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    Zodiac
    Zodiac
    Zodiac
    Audiobook13 hours

    Zodiac

    Written by Romina Russell

    Narrated by Rebecca Gibel

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Rhoma Grace is a 16-year-old student from House Cancer with an unusual way of reading the stars. While her classmates use measurements to make accurate astrological predictions, she looks up at the night sky and makes up stories.

    When a violent blast strikes the moons of Cancer, sending its ocean planet off-kilter and killing thousands of citizens-including its beloved Guardian-Rho is more surprised than anyone when she is named the House's new leader. Then, when more Houses fall victim to freak weather catastrophes, Rho starts seeing a pattern in the stars. She suspects the exiled 13th Guardian of Zodiac has returned to exact his revenge across the Galaxy.

    Now Rho must travel through the Zodiac to warn the other Guardians. But who will believe anything this young novice says? Whom can Rho trust in a universe defined by differences? And how can she convince twelve worlds to unite as one Zodiac?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateMay 13, 2015
    ISBN9781494582456
    Zodiac

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    Reviews for Zodiac

    4/5

    110 ratings17 reviews

    What did you think?

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    • 2/5
      Cliffhanger!!!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      The chilling true story about the elusive Zodiac killer, writting by a comic strip writer of one of the newspapers that recieved letters and secret codes from the killer himself. A must read for anyone who loves murder mysteries, true stories, or has a fasination with serial killers, like myself.
    • 4/5
      This book is based on the authors interviews with victims, cops, suspects, and others involved in the Zodiac killings. All suspects are listed under false names as no one has ever been convicted of these crimes. It's a pretty decent book as far as true crime novels go, and is very informative.
    • 3/5
      An engaging, if flawed work. Graysmith's close vicinity to the terrors of Zodiac-struck California propels interest in the sometimes bizarre, unsolved crimes. Perhaps due to his cartoonist's eye, the reconstructions are frequently groan-worthy, full of heavy-breathing into the darkening night, and similar such scenes. One wonders how much is fact versus obsession-driven fancy, and this is Graysmith's chief mistake. Still, the work reads like a dime novel or comic book at times, and is a fine primer to one of the strangest shadows of twentieth-century crime.
    • 2/5
      There's a scene in David Fincher's excellent film based partly on Zodiac where Robert Graysmith (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) begs journalist Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.) to write this book and is, regrettably, rebuffed. As a true crime writer, Graysmith makes a great cartoonist. He just doesn't have the skills to write believable dialogue or to pull together the many twisted threads of the Zodiac's unsolved crimes. In the end, Zodiac is as much about Graysmith's singular obsession with the case as it is about the case history itself. I was left feeling sorry for his wife and kids more than anything else.
    • 5/5
      I really liked this book. It was informative and interesting. I am a little bit too young to remember the actual events going on but the book lays out the events in enough detail to make them interesting without being boring with too much information. Listening to this book made me want to watch the movie. I realized from the book that there are several movies based on these events, including "Dirty Harry." Overall, a great listen and I would recommend it to anyone interested in true crime stories.
    • 4/5
      I will admit, I picked up this book after seeing David Fincher's Zodiac. I found the case both horrifying and intriguing and I knew I wanted to know more. The Zodiac murders happened long before I was born, but Robert Graysmith did a great job at laying out all the facts from the case in an easy to read format. However, it was quite obvious that Graysmith was not a writer (he was a cartoonist) by the unpolished way that he writes at times. I gave Zodiac four stars instead of five because the material could be dry at times, and a more skilled writer may have been able to do a better job at making those parts sparkle and shine like the rest of the text. I definitely think that this would be a great book for any true crime buff or for those who are interested in the great unsolved cases of our day and age. Also, if you enjoyed the movie, you will more than likely enjoy this book for filling in all the missing pieces and giving you a glimpse at some of the actual evidence from the case. A definite must-read for true crime fans and a good primer for those looking to get into the genre!
    • 5/5
