel in the series, I think I might have sighed. While I have enjoyed each and every book in this series, they have all made me cry for all that Joanna has to go through on her journey. This series is raw and real and doesn't skimp on the details. I think that is what I love most about this series, that it reflects what life is truly about: pain, loss, and suffering with a side of happiness. The Neon Graveyard is the perfect way to wrap up the series and I smiled when I finally closed the novel.

Joanna is back with a vengeance and will not stop until she rescues Hunter from the evil Solange. Even though Joanna is mortal, she can still kick some serious butt! No one will stand in her way of getting to Hunter. The action is non-stop and I don't even remember a time when Joanna stopped to sleep! I was even exhausted after finishing, it is that action-packed! Being pregnant has not gentled Joanna at all. I have to say, it didn't shock me at all that pregnancy didn't slow her down. Her love for Hunter is so powerful and she knows he suffers while with Solange. Her baby's daddy will survive no matter what she has to do!

I didn't think Solange could get any nastier but boy was I wrong. She has gone even madder in The Neon Graveyard! I was horrified each time she had page time. Honestly, I don't know how Hunter was ever fooled by her. She puts Joanna through many tough trials and many shocking things are revealed in her presence! The Tulpa also gets his fair share of page time. Joanna has to deal with both him and Solange before she can finally get some much needed rest.

Vicki Pettersson sure know how to end a series! The ending was exactly what I could have wanted. It wasn't too happily ever after but it was just enough. I really don't know how to feel knowing that this is the last in the zodiac series. While I am happy that Joanna can finally get some closure and the peace that she deserves, I am sad that it has come to an end. I loved every moment of this series, even the bad ones. One week I am just going to have to put aside all of my other books and sit down to re-read this series once again. (less)

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Jun 01, 2011 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Signs of the Zodiac Series by Vicki Pettersson

“Before you plan your next trip to Vegas, you might want to answer...

Are you Light? Or are you Shadow? Because there’s another world behind the bright lights and nonstop action of Sin city ... one where Light and Shadow wage an immortal war for supremacy.

But the eternal battle has reached the tipping point, and only one person can change the future – casino heiress, photographer, and vigilante: Joanna Archer.

And no one knows the darkness within...more

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May 15, 2011 Larissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Previously Published on my blog: Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life

Rating: 4.5 stars!

*Minor Spoilers for the other books in the series

After such an incredible adventure full of villains, super powers, super heroes, comic books, mysteries, secrets, revelations, disappointments, heart-break and all-out war in the Las Vegas desert, Joanna’s journey comes to an end in this spectacular ending to this amazing series.

In Neon Graveyard, a powerless Joanna finds herself siding with the most unexpected all...more

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Dec 12, 2010 Seth marked it as to-read

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Placeholder to remind me to read and review this when I can get a copy... I was handed an ARC of the first book in the series, but I don't think I've pissed off any booksellers enough lately that there will be a repeat(1)
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City of Souls killed the series. Dead. I tried to read Cheat the Grave as the start of something new, but it was very much "What if Vicki Pettersson tried to write a Weather Warden book?" That's an improvement over City of Souls, but not a way to start something sustainable....more

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Mar 02, 2012 Angie rated it 5 of 5 stars

have you ever read one of those books where you can't wait until the end because you want to know how it finishes? But at the at the same time you dread the end because you know there won't be any more. well that is how I felt about this book...this series even. this isn't one of those books you can skim through. it isn't a fast read nor is it a light read. it is one of those worlds that draws you in and captures you. makes you want to rush and submerse yourself in all that is shadow and light....more

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Jun 05, 2011 Catie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011, series, paranormal

Well, you really lost me on this one, Vicki Pettersson. And glancing at all of the negative reviews for books four and five (which I loved), it seems that I may have been one of the last fans hanging on here. I feel like everything that I loved about this series was effectively destroyed within these three hundred pages. Everything about this book feels hasty and sloppy: a forced conclusion, shoved together with crazy loopholes and illogical “get out of jail free” cards.

I love how unique the wor...more Well, you really lost me on this one, Vicki Pettersson. And glancing at all of the negative reviews for books four and five (which I loved), it seems that I may have been one of the last fans hanging on here. I feel like everything that I loved about this series was effectively destroyed within these three hundred pages. Everything about this book feels hasty and sloppy: a forced conclusion, shoved together with crazy loopholes and illogical “get out of jail free” cards.

