The Awakening (Zodiac Academy #1) by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti
🟡 CSR-3: Teen & YA – Contains Mature Themes
⚠CW: 💔 Bullying & Hazing, 🚨 Sexual Harassment, 🩸 Violence, 💊 Substance Use, 🧠 Mental Manipulation
This novel blends dark academia with a paranormal twist, set in a brutal magic school where power and status determine survival. It contains intense bullying, questionable consent dynamics, and morally gray characters, making it suitable for mature YA and adult readers who enjoy dark romance and supernatural drama.
📖 Introduction & Why This Book Matters
The Awakening kicks off the Zodiac Academy series, a dark fantasy romance filled with fae politics, astrology-based magic, and a ruthless social hierarchy. It follows twin sisters, Tory and Darcy Vega, who discover they are long-lost Fae royalty and must navigate a world that wants them gone.
Why does this book matter? It taps into the rising popularity of dark academia and bully romance, testing the limits of morality, power, and control. While the themes can be uncomfortable at times, the novel is an absurdly compelling ride that will leave you questioning why you can't put it down. Yes, it's over the top. Yes, it's occasionally ridiculous. And yes, you'll likely be addicted by chapter three, frantically reaching for book two the moment you finish.
💡 Key Takeaways & Insights
Dark Academia with a Paranormal Twist Zodiac Academy isn't your average magic school—it's a cutthroat fae institution where the strong dominate and the weak suffer. Think Harry Potter meets Cruel Intentions with a splash of astrology-based powers.
Bullying as a Core Plot Device This book leans heavily into the bully-romance trope, where the main characters endure hazing, manipulation, and physical altercations. Unlike traditional romances, the male leads (The Heirs) start as antagonists, creating a dynamic that isn't for everyone—but don't write them off too quickly. Their character arcs across the series are some of the most satisfying in fantasy romance.
Sisters Against the World Tory and Darcy's relationship forms the book's emotional core. Their bond and resilience make them easy to root for, even when the world around them is overwhelmingly cruel.
A Morally Gray Cast of Characters Few characters in The Awakening can be considered purely good or evil. The Heirs—Darius, Caleb, Max, and Seth—are powerful, entitled, and dangerously unpredictable, while the protagonists must decide how much darkness they're willing to embrace to survive. The beauty lies in watching these characters evolve in ways you'd never expect.
Magic That Ties to Identity Each fae's abilities are linked to their astrological sign, adding a fresh twist to the fantasy genre. The novel explores destiny, self-discovery, and the burden of power in a world where magic is both a gift and a weapon.
🤯 The Most Interesting or Unexpected Part
One of the most intriguing aspects of The Awakening is how it plays with the reader's emotions. The Heirs are objectively terrible to Tory and Darcy. Yet, the narrative slowly peels back layers of their behavior, revealing deeper motives and setting up redemption arcs that will have you flip-flopping between wanting to throttle them and wanting to protect them. This emotional rollercoaster creates an addictive reading experience that defies logic—you'll find yourself devouring chapters at 3 AM while simultaneously questioning your literary life choices.
🏛️ How This Book Applies to Real Life
Who should read The Awakening?
Readers who enjoy dark romance, fae fantasy, and the enemies-to-lovers trope
Fans of Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and The Cruel Prince
Those who can handle heavy bullying themes and morally ambiguous love interests
Anyone looking for an addictive series that will monopolize their thoughts for weeks
Beyond the fantasy elements, the book explores resilience, power dynamics, and finding inner strength in hostile environments. While it doesn't provide a "healthy" romance, it captures the intensity of toxic attraction and survival in a ruthless world while taking you on a character development journey that will have you reconsidering your first impressions.
📚 Final Rating: "Guilty Pleasure" Shelf-Worthy
🎯 Should you read it? If you love dark, angsty fantasy romance with morally gray characters and can handle the heavy bullying aspects, absolutely. This might not be your cup of tea if you prefer clear-cut heroes and healthy relationships.
🔥 Final Thought: The Awakening isn't for the faint of heart—it's dramatic, intense, and unapologetically messy. It's also ridiculously addictive in the best possible way. You'll roll your eyes at the excessive drama one minute and find yourself frantically turning pages the next. Don't be surprised if you finish book one and immediately download books two through eight in a single sitting. This series has a mysterious hold on its readers that defies explanation—and watching characters you initially despise evolve into ones you fiercely love is part of the magic that keeps readers coming back for more.
