Vicki Pettersson

The Scent of Shadows by Vicki Pettersson

Vicki Pettersson has come up with a cool and original idea for the paranormal genre: an on-going battle between good and evil that corresponds to the signs of the zodiac.

I loved the way that Pettersson used comic books to keep the history of the conflict and she really did a fantastic job portraying kids in a comic book shop.

The main character in the Zodiac series is the only fly in the ointment. Joanna Archer just seems to be a bit inconsistent. I made it through the book because I wanted to see how Pettersson would develop Joanna, and so far it is bearable. However, I am worried that this will turn into another paranormal romance series with the romance overshadowing the plot; Joanna's mindset seems to be pointing that way. Read More

The Taste of Night: Too much

The Taste of Night by Vicki Pettersson

Vicki Pettersson had one of the best ideas for a paranormal storyline that I have read recently. She really came up with a great idea. It's interesting and she has good supporting cast and good villains.

So, why two stars? The writing of the main character, Joanna Archer, is just pathetic. By the time that I was drug through one too many iterations of her moaning and moping for the "love of her life," I just couldn't stand it any longer. This may be good stuff for romance novel readers, and if that works for you, then you may enjoy this series. I just can't stand seeing someone who is so strong and definite about why she can't be controlled by anything continually mope over some guy who she hasn't seen in years and then suddenly be in flames over him after a brief visit. It's weak-minded drivel that belittles the intellect of an otherwise tolerable main character. Read More

The Taste of Night: Joanna is too unsympathetic

The Taste of Night by Vicki Pettersson

The Taste of Night begins a few months after The Scent of Shadows ended, at a charity date auction where Joanna, masquerading as Olivia, meets a man who gloats that he's uncovered Joanna's secret identity. A fierce battle ensues, breaking the tenuous truce between Light and Shadow, and Joanna also meets a mysterious young Shadow initiate who may be an unlikely ally, or a secret enemy.

I'm really beginning to get a headache trying to keep track of who knows what information about Joanna's identity. Let me see if I've got this straight: The Shadows know the Archer is Joanna, but most of them don't know she's going around as Olivia now. Meanwhile, the heroes of Light know the Olivia identity, but most of them don't realize it's really Joanna. (Despite the fact that the comics call her Joanna.) I can't believe any superhe... Read More

More fantasy by Vicki Pettersson

Celestial Blues — (2012- ) Publisher: Griffin Shaw used to be a PI, but that was back when gumshoes hoofed the streets… and he was still alive. Fifty years later, he’s an angel, but that doesn’t make him a saint. One small mistake has altered fate, and now he’s been dumped back onto the mortal mudflat to collect another soul — Katherine “Kit” Craig, a journalist whose latest investigation is about to get her clipped. Bucking heavenly orders, Grif refuses to let the sable-haired siren come to harm. Besides, protecting her offers a chance to solve the mystery of his own unsolved murder — and dole out some overdue payback for the death of his beloved wife, Evie. Joining forces, Kit and Grif’s search for answers leads beyond the blinding lights of the Strip into the dark heart of an evil conspiracy. But a ruthless killer determined to destroy them isn’t Grif’s biggest threat. His growing attraction to Kit could cost them both their lives, along with the answer to the haunting question of his long afterlife…

Dark Matters — (2012) Publisher: Originally appeared in the print anthology Unbound. Following the slaughter of his parents, J.J. became an Agent of the Light. But now, in Vicki Pettersson’s Dark Matters, his love for the beautiful killer who spared his life transforms the fierce defender into the most perfect predator of all.

The Harvest — (2012) Publisher: Originally appeared in the print anthology Holidays Are Hell. New York Times bestselling author Vicki Pettersson brings a former superhero — an elite Zodiac warrior — back to the mortal world for a Thanksgiving reunion with her equally hated and beloved enemy, to do battle for the lives of her imperiled children.