Cursed Fates (Part 1 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation]

Zodiac Academy [Dramatized Adaptation] #5, Part 1

by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

The stars have cursed us all.

After the devastating events at Zodiac Academy, we have to deal with this hollow reality we're faced with.

Lionel seeks to destroy us, the Nymphs seek to destroy the entire Fae race, and between all of it, we have to try and survive each day and prove our worth in this forsaken place.

I'm afraid of everything falling apart, but it looks like it already has. Death lurks around every corner, and it wants to claim me and my sister. But together, we will overcome the darkness that seeks to defeat us.

Because we were forged in fire. And these flames will never die.

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

Genres: Audiobook, Fantasy, Romance, New Adult, Romantasy, Vampires, Magic

12 pages, Audiobook

Published October 20, 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>>

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

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Reviews

[Madyfay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate seeing Tory and Darius so sad 🥺 I love that the whole group is trying to get them together and hopefully change their fate. They’re my babies and they deserve to be happy!!

Lance and Darcy are everything I love them so much if these books were only about them I’d still be so into it. Flirty Lance, teacher Lance, mean Lance, happy Lance I love it all that is MY MAN 🥵😍

Clara is the absolute worst and I hope Lance sees that also I want to fucking barf anytime she calls Lionel daddy 🤢 she’s so fucking annoying honestly can’t wait for the girls to destroy her.

Also love Knox his voice fucking sends me into heat it’s so hot 🥵

Glad the girls are finally stepping up and taking on the heirs for their crowns such badass queens 👑

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Standing ovation for the voice actors. PHENOMENAL.

[Jocelyn Leger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect series for dramatized audiobook

[♡karabear♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

yet another astounding book in the series!! I can feel my wishes for the ending already coming true!! 😊

until part 2.... 💛💚💙

[Kelly Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need part two asap!

[Maï · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️/5⭐️

now THAT’s what dramatized audiobooks should all be like.
whatevers going on, the voice actors deliver all so well i feel like i can’t rate below 4⭐️.

they did an amazing job at embodying their character. their tonality, rythme, nuances, THEIR LAUGHTER, please. it’s perfect!
for now, there aren’t many emotional moments but when there are , like book 4’s ending, they do it so great!!!

i can never not hear them whenever i think about the book or read the book.
they are the characters and i salute their performances. such great work 👏👏👏

as for the content, ugh i remember this book being so hard to get through on my kindle. tory pmo so much 😭
and it’s not even the worst of it, part 2 is gonna be delicate 😖
darcy and darius shine so bright! i love their character development. especially darcy’s, she’s such a dear❣️

im so excited for part 2 and coming back to the voice actors (if i don’t go back to listening the previous ones beforehand) 🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️

i could never stop recommending these (the laughter!!!)
🖤❤️🧡💙💜💚

[Ra · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

Finally I feel like this series is hitting its stride. I really enjoyed the character development, relationship development (all of them platonic and otherwise), the inclusion of Xavier’s POV, and learning more about some of the heirs’ extended family members. Geraldine remains a constant source of comedic relief. I love the magic, monsters, and academia but could do without the smut (as someone who isn’t a smut reader) as I don’t even find that it moves the storyline or character development along. As always, I find the voice actors’ performances to be outstanding. A very fun listen.

[A✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The voice they used for Dante (who is tied with Ryder as my favs from RB) had me cracking up! That is not at all what I imagined he sounded like, but it tickled me nonetheless. Can’t wait for part 2!

[Ziva McD · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual this graphic audio production was very well enjoyed! Even though I have read the physical book before and knew the story, still, this I really enjoyed this audio production… like movie in your mind!

Geraldine voice tops my list and so close to what I imagined… then followed by Caleb voice (I listen to anything by Jon Vertullo, after Sevro), then Seth and Lance voice.
Darcey voice didn’t do it for me…

[Chelsea Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ good/enjoyed reading but probably won’t read again

At this point, what can I even say? These books are not masterpieces, but they are wildly addictive. The characters all kinda suck in their own ways, but I’ve reached the point where I’m like, “yeah, Tory sucks… but that’s my girl.”

The graphic audiobooks are doing a lot of heavy lifting here. The voice acting is incredible. I fly through these even though I think they’re actually pretty long at this point. They release so consistently that I auto-buy every new one. The series really has hit its stride, at least in this format.

