hiddeninfantasy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Blood, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Murder, Self harm, Alcoholism, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Violence, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Genocide, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence
inkdrinkers's review
dark
emotional
fast-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
5.0
I don't know what else to say other than this book has so thoroughly broken me.
At the end of Zodiac Academy: The Reckoning, Tory and Darcy Vega were brought before their worst enemy yet, and though they ended the night with the knowledge of their order emerging, the events of the evening only brought forth more questions and more issues. It's time for them to step into the world of Solaria as fae, and potentially, as queens with their eyes set on the throne and the men who can help them secure it - all while battling an overwhelming darkness that grows stronger at every moment.
I'm genuinely sitting here in tears because I don't know what to say or think about the last ten percent of this book. Actually, I don't even have a star rating logged right now as I type this because I don't know if the sheer emotional weight has settled on my shoulders yet, or if it'll turn to rage the moment I give myself some time to process the sheer events in this book. I think I'm finally grasping the absolute wrecking ball of events that happen in these books. It falls into a sort of pattern - especially with my knowledge now after reading Ruthless Boys of Zodiac, I know for every impossibly wonderful high, there is a truly crushing low that makes you question everything.
This book was (I believe) written to be the true climax of the series. Which, again, falls in line with what I know from Ruthless Boys. I knew it would get bad, but I think I was too stupid to realize just how bad I had it coming. And now I'm baffled because on one hand - I absolutely adored the way Tory's character was written in this book. I know a shit-ton of people do not agree with me on this, if other reviews are to be believed, but the sheer darkness in her character and the movement of her arc left me a little breathless, especially at the end. I have more than enough room in me to be mad, but also impressed that the authors committed to the decision and went full-throttle with it - because when does Tory Vega ever do anything half-assed?
I think I'm just going to ramble now about my favorite scenes, which are all the ones in the palace. Because I've read RB and had it spoiled, I know about the boy and the mystery surrounding that, and I had a lot of sheer freaking hope we'd get that moment in this book. Instead, I found myself sinking into the tidbits of knowledge we did get about the Savage King, the Vega's mother, and what potentially might lie in their futures from glimpses hidden away in the past. The entire section from Christmas onwards was one of my favorite portions of anything in this series, including the absolutely devastating ending. It emotionally wrecked me, but in a way that I have to be a little bit impressed over.
I simply don't know what to think. So I won't. But I think I've at least come to the conclusion that this is getting five stars from me for the sheer weight I feel resting on my chest right now. Gone are silly pranks and careless hookups - the fight for the throne is upon us.
Also, Seth Capella can choke. Leon Night would never.
Content Warnings: blood, mild violence, suicidal thoughts and self harm (present throughout this book heavily), sexual content, alcoholism, drugging (brief scene halfway through, antidote is given), physical and emotional abuse by a parent, and probably more that I'm missing.
At the end of Zodiac Academy: The Reckoning, Tory and Darcy Vega were brought before their worst enemy yet, and though they ended the night with the knowledge of their order emerging, the events of the evening only brought forth more questions and more issues. It's time for them to step into the world of Solaria as fae, and potentially, as queens with their eyes set on the throne and the men who can help them secure it - all while battling an overwhelming darkness that grows stronger at every moment.
I'm genuinely sitting here in tears because I don't know what to say or think about the last ten percent of this book. Actually, I don't even have a star rating logged right now as I type this because I don't know if the sheer emotional weight has settled on my shoulders yet, or if it'll turn to rage the moment I give myself some time to process the sheer events in this book. I think I'm finally grasping the absolute wrecking ball of events that happen in these books. It falls into a sort of pattern - especially with my knowledge now after reading Ruthless Boys of Zodiac, I know for every impossibly wonderful high, there is a truly crushing low that makes you question everything.
This book was (I believe) written to be the true climax of the series. Which, again, falls in line with what I know from Ruthless Boys. I knew it would get bad, but I think I was too stupid to realize just how bad I had it coming. And now I'm baffled because on one hand - I absolutely adored the way Tory's character was written in this book. I know a shit-ton of people do not agree with me on this, if other reviews are to be believed, but the sheer darkness in her character and the movement of her arc left me a little breathless, especially at the end. I have more than enough room in me to be mad, but also impressed that the authors committed to the decision and went full-throttle with it - because when does Tory Vega ever do anything half-assed?
I think I'm just going to ramble now about my favorite scenes, which are all the ones in the palace. Because I've read RB and had it spoiled, I know about the boy and the mystery surrounding that, and I had a lot of sheer freaking hope we'd get that moment in this book. Instead, I found myself sinking into the tidbits of knowledge we did get about the Savage King, the Vega's mother, and what potentially might lie in their futures from glimpses hidden away in the past. The entire section from Christmas onwards was one of my favorite portions of anything in this series, including the absolutely devastating ending. It emotionally wrecked me, but in a way that I have to be a little bit impressed over.