      This can be said in one word: WOW.I saw the film and, as usual, got curious about the book. Recently I finally managed to get my hands on it (the library doesn't have it!) and I simply could not put it down.One of the first things I noticed is how well the film is made. Usually there are huge differences between book and film. Not in this case. Eventhough the film takes the more personal perspective (what did the Zodiac case do to people's personal lives?), the information on the actual killings and police investigation is used very well indeed.I have to say that I found the book more exciting than the film, especially towards the end. I won't put any spoilers in this review, just read it for yourself!One could argue about style, though. Robert Graysmith manages to jump from past tense and third person style, to present tense and first person style. However, if you are not a stickler for detail, that shouldn't bother you. The overall style is easy to follow and he presents his case really well. I'd recommend this to anyone!
    • 2/5
      (#36 in the 2007 book challenge)Well this was a trip and a half. I don't read very much true crime, but I had to run out and pick this up because we rented the recent Zodiac movie, and there was a part about one of the suspects that seemed not fleshed out enough in the film and it was burning a hole in my brain and I assumed that the book would have more detail (no joy on that call, it didn't have much more information). A quick aside about the movie -- it wasn't especially great overall, but there were these small elements that I loved. It had repeated shot compositions that emphasized horizontal lines that were so impressive, just so visually striking, and one scene that was suspenseful that it ended up making pretty much the rest of the film seem bland. ANYWAY, back to the book. I suppose I should mention, for those who can't keep the 1970s serial killers with catchy nicknames straight, that the case is still unsolved and the book outlines the crimes, the investigation, and the main suspects. Talk about a being a product of its time -- boy, the decade of the 1970s was a character on its own. A recurring theme in the investigation was the likelihood that the killer was into witchcraft, and quite possibly into the LSD. You know what happens when people get into witchcraft, and the LSD! I have a sneaking suspicion that the author himself entertains the possibility that the symbols and twitchy references in the Zodiac's correspondence with the press carry some meaning and intent external to the person doing the killing. I mean, I get that a demented person, or a person who decides to kill a bunch of people, or heck, even a person into the witchcraft and the LSD, might find meaning in various symbols, and in his head might believe the symbols communicate things such as "hey, go stab some people tonight" but it's not as if the symbol itself is going to cause anyone to become a mass murderer, or that someone else could see the symbol and glean any information about the killer from it. The other funny thing is how dated the ... profiling? is. Anyone who has seen The Silence of the Lambs could come to the same conclusions that the experts did. I understand how this works -- we only have The Silence of the Lambs because of what criminologists learned in the past, but still, it's a little hard in 2007 to take it too seriously when an expert pronounces "the killer may have issues with his mother."Grade: C+Recommended: I don't think this is especially good as far as true crime goes (from my limited experience with the genre), in fact I was distracted by the possibility that the author had gone around the bend, which seemed almost more unsettling than the murderer (the murderer is clearly around the bend, so that part was just obvious). I had a hard time sussing out why Graysmith felt some suspects were more likely than others. However, it was an interesting look at the effect of the crimes, and the weirdness of the letter-writing campaign, on the San Francisco region and the people who were charged with investigating the case.
    • 5/5
      Easily the most frightening non-fiction book I've ever read. By the time you finish this book you are, at first, comforted by the knowledge that the Zodiac is either dead or too old to keep doing what he loves. Then you realize the world is full of people just like him.
    • 4/5
      Interesting new sci-fi world, based on the star systems of the zodiac. There was a little too much dramatic zooming around the universe and mooning over potential mates, but pretty cool on the whole.

      Advanced reader copy provided by edelweiss.
    • 2/5
      2.5 starsThere was potential here, but the love triangle was inane and completely unnecessary to the story. In the first half I felt that some things were rather contrived and forced. It was a bit better later, so 2.5, but in the end, it was a 2 star experienced for me. My library network has only the first two books in this series, so I am guessing that they didn't circulate enough for the libraries to keep buying them, or else there was too long of a gap in between books.I also wasn't that thrilled with some of the character development and the uneven world building.Most of all, I think there was too much of many things to make this as good as it could have been.
    • 3/5
      Thanks to Penguin for a free advance copy of Zodiac!

