The Neon Graveyard Signs of the Zodiac #6
by Vicki Pettersson
Mass Market Paperback, 464 pages
May 31st 2011 by Eos
ISBN 0061456799
Courtesy of NetGalley
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.
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After a volatile adventure of love, loss, denial, betrayal, revelations, heartbreak, mystery and war, Joanna Archer’s journey reaches its climax in this final installment of the brilliant Signs of the Zodiac series, The Neon Graveyard.
***This will have series spoilers and maybe minor spoilers for the book*** You really should read the first five books before starting The Neon Graveyard, or you most likely will be lost and you will miss a lot of great action. Which, if you haven’t yet read the series, then you need to go get them right now because this is the best UF series out there imo. Signs of the Zodiac is dark & gritty with a complex world, expertly written from the first person pov, - Pettersson’s writing and creativity is pure genius.
Las Vegas, Nevada; where we find comic books, super heroes and evil villains - where the lines between good and bad blur to shades of gray.
Being a mortal now has its limits but Joanna soon learns that even without powers, she can make a difference. Especially when it comes to her troop of Grays, rogue light and shadow agents. We dive into the dynamics of this spurned group as they navigate the dessert of Nevada, holding raves to recruit new agents and staying to the shadows of the streets of Las Vegas avoiding the troop of Light. You really see the heart in each of these characters, especially Carlos who is willing to sacrifice it all for the greater good of the troop.
Occasionally we meet up with some of the Light, and these adventures are stories of their own. Will Joanna be able to forgive her old friends and troop for turning their back on her?
Occasionally we meet up with some of the Light, and these adventures are stories of their own. Will Joanna be able to forgive her old friends and troop for turning their back on her?
But all that takes a back seat to Joanna's determination to get to and navigate MidHeaven to rescue her lover Hunter Lorenzo, the father of her unborn child, from his crazy ex-wife and self-proclaimed goddess, Solange. Her rescue attempts take up a good percentage in this book and it sometimes moved slowly but it was emotionally packed and every line was necessary in the overall story. When the fight between Joanna and Solange finally occurs it is explosive, but I was somewhat distracted by another creature that creeped me out. You’ll have to read this book though find out what I’m referring to!
My only complaint with this novel is Hunter; he was so passionate in previous books that when him and Joanna finally got together again I felt he lacked his usual fever that I often looked forward to in each novel.
The final battle between our protagonist and antagonist, Joanna's father the Tulpa, was well written and worth the wait, full of action and suspense. Everyone was invited to that party and revelations were revealed.
In The Neon Graveyard, Joanna has finally developed into the woman she was meant to be, each piece of her life and person in it, molding her into the strong, kick ass, self assured person who can take on the world, the woman she ends this book as. Pettersson stays authentic to her characters in the unique world of the Zodiac and you can tell that she puts her heart into her writing. Bringing the series to a satisfying conclusion ending on a beautiful note of hope. It was not neatly wrapped up, some threads were left hanging for possible future stories in this amazing world created, but most questions and loose ends were tied-up and resolved, and certainly the main ones.
My only complaint with this novel is Hunter; he was so passionate in previous books that when him and Joanna finally got together again I felt he lacked his usual fever that I often looked forward to in each novel.
The final battle between our protagonist and antagonist, Joanna's father the Tulpa, was well written and worth the wait, full of action and suspense. Everyone was invited to that party and revelations were revealed.
In The Neon Graveyard, Joanna has finally developed into the woman she was meant to be, each piece of her life and person in it, molding her into the strong, kick ass, self assured person who can take on the world, the woman she ends this book as. Pettersson stays authentic to her characters in the unique world of the Zodiac and you can tell that she puts her heart into her writing. Bringing the series to a satisfying conclusion ending on a beautiful note of hope. It was not neatly wrapped up, some threads were left hanging for possible future stories in this amazing world created, but most questions and loose ends were tied-up and resolved, and certainly the main ones.
The whole ride has been incredibly emotional; I’ve spit food across the room laughing so hard, bawled my eyes out, and wanted to kick some Warren ass. Sometimes I wanted to scream in frustration and throw my book, other times I just sighed and cradled it to my chest, and my heart hurt when I read the last page of The Neon Graveyard. It takes a true master of words to bring you to all these points. Every book was heart wrenching, with characters that will stick with you long after you have finished reading. In each novel Joanna has grown and changed, like a chameleon, adapting to her surroundings; she is one of the most multi dimensional characters that I have ever had the privilege to read. I am devastated to have it end but I think Pettersson did it at the right time and I definitely applaud her in her choices and direction that she took this superb series.
The Neon Graveyard is a bittersweet ending to one of the best series out there from an extremely talented author and a must read to say the least!
Series Order:
Rating: 4.5 Wine Glasses - Loved it!
Great review! I'm going to have to add these to my list!
ReplyDeleteI am going to cry when the book ends, will keep my series books though and re-read someday.. I hope whatever Vicki Pettersson releases next is as original and entertaining as the Zodiac stories have been!
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