Zodiac Academy #8.5: Beyond The Veil by Catherine Peckham and Susanne Valenti

Dark fantasy • The land of the dead • Fated and rejected mates • Morally gray characters • Forbidden magic

The stars called them. The Veil closed behind them. And death may not be the end of their story.

In this gripping bridge between Sorrow and Starlight and the epic conclusion of Zodiac Academy, the dead have stories of their own to tell. A Savage King, his queen, a betrayed son, a wronged brother, a scorned wife, and others lost too soon find themselves beyond the Veil, watching the living struggle against the stars that have shaped their fates.

From the other side of the divide, answers are tantalizingly close, but reaching across the boundary between life and death comes with its own dangers. Can those beyond the Veil find a way to help the people they left behind, and what might they have to sacrifice to do so?

Packed with dark magic, tangled loyalties, supernatural intrigue, and vital clues to the series' conclusion, Beyond the Veilis essential reading for Zodiac Academy fans. This bridging installment should be read after Book 8, Sorrow and Starlight, to avoid spoilers.

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5

The Vibe

This is an ensemble-driven story centered on beloved characters caught between life and death. Their perspectives reveal the emotional weight of what has unfolded, while their determination to reach the living brings fresh urgency to the larger battle.

Expect the signature Zodiac Academy mix of dangerous magic, complicated relationships, morally gray choices, supernatural creatures, and high-stakes fantasy. This installment deepens the world and offers important clues for readers preparing to enter the final stretch of the series.

Tropes & Tags

• Dark fantasy
• Dark academia world
• The land of the dead
• Fated and rejected mates
• Enemies to lovers
• Bully romance
• Found family
• Morally gray characters
• Elemental powers
• Forbidden love
• Supernatural politics
• Dragons and dragon shifters
• Vampires and werewolves
• Sirens and Pegasus
• Bridging installment with series-critical clues

Books in Series (In Order)

1. The Awakening (Zodiac Academy, #1)
2. Ruthless Fae (Zodiac Academy, #2)
3. The Reckoning (Zodiac Academy, #3)
4. Shadow Princess (Zodiac Academy, #4)
5. Cursed Fates (Zodiac Academy, #5)
6. Fated Throne (Zodiac Academy, #6)
7. Heartless Sky (Zodiac Academy, #7)
8. Sorrow and Starlight (Zodiac Academy, #8)
9. Beyond the Veil (Zodiac Academy, #8.5)
10. Restless Stars (Zodiac Academy, #9)

Reading note: Read Beyond the Veil after Sorrow and Starlight and before Restless Stars.

Print Reissue Features

• Exclusive bonus chapter
• Brand-new world map
• New cover
• Stunning interior chapter pages, also included in the previous edition