Zodiac Academy Books Reading Order: The Complete Guide
Zodiac Academy is an epic, fan-favorite book series from Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, revolving around an academy of magic and the events that take place there or in the lives of students and professors.
The series took off in 2019 and is filled with magic, paranormal, and astrology – but also with romance, drama, and mystery. So far, there are 19 Zodiac Academy books published, along with a novella, the last book in the series was released in December of 2022, and a free online bonus chapter for one of the books.
Without further ado, here is the complete Zodiac Academy books reading order.
Zodiac Academy Books Reading Order: At A Glance
As I’ve mentioned, there are nine published Zodiac Academy books so far. There’s also a novella connected to the fifth book, Cursed Fates, as well as an additional bonus chapter for the same book, published online.
The book’s release dates and their plots’ chronological order aren’t the same, though. We have some prequels, retellings, etc., so I’ll share both the release order and the chronological order with you.
Zodiac Academy Books Release Order
- The Awakening (2019)
- Ruthless Fau (2019)
- The Reckoning (2020)
- Shadow Princess (2020)
- Cursed Fates (2020)
- Origins of an Academy Bully (2020)
- The Big A.S.S. Party (2020)
- Fated Throne (2020)
- Heartless Sky (2021)
- The Awakening: As Told BY The Boys (2021)
- Sorrow and Starlight (2022)
- Zodiac Academy Book 9 (TBD)
Zodiac Academy Books Chronological Order
- Zodiac Academy: Origins of an Academy Bully (2020)
- The Awakening (2019)
- The Awakening: As Told by the Boys (2021)
- Ruthless Fae (2019)
- The Reckoning (2019)
- Shadow Princess (2020)
- Cursed Fates (2021)
- The Big A.S.S. Party (2020)
- Fated Throne (2020)
- Heartless Sky (2021)
- Sorrow and Starlight (2022)
- Zodiac Academy Book 9 (TBD)
Zodiac Academy Books Chronological Reading Order: In Detail
1. Zodiac Academy: Origins of an Academy Bully (2020)
Description: This is a prequel novella set four years before Zodiac Academy: The Awakening, Book 1 in the Supernatural Bullies and Beasts series.
Synopsis: “Dark magic is forbidden at Zodiac Academy. That’s why I hide it so well. But now I’m supposed to mentor Darius Acrux: the son of the most ruthless Dragon Shifter in Solaria. If he’s caught using blood magic, he’ll lose his claim to the throne. The problem is? Our families are up to something, and we’re determined to find out what. No matter what dark power we must turn to…
Welcome to Zodiac Academy, where your star sign defines your destiny. As the Fae of the future, you will soon learn the merciless way to claim your power. Life among the Vampires, Shifters, and Sirens is no easy ride, but if you can make it through your exams, you might just be able to harness your inner strength and earn your place among the elite.“
2. The Awakening (2019)
Description: This was the first published book in the Zodiac Academy saga, acquainting us with the Academy, the characters, and the magic that surrounds it.
Synopsis: “If you’re one of the Fae, elemental magic is in your blood. And apparently, it’s in ours. As twins born in the month of Gemini, we’re a rare breed even in this academy of supernatural a-holes. Changelings were outlawed hundreds of years ago, but I guess our birth parents didn’t get the memo. Which means we’re totally unprepared for the ruthless world of Fae.
Air. Fire. Water. Earth. No one has ever harnessed all four of them, until we arrived. And it hasn’t made us any friends so far. As the rarest Elementals ever known, we’re already a threat to the four celestial heirs; the popular, vindictive bullies who happen to be some of the hottest guys we’ve ever seen.
It doesn’t help that they’re the most dangerous beasts in the Academy. And probably on earth too. Our fates are intertwined, but they want us gone. They’ve only got until the lunar eclipse to force us out and they’ll stop at nothing to succeed. We never knew we had a birthright to live up to but now that we do, we intend to claim our throne.
We can’t expect any help from the faculty when it comes to defending ourselves. So if the dragon shifters want some target practice, the werewolves want someone to hunt or the vampires fancy a snack then we have to be ready. But we’ve been looking after each other for a long time and fighting back is in our blood. Today’s horoscope: totally screwed.”
3. The Awakening: As Told By The Boys (2021)
Description: 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 as 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.
Synopsis: “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.”
4. Ruthless Fae (2019)
Description: Ruthless Fae was actually the second published book of the series, where the twins show who they are and stand their ground after being bullied.
Synopsis: “They tried to break us. They almost did. But we’re not going anywhere. The Celestial Heirs think the stars are on their side. But they don’t know what’s coming. Fighting them one on one isn’t an option, so we have to be stealthy.
Remaining under the radar won’t be easy, but if we pull it off, they’ll never suspect our involvement when their lives start falling apart. Besides, they’ve already taken us to the brink of hell, what more can they really do?”
5. The Reckoning (2019)
Description: This was the third published Zodiac Academy book, focusing on one particular week within the Academy – the week of The Reckoning.
Synopsis: “The answer to your question will be revealed on the Lunar Eclipse. But when finding the truth, don’t let the shadows take you. The week of The Reckoning has begun. And senior students have been tasked with making the freshmen’s lives pure hell as they prepare to take their fateful assessment.
