Shadow Princess (Part 2 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation]

Zodiac Academy [Dramatized Adaptation] #4, Part 2

by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

The shadows are in my blood.

I can feel them crawling through me, slithering under my skin and taking me hostage. But the darkness within me isn't nearly as bad as the darkness that lives around me.

The four Celestial Heirs will stop at nothing to destroy the lives of me and my sister. But they haven't figured out yet, that we're the strongest creatures they've ever known.

And when that secret comes out, we need to be ready to face them as well as any other cruel Fae who rises against us.

It’s us or them. And it damn well won’t be us.

Adapted from the novel and produced with a full cast of actors, immersive sound effects and cinematic music!

Genres: Audiobook, Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Magic, Vampires, Enemies To Lovers

9 pages, Audiobook

Published July 21, 2025

About the author

I'm a #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Zodiac Academy series. I write all things dark romance, from fantasy to contemporary, high school bully to mafia, there's bound to be a book for you!

Me and my sister Susanne Valenti now write books together and we've built the most amazing, fun, crazy reader group on Facebook which we would LOVE you to join. Be the first to get teasers of upcoming books, plus interact with us daily, asks us questions, make friends with other book junkies and find your reader home.

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For all business inquiries please contact us at>>

mail@kingshollow.co.uk


For more information, special editions, signed books and more, check out my website here >>

www.kingshollow.co.uk

Reviews

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Zodiac Academy: Shadow Princess – Part Two (Graphic Audio)

Well. I’m ruined. Emotionally demolished. Mentally unwell. My heart? Currently lying in tiny shards all over the floor while Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti cackle in the distance.

I thought Part One was a rollercoaster, but this? This was the track snapping mid-loop and sending the entire car straight into the void. And Graphic Audio only made it worse (read: better, but also crueler). The voice acting, the sound effects, the tension—like, do they enjoy watching me cry ugly tears into my pillow at 6 AM? Because that’s what happened.

Let’s talk about the vibes first:

Banter? On point. (Even when everything was going to hell, I still laughed way too loudly at some of the insults flying around).

Romance? Chef’s kiss. Just enough tension and longing to make you root harder while also screaming “KISS ALREADY!”

Fae drama? Absolutely feral. Every page was layered with betrayal, manipulation, and the kind of political chaos that makes me feel like I should be taking notes with a corkboard and red string.


But none of that prepared me for that ending. You know the one. That soul-crushing, heart-pulverizing, “I’m going to throw my headphones across the room but also immediately replay it” ending.

Because here’s the thing: Shadow Princess Part Two doesn’t just hurt. It tragedizes. It takes everything you love—the hope, the characters, the growth—and smashes it under a steel boot of despair. And then, just when you think you’re breathing again, it twists the knife one more time for good measure.

I was screaming, I was pacing, I was bargaining with fictional deities like, “Please, PLEASE, take back what just happened, I’ll never ask for anything again.” But nope. Caroline and Susanne said: “Oh, you wanted a happy little fae love story? Adorable. Here, have trauma instead.”

The tragedy at the end isn’t just sad—it’s operatic. It’s Shakespearean-level devastation with a fae glitter coating. And the worst part? It was earned. You saw the threads weaving together, you felt the tension rising, and when it snapped—it took everything with it.

So yeah, 5 stars. Because if a book can make me laugh-snort one minute and then sit in stunned silence with my chest hollowed out the next, it deserves all the stars. Graphic Audio, as always, elevated the experience to the point where I felt like I was inside the story, and maybe that’s why the ending hit like a semi-truck.

Now excuse me while I go lie down in the ashes of my broken heart until the next installment burns me alive all over again.

[Dayna | daynas.bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

emotional damage just got ✨graphic✨

[Sonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh... if only I could change the ending of this book

I get it... if the ending of this book was different, the series would probably have ended sooner than the billion books that follow this one (I know it's only like 6, but it feels like 1000 🤣), but MAN... the ending is torturous!

