Zodiac Academy Book 3: The Reckoning picks up right where the attacks in Ruthless Fae left off. Darcy and Orion grow closer (finally!), Tory continues her love-to-hate spiral with Darius while still hooking up with Caleb, and the world around them keeps expanding. The Nymphs ramp up their attacksy, tensions rise at the Academy, and the infamous Reckoning finally arrives. It’s brutal.
I dove straight into Zodiac Academy’s third book, The Reckoning, the second I finished Ruthless Fae. I’m loving this series more and more, with peak angst, messy feelings, and some truly unhinged dominance displays. Despite its casual, chaotic tone, this world has shockingly high stakes, brutal magic, and a Fae society that has me in a chokehold.
Read on for my full Zodiac Academy Book 3 summary, review, spicy chapters list, and the ending explained.
Looking for more Zodiac Academy content? Check out our other posts too!
- Zodiac Academy Characters
- Zodiac Academy: Orders, Magic System, and Glossary Explained
- The Ultimate Zodiac Academy Series Reading Order
- Zodiac Academy Book 1: The Awakening: Summary, Review, Spicy Chapters, and Ending Explained
- Zodiac Academy Book 2: Ruthless Fae: Summary, Review, Spicy Chapters, and Ending Explained
- Zodiac Academy Book 3: The Reckoning: Summary, Review, Spicy Chapters, and Ending Explained
- Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac Book 1: Dark Fae, Summary, Review, Spicy Chapters, and Ending Explained
Zodiac Academy 3: The Reckoning (3)
Description
The answer to your question will be revealed on the Lunar Eclipse.
But when finding the truth, don’t let the shadows take you.
The week of The Reckoning has begun.
And senior students have been tasked with making the freshmen’s lives pure hell as we prepare to take the assessment that will decide whether we stay at zodiac academy or lose our places here forever.
With the Lunar Eclipse on the horizon, my sister and I have more to worry about than just passing of our exams.
A dark plot is unfolding and the shadows are drawing closer.
It looks like our enemies could be closer than we ever realised.
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 😊
This series is like fine wine, and every book is getting better and better with each read. I want the whole world to know what a giddy, exceptional experience this is. No wonder it’s a BookTok phenomenon. I truly think this book is genre-defining, showing what fantasy romance can be when it doesn’t take itself too seriously while still sneaking into dark romance territory.
There is impeccable yearning, sexual tension, and characters pining for one another (and kind of bullying each other) to the point of pain. I’m enjoying it so much. I read this almost in one sitting, battling with the idea of wanting to savor it but also rushing to finish so I could see what’s next. It has me by the throat. I must know what happens next.
Perfect For Fans Of… 🌟
Do you wish Harry Potter’s adventures in Hogwarts were set with an adult group of people with more elemental magic? Do you wish in Gossip Girl, instead of fighting for Queen Bee position, they were social climbing their way into a throne? Then you should join the whole of Solaria.
Trust me, if you love reality dating shows or any trash television for that matter, and were a Harry Potter kid who lives for other people’s drama, this one’s the perfect read for you.
Not to mention if you enjoyed other long running series with multiple POVs like Throne of Glass or even Cosmere, despite a stark difference between tones you’ll probably be right at home in this series.
Characters 👥
Something I’m really itching to get more and more of in Zodiac Academy series’ future books is to have the world open up in front of us with more and more POVs. We’re treated to even more characters this book with Orion, Seth, and Max chapters, where we get to see not only these unique characters’ perspectives, but also see the characters interact on their own without Darcy and Tory present.
I loved seeing Darcy Vega get more dimension this book other than being the “good twin.” To be frank, I kind of would love to see them separated for character development, even though that would probably devastate me character-wise.
Tory Vega is beginning to get on my nerves a little bit with her constant anger and pick-me attitude. I understand she’s defensive and has every right to be. It’s just her nonchalance occasionally comes off inauthentic, but this was more Darcy’s book than hers, so I’m sure I will change my tone in a book or two.
It feels like we’re digging Darius Acrux a bigger hole with every book, constantly showing with his bad parenting that he’s going to make more and more bad choices until he hits rock bottom (aka when Tory rejects him because of his bad behavior finally for good, whenever that might be). Then he can go on his redemption arc. I’m not in a rush though, the development is kind of great and I’m being treated to a real enemies to lovers arc so I’m here for it.
I want to see more of Max Rigel and Seth Capella. I am enjoying Max becoming a bit deeper with his buffer and emotional fluffer capacity he serves for his friends. I am dying to see where he gets to with Geraldine Grus. Seth cannot get a personality soon enough. His entire existence is just being touchy, goofy, and not being able to decide if he loves or hates Darcy.
