The Neon Graveyard (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 6) [Mass Market Paperback]

Vicki Pettersson (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 31, 2011

“Pettersson’s paranormal world is as original as it is compelling.”
—Kelley Armstrong

“With a kick-ass heroine and characters who blur the line between good and evil, [Pettersson] will have readers panting for more.”
—Charlaine Harris, bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels

Explore the dark supernatural underside of Sin City in The Neon Graveyard—the dramatic conclusion to the dark and terrific New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series by Vicki Pettersson. The sixth and final Sign of the Zodiac, The Neon Graveyard plunges heroine Joanna Archer—heiress, prophesied savior, and former soldier for the Light—into the ultimate battle for the soul of Las Vegas, a secret war for our world that is being waged in the shadows. Fans of Kim Harrison (who calls Pettersson, “a voice that needs to be heard”), Charlaine Harris, Laurell K. Hamilton, Patricia Briggs, and Jeaniene Frost will definitely not want to miss this explosive last confrontation between the forces of Light and Shadow.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Once she was a soldier for the Light, the prophesied savior who would decide the outcome of the eternal conflict raging unseen 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 depraved demon goddess. Joining forces with a band of rogue Shadow agents, Joanna's ready to storm the stronghold of her demonic foe, risking everything to enter this ghastly, godforsaken realm where the price of admission is her eternal soul. Because in a world that has stripped her of her power, identity, and fortune, Joanna has nothing left to lose—except her baby, her future, and the epic war poised to consume the city.

About the Author

The New York Times bestselling author of The Taken andthe Sign of the Zodiac series—and former showgirl—VickiPettersson was born and raised in Sin City. Though she'llalways consider that glittering dust bowl home, she nowdivides her time between Las Vegas and Dallas, where she'slearning to like good Tex-Mex (easy) and the Dallas Cowboys(easier than you'd think).

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Harper Voyager; Original edition (May 31, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061456799
• ISBN-13: 978-0061456794
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,202 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Vicki Pettersson is the New York Times bestselling author of the completed six-book 'Signs of the Zodiac' series, which features reluctant superhero, Joanna Archer, and are set in her hometown of Las Vegas.

Her latest novel is THE LOST, the second of three paranormal mysteries which pair a P.I/angel from the 50's with a modern-day rockabilly reporter. Together, they fight crime.

Though she'll always consider Sin City her 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).

For more information on Vicki's books, please visit: http://vickipettersson.com/

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Spot-on wrap-up. A complete A to Z journey for reader & characters. Poignant, wise & pretty fierce. June 1, 2011

By Lmb

Format:Mass Market Paperback

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 out 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 bunch of times I didn't completely follow. Now, I'm not sure if it's b'c I was kind of on the edge of my seat so maybe I was reading too fast & therefore, missed some crucial descriptions or if she really didn't execute the action that well. My instinct was that she is so imaginative that it's actually almost too hard to completely describe, therefore imagine what she's created (which is kinda ironic given the theme of this book).

Last thing, to be honest I felt the battle at the end was a little anti-climatic.

However, I just really, really liked the way she ended the series & I really enjoy Pettersson's tone. They way she imparts philosophy without ending up sounding preachy or like a self help book is terrific. There's just simply a groundedness to her prose which I really like & value in an author.

I love Petterson's poignancy too. She never gets maudlin & more often than not find when she writes those moments, they're so articulate that they're beautiful. Her analogies are often close to perfect IMO & make you think from a different perspective which I appreciate.

The character's she gives voice to are always authentic & it helps so much b'c then message in the story resonates with me really well.... Overall, I found the series intelligent, super creative with a lot of thought, heart & soul behind it. Pretty fierce really.

I also found VP to be more "adult" than most of the series I have read. It just came across that way to me in her overall prose. She had her own clear storyline & formula she followed & stuck to & it was obvious nothing distracted. She was on a mission to get from points A to Z.

One of the few authors who didn't do a love triangle either. Not once did I feel she pandered to anyone. Not even her own ego. Nor did I feel she ever lost sight of the world she created. When I finished the final page in the series, I thought about the character of Joanna. From her beginning stages in the 1st book & I have to say, I think VP really achieved the character's journey. Took her there & gave her readers one heck of a ride in the process. So much so that when I finished, I felt it. I felt like I went on the journey as well. It felt very gratifying b'c normally, finale's are often lackluster at best. Think Seinfeld, MASH etc..

