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    The Scent of Shadows: The First Sign of the Zodiac
    Unavailable
    The Scent of Shadows: The First Sign of the Zodiac
    Unavailable
    The Scent of Shadows: The First Sign of the Zodiac
    Ebook531 pages8 hours

    The Scent of Shadows: The First Sign of the Zodiac

    By Vicki Pettersson

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    When she was sixteen, Joanna Archer was brutally assaulted and left to die in the Nevada desert.

    By rights, she should be dead.

    Now a photographer by day, she prowls a different Las Vegas after sunset—a grim, secret Sin City where Light battles Shadow—seeking answers to whom or what she really is . . . and revenge for the horrors she was forced to endure.

    But the nightmare is just beginning—for the demons are hunting Joanna, and the powerful shadows want her for their own . . .

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateOct 13, 2009
    ISBN9780061736711
    Unavailable
    The Scent of Shadows: The First Sign of the Zodiac
    Author

    Vicki Pettersson

    Vicki Pettersson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Sign of the Zodiac novels, a six-book urban fantasy series set in her hometown of Las Vegas. Though she'll always consider that glittering dust bowl home, she now divides her time between Vegas and Dallas, where she's learning to like good Tex-Mex (easy) and the Dallas Cowboys (easier than you'd think).

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    Reviews for The Scent of Shadows

    3.5/5

    70 ratings28 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      There were parts of this book that I thought were fantastic. Some of the plot devices were forced to make the story work. I also thought most of the other heroes were not so good and kept waiting for the villian to cackle. A good first book, I will probably give the next one a go.
    • 4/5
      I discovered Vicki Pettersson's Sign of the Zodiac series as a free Kindle offer on Amazon, and was instantly hooked, quickly buying each book as I finished the previous, devouring the entire series within a matter of a couple of weeks. Engaging characters, interesting storylines, I loved this series!
    • 4/5
      Warning: this review contains spoilers.The premise is that there are a bunch of superheroes in most major cities, a dark group and a light group. Of course, no one in the regular world knows about it. It's a little bit like X-Men only not as open.I liked the book. It was a fun read even if there were times when the characters seemed particularly dense. The first time Joanna mentions she had a child and the Zodiac mentioned that they operate under a matriarchal society she should have made the connection. I did. And it's not like she hadn't been thinking about the kid.
    • 4/5
      This was a pleasant surprise. I like the way magic is treated in these books, with the signs of the zodiac having both a light and a dark representative, and I like that they aren't your average "witches, weres, and vampires."
    • 3/5
      Too much info. Too disparate a plot line. I read it, but it almost felt like two separate books. Characters need way more development.
    • 2/5
      Ugh ?Okay let me start by saying I like the main character. She is a rape victim who came out of it being stronger and better than she was before. I'm a firm believer in that which does not kill you makes you stronger. Okay cool... moving on... it's just cliche after cliche, plot hole after plot hole.... there is so much going on that it makes your head spin. Not to mention the writing is so over-the-top it is ridiculous. I know that this is supposed to be a supernatural fantasy thriller action book but still, I mean, come on!!! I thought only Arnold Schwarzenegger said lines that cheesy! For real! DNF
    • 5/5
      the story is weil written a Joy to read and held really big surprises and each character has so many facettes
    • 3/5
      "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 confused about things because of it. The storyline would include mentions of a past that you know nothing of and it would be a reason for why something was happening. Then later on you finally get an explanation. I almost felt I needed to go back and reread it to actually understand what was going on. Like the book kept mentioning about the heroine having protected her sister twice and failed. This wasn't actually explained to you until the end of the book as to what happened.

      I did really like the characters and the idea behind it but I felt too confused while reading it to want to continue with the series. Plus the bonus material was an excerpt from the newest to release soon and from reading it I discovered what would have pissed me off if I'd invested in the series. Not only had the heroine lost her life her mother any good father figure her sister her lover and all friends but was introduced into a battle she didn't know existed. Then in the end of this first book you find out that things start to look up for her. Then I read this new excerpt from the newest one to discover that she ends up losing her powers her new lover (that was introduced in the first one - which I liked) her first love is dead she had to kill a father she hated and so much more. I just know if I had conitnued it I'd have been pissed."
    • 5/5
      Fabulous book!!! Got it free when I first got my kindle. What a unique and clever storyline. Set in Las Vegas we meet the protectors of the city. Each a sign of the zodiac, they have a special power. Shadow and light, fight to control the city.Again an entertaining book that keeps you on your toes as you keep all the names and who side they are on straight. A reread for sure!
    • 3/5
      Interesting storyline, though there were somethings that made you go WTF? I really like the main character. I've already bought the entire series as ebooks when they were on sale. I'll try the second one and see how it goes from there.
    • 2/5
      a remarkably uneven book.