      I have a soft spot in my heart for books where the main character finds out she's the chosen one. Call it wish fulfilment, but I love it when girls are more powerful and important than they ever imagined. And I liked that part of Zodiac as well. Rho wrestling with her new responsibilities, her leadership role, and people older than her referring to her as "mother" were all compelling aspects of the plot.

      And the worldbuilding was awesome, too, with people living in different constellations and with different personality traits based on zodiac signs. Russell does a really great job of creating unique cultures for each of the signs, with their own terminology and customs. Plus, that whole thing with the 13th sign? I thought for sure she made that up for the plot, but it turns out to have a basis in the constellations. And that's just so cool.

      I don't pay a whole lot of attention to the zodiac, so I had no idea what each group of people should be like... and I was a little apprehensive that I wouldn't be able to make sense of each group. But Russell explains it well, and gives each of the zodiac houses clear characteristics that -- I assume -- match up with the zodiac. Basically, you don't need any knowledge of astrology to make sense of this world.

      But... as great as the characteristics of each sign were defined, I wasn't sure about the actual individual characters. This is kind of the same issue I ran into in Divergent: identifying characters by the group they belong to... it's like a short cut to their personality. We don't get to know them as characters so much as examples of a person from Dauntless, or a Cancerian.

      So, basically, while I enjoyed the book, I could have done with a little more character development in Zodiac, maybe a bit more exploration of people who switch from one sign to another. And there were a few things I could have done without, like describing people's skin colour in food terms, or some of the weird descriptions of eyes, or the love triangle (which is just not my thing).

      I have high hopes for where the series is going to go and the things we'll get to explore there. I'm looking forward to the next two books!
    • 5/5
      This book had my attention from the beginning. I find astrology fascinating and am curious about the different versions people bring up whether it be real or not.
      In Russell's world, people are raised in communities according to their Zodiac sign and while in the same universe, each is a separate community. They are separate due to being deceived thousands of years ago and mkst are distrustful of each other.
      Rho is a 17 year old girl who grew up as a Cancrian on a beautiful planet full of mostly ocean and a bit of land. She loves her Dad, Mom and brother thkugh her Mom left them years ago without a word which is very uncommon in her community. Before her mom left though, she taught Rho about a possible threat in the future and tried to prepare her.
      Rho and many others of the Zodiac get quite the shock when something one day hits one of the moons near Cancer and lots of people die. The Guardian of her particular sign and after a series of various tests, Rho finds herself being the new Guardian and she appoints the mysterious Matthias to be her Guard. At her swearing in ceremony, she meats Hysan who is a Libran who pledges his loyalty and seems to have faith from her in the beginning.
      When Rho encounters what may be the threat to her Galaxy, she tries to convince others of the danger though Hysan seems to be the only one to believe her. After more people are killed and the reasons cannot be blamed on accidents of the nuclear kind, people from the Zodiac appear to band together to join in Rho's cause, appointing her as a mascot of sorts to lead an Armada to try to combat this threat that could very well destroy the galaxy. Rho has not only the threat of this entity to worry about but her family, her growing attraction to both Hysan and Matthias and wondering how she's going to try to save her people.
      When they are attacked unexpectedly, it throws Rho's plans completely out of orbit and unexpected events happen.
      This book ends on a cliff hanger so be prepared and grab some tissues. Full of adventure, humor, romance and the importance of believing in what can't always be seen, it was a pleasure to read this book. I can't wait for the next one!!
    • 5/5
      This book starts out with a family that live in house Cancer. It about a 16 year old student that has a unusual way of reading the stars. The family is Romina and Stanton and her dad. Her mother leaves her family. It mostly about Romina her talent.

      There a blast at her school that she attending and reading stars. Rho is told she has to re-do the test. Though she see something in the first time. She does it with out the measurements unlike her classmates. They all thinks she making up stories. There as event that happens while she with the band. What happens here starts a chain reaction. Only a few students survive the event.

