The Scent of Shadows

At the tender age of 16, Joanna Archer was raped, beaten and left for dead in the Nevada desert. When she recovered she worked hard to become a tough fighter studying the martial art Krav Maga and making her body strong.

On the day before her 25^th birthday strange things begin to happen. She is again attacked but this time by someone who can flash her with his skull. A crazed vagrant who talks in riddles announces that he is a superhero…Command leader of Zodiac troop 175, division of anti-evil, Las Vegas to be exact. He also gives warning and urges her to survive to her birthday.

A metamorphosis takes place with her turning 25, and though a terrible loss takes place with the murder of her sister Olivia, she discovers that she is a foretold blend of Light and Shadow. In the battle of good and evil, there is a set of 12 Zodiac members for each side. All have different superpowers and a personal weapon to wield. Joanna is the first of her kind, the first sign of the Zodiac. Her coming is believed to signal the ascendancy of Light over Shadow and it is in the nick of time. The Light Zodiac members are being targeted one by one and they do not know how their enemies are locating them.

THE SCENT OF SHADOWS is a highly original storyline that incorporates urban fantasy and the astrological signs as comic book superheroes. Readers are flung into the deep end as a matter of introduction where we flounder to make sense of what is happening right along with the heroine. Once we stop our frenzy of speculation and relax enough to float along with the story, the author proceeds to take us into quite a stretch of white water at breakneck speed.

Joanna’s Background includes her mother who abandoned the family, a gaming magnate father whom she detests, a sister she adored and a first love she has never forgotten. Her initial experience at the hands of violence made her recreate herself as a warrior at the cost of any vestige of a softer side. It is therefore a great shock when she is forced to take on an outward identity which epitomizes what she does not see in herself. The circumstances make it heartrending as well. Emotionally coming to terms with her new life and her true background is only half the battle. Learning to use her powers and weapon are urgent matters, but there is also hostility and suspicion from the team of good Zodiac signs to contend with…after all, she is part Shadow. This is a kick-ass heroine to stand up and cheer for and we know she is a survivor. She may be a superhero but she is certainly not a cardboard cutout.

A rich evocative writing style hooks us in that much more on top of the fantastic characters populating the book, both friend and foe. The complexity of the story, however, does sometimes leave the reader mildly confused. There are occasions of deep meaningful speech or dialogue that are vague. Allusion is made but sometimes one may feel that it has gone over one’s head. Further explanations of background for these beings are needed. We are left with curiosity over their manuals and how such come about. Perhaps future books will cover our questions. One thing is certain, anticipation for the following installments in this series will be high.

For anyone who wants a gripping and complete break from reality, lose yourself in THE SCENT OF SHADOWS.

August 2007