The Awakening as Told by the Boys

Zodiac Academy #1.5

by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

**This is a retelling of book 1 of Zodiac Academy from the perspective of Orion, Darius, Caleb, Seth and Max**

The Vega twins are alive.

Those five words circle in my mind like an oncoming storm. They change everything about the future we thought had been set in stone. They challenge everything we were raised to be and the stability of the entire kingdom.

They’re coming to our academy looking for the life that was stolen from them, but we can’t let them take it back.

So much hangs in the balance and we can’t risk the arrival of two naïve princesses destroying everything we worked so hard for.

I have trained in dark magic, overcome all challenges and stood in the shadow of Lionel Acrux for far too long already. I won’t let them come between me and his downfall.

Which means they have to go before they discover how powerful they truly are.

This is a retelling of the first book in the Zodiac Academy series from the point of view of Orion and the Heirs and should be read after you have finished the original story. It includes scenes from alternative points of view as well over 50k words of additional content and scenes which have never before been revealed. So prepare to step into the dark minds of the Zodiac boys and watch out for the heartbreak and carnage that will ensue.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fae, Enemies To Lovers, Fantasy Romance, Vampires

560 pages, Paperback

First published August 29, 2021

About the author

I'm a #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Zodiac Academy series. I write all things dark romance, from fantasy to contemporary, high school bully to mafia, there's bound to be a book for you!

Me and my sister Susanne Valenti now write books together and we've built the most amazing, fun, crazy reader group on Facebook which we would LOVE you to join. Be the first to get teasers of upcoming books, plus interact with us daily, asks us questions, make friends with other book junkies and find your reader home.

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For more information, special editions, signed books and more, check out my website here >>

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Reviews

[Iqra · Rating 4 out of 5]

*manic laughter*

So, this review is slightly chaotic but so am I hehe, anyway…

I still hate that fucking ending 😃🔪🔪

My heart broke again but 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐒𝐄 than the first time because I know how much shit was riding on that last 10%

𝑾𝑯𝒀??? 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍? It’s worse because everyone was just fucking 𝑩𝑹𝑶𝑲𝑬𝑵 and hurt and it just didn’t end well for any of them. No one was satisfied. And I’m just there like 👍 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐏𝐈𝐃 𝐅𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆… 𝑨𝑹𝑮𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯. Like pls just SHUT UP AND SIT YOUR ASSES DOWN.

Moving on to nicer things…

𝗘𝗛𝗘𝗛𝗘𝗛𝗘 💕💘💗🦋✨🤭🦋

𝐍𝐨 𝐛𝐜 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬, 𝐩𝐨𝐯𝐬 𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐠 I thoroughly BASKED in their inner monologues. 𝗨𝗴𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗼𝘁𝘀.

But damn… they srsly know how to swoon over the twins.
𝐄𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐇𝐞’𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐉𝐀𝐇𝐒𝐔𝐒𝐇𝐒𝐉𝐁𝐃𝐉𝐒 𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐎𝐍 𝐀 𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋 𝐍𝐎 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒.

EXHIBIT A:

“𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐭.”

PEOPLE DIED. LIVES WERE CHANGED.

He’s so fucking attracted to her that I’m giggling every two seconds smshsjhskd

EXHIBIT B:

“𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐭.”
~*sigh*

The way he’s such a fucking softie is just 🤭🦋🦋💘

But gahhh Darius didn’t disappoint bc:

“𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐈,𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧“

“𝐌𝐲 𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞.“

“𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬, 𝐦𝐲 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫.”

Bro… my ovaries 🤭💕✨

LIKE I'M ON THE FLOOR BC OF THESE MEN

Also just a sprinkle of Orion’s wholesome grumpiness:

“𝐈 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠.
𝐃𝐮𝐜𝐤-𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭? 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙨𝙨.
𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩? 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝.
𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥? 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝘁, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚.”

BAHAHHAHA SO SAVAGE I LOVE HIM SM HE LITERALLY MAKES ME VIBRATE WITH LAUGHTER

𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐨, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬. 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭.

All the bullying was so unnecessary. It’s so annoying to see how everyone was always pushing Darius in the wrong direction.

𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐝. He’s indecisive and doesn’t use his brain.

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐛 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠. Sorry not sorry.

𝐌𝐚𝐱’𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐯𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠. His nature was so insightful of the other characters. It shed light on the fact that he’s silent for a reason and how deep his powers go. He doesn’t *need* to speak to understand others. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟏 🤡

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐎 𝐌𝐔𝐂𝐇. Words can’t express how much. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝! \_(✿•̀︿•́)_/🔪

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐇𝐇𝐇𝐇 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬’ 𝐩𝐨𝐯𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐃𝐄𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐜 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐢𝐱 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬, 𝐈𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 ☹️

𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲:
Reading this after book six was a bit disorienting but damn it was fun.

𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀: 🎧

Madness - Ruelle
Never alone - krigaré
Bones - wens
Upside down - Jacob Browne
Wolf cry - Adrian Daniel
Forever - elley duhe ft. gryffin
Dark side - bellabeth
Above the salt - portair & VÉRITÉ
No good - UNSECRET ft. Ruelle
Centuries - fall out boy
Boys don’t cry - Tedy
I need control - Will Jay
Sweater weather - the neighbourhood
Beauty - layto
Middle of the night (sped up) - elley duhe
Sensitive - Mothica
Monster - Imagine Dragons
My strange addiction - Billie Eilish
Trouble - CRMNL
Sink or swim - Rachel Lorin

***

Edit: it did both 🔪

This book will either revive me or piss me off… let’s see which.

[Redhead Haze · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Well shit, I didn't consider the fact that they might be hot," Seth cursed and I frowned a little at his words, trying to piece them together.
"That'll make things more interesting," Max agreed.
"I wanna know how good they taste," Caleb said with a barely stifled groan.

I want to start this review by saying two things.

