Zodiac Academy: Origins of an Academy Bully is a short novella by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti that takes place in Solaria shortly before the events of Zodiac Academy.
3 years before they attended Zodiac Academy, the Celestial Heirs Awakening take place and they spend a week at Zodiac Academy. Darius Acrux, the celestial Heir of Fire and Lance Orion a star pitball player whose familly has been allied with Acruxes for centuries try to figure out the nefarious plans of Lionel Acrux, Darius’s Father and current Celestial Councillor of fire.
After taking a break from the current events of Zodiac Academy to read Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac series per the reading order, I jumped right back into Zodiac Academy with the Origins of Academy Bullies.
Written by the POVs of my two favorite characters, this story was a short but definiitely sweet way to get back into the main events of Soaria.
I am now more than fired up to watch these wonderful characters to take Lionel Acrux.
Read our ful summary, review and ending explained of Zodiac Academy Origins of an Academy bully. This post contains spoilers.
Origins of an Academy Bully
Description
Tropes
- Dark Academia
- Bully Romance
- Enemies to lovers
- Forbidden Love
- Found Family
- Lost Heir
Review
Who's Your Favorite Zodiac Academy Character? ♊
Who's Your Favorite Zodiac Academy Character? ♊
Overall Impressions 😊
Origins of an Academy Bully was a great way to go back to Solaria before diving back into the main story.
I was surprised Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac glazes over the change in Orion and this prequel answers every question we might have.
It brings light to the history of Darius and Orion’s dynamic and shines a light on a part of the history that we’re only told in glimpses in the Zodiac Academy series.
I fully understand why this prequel novella sits between finishing Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac and going back to the main series.
This alongside The Awakening as Told By The Boys will remind me of everything I need to know before jumping back into ZA with Shadow Princess.
Perfect For Fans Of… 🌟
Anybody who enjoys the universe of Solaria, loves diving deep into lore and could not get enough of my two favorite narrators, Darius and Orion, should read this book.
Characters 👥
The story follows Darius and Orion who we’ve gotten to know pretty well in the first three books of Zodiac Academy.
We’re given glimpses of who they were before Lionel came in like a wrecking ball, which is even worse in Orion’s case because we saw how full of light he was in Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac.
While Lionel Acrux and Stella are no strangers to the path of destiny they set the characters on, seeing what happens to Lance’s sister Clara Orion was truly devastating.
Looking at young Darius and Lance made me reconsider the character development of these two characters in the current events and made me root for them even more.
Plot 🗺️
The backstory follows 15 year old Darius who has just Awakened and Lance Orion who is just graduating from Zodiac Academy.
While the friendship between the two boys is already pretty strong way before the Vega twins arrive at Zodiac Academy, this is the origin story of the Guardian Bond between Darius and Lance.
We find out about Lionel’s plans and the merciless way he tries to get everything he’s ever wanted.
Darius, as the son of the most ruthless dragon shifter, begins fighting for his freedom and dignity.
Lance Orion, having seen Lionel take everything from him, decides to mentor Darius Acrux and teach him everything he knows about dark magic in order to someday be able to fight against Lionel Acrux.
The story is just long enough to cover the bits we’re only told in passing while giving a closer look at how far Lionel is willing to go in order to get what he thinks he’s owed.
I was looking for some RBOTZ cameos in this book since it sits between Ruthless Boys and Zodiac Academy, but either way it’s a nice novella to bridge the gap.
I truly appreciated getting to read this future nostalgia we experience in this book, having been told what happened in bits and pieces in Zodiac Academy already.
My Favorite Quote to Hook You 📣
“But just in case you do, I’m not available as a godfather to your goblin kids.”
Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti, Zodiac Academy: Origins of an Academy Bully
Writing Style and Narration ✍️
This is a Zodiac Academy story written by our favorite twisted sisters through and through.
There’s plenty of homage to the fans, like the origin story of how Darius started allowing people to ride him just like Dante as an act of rebellion, his first meeting with Mildred, and Xavier’s eventual order form being hinted here and there.
Just so many breadcrumbs for us to enjoy later, and as a forever lore nerd I love it very much.
Seeing everything only from Darius and Orion’s perspective helped greatly as well since they grow into the main “supernatural bullies” of ZA alongside the other heirs.
Seeing them all soft and squishy with the juxtaposition of who they turned into now was narration brilliance in my opinion.
Synopsis
Time to pick your magical destiny: which Order do you belong to?
Time to pick your magical destiny: which Order do you belong to?
Darius is and the Other Celestial Heirs are Awakened
Darius Acrux is fifteen and he is about to be Awakened. He already knows he is a dragon. His Order form came out at the age of eleven when his friend Seth, the Celestial Heir of Aer, did something to annoy him at his birthday party.
Professor Zenith arrives at the top of a hill, and Darius, Max, Caleb, and Seth are all on top of the hill and ready to be Awakened three years before everybody else, a perk of their status as Celestial Heirs.
Darius’s dad Lionel Acrux is hoping he has three elements just like his grandfather, and it is clear that Darius’s sense of worth is all about him being a dragon and his power. His brother Xavier wants to come, but he cannot because Lionel will not let him.
At the end, the boys are each Awakened with two gifts each. Darius with fire and water, Max with air and water, Seth with earth and air, and Caleb with earth and fire.
At the end of the Awakening, Caleb is also Awakened as a vampire when he gets his powers. Max is a siren and he has trouble controlling his powers.
