Zodiac Academy: The Awakening as Told by the Boys

Yami's Bookshelf

Heartbreaking and Captivating

"Zodiac Academy: The Awakening (As Told by the Boys) is a captivating and thrilling addition to the Zodiac Academy series. This retelling of the first book from the perspective of Orion, Darius, Caleb, Seth, and Max offers readers a unique and insightful glimpse into the minds of these complex characters. From the very first page, the story grips you with its intensity and never lets go. The Celestial Authors’s ability to delve into the thoughts and emotions of each boy brings a new depth to the narrative, allowing readers to understand their motivations and struggles on a whole new level. It's a fascinating exploration of the inner workings of these characters, revealing their fears, desires, and the sacrifices they make for their families. The additional content and scenes that have never been revealed before add an exciting layer of intrigue to the story. It's like discovering a hidden treasure trove of secrets and surprises that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The pacing is perfect, with each chapter leaving you hungry for more, and the writing style is engaging and immersive. One of the standout aspects of this book is how it complements the original story. By providing an alternative perspective, it enhances the overall reading experience and deepens your understanding of the events that unfold in the Zodiac Academy universe of Solaria. It's a testament to these authors’ talent and creativity that they were able to seamlessly weave this retelling into the existing narrative. As a reader, you'll find yourself emotionally invested in the boys' journey, rooting for them, and feeling their pain and triumphs. The book is filled with heartbreak and carnage as we ensure the twins heartbreak. It's a rollercoaster of emotions that will leave you breathless and craving for more. Zodiac Academy: The Awakening (As Told by the Boys) is a must-read for fans of the series and anyone who enjoys immersive and character-driven stories. It's a masterful retelling that adds depth and complexity to the original narrative, leaving you wanting more. Prepare to be captivated, enthralled, and completely absorbed in this fantastic book. ["

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January 29, 2024 Verified Purchase

_blondebooknerd

4 stars! Don’t skip this one

"Finished Zodiac Academy #1.5 - The Awakening as Told by the Boys, and let me tell you, I almost skipped it! 😅 Not being the biggest fan of retellings from different perspectives, I was initially hesitant. However, I’m so glad I gave it a shot! 🎉✨ 🌀 A Deeper Dive into Orion and the Heirs 🌀 What surprised me the most about this book was how in-depth it delved into the backstories of Orion, Darius, Caleb, Seth, and Max. 🌌❤️ All those moments when I felt frustrated by their actions towards Tori and Darcy? Well, this book gave me the answers I was craving! It’s refreshing to see their reasoning and to understand the pressures they face. It truly changed my perception of them — or at least softened my feelings a bit! 😏 The narrative captures the complexity of their characters and the struggle between duty and desire. The boys aren't just power-hungry — they have their own demons to confront, and their perspectives added layers to the story that I didn’t expect! 🌪️🔥 💥 More Than Just a POV Shift 💥 Yes, we do get our fair share of the “sexy, power-hungry men who desperately want to get in the twins' pants” trope (and honestly, who’s complaining? 😜💖). But it’s all wrapped up in a rich narrative that showcases their internal battles and motivations. The writing is as engaging as ever, and the dialogue is packed with the witty banter that fans adore! 💬🤣 I can’t wait to dive into Ruthless Fae now! Will the revelations from this book shift my feelings about the characters in the next installment? Only time will tell, but I’m excited to find out! ⏳🚀 👁️‍🗨️ Final Thoughts 👁️‍🗨️ Overall,The Awakening as Told by the Boys is a must-read for fans of the series. It added depth, context, and plenty of swoon-worthy moments. If you’re like me and not sure about reading a retelling, trust me, this one is worth it! 🌟❤️ So, if you’ve made it this far, grab your copy and prepare for a whirlwind of emotions! And let’s chat about it when you’re finished! Until next time! 🌈💕 ["

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June 21, 2025 Verified Purchase

Shauna Phearsdorf

Let the battle for the throne begin

"The twisted sisters really know how to pull at the heartstrings. This is the story of the Vega twins meeting the celestial heirs for the first time, but from the boys point of view. The reasons why the heirs acted the way they did. This is an eye opening point of view behind the actions of the heirs. Darcy and Tory thought there were regular humans 18 year olds trying to survive. They are thrown into a world of Fae and magic in the world of Solaria and they are told that they are the long lost princesses, daughters of the savage king. Which means they are now the rivals for the heirs and have a claim to the throne. Despite not knowing any thing about Solaria, their birthright says the throne is theirs. From the boys point of view, we see the pressure and expectations that their parents place on these four boys. The lines are being drawn and the dust is settling, the battle for the throne has officially begun. This is a bully academy romantasy. It’s a heartbreaking story that will grab ahold and never let you go. Highly recommended. ["