Firstly, I don't usually like retellings, but I loved this one. I missed them all soooo much and I'm burning for the 7th book to come out, so this novel was just on time to give me a strong dose of my favorite characters and sweeten the waiting.

Secondly, I definitely suggest reading this book after the 6th one (Zodiac Academy: Fated Throne) or at least after the 5th one (Zodiac Academy: Cursed Fates). I know the book is marked as 1.5 because it's a retelling of the first book from the boys' perspective, but reading it before the other books I've mentioned above will definitely reduce the mystery, some hints and some foreshadowing will make no sense and it won't be fully appreciated. I feel like reading what's going on in the boys' heads will also spoil some parts of the other books, so my personal feeling is that this novel is best enjoyed in the order it was written, which is after Fated Throne. So, if you haven't read those, you might want to skip my review as it might contain spoilers from them.

"They're coming over," Seth hissed excitedly. "Be cool, be cool."
"We're all cool, dude. You're the one bouncing," Cal teased as the silencing bubble surrounding us was withdrawn.

It's really difficult for me to write a review for this one because we all kind of know what's happening and we all kind of know what to expect. So I really don't see the point of talking about the plot. For me, at least, this book did not seem to be about it anyway. It felt more like an opportunity to understand the Heirs and Orion and the reasons behind their A-class assholeness from the first book. In my opinion, it gave them more depth and the chance to find a bit of mercy and redemption, in spite of the way they have behaved. One thing clear though? I HATE Daddy Acrux even more now.

》》Favorite Scenes《《

"Lance thought they could be Sirens, but I was wondering if they weren't something more like Incubuses. The Order was pretty rare but their entire way of rejuvenating magic was based off of sexual desire and they were masters at controlling and claiming lust from others. And Roxy Vega definitely inspired plenty of lust everywhere she went."

❤ Orion and Darius thinking the girls were Sirens or Incubuses
❤ Orion seeing Darcy for the first time and every thought he had about her afterwards
❤ Darius growling "Mine" when he first saw Tory, completely ignoring Darcy
❤ Seth being Seth

"I gave her my puppy dog eyes, my biggest, most gleaming doggish expression that made anyone melt for me. I. Was. Adorable."

❤ Orion switching the bottles of whiskey so Darcy could have the best
❤ the Noxy and Orio bromance (I was sooooo happy to see more of it, it never felt enough)
❤ Darius dancing with Tory
❤ Orion being jealous over Seth while he was dancing with Darcy
❤ Caleb and Darius betting Darcy will refuse Seth’s invitation to the dance

"Fifty auras says she turns you down flat," Caleb said with a shake of his head.
"A hundred," Darius upped the bet and Seth gasped as if he was offended. 
"Just because you guys were hoping I'd ask you to the dance with me doesn't mean you get to be salty little bitches over me asking someone else."

❤ Orion doing a palm reading of Darcy's powers
❤ Caleb and Darius being jealous over Tory
❤ Darius’s thoughts while Tory fought Milton
❤ Orion tripping every student while staying hidden, but helping Darcy when she clumsily sidestepped

"I had a concealment spell around me so students didn’t notice me as they walked by and I took some pleasure in tripping up any asshole who was wearing their uniform wrong. Duck-tailed shirt? You’re on your ass. Blazer sleeves rolled up? Straight in a ditch. Not wearing a uniform at all? It’s after hours, but fuck it, you can fall flat on your face."

❤ the first spice scene Caleb-Tory as viewed by Caleb
❤ the connection between the Heirs

"Stroke my hair," Seth begged, giving me the big eyes. "I have a tension headache."
"Yeah? Well I have a case of blue balls, so unless you wanna help me out with that, I'm not gonna be stroking your fucking hair," I joked, shoving his face aside though not hard enough to actually knock him off of me.
"I mean...is that a serious suggestion or..."
"Not serious," Max replied for me, his Siren gifts brushing against me.

》》Conclusion《《

I loved every bit of it and it cleared some things up, answering the questions I had about the Heirs and their behavior there. I understood how and why Darius was able to ignore his feeling and be that awful, why Caleb had the option of not being so vile and I witnessed firsthand how miserable Orion's life was before Blue. You really do get some explanations out of this book. You also get more scenes of Washer being Washer. I don't know whether to laugh, cry or cringe at most of them.

“I call my students’ strengths their wet spots. If they’re doing poorly, I mark them down as dry, then damp, moist, wet, right up to gushing like a waterfall. It’s a cute little sliding scale strictly for my notes. I’m looking forward to seeing how wet the Vega girls are.”
“I really think you should use some different terminology,” I said, my nose wrinkling.

My overall conclusions after reading this? I love Orion more than ever, I don't entirely forgive the Heirs for their actions, but I do understand them and damn, I can't wait for the 7th book. Oh, and I also retract my comment about Tory and Darius having only their pride and stubbornness in the way of their relationship. I see now that there was more at stake. For all of them.

"And the only thing I found among the mass of grey I flew through was the look in Roxanya Vega's eyes as she saw the worst in me, and I felt my entire life shatter like breaking glass around me. 
Perhaps I was always destined to be her monster, but I found I hated that fate with far more passion than I'd ever be able to hate her."

[Phuong ✯ · Rating 3 out of 5]

– 2.75 stars

I hate retellings where a whole book with the same plot is retold in someone else POV. Since ZA The Awakening is already my least favorite book in the series, it's not surprising that this book would not be much different/better. Luckily, it's not 100% the first book again, since there are other things going on in Orion + the Heirs' lives that we weren't aware of.

The hardest part of reading this is that I hated going back to hating all the Heirs after reading Book 6, when they finally managed to get all their shit together and working together with the twins. The Heirs made some really good character developments in the series and now going back to very start when they were still the enemies, it reminded me how much better they are if they work together. This book made me understand the Heirs a bit better and see how much pressure they are under (especially Darius), but all in all they were still little shits. The only chapters I was truly invested in was Orion (shocking!). All the other chapters from the Heirs had some interesting moments, but most the time I was bored.

