Zodiac Academy: The Awakening

Courtney’s Book Thoughts

The Awakening

"Zodiac Academy The Awakening was a wild emotional experience and I have thoughts. What I loved: The storyline is actually really interesting. The world, the magic system, the concept of everything? I’m into it. It has so much potential. The twins are easily the best part of this book. They’re likable, funny, and easy to root for. I genuinely care about them and want good things for them. I also liked their friends and the overall found family vibes starting to form. This world is immersive and I can see why people get addicted to this series. The heirs. I hate them. Truly. Deeply. With my whole chest. I know it’s a bully romance and I willingly walked into this mess, but I was not emotionally prepared for how angry they made me. I wanted to fight them through the pages. But I can’t lie I also love them What I didn’t love: This book dragged. I understand it was heavy on world and people building, but some scenes did not need to be that long. I found myself skimming more than once because I was like okay yes, vibes are established, can we move it along now. It definitely felt slow in spots and could’ve been tighter. Now the problem: That ending. The audacity. I was fully planning on taking a break before starting book two, but no. I physically cannot stop now. I am invested against my will. This is a long series, which feels a little intimidating, and I’m really hoping it picks up the pace and gets more to the point. But the world is cool, the twins have my heart, and I need answers. So am I continuing. Yes. Do I feel slightly manipulated. Also yes. Do I regret it. Not even a little. ["

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February 5, 2026 Verified Purchase

AF

An excellent unintended potential

"The novel is a kind of Harry Potter for young adults – except here, vampires prowl, werewolves indulge in orgies under the full moon, and sirens manipulate emotions with their dark allure. It is certainly not a book for children, there are explicit erotic scenes. The narrative follows Tory and Darcy Vega, lost twin heirs of Solaria, a realm on the brink of collapse after the assassination of the Savage King. The Zodiac Academy they attend is less a place of learning than an arena of ruthless competition, where the law of survival eclipses both morality and intellect. Strength, cruelty, and manipulation define the institution’s hierarchy, and the five ruling heirs plot to eliminate the newcomers. The worldbuilding is schematic – more an offshoot of Earth than a self-contained universe – with a magic system that is barely explained. The inclusion of horoscopes is entertaining, and the use of social media in Solaria mirrors our own reality all too well: people will do anything for the smallest slice of attention, nude pictures included. The academy often feels like a contest to determine who can use magic and media in the most brainless way. The theme of degradation – of both women and men – is particularly strong. Taken together, these elements form the novel’s most interesting aspect: an extreme parody of everything that has gone wrong in our own society, though it is doubtful that the authors intended it as such. The main characters are so infuriatingly shallow that they become almost comical. Their story begins with a burglary, justified because they “needed money.” At the academy, they mostly drink, flaunt expensive clothes, and pursue intimate encounters with the very people who want them dead. The twin protagonists are virtually indistinguishable, their moral compass absent, and their choices governed by impulse and vanity, reinforcing the sense of “wish fulfillment” rather than growth. By the end, they remain as unformed and unreflective as they were at the beginning. Beneath the surface lies a world in decay – Solaria is divided by internal strife and threatened by the enigmatic Nymphs – but the reader is ultimately left questioning why this world, so debased and hollow, is worth saving at all. Viewed through a critical lens, the novel stands as an excellent unintentional parody. In its exaggerated portrayal of hedonism, vanity, and moral collapse, it mirrors with unnerving accuracy the very cultural malaise it seems to dramatize. ["

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November 13, 2025 Verified Purchase

Yami's Bookshelf

Enthralling Start to the Series

"Prepare to be completely immersed in the thrilling and unpredictable world of Zodiac Academy as you embark on a journey like no other. "The Awakening" by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti introduces us to a captivating premise that had me hooked from the very beginning. The story follows the life of two Gemini twins, Darcy and Tory, both headstrong and impulsive individuals who discover they’re heirs to a mysterious throne in the Fae realm of Solaria. However, claiming their birthright is no easy task, as they must prove themselves as the most powerful supernatural beings in Solaria. Little did they know that every Fae in the kingdom, including the almighty Heirs, would stop at nothing to take their throne. Or not have them achieve their birthright. The authors brilliantly set the stage at a school that is both dangerous and filled with wild parties. Vampires roam the corridors, the Werewolf pack indulges in orgies under the full moon, and the Sirens manipulate emotions with their dark powers. The atmosphere is intense, and survival is the name of the game. What sets this book apart is the incorporation of astrology into the story. The Gemini star sign now determines the protagonists’s elemental magic and influences their destiny. Learning astrology becomes crucial in their quest to outshine their classmates, all of whom are encouraged to compete fiercely. Amidst the chaos, Tory must navigate the attention of a drool-worthy Dragon shifter and his three intimidating friends, all vying for the throne. The dynamics between the characters are complex and add an extra layer of intrigue to the narrative. "The Awakening" is a dark, bully romance that shatters any preconceived notions of a sweet school for magic. This is a cutthroat institution where strength reigns supreme, and survival is not guaranteed. The absence of a savior figure like Dumbledore creates an atmosphere of uncertainty, with an evil dictator-like character adding to the tension. Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti have crafted a story that grips you from start to finish. The writing style is engaging, and the vivid descriptions transport you into the heart of Zodiac Academy. Be prepared for a bumpy ride, as this book takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and leaves you craving for more. If you're seeking a thrilling and dark paranormal romance with a unique twist, "The Awakening" is a must-read. Step into the world of Zodiac Academy and brace yourself for an unforgettable adventure! I can’t wait what other adventure will await me in this series. ["

