Blood and Ash
romantic fantasy
Series · fantasy romance
Zodiac Academy
The Zodiac Academy series by Caroline Peckham has 13 known books (13 published) and is best read in publication order, starting with The Awakening (2019). The latest book with a fully recorded publication date is Restless Stars.
- Books
- 13 known books (9 novels + 2 novellas + 1 short story + 1 companion)
- Published
- 13
- First published
- 2019
- Status
- completed
- Last checked
Start here: The Awakening (2019) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
The Awakening
The Awakening (2019, 484 pages) opens Zodiac Academy, introducing twins Tory and Darcy Vega as they discover they're the lost Fae heirs to the throne of Solaria and collide with the four ruthless Celestial Heirs raised to inherit it. It sets the bully-romance tone -- astrology-flavored magic, brutal cliffhangers, warfare instead of rivalry -- that Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti carry through all nine main books.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Awakening - Book 2:
Ruthless Fae
Ruthless Fae (2019, 538 pages) is the second Zodiac Academy novel, following The Awakening and preceding the prequel novella Origins of an Academy Bully in the reading order. The twins' war with the four Celestial Heirs escalates further, in keeping with the series' long, cliffhanger-heavy structure.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Ruthless Fae - Book 3:
Origins of an Academy Bully
Origins of an Academy Bully (2019, 127 pages) is a prequel novella slotting into Zodiac Academy between Ruthless Fae and The Reckoning, though it's best enjoyed later, once readers know the Celestial Heir it centers on -- Peckham and Valenti place it for context around book six or seven rather than as an early read.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Origins of an Academy Bully - Book 4:
The Reckoning
The Reckoning (2020, 528 pages) holds the third position in Zodiac Academy, continuing Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti's escalation from academy cruelty toward kingdom-level war between Tory and Darcy Vega and the Celestial Heirs.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Reckoning - Book 5:
Shadow Princess
Shadow Princess (2020, 653 pages), written jointly by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, continues Zodiac Academy after The Reckoning as the fourth main novel, deepening the enemies-to-lovers arcs that take entire volumes to turn across the series.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Shadow Princess - Book 6:
Cursed Fates
Running 704 pages, Cursed Fates (2020) continues Zodiac Academy after Shadow Princess as the fifth main novel, part of the series' sprawling, escalating structure between the twin heirs and the Celestial Heirs sent to destroy them.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Cursed Fates - Book 7:
The Big A.S.S. Party
The Big A.S.S. Party (2020, 119 pages) is a short extra slotting into Zodiac Academy between Cursed Fates and Fated Throne, best read straight after Cursed Fates for maximum effect, in keeping with how the series' novellas are timed to land at specific emotional beats.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Big A.S.S. Party - Book 8:
Fated Throne
Fated Throne (2020, 664 pages) is the sixth Zodiac Academy novel, sitting between the short piece The Big A.S.S. Party and the spin-off retelling The Awakening as Told by the Boys in the series' extras-inclusive reading order. The bully-romance stakes keep climbing toward kingdom-level conflict.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Fated Throne - Book 9:
The Awakening as Told by the Boys
Running 560 pages, The Awakening as Told by the Boys (2021) continues Zodiac Academy after Fated Throne by retelling the events of the first novel from the point of view of the four Celestial Heirs -- one of several extras Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti wove into the main reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Awakening as Told by the Boys - Book 10:
Heartless Sky
Heartless Sky (2021, 714 pages) is the seventh Zodiac Academy novel, arriving between the extra The Awakening as Told by the Boys and Sorrow and Starlight. It continues the sprawling cast and brutal cliffhangers that have made the series a BookTok staple, including its infamous mid-series twist.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Heartless Sky - Book 11:
Sorrow and Starlight
Running 831 pages, Sorrow and Starlight (2022) continues Zodiac Academy after Heartless Sky as the eighth main novel, one of the longest entries in a series known for escalating length as the story moves from academy politics to full kingdom war.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Sorrow and Starlight - Book 12:
Beyond the Veil
Beyond the Veil (2023, 416 pages) is book 8.5 of Zodiac Academy, sitting between Sorrow and Starlight and the series finale Restless Stars. Like the other Zodiac Academy extras, it's positioned to be read only after its preceding main-line novel for full effect.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Beyond the Veil - Book 13:
Restless Stars
Restless Stars (2024, 910 pages), co-written by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, closes out Zodiac Academy's main nine-book arc, following the extra Beyond the Veil. It's the ending of the continuous, heavily cliffhung story that began with The Awakening in 2019.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Restless Stars
The order the story's events happen in, novellas slotted where they belong.