I would have liked this a lot more if it was a longer novella (maybe like 200 pages) with only the pivotal moments (the twins meeting their love interest, the huge event at the end and maybe some other interesting interactions with the twins), but 400+ pages were just too long for the non-existent plot in The Awakening 😬 It's definitely a nice bonus for all the ZA fans, but really, it could have been shorter.

–– The following part is spoilery for people who haven't read the first book yet. For the once who already read The Awakening maybe mini spoilers ––

*
*
*
*
*

»» My fav moments: ««

🧛 Orion meeting Darcy for the first time
🐉 Darius burning Tory's clothes during the initiation
🧛🐉 Orion and Darius' bromance
🐺 Seth being such a dog with the Heirs
🧛🩸 Orion claiming Darcy as his Source
🧛💙 Orion doing a palm reading of Darcy's power and the foreshadowing of their love story
🐉🖤 Darius being jealous at Caleb every time his friend interacted with his girl
🧛🌬️ Orion tripping students when they wear their uniforms wrong, but secretly helping Darcy when she's tripping over her own feet
🐉🧛 Darius and Orion thinking the twins are Sirens, because they are so alluring to them (lol joke is on them)
🦅🧛 Gabriel and Orio's bromance
🏟️ More Pitball games
🧛🥃💙 Orion switching the cheap whiskey at the bar with the most expensive whiskey bottle when Darcy ordered a drink, cause he knows his girl only deserves the best of the best 💅
🧛🤡 The whole bar scene when Orion couldn't listen to a word Francesca said, cause he was way too distracted staring at Darcy
🐉🌊 Darius' regret after drowning Tory
🧛🧑🏻‍🏫 Orion making students cry and overall being the best teacher motivator

Conclusion

Who is the best Zodiac Academy character and why is it Lance Orion?

┍━━━━━━━━━━━━━┑
SUPERNATURAL BEAST AND BULLIES

#0.5 Zodic Academy: Origin of an Academy Bully – 3.75 stars
#1 Zodiac Academy: The Awakening – 3.5 stars
#1.5 Zodiac Academy: The Awakening As Told By The Boys – 2.75 stars
#2 Zodiac Academy: Ruthless Fae – 3.75 stars
#3 Zodiac Academy: The Reckoning – 4.5 stars
#4 Zodiac Academy: Shadow Princess – 4.25 stars
#5 Zodiac Academy: Cursed Fates – 4 stars
#5.5 Zodiac Academy: The Big A.S.S. Party – 3.5 stars
#6 Zodiac Academy: Fated Throne – 4.25 stars
#7 Zodiac Academy: Heartless Sky – tbr
#8 Zodiac Academy: (...) – tbr
┕━━━━━━━━━━━━━┙

[cherie ^_-★ (comment restriction) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars ⭐

honestly, good riddance 😮‍💨 maybe it’s because i remember almost everything from book 1, but this was sooooo boring 🥱 reading about the heirs bullying the vega twins all over again was exhausting. i understand their reasons, but that doesn’t make what they did okay at all 🙂‍↔️🙂‍↔️🙂‍↔️ the only parts i ate up were the bluelance scenes, obviously 🙄🤭

i’m already halfway through the series, but i still find the heirs insufferable 🤦🏻‍♀️ i like them, sure, but i don’t LOVE them. the only things keeping me going are bluelance and the fact that i’ve come too far to quit now 😪


pre-read
i’m very committed to the reading order i’m following, so i’m gonna read this one first (even though i’m lowkey dreading it) before buddy reading book 5 with Noi!

[Poppyflowerjj · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/ 5⭐
1/5 🌶️

The guys POV is perfection! I love love Lance Orion and Darius parts. My heart hurts for them. HURTS.

Now I am going to re-read the whole damn series because you know I love the struggle, the pain, the heartbreak, and the WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK moments. Oh and the splash of love/hope we get every now and again.

Quotes:

"Mine!"

“The past is gone. The are no more paths for you there.”

I drew in a long breath, the shaking in my muscles increasing as I fought against the truth which was staring me in the face. I really was becoming him. My nightmare. My demon. My monster.

"That's the problem though, isn't it? I have nothing but sand in my pockets and sin in my heart. I can't hold on to the good in me, Lance, because thanks to that man, there isn't any of it left anymore."

[Yana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh, as much as I loved this series, this book was just the same information as book one. Didn’t feel like I needed to read that, already knew literally everything that was said in the book. The only interesting chapters were the last 5 or so, everything else was kidna a waste of my time.

[caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

no effort review challenge go:

- we didn't need this. we've already had their povs all the damn time, we know what they were thinking/feeling and motivations and shit. so why was this 100 pages longer than book 1?

- this skipped over a lot of the bullying that happened in the first book that made me hate them so so much, and i know that was intentional to make their reasoning for their actions make more sense to make me like them and blah blah blah, but it just comes off as unempathetic.

when i was reading the first book, there were a lot of things that broke my heart even before the big thing at the end, but this skipped over a lot of that. why? i don't know. you sure had enough fucking pages for it.

and because it skipped over that and the heirs didn't seem bothered by it, it just felt callous and made their motives, though valid, feel insincere.

- i skimmed so much of this. i just jumped over full paragraphs to get to dialogue.

- this just cements it for me- it is SO FUCKING DUMB that they didn't realize the bond between darius and tory. it's fucking bullshit. it makes sense for her not to, but for everyone else raised in solaria where different star bonds were experienced all the time? it's stupid and a dumb excuse. this book verbatim said shit like "the stars were pushing them together" or "the stars were yelling at them."

- oh and i know this was mentioned in other books too, but i just need to talk about it somewhere. they kept talking about how the vegas will be "sent back to the mortal realm if they prove to be un-fae or want to run away or whatever the fuck" but we know that fae can't exist in the mortal realm after being awakened. would they just send them there for a death sentence? that's dangerous and stupid. it doesn't really make sense?