[mybookishhyperfix · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the actual heck was that ending?!! SERIOUSLY WHAT DID I JUST READ?!!!! Not gunna lie it made me feel a bit sick and I am now terrified for the next book! That ending has UTTERLY destroyed me! 😭 how do we come back from this?!

I don’t think I have ever wanted 2 characters to get together more than I do Tory and Darius. They put the work in in this book, their emotional growth was amazing! Their whole arc in this book was so so heartfelt and after book 4 it was everything I needed!! Until it wasn’t because of that ending and all 😭 The sliver of hope that had been built for it all to be ripped away. Seriously though have they not both proved their devotion to one another yet? Why would the stars let this happen?! And once again I asked HOW DO WE COME BACK FROM THIS?!!!!

And speaking of Stars…I need to know more about these stars, they seem to be completely against the side of good! They’ve got some answering to do!

“Fuck the stars. Fuck every shining, gleaming one of them.”

The character development has been amazing! When I finished the first book I said I couldn’t possibly see how any of the boys could be redeemed. I honestly hated them!! But here we are now and I love all the boys! How did that happen? Well they grew up, they started analysing their actions, the consequences of those actions, and they looked at themselves, who they were and who they wanted to be, and they made some good choices. Seeing the heirs and the twins finally all working together was what I had been waiting for!

Blue and Lance, they have my heart fully but the authors decided to tear my heart to pieces. The twist we always knew was going to happen sooner or later happened and it was even worse than I expected it would be. WHY Orion, why?! 😭 I get it but I also don’t!

This book was filled with so much heartbreak, devastation and gut wrenching moments, but sprinkled throughout was hope, love and some beautiful heartwarming moments. The rollercoaster of emotions was has left me broken, drained and desperate to read the next book in the hopes of being put back together!

My only gripe is that I am getting a little bit fed up of the good guys always loosing and I seriously just need some wins in the next book! I don’t think my heart can take anymore emotional damage!!

This series just keeps getting better and better! The world is intriguing, the characters are compelling, the plot is exciting, the spice spices and it is just utterly addictive!! Straight into the next book I go!!

[Michelle Horwitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, I really enjoyed this series. It’s very engaging.
Since my favorite trope is enemies to lovers. This book begins immediately as enemies to lovers since they’re starcrossed. Usually a series struggles to maintain an enemies to lovers trope because eventually they go to lovers and it’s hard to go back to enemies. Put this storyline. Does a good job, throwing us. Back in there in a new way.
I like the graphic audio version more and more. In this book we continue from where Tory and Darius are starcrossed Period. I thought I was gonna find it annoying how much they both are pining and miserable for each other but I actually appreciated it. They’re supposed to be starcrossed, so it should take up quite a bit of time in the book. The main issue was Darius was cruel to her many times. Although they had a few great moments together alone, it seems to be ruined quickly by something Darius planned to destroy her. In this book, he wholeheartedly gives her kindness and patience as he keeps his distance, and does little, kind things for her. Examples include getting her coffee and speaking up in her defense on Faebook when he never ever responds or comments on there before. You can see in small ways. He has either changed, or at least changed in her eyes. I’m also grateful Gabriel makes Tori confront how she’s responsible for the actions that took place. She was in denial and blamed everything on Darius. So it’s good to force her to be vulnerable. The book also sets up for Xavier being a strong, powerful pegases. My guess is, he will be the leader of the heard of Pegasus at School and win Sophia’s love.

[Purple Squirrel Book Parade · Rating 3 out of 5]

💜💜💜 | 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Spicy

Cursed Fates picks up the threads of Solaria's ever-tangling web of power, rivalry, and forbidden feeling. The Vega twins continue navigating the brutal social hierarchy of Zodiac Academy, where every alliance is fragile and every enemy knows exactly which wounds to press. The stakes feel meaningfully higher here — the world beyond the Academy walls starts to close in, and it becomes harder to ignore that the conflict is much bigger than classroom rivalries.

This entry leans further into political intrigue than its predecessors, and that shift is welcome. The shadowy forces working against the Vegas become more defined — you start to understand what the villains actually want, and their motivations, while far from admirable, give the conflict more texture. The world-building layers in some meaningful new detail, and several long-simmering character dynamics finally start to move.

