About the Zodiac Academy universe
Zodiac Academy is a Fae academy fantasy series by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti. It follows two sisters who discover they belong to the Fae world and must navigate a brutal magical college where the ruling elite are determined to keep them at the bottom. The universe has grown to include companion novellas, two spinoff series (Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac and Darkmore Penitentiary), and the ongoing Sins of Zodiac series - all interwoven and best read in the order below.
Complete reading order
All books placed in the recommended reading order. Numbers run continuously across all series and novellas so you always know where you are.
- Dark Fae (2019) Amazon
- Savage Fae (2019) Amazon
- Vicious Fae (2020) Amazon
- Broken Fae (2020) Amazon
- Warrior Fae (2021) Amazon
- Shadow Princess (2020) Amazon
- Cursed Fates (2020) Amazon
- The Big A.S.S. Party (2020, novella) Amazon
- Fated Throne (2020) Amazon
- Origins of an Academy Bully (2019, prequel novella) Amazon
- The Awakening As Told By The Boys (2021, book 1 from the boys' POV) Amazon
- Heartless Sky (2021) Amazon
- Sorrow and Starlight (2022, tandem) Amazon
- Beyond the Veil (2023, tandem companion) Amazon
- Restless Stars (2024) Amazon
Books 16 and 17 (Sorrow and Starlight / Beyond the Veil) are tandem volumes. Read them side by side, alternating between the two as the authors direct. Any additional short stories can be read after Restless Stars before continuing.
Your reading progress
Check off books as you finish them. Your progress is saved in your browser.
Reading Progress
0 of 25 read- The AwakeningReading
- Ruthless FaeReading
- The ReckoningReading
- Dark FaeReading
- Savage FaeReading
- Vicious FaeReading
- Broken FaeReading
- Warrior FaeReading
- Shadow PrincessReading
- Cursed FatesReading
- The Big A.S.S. PartyReading
- Fated ThroneReading
- Origins of an Academy BullyReading
- The Awakening As Told By The BoysReading
- Heartless SkyReading
- Sorrow and StarlightReading
- Beyond the VeilReading
- Restless StarsReading
- Caged WolfReading
- Alpha WolfReading
- Feral WolfReading
- Wild WolfReading
- Never KeepReading
- Echo FortReading
- Cinder ValeReading
Why reading order matters
- Each main series book opens immediately after the previous one ends, with no recap or re-introduction.
- The Ruthless Boys books share overlapping characters and world events with the main ZA series - reading them out of place means missing context.
- The Darkmore Penitentiary and Sins of Zodiac spinoffs reference events and characters from the later main series books.
Start with The Awakening and follow the order above. The prequel novella is intentionally placed after book 6, not at the beginning.
What to expect
Fae academy fantasy romance with slow-burn relationships, intense rivalry, and escalating stakes. Dark in places, with bully romance elements and high emotional investment. Fast-paced and easy to binge - most readers find the books hard to put down.
Content is intended for adult readers. If you enjoyed ACOTAR or Fourth Wing and want a long, interconnected series with a similar fantasy romance feel and an academy setting, this is a natural next pick.
FAQ
Can I start Zodiac Academy with any book?
No. Start with book one, The Awakening. The prequel novella (Origins of an Academy Bully) is placed later in the reading order - after book 6 - where it works best.
Do I need to read the Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac books?
Yes, if you want the full experience. These five books are placed between ZA book 3 and ZA book 4 in the recommended reading order and share the same world and some overlapping characters. You can technically skip them and follow the main ZA series, but reading them in order gives the most complete picture.
What does "tandem" mean for books 16 and 17?
Sorrow and Starlight and Beyond the Veil are tandem companion volumes released together. They cover the same events from different perspectives and are designed to be read side by side, alternating between the two books as the authors direct.
What is the Darkmore Penitentiary spinoff?
Darkmore Penitentiary is a four-book spinoff series set in the same Fae world. It is best read after completing the main Zodiac Academy series, as it shares characters and context from the later books.
What is the Sins of Zodiac series?
Sins of Zodiac is a three-book series set in the same universe, read after Darkmore Penitentiary. It is the final leg of the extended reading order listed on this page.
Do I need to read anything else before starting?
No. Zodiac Academy is a self-contained universe. No prior reading by Caroline Peckham or Susanne Valenti is required before the prequel or book one.
Is this guide spoiler-free?
Yes. All recommendations focus on reading order only and avoid plot details or reveals.