Zodiac Academy 2: Ruthless Fae (#2), by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

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

The Vega twins thought surviving their first days at Zodiac Academy would be difficult. They were wrong. The Celestial Heirs have made it clear that they will stop at nothing to break Tory and Darcy, and the twins quickly learn that fighting back means playing a much more dangerous game.

The Heirs believe the stars are on their side, but Tory and Darcy have no intention of making things easy for them. With direct confrontation off the table, the twins must learn to move carefully, staying beneath the Heirs' radar while quietly plotting their next moves.

But at Zodiac Academy, secrets have a way of surfacing, and the line between enemies and something far more complicated becomes increasingly difficult to ignore. With powerful magic, brutal rivalries, forbidden attraction, and dangerous supernatural forces surrounding them, Tory and Darcy are about to discover that surviving the academy requires more than simply being strong.

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5

The Vibe

Tory and Darcy are determined sisters who refuse to be intimidated by the powerful students determined to make their lives miserable. Their growing confidence and developing elemental abilities make them increasingly difficult to control, even as the dangers around them escalate.

The Celestial Heirs bring the series's signature mix of arrogance, cruelty, power, and romantic tension. Their relationships with the twins are complicated by rivalry, resentment, attraction, and the supernatural bonds shaping life in Solaria.

Expect dark academia, magical power struggles, bullying, forbidden romance, slow-burning tension, and a growing sense that something much bigger is unfolding beneath the surface of Zodiac Academy. Perfect for readers who love enemies-to-lovers romance, morally gray characters, elemental magic, found family, and supernatural creatures.

Tropes & Tags

• Dark academia
• Enemies to lovers
• Bully romance
• Fated mates
• Rejected mates
• Forbidden love
• Slow burn
• Magic academy
• Elemental magic
• Fae fantasy
• Morally gray characters
• Found family
• Political intrigue
• Supernatural creatures
• High-stakes fantasy

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: Restless Stars