I still need to read books 7 and on, but I'm SOOOOO happy graphic audios are coming out for this series, because it has lived rent-free in my head for YEARS!

Love the audio!!!

Here's my review for the book.

[♡karabear♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

there are never enough words to describe these books!! but id have to say this one is my favorite so far 🤭 but I still need more info on the star-crossed lovers thing bc the whole tory romance thing is literally confusing me 💀 BUT.. once again they know how to keep me addicted so onto the next..

[Minaa07 · Rating 5 out of 5]

liked the book, hate the ending, getting frustrated at this point about all the impossible love matches 🤣

[Kristi Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️
This book is my favorite one so far! The plot was more substantial in this book, and the graphic audio cast really makes these books amazing. I just love Orion and Darcy so much and refuse to accept that he is dead. I was so distraught by Tory rejecting Darius, but I understand her reasoning. This is my trash tv book series that I love sprinkling in between books and really helps to get out of a reading slump.

[Maï · Rating 5 out of 5]

too much to say but not enough order going on in my head so i’ll just say this book and the next are owned by darius, period. (also darcy next book tbh)
if you’re here, you know about the voice actor’s deep and low voice right? HOW, i repeat, how come he sounded so fragile and broken during their divine moment 😭😭😭💔💔
reading the book i was kinda on tory’s side but hearing the PAIN in his voice???? oh now i’m not so sure 😭
the man is literally broken hearted and the moment of horror when he realizes it’s a done deal, watching tory’s eyes encircled in black??? naaah that moment was too good to be true.
like i said in another review of these ZA dramatized audiobooks, the quality is soooo so good.

i’m loving rediscovering this series like this and i’m low-key excited for book 5. the audiobook make it so much easier bc let me tell you, book 5 was hard to get through for me😵
hopefully it’ll be easier now :P

have a great listening party ! ♊️

[Ra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

As a queer person, I don’t appreciate the fake homo erotic scenes presented in the back half of this instalment. As always though, good production quality and voice acting. I truly want the story to progress and wish that the characters would slow down with their dalliances. Since I’m not a smut reader and actually started this series not knowing that from the start, I feel that I’m already invested in the magic system and lore. Wishing it would move along faster!

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helt klart bästa boken hittills i serien! Skulle ge 4,5 stjärnor enbart för del 2. Lite förutsägbar i vissa plot twists men sjukt underhållande

[Mariah Greeno · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is my favorite

[Mandy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one, can’t wait for the next!

[Allie Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess I’m still in it…didn’t LOVE the ending because it felt odd and out of the blue but it could lead to a good storyline. Guess I’m gonna keep reading!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tory still pissed me off this second read through 🙄

[Jonathon Gollop · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half was a little repetitive but the ending was fire, literally 🔥

[Cee Os · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still feels like YA reading but with mature themes. The plot finally kicks in (about time). There was a bit of fluff but finally there was some action and lots of emotions. The authors did a good of leaving the readers hanging with the end of this book. it makes people want to know what happens/ need to know what comes next.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic Plot: The twins learn more about their background while studying shadow magic and juggling difficult personal relationships and the Heirs.

Holy dramatic ending with a cliffhanger to boot, Batman. That ending was a lot. There were some slowish moments here. They seemed to be trying to build suspense for the dramatic ending, but being as the authors are smart enough to be true to their characters, the character-based interactions are easy to see coming. It's when outside factors get involved that their lives go odd the rails. I have no idea why I'm enjoying these books (ok, dramatized graphic audios) and their general angst so much, but I am. Can't wait for the next one.

[Barb Conrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tory, c’mon… She pissed me off the entire book (and not just the ending). Really hoping there’s redemption later and she’s not just the insufferable twin.