- 2 stars because lance is fucking funny and also this makes me feel for him and darius more.

[Alyssa Nieves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was this necessary? Not really. Did I devour it? Absolutely.

[Rebecca (life's chaotic catching up) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lance Orion or I don’t want it!!!!! This book was worth it just for his chapters, so, so, good!
I guess the other heirs POVs are supposed to make you sympathetic to their part but it didn’t do anything but reinforce what I already thought about them.

UPDATE: RE READ 11/22
Probably one if my favorite books in the series!
By the way, DO NOT sleep on the audiobooks for this series. They are so damn good, especially if you are a Lance lover! His narration is perfection!!!!!

[mors · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was something new for me. I didn't expect to enjoy it so much. This book but from the pov of the boys was amazing. I hated the bullying but I loved what they thought about the Vegas. Especially my husband Darius.

Omg when Darius had mentioned that he was obsessed with Tory from the first time he saw he I didn't believe him but now after reading this book... Ahhhh the first word he said after saying her was "mine". I swoon for this man so much 😭❤️. I hate what he did to the twin but... I love him

Lance...AHHHH HE WAS OBSESSED WITH DARCY FROM THE FIRST TIME TOO. Ahhh his thoughts about her were everything and the fact that he thought that Darcy was a siren killed me. But he's so adorable 😍

I like Calleb in this one too although he tortured my husband by hanging out with Tory.

