Cinder Vale: Sins of the Zodiac, Book 3

Sins of the Zodiac #3

by Caroline Peckham, Bridget Bordeaux (Narrator), Jake Bordeaux (Narrator)

From the Amazon.com and Wall Street Journal #1 bestselling authors of the Zodiac Academy series Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti.

Secrets lay hidden in the earth.
Fate whispers of it upon the wind.
The ash stirs across the battlefields.
And the ocean rises to watch the cards fall.

***This is an enemies to lovers romantasy series set in the same world as Zodiac Academy, but it's a dark and villainous tale of its own. You haven't met tainted souls like these before or enemies that hate each other as deeply as these characters do. Book 2 in the series will leave you cursing the stars and perhaps the authors too. You'll be left hoarse from screaming profanities and desperate for more of the morally grey Fae who lurk in the book despite all they’ve done to your poor heart...***

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Audiobook, Fantasy Romance, Fae

Audible Audio

First published March 31, 2026

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

[Marianna Moore]

I AM LOSING MY MINDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!! No like I actually need a sedative. THAT ENDING?!!!!!! Oh my god oh my god oh my god I actually cannot handle I feel like I’m gonna go into cardiac arrest because I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT AND I CRIED???!!!! I think my soul teleported to another dimension. This is why I read. Oh my goodness I need to calm down but I simply cannot.

To everyone I told you don’t need to read Zodiac academy first…. I lied. Well technically you don’t have to but trust me…. It will be so worth it if you do!

Guys guys guys. THIS IS BOOK THREE AND THE ENEMIES ARE STILL ENEMIES AND THE SLOW BURN IS STILL SLOW BURNING IN THE BEST WAY IM LOSING MY MINDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!

Kaiser and bastian can disrespectfully run me over and I’d thank them. The twisted sisters KNOW how to write and MMC.

AND OUR BAD ASS FMCS?!!!! Vesper and Everest are two of my new favorite FMCs of all time. Especially vesper I have such a special place in my heart for her she had me sobbing in this book. God and the character growth and depth I’m OBSESSED with them! And their friendship?! No imma cry again.

Guys this plot is absolutely insane I couldn’t put this down from start to finish and it had me on edge the entire time! And the plot twist at the end?!!! No I can’t I can’t I can’t.

I have no words like genuinely I just need to go crash out.

“I would have found her one way or another. If I’d had to stalk the world barefoot, starved and unarmed, I would have done so to find her.”

“But I do not yet know if I wish to kill you more than I wish to kiss you.”

“Your mouth is a want I’d commit treason for.”

[SK]

4.5 stars ✨

Now that I've had some time to process THAT ending 😩😩 My thoughts are far more clearer. I think this is the best one in the series so far. It's got a lot of action, rarely any fillers and the plot moves so smoothly, I was fully immersed.

❤️‍🔥 Firstly, ngl I'm a Kaiser girlie. That man has power over me in ways not even I understand. I craved more of him. The more I saw his complexity, depth and how he unraveled layer by layer; it made me want to know him more. To see him relearn things was so innocent and pure and I think the twisted sisters did something right there. I do think there could have been more of him. But maybe I am being a little biased 😩

⚔️ Everest is a baddie. Honestly, her progression from going through pride, humility, reclaiming power and confidence throughout the series has been chef's kiss. I love that she's bold enough to speak her truths even if she says it shouting 😭 But at the same time, I want her to completely stop looking for validation from others. Just let her grow.

🧚🏻‍♀️ Vesper is still a bit on rocky ground for me. Her tendencies to be stubborn and not adapt sometimes has me a little frustrated. But I understand her. It does make her more real because if it was me in her place? Fuck knows I'll be the same 😭 I loved her backstory and the depth that came with it no matter how it ripped my heart out.

🐉 Bastian is such a charming and likable character. I don't think there will be a person that will hate him. He's tough, a little rough but so gentle when he can be. I love how he never runs off in moments of confrontation and why someone like Vesper need that sort of stubborn grounding.

I loved Bastian and Vesper's relationship progression. It was both steamy and gentle. Perfectly balanced imo. On the contrary, we're still holding back a lot of Kaiser and Everest. I need more 😩😩 Noteworthy mentions, Septa and Earl Tarlord? Hello?? The chemistry there is insane. The tenderness and vulnerability paired with intensity is being slept on. I def want more of that.