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February 25, 2026 Verified Purchase

Lien

Retellings can be a tricky thing…

"If you’re like me, reading a retelling can be tricky. I usually avoid reading one so close to the first book (it’s been a little over 6 months for me), but I simply couldn’t resist when the sister authors announced The Awakening as Told by the Boys because. MORE.ORION.CONTENT. I think it’s important to say that if you’re only stanning one character or let’s say one couple (as it is in my case), the book might be incredibly boring to you. It took me pretty long to get through the other chapters, and even though I found the additional content nice, the scenes weren't particularly interesting to me. One more thing: Even though the book can be read after The Awakening, I’d actually recommend reading it after you're done with #6. The reading experience will be soo much better that way, especially because of all the little easter eggs in there. Also, considering that all romantic relationships in this series are slow-burn, it wouldn’t be the same if you knew how much the boys were already obsessed with the girls from the start (even Max’s love interest is hinted at and because we get Seth’s POV you’ll already see how much he likes THAT PERSON too). I for one probably wouldn't have enjoyed the relationships as much as I did if I knew about their desires so early on, so if you’re not a fan of insta-anything I’d say stay away from this book until you’re caught up to #6, or if you don’t want to wait that long, fellow readers recommended waiting until at least #4. About the ending: Besides Orion’s POV, I think I was the most interested in Darius’s POV when it came to the ending scene. ATBTB helped me understand him (and the other heirs) a bit more, especially all the pressure they were under at that time, but my god these guys, it didn't matter that they were reluctant, they did it anyway which is the whole freaking point… It was actually quite hard for me to go back to the beginning again where I despised all the heirs. They truly came a long way. My favorite ships, scenes, quotes and random thoughts: ➤ I can't believe how Darius kept ignoring the signs the stars sent him 🤦‍♀️ ➤ I absolutely loved the little glimpse of nice Darius when he was nice to Darcy. ➤ The gem stone scene with Darius and Orion 😂 That one gave me book six Geraldine vibes (if you read Fated Throne, you should know what I mean lmao) ➤ The bond/friendship between Darius and Orion. ➤ The palmistry reading!! ➤ I need a novella about how Orion got stuck up a mountain for sixteen hours 😂 ➤ The way Orion keeps himself entertained is so freaking funny. I love this type of pettiness. He really reminds me of a grumpy, but loveable cat lol I mean, tripping up students because they wore their uniform wrong but preventing Darcy from tripping over her own feet even though she wore her uniform wrong too? Pure comedy. He was a goner from the start and I loved seeing it. ➤ My favorite scene has to be the bar scene from Orion's POV. Fran who? ["

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September 1, 2021 Verified Purchase

Fantasy Reader

The Heirs and Lance inner thoughts... just WOW

"Diving in the guys POV we learn that every conversation encountered in The Awakening was not as it seemed, which was quite interesting. While their POV was informative, it still didn't make them more likable in my eyes. Darius seems to have a conscience and doesn't want to be like his father. When his weakness, Xavier, is thrown into the mix, he will do anything even if it means destroying himself and everyone around him. Once he hit that point, he seemed to become wreckless and desperate, which is not a good combination. Caleb was the only one against the plan to take things up a notch with the Vegas. He believed it was a cowards way out and wanted to challenge them when they were better trained. His downfall being he will do anything for his brothers other than telling them when they are absolutely wrong. So, as of now, he is the most likable heir. Max has a genuine reason for wanting to feed on anger and other unpleasant emotions. He doesn't seem to do much to the Twins until Darius was really threatened by his father, while I am all for protecting those you love, he is to practical and can easily justify what he is doing. Which is ironic because he is the empath of the group. Seth..... man, I hate Seth with a passion. I mean, is there even a bone in his body that isn't self-serving? It's always all about what he wants, and he strikes me as narcissistic along with his obvious conceited trait. I hope he gets the worst payback of them all. Lance, while not an heir, does play a big role in the storyline as well. He is the only redeemable one as of now. I feel so sorry for him and am rooting for his HEA. He just needs to get out of his own way. He is beginning to see how things really are and is really thinking about the future of Solaria and what is best. I have hopes that he won't idlly sit by anymore and actually help the Vegas after the last stunt the Heirs pulled. Overall, this book was very interesting even though it kept me pissed a lot of the time. Now that I have their POV, I can read book 2 with the whole story, and I am sure it will be one hell of a ride, and I CAN'T WAIT! ["

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September 18, 2025 Verified Purchase