Blogetary (Weblog + Commentary = Blogetary)

In Vicki Pettersson‘s Scent of Shadows, we are introduced to Joanna Archer, estranged daughter of a Vegas tycoon, who learns that not only do superheroes exist, but that she, indeed, is one of them. From the first paragraph to the last the reader learns about this new world along with Joanna, gulping down the pages like a 21 year old on their requisite birthday bar crawl. It was a heady brew and by the time we came up for air it was time to sleep it off.

In Pettersson’s second novel in this series, The Taste of Night, Joanna has had six months to mature into her new role, just enough time to learn enough and gain enough confidence to get herself into trouble. Like any superhero who has first become accustomed to their powers, her emotions and mindset have not necessarily caught up with the acquisition of her powers.

We’ve all cringed as we watched our favorite heroes make mistake after mistake in their heroic quests, always on their side, wanting to defend them against those who misjudge them and yell stop when we see them walking into something stupid. Pettersson has stayed away from the trap of making her heroine too perfect too fast and Joanna is full of faults as we watch her go through this same journey. There were times when I could barely read on because I dreaded the consequences of her actions, yet found myself picking up the book again to see just what had happened.

But, that was okay. The Taste of Night is not a book to be gulped down as Scent was. It’s darker, smokier, delving deeper into some of Joanna’s psychological issues, developing story threads and interweaving past into future in a much more complex brew that needs to be sampled at a slower pace. Sure, you could try shooting it down like a shot of Jack, but you’d miss the nuances and clues that are being laid down as a foundation for what is going to happen later. Joanna has not told the reader everything about herself and there is still more to go.

This review doesn’t really tell much about the story or plot, but I don’t want to give anything away. A simple outline of the story wouldn’t touch on the deeper structure of the story and might make it sound trite, when it’s not. Taste of Night reminds me of a very good, very dark, very expensive bourbon. In that case, the best way to understand the flavor is to pour yourself a glass, sit back, and enjoy exploring the textures and essences in your own good time.