Customer Reviews

The Touch of Twilight (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 3)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've enjoyed this series since its beginnings, and the third installment doesn't disappoint, despite a few nagging issues that have been pretty much present since book one.

The good:
- More is revealed about Zane and his fascinating post as the comic book artist/archivist. The comics-as-superhero-history angle in Pettersson's series is a great touch, and its very satisfying to see more about the comics and Zane revealed in "Touch."
- The significance of the third "sign" and how it ended up playing out at the climax was pretty much a complete surprise that I did not see coming at all. Pettersson does a very good job of building suspense yet hiding her cards.
- Lots of great Vegas flavor throughout, and as always, the author gives us glimpses of the city that a tourist would know little about.
- Joanna still has a lot of bravado and impulsiveness, but she appears to be getting better about knowing when she's really messed something up. She's also playing nicer with others. In particular, I loved the unique partnership that is forged between her and Chandra, the would-be Archer she was so unkind to in book 1. Chandra is a character who becomes really well-developed in "Touch," and now I can't wait to see more of her in future books.
- Another great new character: Skamar! I wonder what Skamar will be up to in the next book...
- A painful decision Joanna makes at the end of the book show that she really has matured and is ready to move past certain personal roadblocks.


The bad:
- Pettersson knows how to create a very unique and fascinating fantasy world, but in all 3 books theres a sense of over-reaching, at times. Scenes and phenomenon are described that I can barely get a mental grasp on. In the book's opening, for example, a fight scene involving a black hole left me boggling at the impossible visual that her prose created. Perhaps this is the point - to create a world that is so fantastic it can't actually be replicated in prose - but it does leave me with a bit of head-strain.
- I remain persistently skeptical about the Olivia/Joanna identity and how its been kept a secret for so long. The troop knows her as Olivia, but the Shadows and the Tulpa know her as Joanna. Sometimes she's wearing a mask, but at other times one isn't mentioned. Even more confusing is the fact that Joanna herself can clearly recognize a number of Shadow agents by sight - so shouldn't they by rights recognize her, too? I just don't understand how anyone's identity could really feasibly be a secret at this point.

The identity questions and overblown descriptions are mostly easy for me to get past, though, as these are good books, and really do present a pretty unique and compelling fantasy world. I look forward to book 4!

Joanna Archer has had a difficult life, for sure. She also makes a point to mention it every chance she gets. I love this series, but it's becoming dangerously close to one where you want to take the heroine, or superheroine in this case, and shake her. Very little is accomplished here and what little is accomplished happens in the last few chapters. She focuses entirely too much on revenge she thinks she deserves, totally ignoring things like responsibility to her troop and a little girl she has essentially broken.
The book is not a complete loss. Facts are unearthed about her childhood home, alternate planes, the power of thought, and why some people are the way they are. She finally makes a decision about her love life, takes the initiative in Olivia's life, and discovers some intrigue within her stepfather's life. The book is also a great resource for some of the trivialities: what exactly is a tulpa, how does a conduit come into existence, how much license does the author grant for the supernatural, what car does Hunter drive?
Ultimately, it's a worthwhile read, especially if you're already into the series. It helps tie some things together, creates some interesting venues for the future, and furthers a few interpersonal bonds within the troop. I just really hope this isn't a sign of things to come as the first two books were a much easier, enjoyable read.

Our heroine, Joanna Archer, the Light Sagittarius, comes from a lineage of superheroines. Though if you didn't know that, you should probably read the first two books or you're just going to run into a pile of spoilers.

Touch of Twilight focuses largely on girl fights and how women fight, which is perhaps why a number of other reviewers commented on the lack of action. Regan, the Shadow Cancer, has stolen Joanna's identity, man, and life as of the end of the last book. This book focuses on the two women taunting each other. Regan has everything, but Joanna is constantly watching. The battle heats up when Joanna finds cracks in Regan's heart and targets the things she loves. It's a battle of trying to push your opponent to despair rather than a battle of physical pain. It's the way women are taught to fight, attacking what's dear to a foe's heart, and Pettersson acknowledges this, which makes her world that much more believable.

Meanwhile, having lost her human identity, Joanna is in peril of losing her superhero identity as an unknown doppelganger has appeared. If Joanna doesn't solve her double's riddle soon, the doppelganger will eat her heart and assume her identity. This may or may not have something to do with Jasmine the Changeling who it turns out Jo accidentally "broke." The Tulpa, head of the Shadows, is equally afraid of the doppelganger taking over, as it seems to possess abilities he can't match.

Speaking of girl fights, just as Joanna and Chandra (her rival for her place within the superhero troop) might be moving to an understanding, the new Light Libra, Kimber, gets her nose out of joint about Joanna's position in the zodiac.

On the romantic end, Joanna cleaves to her dream of being with Ben, who thinks she's abandoned him. Her conflicts with Regan push her closer to coming clean with him about who she is now and what's going on in her life. Despite her loyalty to this man, Hunter, the Light Aries, continues to court her. The two of them have some truly great moments together discussing general relationship difficulties and ideals as he encourages her to move on.