      during the first half, we're learning about a bizarre new world right along with the heroine - it's dark and odd and confusing, and makes for compelling reading. this first half is capped off by possibly one of the best love scenes i've ever read in a dark fantasy, wherein the sex is not only steamy, but you get the very firm idea that the characters actually do LOVE each other.

      after this, the heroine descends into the actual other world, and all of a sudden, it gets more than a bit cliched. our chick is getting her superhero tips from a comic book shop, and the villains are utterly one-note.

      all in all interesting enough to check out the sequel(s), but not as great as the initial pages promised.
    • 4/5
      The first of the series; this one's a keeper. While the overall tone of the book was dark, there were bits of humor sprinkled in appropriate places. The main character, Joanna, is what my grandmother would call "a real pill"; full of cynical, sarcastic, get-out-of-my-way at-i-TUDE.

      There are touching moments, there are kick-butt moments and there are "eeewww" moments. This one was hard to put down. When I finally did finish it, I went straight to the computer to find out how to get the next one in the series.
    • 4/5
      Wasn't bad...was kinda hard to get into...but once I did ... I read all 4 books that are in series.
    • 3/5
      I almost didn't finish this one. The first half of the book was an absolute snore-fest. Despite my determination to love this one, it took most of the book to get into it. The second half was much better, once the world-building and plot set up was complete. I'll give the next one a try, but I won't stick it out as long as I did this one. Only got three stars because it picked up in the end.
    • 3/5
      I received this for Christmas last year and I read it sometime at the beginning of this year.It was a good read, and I went through it pretty fast. The characters are interesting, the plot was good and so was the writing. It just wasn't as good as I hoped it would be.I will be reading the next one, however it's not at the top of my list of books to buy.
    • 3/5
      When I picked up this book for free on my nook, I was filled with such excitement for the book. Based on it's description, it seemed like it may be something that I would thoroughly enjoy. Then, I actually started reading it. It started off slow-moving, with virtually no action and seemingly little plot. It just went on and on without direction. And to me, it didn't seem like the author had researched what it meant to be "fingerprint-less"--and not having fingerprints actually makes someone easier to identify. There was a danger of me deciding it wasn't worth my time, and it seemed to be a very slow read. I just wasn't getting into the characters or the world that Vicki Pettersson had created. I don't feel like she described what was going on very--perhaps to keep the reader in the dark as much as the character was, but being kept in the dark went on for far too long. I felt at least through the first third to almost half of this book that I'd be giving it two stars at best. After that, the book finally started to pick up pace and started to get interesting. Sure, there could have been more action and more plot even in the second half of the book, but after the first half of the book, even a little action was seen as a dramatic improvement, enough to get another star. And the characters did eventually gain some depth as the story went on, so that by the end, I somewhat cared what happened to these characters. Of course, it seemed like the ending went on for ever after the climax of the story, as the author wrapped up the rest of the threads that were started at the beginning of the story.Would I read the next book in this series? Maybe, at some point, if I ran out of other things to read and was looking for something else.
    • 4/5
      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 Las Vegas. Joanna's sister, Olivia, is more your typical playboy bunny type of heiress, while Joanna is kind of the black sheep in the family. In her early teens Joanna suffered a devastating attack that left her different, more brooding than her fun loving sister Olivia. Joanna turned to photography; taking pictures of the dark side of Las Vegas. Then the day before her 25th birthday she was attacked on a blind date, only to be rescued by her childhood sweetheart Ben - now a cop. What Joanna didn't know was that the streets of Las Vegas were not what they seemed to be, and on her 25th birthday she would undergo a change that she had never imaged.This is a well-written, fast-paced book. What I really liked though is the complexity and creativity of the Zodiac troop and their alternate realities. This book left behind many typical paranormal series subjects and took me somewhat unexpectedly into the realm of comic book heroes. With the Zodiac troop zipping in and out of alternate realities there was a little sci-fi in here too. The Zodiac fighters of both the Light and Dark troops are intriguing; their powers very superhero-like and also very varied. The comic books that serve as their newspapers are creative, comical, and intriguing. The