Max and Seth... well these two were the worst ones tbh but yeah. This was the past. As long as they're good boys like in book 5, 6, and 7 I love them too.

~~~~
It's timeeeee and I'm scared
~~~~
It seems like I have to wait and read it after book 6 🥲
~~~~
I don't want to go through all the bullying again especially that ending but here I'm again 😭

[lulu · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was SO much longer than it needed to be.

i skimmed through everything except the bluelance parts AND I AINT SORRY ABOUT IT bc orions povs cured something inside me that i didn’t even know was broken

being in orions mind >>

Feeding from this girl would be the eighth deadly sin, but fuck if I wanted to commit it.

That blue hair would look so fucking good wrapped around my fist.

She was the summer sun after the longest winter of my life

[anmol · Rating 3 out of 5]

the only thing it did was remind me why i used to call the heirs "celestial assholes" ah good times good times

definitely wouldve couldve shouldve been shorter but i got to see my man being absolutely obsessed with my queen since the start and I. ATE. IT. UP. *sigh* i love this mans chapters sm

tory vega, i can still be a better boyfriend than him 🧎🏻‍♀️

“I think Darcy might be a Siren,” I said and his brows arched.
“Oh yeah? Why do you think that?” he asked.
“It’s just a vibe. Like she’s trying to manipulate my feelings or something,” I muttered and he nodded slowly.
“Yeah now you say it, Roxy could be one too,” he said thoughtfully.
“Really? You felt it from her as well?” I asked hopefully, latching onto this explanation with both hands.
“Yeah, like a sort of pull...”
“Exactly,” I agreed and relief fell between us.

huh. morons.

also-

"I can go monogamous," Seth said defensively. "One night at a time anyway. For the right Fae." His eyes slid to Cal.
"The day you go monogamous will be the day I start sucking cock," Caleb joked.

i mean 👀

lastly, FUCK YOU LIONEL

________________


was totally gonna start svsss but then decided to remind myself there exists a world outside mxtx and i was missing my favourite boy, the love of my life- DADDIUS DARIUS ACRUX <333

[Lucie V. · Rating 2 out of 5]

✅ Darius and Orion
✅ Some interesting bits about Darius and Orion and their Nymph hunt
🆗 Romance
🆗 Max and Caleb
🆗 Pace
🆗❌ Plot
❌ Seth. Fucking. Capella.
❗️❗️Trigger warnings: bullying, manipulation, and child abuse

Meh.

Honestly, I find that this book was not really useful to the series so far. It is basically the exact same thing as the first book, with a few extra scenes, but it’s from the Heirs’ POVs. The thing is, for now, while I like some of them more than others, I do not care about them enough to want a full book in their POV. I am not sure what the point of this book is honestly. It doesn’t add much to the story, and while I was curious about the Heirs’ motivations and thoughts, I didn't need to reread every scene from the first book from their POV. It felt so long, I skimmed a few chapters, to be honest.

I was bored for most of it because I knew exactly what was going to happen, and the only “input” this book gave us is that the Heirs are obsessed with the twins on top of wanting them gone because they’re HOT. I knew that already. I didn’t need a 500 pages book to show me how Orion and Darius were desperate for some Vega attention.

Talking about Orion and Darius, I have to say that I LOVE their strong bond, but romance-wise, they both have an almost insta-crush that seems to be justified by the stars aligning or fate or whatever, but It just seemed too easy. Sure there will be some serious relationship-building needed between both potential couples, but it still felt too simple for them to be instantly attracted to the twins, and for the twins to be instantly attracted to them too, even if they don’t act on it (yet).

There are things that I would have LOVED to see in this book instead of reading the same conversations for a second time around… Like when Max went to the hospital to visit Geraldine?! He just dropped that bomb and we don’t know anything else about it ?! Max surprised me in this book, he seemed to be almost decent at times, even though he hides it, and he does not always think with his dick, contrary to Seth who was such an annoying, massive, conceited jerk!


0.5 Origins of an Academy Bully ⭐⭐⭐
1. The Awakening ⭐⭐⭐

Follow me on Instagram 🙂

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

lance orion is the love of my fucking life. i mean it. 😭

that's it that's the review 😌

[jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

honestly i was kinda bored since this was book one just in the guys pov but i can NEVER get enough of darius and lance!! like i think this makes me understand the heirs a lot more especially about the events in book one but if i could go back and kill them i would

lance orion is so yum and i knew his pov here wouldn’t disappoint

honestly i didn’t hate darius and caleb so much here shockingly but fuck seth for what he did to darcy even if i do think he’s adorbs now and fuck max because his pov was the most irrelevant shit ever and i still don’t like him now.

time for book seven to destroy me 😍

[Dab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great way to prepare yourself for the next book, and Orion’s pov is everything! 😍

But this book also reminded me that the Heirs were really tremendous dicks. And I’m not even talking about all the things they did to the twins. The way Darius publicly dumped and humiliated Marguerite and then Seth quickly did the same to Kylie - ugh, that was uncomfortable to read. I know we don’t like these girls, but still… (I may have blocked out that scene from the first book or maybe it didn’t affect me that much cause I hated the guys then anyway.)

Otherwise it was a fun read, especially knowing how the story unfolds in later books.
There was an absolutely adorable scene when Lance and Darius suspected that the girls could be Sirens because of this unexplainable pull they both felt towards them. 🥹
There was channeling Edward Cullen and sneaking up on girls to watch them sleep (we will NOT discuss this further though), there was Seth lusting after pretty much everyone, and there was pining. So. Much. Pining!!!

I wouldn’t say it’s a ‘must read’, we know this story after all, but it’s a nice addition to the collection.

[TJ ☾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

-2.5 stars-

🐉 v skimmable content🐉

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I should have wanted this. To see her on her knees with her strength dashed to pieces, but instead I felt her pain as sharply as if it were my own.

5+ stars!!

Holy shitballs. This book was everything I didn't know that I wanted from Caroline and Susanne in the ZA world, and I absolutely loved the fucking hell out of every single word. Unsurprisingly, I was most excited about more scenes between my babe Orion and Darcy as I just love them so much, and this novel did not disappoint. My heart cried for how hopeless and lost Orion is at the beginning of the ZA storyline. I never truly understood how much of his life he was forced to sacrifice when Lionel forced the Guardian Bond, and his hopelessness brought me to tears. However, I loved how he described Darcy as his light in the dark, the warmth and salvation he would never be worthy of but wanted anyway.

But I was no heavenly creature sent forth to do good work for some supreme lord, I was a beast built of wrath and hatred, molded into the image of a man I despised and full of so much anger that it was enough to set the whole world on fire.

And then there's Darius, the broken dragon shifter with the biggest heart you'll ever meet. I admit I really hated him in the first book because of his callousness and recklessness towards the Vegas, but damn this novel really fucked up my feelings towards him. So many things are explained and we get to see so many different sides to him and what truly motivates his actions towards the Vegas, and my heart just broke for him and Xavier. This novel also made me hate Lionel even more than I thought possible and pray for the demise of Daddy Asscrux SOON.

