Helpful Score: 16
This is a fun new book - 1st in its series - by a new author. If you like Charlaine Harris' books, then this is along the same genre. I'm looking forward to the second one in the series.
Jessica M. (scoobykins) reviewed The Scent of Shadows (Sign of the Zodiac, Bk 1) on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 15
Sorry to disagree with all of the other reviews but . . . I HATED this book. The beginning was really good but I could hardly finish it - I just didn't care about the characters by the end. The whole Zodiac fighter thing felt a little cliched and the plot was just too drawn out. I don't think I could force myself to buy the next one. However, to be fair, I think that Pettersson is a promising writer with great style and an excellent mastery of the written word - she could just use better editors.
Caroline N. (sapphiredragon) reviewed The Scent of Shadows (Sign of the Zodiac, Bk 1) on + 14 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 14
I almost didn't read this because I was afraid it would be too dark for me, but I'm so glad I did! This book blew me away! Hands down the best book I've read all year!
Karen F. (cosmichomicide) reviewed The Scent of Shadows (Sign of the Zodiac, Bk 1) on + 134 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 12
Extremely promising paranormal series! Strong characters, well developed mythos, solid plotting - a terrific debut. There was substantial world arc development while managing a complete and satisfying storyline - no sense of "the rest" coming in future entries, but enough possibilities to make the universe compelling. Even the most startling twists and turns were foreshadowed well enough to be plausible.
Helpful Score: 12
The Scent of Shadows is a book I'd classify as dark urban fantasy. It's set in Las Vegas, there are monsters and heroes and superpowers in it and there are a lot of horrifying and violent elements to it as well. I think the series I'd compare it to in the darkness scale is maybe Lilith Saintcrow's Dante Valentine series. This book wrung me out, but I did find the ending somewhat satisfying and I am looking forward to book 2, The Taste of Night. This book was also long - 455 pages, which I'm not sure everyone will like. It did feel long to me when I was less than a hundred pages in and was still wondering what was going on. It got faster about 100-150 pages in. The world building was slow at the beginning and then revelations came in doses as Joanna seemed to be kept in the dark about many things until she absolutely had to know. The explanation of the Zodiac is something that will probably continue on to the next book.