epic struggle of Light and Dark in a city constantly balanced on the edge of sin is compelling. Joanna is a complicated character, as are many of the characters presented to us in the Zodiac troop.The major story arc is nicely resolved; but a large number of side stories are left unresolved, leaving me yearning for the next book.I did have a couple issues with this book. The first is that it *is* complicated. The set-up is a bit confusing, although to Petterson's credit the idea behind the Zodiac troop is complicated, creative, and something very new to her readers. So, I expected the set-up to take a bit of time for me to be comfortable with; I am happy to say by the end of the book I did understand it and ceased to feel slightly confused. My other complaint with the book would be that the characters superhero powers are not well defined. I am still not quite sure I understand what Joanna's power is, I am not quite sure I understand what the other characters powers are either. Maybe Petterson wants the unveiling of their powers to be deliberate and purposeful, or maybe she just did a poor job of conveying them in the story...time will tell which it is.That being said I think this book is much better than the Anna Strong Chronicles or the Mercy Thompson series. It is not quite as good as Kim Harrion's series. It is more on par with the Dante Valentine books. I hope that the future books can continue to elaborate on this story; I also hope that Joanna doesn't fall into the pit of darkness that Dante Valentine did and continues to show the Light in her character.
    • 5/5
      Loved it. Fresh new author, love her world and her character. Refreshing change from vampires and werewolves. Love all the books and can't wait to read the next one.
    • 4/5
      Not bad for a first time author
    • 3/5
      Not bad, but could have been better. She's certainly got a unique world. Interesting.
    • 4/5
      Joanna was raped as a teenager and now finds strength in hunting down other attackers and enacting some retribution on them. She finds herself caught up in a world of demons, shadows and light. She has to survive the first few days before she can become fully involved. Her sister gets pulled into the plot and things get more and more complicated.It's not a bad read but not exceptional. There are some interesting twists and further books may improve things.
    • 4/5
      This book was definitely not what I expected when I picked it up, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was much more. The premise is unique and works well despite how hokey it may sound. Joanna Archer is a character that could have been weepy and self-pitying, given her past. Instead she tough-as-nails without being insensitive, equally dark and light. Joanna's struggle for self-discovery and reconciliation of her heritage amidst non-stop action makes this book a very entertaining read.
    • 2/5
      Joanna Archer learns she is a superhero and her parents were superheroes from opposing sides of light and dark. Joanna watches her sister die and then must become her to hide her identity. This book is way over the top and a lot of things happen a long the way that I found truly confusing. I can't help but enjoy the character of Joanna/Olivia and some of the comic-book type characters found along the way. I think the premise is good, if outlandish, in that is very different than my standard reads in the paranormal genre. The power scenes here are vague and confusing, even when I back up to read them again. Characters figure things out along the way and I struggled to find out how they came to their conclusions. I don't claim to be a genius or anything, but I am well-read and fairly intelligent but parts of this book made me feel like a second grader struggling with reading comprehension. I had already bought the second book in this series before I read the first one, so I will read that. I am hoping that this series does pick up and become more readable. I'd hate to give up on this series because it really does have a great premise.
    • 2/5
      I just finished this book, and it went quick, the characters are interesting, if not similiar to other characters in the genre, the writing is competent but the world... It needs work. The author was trying to create a comic book world without comic book images, and it failed miserably. The rules don't make any sense. Apparently, there are 12 Light Zodiac, and 12 Shadow Zodiac, with each sign being filled by a person born with a power. This would be a fine plot element, except that the zodiacs powers weren't differentiatated enough - each signs power seemed exactly the same as another. The rules that one became a Zodiac seemed at times to complicated and confusing. Also, Joanna spent the first 3/4 of the book pissed off at the world, moaning over her losses, and a generally bad atitude, but in freak session with a therapists, gets a complete understanding of how she fits into her little group. The plot at times was long, and over involved. I suspect tht the next book might be better, and I will probably read it if I find it in my public library, but I will not be buying it from a bookstore.
    • 5/5