However, I think VP ended it on just the right note & that note was really no different to how she's written the entire series. Inspiring, bittersweet, hopeful. Yet, the final pages had a now more experienced/wizened narrative which had a maturely philosophical POV yet a 'we'll see' edge to it. I thought it was spot-on.

On another note, I was very happy to see a few characters get their due, but one in particular (Warren) but can I just talk about Master Comics for a moment? I swear in every book, those scenes are practically always my favorite. They always adds a levity to the series. Like the neutrality of the shop itself, a scene at the shop is a refreshing breather in each book. I really think VP crafted that setup pretty damn perfect.

What I love about the shop so much is that the kids are 100% kids & like kids, there's a certain truthful innocence which just doesn't allow any artifice at all & I think VP portrayed that extremely well. No one's is overly precocious & I LOVE that she never has Joanna talk down to them or baby talk them. In fact, it's like Joanna is her most natural there as well. She completely joins in & immerses herself. There's no distinction. She banters, teases, gets provoked, pissed off & allows herself to do or say whatever she feels as a result. I guess what I'm trying to say VP never allowed the character to condescend. I adored that b'c honestly, I could see where someone less focused (or er...competent, aware, humble?) could've really cocked that up. Those kids could've easily been majorly annoying & the whole thing could've come off false. It never did.

In the end, I can see how this series wouldn't be for everyone, although in some ways I wish it would be so VP can get her due. It's a bit existential, a bit trippy, kinda rock `n roll, somewhat complicated b'c it's a tad circuitous to get some basic simple messages but most of all, I felt it really required he reader to stretch their visual imagination, which I found could be a bit daunting at times.

I felt the material kind of demanded a very strong mental visualization. Sometimes that pulled me out of the story & I would have to go back & re-read to make sure I `got the picture' so to speak & then found I would draw from my pop culture knowledge to give me a frame of reference. Here's what I came up with - a bunch of mash up's. I would picture Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers 'Don't Do Come Around Here No More' video, Johnny Depp's version of Wonka with a little X-Men, Raider's & a dash of Clerk's/High Fidelity.

Props to Ms. Pettersson. I can't complain about an author with serious intent & the heart to back it up. I think she did a wonderful job as a whole & I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. I thought It kinda kicked ass. I look forward to whatever she comes up with next. Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Nooooooooooooooooooooo! It can't be over! June 7, 2011

By Book Lover from GA

Format:Mass Market Paperback

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 many people who want her dead and are actively trying. The man she loves is stuck in another dimension and being tortured and to top it all off, she's pregnant without any of her previous super powers to help keep her safe. You can't help but root for her as she faces one challenge after another.

Vicki Pettersson has done a great job with this book, as she has with all the previous ones. Her writing is fluid and colorful. I was easily able to visualize the settings and characters. The story progressed quickly and at a good pace, and for the last installment, it had a lot to cover. Most of the action was packed in at the end, and thankfully it left room for a possible spin-off series/comeback.

I have really enjoyed reading about Joanna and her journey and do hope she's not completely done kicking butt. I'm also looking forward to whatever Vicki has coming out next!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars And so it ends... June 2, 2011

By Hlizmarie VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

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 and not something that works easily in my head since I'm more of a nuts and bolts, factual person. There's creativity and vision to the basic world-building in this series that escapes me. I love the concept of the Zodiac as superheroes, the Kairos, the conduits, etc and wish the series had stayed more in the here and now instead of the conceptual.

Johanna was always a fierce character but her back and forth between her own persona and Olivia got exhausting after a while. It was a relief in this final book to have that eliminated and she could finally be the person she was meant to be. Which turned out to be the whole point in the end. Her role as Kairos was to turn the world upside down, not by fitting what everyone else wanted but by truly finding herself, her ether, her essence. For me, I'll just be glad the bad guy is gone and skip examining the moral of the story too much. All in all, I'm glad I stuck it out and finished the series but I don't think I'll look back at it in the future.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars The Neon Graveyard ([...]) August 18, 2012

By L. Blanchard

Format:Mass Market Paperback

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, slowed me down a little. 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 for me at least, the series got a little as well. Action and dialogue are Pettersson's strengths. Her action is like watching a movie and her dialogue is snappy, snarky and well....like watching a movie. Midheaven did not play to these two strengths as it was so dreamy and became, again for me....hard to visualize.

Traveling there and back was particularly hard to keep track of, with 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. Of course, I've never been much of an artist!

Back in Las Vegas, on solid ground the books would always pick right back up and be exciting and easy to visualize, with wonderful snappy, snarky dialogue, crosses and double crosses, and explosive showdowns.

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 so glad to see the way it ended. Read more ›