Zodiac Academy 1: The Awakening (#1), by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

dark academia • enemies to lovers • bully romance • fated mates • elemental magic

Twins Darcy and Tory Vega have spent their lives looking out for each other, never imagining that their world is about to change completely. When they discover they are Fae and heirs to the throne of Solaria, they are sent to Zodiac Academy, a prestigious school where supernatural power determines everything and the four Celestial Heirs are determined to make sure the twins never claim what they believe is theirs.

At Zodiac Academy, magic, astrology, dangerous supernatural creatures, and ruthless rivalries collide. Survival means mastering their elemental powers, navigating a brutal hierarchy, and standing their ground against enemies who have every reason to want them gone. And with a throne at stake, neither the academy nor the Fae who inhabit it are willing to play fair.

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5

The Vibe

Darcy is determined, capable, and fiercely protective, with a stubborn streak that makes her unwilling to back down even when the odds are stacked against her. Alongside her twin Tory, she must learn to harness powers she never knew she possessed while navigating a world that seems determined to break them.

The Celestial Heirs are powerful, privileged, and unapologetically cruel, with a particular Dragon shifter whose rivalry with Darcy creates some of the book's most charged tension. Their enemies-to-lovers dynamic develops through power struggles, forbidden attraction, and a slow-burn battle of wills.

Expect a dark and addictive academy setting filled with Fae, dragons, vampires, werewolves, sirens, elemental magic, astrology, supernatural politics, and plenty of chaos. With its combination of bullying, rivalry, found family, forbidden romance, and high-stakes fantasy, The Awakening launches a sprawling series built to keep you turning pages.

Tropes & Tags

• Dark academia
• Enemies to lovers
• Bully romance
• Fated and rejected mates
• Slow-burn romance
• Forbidden love
• Fae fantasy
• Elemental magic
• Magic academy
• Dragon shifter
• Vampires and werewolves
• Sirens and other supernatural creatures
• Found family
• Morally gray characters
• Powerful heroine
• High-stakes fantasy romance

Books in Series (In Order)

1. Zodiac Academy 1: The Awakening
2. Zodiac Academy 2: Ruthless Fae
3. Zodiac Academy 3: The Reckoning
4. Zodiac Academy 4: Shadow Princess
5. Zodiac Academy 5: Cursed Fates
6. Zodiac Academy 6: Fated Throne
7. Zodiac Academy 7: Heartless Sky
8. Zodiac Academy 8: Sorrow and Starlight
9. Zodiac Academy 9: Zodiac Academy: Restless Stars