Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A Grus-Approved Review of Zodiac Academy: A Chronicle of Utter Chaos
One finds oneself, after consuming the entirety of the Zodiac Academy series, in a rather peculiar state. It's a state best described as a perpetual eye-roll combined with a grudging, almost embarrassing, sense of… engagement. To call it a "series" feels almost too polite; it's more akin to a prolonged, multi-volume assault on one's sensibilities, punctuated by moments of bewildering idiocy and unexpected, if fleeting, competence.
Let us begin with the Orion Twins. Ah, the Twins. One might expect a certain level of decorum from those destined for such positions, but no. Instead, we are treated to a masterclass in perpetual antagonism, questionable decision-making, and a general disregard for anything resembling a peaceful existence. Their journey, if one can call it that, is less a path to power and more a chaotic stumble through a minefield of their own making. The sheer nerve of them, the constant back-and-forth, the utter refusal to simply behave – it's enough to make one long for the quiet solitude of a library, far, far away from their particular brand of madness.
Then there are the Heirs. One attempts to understand their motivations, their relentless pursuit of… well, something. One moment they are insufferable bullies, the next they are… slightly less insufferable bullies with a penchant for dramatic gestures. The constant push and pull, the inexplicable attractions, the sheer amount of emotional whiplash involved in tracking their various entanglements – it's frankly exhausting. One finds oneself wondering if a simple, polite conversation wouldn't solve half their problems, but then, where would the drama be? And goodness knows, this series thrives on drama like a Dark Fae thrives on… well, darkness.
The plot, such as it is, is a relentless escalation of peril. Just when you think things can't possibly get any worse, they do. And then they get worse still. One is subjected to a cavalcade of betrayals, near-deaths, actual deaths (and subsequent resurrections, because why not?), and revelations that twist the very fabric of what one thought was established. It's a testament to the authors' commitment to keeping one perpetually on edge, even if that edge is often the precipice of a nervous breakdown. The sheer audacity of it, the way it drags you through the mud and then demands you ask for more – it's almost admirable, in a perverse sort of way.
And the romance. Oh, the romance. It's less a gentle unfolding of affection and more a series of explosive collisions, misunderstandings, and enough angst to power a small city. One finds oneself muttering "just kiss already" or "for the love of the stars, communicate!" more times than is strictly healthy. Yet, despite oneself, one becomes invested. One finds oneself, against all better judgment, caring about these ridiculously dramatic individuals and their equally ridiculous relationships. It's a most inconvenient development.
In conclusion, Zodiac Academy is not for the faint of heart, nor for those who prefer their narratives to be neat, tidy, and entirely logical. It is a sprawling, messy, infuriating, and utterly compelling beast of a series. It will make you want to throw your reading device across the room, and then immediately pick it up again to see what fresh hell awaits. Do I recommend it? Hmph. If you have a high tolerance for chaos, a strong constitution for emotional torment, and a peculiar fondness for characters who seem determined to make the worst possible decisions at every turn, then by all means. Just don't come crying to me when you're as utterly exhausted by it all as I am.
(I used ai ‘cause I have no idea how to describe this jaw dropping series)
(I used ai ‘cause I have no idea how to describe this jaw dropping series)
I never wrote a review for this one?? I had so much to say but then it all became condensed into sadness.
I have loved this series for so long, when i first read the first book in the series i remember vividly it had barely 1000 ratings. I lived and breathed this series, they meant the world to me. But this book was painful, the decline of ZA has been evident from the last 3 books in the saga but i'd hoped there would be some kind of redemption or miracle that would bring this book to the same level as its predecesors, it didn't, of course. This book was GENUINE torture to read, bad writing, filler chapters everywhere from characters no one cares about. It felt like i was grasping for crumbs with the vegacrux and bluelance scenes, IT SHOULDN'T FEEL THAT WAY! Its the last book, give me a thousand more vegacrux dates than some useless chapter about xavier doing whatever no one cares about him!!! I truly had the worst time reading this book and the only reason i finished it is because not doing so would have been even more heartbreaking.
And don't get me wrong, i don't write this from a place of hatred, but from the perspective of a long time fan shattered by the ending of one of her favourite series.
I have loved this series for so long, when i first read the first book in the series i remember vividly it had barely 1000 ratings. I lived and breathed this series, they meant the world to me. But this book was painful, the decline of ZA has been evident from the last 3 books in the saga but i'd hoped there would be some kind of redemption or miracle that would bring this book to the same level as its predecesors, it didn't, of course. This book was GENUINE torture to read, bad writing, filler chapters everywhere from characters no one cares about. It felt like i was grasping for crumbs with the vegacrux and bluelance scenes, IT SHOULDN'T FEEL THAT WAY! Its the last book, give me a thousand more vegacrux dates than some useless chapter about xavier doing whatever no one cares about him!!! I truly had the worst time reading this book and the only reason i finished it is because not doing so would have been even more heartbreaking.
And don't get me wrong, i don't write this from a place of hatred, but from the perspective of a long time fan shattered by the ending of one of her favourite series.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Great HEA conclusion to the series!
The last half of this book is excellent.. the first half dragged..
Series review!! I loved these books very much yet I recommend them to no one
Series review!! I loved these books very much yet I recommend them to no one
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
This last book of the series was too long for my liking. And the aftermath, after final conflict, felt unending to me. Overall it felt to me as if everything was thrown in that book: all the loose ends, all the happy endings, all the funny quirky scenes… I think some could have been cut off a bit.