Should You Read Zodiac Academy?

My Honest Love and Hate Review of a Series That Is Both 1 Star and 5 Stars

Zodiac Academy is one of the most talked about fantasy romance series online and also one of the biggest commitments you can make as a reader. If you have ever wondered should you read Zodiac Academy, you are definitely not alone.

I want to start by saying this. I feel like I have a unique perspective on this series because for me, Zodiac Academy is both a 1 star and a 5 star series.

Yes. At the same time.
And honestly, that is the only answer that feels correct.

This is the most conflicted I have ever felt about any series, so if you are on the fence, you deserve the full truth before committing.

Thinking about starting Zodiac Academy and want to check it out for yourself?

👉 Grab the first book here:

Zodiac Academy Series Overview

Series: Zodiac Academy
Authors: Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
Status: Completed
Number of books: 12
Available on Kindle Unlimited: Yes

Romance level: High
Spice level: 🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞
Magic and fantasy level: High

Main tropes:
Dark academia, bully romance, enemies to lovers, destiny bonds, high angst and emotional torture, found family, morally grey love interests

Overall vibe: Messy, dramatic, addictive chaos

This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through one of my links, at no extra cost to you. As always, I only recommend books I have personally read and have honest thoughts on.

Why Zodiac Academy Is a 5 Star Series for Me

Oh Zodiac Academy. I have so many complicated feelings about you.

I absolutely loved the characters and this world. Truly. Some of these characters are still living rent free in my head and I was deeply attached to them.

One of the biggest reasons this series worked for me is the academy setting. Academy fantasy is one of my favorite tropes of all time. Harry Potter was my childhood obsession and honestly still is. Fourth Wing is my adult obsession.

Notice anything similar? Academy.

I loved the houses, the competition, and the sense of belonging to something bigger. I found myself trying to decide which house I would be in, probably water because I love water. That familiar structure made me feel right at home.

I also love long series. I enjoy escaping into a world and staying there. I like sticking with my characters instead of constantly starting over with something new. Zodiac Academy absolutely delivers on that.

And the zodiac magic was such a unique concept. It added something fresh that I genuinely enjoyed.

There is also one particular book in the series that I truly love. I will not say which one because I do not want to spoil anything, but it came at a really hard time in my life and brought me comfort during a very hard time. If you have read the series, you will probably know exactly which book I mean. It is quite a few books in.

So yes, there is a lot to love here.

Why Zodiac Academy Is Also a 1 Star Series for Me

Now let’s talk about the other side of this series.

The emotional torture.

Zodiac Academy is brutal. While that works for some readers, it does not work for me to this extent. I need some happiness. Some breathing room.

The series starts as a bully romance. And when I say enemies to lovers, I mean literally enemies. The bullying is intense enough that I genuinely could not see how the lovers part was ever going to happen in a believable way.

Then once that phase finally ends, the series shifts into what feels like constant devastation. Earth shattering things happen over and over again. Just when you think things might calm down, they do not.

I had to google spoilers many times just to decide whether I could emotionally handle continuing the series.

I did finish it. Partly because I was already so invested and partly because I am a completionist. But there was a lot of skimming toward the end.

Another issue for me was the number of POVs introduced later in the series. There were so many side characters whose perspectives I honestly did not care about. I just wanted to stay with my people.

This is why I could not even meet in the middle and give Zodiac Academy a 3 star rating. It genuinely earned both ends of the spectrum for me.

Do I Recommend Zodiac Academy?

Yes, with a very big if.

I recommend this series one hundred times yes if you enjoy intense rage, devastation, emotional chaos, high angst storytelling, and morally grey characters doing terrible things.

My personal reading preference leans more Hallmark than Lifetime. I enjoy some Lifetime in my books, but Zodiac Academy is almost entirely Lifetime with very little Hallmark.

If you want something lighter with happiness and time to actually enjoy the couple together before they are ripped into another catastrophe, this may not be the series for you.

Because this is such a long series, the emotional commitment really matters. If you do not enjoy that level of angst, this is a big commitment to push through.

Important: Zodiac Academy Is Part of a Larger Universe

One thing new readers often do not realize is that Zodiac Academy exists within a shared universe. There are companion series set in the same world that build off the universe without directly continuing the main characters’ stories.

Because of this, reading order matters if you want the full experience.

I will be creating a complete Zodiac Academy universe reading order soon to make this easier for new readers.

Final Thoughts

Zodiac Academy is unforgettable.
It is addictive.
It is emotionally exhausting.

For me, it will always be both a 1 star and a 5 star series, and honestly that is the most accurate rating I can give.

If after all of that you are still curious and want to experience the chaos for yourself, you can start the Zodiac Academy series here:

👉 Grab the first book in the series here:

Want More?

• Want book reviews and recaps? Check them out here.
• Want suggestions on what to read next? Find them here.
• Need a reading order or gift idea for a reader? Explore my guides here.

✨ Retreat into worlds where love and magic await.