- Book 1:
Origins of an Academy Bully
Origins of an Academy Bully (2019, 127 pages) is a prequel novella slotting into Zodiac Academy between Ruthless Fae and The Reckoning, though it's best enjoyed later, once readers know the Celestial Heir it centers on -- Peckham and Valenti place it for context around book six or seven rather than as an early read.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Origins of an Academy Bully - Book 2:
The Awakening
The Awakening (2019, 484 pages) opens Zodiac Academy, introducing twins Tory and Darcy Vega as they discover they're the lost Fae heirs to the throne of Solaria and collide with the four ruthless Celestial Heirs raised to inherit it. It sets the bully-romance tone -- astrology-flavored magic, brutal cliffhangers, warfare instead of rivalry -- that Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti carry through all nine main books.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Awakening - Book 3:
The Awakening as Told by the Boys
Running 560 pages, The Awakening as Told by the Boys (2021) continues Zodiac Academy after Fated Throne by retelling the events of the first novel from the point of view of the four Celestial Heirs -- one of several extras Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti wove into the main reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Awakening as Told by the Boys - Book 4:
Ruthless Fae
Ruthless Fae (2019, 538 pages) is the second Zodiac Academy novel, following The Awakening and preceding the prequel novella Origins of an Academy Bully in the reading order. The twins' war with the four Celestial Heirs escalates further, in keeping with the series' long, cliffhanger-heavy structure.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Ruthless Fae - Book 5:
The Reckoning
The Reckoning (2020, 528 pages) holds the third position in Zodiac Academy, continuing Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti's escalation from academy cruelty toward kingdom-level war between Tory and Darcy Vega and the Celestial Heirs.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Reckoning - Book 6:
Shadow Princess
Shadow Princess (2020, 653 pages), written jointly by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, continues Zodiac Academy after The Reckoning as the fourth main novel, deepening the enemies-to-lovers arcs that take entire volumes to turn across the series.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Shadow Princess - Book 7:
Cursed Fates
Running 704 pages, Cursed Fates (2020) continues Zodiac Academy after Shadow Princess as the fifth main novel, part of the series' sprawling, escalating structure between the twin heirs and the Celestial Heirs sent to destroy them.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Cursed Fates - Book 8:
The Big A.S.S. Party
The Big A.S.S. Party (2020, 119 pages) is a short extra slotting into Zodiac Academy between Cursed Fates and Fated Throne, best read straight after Cursed Fates for maximum effect, in keeping with how the series' novellas are timed to land at specific emotional beats.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Big A.S.S. Party - Book 9:
Fated Throne
Fated Throne (2020, 664 pages) is the sixth Zodiac Academy novel, sitting between the short piece The Big A.S.S. Party and the spin-off retelling The Awakening as Told by the Boys in the series' extras-inclusive reading order. The bully-romance stakes keep climbing toward kingdom-level conflict.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Fated Throne - Book 10:
Heartless Sky
Heartless Sky (2021, 714 pages) is the seventh Zodiac Academy novel, arriving between the extra The Awakening as Told by the Boys and Sorrow and Starlight. It continues the sprawling cast and brutal cliffhangers that have made the series a BookTok staple, including its infamous mid-series twist.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Heartless Sky - Book 11:
Sorrow and Starlight
Running 831 pages, Sorrow and Starlight (2022) continues Zodiac Academy after Heartless Sky as the eighth main novel, one of the longest entries in a series known for escalating length as the story moves from academy politics to full kingdom war.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Sorrow and Starlight - Book 12:
Beyond the Veil
Beyond the Veil (2023, 416 pages) is book 8.5 of Zodiac Academy, sitting between Sorrow and Starlight and the series finale Restless Stars. Like the other Zodiac Academy extras, it's positioned to be read only after its preceding main-line novel for full effect.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Beyond the Veil - Book 13:
Restless Stars
Restless Stars (2024, 910 pages), co-written by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, closes out Zodiac Academy's main nine-book arc, following the extra Beyond the Veil. It's the ending of the continuous, heavily cliffhung story that began with The Awakening in 2019.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Restless Stars
Our shelf-tested path for first-time readers.
