Customer Reviews

Phantasm (Zoe Martinique, Book 3)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I really enjoyed the first 2 books but in the third book there are references to events happening that didn't appear in them. For example, who are the Shadow People and what happened to Dag and what is up with these 2 ghosts he has now? I went online and I found out that the author had put up a series of short stories on her website. You have to read the one called Out of the Dark for the story line in Book 3 to make more sense. You can download the stories for free. Apparently they are probably being revised and may be published at a future date. I can't say that I was happy about the author doing this because it is really confusing.

Phantasm is the third volume in Phaedra Weldon's series featuring Atlanta-based out of body traveller, Zoe Martinique. Zoe's had a tough time over the past two books, Wraith and Spectre: going from being a reclusive young woman, using her ability to travel out of body to make a modest living as an investigator and sometime corporate spy, and with no more ambition than to be just left in peace, to being a wraith, able to devour souls, or set them free, and being pursued by ghost hunters and secret societies. She's been betrayed by her best friend, rendered mute, fallen in love with a gorgeous police detective, and attracted entirely too much attention from the Archer - a trench-coated abysmal creature whose latest move has been to steal away her mother's soul. Now, she's playing an unwilling role as a guardian of our human, physical plane against the predations of forces from both the abysmal and ethereal planes, while being largely unaware of why she has been chosen, or what is happening to her.

As Phantasm opens, Zoe's life takes a turn for the worse, if that were possible, as she loses her wraith abilities, just when she needs them most: both to rescue her mother's soul and combat the plans of the Phantasm itself - the ruler of the abysmal plane, who desires nothing more than to invade the physical world. At the same time, her personal life becomes equally chaotic, with her boyfriend telling her he needs some space, and two more men, both of whom intrigue her - and know about the other planes - beginning to make their presence felt. Zoe has no choice but to seek to regain her powers, and solve the mystery of her birth and heritage, if she's to stand any chance of surviving, or protecting those she cares for - both living and dead, all the while struggling with her own rebellious heart.

I'm in two minds about this series: on the one hand, the conception is original, and Weldon is beginning to sketch out an intriguing milieu of abysmal and ethereal denizens, human magicians, and ghosts. There's certainly a core of darkness in Zoe's world, with her power born from the trauma of rape, and taking its toll on her physically and mentally. Zoe herself is reasonably sympathetic, trying to make the best of abilities and a life she never wanted, while also attempting to maintain a relationship with a man from whom she feels she has to conceal her true nature.

On the other hand, I've also found the books in this series somewhat less involving and memorable than other urban fantasy series I've read recently. On starting Phantasm, I had occasional difficulties in remembering the back story and previous events, which made it difficult to get engrossed in the plot - a problem I don't usually have. I also felt that, in this volume, there was a little too much of everyone seeming to know more about events than Zoe did, which made for a good deal of exposition of various types, and slowed the pace down.

Nevertheless, I did finish the book at, more or less, a single sitting and, given the cliff-hanger ending, will definitely be putting in an order for the next instalment of Zoe's adventures. I only hope Weldon gets it out quickly!

This book just adds to the mystique of Zoe Martinique. Thrust into a world she is really not prepared for, she makes the best of her chances when they come along. Does she always make the correct decision? Of course not, but hindsight is 20-20 and she has to play things as they come to her, while trying to figure out who she can really trust, or even whom to absolutely not trust. Even her correct choices leave her hurt or vulnerable. This great power she posesses leads her in really intriguing directions. I hope these first three books are just the start in this unique series and i can enjoy her in many more exciting situations.

I really enjoyed the other books,however,this wasn't a good read for me. It was difficult to follow and Zoe seemed to be unable to make any good decisions.Towards the end I was suprised.

I love this series, or at least the parts I have access to. There seems to be short stories that are only available to Kindle users that fill in gaps
I was able to sort it out but am wary of reading further if I am just going to be missing a bunch of info.

It's a great plot, interesting characters and potential just not info INFO.

I think that each book gets better. But I was confused that things that didn't happen in Book 1 and Book2 are mentioned alot in this one.

Zoe Martinique is a Wraith; a being who can travel in spirit form to the Abysmal and Ethereal planes. It has taken her a while to get used to having this new skill, which can occur spontaneously without warning. She is not sure if she is an Irin, the child of an angel and a human. However just when she needs her power to rescue her mother who is trapped on the Abysmal Plane, it vanishes without explanation and she has no earthly idea how to get it back.

The Archer aka T.C is a being from the Abysmal Plane who is linked to Zoe, and if she dies so does she so it is in his best interests to keep her alive. The Phantasm wants to use Zoe to enter the mortal realm where he intends to take control of the planet. TC believes the Phantasm is blocking Zoe's power so they come up with a plan to get them freed. It is dangerous as the price of victory is extremely high; defeat means most likely death.

PHANTASM contains an exhilarating serpentine story line with so many puzzles to solve; readers will wonder how the paranormal can protect the newcomer. Zoe is a kick butt heroine who has finally accepted her heritage as the audience learns through flashbacks re her childhood. She proves formidable as she believes she can defeat the Phantasm though she understands little about her skills. Character driven though action-packed, Phaedra Weldon's third Zoe urban fantasy (see WRAITH and SPECTRE) is fantastic.

Harriet Klausner

I love the book even though it arrived damaged. I could not return as it would have cost more than the book is worth ship back to the states.