Also, that ending gave me so much anxiety 😩

[Kimmi by the Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

good for her, honestly. 💅

[Frida Edberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jag är förbannad, ledsen arg sur nu vill inte jag lyssna mer, TORY KROSSAR MITT HJÄRTA okej så de är ju första ggn i slottet å fan blir attackerade direkt såklart anyways det jag bara kan tänka på nu är hur FAN LYCKLIG jag var när Tory och Darius var mates MEN NEJ! TORY SA NEJ!? Asså okej jag backar ändå asså hon är verkligen girl power som tackar nej till dedär giftet men jag är så kär så vet inte va jag ska säga, i mean från hans perspektiv så vet han ju bara inte hur han ska hantera allt. Tory måste fan step up the game asså, eller så har hon ba gett upp at this point i don’t know. Asså jag vet inte vart jag ska ta vägen MEN det jag får leva på är att jag hoppas de hittar varann sen asså BÄST FÖR DE!? Och förlåt men hur dumma är inte Darcy och Lance like bro, vafan trodde de själva skulle hända? Dendär brudar har vart borta i typ fem år!?!? I ett jävla skuggland och tror hon ska va normal?!? Eeee glöm å dröm idioter, anyways jag tror inte han kommer dö för isf WTF? Så nej…

Vart fall hoppas man får se mer av Xavier för han verkar ändå chill med sin gay häst, typ ändå smash. Och att de dödar sen dumma fan farsan asså, vem tror han att han är. Är också så förbannad för nu fick han ju som han ville, han ville ju att Tory skulle krossa hans hjärta… BRA JOBBAT TORY, BRA FKN JOBBAT.

Varför jag gav en femma va för det händer fan mkt nu och man börjar lära känna karaktärerna mer också första gången Tory och Darius smash i boken jag börja gråta, andra gången också tror jag Hahahahah. Vart fall asså vet inte vad jag ska säga var så mkt som hände men blir bra att läsa the ruthless boys eller om det är efter nästa bok, iaf jag älskar allt med uppbyggnad av värld och att alla är så starka karaktärer hejdå

[Kia · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Small spoilers* My initial feeling was that this book was 4 stars at best, but when I sat back and thought about it longer, it occurred to me that I felt that way because this book ripped me open and made me feel all kinds of emotions and I literally could not pry the earbuds from my ears until I had devoured it. With the way the book ended, my final emotions were angry and frustrated, primarily with Tory. I wanted to scream and shot at her for being so stupid and never able to get out of her own way and I was reeling and mad. However, after reflecting on it, I can understand her feelings much more and think the book would have been cliche if she just said yes without her stubbornness getting in the way because that’s not who she is. I hope her growth is coming, but at this moment in her story, it hasn’t happened yet and she hasn’t been given the glimpses into Darius’s mind like we have. With all that being, I’m giving this book 5 stars for making me feel to savagely and pulling me in so completely.

[Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This will forever be my favorite book series. Of all the forms I’ve consumed it (regular audio, kindle, hard copy, and Graphic Audio), the Graphic Audio version is the most frustrating.

At this point, I know I need to get over the casting choices, and I’m getting used to most of them except Geraldine. If the narrator isn’t a 52 year old lesbian with an affinity for softball or field hockey, she would be perfectly cast for that role. There were some parts where Orion didn’t sound like himself, so it seemed inconsistent (but he actually sounded better, so how do we get that version instead?). And I just wanted to give Clara a drink of water the entire time she was speaking.

I really wish the whole cast could get on the same page with pronunciations. Darius pronounced “Clara” and “Elysian” differently from the other characters. And Tory pronounces the X in Xavier.

There was a part, where Darcy was heading to the cave, when the background music seemed like an odd choice.

These books are such a good time, but on my next reread, I’ll go back to the original audiobook.

[Theughost · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOOO! It can’t just end like that!😩😭I’m absolutely obsessed with this series and I can’t stop listening to it. But that cliffhanger?! Noooo! 5/5⭐️ and I’d say spice is a 🌶️🌶️.5/🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.