This is the best of the series so far, as Joanna works both with the group and by herself and seems to be making a place for herself with the troop. Jo faces many difficult circumstances, and the ending provides only temporary happiness. It does, however, explain the secret identity Joanna/Olivia thing that got confusing in the second book as to which identity was secret. Pettersson also sets up a continuing arch, as not all of the problems are solved in this book.

If you like dark fantasy or classic superhero tales, you'll love this book. If you like relationships in conflict you'll love this book. Pettersson never fails to make me hate her villains and love her heroes with a passion that makes me devour the books as quickly as possible. I look forward to the next one.

I loved the first book and rushed to buy the second. I really liked the second and quickly bought the third. This is where my love-affair with the series hit a major wall.

Joanna/Olivia just isn't likable in this book. She spends all her time moping over Ben and Regan and can't seem to focus on the important things. Like the major threat to her life and the 9 year old girl who is dying because of Joanna's actions.

I got so sick of reading about "Ben and Regan" on it seems like every page. Give it a rest! You would think Joanna would have learned a lesson about obsession (and Regan) in book 2, but no, here she goes again... (sigh)

The only redeeming factor - and the only reason I will probably read book 4 when it comes out - is that Regan seems to be (sort-of) out of the picture and Joanna finally does the right thing about Ben.

This is the third book in Pettersson's 'Signs of the Zodiac' series. I haven't read either of the previous books and right from the outset that was a significant problem. The backstory given was dribbled out piecemeal and I was often confused by events and situations. Pettersson has clearly built a complex world in the previous two novels and as a new reader dropped into the middle of it I found it all too much and was tempted many times to stop reading.

Joanne Archer is a strange mix of Light and Shadow - her father is the dark lord of Shadow and yet she works on the side of the Light. Set in Las Vegas the story has good action and a varied cast of characters, including a Doppelgänger for Joanne who is with her boyfriend Ben. Joanne's an interesting character, a mix of strength and vulnerability, and someone who has had her life turned upside down in the last year as she's discovered she is one of a group of people who have to battle against the shadow side. There are parts of the book that drag interspersed with good action, Joanne can come across as a bit of a whiner who's spending far too much time on the men in her life and not enough on saving the world, but overall it's an interesting urban fantasy book - but definitely rewards knowledge of the previous books in the series!

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

The third sign of the zodiac is upon us. The Touch of Twilight opens up with this portent looming over Joanna Archer as she tried to live up to the legacy she has been left by her mother as the Light Sagittatian. The first two signs have come to pass leaving the troop short its Libran and Piscean members, but they are more concerned about the occurance of some dangerous vibrations causing the fabric of the world to shatter. Especially when Joanna discovers the Shadows aren't the ones cause the rifts, they are being cause by a being made of frothy bubbles! Further study reveals this new being is a doppelgänger, with intents of taking over Jo's true identity while she is stuck living her own double life as her dead sister Olivia Archer.

This tale is all about being divided within one's self, something Joanna experiences every moment of every day. She is the Kairos, a being of Light and Shadow, she is Joanna Archer and Olivia Archer, she loves Ben and lusts after Hunter. And it's time she finds a way to end the division within her heart.

At the heart of this story Jo is trying to do the right thing--the Light thing--but it isn't always so clear which is which. Regan is twisting Ben, Jo's first love, into a person she knows he isn't and she is flaunting it at every turn. The Tulpa, her biological father, wants to join forces to destroy the doppelgänger, but his offer comes with a price... she has to join the Shadows when they've accomplished it. Then she discovers that Jasmine, the changeling of Light, has been broken by Jo's aura borrowing from her last adventure leaving the girl unable to grow up but getting more and more of Jo's powers every day. She has a lot of work to do if she's going to save the world and the love of her life before the world ends.

Depending on what interests you most in the series this one might be a tough read. It jumps around without any indication a day has passed or there's been any time change in the first few chapters which completely threw me off. Jo was in the sanctuary one minute and back at Olivia's apartment the next. Once it gets settled a little more the story picks up and while this one involved a lot more talking and less butt-kicking than I'd have liked, it's needed. By the time a third of the book was read I was dying for Jo to stop whining about Ben and Regan and just do something about it already. So frustrating! And while I'm sure many of my fellow fans of the series love Ben I wanted her to get over him really bad. Sorry, no spoilers for you! You'll have to read to see what interactions she has with Ben and Hunter this time but by the end of the book I was proud of the growth Jo has made in her complicated relationships. Some of the details in this book will lead you one way regarding the doppelgänger plot but if you're paying close attention you can't be lead too far from catching on to what's really going on. Finally the Tulpa is meeting his match! This could have had a five star vote from me if there hadn't been so much whining about Ben & Regan and Hunter being treated kind of badly. But in the end this book ends very well, everything (well almost everything!) ties up pretty decently and there's a great mystery dropped in the final pages that will have you antsy for the next one. Enjoy!