I love how unique the world of this series is – it’s a mish mash of Tibetan and Greek mythologies and comic book hero traditions. It’s a matrilineal society. Even the central nemesis (let’s face it – Solange completely eclipsed the Tulpa by the end) is a woman. Unfortunately, all of the massive detail and “rules” supporting this world got completely out of hand in this final installment. I sure can’t keep track of it all, and I strongly doubt that even the author has a handle on all of the loose ends. It’s incredibly confusing, but I am willing to let that slide. This book, above all, is a bit of mindless fun. If I cross my eyes and look at it sideways while standing in a pitch black room, it sort of makes sense.

I also loved the “game changing event” that took place at the end of book four. I know that a lot of fans were disappointed by that, but I thought that it was a brave choice. I’ve read enough UF series to know that the main thing that turns me off is stagnation. I need the characters to grow and change to keep me reading. This book revealed that brave choice for what it really was – bluster. Not only does Joanna regain the majority of what she lost, it’s handed to her on a silver platter by her greatest enemy, with no strings attached. Huh?

In fact, all three (yes, THREE) of Joanna’s nemeses go down incredibly easily. I’ve been through five books of battling the Tulpa’s near limitless power and Warren’s ruthless tactics, and this is what it comes down to – the two of them getting shoved under the rug so that Joanna can deal with the real challenge – cat fighting wack-job Solange so that she can get her man back. So...here we go. The ultimate reason that this series lost me: the romance.

I couldn’t care less about poor, misguided Hunter. I don’t care about former flame Ben either. I thought we were together on this, Vicki! This series, through five books, has always been more about Joanna discovering her own power and battling The Forces of Evil, and much less about the romance. Joanna and Hunter have one night of supernaturally aided soul sharing and one night of “healing” (the kind popularized by Marvin Gaye in the 1980s) under their belts. Before this book, I would have never thought that Joanna would risk everything (including her friends, allies, city, and unborn child) to get him back. But that’s exactly what she spends this entire book doing. Never mind that she's the prophesied kairos or that she's the only one who can beat the all powerful Tulpa. She has to stupidly throw herself into a world where Solange is all powerful three times. Conveniently, Solange decides to hand over Joanna's most crucial power on her first trip, and her other nemeses are all apparently busy with other things for the majority of the book. In fact, the Tulpa actually calls her on the phone to arrange the final showdown. Then she calmly walks to the bathroom and splashes some water on her face before heading off. I guess once you've reclaimed your man, that's all that matters.

Perfect Musical Pairing

Jill Scott – Getting’ in the Way

I love this song. Seriously, I’ve been hoping for a book that I could pair this song with. So, although it kills me that Joanna Archer’s sole aim was reduced to battling another woman for Hunter as if he were some sort of possession, at least I have this musical pairing for solace.
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Mar 05, 2012 Kara rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a series you definitely start at with book 1. I never thought I would like a book about Zodiac signs, how silly is that, right?! I loved this series! I also liked that Vicki Pettersson saw an end in sight for her series and ended it. I was actually really surprised when I picked up Neon Graveyard and it said the final sign of the Zodiac...I had no idea it was coming to an end. In all honesty, if Vicki were after a cash cow, she could have milked this one for a long time. The story is abo...more

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May 08, 2011 Lmb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: modern-fiction, paranormal-pnr

Well....I think Vicki Pettersson did a fine job on this series. I really liked this last installment. A lot. The series as a whole, IMO is one of the more clever & well thought that I've read. It also has a helluva' lot of heart.

It wasn't perfect by any means but it was completely solid, IMO.

The cons about this installment before I get to all the likes:

It was a little slow to start (but picked up round the 35-40% mark).

My main complaint is that sometimes I lost the action sequences. A bunc...more

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Apr 12, 2011 Karissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the sixth and final book in the Sign of the Zodiac series by Pettersson. This book did an excellent job of wrapping up the series. It was fairly predictable but moved at a good clip and wrapped things up nicely. You definitely need to read the previous books to know what is happening in this book.

