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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Eh it was a start to a series that I hope gets better
At sixteen years old, Rhoma Grace had been a drummer in a band, a band that she was in with three of her best friends. They would be playing on the moon, to a crowd of fellow students. Her only problem was how to deal with her alone father, and how to get over her stage fright. Then, the boogey-man attacks. Suddenly, Rho is thrusted into a world of politics, the youngest of the Zodiac Guardian's, leader of her house Cancer. She was utterly alone, the only one who believes the attacks on the various planets and moons not to be accidents. But she was just a sixteen year old girl, heart torn between two men. Insecurity grasped at her brain, but she had to push that aside- to save her world.
Zodiac by Romina Russell, is the product of a genius idea, taking a common-place knowledge and furthering it into the unknown. Everyone, I assume, knows their Zodiac Sign. Everyone, I know, barely as even fully grasped the concept of space and what discovering it means. Russell took those two things and combined them, creating the Zodiac Galaxy. There, you were born under one of the twelve houses: Sagittarius, Cancer, Leo, etc. You had the traits of everyone else around you; if you were a Sagittarius, you were adventurous and curious. Libras honor justice. Each planet had its own function in the galaxy; Ares was a military base, Gemini was a center for youthfulness.
Only, as far original as her initial ideas that would grab your attention are, the book doesn’t do a very good job at delivering. As I read further into Zodiac, I was attached to the narrator, Rho, who was her own woman- however, something nagged at me, until I could figure it out. Like Suzanne Collins, Russell introduced a strong female lead, alongside two heartthrobs. While Russell does a good job at making said heartthrobs their own characters, actual living people, I can’t help but feel unsatisfied. I, and maybe some others, want a strong, independent woman lead. I’m not saying romance isn’t okay, because it is, it’s just that I shouldn’t be worrying more about which boy she’ll end up choosing, over the threat of the whole galaxy getting destroyed.
Three stars just might be a little cruel, but the book wasn’t really grabbing my attention. I found myself reading other books for fun rather than schoolwork. It was a perfect plan for a book, but was poorly executed when Russell added the sub-plots.
Her characters, however, and their arcs and personalities were amazing. She displayed youthfulness and child-like behavior with the eternally young Cass, whilst also layering concern and eventually, understanding for the character. Then, there is Mattias, a bodyguard who is seemingly void of all emotion, and thinks of Rho as a child. He is difficult, protective, and rather narrow-minded, and is mysterious, but not in the Edward Cullen way. In the I-could-kill-you-without-hesitation-but-I-won’t-waste-my-time-with-it sort of way.
Rho herself, is a strong character, let alone female. She trusts in herself, if no one else, and knows she is the only one to stop destruction for her galaxy. Rho’s determination (a total Hufflepuff if there has ever been one) is what made her so endearing to me; she was kindly driven, and the sort of person you cheer on, even though you know it can’t end well with her. She tries to shove away her personal problems for the problems that her fellow Zodiac unknowingly share.
All in all, maybe the three stars is harsh. Zodiac will forever linger in the back of my mind, for the beautiful plot; however, it will never be in my hands again, for the poorly-given execution.
Zodiac by Romina Russell, is the product of a genius idea, taking a common-place knowledge and furthering it into the unknown. Everyone, I assume, knows their Zodiac Sign. Everyone, I know, barely as even fully grasped the concept of space and what discovering it means. Russell took those two things and combined them, creating the Zodiac Galaxy. There, you were born under one of the twelve houses: Sagittarius, Cancer, Leo, etc. You had the traits of everyone else around you; if you were a Sagittarius, you were adventurous and curious. Libras honor justice. Each planet had its own function in the galaxy; Ares was a military base, Gemini was a center for youthfulness.
Only, as far original as her initial ideas that would grab your attention are, the book doesn’t do a very good job at delivering. As I read further into Zodiac, I was attached to the narrator, Rho, who was her own woman- however, something nagged at me, until I could figure it out. Like Suzanne Collins, Russell introduced a strong female lead, alongside two heartthrobs. While Russell does a good job at making said heartthrobs their own characters, actual living people, I can’t help but feel unsatisfied. I, and maybe some others, want a strong, independent woman lead. I’m not saying romance isn’t okay, because it is, it’s just that I shouldn’t be worrying more about which boy she’ll end up choosing, over the threat of the whole galaxy getting destroyed.