Light and Shadow are constantly are war with one another. In Las Vegas, Zodiac Troop 75 keeps the Shadows in check; protecting mortals from adversaries who would harm, kill, or convert them to evil. One of the newest members of the unit is Joanna Archer, who now looks physically like her dead sister Olivia. No longer mortal, she cannot have a relationship with the love of her life Ben, but she refuses to let her evil Shadow counterpart Regan lure him into something malevolent.

A doppelganger is being formed in an alternate reality, but is investigating Joanna before coming to our realm by tearing holes in reality and if not stopped the world will cease to exist. Her father, the evil Tulpa, meets the doppelganger and knows Joanna who is part light and part shadow can stop it. He wants them work together to destroy it. The troop leader wants Joanna to let him change Ben's memories forgetting Joanna from the time she changed into a superheroine. The moves Joanna makes will determine who rules. She must find the strength to let Ben forget her, but doesn't know if she can.

Part urban fantasy, part mystery and part pulp add up to a tale that is impossible to down as the audience will want to know how the problems are resolved. Vicki Petterson keeps readers' attention with several red herrings and unexpected twists. Fans will feel for the heroine who has so much on her plate topped off with what to do with the man she loves.

Harriet Klausner

I really loved the previous two books that Vicki wrote, but I have to be truthful the first half of this book was really slow. Joanna just seems to go on and on about how flawed she is and how everything that she does is wrong. Her devotion to Ben is admirable, but for me it really got old hearing about how much she loved him and would never leave him. I kept putting the book down wondering when some action would occur, and forcing myself to pick it up again because I knew eventually Vicki would write some action that I would like. Well she did, I liked the end of the book (even though I didn't like the way Joanna treated Hunter). I really wanted this book to be as good as the last two, but I have to say it was a chore to read the first 200 pages. Will I read the next book in Vicki's series? Yes, I probably will. I do care about Joanna and want to read more of her adventures; I just hope the next book gets to the action/adventures faster than this one did.

A Light agent's Shadow side rises in Vicki Pettersson's third Signs of the Zodiac novel, THE TOUCH OF TWILIGHT.

Masquerading as her dead sister, Joanna Archer has several nemeses of varying levels - not everything goes well for a superhero. New danger is always arising, so Jo has a plethora of paranormal problems...as well as the very mortal one of winning back her human lover.

I read the first 100 pages a month ago, then broke away to read other things, and picked up where I left off, so my memory for details was scattered. The author has a refreshing vision of urban fantasy, even if Joanna does drive you bananas, and sometimes on a regular basis. I'm now awaiting Zoe Archer to get some long-awaited face-time, but at least here in Book 3 we get more of the awesome Chandra.

Problem: I can't find any release dates for Book 4, CITY OF SOULS, in Australia or the UK. Our dear spoiled North American friends, however, need only wait until late June.

This is the third book in the Sign of the Zodiac series by Vicki Pettersson. This book was a strong addition to the series, a lot happens, and many things from the last book are resolved.

In this book Joanna Archer is struggling with a number of things; one of the Shadow Agents (under cover as Rose) has her sights set on Joanna's childhood sweetheart Ben, Joanna is being hunted by a mysterious doppleganger, something has happened to the changeling that protects Joanna, the Tulpa is still trying to woe Joanna to the "darkside", and on top of all this the third sign of the Zodiac is imminent. Of course there is also the issue of Joanna's daughter, Joanna's lack of a relationship with Hunter, and Joanna's missing mother. When you take it all in, there is a lot going on in this book.

For the most part it was a very good book and I enjoyed it. I loved the addition of the doppleganger. I loved that more depth was added to Zane, the comic book store owner. I also liked that Joanna is learning more about her powers and finally taking a bit more responsibility for her actions. It was a very interesting book. I also liked that Pettersson is trying to take this a bit beyond most paranormals by adding a deep Mythos behind her characters and adding interesting theories of vibrational frequencies behind the power of the super heros.

There were a few things I didn't like though. For a lot of the book I feel like Joanna is confused and just has two much going on. It is almost like Joanna has horrible ADD and can't focus long enough to complete anything. It makes me wonder if maybe Pettersson is having some trouble focusing on what the point of the story is; maybe she's thrown too much at Joanna for this character to get things done in some symblance of order. Joanna's fixation with Ben and blindness towards him is irritating, as is her reluctance to accept her new life. Joanna's lack of training and knowledge is also irritating, usually in this type of story you would have at least a small period where the hero learns what their capabilities are and Joanna doesn't do that; she just stumbles through the story. Also, even though I liked the inclusion of scientific theory behind the special super hero powers, I felt like the vibrational theory explanation was a bit contrived. It felt like Pettersson was making up these theories on the fly and hadn't really thought them though.

Even though this wasn't the tightest most well put together story that I have ever read, and the main character seemed unfocused and scattered at times, it was still a very good book. Joanna has a lot of depth as a character and the story is wildly creative and interesting. Joanna does redeem herself at the end, showing that she is growing as a character and making progress in accepting who she is. This isn't quite the book I had hoped it would be, but I have high hopes for the next novel. These books are just a hair away from being something really extraordinary.