The twins now getting ready to dive even deeper into their lives at Zodiac academy face problem after problem and at some glimmer of hope the stars choose to take a different route. Finally getting to visit the castle and see where they come from they expect everything to finally feel remotely fine. But their party gets crashed and their plan to rescue Orion’s sister doesn’t go as planned. Will the Vega twins make it out this time?

I absolutely love how this story is written and how the characters grow the more we get to know about them. But it’s a rollercoaster of emotions for sure and I can’t recommend this series enough!

[Brittni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot believe where we were left with certain characters at the end of this book!

I’ve been eating these books up. They’re so enjoyable. I find myself laughing and smiling at many parts (in a good way) but there’s still deeper parts as well.

I’m following a reading order that puts the Origins of Academy Bullies, then The Awakening from the Boys POV and can’t believe I’m making myself wait, especially since I’m listening to the Graphic Audios and book 5 isn’t supposed to release until October but i guess that gives me time to make it through the novellas and get some books off of my TBR. We’ll see if I can stick it out or just download the ebook!

[Dona · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second part of Shadow Princess was definitely better than the first one. But boy, do cliffhangers like that drive me crazy.

The first part was very dark which at one point was becoming too much for me. Thank god, the second one was balanced out by some positive resolutions finally. And the moments at the palace were so heart warming.

When it comes to the relationships, I do like a slow burn but man, this got beyond enjoyable. And the love-hate encounters did become repetitive at one point. However, even though, I was a bit disappointed by the ending for one of the couples, after the moment of shock passed, it made complete sense and I am actually finding it satisfying.

[Kyla Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

How I read it: 🎧
📖 Plot in One Sentence: don’t audiobook listen to the graphic audio in maccas drive through

Emoji Summary without Spoilers:
🌶️🥵✨🔮🪄🦄🦅🐉🐺🧛

🎭 Emotional Damage Meter: ok this one had me SCREAMING and slamming my head into the wall

👯‍♀️ Characters I Would Die For: lowkey most of them except Lionel


🚩 Red Flags: Dialogue is still semi cringy but still obsessed

🛍️ Aesthetic & Vibe Check: Wednesday (TV show) cross Harry Potter cross any fantasy book

✨ Final Thoughts: my favourite guilty pleasure

[Tosiomania · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

Nuh uh bro.
This is unfair.
FUCKING UNFAIR.
LANCEEE
Nah,
he's not dead
at least not yet.
he's going to be okay.

o
k
a
y

RIGHT?!
Ah fuck u the authors.
Bro
No nie
Jeśli oni serio
jeśli on
umrze
to ja nie wiem.
Ich historia nie może
NIE MOŻE
się jeszcze skończyć.
Ona się nawet
NIE ZACZĘŁA.
Bro really.
Ja czekam na ich divine moment.
AND IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
BECAUSE HE'S NOT
NOT
DEAD.

(On the side note, so that it's not only my mad-like writing, the book was amazinggg. Amazing.)

[Jessica Nasluchacz · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️
I can’t stop crying. How did it end like THAT!? I loved this so much. It makes me feel like I’m in their world. I love how complex the characters are, & the struggle they go thru. This was everything. I am so excited to continue.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

*slow clap*
*standing ovation*
*audience audibly crying*
*roses being thrown*
*underwear being thrown*

The whole cast smashed it out of the park, but Jessica & Khaya - THE TRUE QUEENS PREVAIL. You are both insanely good at what you do.

We’re not worthy 🙌🧎🏻‍♀️

[Lauren Stafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was dreadinggg the end of this book, it’s so sad 😫😭 I understand Tory’s reasoning but that decision fucked everything 🥲 thank god I already read the next book because I’d be miserable if I had to wait until October for the next GA adaption.

[Krissie Pooh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I forgot how heartbreakingly beautiful this one was… buckle up, buttercups. Emotional damage ahead ‼️

It was absolutely fantastic! And the dramatized version made it even more amazing! Of course, there is a huge cliff hanger. The next one is out in October - you will want it immediately!