Okay. Let’s talk about Zodiac Academy: The Awakening.
Here’s the thing — when I first picked this up, I was ready for a deep, intricate, well-crafted magical fantasy that would, you know, make sense. Instead, I got… bullies with superpowers, completely unhinged plot turns, and more drama than a reality TV reunion episode.
And at first? I hated it. I was annoyed. I kept thinking, why is this so messy? I wanted to DNF.
But then… somewhere around the 30% mark… I realized my fatal mistake:
I was taking it way too seriously.
Because here’s the truth — Zodiac Academy is not here to be high literature. It’s here to serve maximum chaos, magical trauma bonding, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a very unhealthy addiction to fictional bad boys.
And once I accepted that? I was in. Like, all in.
What I Ended Up Loving:
- The petty, ridiculous fae drama (it’s like Gossip Girl, but everyone can turn into a lion or start a fire with their mind)
- The unfiltered banter — sometimes cringey, sometimes gold
- The fact that literally every character is probably plotting something
- That feeling of, “Okay just one more chapter—oh wait it’s 2 AM”
What Still Makes Me Side-Eye It:
- The bullying is… A Lot
- The pacing is sometimes bananas (we went from “I hate you” to “let’s emotionally destroy each other” in 0.2 seconds)
- Half the time I couldn’t tell if the plot was brilliant or completely made up on the fly (jury’s still out)
Zodiac Academy Survival Kit
If you’re going to dive into The Awakening, you need to prepare yourself — emotionally, physically, and snack-ily. Here’s my recommended kit:
- Snack of choice: Something you can eat angrily while muttering “I can’t believe they just did that.” (I recommend popcorn or gummy bears.)
- Beverage: Caffeinated for the first half, herbal tea for when you need to emotionally recover at 1 AM.
- Lighting: Cozy fairy lights or a dim lamp — you’ll need the drama.
- Blanket: Not just for comfort, but to scream into.
- A notebook or Notes app: For documenting your theories, favorite insults, and every time a character makes a terrible life choice.
- A warning to your household: You will yell “OH MY GOD” out loud at least twice.
- A morally questionable book boyfriend wishlist: Because you’re going to have one by the end whether you want to or not
Final Thoughts:
If you’re going in expecting A Court of Thorns and Roses levels of polish, you’re going to be disappointed. If you go in expecting a spicy, chaotic, slightly toxic magical college soap opera, you’re going to have the time of your life.
I’ve decided this series is like Taco Bell — you know exactly what you’re getting into, it’s a little messy, it’s not gourmet… but when you’re in the mood, it hits.
Rating: 3/5 for entertainment value
Happy Reading!
Taylor
