3.92 AVERAGE

mrsplace22's review

5.0
adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad 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
challenging dark emotional 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: Yes
dark emotional funny 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

THANK GOD DARIUS IS BACK! I nearly die every time the twisted sisters give us something happy then take it away and leave me in peril. Love that Darcy and Orion are out of Lionel’s prison but holy shit what was that ending??????? We couldn’t even be happy for 10 minutes? I’m annoyed with the end like we don’t need the whole impersonation trope and I really hope it doesn’t last long.

a_nguy's review

3.25
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous dark mysterious 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
nicipenz's profile picture

nicipenz's review

2.5
challenging dark slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
jazzyj94's profile picture

jazzyj94's review

4.0

I just finished Zodiac Academy 8: Sorrow and Starlight, and I honestly can’t stop thinking about it. This installment really pulled me in from the start and kept me hooked until the very last page. The mix of magic, mystery, and teenage drama that I love so much in this series was dialed up in all the right ways. The stakes felt higher, the emotions ran deeper, and the characters I’ve grown attached to faced some truly difficult and heart-wrenching challenges.

What stood out to me the most was how the story handled the balance between darkness and hope. There were moments that made my heart ache — the sorrow was palpable — but there were also those shining moments of friendship, loyalty, and courage that reminded me why I fell in love with this series in the first place. The author did an amazing job showing the characters’ growth, especially as they navigated new layers of their powers and personal struggles. It felt so genuine and relatable, even with all the magical elements thrown in.

The world-building keeps getting richer, too. I love how the Zodiac powers continue to be explored and expanded upon. Every new detail adds a fresh twist and keeps the story feeling exciting and unpredictable. The plot moved at a great pace for me — never dragging, but also giving enough time for the characters and their relationships to develop meaningfully.

One thing I really appreciated was the emotional depth in this book. The way the characters grappled with loss, identity, and trust made the story hit harder than I expected. I found myself really invested in their journeys and rooting for them every step of the way.

And the ending? Wow. It left me with so many questions and a desperate need for the next book. The cliffhanger was brutal but perfect, and I’m already counting down the days until I can find out what happens next.

If you’re into fantasy with a school setting, complex characters, and a blend of lighthearted moments and intense drama, Sorrow and Starlight is definitely a must-read. I can’t recommend it enough.
adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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: Complicated
challenging dark 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