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adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Zodiac academy is like if every overused book trope had a baby - and I kinda love it for that
Dead parents ✅
Twins that are very different ✅
Secret heiresses ✅
New world ✅
It was… an experience,
It was like everything in a bad YA novel in a NA scene.
But I was here for it.
I devoured this trash up.
Like it was bad in a good way?
(I know, my standards are so low they are on the floor)
At around half way through the book, I was like, wow Seth is such a golden retriever
Well uhhh… we know how that worked out…
*sighs saltily*
The book condones abuse (?) as in the main characters accept that they are going to be physically, emotionally (and even sexually) abused until they get stronger?
The ‘love interests’ were so fucking creepy.
Eg; Seth (love interest) was licking and sniffing one of the fmc when they first met?
Smh
Also the alpha wolf thing?
*dies in cringe*
At most points, it felt like bad fan-fiction
But in the best way possible
It’s absolute garbage for me, but I love it.
It’s one of those books where you have to recognise it as bad to be able to enjoy it.
It’s just an easy, fun read.
I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone with standards
But if you want a quick, bad, fun read to help you escape a reading slump, I would recommend it.
Dead parents ✅
Twins that are very different ✅
Secret heiresses ✅
New world ✅
It was… an experience,
It was like everything in a bad YA novel in a NA scene.
But I was here for it.
I devoured this trash up.
Like it was bad in a good way?
(I know, my standards are so low they are on the floor)
At around half way through the book, I was like, wow Seth is such a golden retriever
Well uhhh… we know how that worked out…
*sighs saltily*
The book condones abuse (?) as in the main characters accept that they are going to be physically, emotionally (and even sexually) abused until they get stronger?
The ‘love interests’ were so fucking creepy.
Eg; Seth (love interest) was licking and sniffing one of the fmc when they first met?
Smh
Also the alpha wolf thing?
*dies in cringe*
At most points, it felt like bad fan-fiction
But in the best way possible
It’s absolute garbage for me, but I love it.
It’s one of those books where you have to recognise it as bad to be able to enjoy it.
It’s just an easy, fun read.
I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone with standards
But if you want a quick, bad, fun read to help you escape a reading slump, I would recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Blood, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The writing was atrocious. I'm not sure if it's lack of editing or maybe the author's first language isn't English, but the grammar is terrible. Also, it reads like Tory and Darcy are in middle school, but they are definitely in high school. If this book was intended to be middle grade, that would make sense. However, with this book's themes and scenes, there's no way this is middle grade.
I might pick up the rest of the series, or at least the next book, because it was entertaining, if terribly written and utterly unbelievable.
I might pick up the rest of the series, or at least the next book, because it was entertaining, if terribly written and utterly unbelievable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
dark
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Let it be said that I went in with an open mind. I heard mixed reviews on this book, and I was like, "hey, it might be trashy, but I like trashy sometimes! maybe it'll be fun!" and I was wrong. I am not this book's target audience. I'm a pretentious little queer who generally doesn't read this kind of book. In short: it's poorly written, not edited, and I have read wattpad fanfictions with more care and depth than this.
Listen, when the map at the front of the book has JPEG compression, I can't be surprised when it is a poorly written shitshow, littered with spelling and grammar errors, worldbuilding that leaves much to be desired, characters that are indistinguishable from one another, and all build up and no payoff.
Listen, when the map at the front of the book has JPEG compression, I can't be surprised when it is a poorly written shitshow, littered with spelling and grammar errors, worldbuilding that leaves much to be desired, characters that are indistinguishable from one another, and all build up and no payoff.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Car accident, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence
dark
slow-paced
No because what even was this book helppp. I don't understand how so many people on tik tok are die hard obsessed fans. I usually love these types of books but in this case the characters infuriated me, the plot went nowhere, and speaking of the plot, I couldn't count HOW MANY plot holes there were. I was under the impression that this would be an enemies to lovers... This was straight up bullying. Dude when one of the Heirs almost DROWNED TORI, I lost it.
And the Zodiacs were barely even a part of the book. Lastly, there was just way too much random lust and spice moments that low-key made literally no sense. This book frustrated me to no end and I'm literally using this platform to rant about it. If it hasn't been clear, I DNF the rest of the series...
And the Zodiacs were barely even a part of the book. Lastly, there was just way too much random lust and spice moments that low-key made literally no sense. This book frustrated me to no end and I'm literally using this platform to rant about it. If it hasn't been clear, I DNF the rest of the series...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What a complete hot mess of a book. Imagine Harry Potter fanfiction that is made up of the largest stewpot of underdeveloped fantasy elements you've ever encountered. This is less of a "book one" in a very long series and more of a "part one," as I'll tell you now that there's absolutely no resolution to any issues raised in this book at all.
A fae-filled world that also features vampires, werewolves, dragons, peguses (pegusi?), and other fantastical creatures who feed off the weak. This is a leech-filled society perfectly content to bully and energy-rape anyone too weak to defend herself. But the four elements are also integral to the magic system... But also somehow the system is based on the zodiac? It's... a lot. But don't worry. You won't be bogged down by world-building as there's very very little of that.
I read this for a book club and after 13% of the book, considered quitting the book club and never speaking to those folks again. At 60% through I was changed. Forever warped by the promise of narrative redemption. Spoiler alert: I found none, but I was still compelled to finish the book. It read like 50 Shades of Grey or Twilight. You know it's bad, but it's easier to get off the ride by finishing it out, maybe. I don't know. I read it. I liked it at moments, but in that way you like McNuggets before they make you feel like a piece of garbage later.
I absolutely abhor the ways in which consent is repeatedly and overtly violated throughout this book. But it's also consciously justified as a completely acceptable way of life in fae-world.
Have I mentioned they have ipads with FaeBook? Or cars because who needs magic to travel in fairyland? I'm mad all over again. Read with caution.
A fae-filled world that also features vampires, werewolves, dragons, peguses (pegusi?), and other fantastical creatures who feed off the weak. This is a leech-filled society perfectly content to bully and energy-rape anyone too weak to defend herself. But the four elements are also integral to the magic system... But also somehow the system is based on the zodiac? It's... a lot. But don't worry. You won't be bogged down by world-building as there's very very little of that.
I read this for a book club and after 13% of the book, considered quitting the book club and never speaking to those folks again. At 60% through I was changed. Forever warped by the promise of narrative redemption. Spoiler alert: I found none, but I was still compelled to finish the book. It read like 50 Shades of Grey or Twilight. You know it's bad, but it's easier to get off the ride by finishing it out, maybe. I don't know. I read it. I liked it at moments, but in that way you like McNuggets before they make you feel like a piece of garbage later.
I absolutely abhor the ways in which consent is repeatedly and overtly violated throughout this book. But it's also consciously justified as a completely acceptable way of life in fae-world.
Have I mentioned they have ipads with FaeBook? Or cars because who needs magic to travel in fairyland? I'm mad all over again. Read with caution.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury