The Awakening, Zodiac Academy (Book 1)

Reviewed by Ella Law

Updated September 29, 2025

Published March 11, 2025

Listen to an audio summary of this article below:

Table of Contents

• Content Rating

• Introduction & Why This Book Matters

• Plot Summary

• Key Takeaways & Insights

• The Most Interesting or Unexpected Part

• How This Book Applies to Real Life

• Final Rating (Should You Read It?)

Content Rating

🟡 CSR-3: Teen & YA – Contains Mature Themes

Read more about The Obsidian Library’s Content Rating Scale here.

⚠CW: 💔 Bullying & Hazing, 🚨 Sexual Harassment, 🩸 Violence, 💊 Alcohol/partying, 🧠 Mental Manipulation

This novel blends dark academia with a paranormal twist, set in a brutal magic school where power and status determine survival. It contains intense bullying, questionable consent dynamics, and morally gray characters, making it suitable for adult readers who enjoy dark romance and supernatural drama.

📖 Introduction & Why This Book Matters

The Awakening kicks off the Zodiac Academy series, a dark fantasy romance filled with fae politics, astrology-based magic, and a ruthless social hierarchy. It follows twin sisters, Tory and Darcy Vega, who discover they are long-lost Fae royalty and must navigate a world that wants them gone.

Why does this book matter? It taps into the rising popularity of dark academia and bully romance, testing the limits of morality, power, and control. While the themes can be uncomfortable at times, the novel is an absurdly compelling ride that will leave you questioning why you can't put it down. Yes, it's over the top. Yes, it's occasionally ridiculous. And yes, you'll likely be addicted by chapter three, frantically reaching for book two the moment you finish.

In the mortal world, Darcy breaks into her old apartment to steal back her hidden rent money

✍️ Plot Summary

The first book in the Zodiac Academy series, The Awakening, introduces us to twin sisters, Darcy and Tory Vega, as they struggle to survive on their own after aging out of the foster care system. Their lives take a sharp turn when Professor Orion of a prestigious magic academy finds them, revealing a shocking truth: they are not human, but long-lost Fae royalty, the heirs to the Solaria throne. Their biological parents, the King and Queen, swapped them for human babies to protect them from a looming threat before they were murdered. To claim their inheritance, the twins must graduate from Zodiac Academy.

Upon their arrival in Solaria, the Fae realm, the twins are immediately thrown into an opening ceremony where Professor Zenith awakens each student's elemental magic, which is tied to their astrological sign. While most Fae possess one element—Earth, Fire, Water, or Air—Tory and Darcy reveal an unprecedented ability to wield all four elements, stunning the entire academy. This display of power instantly puts them in direct conflict with the four Heirs who currently rule the school and were next in line for the throne: Darius Acrux, Caleb Altair, Max Rigel, and Seth Capella.

The Heirs immediately set out to establish their dominance through a series of increasingly vicious acts. In a hostile first meeting, Caleb, a vampire, bites Tory in a display of power, an act readers soon learn is linked to his unique "order," a shapeshifting creature that each Fae can transform into to access additional powers. Each order has a unique way to recharge their abilities. This aggressive act sets the tone for the brutal bully-romance that follows.

The conflict escalates when the twins are sorted into dormitories based on their magical elements, and Professor Nova forces them to choose separate houses. Darcy chooses Seth's House Aer, perceiving him to be the least dangerous, while Tory is inexplicably drawn to Darius's House Ignis. Their first night culminates in a humiliating hazing ritual. Seth tortures Darcy with a cruel prank while Darius burns Tory's clothes off with fire in front of the entire House Ignis, an event that goes viral on the school's social media, FaeBook.

Recognizing their vulnerability, Principal Nova assigns them staff tutors. Professor Orion chooses to mentor Darcy, coining his signature nickname for her, "Blue," while Tory is assigned the no-nonsense Professor Prestos. Despite this support, the bullying from the Heirs intensifies. Caleb claims Tory as his personal "blood source," and Darcy is ambushed in the woods, encased in mud by the Heirs' combined powers. During a mentoring lesson, Orion (also a vampire) bites Darcy and discovers she is exceptionally powerful, claiming her as his source to "protect" her from the other Vampires at the school.

Tory, refusing to be a passive victim, publicly confronts the student who posted the nude photo of her, using her burgeoning powers to humiliate him. Her defiant nature captures the attention of Darius, whose volatile interactions with her are charged with a mix of animosity and attraction. Amidst the torment, the twins form alliances with other students, and their magical abilities grow. However, ominous prophecies emerge from their astrology class, warning of deception and danger from enemies made of "fire and shadow."

The book's climax unfolds at the school dance. In a devastating betrayal, Seth seduces Darcy before brutally cutting off her hair. Concurrently, Max and Darius attack Tory, repeatedly freezing the water in the swimming pool to drown her. Professor Orion intervenes just in time to save her. A sudden scream interrupts the horrific scene as the Astrology professor is found murdered, his body burned. An enchanted letter, written on a Tarot card by the victim, flies to the twins, delivering a cryptic final message: the answers to their parents' murder lie "between Leo and Libra," followed by a desperate plea for them to claim the throne.

Tory and Darcy meet new friends, Geraldine and Diego, where they spend their meals together in The Orb

💡 Key Takeaways & Insights

1. Dark Academia with a Paranormal Twist Zodiac Academy isn't your average magic school; it's a cutthroat Fae institution where the strong dominate and the weak suffer. Think Harry Potter meets Game of Thrones with a splash of astrology-based powers and spice.

2. Bullying as a Core Plot Device This book leans heavily into the bully-romance trope, where the main characters endure hazing, manipulation, and physical altercations. Unlike traditional romances, the male leads (The Heirs) start as antagonists, creating a dynamic that isn't for everyone. But, don't write them off too quickly. Their character arcs across the series are some of the most satisfying in fantasy romance.

3. Sisters Against the World Tory and Darcy's relationship forms the book's emotional core. Their bond and resilience make them easy to root for, even when the world around them is cruel beyond measure.

4. A Morally Gray Cast of Characters Few characters in The Awakening can be considered purely good or evil. The Heirs—Darius, Caleb, Max, and Seth—are powerful, entitled, and dangerously unpredictable, while the protagonists must decide how much darkness they're willing to embrace to survive. The beauty lies in watching these characters evolve in ways you'd never expect.

5. Magic That Ties to Identity Each Fae's abilities are linked to their astrological sign and birth time, adding a twist to the fantasy genre. The novel explores destiny, self-discovery, and the burden of power in a world where magic is both a gift and a weapon.

🤯 The Most Interesting or Unexpected Part 

One of the most intriguing aspects of The Awakening is how it plays with the reader's emotions. The Heirs are objectively terrible to Tory and Darcy. Yet, the narrative slowly peels back layers of their behavior, revealing deeper motives and setting up redemption arcs that will have you flip-flopping between wanting to throttle them and wanting to protect them. This emotional rollercoaster creates an addictive reading experience that defies logic. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself devouring chapters at 3 AM while simultaneously questioning your literary life choices.

🏛️ How This Book Applies to Real Life 

Who should read The Awakening?

• Readers who enjoy dark romance, Fae fantasy, and the enemies-to-lovers trope

• Fans of Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and The Cruel Prince

• Those who can handle heavy bullying themes and morally ambiguous love interests

• Anyone looking for an addictive series that will monopolize their thoughts for weeks

Beyond the fantasy elements, the book explores resilience, power dynamics, and finding inner strength in hostile environments. While it doesn't provide a "healthy" romance, it captures the intensity of toxic attraction and survival in a ruthless world while taking you on a character development journey that will have you reconsidering your first impressions.

📚 Final Rating: "Guilty Pleasure" Shelf-Worthy 

🎯 Should you read it? If you love dark, angsty fantasy romance with morally gray characters and can handle the heavy bullying aspects, absolutely. This might not be your cup of tea if you prefer clear-cut heroes and healthy relationships.

🔥 Final Thought: The Awakening isn't for the faint of heart; it's dramatic, intense, and unapologetically messy. It's also ridiculously addictive in the best possible way. You'll roll your eyes at the excessive drama one minute and find yourself frantically turning pages the next. Don't be surprised if you finish book one and immediately download books two through eight in a single sitting. This series has a mysterious hold on its readers that defies explanation, and watching characters you initially despise evolve into ones you fiercely love is part of the magic that keeps readers coming back for more.