With the Lunar Eclipse on the horizon, Tory and Darcy have more to worry about than just passing their exams. A dark plot is unfolding and the shadows are drawing closer…”
6. Shadow Princess (2020)
Description: Shadow Princess picks up shortly after the previous book. It focuses on Tory and Darcy, as they must learn to handle the ever-growing pressure building up over them.
Synopsis: “After the events of the Lunar Eclipse, Tory and Darcy must learn to deal with the darkness which shadows their lives. With a secret binding them to Darius and Orion, they must find a way to all work together for the greater good. But some things are easier said than done.”
7. Cursed Fates (2020)
Description: Cursed Fates has a palpably darker undertone, picking up on where the series ended with the last book. After all, the world itself just became a much darker place…
Synopsis: “After the devastating events at Zodiac Academy, we have to deal with this darker world we’re faced with. Lionel seeks to hurt us, the Nymphs seek to hurt the entire Fae race, and between all of it, we just have to try and survive each day as it comes. I’m afraid of everything falling apart, but it looks like it already has.”
8. The Big A.S.S. Party (2020)
Description: This is a 25k novella set in the world of Solaria during Book 5 of the Zodiac Academy series, Cursed Fates, featuring Geraldine and Max as they attend the party of the century and try to resist the lure of the moon as it pushes them together once more. It’s full of slippery salmons and more buttery bagels than you can shake a stick at and is best read after Cursed Fates.
Synopsis: “Once upon a moon, the wild wind whispered in my ear that the true queens were returning to Solaria and I made it my mission to open up their path to the throne so that they could slip right in like an oily oyster. Now, on this most special and wonderous of days, the very day of their birth – I will prove myself to be the most loyal and dependable of their followers.
Though of course, Venus is in my chart and Lady Petunia has caught sight of the bothersome barracuda once more. Max Rigel is my most sinful of temptations, the shark in the dark who wishes to lure me to his sea cave and I don’t know if I’m Fae enough to resist him for long.
But one thing is for sure, I will make certain the Vegas get the big A.S.S. party they deserve for their birthday or I’ll die trying. Succulent squids be damned!”
8b. Seth On The Moon
Description: This is not a book but rather an extra chapter published online connected to the storyline of Cursed Fates. It’s a free online chapter about the best day of Seth’s life.
9. Fated Throne (2020)
Description: Fated Throne is a much darker, more grim book about the Zodiac Academy, as the sisters are now separated, and the darkness is on the move.
Synopsis: “Fate has torn us apart and sometimes I believe the stars have given up on us altogether. Without my sister, the world seems darker than ever before and the shadows loom thicker, rising up to answer the call of the Shadow Princess and changing the face of Solaria for good.
Now Lionel Acrux has the strength to make a move for the throne, I’m not sure how much time we have left to stop him. Our only hope is to find the Imperial Star before he does. We made the sacrifice the stars called for and we’re paying the price for that decision so it can’t be for nothing.
But with the stars turning against us at every move and the last light in the world seeming to fade, I’m afraid we’re almost out of time. Hope is a dangerous thing. It’s the key to us fighting on. But it could be what destroys us in the end.
One thing is for certain, I won’t stop until I have been reunited with my other half and together we will fight to take our crowns. A war is coming. The throne is calling for a new monarch. And someone must answer its call.”
10. Heartless Sky (2021)
Description: Heartless Sky is the last published book of the Zodiac Academy and potentially my favorite. The twins are back together, their throne taken away, and they’re cast out of society. Still, hope rises, making us eager for the next book.
Synopsis: “The winds of fate are shifting, and it finally seems like they’ve been twisted in our favour. On the run and cast out from society, we’ve been forced to hide from the mad man who stole our throne. But as more secrets come to light and my sister and I work harder than ever before to reach our potential and claim our birth right, the end is finally drawing closer.
There is no turning from this path now. The curse chases on our heels as time rushes by and the blood drenched destiny of the man I love looms ever closer just like the monster who stole our throne. We must prepare for the final battle, but three things are clear now.
The cards have already been dealt. Blood will spill for a new future to rise. And the stars themselves can’t help us. The fight for the throne is upon us. All hail the heartless sky.”
11. Sorrow and Starlight (2022)
Description: This was supposed to be the last book of the Zodiac Academy series, finishing the saga with a fight for the throne between the twins and Lionel Acrux.
Don’t be confused by the numbering, though – the book’s working name is Zodiac Academy 8 because Zodiac Academy: Origins of an Academy Bully is considered to be Book 0.5, as it’s a prequel, while The Awakening: As Told by the Boys and The Big A.S.S. Party are booked 1.5 and 5.5, respectively because they are tightly connected to The Awakening and Cursed Fates.
Synopsis: “This is a dark, bully romance – don’t go expecting a sweet school for magic with friends around every corner. Fae fight for everything they own, and Zodiac Academy is a cutthroat school for students aged 18+ where only the strongest prevail.
There’s no Dumbledore here to save anyone’s ass, and Lionel Acrux will give Voldemort a run for his money in the evil dictator category. So hold onto your stardust (broomsticks not required) and get ready for a bumpy ride.”