One kiss from her would be a sin, but it might just be worth getting down on my knees in penance for.

Even though this book can technically be read after ZA: THE AWAKENING, I would recommend waiting to read it until after at least book 5, CURSED FATES, because there are so many small hints and Easter eggs alluding to things to come that you won't fully appreciate unless you're up-to-date on the series. I loved all of the small moments of true friendship and support between the Heirs and the funnier moments of lewdness between Washer and Orion (his fucking grading scale!!) This novel served to make me even more anxious for books 7 & 8 because I'm terrified of what our Celestial Authors have up their sleeves. In the meanwhile, I will always be Team Darion, Team Torius, Team Merry, and Team Caleth ♡

Total highlights: 211

My Orion, the broody and surly off-limits Professor who may or may not have a soft spot for Blue hair...


My Darius, the arrogant Dragon shifter who's obsessed with gold and who may or may not be hiding shadowy secrets of his own...


My Caleb, the cocky (*ahem*) Vampire who's quick with his teeth and getting a certain twin to forgive him...


My Max, the overconfident Siren who may or may not have a thing for an overzealous A.S.S. member...


My Xavier, the broken but not defeated Pegasus who's always looking over his shoulder...


My Seth, the asshole Alpha Wolf who may have some redeeming qualities after all...


*ARC provided by the authors, and I voluntarily reviewed it*

[kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

not gonna lie i was expecting to be kinda bored by this but it exceeded my expectations. this book has finally managed to make me understand the heirs’ perspectives and now i’m *finally* starting to love darius and his POV… still hate seth tho 😔

[m · Rating 3 out of 5]

war flashbacks

BUT ORION MEETING DARCY FOR THE FIRST TIME KILLMENOWHSBD

[✰⋆☾ ⋆ Anna ⭑☽ ✧˖°. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes but also no

[Noa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Because nothing was going to stand between us and the freedom we were owed so bitterly. Nothing. Not even the daughters of the Savage King himself."

It's time. They're back.
They're back to claim our throne.
We can't let this happen. We have to do everything in our power to make sure nothing changed.
We need to break them. Drive them out.

The Heirs will do anything and everything to make sure the Vegas don't inherite the throne. But what will it cost them? And what if the Vegas are nothing like what they thought?

"These girls could put the whole of Solaria at risk and it was my job to make sure that didn't happen.
So game on, Vegas. This was only going to be the beginning."

💫 Updated for 4th reread 💫

Ok, This book basically gives you the backstory as to why the boys did what they did in Book I.
I loved this book! While it does not excuse their actions it does make you understand what kind of pressure they are living under.

Also, I love that if you read this right after the first book (not to be done first time around, first time around recommended to read after book 6) you find so many cute easter eggs right away and I love that.

This book is mainly Lance and Darius being obsessed with Darcy and Tory (and I have no complaints at all). Lance trying to convince himself that Darcy is a Siren is legitimately the most unhinged thing I have ever read and I loved it!

Moving on to the quotes and songs section. Please keep all hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times thank you very much.

✨ General Quotes ✨

🌟 "Something terrible things happen for new paths to arise."

🌟 "Whatever you think you know, you will soon learn there is much more that you do not." (I know this was in the first OG book but I love this quote so much and it's my review so you see it again! Yay!)

🌟 "Sometimes I wish we didn't live in a world where everything was mapped out for us as if our lives are nothing more than pieces in some greater fucking puzzle and we get no say at all."

📘 BlueLance Quotes 📘

💙 "She was the sun embodies and I'd spent so long in the dark, all I wanted was a few moments in its heat. Was that really such a crime?"

💙 "That blue hair would look so fucking good wrapped around my fist." - SIR 👀👀

💙 "Well it looks like you just bought yourself an eternity of being called that then, didn't you Blue?"

💙 "Because now I had her. And it was the best damn feeling I'd experienced in a long time."

💙 "You're too sweet for this world, Blue. Someone's going to eat you up. And it will most likely be me."

💜 Dory Quotes💜

❤️‍🔥 "Because every fiber of my being was screaming for me to claim her and make her mine with an urgency that made my head spin."

❤️‍🔥 "Roxy Vega had captured my attention and she wasn't letting it go anytime soon."

❤️‍🔥 "Roxy Vega had been brought here, gifted to me so that I could be the one to bring her to heel. And the thought of doing just that was a thrill too tempting to resist."

❤️‍🔥 "That girl was my downfall in the making."

🥃 Iconic Lance Moments 🥃

♎ "Hand, come on, we've only got forty more minutes of my life to waste."

♎ "I was caught off guard by how much I didn't instantly hate them. And I hated everyone, so that was saying something." - Honestly… me.

♎ "Oh, thank the moon, there's someone here with more than two brain cells."

♎ "As being a dick came naturally to me, I was more than happy to start driving the point home and that I would seriously enjoy getting them expelled if they didn't impress me. And I was one impossible asshole to impress."

As always the Twisted Sisters have graced us with a playlist and as always I have to butt in for absolutely no reason whatsoever so yeah hope you enjoy 💞

(Link - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1xt... )

🎵 "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" - Lorde
🎵 "The Story Of Us (Taylor's Version)" - Taylor Swift
🎵 "Human" - Rag'n'Bone Man
🎵 "Run Boy Run" - Woodkid
🎵 "Family Line" - Conan Gray
🎵 "I Heard Your Voice In A Dream" - Katharine McPhee, Jeremy Jordan
🎵 "Oh No!!!" - grandson
🎵 "Reign" - Tommee Profitt, Anna Graceman
🎵 "Focus" - Halle Abadi
🎵 "Smells Like Teen Spirit" - Stevie Howie
🎵 "Washed Away" - Flight Paths
🎵 "Hate Me" - Ellie Goulding, Juice WRLD
🎵 "Easier Than Lying" - Halsey
🎵 "MACHINE" - Neoni
🎵 "The Pretender" - Lewis Capaldi
🎵 "Beauty" - Layto
🎵 "Running With The Wolves" - AURORA
🎵 "Like A Villain" - Bad Omens
🎵 "Like Real People Do" - Hozier
🎵 "Born Ready" - Zayde Wolf
🎵 "Means to an End" - Five AM
🎵 "Noble Blood" - Tommee Profitt, Fleurie
🎵 "Bad for Me" - FNKHOUSER
🎵 "Devil In Her Eyes" - Bryce Savage
🎵 "Ready Set Let's Go" - Sam Tinnesz
🎵 "Taste" - Ari Abdul
🎵 "OWN MY MIND" - Maneskin
🎵 "Who Do You Trust?" - Papa Roach
🎵 "Bite Me" - Avril Lavigne
🎵 "Angel On Fire" - Halsey
🎵 "Mind Over Matter" - Young the Giant
🎵 "Black Hole Sun" - Soundgarden
🎵 "California" - YUNGBLUD
🎵 "Gravity" - Holding Absence
🎵 "Drinking With Cupid" - VOILA
🎵 "Boy In The Bubble" - Alec Benjamin
🎵 "Have Faith In Me" - A Day To Remember
🎵 "Invisible Battles" - Carolina Rial
🎵 "Ready or Not" - Mischa "Book" Chilak, Esthero
🎵 "Saints of the Sinners" - The Faim
🎵 "Light It Up" - From Ashes to New
🎵 "Holding Me Down" - Picturesque
🎵 "Monsters - Acoustic Version" - Ruelle
🎵 "Scream" - Once Monsters
🎵 "Parasite Eve" - Bring Me The Horizon
🎵 "we can't be friends (wait for your love)" - Ariana Grande
🎵 "Major System Error" - Marmozets
🎵 "Hollow" - Icon For Hire
🎵 "Whatever It Takes" - Imagine Dragons
🎵 "Part of Me" - American Wolves
🎵 "The Villain" - John Michael Howell
🎵 "DOA" - I Prevail, Joyner Lucas
🎵 "You've Created A Monster" - Bohnes
🎵 "Rise Above It" - I Prevail, Justin Stone
🎵 "Monster" - Lady Gaga
🎵 "Animals" - Architects

Book edit - https://www.instagram.com/p/C4bBxtMrd...

[EMthebooktrovert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just going to write a quick short review. Not mind-blowing, but I definitely prefer this to book #1.

