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A review by aprildiamond
Zodiac by Romina Russell
2.0
2.5 stars.
Well, that was pretty disappointing.
This book had serious potential at the start. We're introduced to a sci-fi world that is based on the Zodiac constellations. Each one is its own House, with different planets, specialties, personalities, and customs. We start off on Cancer but get to explore a couple other Houses, and the worldbuilding is spectacular. By far it's the best part of the book; the author has clearly spent time on bringing this universe to life.
Moving on to the plot, which was also enough to keep this book afloat. The main gist is that Ophiuchus, the 13th House, was largely considered to be a myth in this world, but it turns out he's real and is ready to wreak havoc. The main character Rho is the only one who can see the warning signs, so she has to try and warn the different Houses. In the first chapter or so, things start off with a literal bang as one of Cancer's moons explodes and causes a mass catastrophe. Rho is one of the only ones on another moon that survives it. I was liking this beginning because it reminded me of when the plot really got going in [b:Last Day on Mars|25183019|Last Day on Mars (Chronicle of the Dark Star, #1)|Kevin Emerson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1468612284l/25183019._SY75_.jpg|44890630], which is some of my favorite sci-fi. Like, boom! Planet-sized disaster happens and the main characters have to figure out what's going on. I thought I was in for a good time.
So if the plot and the world were both fine, what then was left to suck?
Yep, it was the characters. For a while, I was indifferent about them. I didn't think I would like Hysan, but he grew on me and was probably my favorite other than Nishi. Rho was eh, Mathias was eh, yet both of them got the most screentime which I thought was unfair. Anyway,,, as the story progressed I saw the telltale signs of a future love triangle, but I ignored it for as long as I could. Also as the story progressed, Rho and Mathias got worse and worse.
Mathias was just super broody and negative the entire time. Rho was frustrated that he didn't believe her about the Ophiuchus threat despite being her closest Advisor and yet somehow she was still in love with him because that's how this works. But I can't see what she ever saw in him?? Okay I guess he's hot but he was annoying to read about so I bet he would be annoying in person too.
Rho went from "hey this character has potential" to "generic YA female protag" in less than half the book. She was made Guardian early on, meaning that she became the leader of her entire House. Yet, she actually admits to being pretty much useless a few times throughout the book, worries about her love triangle issues when millions of people are dying and there's a powerful enemy on the loose, and NEVER stands up for herself. Girl...
Even the tiny bit of personality she had at the beginning (playing the drums) is basically forgotten and is mentioned a total of like 3 times in the whole thing.
Okay yes on to the love triangle. I tried ignoring it, as I mentioned earlier, which only worked until about halfway through when it just became way too damn prevalent. So Rho is (somehow) indecisive about who she loves more, the hot guy who she's "been in love with" ever since she was a kid (please kill me now) who consistently doesn't have any faith in her, or the new guy her own age who is super optimistic and trusts her completely. Oh and then she decides to be with the second guy and ends up cheating on him with the first.
Well, that was pretty disappointing.
This book had serious potential at the start. We're introduced to a sci-fi world that is based on the Zodiac constellations. Each one is its own House, with different planets, specialties, personalities, and customs. We start off on Cancer but get to explore a couple other Houses, and the worldbuilding is spectacular. By far it's the best part of the book; the author has clearly spent time on bringing this universe to life.
Moving on to the plot, which was also enough to keep this book afloat. The main gist is that Ophiuchus, the 13th House, was largely considered to be a myth in this world, but it turns out he's real and is ready to wreak havoc. The main character Rho is the only one who can see the warning signs, so she has to try and warn the different Houses. In the first chapter or so, things start off with a literal bang as one of Cancer's moons explodes and causes a mass catastrophe. Rho is one of the only ones on another moon that survives it. I was liking this beginning because it reminded me of when the plot really got going in [b:Last Day on Mars|25183019|Last Day on Mars (Chronicle of the Dark Star, #1)|Kevin Emerson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1468612284l/25183019._SY75_.jpg|44890630], which is some of my favorite sci-fi. Like, boom! Planet-sized disaster happens and the main characters have to figure out what's going on. I thought I was in for a good time.
So if the plot and the world were both fine, what then was left to suck?
Yep, it was the characters. For a while, I was indifferent about them. I didn't think I would like Hysan, but he grew on me and was probably my favorite other than Nishi. Rho was eh, Mathias was eh, yet both of them got the most screentime which I thought was unfair. Anyway,,, as the story progressed I saw the telltale signs of a future love triangle, but I ignored it for as long as I could. Also as the story progressed, Rho and Mathias got worse and worse.
Mathias was just super broody and negative the entire time. Rho was frustrated that he didn't believe her about the Ophiuchus threat despite being her closest Advisor and yet somehow she was still in love with him because that's how this works. But I can't see what she ever saw in him?? Okay I guess he's hot but he was annoying to read about so I bet he would be annoying in person too.
Rho went from "hey this character has potential" to "generic YA female protag" in less than half the book. She was made Guardian early on, meaning that she became the leader of her entire House. Yet, she actually admits to being pretty much useless a few times throughout the book, worries about her love triangle issues when millions of people are dying and there's a powerful enemy on the loose, and NEVER stands up for herself. Girl...
Even the tiny bit of personality she had at the beginning (playing the drums) is basically forgotten and is mentioned a total of like 3 times in the whole thing.
Okay yes on to the love triangle. I tried ignoring it, as I mentioned earlier, which only worked until about halfway through when it just became way too damn prevalent. So Rho is (somehow) indecisive about who she loves more, the hot guy who she's "been in love with" ever since she was a kid (please kill me now) who consistently doesn't have any faith in her, or the new guy her own age who is super optimistic and trusts her completely. Oh and then she decides to be with the second guy and ends up cheating on him with the first.