I simply don't know what to think. So I won't. But I think I've at least come to the conclusion that this is getting five stars from me for the sheer weight I feel resting on my chest right now. Gone are silly pranks and careless hookups - the fight for the throne is upon us.
Also, Seth Capella can choke. Leon Night would never.
Content Warnings: blood, mild violence, suicidal thoughts and self harm (present throughout this book heavily), sexual content, alcoholism, drugging (brief scene halfway through, antidote is given), physical and emotional abuse by a parent, and probably more that I'm missing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Self harm, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
lorenmarie7's review
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Self harm, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Toxic friendship
crinkledmochi's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
2.5
Chile….
I’m over it like I really tried to figure why I’m still reading this series like yes they are a mess and slightly entertaining but these books are truly bad (and problematic). Especially after having read this one in particular I can not keep going I just can not.
I’m over it like I really tried to figure why I’m still reading this series like yes they are a mess and slightly entertaining but these books are truly bad (and problematic). Especially after having read this one in particular I can not keep going I just can not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Bullying, Physical abuse, and Gore
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Self harm
Minor: Grief
katevhutchinson's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The moment I started reading these books, I knew they weren't 'good'. I'm a sucker for a 'bad' book that's really enjoyable regardless. So the writing really lacks, to the point where there are odd exchanges of dialogue which slip out of character a lot for me, eg. Orion suddenly making exclamations and bouncing on his heels. Orion. Eternally serious, stoic and sexy, Orion. But having read the first 3 I knew this, and this book doesn't really pick up in that respect, along with odd typos and inconsistency in the magic system etc. Also in order to drill into us the characters, they get incredibly repetitive (Seth likes to touch people WE GET IT). I find myself jarring out of the story to edit the text, half the book could be cut out with the amount of unnecessary repetitions of tedious description. So I mostly skim read all of that now, it's just not needed.
We love Geraldine, a queen in her own right. In fact, so many of the side characters I feel are written way more consistently than the actual main characters (Sofia, Tyler, etc).
I think myself, along with so many other readers actually prefer Darcy because she's far more well rounded than Tory, feeling a whole spectrum of emotions as apposed to just rage, which makes Darcy more engaging in my opinion.
I actually eye roll when I see a Tory chapter, because its just her moaning for 5 pages (a bit like this review). I do love her sexual empowerment, and all the feminist vibes it tries to give us with Tory, however it just ends up falling a bit flat for me because it's giving self destruct vibes instead. Just wanna shake her and tell her to get a grip, really.
Could have done without Max's chapters too, couldn't care less about him or his disheveled mohawk. But we march on.
It would have been a 3, but that 0.75 is for the fact that even with all of these things, I'm still gonna read the next one, and probably the one after that. And credit where credit us due for reeling me in. Mostly just want a Darcy book so I'm holding out for that.
Spoiler
Tory and Daruis are the most infuriating characters simply because I don't feel like their motives match up to their actions. Tory being an ice queen bitch and Darius bullying her just doesn't carry enough for me, like they could both realistically stop doing both of those things and then boom no more strife? Tory acts like Darius destroyed her life and I don't reaaaallly get that? In the grand scheme of things? With everything everyone's ever done to you your souly blaming THIS guy? I get what they were trying to do, but if you're that low and offered a way out of if you'd jump on it, no? You grow up with no love apart from your sister and the ACTUAL STARS give you a love forever and you say 'na can't trust him' ?? it doesn't make sense for me but, whatever you go with it.We love Geraldine, a queen in her own right. In fact, so many of the side characters I feel are written way more consistently than the actual main characters (Sofia, Tyler, etc).
I think myself, along with so many other readers actually prefer Darcy because she's far more well rounded than Tory, feeling a whole spectrum of emotions as apposed to just rage, which makes Darcy more engaging in my opinion.
Spoiler
The whole soulmate thing is also so confusing, why would Darius be Tory's mate but Orion isn't Darcy's? Why would your mate for life try (repeatedly) to kill you? That struggle is so confusing to me and seems like an odd way for the writers to create conflict in that. Surely the conflict based on the fact theyre Heirs is more true to the characters and not just ragingly hating each other. I DIGRESS.I actually eye roll when I see a Tory chapter, because its just her moaning for 5 pages (a bit like this review). I do love her sexual empowerment, and all the feminist vibes it tries to give us with Tory, however it just ends up falling a bit flat for me because it's giving self destruct vibes instead. Just wanna shake her and tell her to get a grip, really.
Could have done without Max's chapters too, couldn't care less about him or his disheveled mohawk. But we march on.
It would have been a 3, but that 0.75 is for the fact that even with all of these things, I'm still gonna read the next one, and probably the one after that. And credit where credit us due for reeling me in. Mostly just want a Darcy book so I'm holding out for that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual harassment, and Toxic friendship
_savannahreads_'s review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
ktevans14's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm
self harm as part of a plot pointbialves's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Bullying
Moderate: Blood, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Violence
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