[ 477 ]

[katara]

Origins of an Academy Bully by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

Series:
Zodiac Academy #.5

Genre:
Magic, Astrology, the Fae, Romance, Paranormal, Supernatural, Academia, Fantasy, Dragons, Vampires, New Adult, Enemies to Lovers, Book Series, Bully Romance, Urban Fantasy, BookTok, Dark, Werewolves, Spicy Romance


Publication Date:
July 10, 2019

Read Date:
June 2nd, 2023

Date Finished:
June 3rd, 2023

Rating:
3/5

Blurb:

Dark magic is forbidden at Zodiac Academy.
That's why I hide it so well.

But now I'm supposed to mentor Darius Acrux: the son of the most ruthless Dragon Shifter in Solaria.

If he's caught using blood magic, he'll lose his claim to the throne.

The problem is? Our families are up to something, and we're determined to find out what. No matter what dark power we must turn to...

Welcome to Zodiac Academy, where your star sign defines your destiny.

As the Fae of the future, you will soon learn the merciless way to claim your power. Life among the Vampires, Shifters and Sirens is no easy ride, but if you can make it through your exams, you might just be able to harness your inner strength and earn your place among the elite.

This is a prequel novella set four years before Zodiac Academy: The Awakening, Book 1 in the Supernatural Bullies and Beasts series.

Review:

Four years before the start of book one and even before Solaria became aware of the Vega twins, the Celestial Heirs have come into their inheritance and have been preparing to enter into the Zodiac Academy. Each one has come to the academy early to get a feel of the school. Darius has been placed into the hands of Lance Orion and the two share a tight bond.

Lance, on the other hand, is in his last year of the academy and is one of the rising stars for Pitball. Many believe that the teams will come calling for him the moment he graduates. But one fateful night, his sister appears and Lance senses something is wrong. Although he does try to prod her, she doesn't tell him anything. This draws concern and with Darius's help in his dragon form, the two of them set off to find exactly what is going on.

Dreams once bright and shining come crumbling down quickly as secrets begin to unravel and a bond is forced upon Darius and Lance.

A prequel to the main series, I like that we get a glimpse into the relationship between Darius and Lance and a bit of their history together. My heart broke for both boys. Neither of the boys deserved their fate nor should one have been forced to give up their dreams. It was not fair to either of them.

As for Clara, I am not sure where to rank her: victim or deserving of her fate. I am stuck in the middle because I believe that although she was a victim of her mother and Darius's father, I also believe that she knew what she was getting into. I also believe that she should have explained things to Lance instead of being vague and all. This was not fair to either of the boys and maybe she does deserve her fate in the end.

This book was a nice quick read.

[ 478 ]

[katara]

The Awakening as Told by the Boys by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

Series:
Zodiac Academy #1.5

Genre:
Magic, Astrology, the Fae, Romance, Paranormal, Supernatural, Academia, Fantasy, Dragons, Vampires, New Adult, Enemies to Lovers, Book Series, Bully Romance, Urban Fantasy, BookTok, Dark, Werewolves, Spicy Romance


Publication Date:
August 29, 2021

Read Date:
June 3rd, 2023

Date Finished:
June 3rd, 2023

Rating:
2/5

Blurb:

**This is a retelling of book 1 of Zodiac Academy from the perspective of Orion, Darius, Caleb, Seth and Max**

The Vega twins are alive.

Those five words circle in my mind like an oncoming storm. They change everything about the future we thought had been set in stone. They challenge everything we were raised to be and the stability of the entire kingdom.

They’re coming to our academy looking for the life that was stolen from them, but we can’t let them take it back.

So much hangs in the balance and we can’t risk the arrival of two naïve princesses destroying everything we worked so hard for.

I have trained in dark magic, overcome all challenges and stood in the shadow of Lionel Acrux for far too long already. I won’t let them come between me and his downfall.

Which means they have to go before they discover how powerful they truly are.

Review:

I am trying to understand this - an author (or in this case authors) would think that beating a dead horse was necessary for their first book to be told from totally different points of view. These views are the Celestial Heirs and Lance. I get that they want us to understand what brought about a lot of their abuse toward the twins but couldn't all of this have been told in the first book? Do you know from either multiple points of view or just a third point of view? I just find all of this unnecessary and it does not change much of my views on the Celestial Heirs.

Yes, I understand they are under pressure and have no choice but to obey the orders of their parents, especially Darius. I get all of that but all of this does not change a wrong to a right. None of it and this has made me like any of the Celestial Heirs less.

As for Lance, I am not sure where to put him.

Maybe my opinion will change as I get further into the books but right now - I am on the fence with these books. I have come close to stopping but I have been told that the books seem to get a bit better as we go further into the story.

So, I guess we will see.