      Any of the survivors that survive are sent back to their home planet. Though Rho and her friends end up going to House of Cancer. Everyone is surprised to see all destruction. Things get more exciting once they reach Ocean 6 station on House Cancer.

      The book get you hook to wanting more and it even get better. There are adventures throughout the book. There are twist and turns. It keep you guessing at whats going happen. Is he Dark Matter real? Is Rho Guardian of House Cancer? What will happen next? Did the Council do the right thing by taking Guardianship of Rho?
    • 4/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: This novel took place in a collection of galaxies, each representing a different Zodiac sign, and is a whirlwind of action and adventure.Opening Sentence: When I think of home, I see blue.The Review:Zho had an unusual childhood. She grew up on Cancer, in a galaxy where nurturing is prized above all, and yet her mother was a more strict teacher than loving parent. Nevertheless, her rigid education during her upbringing allowed for her skill to grow immeasurably. When disaster strikes and all four of Cancer’s moons collide, the current Guardian of the house dies, and Rho is appointed. She will face many conflicts – her age, her growing feelings for two mysterious boys – but the largest of all is the threat that still looms.Rho is positive that there is a reason that all of the galaxies have had such horrifying tragedies the past years. Her belief is based on intuition and her rare gift, and she is sure that the immortal leader of the lost 13th house is coming back. Ochus is an evil deceiver, wrapped in mythology and folklore, but it seems that he is more than just a story. But how will she prove it to a whole civilization? Can she impress the gravity of the threat to the other, disbelieving Guardians, before its too late?I had heard some less-than-complimentary reviews heading into this one, so I was a little wary. Some reviewers had found the story confusing or slow, but I went into the novel with an open mind and was actually excited to try it out. The concept was so unique and the cover was so gorgeous – plus, my galley was signed (thanks to the amazing Mysterious Galaxy bookstore for the copy)! However, while it was true that I had some trouble getting into the story, I found that once I adjusted to the world, I couldn’t stop reading.It’s not false that the story is complex, and at times, confusing. There are quite a few new concepts being introduced to the readers that those of this world, and our point of view Rho, take for granted. At first they were hard for me to grasp, but eventually they clicked, and once I understood what was happening I was able to fully appreciate the story. A lot happened in just one book: adventure, suspense, action, intrigue, and a fair share of tragedy. Nothing was easy for Rho, and she was questioned at every turn, but she stayed strong. I liked her character. She had her moments, but she always tried to do the best thing for the whole of the galaxy, and unite all twelve houses.There was a love triangle, and yes, those can be my pet peeves. It was executed in a way that was a slow burn, then bam!- hit the ground running. So no insta-love, thankfully. I did enjoy both boys, one more so than the other, and some of their conversations made me laugh. I think that the choice was made in book one, but it was kind of forced onto Rho, so who knows where book two will take the romance?Anyway, I really enjoyed this novel. It had plenty of action, suspense, and romance. I loved the balance between Rho’s personal life and her duties to the galaxy. Though it did take some getting used to, the world building was enjoyable and I found that this was just what I expected of a Zodiac themed space book. It was vibrant and exciting; the cover matched the inside. If you have some trouble getting into this novel, I would encourage you to wait and adjust to the world, because it will be worth it!Notable Scene:A flash of heat surges up my neck, searing my cheeks, nose, and eyes, and I can feel the tantrum, the storm of tears, the meltdown I’m yearning to have at the unending injustice of it all.I’ve done what they asked. I read the stars, and I swore to always act in the best interest of Cancer. That oath led me to sacrificing everything I would rather be doing – searching for my family, helping to rebuild my home – and it’s sent me all over the galaxy on a crazy quest thats made me the laughingstock of the Zodiac.And now my own people want to turn me into something I’m not.FTC Advisory: Razorbill/Penguin provided me with a copy of Zodiac. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 5/5
      I really like this book. It had me hooked from the beginning, and I read it in a single weekend. I took it everywhere! I just couldn't put it down. I feel that the characters had great depth and the story was well written. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good fantasy/sci-fi novel!