Joanna Archer is in hiding with the grey rogue agents. As a unit they have two goals: get access to Midheaven and destroy the Tulpa. Joanna is also set on rescuing Hunter from Midheaven's ruler...more

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Jan 08, 2012 zcb257 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Satisfying ending, not perfect mind you, but very realistic.

The last chapter in the Zodiac series, finishes with as much action and flare as the rest. It's just as dark and gritty as book one, and ultimately ends on a thought provoking note. Do you need to run away from influence to become who you're supposed to be, or are the influences what make you who you are?

I usually like a perfect ending, HEA works for me, this one is not quite it. While everything is resolved, and most questions answered...more

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Apr 22, 2011 Sharon rated it 5 of 5 stars

http://ismellsheep.blogspot.com/2011/...

This is the 6th and last book in the Signs of the Zodiac series. There isn’t much point in reviewing the actual book. If you have read the first 5 books in this series, then you *will read this one. You have too! No one who has watch Pettersson, tear down Joanna Archer, then build her up just to tear her down again, through out this series would want to miss the conclusion to this dark, completely captivating and gut wrenching Urban Fantasy!

It has been alm...more

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Jan 21, 2012 Ryoko rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-books-ever

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 09, 2011 Bethany C rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a very good book, and this is one of my favorite series of all time. I wanted to be blown away...but I think my expectations were just so high it would have been nearly impossible to fulfill them. Don't get me wrong, this was absolutely a great read, but I think Cheat the Grave set my Zodiac bar just a little too high. It took me a little while to really get absorbed into the story, and then there was the ending that kind of wasn't. This left me feeling the exact same way I did after re...more

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Jun 03, 2011 MissM rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nook, read-2011

Hrm. Well, first I didn't realize this was the last one of the series. It's such a neat concept I'm sad to see it go. But I guess I just didn't like this particular one as much as everyone else. It felt choppy to me and I found myself just not getting sucked in to the story very much. I didn't really feel like it was as clear this time around; more concept, less firm description if that makes any sense. Like, I don't really "get" how she defeated the Tulpa exactly; it was like one moment Vegas i...more

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Jun 08, 2011 Chanpreet rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Sign on the Zodiac series written by Vicki Pettersson has come to an end with this 6th installment. It's hard for me to believe that this series has had 6 books and come to an end already. Each book has offered something new and never grown old.

Joanna Archer is flawed and has been thrown into a world where she's pretty much on her own, caught between the age old fight between good and evil. She's been abandoned by those she considered to be her friends and allies and there are still too man...more

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May 26, 2011 Kt from A Book Obsession.. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: received-for-review

Joanna has been knocked down time and time again. She's gone from a damaged woman to an incredibly strong superhero who was prophesized to be the Kairos, and then back down to being mortal again. She's taken up with the grays, or the rouge agents of the zodiac as she is being hunted by both the Shadow and the Light. She carries her trapped lover's unborn child and will do almost anything to free him, even risk her soul.

The thing I have always loved most about the Signs of the Zodiac series was t...more Joanna has been knocked down time and time again. She's gone from a damaged woman to an incredibly strong superhero who was prophesized to be the Kairos, and then back down to being mortal again. She's taken up with the grays, or the rouge agents of the zodiac as she is being hunted by both the Shadow and the Light. She carries her trapped lover's unborn child and will do almost anything to free him, even risk her soul.

The thing I have always loved most about the Signs of the Zodiac series was the characters and their relationships with each other. Of course the constant danger was more than entertaining, but when it all is said and done, it will be the characters themselves, Joanna most of all, that have made the lasting impact on me, not their journey. Joanna could be described as nothing less than damaged goods, however instead of being weak from that damage, she turned it into a strength like no other. Countless times she is battered down and torn apart only to pick herself up and come back even stronger. It is a funny thing to say, but at times I think her sister's death may have really helped her in the long run. Of course she will always have that pain associated with the loss, but in taking Olivia's identity, it also forced her to allow a softer side, capable of love. This brings into play her relationship with Hunter, who was the only one who saw her for who she was, not what he could use her for. I could go on and on all about all of the characters, especially the two-faced Warren, but I'll let you read the books and find out for yourselves.

