The Touch of Twilight

Known as Olivia Archer, Joanna is the Kairos, daughter of both the Light and the Shadow, a legendary creature who will tip the scales in Las Vegas's battle between good and evil. That she wears her dead sister's face is something very few people know. In order to assume her identity, she had to give up Ben Traina, the love of her life. But some things are harder to sacrifice than others... Regan DuPree, a Shadow member, has discovered Joanna's greatest weakness, Ben, and exploits it mercilessly, prompting Joanna to engage in some very questionable behavior. But saving Ben isn't Joanna's only priority. A mysterious copycat creature known as a doppelganger is bent on killing Joanna and assuming her role in life. The Tulpa is terrified of it. The Zodiac Troop doesn't know how to defeat it. And Joanna is torn between protecting those she loved and those she's learning to love. Be warned. This paragraph contains a slight spoiler as I rant. So skip it if you don't want know. Why can't Joanna end up with Ben? Why must her life be impossibly difficult? Isn't there enough on her plate to advance the plot without tossing Ben out: the Tulpa, her new-ish position in the troop, Regan knowing her secret identity, the signs of the Zodiac coming to pass, etc? Why not off Warren, the troop's leader, and make Zoe, her MIA mother, the new troop leader? Whew. Now I can continue. I've eagerly read the first two books in the Zodiac series and constantly wondered how all the loose threads could ever be possibly tied up. They aren't. Not in this novel anyway. The Tulpa is still bent on killing or converting Joanna. Joanna's bastard daughter from a previous rape is still unaware of her heritage. No one knows where Zoe, Joanna's mother, is. The troop is still missing some star signs. Look out if Ms. Pettersson dies before finishing this series. I'm not sure anyone can successfully pick up where she left off. I'm not sure Ms. Pettersson's novels can be considered romances. While they do contain some romance and sex, they are more an angst-ridden ride in the head of a woman trying to find her place in a world she no longer recognizes. If you read the first two novels of the series, the third installment will not disappoint. If you haven't, you'll still be able to pick it up, though you might not have as much emotion invested in Joanna's struggles. For a satisfying, fast-paced and at times, heart-rending read that will leave you biting your nails and wishing Ms. Pettersson wrote faster, you can't go wrong with The Touch of Twilight. Chris Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Our heroine, Joanna Archer, the Light Sagittarius, comes from a lineage of superheroines. Though if you didn't know that, you should probably read the first two books or you're just going to run into a pile of spoilers. Touch of Twilight focuses largely on girl fights and how women fight, which is perhaps why a number of other reviewers commented on the lack of action. Regan, the Shadow Cancer, has stolen Joanna's identity, man, and life as of the end of the last book. This book focuses on the two women taunting each other. Regan has everything, but Joanna is constantly watching. The battle heats up when Joanna finds cracks in Regan's heart and targets the things she loves. It's a battle of trying to push your opponent to despair rather than a battle of physical pain. It's the way women are taught to fight, attacking what's dear to a foe's heart, and Pettersson acknowledges this, which makes her world that much more believable. Meanwhile, having lost her human identity, Joanna is in peril of losing her superhero identity as an unknown doppelganger has appeared. If Joanna doesn't solve her double's riddle soon, the doppelganger will eat her heart and assume her identity. This may or may not have something to do with Jasmine the Changeling who it turns out Jo accidentally "broke." The Tulpa, head of the Shadows, is equally afraid of the doppelganger taking over, as it seems to possess abilities he can't match. Speaking of girl fights, just as Joanna and Chandra (her rival for her place within the superhero troop) might be moving to an understanding, the new Light Libra, Kimber, gets her nose out of joint about Joanna's position in the zodiac. On the romantic end, Joanna cleaves to her dream of being with Ben, who thinks she's abandoned him. Her conflicts with Regan push her closer to coming clean with him about who she is now and what's going on in her life. Despite her loyalty to this man, Hunter, the Light Aries, continues to court her. The two of them have some truly great moments together discussing general relationship difficulties and ideals as he encourages her to move on. This is the best of the series so far, as Joanna works both with the group and by herself and seems to be making a place for herself with the troop. Jo faces many difficult circumstances, and the ending provides only temporary happiness. It does, however, explain the secret identity Joanna/Olivia thing that got confusing in the second book as to which identity was secret. Pettersson also sets up a continuing arch, as not all of the problems are solved in this book. If you like dark fantasy or classic superhero tales, you'll love this book. If you like relationships in conflict you'll love this book. Pettersson never fails to make me hate her villains and love her heroes with a passion that makes me devour the books as quickly as possible. I look forward to the next one.

This is a series i picked whilst tavelling and it just gets better, The sex isnt overdone (unlike Laurell K Hamilton), and the plot is solid. If you havent read the series from the start you should. Cant wait for the next installment

I was happy with the outcome of this book. I loved what happened in the end between Ben and Johanna but I hated the way Hunter was treated. Johanna has grown as a person. She is finally coming to terms w/ her new life. If you are a Johanna Archer fan, you will be extremely happy with this one.

Light and Shadow are constantly are war with one another. In Las Vegas, Zodiac Troop 75 keeps the Shadows in check; protecting mortals from adversaries who would harm, kill, or convert them to evil. One of the newest members of the unit is Joanna Archer, who now looks physically like her dead sister Olivia. No longer mortal, she cannot have a relationship with the love of her life Ben, but she refuses to let her evil Shadow counterpart Regan lure him into something malevolent. A doppelganger is being formed in an alternate reality, but is investigating Joanna before coming to our realm by tearing holes in reality and if not stopped the world will cease to exist. Her father, the evil Tulpa, meets the doppelganger and knows Joanna who is part light and part shadow can stop it. He wants them work together to destroy it. The troop leader wants Joanna to let him change Ben's memories forgetting Joanna from the time she changed into a superheroine. The moves Joanna makes will determine who rules. She must find the strength to let Ben forget her, but doesn't know if she can. Part urban fantasy, part mystery and part pulp add up to a tale that is impossible to down as the audience will want to know how the problems are resolved. Vicki Petterson keeps readers' attention with several red herrings and unexpected twists. Fans will feel for the heroine who has so much on her plate topped off with what to do with the man she loves. Harriet Klausner