If you've made it this far in Graphic Audio format, there's really no going back. The full cast, sound design, and score continue to elevate the experience in ways that are genuinely hard to overstate. Scenes that might read as melodramatic on the page land with real emotional weight when dramatized this well. It's the ideal way to experience this series.

This is unmistakably a Zodiac Academy book — it's emotional, dramatic, and yes, spicy. Readers who've come this far know exactly what they're signing up for. The plotting doesn't reinvent the wheel, but the series continues to deliver reliably on what its fans love most.

[Readernerd57_book_reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐ 3🌶️ 5❤️ 5🎧

✨Review Highlights✨
- Incredible graphic narration
- Loved the story
- More emotional
- Really got to see different sides of these characters

This was the first Graphic Audio I listened to. I wanted it to be a book that I have read before so if I got confused by the layout or the background noise I would still know what was happening in the story. I was surprised at how not distracting it was. I really felt more emersed in this story and the world. I really enjoyed this book in this format.

This is one of my favorite books in the Zodiac Academy world. In this book we get to see and feel so much more from the cast of main characters. We really get that gritty emotional depth that I love about the Twisted Sisters writing. I love feeling the characters pain and their joy when something good happens, I feel like this book is one of the first books in this series where we are really getting to a lot of that emotional grit. Also experiencing that grit in this type of audio format was so much fun for me, I felt like everything was amplified, it was a really enjoyable experience. I would recommend.

[Jami Zahemski · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’re a part of the ZA subreddit you know how much emotional distress everyone is experiencing and obviously the most popular topics are about the bad part or the intense parts that it’s easy to forget that there are a lot of fun, lighthearted things happening in between. So much of these books are about the day to day at the academy. It’s helping me calm down when the harder parts happen.

Xavier’s photoshoot was the greatest thing ive read so far. I was cackling at Lionel’s rage and the heirs posing with Xavier topless was so funny.

I do think that this 1st part of the audiobook ended at a weird spot. They usually end at more climactic spots but it’s not the end of the world. I hate that I have to wait until January for graphic audio to come out with part 2. At the same time giving myself a break for the craziness is definitely needed.

[Theughost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously. Is there one single bad book in this series? Because I’d say the answer is no. A total 5/5⭐️ and I’d say the spice is 🌶️🌶️🌶️/🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.

The Vega twins facing more danger as each day passes and the stars seeming to be against them start to wonder if there is hope left for them. But they refuse to give up. And as they start learning more about themselves and those around them they realize things might finally start looking up for them. And they have plans to make sure the stars take back what was denied. A bond. A mate.

I absolutely loved every second and will immediately head into book two! The action, the tension, the story development the characters! Ahh, I don’t think there is a single bad thing about this book and if you loved the previous ones then this one makes the top as most things happening at part one! Now who’s excited for part two? I definitely am.

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review and rating is for the Graphic Audio version only.

This is my favorite series, and I’ve read the books multiple times. I’ve found past Graphic Audio productions of earlier books in the series did not do this series justice. This one was a vast improvement overall. The voice acting was great, even if I maintain some voices don’t fit (ahem, Geraldine…and Dante).

However, it was still not without flaws. Especially in part 5, the background music was too loud (and the music seemed to be odd choices). It was also too loud in part 6 with Kraveen Dire’s letter. There were still some words the cast didn’t agree on pronunciation about, but they weren’t as egregious as in the earlier productions in the series.

I realize they had to stop it somewhere, but this just seemed like a weird spot to do it. I look forward to part 2!

[Karen JEC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to the 11-hr audiobook, which I finished at 1.25x speed in about 10 hours. Enjoying the series. Would recommend.


Favourite Quotes:

"It was just a shame. Being me right now hurt like hell."

"What was the point in power if I was alone with it?"

"I knew I shouldn’t have asked him about Mildred but she was just such a fxcking asshxle. The idea of him with her: Lord and Lady Acrux in their fancy fxcking house with their hoard of dragon babies, each with their own fluffy little moustaches, just like hers, just made me want to… ugh."

"Bouncing Bananas!"

"Stand up you succulent squid."

"I’m happier than a clam riding a sea turtle."

"Making decisions and sticking to them is always character-building."

