If you’ve made it to book three in Zodiac Academy, first of all, congratulations. You’ve survived the emotional whiplash, the insults, the chaos, and the utter madness that is being a student at Solaria’s most dangerous university. Give yourself a gold star. Or, you know, a stiff drink.
The Reckoning is where everything really starts to burn — sometimes literally. The trials crank up to eleven, the secrets start tumbling out like candy from a busted piñata, and everyone’s loyalties get messier than my kitchen when I “try” to bake macarons. (Spoiler: the macarons do not survive. Neither did my sanity reading this book.)
What I Loved:
- Character growth (and regression… looking at you, Darius): Some characters finally start peeling back those frosty walls, while others double down on the jerk energy. But it’s progress… kind of.
- The drama: I’m talking soap opera-level twists. At one point I literally yelled “NO THEY DIDN’T” at the page like I was watching reality TV.
- The trials: High stakes, high magic, high amounts of me gripping the book so hard I left fingernail dents.
What Drove Me Slightly Bananas:
- The back-and-forth with certain relationships. I swear, these people could solve 70% of their problems if they just talked to each other instead of brooding in dark corners.
- The cliffhanger. Oh, the cliffhanger. I had to resist immediately buying the next book at 1 a.m. (Spoiler: I failed.)
My Mood Reading This:
50% “I am not okay.”
30% “Oh my gosh, finally!”
20% “WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!”
Final Thoughts:
The Reckoning is like eating spicy food: you know it’s going to hurt, but you keep going back for more because it’s just that good. If you’ve made it this far in the series, you’re already hooked — so buckle up, buttercup. The drama’s not slowing down.
Zodiac Academy: The Reckoning — Survival Kit
Reading this book is an experience. And by experience, I mean you’re going to need emotional support snacks, caffeine, and possibly a weighted blanket. Here’s everything I recommend having within arm’s reach before you crack this bad boy open:
Snacks for Stress-Eating
- Dark chocolate-covered pretzels — sweet, salty, and perfect for when Darius is being infuriating but also hot.
- Gummy bears — to rip apart during tense scenes (yes, it’s aggressive, but so is this book).
- Popcorn — easy to eat in giant handfuls when things get real during The Reckoning trial.
Beverage of Choice
- Orion’s Midnight Latte (decaf optional): espresso (or strong coffee), oat milk, honey, and a dash of cinnamon. Cozy enough for Vega twin downtime, strong enough to keep you awake through the chaos.
Playlist for Maximum Drama
- War of Hearts — Ruelle (for Orion & Darcy angst)
- Enemy — Imagine Dragons (for the heirs)
- Bury a Friend — Billie Eilish (for the darker Reckoning scenes)
- Believer — Imagine Dragons (for the “I am powerful” moments)
Comfort Items
- Weighted blanket
- Your favorite hoodie for when the tension gets chilly
- A notebook to jot down your theories… and the curse words you scream at certain characters
Final tip: Do not — I repeat, DO NOT — read this book in public. Unless you want strangers to watch you gasp, yell, and maybe tear up like a total maniac.
Happy Reading!
Taylor
