The Taste of Night by Vicki Pettersson Review

by Claire E. White

The Taste of Night
by Vicki Pettersson
Avon, April, 2007
Paperback, 440 pages

Ordering information:
Amazon.com

Joanna Archer is a young woman who grew up in Las Vegas with her sister and her billionaire father, Xavier Archer. Joanna never got along with her father, and in the first book, The Scent of Shadows, she found out the horrifying reason why. She also discovered that she -- like her mother before her -- is destined to be a superhero whose adventures are immediately recorded in a popular comic book series. Joanna is the Archer (Sagittarius), one of 12 Zodiac signs of the Light. Light Zodiac Troop 175 acts as the guardians of the citizens of Las Vegas. The Light is opposed by 12 Dark Zodiac signs, which are out to cause mayhem and misery in the human world.

After the shocking events at the end of the first book, Joanna now awakes to find she has the body and face of her gorgeous socialite sister Olivia. Suddenly, everyone treats her very differently. But Joanna has other problems: she must stop a horrific plague unleashed on the city by the Tulpa, the being that leads the dark Zodiac troop. Joanna must battle the dark, while resisting its siren call as she strives to find out what happened to her mother and how she came to be the Archer. Joanna Archer is an interesting and unique heroine and the mythology of the series is truly inspired. The scenes at the little comic shop where the chronicles of both Light and Dark are recorded are both illuminating and hilarious. The Las Vegas setting provides some great locations, such as the graveyard for dead neon signs where the entrance to the Light Troop's underground headquarters is located. Vicki Pettersson is an exciting new talent on the urban fantasy scene: this series really sings with action, slyly funny social commentary and a compelling heroine.

--Claire E. White