- Book 1:
The Awakening
The Awakening (2019, 484 pages) opens Zodiac Academy, introducing twins Tory and Darcy Vega as they discover they're the lost Fae heirs to the throne of Solaria and collide with the four ruthless Celestial Heirs raised to inherit it. It sets the bully-romance tone -- astrology-flavored magic, brutal cliffhangers, warfare instead of rivalry -- that Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti carry through all nine main books.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Awakening - Book 2:
The Awakening as Told by the Boys
Running 560 pages, The Awakening as Told by the Boys (2021) continues Zodiac Academy after Fated Throne by retelling the events of the first novel from the point of view of the four Celestial Heirs -- one of several extras Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti wove into the main reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Awakening as Told by the Boys - Book 3:
Ruthless Fae
Ruthless Fae (2019, 538 pages) is the second Zodiac Academy novel, following The Awakening and preceding the prequel novella Origins of an Academy Bully in the reading order. The twins' war with the four Celestial Heirs escalates further, in keeping with the series' long, cliffhanger-heavy structure.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Ruthless Fae - Book 4:
The Reckoning
The Reckoning (2020, 528 pages) holds the third position in Zodiac Academy, continuing Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti's escalation from academy cruelty toward kingdom-level war between Tory and Darcy Vega and the Celestial Heirs.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Reckoning - Book 5:
Shadow Princess
Shadow Princess (2020, 653 pages), written jointly by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, continues Zodiac Academy after The Reckoning as the fourth main novel, deepening the enemies-to-lovers arcs that take entire volumes to turn across the series.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Shadow Princess - Book 6:
Cursed Fates
Running 704 pages, Cursed Fates (2020) continues Zodiac Academy after Shadow Princess as the fifth main novel, part of the series' sprawling, escalating structure between the twin heirs and the Celestial Heirs sent to destroy them.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Cursed Fates - Book 7:
The Big A.S.S. Party
The Big A.S.S. Party (2020, 119 pages) is a short extra slotting into Zodiac Academy between Cursed Fates and Fated Throne, best read straight after Cursed Fates for maximum effect, in keeping with how the series' novellas are timed to land at specific emotional beats.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Big A.S.S. Party - Book 8:
Fated Throne
Fated Throne (2020, 664 pages) is the sixth Zodiac Academy novel, sitting between the short piece The Big A.S.S. Party and the spin-off retelling The Awakening as Told by the Boys in the series' extras-inclusive reading order. The bully-romance stakes keep climbing toward kingdom-level conflict.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Fated Throne - Book 9:
Origins of an Academy Bully
Origins of an Academy Bully (2019, 127 pages) is a prequel novella slotting into Zodiac Academy between Ruthless Fae and The Reckoning, though it's best enjoyed later, once readers know the Celestial Heir it centers on -- Peckham and Valenti place it for context around book six or seven rather than as an early read.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Origins of an Academy Bully - Book 10:
Heartless Sky
Heartless Sky (2021, 714 pages) is the seventh Zodiac Academy novel, arriving between the extra The Awakening as Told by the Boys and Sorrow and Starlight. It continues the sprawling cast and brutal cliffhangers that have made the series a BookTok staple, including its infamous mid-series twist.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Heartless Sky - Book 11:
Sorrow and Starlight
Running 831 pages, Sorrow and Starlight (2022) continues Zodiac Academy after Heartless Sky as the eighth main novel, one of the longest entries in a series known for escalating length as the story moves from academy politics to full kingdom war.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Sorrow and Starlight - Book 12:
Beyond the Veil
Beyond the Veil (2023, 416 pages) is book 8.5 of Zodiac Academy, sitting between Sorrow and Starlight and the series finale Restless Stars. Like the other Zodiac Academy extras, it's positioned to be read only after its preceding main-line novel for full effect.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Beyond the Veil - Book 13:
Restless Stars
Restless Stars (2024, 910 pages), co-written by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, closes out Zodiac Academy's main nine-book arc, following the extra Beyond the Veil. It's the ending of the continuous, heavily cliffhung story that began with The Awakening in 2019.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Restless Stars
About the Zodiac Academy series
Zodiac Academy follows twins Tory and Darcy Vega, broke and scraping by in the mortal world, who discover they are Fae — and not just any Fae, but the lost heirs to the throne of Solaria. Enrolled at Zodiac Academy, a school where power is everything and mercy is weakness, they immediately collide with the four Celestial Heirs: ruthless, privileged young men raised to inherit the throne the twins' existence now threatens. What the Heirs deliver is not rivalry but outright warfare, and the series never pretends otherwise.
This is bully romance at maximum voltage, wrapped in an astrology-flavored magic system where star signs and elemental Orders shape each Fae's power. Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti write long, escalating books that shift from academy cruelty to kingdom-level war, with a sprawling cast, brutal cliffhangers, and a willingness to hurt beloved characters that has become the series' calling card — one mid-series twist is infamous across BookTok.
Expect explicit content, dark themes, and enemies-to-lovers arcs that take entire volumes to turn. It suits readers who want their romantasy soapy, savage, and enormous: nine main books, several novellas, and a connected universe of spin-offs. Newcomers should commit to at least three books — the slow-burn structure is the point.
Frequently asked questions
How many books are in the Zodiac Academy series?
Nine main books, from The Awakening (2019) to Restless Stars (2024), plus several extras: the prequel novella Origins of an Academy Bully, the companion The Awakening as Told by the Boys, the short The Big A.S.S. Party, and the novella Beyond the Veil.
What order should I read Zodiac Academy in?
Read the nine numbered books in order: The Awakening, Ruthless Fae, The Reckoning, Shadow Princess, Cursed Fates, Fated Throne, Heartless Sky, Sorrow and Starlight, Restless Stars. Slot the novellas in where their numbering suggests — most importantly, read Beyond the Veil (8.5) only after Sorrow and Starlight.
Is Zodiac Academy finished?
Yes — Restless Stars (2024) concluded the twins' story. The authors continue to publish in the same universe, including the Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac and Darkmore Penitentiary spin-off series.
Do I need to read the spin-off series too?
No. Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac and Darkmore Penitentiary enrich the world and share some characters, but the main nine books tell a complete story on their own. Many fans read Ruthless Boys alongside or after the main series.
Is Zodiac Academy YA?
No — despite the academy setting it is firmly adult, with explicit romance, violence, and dark bullying themes. It is generally recommended for readers 18+.
If you like the Zodiac Academy series
Reading order last verified .