Can't wait to read how the twins grow and morph into their powers. And I am looking forward to the reveal of their order, although I could hazard a guess. The entire discovery process would hopefully be a fascinating journey.

Darius is intriguing enough, though the authors seem to be bent on portraying him as this hero who is willing to sacrifice and die for his people and his brother. i didn't connect to Orion at all, perhaps this might change in the next book?

I'm also hoping for more than one villain or threat. In these two books, it's way too obvious. Since there are several books in this series, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for more plot twists and shocking betrayals.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHHH I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS! I LOVE MY BOYS!!!!

[✩ Yaz ✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

But I hadn't been built to bow. And I had people who relied on me. Which meant I wasn't going to be giving in to this fate.

Zodiac Academy: The Awakening As Told by the Boys retells the events of the first book through the Heirs' and Orion's POVs.

It's a full-length novel and the sequence of the events is the same as ZA1, but the difference is the events of ZA1 is narrated by the Vega Twins—this one gives us a behind-the-scenes look to what Orion and the Heirs (Darius, Caleb, Seth and Max) were up to during those events.

If you've been missing Solaria and these characters, then this book is a must!

The Heirs, ever the bullies, are still the assholes we knew them to be but their POVs offer another aspect to them as characters.

While we do get Caleb, Seth and Max's chapters but Darius's and Orion's chapters are dominant in this book, which I'm pleased with and makes sense given they had the most shit to deal with from the beginning.

If you've managed to read up to Zodiac Academy 7, you'll agree that Darius is such a multidimensional character, but if you've read up to Zodiac Academy 2 you might struggle with accepting that he might have different facets to his personality other than being a pompous asshole.

The authors really worked on fleshing out more of Darius without really excusing his actions but we got to see what drives him to be so cruel towards the Vega twins, Tory and Darcy.

Orion's chapters were a delight, we was down bad for Darcy from the moment he met her. His POV gave a whole different aspect to their relationship especially now that we realize the stars have been pushing Orion towards Darcy from the very beginning.

The same can be said of Darius and his immediate attraction to Tory.

11th of June marked a great change and everything was set in stone for Tory + Darius and Darcy + Orion.

There were some scenes that dragged for me, which was an issue I also had with ZA1 but still I couldn't put this book down and I'm so glad I got a chance to revisit Solaria and these characters.

Green eyes peering into my soul and the brush of lips against mine so hot and powerful that I could taste that kiss right down to my core. A name in the dark which sounded like a plea or a promise and words which hung in my mind like they'd been spoken from the stars themselves.

[lenaleest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so…. Let me start by saying that zodiac academy is my favorite serie of ALL TIME.
But this book. Sorry…. It felt like a fucking war to get through…

It was a complete retelling of the awakening. Only with a different pov…
And then you will problably think; yeah bitch… that’s why it’s called the awakening ATBTB…. 😅
Yeah i know. Keep your titties calm…. But i dunno… I just hoped there would be added some extra things to the story. But no. It was exactly the same as the awakening.
And in my opinion it was better to read it directly after the awakening instead of after ZA 6.
Because i have watched the heirs develope through out the books and they already have a relationship blossoming with the twins. So it only brought me back in time.

The one thing that did make me excited is that i got a lot of more respect for the heirs. Because let’s be honest. We all hated them after book 1 (well i did).
I feel sad for everything that Darius had to endure with his father. And my empathy grew for him. A FUCKING LOT.

And then my lance daddy. If he and Darcy don’t end up being elysian mates. I WILL EAT MY FUCKING SHOES. 😱

Keeee bye 😘

2025 update: My opinion about this book completely changed after finishing the whole series! This book was actually very good & very important for the plot!

[anouk♡ semi-hiatus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lance Orion can have anything he wants. I would marry him tomorrow.🖤🔥
That’s all I have to add.. It’s the same book as the Awakening (but better), from a different perspective and it’s amazing.

⏤⏤⏤
There must be a Darius-Orion fanfic out there, right? ♥︎

[⁠*⁠♡Lilac⁠*⁠♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have changed as a person

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 3.5 stars ✰

“Don’t ever let your enemies see you have a heart.”

I don't think there is a better quote that sums up what I had to go through to see the darkness fight the light that Lance and Darius had to keep at bay, to control and keep hidden, because of how much was at stake. 💫 So much that while I could not completely forgive them for their treatments, while not completely overturned, I got to know why things happened. Why was there so much heartbreak - why did they have to be so cruel and mean? 😣 The torment and humiliation they put the girls through, and then to see the little sides of them try and sneak out where they ached to be good and be forgiven and see that this is not them - the morally corrupt and unjust and vile fae that they were? For to be an enemy - they had to close off their hearts to everyone - even to each other. 🥺

“And despite the fact that that should have been exactly what I wanted from her, I couldn't help but feel like I'd just fucked up somehow.

Like I'd failed at something without even knowing what it was.”

And it kept me going till the end - I needed to know how it would all play out, especially to that extreme joke that cost them both so much - to see what they were both thinking during that time - perspective is so tantamount here, that I was just sat. The fact that I want to immediately start the next book right after finishing The Awakening as Told by the Boys is probably the highest compliment it could ever receive. 🌟🌟 For I do follow a strict policy of reading one book of the series per month, so that my reading material doesn't get too stale and I actually have to wait for it - to build up the anticipation, but it's something that makes me look forward to it even more! 👍🏻👍🏻 Even though this installment came out before the seventh book was released, so that pretty much the fandom knows where the actual characters are at this late in the stage, it was totally worth getting to have Lance and Darius' perspectives along with a few key moments for the heirs before progressing to the next book, because it's definitely opened my eyes, slightly softened my heart, and made me highly anxious of what future awaits everyone at Zodiac Academy. ✨

“Sometimes I wish we didn’t live in a world where everything was mapped out for us as if our lives are nothing more than pieces in some greater fucking puzzle and we get no say at all.”



I know the writing has its faults, but this is where I take my get out of jail free card that says I'm not here to critique the writing, but indulge myself in a guilty pleasure of a story that is not usually my cuppa, but I want a taste of it anyways. And I'm thirsting for more! 😅 "Because nothing was going to stand between us and the freedom we were owed so bitterly. Nothing. Not even the daughters of the Savage King himself.' I enjoyed this - its lengthy - aggravatingly wordy, but it pulls you into the dramatics. Granted, a lot of scenes were repetitively familiar, as it is just their insight into certain highlights with the Vega twins, but I love getting to know both Lance and Darius more. I had a lot of suspicions and queries from the first book, which were answered here.