I really enjoyed the way the plot is progressing. There's no time being wasted in useless talks. It makes for a really clean execution. There are characters I hate, characters I like and it all fits perfectly. The action and magic build is interesting though. It's so different from Zodiac Academy but if you know where to look, you'll find certain similarities.

I think the only reason it's not a full five stars is because Ransom bored me. I didn't really find his pov interesting. And I think Kaiser was underutilized. I'm biased there yes, sue me😤

About that ending though? OH MY GODS. I should have seen it coming. The clues are there from book one. And to see it finally happen. I genuinely cannot wait for the next one. Idk how to move on from this for a while. Nobody talk to me. Or someone please do because OH MY!!!!! I NEED TO SCREAM.


~•~•~
Listen, Bastian is charming and hot. But I'm here for my man Kaiser. Show me those horns and break my heart!!

[Andy (slow)]

5⭐️

OMG! OMG! 👀 THE ENDING????? I am SHOOK 😭🤯
Like… staring at the wall, questioning my life choices, rereading the last page three times kind of shook 🧍‍♀️📖

For everyone who has already read it… IS IT WHAT I THINK IT IS?? 👀👀👀

Anyway… this was soooo GOOD 😩❤️ I literally cannot with these people —they are ruining my sanity and I love them for it 🫠🔥

First of all — for the best reading experience, I highly recommend reading ZA first 📚✨ Just my opinion 🤷‍♀️ but trust me, it makes everything hit way harder emotionally (and mentally 💀).

Let’s start with Bastian and Vesper… SUCH a good couple 😭❤️
He is just…… dragon 🐉🔥 and honestly that explains about 90% of my feelings right now 😂❤️‍🔥

But let’s be honest for a second—
I don’t just live for Everest and Kaiser…
I LIVE FOR KAISER 😩🖤

Every single POV of his had me panting 😮‍💨🔥 giggling like an idiot 🤭 and immediately needing MORE.


The plot is super intriguing 🧩 and kept me entertained the entire time — there’s tension ⚔️, secrets 🤫, drama 🎭 and so many moments where I was like “oh this is fine” while everything was absolutely NOT fine 😂🔥

And those plot twists?? AMAZING 🤯
Some of them hit me like a truck 🚛💥 and I just sat there blinking at the page like 👁️👄👁️

Now excuse me while I sit here impatiently waiting for the next book 😭📚 because I NEED answers, closure, therapy… and probably more Kaiser POVs 🖤🔥

[Laura Greenhalgh]

FIVE STARS! I love this series so much!! Love the development of the plot, the character growth, KAISER. The gang being together and seeing the dynamics between each of them is everything. Something happened at the end of the book that I have been patiently waiting for and I am so excited to read the next book after that ending 🌟

[dak]

5☆ 𝓒𝓲𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻 𝓥𝓪𝓵𝓮 (sɪɴs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴢᴏᴅɪᴀᴄ #𝟹)

.˚𝐀𝐢𝐫 🌬️ 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 🔥 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 🌱𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 🌊 𝓊𝓃𝒾𝓉𝑒𝒹 ✶⋆.˚

this book had me feeling all the emotions. i love these characters and this world so much 🖤🌌✨

♒︎ 𝙑𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧 watching her open up in this book MY HEART!! she truly gives Manon Blackbleak in the best way and i fucking love her
♑︎ 𝘽𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙣 i could listen to him talk shit all day why lie. he is 10/10. the way he cares for 𝙑𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧 >>>
➵ 𝓢𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓻𝓮 💘✨
➵ “𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴.”

♓︎ 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 for like the first 50% had me screaming GIRL and pulling my hair out a bit (cause be so fr) but it’s ok we got past it and boy did she eat the rest of the book. watching her realize how much of a badass she is? amazing!
♈︎ 𝙆𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙧 my man my man my man. every pov had me in a chokehold. GIGGLING AND KICKING MY FEET.
➵ 𝓢𝓲𝓵𝓴𝓪 𝓵𝓪 𝓿𝓲𝓷 🫦
➵ 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝟺𝟼 🙂‍↕️🗡️🥵 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ “𝒴𝑜𝓊’𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝓃𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓂𝒶𝓇𝑒. 𝒴𝑜𝓊’𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹𝑒𝒹 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑜 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝒽𝒶𝓉𝑒-𝒻𝒾𝓁𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉 ℐ’𝓋𝑒 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒽𝒶𝒹. ℳ𝓎 𝒷𝑜𝒹𝓎 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒷𝓎 𝓎𝑜𝓊. 𝓨𝓸𝓾’𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓾𝓻𝓭𝓮𝓷 𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓷𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓻𝓲𝓭 𝓶𝔂𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓯 𝓸𝓯” 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚗𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚎 𝚔𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 ᢉ𐭩

