Dark Matters

Signs of the Zodiac #4.5

by Vicki Pettersson

Originally appeared in the print anthology Unbound.

Following the slaughter of his parents, J.J. became an Agent of the Light. But now, in Vicki Pettersson's Dark Matters, his love for the beautiful killer who spared his life transforms the fierce defender into the most perfect predator of all.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Short Stories, Paranormal Romance

65 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2012

About the author

Vicki Pettersson is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author of ten novels, most set in her hometown of Las Vegas. Though she'll ever consider that glittering dustbowl home, she now divides her time between Vegas and Dallas,Texas, where she's learning to like good Tex-Mex (easy) and the Dallas Cowboys (easier than you'd think).

Her most recent release is SWERVE, aptly titled as it's both a chase book and a hard departure from her fantasy work. A pure adrenaline, white-knucked thriller, Swerve releases on July 7, 2015 -- perfect for the novel's Fourth of July setting. If you're looking for a romance with little to no violence ... this is not your novel. If, as with her other work, you're looking for a strong female protagonist who comes out swinging when pushed into a corner, then perhaps you can connect. Welcome!

Reviews

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice short story about the delicious Hunter Lorenzo before he became the Hunter Lorenzo we know from the Signs of the Zodiac series. This should not be read until the rest of the series has been read first however because it will spoil some major plot points from the series. And how thrilled am I that Vicki Pettersson has penned a brand new short story featuring a return to her Signs of the Zodiac world and Joanna Archer? Thrilled, I say!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as part of "Unbound"

It's a little darker than I usually like my superhero stories, but it's actually really good

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommend reading this after 'City of Souls' to preserve spoilers. This is from a different POV than rest of series. A must read if you want to understand a certain characters' history & motivations. Story found in novel 'Unbound' - which is a collection of short stories.

[Karenr · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Laurla2]

published in the anthology Unbound

[Pauline (Polly) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sad, tragic, and dark. Haven’t read the previous books/stories in this series yet. Interesting world- will definitely keep reading.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this short story once before awhile back in the Unbound anthology before I had read any of the Zodiac series and found it confusing and hard to follow. I've just now finished reading the first three books of the Zodiac series before reading this short story for a second time and now I understand it. In fact, it's quite a revealing & juicy backstory for Hunter Lorenzo one of the Light agents of the Zodiac. I can see how this short didn't make sense to me the first time I read it way back when, it's definitely not a stand-alone story. You need to have read at least the first three books of the Zodiac series in order to understand what's going on in this installment. It's listed as #4.5 in the Zodiac series so I probably should have waited until after the fourth book, but that's okay, at this point I don't feel like anything's been ruined for me. It actually helps and makes me want to re-read a certain part of book three. I'm really intrigued by this series.

[Aymee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really, really enjoyed this story. Fascinating ideas and love, love, love that it's set in Vegas. The author has an amazing voice that draws you in and holds you. My only complaint? I want more. (But is that really a complaint?).

Well developed characters and an engaging story line, pretty impressive for so few pages. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a great urban fantasy with a bit of a love story attached. Even better is that right now (as of 7/26/12), it's only $0.99 at Amazon.com. Best buck I've spent lately.

[Alison (Lady Coffin) S · Rating 4 out of 5]

JJ aka Jay aka Jaden Jacks, an agent of light, in the valley of Los Vegas, who watched his parents viciously killed by Shadow agents when he was only 5 still feels the guilt. When he meets a beautiful gal in a bar who likes his mustang his life is forever altered.

Whatever you do, DO NOT READ this BEFORE it's place in the series it has MAJOR SPOILERS. It would really ruin some major plot points of the series if read too early.

Great side story that gives more insight into a big part of things Joanna will find out about Hunter and what he and Warren did before she was part of the troop.

[Jill · Rating 1 out of 5]

This should have never been in an anthology. As a fist time reader of Vicki Pettersson, I was traumatized. I have no background knowledge of her book series & now I have no wish to read anything by her ever again. I read a variety of genres, but the death of a child is not entertaining to me.
Belatedly, the other reviews I read, say this story had spoilers. Maybe I'd feel differently if I were familiar with the characters.

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

an entertaining original teaser, but a teaser and not a short story. Be prepared to be left hanging wanting the rest. I look forward to reading more by this author and hope she did continue the story. (I read this in a compilation of short stories)

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am confused, I guess that I would have some closure to why there was betrayal, unless this is revenge for him, but I am not quite thinking it completely is. So I am not sure why Hunter had her read it?

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story about JJ, it fills in some details that was sorely needed in her 4th book, City of Souls. Now I can understand a little better what went on between Hunter and Joanna.

[Anna McFadden · Rating 2 out of 5]

in a world where normal humans know nothing about you have light and shadow. where the light is good guys and the shadow are the bad guys. twenty some odd years after witnessing the murder of his parents JJ is following in their steps as an agent of light only to wonder what is he doing it all for the regular elite and he had nothing . then he lets a women from other side who he saw there the day his parents died. they are same age. then things get heated. same old bout how evil uses good gets them confuse and falls in love, uses them and leaving them....ok story sucky ending means it dont continue