While overall I did enjoy this third part of the Zodiac series, there were definitely times when I was left completely lost as to what was going on. ( )

I adore the premise of this series. The whole Light vs Dark superheroes plot is refreshing and intriguing. I love the idea that the adventures are all chronicled in comic books and the vivid belief by children fuel them. Joanna/Olivia is an intresting character and her back story is also intriguing and original. So why is this series so lackluster for me? This book in particular really went back and forth, alternating between scenes of great action, humor, and intelligence. Moments where I rooted for the lead character and really felt for her heartbreaking decisions. But here Joanna/Olivia was often whiny and put her own personal needs above the good of the troop. That just doens't sound like a superheroine to me. The story also lacked a good flow...the story would be moving right along and I would be intrigued and then it would just plummet into vague descriptions and things that had nothing to do with the plot. At times I felt lost and would have to reread passages to find out what I missed. I don't like that in a book. That said, there were some steller moments in the novel and I loved watching some of Joanna/Olivia's mastermindings come to fruitation. I certainly love Petterrson's premise and characters enough to keep reading the series, but I hope the books can continue to improve in the storytelling and editing. ( )

To put some of Joanna's problems into perspective in this book:

'Meanwhile, I still had to figure out what to do about dear, sweet, smells-like-a-carcass-marinating-in-a-putrid-swamp Rose. In the past few months Regan had manipulated my relationship with Ben, made me infect my allies with a deadly virus, had me chasing my enemies-and my own tail-and nearly cost me my place in the troop. I could be philosophical about all this if she'd done those things just because I was Light. If she'd just killed me...or tried to. But she hadn't, which made this personal. She wanted more than my death, but what? And why?'

Then there is her father, the extradimensional doppelganger trying to eat her heart, Changelings to keep alive, comic chronicles to investigate, and weaponmaster hooker superheroes to shag.

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2009/02... ( )

This review contains spoilers

This was a very good continuation of the series. Pettersson set up the next book very well, but I didn't have the feeling while I was reading this book that the entire purpose of this story was to set up the next one.

It was nice to see more of Hunter. I expect he'll play a big role in the next book. I'm hoping he doesn't actually turn to the shadow side, that would be repetitive after this book. While I think Jo/Olivia was right about needed to figures things out herself before getting involved with another man, I would like to see them together. I like Hunter and I'm not entirely convinced why he still wants Jo other than "it feels good." But at least he's mostly avoided the "you've said no but I'm going to keep pursuing you stalker-like but it's okay because we're meant to be together" trap. He made it clear he wants her, but mostly he's left her alone except when she comes to him.

I really didn't mind losing Ben. It had been a while since I'd read the other books so I'd forgotten a lot about him and no longer had a feel for their relationship. Ben himself appeared only briefly. This may all have been intention on Pettersson's part, after all, the point was that Jo/Olivia was holding on to the idea of Ben more than Ben himself.

It looks like there will be some significant changes in the next book. I'm looking forward to seeing how it all plays out. ( )

I liked the first two. I like this one. I just wish she'd move on from her "old" life, and let her old boyfriend go. There is an Aries that I would love to see our protagonist jump all over. ( )