Then finally, the day I’m blessed with a Geraldine POV chapter cannot come soon enough.
Plot 🗺️
I was so engaged in this that I practically read Zodiac Academy Book 3 in one sitting. Every chapter I was in, filler or not, I ate it up. I specifically loved seeing arcs where Tory and Darcy are not present, letting the story shine on its own.
I’ve been waiting for quite some time to see the twins’ Order revealed, and it ended up being what I was expecting, a Phoenix. I was kind of hoping they would be different Orders to be honest, like one of them is a Phoenix, the other one is a Kraken, a Hydra, or something else, like balancing each other out, but this outcome is kind of okay. I’m excited to see how their Order plays out.
Lionel Acrux being presented as the current villain of the story is not unexpected. His motivations are of a power-hungry Fae after all. I’m curious to see how the dark magic arc plays out in Shadow Princess and onward.
I liked how the ending landed, although I’m not sure why Lionel would ever let the girls go or share power with the others. It seems strange that as a man who’s been wanting to keep his son and his primary rival in check, he would let Darius have access to shadows, same as he does, a feat he’ll surely have to pay for.
Either way, I’m excited to see the book blow open, see how Orion and Darcy navigate their relationship (although I don’t believe for a second Darcy would keep that from her twin, as someone with sisters), how Darius becomes a good enough man for Tory, Tory to not be so angry, and all of them to band together, sacrifice, and fight against Lionel and his posse in the books to come.
And I do enjoy the banter, the spice, the yearning, and the friendship so very much. More of that please!
My Favorite Quote to Hook You 📣
You get two this time, because I simply CANNOT.
“And most of all I was sick of wanting her and hating her all at once.”
Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti, The Reckoning
“In Solaria blue means royal. And to me, blue means you.”
Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti, The Reckoning
Writing Style and Narration ✍️
It’s hard to make Faerie Facebook, a handsome teacher giving his student dark smiles while calling her “Miss Vega,” then biting her (even though he uses his healing magic right after he attacks her. This school desperately needs an HR department), feel so fun to read. But here we are.
The casual language, the playful repurposing of proper names just for the fun of it, and the general unserious tone is so fun to read.
The multiple POVs, like I mentioned, are really exciting. I love seeing the world from so many different characters’ perspectives.
And the banter is so good, the moments are special, and it’s such a guilty pleasure that I’m grinning from ear to ear so often and going back to reread sections all the time.
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?
Aftermath of the Nymph Attack, and Hell Week Starts
The Reckoning opens with the end of the Pitball game and the devastating Nymph attack, leaving twelve students dead and many others injured. The faculty try to rally the student body, secure the campus, and continue the countdown to The Reckoning as planned. If you need a refresher, The Reckoning is the first-year trial week where students must earn their permanent place at Zodiac Academy.
Professor Nova announces that week of The Reckoning will continue as promised and imposes a curfew, which none of the students plan to follow. Hell Week begins, a chaotic tradition where senior students pull magical pranks and push the first years to their limits, making the freshmen’s lives pure hell. Each student is expected to face a trial for every elemental power they possess, followed by the final test: The Reckoning itself.
Darcy and Tory needs to attend all four exams: water, earth, fire, air where the fateful assessment will determine whether they get to keep their spot in Zodiac Academy or not.
The Heirs are rattled. The twins have proven they are not only powerful but also willing to fight back. Worried about losing their claim to the throne, the Heirs debate whether to confront them now or wait until the twins survive The Reckoning before making their next move.
The Vega Twins Get Closer to Lance and Darius
Orion believes the twins are about to emerge as Ismerian dragons, a rare and powerful type of dragon said to be even larger than Acruxes.
Darcy and Orion have another liaison session, where they struggle to resist the tension growing between them. Darcy eventually leaves, but they keep texting flirtatiously. Orion asks what color she’ll dye her hair next. When Darcy pushes back, asking why he cares, Orion tells her that if she dyes it, it means she likes him. After some internal debate, Darcy makes her choice. She dyes her hair completely blue and shows up at Lance Orion’s apartment in the Asteroid Place. The tension finally breaks. They sleep together for the first time and agree to keep it a secret, even from Tory.
Meanwhile, Darius Acrux arranges a secret race between him and Tory. The two travel to the Acrux manor via stardust. While Darius sneaks off to retrieve something of his father’s that lets him keep tabs on him, Tory hangs back and chats with Xavier Acrux. Things take a turn when Xavier playfully shifts into a Pegasus, revealing his Order form. Tory, unbothered and supportive, welcomes his form without hesitation. Darius returns and makes her promise to keep Xavier’s secret, which she does.
