Let's be honest about the Zodiac Academy book series. It’s mean. It is genuinely, unapologetically cruel to its characters and, by extension, to you. If you’ve spent any time on "BookTok" or scoured the dark corners of fantasy romance forums, you’ve probably seen the warnings. People post videos of themselves sobbing over paperbacks or throwing books across the room. It’s not just hype. Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti—the "Twisted Sisters"—have essentially mastered the art of the literary car crash. You want to look away from the bullying and the heartbreak, but you simply can’t.
Most fantasy series give you a hero's journey with a predictable payoff. This isn't that. It’s a relentless "bully romance" set in a world where your astrological sign determines your magical tax bracket and your right to live.
What Actually Happens in the Zodiac Academy Book Series?
The premise sounds like a standard YA trope on paper, but it veers into much darker territory almost immediately. We follow Darcy and Tory Vega. They’re twins living a rough life in the mortal world—basically just trying to survive—until they find out they’re actually Fae royalty. Standard stuff, right? Wrong. They get whisked away to Solaria to attend Zodiac Academy, where the "Heirs" (four incredibly rich, powerful, and sociopathic elemental Alphas) decide to make their lives a living hell to protect their own claim to the throne.
There is no "soft" introduction here. These girls get drowned, humiliated, and magically tortured.
What makes it stick is the magic system. It’s all based on the Western Zodiac. If you're a Leo, you’ve got fire magic and a massive ego. If you’re a Pisces, you’re dealing with water and potentially some prophetic weirdness. The authors didn't just sprinkle some star signs on a generic magic school; they built the entire social hierarchy and combat system around it. The Heirs—Darius, Caleb, Seth, and Max—represent the four elements, and their "Order" forms (werewolves, vampires, dragons, etc.) are tied to their signs. It’s deeply nerdy but plays out like a high-stakes soap opera.
The Bully Romance Problem
A lot of readers get stuck on the first book, The Awakening. It’s a tough sell for some. Why? Because the "love interests" are genuinely terrible people at the start. They aren't "misunderstood" bad boys who just need a hug in chapter three. They are actual antagonists.
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This is the "nuance" that keeps fans arguing. The Zodiac Academy book series thrives on the "enemies-to-lovers" trope, but it stretches the "enemies" part for an incredibly long time. You’ll find yourself hating Darius Acrux one minute and then, three books later, realizing you’re rooting for him, which feels like a personal betrayal.
The series is currently finished at nine main books, plus several novellas and "as told by the boys" versions. It is a massive undertaking. We’re talking thousands upon thousands of pages. Is it edited to lean, mean perfection? Honestly, no. It’s bloated. It’s repetitive. There are points where you’ll wish the authors would just get to the point. But that bloat is also why the fandom is so obsessive. You spend so much time in these characters' heads—through the alternating points of view—that they start to feel like real people you’re trauma-bonding with.
Why the Ending of the Series Divided Everyone
Without spoiling the specific fate of every character, the final book, Restless Stars, had a lot of heavy lifting to do. For years, the authors were known for "cliffhangers from hell." Every book ended with a literal or metaphorical explosion that left the Vegas in a worse position than they started.
- Book 4 (Shadow Princess) broke everyone's spirit.
- Book 7 (Heartless Sky) resulted in a collective internet meltdown.
- The bridge books, like Beyond the Veil, added layers of lore about the afterlife that some felt were necessary, while others called them "filler."
By the time the final installment dropped in 2024, the expectations were impossible. Some fans felt the resolution was too "neat" after years of suffering. Others felt it was the only way to justify the sheer amount of pain the characters endured. The consensus? It's a journey about "Stars" and "Fate." In Solaria, the stars are literal sentient entities that mess with your life. You’re either a pawn or you’re trying to rewrite the sky.
The Complexity of the "Fated Mates" Trope
The series uses the "Elysian Mate" bond. In most romance books, finding your fated mate is a gift. In the Zodiac Academy book series, it can be a curse. What do you do when the universe tells you that the person who has been systematically ruining your life is your soulmate?
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The authors use this to explore some pretty heavy themes regarding consent, autonomy, and whether "destiny" is actually just a form of celestial tyranny. It’s one of the more interesting takes on the trope because it isn't always a happy ending. Sometimes the bond is rejected. Sometimes it’s used as a weapon.
Real Talk: Should You Read It?
If you want a cozy fantasy where everyone is nice and the stakes are low, stay away. Far away. This series is for the readers who want to feel their heart being stepped on.
- The Humor: It’s actually funny. Between the trauma, characters like Xavier and Geraldine Provide literal laugh-out-loud moments. Geraldine speaks in a bizarre, Shakespearean-meets-southern-belle-on-acid dialect that is polarizing but iconic.
- The Spice: It’s a "New Adult" series. The steam factor is high, especially as the series progresses and the characters get older.
- The World Building: It’s surprisingly deep. The history of the "Savage King" and the curse on the Vegas provides a backbone that keeps the story moving even when the romance gets messy.
The main criticism, which is valid, is the length. The series could have likely been told in six books instead of nine. By book eight, Sorrow and Starlight, the "sadness" felt almost performative to some readers. But if you're the type of person who loves a long, sprawling epic where you can live in a world for months, the length is a feature, not a bug.
Finding Your Way Through the Solaria Universe
Don't just jump into the main series without a map. There are spin-offs like Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac (set five years before) and Darkmore Penitentiary (set five years after). While you can read Zodiac Academy on its own, the crossovers are everywhere. Character cameos from the other series start popping up, and if you haven't read them, you’ll miss the significance of certain powerful Fae showing up to save the day.
- Reading Order Tip: Most hardcore fans suggest reading Ruthless Boys before you get too deep into Zodiac Academy (maybe after book 3 or 4) to appreciate the backstories of the "Leonine" characters.
- The Novellas: The Big A.S.S. Party and Origins of an Academy are fun, but not strictly mandatory.
- The POV Shifts: Be prepared to read from the perspective of the villains. It’s the only way to understand why the Heirs do what they do, even if it doesn't excuse them.
Actionable Steps for New Readers
If you're ready to dive into the Zodiac Academy book series, start with The Awakening. Do not judge the series by the first 100 pages. The authors are intentionally making you feel as isolated and hated as the twins.
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Check your triggers. This series covers everything from bullying and physical violence to deep emotional trauma. It is "dark" fantasy for a reason.
Join a community. This is one of those series that is better when you have someone to scream with. Whether it's a Discord server or a Facebook group, the "Solaria" fandom is huge and very active. You're going to need a support system for when you hit the cliffhanger at the end of book four. Seriously.
Lastly, pay attention to the star signs. The authors actually stick to the astrological traits. Understanding why a Capricorn acts the way they do versus a Scorpio will actually give you clues about the plot before it happens. It’s one of the few series where "doing your homework" on astrology actually pays off in character analysis.
Grab a box of tissues and maybe a stress ball. You’re going to need both.
Next Steps for Your Reading Journey:
Start with The Awakening (Zodiac Academy, Book 1). If the bullying in the first book feels like too much, try the Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac series first; it’s a "reverse harem" set in the same world with a slightly different tone that might ease you into the authors' style. Monitor your progress—if you aren't hooked by the end of book two, The Reckoning, this specific brand of "trauma-romance" might not be for you.