Think twice if…
- Content warnings: Bullying, Violence, Graphic violence, Abuse, Emotional abuse, Attempted sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationships, Classism
The Awakening
by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti
Book 1 in Zodiac Academy
Dark fae academy where four cruel heirs make the Vega twins pay for existing, and somehow you root for the villains.
Goodreads 3.8/5 437,481 ratings
Quick fit
Is this story right for you?
A decision-first view of the reading experience.
Length436 pages
Series statusCompleted series
Spice3/5 · Tension / anticipation
PacingMedium
Story profile
What the story promises
The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.
Romance promise
- Enemies to lovers
- Why Choose / Reverse Harem
- Slow burn
- Medium
- Tension / anticipation
- Addictive read
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- Morally gray
- Love/hate tension
- Longing glances
- Feral brain activated
- Possessive alpha
- Power imbalance
- Possessive / claiming
- Tension finally satisfied
- Dark/tortured soul
- Possessive love interest
- Dominant vibes
- Book hangover incoming
- Villain
- Morally gray love interest (LI)
- Tension
- Fae prince
- Predator x prey
- Anticipation
- Dragon shifter
- Push and pull
- Possessive/protective
- Jealous/possessive during intimacy
- Power exchange
- Dominance
- Possessive
Fantasy promise
- Romantasy
- Fae romance
- Academy / campus
- High fantasy
- Fae
- Bully romance
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- Competition / games
- Academy / school
- Dragons
- Dark academia romance
- Fae realm / faerie courts
- Shifters
- Secret heir/royalty
- Vampires
- Forbidden love
- Werewolves
- Fated mates
Reading experience
- Multi-POV
- Dark
- Dramatic
- Heavy
- High
- Royalty
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- Intense
- Banter-heavy
- Reluctant chosen one
- Angsty
- Immersive
- Snarky/sarcastic
- Edgy
- Survivor
- Tense
- Punchy
- Brooding
- Seductive
Similar stories
Similar in ways that matter
Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.
536 pages Completed series
Dark Fae
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Similar because
Why Choose / Reverse Harem · Snarky/sarcastic · Werewolves
Different because
Spice is higher (4/5 vs 3/5). Fast pacing rather than Medium.
456 pages Ongoing series
Fate of a Royal
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Similar because
Predator x prey · Secret heir/royalty · Dark academia romance
Different because
Spice is higher (5/5 vs 3/5).
464 pages Ongoing series
Drakkon: Serpent Prince
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Similar because
Royalty · Dragon shifter · Secret heir/royalty
Different because
Spice is higher (4/5 vs 3/5).
Book details
- Length
- 436 pages
- Language
- English
- Format
- Book