I have to admit that I never really cared for the Midheaven aspect in these books. I would have preferred for it to have taken a less important role. In fact, it really lessened the Tulpa's "big bad" aspect, as Solange just seemed so much worse. Of course you know what they say about "A Woman Scorned." All of the conflict and danger was so immense with Solange, that when it came time to deal with the Tulpa, I just didn't really feel the threat. Perhaps it just was the fact that by the time he reared his ugly little head, Joanna was completely done with being pushed around and used, making the Tulpa just another annoyance to her. In the end I guess it makes sense as Joanna states several time that she would sacrifice anyone, including herself in order to protect Hunter, and since the Tulpa wasn't really threatening him, she just really wasn't affected that much.

The Neon Graveyard did have a slightly slow start, but it quickly gained a heart pounding momentum. While the ending wasn't strictly a happy ever after, the characters did find a resolution of some sorts. At the very least, Joanna will be getting the break she so desperately needs, but who really knows what is in store for the future. I did feel a sense of closure and satisfaction with the ending, however things were left more than open enough for Vicki Pettersson to pick things back up in the future if she wants. So, it was the perfect blend of completion yet left me wanting more, and a fantastic place to end the series before reader fatigue could even think to set in. The Neon Graveyard is one you won't want to miss as it really is a great ending to a fantastic series.(less)

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Mar 26, 2013 Jordan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: action-adventure, alt-universe, jojo-s-2013-challenge, magic, paranormal-supernatural, scifi-fantasy, series

I really liked this entire series but since this was the finale it fell a bit flat for me. I'm not sure what I expected but there was so much in the other books that kept me on the edge of my seat I felt a little let down. The rest of the series was so fraught with danger and save-the-world (well, their small piece of the world anyway) moments and this was all about her trying to save one man with little thought of anything else. It seemed like the Shadows and the Tulpa took a backseat to the fa...more

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Apr 08, 2011 Crystal rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People over 18

Neon Graveyard
By. Vicki Pettersson

Jo is still trying to free Hunter from Midheaven. Her friends have turned their back on her. Warren and the Tulpa want her dead, her mother is long gone and the only ones she can count on are rogue agents. Like always she is trying to survive and now not only for her life but for the life of her unborn child. Will she make it?

I finally got to read this book. I have been waiting for it for over a year. The book has a lot of action. I liked the ending. The only...more

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Jun 02, 2011 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. So, the series is done and over with. How do I feel about this? Eh. Truthfully, I don't feel all that much. The series had its ups and downs for me but the overall feeling at the end is just a shrug. In relection I think I struggle with the non-tangible parts of the plot. A lot of the later books dealt with things I could not see or touch and I needed a fertile imagination to conjure up worlds like Midheaven and then visualize what goes on there. The idea of a tulpa or The Tulpa is conceptual an...more

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Jun 11, 2011 gert rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

if you haven't read the earlier books in the series - keep on walkin'.

even having read the previous books (fast and hard - i loved them!) i still had a few moments of having no clue what was going on. that may be due to my large reading amount - who can remember everything? - or it could be the author was just getting tired of the story line and tried to brush past stuff in drop mentions. but whatevs - if you HAVE read the previous books, you've GOT to read this one. perhaps may even be legally...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Vickie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: nook, booksthatmakemegowow

AWESOME!!! What an ending to a superb series. For all that Joanna Archer is mortal without all of her Zodiac powers, she is still a leader and still capable of kicking butt to the nth degree. She is now leading 'the Greys', the rogues of both Light and Shadow. Now she needs to go back to Midheaven, face the evil 'goddess' in charge, and rescue the father of her unborn child. She's got both Light and Shadows after her and her Greys as well as the penultimate evil, her father the Tulpa.
I know a s...more

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Jan 04, 2012 Anna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books

Joanna Archer is now a mortal. She was once a part of the Light, and she was supposed to be the savior who would control who was going to win the battle over Las Vegas. She is fighting now to save her unborn child and the man she loves, who is stuck in the grasp of a goddess. Who is she fighting? It seems as though she is fighting everyone, but the main culprit happens to be her father, the Tupla and leader of the dark forces. Joanna has to prove herself to those around her that still possess po...more

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Jun 04, 2011 Christina rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Warning: Some Spoilers Below

Don’t get me wrong I love the Zodiac series, but Neon Graveyard was what I wanted for the wrap up to this series. I loved the characters, the world; it was all very new & stand alone in a genre that is usually dominated by vampires, werewolves & faeries. Unfortunately it came to an abrupt disappointing ending.