The race begins. They take off on Darius’s custom super bikes, but a crash sends them flying. Tory saves them both and, in true Vega fashion, wins the race.
Tory Gets Closer to Caleb and Darius
Tory, Sofia, Diego, and Geraldine are hanging out at the Orb when they start playing a drinking game. Tory gets drunk unusually fast (more on this in the theories section below) and passes out. While unconscious, she has a nightmare and begins unleashing ice magic around her. Darius arrives at the Orb and quickly realizes that Tory cannot control her powers while asleep, something the Heirs had to learn to manage in their early days.
Darius shares his magic with Tory to stabilize her abilities and helps her get back under control. He carries her to her room, where a drunken Tory starts undressing in front of him. Darius, ever the conflicted gentleman, looks away. The two end up spending the night cuddling, sharing an unexpectedly soft moment. The next morning, they have a quiet, intimate exchange that leaves both of them questioning whether they are really enemies anymore.
Meanwhile, Tory and Caleb continue their complicated not-a-thing. Tory lets Caleb hunt her so he can bite her, and they start spending the night together. They genuinely enjoy each other’s company. Tory wants to keep things casual, but Caleb is clearly catching feelings.
One night, while Tory and Darcy are wandering the campus, Tory feels herself drawn to a strange pulse of magic. She’s still carrying the silver dagger she stole from Darius’s bedroom when they discover Darius and Orion practicing dark magic with bones in the Air Cove. The two men slip into the Shadow Realm, and Tory, entranced by the blade, cuts herself and follows them in. The blood loss weakens her, and Darcy is the one who snaps Orion and Darius out of their trance in time to save her. Darius holds Tory in his arms and begs her to come back.
Once the immediate danger passes, Darius realizes the truth. Tory has stolen the dagger from his room, which also means she set his bedroom on fire and framed Milton for it. The betrayal hits hard. Things escalate between them and turn violent. Though the fight eventually calms down, the trust is broken, and it seems like their relationship is fractured for good.
Darcy and Tory Pass the Reckoning
Darcy and Tory take on all four elemental trials, each one testing their control, creativity, and endurance with their powers.
The Air Trial challenges them to fly across a platform stretching beyond the horizon using only air magic. The Water Trial forces them to retrieve three keys hidden within different forms of water, each more dangerous and unpredictable than the last. The Earth Trial sends them into a twisting maze that they must navigate using earth magic alone. Finally, the Fire Trial pushes them to cross a narrow bridge while maintaining complex fire shapes in perfect formation.
When The Reckoning itself finally arrives, it is not just about magic. The twins are shown their entire lives, every choice, every moment, every hardship, revealing the full cost of what it took to get to this point. In that moment, they both realize one thing: they would do anything to keep their place at Zodiac Academy.
Fairy Fair Arrives
The Fairy Fair comes to campus, and the twins are excited to go. It’s a moment of magic, distraction, and sparkly chaos. Of course, everything is about to go completely off the rails.
Darius, after piecing together the chaos of the past few weeks, calls an emergency meeting with the Heirs. He’s furious and reveals that Tory was behind the fire in his room. The Heirs also figure out that Darcy set Max up with griffin poop, gave Seth fleas by gifting him an Aquarius Moonstone, and helped start the Pegasus rumors about Max. It all points to one thing: the twins are responsible for a string of magical pranks that humiliated them. The Heirs agree. It is time for payback.
On the night of the fair, Caleb picks Tory up and drives her to a mountaintop. He’s angry and feels like he was played, especially since he had started to develop real feelings for her. Tory, as usual, doesn’t back down. She owns what she did and refuses to be intimidated. Caleb realizes that this is her way of fighting back and, honestly, they kind of deserved it. The tension cools, and they decide to go to the fair together. They spend the night side by side, emotions simmering beneath the surface.
Darcy goes to the fair with Diego after Orion tells her to spy on him. Diego is genuinely excited, and in a bold move, he kisses Darcy. Orion sees it. Orion retaliates by making out with Francesca. When Darcy and Diego are about to get on the Ferris wheel, Orion cuts in, claiming he needs to sink his teeth into his source. They fight. Darcy tells Orion she cannot be with him until he apologizes, not only for kissing Francesca but also for holding her back while Darius and Tory were fighting.
After the Ferris wheel ride, Diego insults Orion to Darcy’s face to which Darcy responds by slapping him. Diego ends up calling Darcy and Tory whores and walks away.
