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tzmd 's review for:
Vicious Fae
by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham
Returning to the Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac series, this third installment brings some clarity but also deeper complications — especially in Elise’s tangled web of relationships. It kept me hooked, though the emotional rollercoaster sometimes veered into frustrating territory. The mix of dark academia and supernatural intrigue remains strong, even if the pacing and character dynamics aren’t perfect.
⭐️ 4/5
Elise juggles dangerous alliances and powerful fae kings as mysteries unravel and the stakes grow higher on the shadowy campus. As alliances shift and betrayals surface, she’s forced to confront her own feelings and loyalties in a world where trust is scarce and danger lurks at every turn.
This book finally dishes out some long-awaited answers, which was satisfying after the slow-burning buildup in earlier books. But it’s not without its flaws. The spicy scenes, while steamy, sometimes felt tacked on and didn’t always advance the story — which annoyed me because I like it when romance and plot work hand-in-hand. Elise’s behavior was tricky here; she insists on giving the men choices but also expects their unwavering devotion, which felt unfair and, frankly, a little selfish. Leon’s breaking point was validated — his outburst felt genuinely earned after all his patience, and it added a much-needed dose of realism to the relationships.
I loved Lance Orion’s unexpected appearance during the Zodiac Academy trip. His arrival was swoon-worthy and injected fresh energy into the story, especially since I miss the Vega Twins and Celestial Heirs. Elise’s growing emotional complexity is clear — she admits she needs all parts of the men in her life, light and dark, joy and pain — which made her internal struggle relatable. By the last 10%, I was near tears as twists reshaped everything I thought I knew about the characters and their future. That emotional gut-punch really elevated the book for me and set the stage for what’s to come.
Favorite Quotes:
“It’s your strength that makes you who you are. It’s the way you survived and how you keep surviving that made me take notice of you. That’s the man I see when I look at you, or when I feel the scars which mark your flesh, not a victim, a survivor, a warrior, a f***ing King.”
“…I feel like each of you really sees me. But each in such different ways. And I need all of you. I need the light and the dark and the joy and pain. I can’t pick between you any more than I could reach inside myself and choose a piece of my soul to keep and others to destroy.”
⭐️ 4/5
Elise juggles dangerous alliances and powerful fae kings as mysteries unravel and the stakes grow higher on the shadowy campus. As alliances shift and betrayals surface, she’s forced to confront her own feelings and loyalties in a world where trust is scarce and danger lurks at every turn.
This book finally dishes out some long-awaited answers, which was satisfying after the slow-burning buildup in earlier books. But it’s not without its flaws. The spicy scenes, while steamy, sometimes felt tacked on and didn’t always advance the story — which annoyed me because I like it when romance and plot work hand-in-hand. Elise’s behavior was tricky here; she insists on giving the men choices but also expects their unwavering devotion, which felt unfair and, frankly, a little selfish. Leon’s breaking point was validated — his outburst felt genuinely earned after all his patience, and it added a much-needed dose of realism to the relationships.
I loved Lance Orion’s unexpected appearance during the Zodiac Academy trip. His arrival was swoon-worthy and injected fresh energy into the story, especially since I miss the Vega Twins and Celestial Heirs. Elise’s growing emotional complexity is clear — she admits she needs all parts of the men in her life, light and dark, joy and pain — which made her internal struggle relatable. By the last 10%, I was near tears as twists reshaped everything I thought I knew about the characters and their future. That emotional gut-punch really elevated the book for me and set the stage for what’s to come.
Favorite Quotes:
“It’s your strength that makes you who you are. It’s the way you survived and how you keep surviving that made me take notice of you. That’s the man I see when I look at you, or when I feel the scars which mark your flesh, not a victim, a survivor, a warrior, a f***ing King.”
“…I feel like each of you really sees me. But each in such different ways. And I need all of you. I need the light and the dark and the joy and pain. I can’t pick between you any more than I could reach inside myself and choose a piece of my soul to keep and others to destroy.”