The majority of the book is spent by Jo hoping in & out of Midheaven & accomplishing pretty much nothing. I think it’s only 3 times she goes in,...more Warning: Some Spoilers Below

Don’t get me wrong I love the Zodiac series, but Neon Graveyard was what I wanted for the wrap up to this series. I loved the characters, the world; it was all very new & stand alone in a genre that is usually dominated by vampires, werewolves & faeries. Unfortunately it came to an abrupt disappointing ending.

The majority of the book is spent by Jo hoping in & out of Midheaven & accomplishing pretty much nothing. I think it’s only 3 times she goes in, could be 4, I can’t remember but it honestly felt like 100 times so I can’t keep it straight. The first time is completely useless & just ate up pages. The second time she goes in after that moron Carlos, this is where I can’t recall if it’s just the one time because all of it just blurs together. Anyway she saves him dumbass, tries & fails to get Hunter AGAIN, & then kills that freakish thing with Carlos that I figured out immediately was supposed to be Lola. The last time Jo finally gets it done but pretty much gets her ass handed to her & gets lucky Vanessa knew she’d probably die. Hooray for finally getting Hunter out but Booooo for execution.

The wrap up to Warren was by far the most disappointing part for me I think. After everything that prick did to everyone & didn’t bat an eye, he was by far the main antagonist for me & WAY more evil than the Tulpa ever was. That MF deserved to die, not be locked away in Midheaven, what BS! Tekla should have just finished him off instead of holding him at the end of her conduit; it would have been a more fitting end. The characters were deprived of the justice they deserved & the reader was deprived of the satisfaction of his demise.

The way the Tulpa was taken down was satisfying for the most part. Though for being the climax of the book/series, there wasn’t much of a build up to the “final battle”. It was like the Wham Bam Thank You Mam when it should have been a slow simmer up to a rolling boil over. I liked how Jo just basically imagined him back out of existence; it was very appropriate & poetic.
The ending & the goodbye to Olivia, while sweetly sad, just didn’t feel right for the series. It got the “Ride off into the Sunset” so typical of the happy ending. While I like that there was a happy ending, I felt it was not fitting to the uniqueness of the series.

Overall Neon Graveyard felt like it was rushed. It lacked flow, cohesion & a proper climactic event. Honestly I get the impression that Vicki intended for there to be a few more books in the series. I don’t know if that was the case or not but it feels like there was supposed to be more but that the deal didn’t come through so she had to wrap it all up prematurely.
An unfortunate end to an otherwise great series. I think I will at some point reread the entire series as one story to see if it feels different put altogether but I doubt it will change my opinion of this last book.
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About Vicki Pettersson

Vicki Pettersson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Signs of the Zodiac novels, a completed six-book urban fantasy series set in her hometown of Las Vegas. She's now writing Celestial Blues, a supernatural noir trilogy that began with THE TAKEN (2012) and has been followed by THE LOST (2013). She divides her time between Las Vegas and Dallas.

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Books by Vicki Pettersson

The Scent of Shadows (Signs of the Zodiac, #1)

The Taste of Night (Signs of the Zodiac, #2)

The Touch of Twilight (Signs of the Zodiac, #3)

Cheat the Grave (Signs of the Zodiac, #5)

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Quotes from The Neon Graveyard

“...lovers, even those who are married, always exist autonomously of one another, no matter how close they are or how long they've known each other. That's why jealously can flare in even the most intimate relationships.
Because you know that at some basic level this person exists separately from you. No mater how close you are, the landscape of their life is always tinted a different hue than your own." - Hunter to Joanna” — 5 people liked it

“But no life was without it's strain & strife, not if it was fully lived. Opening up to experience, even the good ones like trust & love, was to open yourself up to the pain. I suppose the key was to not compound matters by making the rest of it unnecessarily hard. My need for control had certainly done that in the past. So I made a promise to myself in that moment.
I would make a concerted effort to reach for what was soft & good in this world. I'd find a place to settle into, and hold still so that this world's good and soft could reach back & touch me as well.” — 3 people liked it

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The Neon Graveyard (Signs of the Zodiac #6)

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