𝙑𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧 and 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩?? cinema every time these two are together!! i love that 𝙑𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧 calls 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 her kitty cat LMAO
𝙍𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙤𝙢 is kind of growing on me??
also 𝙉𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝 and 𝙆𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙧 LOVE THEM

some of the full circle moments we get in this with characters + storylines crossing paths, so fucking good.

THAT ENDING. jaw on the fucking floor
i was screaming the whole time OMG OMG OMG!!!! yes! yess!! YESSS!!!

[hailey🥀🦢✮˖°.]

february…. 2026…. FEBRUARY 2026???!!?! idk how i’m gonna wait that long. i’m sat and waiting already

[Lia Carstairs]

"Your mouth is a want I'd commit treason for."

GOING INSANE OVER THAT ENDING??? Oh I am HYPED for book 4, I need it immediately!!!! We're about to see so many fun scenes I love this I'm so excited!!! How I adore this world (despite the insanity that is constantly going on).

So I was hoping Cinder Vale would be a 5 star just like how Echo Fort was bUT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH KAISER AND EVEREST SCENES💔 And to be even more specific: NOT ENOUGH KAISER. Truly the biggest shame. As they are my favourite characters and I desperately wanted more chapters of them, I was really disappointed any time I didn't get their chapters!! Like plot-wise I get it. It makes sense since the two were separated for majority of the book and they had their own things they were in the middle of but it doesn't change that I wanted more scenes of them!!!! The scenes we DID get though *incoherent screaming* LIKE YES THIS IS WHAT I WANTED AND MORE, MY LOVES!!!! Their declarations of love hate towards one another?! Oh I adore them. THE DAGGER SCENE???? JAW DROPPED. Featured below are some of my favourite lines/scenes!!

I couldn't see her face, her curls fluttering out behind her in the wind, but I would know her anywhere. I could sense her in my bones and in the heavy thudding of my heart. She was in my flesh now, like a sin woven there with silk. But for all the want I had for her, there was darkness in it too. Coiling, writhing emotions that were as volatile as vipers. I didn't know if I would destroy or claim her when I found her. But I did know I would find her either way. And that day was drawing close, a plot shifting into place in my mind and solidifying itself into an unshakeable decision.

"Sometimes I feel strange about it. Not regret exactly but... I don't know. He was so broken. There are things about him I didn't understand, but I wish I could now. My mind can't put it to rest if I'm honest. Sometimes I dream of him. Sometimes he feels so close I can almost smell the cinders on his skin. Sometimes I wish I could smell that scent again for real. But that's just for you to know."

I would have come whether Everest was the Void or not. I would have found her one way or another. If I'd had to stalk the world barefoot, starved and unarmed, I would have done so to find her. Because something had twisted between us when she'd broken the magical link of Nightfire.
She was no longer mine, but I was hers. Me; this shell of a man who couldn't name desire from envy or hate from love.

I wasn't sure I cared about her reaction, only that we were reunited at last. Then Aries and Pisces alike would spin us a new destiny, because we were surely bound by something deeper than I could understand.

"You're making a canvas out of me, silka la vin. But why is it that I've grown fond of these marks? Why is it that your eyes upon them makes me want to pin you to that bed and sink my teeth into you?"

"I am torn between hatred and something far more wretched which wants me to commit every sin to claim you as my own," he said in a hiss that was as wicked as a serpent's. "I feel none of this towards any other Fae but you. There is no confusion in that. But I do not yet know if I wish to kill you more than I wish to kiss you."

"The fact that you still breathe is a burden to my soul. I won't rest until I put you in your grave for good."
"Then do it," he purred, his voice softening to a wicked taunt. "See if you can."

"Your mouth is a want I'd commit treason for."

The sensation drew a breath between my lips, the nearness of my enemy feeling like a sin against the stars.