I wanted to know where the story was going, how they would explain certain of their actions, what they were thinking at those specific moments. 😥 And when you get to see how they're so conflicted with their own thoughts and desires - not wanting to treat them the way that they are - that shame and guilt that creeps up, even though they'll deny it till their very last breath - that whatever they're doing is for the sake of protecting those that they love... I loved feeling bad for them. I loved seeing them try to find a sensible and reasonable explanation as to why they were so drawn to the Vega twins - Sirens, haha, who are you kidding? 😂😅

“Because there are some secrets I can never tell. But to keep you right now, I think I’d tell them all.”

Orion had already won my heart before, and it was still the same, here; although, I did wish at times he could have put a leash on his way of thinking with only one thing in mind when it came to Darcy. *laughs* I didn't know before how hurt he was about his future being stolen from him, but I felt for him, here. His dark humor still hit in the right notes, and I enjoyed seeing his scenes with Darcy through his eyes. That final scene in his office, when she flinched at his touch - 'I just don’t want you to leave. Because when you do, I’ll have to return to reality.' 🥲 I LOVED seeing his thoughts there! Just making me feel sorry for him, even more, and hopeful that there is a chance that he will redeem himself; even if he'll have to work for it, that is. 🩵🩵

“Perhaps I was always destined to be her monster, but I found I hated that fate with far more passion than I'd ever be able to hate her.”

But the character that really surprised me was Darius, son of the Dragon Lord - torn to be something he doesn't want to, to protect someone he cares too deeply about. ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 That tug of war between doing the wrong deeds to make right where it is needed - it was so frustrating and heartbreaking that I just felt so bad that I felt sorry for him! I know what they did at the end was still inexcusable, and I know the twins are going to make their lives living hell unless they actually talk about the why, but it was cruel torture. 😟 'Choose wisely, Dragon born. The greatest treasure is the hardest won.' It's cruel to think that if it was not expected of the heirs to get rid of the twins - to make it impossible for them to have a moment's peace, there really was a strong chance that they could have all been friends. And that's such a loss that it'll be hard to work their way back into their good graces. 🥺

“It twisted the essence of our friendship and muddied our own feelings to the point that we had to force distance between ourselves while knowing we'd be pining for each other at the same time.”

I loved their own dynamic; it was the worst of circumstances that bound them together, but they were best friends before their fates were tied. It was nice seeing them work together as a team, loved how they treat each other as equals and fight to prove each other's worth, while also seeking out each other to provide comfort and support when either of them is hurt. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹 It's hard for them to trust what they do feel for each other isn't only because of their bond, but it's clear that even without it, they do deeply care for each other. "I have nothing but sand in my pockets and sin in my heart. I can't hold on to the good in me, Lance, because thanks to that man, there isn't any of it left anymore.' How they're both fighting their destinies - just trying to get by, even if it paints them as a villain, and one to be despised. 😔

I know it's not enough to be entirely off the hook for some of their more than questionable ways, but they're both so damaged and broken - Darius' father - God, how I hate that man!! 😡 Their hands are tied, and they're just trying to get by; I didn't know that side to their pasts before, but it's making me slowly - very slowly see them in a different light and maybe - just maybe find a way to forgive them for their assholic choices that they were forced to commit. To see what happened afterwards between the two of them was the closure lacking in the first book - maybe, it'll come in book 2 - I don't know, I'll find out in a couple of weeks. 🥹 But, when Orion confronted him - begged him to tell him why and be honest with him. I wasn't supposed to care about them, but somehow, I am. And I don't know if I'm ready yet to see either of them be the jerks that they have to be, when there is such a heavy burden and responsibility crushing their hearts and spirits. 🥺

“We were all each other had ever needed and I realised now they were the only ones who would ever truly understand me.”

The other three heirs still haven't melted my heart, but they are slowly chipping away at it. The brotherly love and bond between the four of them is a special one, for sure; be it when they're teasing or arguing, fighting or competing, the undercurrent of loyalty always outweighs their jealousy - for now. I cackled at how hard Darius had to hide his outward resentment of Caleb's relationship with Tory, it was a surprise to learn about Caleb and Seth's dynamic, although while Seth's family background does seem rough, I still haven't warmed up to him - yet. 😮‍💨Max, hmmm, still not enough to form an opinion, but give me time.

So, it's definitely not going to win any literary awards, but I'm really having a good time with this - a bit of a reprieve from my usual reading schedule, but a welcome one all the same. ☺️ And with the inclusion of so many fascinating, if not unlikeable characters, throw in a little mischief and murder and mystery that has aroused my interest as to what other machinations Darius' father is plotting, curious to see what the girls' take will be with both of them after those traumatic events that no one is likely forget, makes the days waiting till I resume the series - a difficult wait, but one worth waiting for. 🥰

[keandra (is kind of back) · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3
(maybe some spoilers in the quotes)

the book was too long for me (more pages in this book than in the girls version of the awakening).
i didn’t really read the others heirs povs (except Max), sorry but seth and caleb were soooo boring.

i was only here for orion and darius and it was so worth it because when i first read the book i hated all of them and now that im reading book 6 it feels crazy to me how much changed since then 😭😭, the character development is 100% here and i just couldn’t wait to see orion and darcy as always, these two are just 😮‍💨.

“Both Vegas were attractive, but something about this one was mesmerising. I couldn’t for the life of me tear my eyes away from her.”

but i’m gonna be honest i skipped most of the book because there were so many unnecessary scenes that made it difficult to continue so i asked which chapters i should really read and i essentially read the most important and interesting chapters.

some quotes !!

- “she kept looking at me in a way I couldn’t quite understand. But I had a feeling it was the exact same way I kept looking at her.”

- “Darcy nodded easily and fuck, I liked that. I liked it too much, having her obey me.” 🫣

- “She was without a doubt, the most stunning creature I'd ever laid my eyes upon and I couldn't help but stare at her as she moved deeper into the room with the other students.”


- “Although as I considered giving her a bed, I couldn't help but think about offering her a spot in mine”

- “Damn this girl. Damn this fucking girl. She was clawing her way under my skin and I was almost certain she wasn't even trying to do it.”


𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 👥:
one month later i’m back to my ZA era and what’s better to get back in track than reading the first book with the boys pov ?? 👀