      Joanna Archer is an heiress turned photographer, giving a face to the faceless masses on the dark streets of Las Vegas. Set in the city of sin, this paranormal meet and greet has everything you look for in good urban fantasy- tough chicks, sexy cops and plenty of bad-guy butt to kick. Victimized as a teenager Joanna has no idea that her destiny lays written in the stars, literally. The Scent of Shadows is an introduction to the world of the Zodiac. Comic book warriors of Light and Shadow fighting for control of the unknowing mortal masses. Finding out her path lies with these seemingly crazy would be superheroes Jo's path to heroism leads her through some painful losses of loved ones, her identity and ultimately finding herself. If you're a fan of something a little kitschy at times, an original paranormal mythology or heroines who struggle to find their inner goddess this book is worth picking up. The originality both in mythology and setting make this series fresh in a horde of over-done ideas in the paranormals mythology. A word of caution though, Joanna has been raped and a brief scene recounts this in mild detail. If you're sensitive to such you may wish to avoid this title. This is all part of her character development and seems to set us up for more of the mythology in the next book but may seem gratuitous if you're not comfortable with reading such material. As a fan of other strong females in paranormals such as Rachel Morgan, Damali Richards, Anita Blake and Mercy Thompson I highly recommend this book. Joanna is a heroine not to be missed, she's a bit like early Anita Blake but with a bit more humanity. The supporting characters are all decently developed and I forsee a little romance in further installments. I'd have given the book 4.5 stars if I could have, I felt it lost a few points for being slightly predictable, however, other readers may not have caught onto certain situations as fast as I. Enjoy!
    • 5/5
      This is the start of a new series set in today's Las Vegas, and to some extent it uses that setting in the same way as CSI does - there is mention of all the glitz and time spent there, but time on the back streets too.The premise of the story is quite simple. Joanna Archer, photographer and martial artist, is about to come into her power as a Light Other, and the shadow side want to kill her. Little to set it apart from hordes of fantasy save the setting so far.But, there are elements of hope and interest. The writing is easy to get into, and although the hero isn't always the easiest to like, it's easy to understand why she is as she is - having been raped at 15 on the way home after her first time, and having her mother leave shortly afterwards will make most people become rather untrusting and unpleasant.There is also the lovely scene when Joanna discovers her training manuals are comics and encounters the comic-shop!There are rather a lot of deaths around, but just about all of them except the deaths of shadow agents, are made meaningful because they cause distress to our heroine. The deaths of shadow agents are handled rather rapidly, but then they are at war, and killing those who have chosen to serve evil is sort of what they're meant for.
    • 1/5
      A less than mediocre urban fantasy featuring a host of super humans who come into their power - the power of their star sign - through metamorphosis. This is apparently somehow linked to their pheromones and olfactory sense, and play a large part in their ability to identify and track their enemies. The light zodiac and the shadow zodiac fight and kill each others, the shadow zodiac to create dissent and make the world a worse place to be, and the light zodiac to protect the humans and make the world a better place to be. The light zodiac is matrilineal, and augmented by rogue agents. The writing is competent, but the plot doesn’t make sense - or is plain stupid - and the protagonist’s habit of holding forth at great length about everything, especially her own sad state and worse past is off-putting. Joanna, the idle heiress of a Las Vegas millionaire, is attacked by weirdoes on her 25’th birthday, and subsequently outfitted with a new identity and admitted to the closed club of zodiac superheroes due to her lineage. The same lineage makes her less than trusted, so she suddenly have to fight to be accepted into the light zodiac, although she was less than thrilled to join in the first place. There is a lot of killing and posturing, none of it interesting, and a lot of equally boring soul-searching and suffering.An example of the level of inventiveness and believability of the story is the fact that a group of geeks in a local comic book store chronicles the battles between the light and shadow zodiac in an ongoing comic series – where the members of the shadow zodiac can only touch the albums dedicated to the exploits of the shadow zodiac, and vice versa.
    • 4/5
      Much better than I expected. Written by a Vegas native, it felt grounded. I liked the complex characters, liked the sorrow and the loss that resonated, as well as the kick ass heroine. Joanne Archer is a great woman to spend time with and she's going to be a fine superhero. Looking forward to the next in the series (surely she can stretch it to 12...)