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January 29, 2024 Verified Purchase

sherrejon

Wow!!! Wooooooowww! This deserves more than 5 stars!

"I literally read this in less than a day!! I felt like a druggie that needed her next fix in the form of pages and pages and more chapters! I. AM. ADDICTED! And I’m not even ashamed to admit it. First of all, the world building in this series is phenomenal. Honestly, it is one of the best I have ever read. I am completely invested in all the different aspects of this world. I love these types of books that immerse me in a different world and convince me that it really does exist LOL, and this book does it spectacularly. We are introduced to both Darcy and Tory in a normal, human setting. They have been in foster homes, have been in the system, and have had to live extremely tough lives. Once they turn 18, their hidden powers arise and they are discovered by a different entity. They need to go into the world they should’ve lived in all their lives and claim the throne. The girls have no idea what’s going on, but they are thrust into it all anyway, even though they don’t want to be there. They are the heirs to the throne; their parents were murdered, but they were smart and did something to protect their twin daughters. They switched them with human daughters and tried to get their real daughters to live normal human lives, away from the danger that is lurking in their world. However, they were still murdered along with the infant babies that they switched with their daughters. In their human lives, Darcy and Tory also lost their parents. So they basically can only rely on each other. In this new world, they follow zodiac signs to the t. There are four different elements that people can draw from, earth, air, water, and fire. There are also different aspects to all of this. People come from different divisions. The ones that we get to know are sirens, werewolves, vampires, and fire shifters, but there are more. The girls have to learn about all of this and have to learn how to hone their power. On their first day, they discovered that they could draw from all four elements, which is something that no one has ever been able to do. Normally, people can draw from one, some can draw from two, rarely can they draw from three- we end up finding out that one of their parents could draw from three of them, but no one can do all four and both girls can. Because the girls didn’t exist, there were four other heirs that were ruling this world, and the four boys are their bullies. There is Darius, Caleb, Seth, and Max. And we also get to know the delicious Professor Orion. The four boys are powerful, being the lead in one of the elements. They feel threatened by the girls, which is why they bully them. In the meantime, the girls face both friends and foes left and right. Although we don’t see any sexy times, there is a lot of sexual chemistry that is going on in so much tension that I found myself fanning my face and reading faster LOL. The way that the book ended was crazy and I hope that I get to see the girls get into the pocket of their power more and get back at these bullies in book two, because I am going for blood now LOL. I highly, highly, highly, highly recommend this series!!!!! ["

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May 21, 2021 Verified Purchase

Read-Love-Review Blog

Is it worth the Hype ? Good start but ?

"I have heard so much about this series that I finally decided I had to read it. I can say the introduction blurb has me hooked already. Darcy and her sister Tory are in Chicago. They are foster kids who have aged out of the system and are now on their own. They find out there is more to them than what they seem, and the astrological reference is intriguing. They find out they are paranormal, twins, and rich, which is a lot to take in. There is always a catch, and in this case, Zodiac Academy is it. However, I’m not used to there being two main characters. So they are both very elemental and filled with rare powers. Ah, the celestial heir, in other words, the bad boys of the academy. Caleb, Max, Darius, and Seth aren’t ready to be dethroned. The sisters get separated, having to choose different elemental houses to be part of. Of course, there is some hazing. The academic setting in the story is excellent, but it is slow and has lots of political and clique build-up. This academy has its own set of rules, and the twins are struggling to adapt to the changes. It is dark, gritty, and socially challenging. As the story goes on, I start to see a change in some of the bullying behavior from certain characters, but it doesn’t last. Darcy and Tory are finally starting to fit in and make friends. Still, they ar"

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May 29, 2025 Verified Purchase