Orion responds by electrocuting himself to show his guilt and desperation. Then he drives her back to campus in his Faerarri and they have sex in his car.
The Lunar Eclipse arrives, which makes all Fae horny and fall to their desires. The Vega twins plan on attending a party at the Air Cove with the rest of the students, and countless people attend. The moon notoriously draws people together, bringing out their most secret desires from the depths of their souls. Caleb leaves campus since vampires become especially driven to the hunt on the night of the eclipse and goes back home.
Darcy sneaks away from the party as the moon drives her to Lance. The two of them are hooking up in the woods when a drunk Seth looks for Darcy, whom he has a crush on. Orion pretends to be drinking Darcy’s blood, which Seth believes, but later on he realizes there was no blood on Darcy’s neck.
Tory, before leaving the room, replies to Darius’s message about wearing her best outfit by sending him a picture of herself in her underwear, which drives Darius crazy. The moon is driving the two of them together.
Tory eventually wanders the cliffs by the Air Cove and finally runs into Darius. The two of them are about to give into their attraction, with Darius confessing how he can’t stay away from Tory.
But a dark plot unravels, with Lionel arriving at the scene and congratulating his son for getting the Vega twin away from the crowd. Lionel Acrux kidnaps Tory and Darcy.
They arrive at a ritual site where Darcy and Tory are to be sacrificed so Lionel Acrux and Stella Orion can channel power from the Shadow Dimension to access the fifth element, the shadows. Darius and Orion try to stop Lionel from doing the ritual and killing the twins.
It is revealed that years ago, they tried to do this once more, but sacrificed Clara Orion, Lance’s sister. However, they misread the translation. They thought it meant “pure,” while it actually meant “royal,” which Darcy and Tory are.
Lionel tells Darius to stop fighting him or Xavier dies. Darius is devastated, but he chooses his brother over Tory. Lionel binds Darcy, Tory, Orion, Darius, Stella, himself, and the others together and bleeds the twins.
The shadows pass through the girls, and they hear a girl calling to them in the dark. As they are about to be lost to the shadows, the Vega twins find each other and anchor one another, resisting the call to the shadows. Just as it happens, their Orders emerge, a fire so strong and so bright that it can burn anything: Phoenixes. They survive the channeling of the power. Lionel mistakes their Order as Fire Harpies, having been too preoccupied with his newfound powers.
He uses Dark Coercion, a banned form of coercion, to make the twins forget everything that happened and sends them back to the Academy. However, the twins’ Order is immune to most mind magic, and they cannot be coerced anymore but they pretend to be, just the same.
They return to the Academy. All four of them are now able to wield the shadows, a secret that binds them. Orion promises to help them wield the shadows. The twins, warier than ever, brace themselves for what’s next to come.
Note: You can read the entire Fairy Fair Exclusive Bonus Chapter from Orion’s POV in Live and Let Lionel.
Spicy Chapters
How Spicy is Zodiac Academy: The Reckoning (Book 3): 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Whether you want to get to the heat or want closed-door modifications here’s the list of spicy chapters below.
- Chapter 12
- Chapter 13
- Chapter 23
- Chapter 30
Tinfoil Hats On: My Zodiac Academy Book 4 Predictions
- One or both of the twins fall to the shadows. Likely one, and the other twin has to go and save her.
- Darius and Tory _finally_ get together, after spending supposedly hating each other the entire time.
- Lance and Darcy’s mating bond(?) kicks in.
- Diego is no order, because he is in fact a Nymph
- Caleb and Seth get together after Caleb and Tory are inevitably over.
- Tory falls to the shadows. Darius saves her, becomes her anchor.
- Darcy and Orion get caught. But because they’re mates, they get away with it.
- MAX AND GERALDINE GET TOGETHER.
- Diego keeps giving the girls spiked drinks
- The Shadow Princess is Clara Orion.
Get wrecked by The Reckoning 💫🔥
I am so invested in Solaria that my entire rest-of-the-year TBR has been thrown out the window. I am obsessed. Hooked. I’m interested in all things Zodiac Academy.
Per the reading guide, I’ll be jumping into Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac, starting with Dark Fae, to read about Elise and the others. I think Gabriel and the rest might be making an appearance, but who can tell?
Did you like Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac more than the Zodiac Academy series? I’m a bit nervous to switch gears, but I want to make sure I get the full experience.
Let me know what you thought of The Reckoning or any overall Zodiac Academy thoughts in the comments, and sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear about all things Zodiac Academy and books!
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