About the Zodiac Academy universe
Zodiac Academy is chaotic, addictive, dramatic, and very easy to half-devour and half-survive once it gets hold of you. You come for the academy rivalries, elemental magic, and ruthless power plays, and then suddenly you are deep in a much larger universe trying to figure out when every novella and spinoff fits. It is also a spicier fantasy romance read, with plenty of heat alongside the angst and mayhem, so for readers who like their magical worlds intense in every direction, that is part of the appeal. Once you are in, wanting one clear path through the whole universe makes perfect sense.
Who this order is for
- You want the fullest version of the Zodiac Academy universe, not just the core academy books.
- You do not mind hopping into connected spinoffs when they improve later payoffs.
- You want one order you can follow without having to cross-check fan threads.
- You only want the shortest route through the main academy story.
- You dislike long shared-universe reading projects.
- You want to avoid side series unless they are absolutely required.
Shortest version of this universe
Read the main Zodiac Academy books first, then decide whether you want the wider universe.
That means starting with The Awakening and continuing through the main sequence. If you are unsure whether this world is for you, this is the lowest-friction entry path.
What you can safely skip
- Origins of an Academy Bully if you want to stay with the main story momentum.
- The Awakening As Told By The Boys if you do not care about alternate POV material yet.
- Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac if your goal is the shortest path, not the fullest experience.
- Darkmore Penitentiary and Sins of Zodiac if you are satisfied after the main universe arc.
Do not jump past the main Zodiac Academy numbered books. The core series is one continuous story and works best in sequence from book one onward.
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.
- Zodiac Academy Book 1: The Awakening (2019) Amazon
- Zodiac Academy Book 2: Ruthless Fae (2019) Amazon
- Zodiac Academy Book 3: The Reckoning (2019) Amazon
- Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac Book 1: Dark Fae (2019) Amazon
- Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac Book 2: Savage Fae (2019) Amazon
- Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac Book 3: Vicious Fae (2020) Amazon
- Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac Book 4: Broken Fae (2020) Amazon
- Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac Book 5: Warrior Fae (2021) Amazon
- Zodiac Academy Book 4: Shadow Princess (2020) Amazon
- Zodiac Academy Book 5: Cursed Fates (2020) Amazon
- Zodiac Academy Novella 5.5: The Big A.S.S. Party (2020, novella) Amazon
- Zodiac Academy Book 6: Fated Throne (2020) Amazon
- Zodiac Academy Novella 0.5: Origins of an Academy Bully (2019, prequel novella) Amazon
- Zodiac Academy Novella 1.5: The Awakening As Told By The Boys (2021, book 1 from the boys' POV) Amazon
- Zodiac Academy Book 7: Heartless Sky (2021) Amazon
- Zodiac Academy Book 8: Sorrow and Starlight (2022, tandem) Amazon
- Zodiac Academy Book 8.5: Beyond the Veil (2023, tandem companion) Amazon
- Zodiac Academy Book 9: 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.
- Darkmore Penitentiary Book 1: Caged Wolf (2020) Amazon
- Darkmore Penitentiary Book 2: Alpha Wolf (2020) Amazon
- Darkmore Penitentiary Book 3: Feral Wolf (2021) Amazon
- Darkmore Penitentiary Book 4: Wild Wolf (2024) Amazon
Your reading progress
Check off books as you finish them. Your progress is saved in your browser.
Reading Progress
0 of 25 read- Zodiac Academy Book 1: The AwakeningReading
- Zodiac Academy Book 2: Ruthless FaeReading
- Zodiac Academy Book 3: The ReckoningReading
- Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac Book 1: Dark FaeReading
- Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac Book 2: Savage FaeReading
- Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac Book 3: Vicious FaeReading
- Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac Book 4: Broken FaeReading
- Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac Book 5: Warrior FaeReading
- Zodiac Academy Book 4: Shadow PrincessReading
- Zodiac Academy Book 5: Cursed FatesReading
- Zodiac Academy Novella 5.5: The Big A.S.S. PartyReading
- Zodiac Academy Book 6: Fated ThroneReading
- Zodiac Academy Novella 0.5: Origins of an Academy BullyReading
- Zodiac Academy Novella 1.5: The Awakening As Told By The BoysReading
- Zodiac Academy Book 7: Heartless SkyReading
- Zodiac Academy Book 8: Sorrow and StarlightReading
- Zodiac Academy Book 8.5: Beyond the VeilReading
- Zodiac Academy Book 9: Restless StarsReading
- Darkmore Penitentiary Book 1: Caged WolfReading
- Darkmore Penitentiary Book 2: Alpha WolfReading
- Darkmore Penitentiary Book 3: Feral WolfReading
- Darkmore Penitentiary Book 4: Wild WolfReading
- Sins of Zodiac Book 1: Never KeepReading
- Sins of Zodiac Book 2: Echo FortReading
- Sins of Zodiac Book 3: 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.
Why this order
This order prioritizes clarity, payoff, and spoiler-free sequencing. It is designed to help first-time readers avoid jumping into later shared-universe material too early while still preserving the bigger cross-series connections.
If you only want the core academy storyline and do not care about wider-universe context, a trimmed main-series-first route may suit you better. This page intentionally favors the fuller experience over the shortest possible commitment.
Editorial note: this page is written for readers trying to avoid spoilers and decision fatigue. The goal is not to force every optional read, but to make the tradeoffs clear enough that you can choose the version of the universe you actually want.
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.