So these books are enormous. They are all 500+ pages, and for the most part, we are focusing on Tory and Darcy's story. We also have the same cast for most of these books as well. I'm finally grasping who is who when the POV changes, but this one, we are starting to pull away from the school some. We're starting to focus more on the world. I was obsessed with it because these twins were born into a family that's supposed to rule over this world that we have no knowledge of outside of school. Plus, we got to spend more time with the guys. However, things are starting to get stale with them. Literally, the whole time, it is like 3 steps forward and then instantly a million steps backward, and it's been really rough getting through all of this. I wish we started wrapping things up since these books are so ginormous, but it's like always waiting on the next foot to drop. 

So the fae celebrates Christmas?🤨 

I now understand the heavy criticism of this book series. This book is the best example to prove all of the points. And I'm too annoyed to write a polite review.  But one thing tho, Why the author did the twins so dirty? Even the prostitutes in dark romances have better sense of judgement and a spine but these twins.. Hah! 

completely taken aback and frustrated by that ending! very intrigued to see where the plot moves in the next book, and am praying that we can finally get some happiness for these poor characters 😭

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.