The chapter ends with Lionel disappointed in Darius for not having three elements, just like he always is with him.
Lance Orion Plays His Last Pitball Game
It is the last pitball game of the season and Lance Orion is playing his final match. He has been burdened by his mother Stella and her role as a consultant to the Acrux family, but he dreams of becoming a professional pitball player.
He does not drink, he trains constantly, and he has girls all over him.
His sister Clara Orion shows up. She looks unwell and tries to convince him to follow their mother, watch out for Darius, and work with the Acruxes to continue the family legacy.
Clara is clearly practicing dark magic and tells him he will never become Lionel Acrux’s little pet protecting Darius with their magic.
She says she just wants to accept who she is and plans to prove herself to the Acruxes that night.
Darius and Orion Begin Their Week at Zodiac Academy
Orion returns to his room and finds Darius waiting for him in the Aer Tower. Orion has been assigned as Darius’s student mentor for the week since the Celestial Heirs are temporarily staying at Zodiac Academy after their Awakening.
Orion tells Darius about Clara and how she has changed. Darius thinks about how his own fate is sealed under Lionel, while Lance and Clara still have a chance. He suggests they follow Clara and Orion agrees.
When Orion points out Clara can hear them from miles away, Darius breaks the dragon rule and tells Orion he can ride him. He offers to give him a ride as an act of rebellion against his father.
They follow Clara to the outskirts of town and find a farmhouse and a barn where Clara is meeting Lionel Acrux. Lionel lets Clara feed from him and they disappear into the barn. This goes against everything Lionel has preached to Darius about superiority and discipline.
Trying to figure out what they are doing, Orion reaches for dark magic. Darius performs dark magic for the first time and they realize Lionel and Clara are working with power linked to the Shadow Realm.
The Celestial Heir Celebration at the Acrux Mansion
There is a gathering at the Acrux Mansion to celebrate the Celestial Heirs’ Awakening. Lionel uses this event to announce that Darius should become engaged to his cousin Mildred who has just awakened as a dragon because there are too few female dragons.
Darius publicly disputes his father for the first time and storms off.
Orion follows him, comforts him, and encourages him to get stronger and prepare to fight Lionel someday.
Lionel arrives and tells Orion he will never play pitball because his life has been pledged to be Darius’s guardian.
Clara arrives and apologizes to Lance. She says she is being consumed by dark magic because their mother Stella has a plan for her/
Orion tries to fight Lionel, but Lionel throws both Orion and Darius into a cellar. He binds Orion with fire whips and chains and beats Darius. Darius does not react as if this is the first time it has happened.
Stella, Darius, Clara, Lionel, and Orion are all in the basement. They hold down Darius and Lance.
Lionel and Stella forge the guardian bond between Darius and Orion against both of their will.
The Lunar Eclipse Ritual
Lionel leaves and Orion and Darius are forced to deal with the guardian bond for the first time. Orion cannot handle seeing Darius hurt and feels compelled to heal him. Doing so drains him. Darius cannot watch Orion suffer, so he offers him his blood.
They realize they must support one another and learn to accept the bond. Clara visits and tells them it is not all bad. She says she is bound to Lionel in the same way Orion is now bound to Darius.
Lionel takes them to a dark ritual during a lunar eclipse. Many members of Darius’s extended family are gathered under the Lunar Eclipse. A meteor hits Earth. Lionel shifts into his dragon form and turns it into Stardust.
Clara steps up to stand where the meteor strikes, becoming covered in stardust. Lionel announces that Stardust created during a Lunar Eclipse can take a person to only one location, the Shadow Realm.
Entering the Shadow Realm allows someone to claim the shadow element, but it is also where souls are consumed by dark magic.
Clara is chosen because she is “pure”. She dies in the ritual. Lionel claims she failed, while Stella is devastated and Orion vows revenge.
Origins of an Academy Bully Ending Explained
Two months later, it is July. Orion is living in an apartment paid by the school. Darius visits him. The two cannot stay away from each other because of the guardian bond. The pitball league is gone and Orion receives a letter inviting him to apply to Zodiac Academy as a professor.
Darius and Orion discuss their future. Orion tells him they can beat Lionel at his own game. He can teach Darius everything he knows about dark magic and all magic so that Darius can become strong enough to defeat Lionel.
The novella ends with Darius and Orion committing to fight Lionel Acrux together.
Spicy Chapters
How Spicy is Zodiac Academy: Origins of Academy Bully (Prequel): No peppers!
Tinfoil Hats On: My Zodiac Academy Predictions
- Clara is alive in the Shadow Realm. She might even be the Shadow Princess?
Dive into the prequel that shows Lance and Darius needed therapy way before term started 🐺💥
That wraps up my thoughts on Zodiac Academy Origins of an Academy Bully. This novella was a quick but traumatic dive back into Solaria and it reminded me why I love this universe so much.
Watching young Darius and Orion stumble through destiny, dark magic, and Lionel being the absolute worst (per usual) was exactly the bridge I needed before jumping back into the main series.
If you have feelings about this prequel or if you spotted any breadcrumbs I missed, drop a comment because I love yelling about Solaria lore with you.
Make sure to check out our other Zodiac Academy and RBOTZ posts we cover these pretty thoroughly. And if you enjoy these recaps and deep dives, you can sign up for the newsletter so you never miss a new review or summary.
See you in the next post!
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