Three stars just might be a little cruel, but the book wasn’t really grabbing my attention. I found myself reading other books for fun rather than schoolwork. It was a perfect plan for a book, but was poorly executed when Russell added the sub-plots.
Her characters, however, and their arcs and personalities were amazing. She displayed youthfulness and child-like behavior with the eternally young Cass, whilst also layering concern and eventually, understanding for the character. Then, there is Mattias, a bodyguard who is seemingly void of all emotion, and thinks of Rho as a child. He is difficult, protective, and rather narrow-minded, and is mysterious, but not in the Edward Cullen way. In the I-could-kill-you-without-hesitation-but-I-won’t-waste-my-time-with-it sort of way.
Rho herself, is a strong character, let alone female. She trusts in herself, if no one else, and knows she is the only one to stop destruction for her galaxy. Rho’s determination (a total Hufflepuff if there has ever been one) is what made her so endearing to me; she was kindly driven, and the sort of person you cheer on, even though you know it can’t end well with her. She tries to shove away her personal problems for the problems that her fellow Zodiac unknowingly share.
All in all, maybe the three stars is harsh. Zodiac will forever linger in the back of my mind, for the beautiful plot; however, it will never be in my hands again, for the poorly-given execution.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is my first reread of Zodiac, and I can’t believe I forgot how good this book is!
I love how real Rhoma feels, and she has beautiful character development. I found her realistic and her motivations very fluid and natural.
I also love how Russell takes the characteristics of the Western Zodiac signs and creates complex societies with unique politics and cultures. A beautiful blend of sci-fi and mythology!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Drug use, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content, Violence, Abandonment
i absolutely love this book, and this book series. even though the book does have a predictable love triangle, i couldn’t help but fall in love with it. the universe of the book is absolutely amazing, vivid, well thought out and explained. the diversity of the characters in this book is also incredible and i couldn’t help but fall in love with each and every one of them. the problems of the universe are also very relatable as an 18 year old who wants to study politics and philosophy and who is sick of politicians going into politics as a career rather than to help people. this book deals a lot with the politics of the world and the struggle of being a young activist. i’ve recommended this book to everyone i know, it truly is an amazing series.
I picked up this book expecting it to be a little silly, just a fun and interesting read that I wouldn't get too into while I wait for my turn to roll back around on the ebook I've been borrowing(the very popular Court series by Maas)...but almost immediately I found this book more interesting, more engaging, and all around a better read than the book I was reading before!! That's just my personal opinion, but I have to say I loved the world building (and how the readers are introduced to it, not too much at once to be overwhelming but not too little that I'm bored or confused). This YA sci-fy fantasy crossover book felt original in concept with realistic and lovable characters. Also as a big astrology fan I love how Russel translates the zodiac into her own world, it's clear she's spent a lot of time studying each sign's qualities. I'm very excited to continue reading this story!!
This book was amazing! I have never had much interest in science fiction until now. I really loved the characters and the descriptive writing about all the different zodiac houses. 10/10
original and amazing! loved it, even though I usually dislike space-related stories
This is a perfect book for you if you like fantastic and futuristic YA literature. It is a book of similar extent as The Hunger Games and Allegiant, without repeating Tür already overused parts of dystopian YA novels. Even though this book is about a Teenage girl with a special gift trying to save the world all while being in a love triangle, the author packages it in an all new way that has let me forget about the overusage of this motive. The world of Zodiac is a very fantastical world and the details of the description of this world already make the book worth the read. Personally, up until now, I liked the second book better than the first but I got yet to read #3 and #4. I would also describe this book being readable in English for foreigners of level B2 (I suppose it's easy enough to understand on level B1 as well)
All in all, I really love this book but if you're annoyed by love triangles, it's probably not for you.
All in all, I really love this book but if you're annoyed by love triangles, it's probably not for you.
Only read 50 pages and I knew I couldn't keep reading. Definitely not for me.