[Jessica Nassiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been eyeball reading this series and I had wanted to try one of the Graphic Audios bc I love GA books. I was worried bc the voices in my head as I read didn’t fully match what the performers voices are but I also didn’t mind it. It was easy enough to shift my train of thought into these voices. Darius is the only one that I’m on the fence with. And that’s not bc of the narrator but bc I had a different voice and for some reason I’m having a harder time shifting my thought. Anyway, the story is phenomenal and I had actually stopped after book 4 for like 2 years bc I was so mad and upset lol I think the GA version really helped in that regard to bring me back into the story. Onto part 2 of book 5.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic Plot: Tory and Darcy continue to learn at the academy while simultaneously thwarting and working with the Heirs.

There was just a lot going on in this installment. I still mix up which twin is which half the time, but I'm having fun, so I don't really care. It's mostly names that I keep tripping over, because each twin has 2 names, and different characters use different names, and I get thrown off. At any rate, even with all of the darkness in the background, this installment felt lighter in tone. There were a lot of funny moments and there was an infusion of hope that is missing from most of the series. Onward!

[Shelby Naylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is only the first half of the book but if they're going to sell it to me in 2 different parts I'm counting it as two different books on my log 🤣 Especially since I need to wait until January to get the second half!!!
These are soooo good on graphic audio!!! Some people don't like Geraldine's voice in the graphic audio but I think she's hilarious this way. I do want to listen to the normal one at some point because everyone says her normal southern accent is better. I love reading these books this way!!! At some point I want to get the physical books, but I'm aiming to listen to the entire series this way at least once 🤣

[Katastrophysicist · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually enjoy Graphic Audio’s full cast adaptations, and although the voice actors were great, there is something seriously wrong with the background music during the longer stretches of narration. Awkward and misplaced, at best.

These books are not supposed to be masterpieces, but the characters and romance were enough to hook me at the beginning of the series. That really faded with this instalment.

There is little mystery, the gimmick is old, the problems feel manufactured while the solutions rewrite the rules to the established magic system.

But maybe part 2 will change my mind.

[Tiana E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I have to say is that when I initially started this series I was fully under the impression that the hype was over exaggerated. ‘twas not. However, I couldn’t stand behind this statement until Shadow Princess so I’m not sure what that says but .. yeah.

& also, Geraldine ‘Ravish Me You Devilish Donut’ Grus has officially been dubbed my spirit animal. 🤣 I used to be so annoyed by her and now look at me.

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy the full cast and sound effects. There are only about two times in the first part that I felt the background noise was more annoying than atmospheric. Story-wise I feel like there is a lot of extra information but that this is a fun world to explore. I definitely don't relate to the characters especially now that I am 40, I do love them but feel like their ages aren't really representative of the time in their lives. They could easily be aged up or sexed down.... at least that is my perspective.

[Paperback Prinsass · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't recall at what point I actually started to like this, but it happened. It was never bad, just a bit juvenile at times. Now I'm hurting for Darius and Tory and pondering what twists the author is gonna throw out. Sure it's a little silly at times, but I started to care about all these characters. I am eager to see the whole Seth/Darcy thing play out - and whatever happens to Orion.....they are hinting at something BIG so....we'll see!

[Line Bin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The dramatized adaption is alright.
I thought Dantes voice was annoying in Ruthless Boys but it's worse here. Not what I had imagined. Not good. Just horrible. Part 1 was ok, but I should have waitied until part 2 was out because now I have to wait for part 2. Not long until, just 26 days or something.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seth is the most irritating of the heirs. I hate him so much and istg if he ends up getting with Darcy, I won't ever recover. The others I can mostly be okay with, but Seth is the worst, Max is on thin ice too tho. I need for Darcy to get revenge in the second half of this book, I need them both to, but especially her bc I'm sick of Seth's bs

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the book right before everything goes horribly wrong. Clara and Lionel are gross. Roxy and Darius are star crossed. Diego is bound with his hat. Darius’s mom and brother are being tortured. You think it can’t get worse but I know it will. Enjoy it before the truly awful stuff happens in the next book.

[Jennifer Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay maybe we’re getting somewhere with this series….finally…..in what are we on book 5!?! They are finally starting to figure out they are better off working together. But also they are still trying to work through their past issues. This is only part one of this audiobook, so I still don’t know how things are going to end up.

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magical, sexy fantasy that I started trying to see what the younger generation was into. I love them. They're just fun. The twins are finding their powers and making allies with the help they're giving to others. But the dark shadows are always there...