The Fury paused before he followed, taking the little blue Sayer Dragon from his pocket and placing it on Everest's shoulder. "If you need me, he'll summon me to your side," he said before turning to stride away.
"Kaiser-" Everest said quickly, causing him to turn back. "I... won't need you."
[...]
"Everest?" I said, drawing her focus back to me. "You can run off out there if you're worried? I... won't need you," I teased, repeating the words she'd spoken to Kaiser as they parted and her jaw tightened.

"Speak the truth," he commanded and it slipped from my tongue before I could stop it.
"Sometimes I want you. I despise myself for that desire. But I think of you and I feel hunger."
"Finally, the sweet truth," he growled, his mouth brushing mine. "I believe it's possible to feel two opposing things at once, Everest. Hate and want. A need to claim your death and the conflicting desire to claim your mouth, your body, to bend you to my will and sink my teeth into you. Given the night will likely end us both, why don't we live out our final hours without regret?"

"You're my nightmare. You're threaded into every hate-filled though I've ever had. My body is tainted by you."
"You're the burden I cannot rid myself of," he snarled and then we kissed.

He caught me by the throat, yanking me close and kissing me firmly on the lips. I shoved him away with a snarl. "What are you doing?"
"Kissing you goodbye," he snarled.

They genuinely have me in such a chokehold, I'm too obsessed with them and I demand that book 4 gives us more scenes of the lomls😩


Oh and this is definitely a super unpopular opinion but like... I genuinely do not care for Vesper and Bastian's romance. (Which is such a shame considering this book was mainly focused on them. But at least this means book 4 should be focused on Everest and Kaiser right?!?) For one thing, I do think Bastian forgave Vesper WAY too fast, like come on man but I guess you do you! Personally, there's nothing really interesting about them. Whereas with Kaiser and Everest, there's just SO MUCH tension, angst and history between them like wow... and the fact that they are still enemies oh I love their relationship, it's absolute fire. The way it's so complicated!! Like truly I've been wondering since book 1 how they would become lovers and I have some theories but I absolutely can't wait to see when it finally happens!! KAISEREVEREST I AM YOUR NUMBER ONE FAN. But yeah with Bastian and Vesper, they had a few romantic lines between them that were written beautifully by the authors but otherwise I'm like meh. It feels like there's something missing honestly. I don't feel the chemistry between them🤷‍♀️

Individual characters-wise, Everest please I love you but oh did she frustrate me in the first half. Though I also did understand where she was coming from craving her father's love, but I was just yelling at her to wake up!! One thing I do love is that even though she stuck to her father for far too long, at least she never gave up her morals for his love, that counts for something. And she rocked in the 2nd half!! Love love loveee her so much. And it feels so good to see her finally the truth about how BS the war is and there being no one true victor among the lands. I'm actually so curious as to how there's going to ever be peace between all 4 lands after centuries of fighting and hatred, like wow I can't see it happening.

With Vesper, I definitely did find myself liking her more than I have in the last 2 books but I guess I don't really care for her still. I don't know, I don't really have much to say. The chapters where she was moving the plot forward in fixing the ley lines were interesting, but her time at Stormfell was... okay? I did like the bit with Evard though!! Definitely did not expect to like that guy!! I really enjoyed her chapters though once she met up with the rest of the gang. Honestly all of the last 30% was a 5 star for me, I LOVED seeing everyone together!!! I need more of that in book 4!! AND ITLL BE EVEN BETTER BECAUSE WE GOT THE ZA CAST AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

The other POVs we got were all interesting to me! I was initially super curious about Septa's character but she didn't really do much and I'm wondering what's the point of her POV at this point honestly?? One thing I do suspect though and could explain why we have her POV is that I think maybe Everest and Septa could be Nebula Allies?? At least some scenes had me suspecting like right after Everest saved Septa and they hugged and the line I pulled her close, our hearts beating in unison for a moment, like they were one and the same.... 1) Everest doesn't really just hug strangers like that?? She only hugged Vesper after they knew each other for awhile. Also Everest feeling "oddly sad at her departure" !! I could be reading too much into this but I think it's possible they have some connection and Nebula Allies was the first thing to come to mind. Or I guess Everest could've just really taken a huge liking to her immediately?. As for the Ransom redemption arc!! While I can't stop thinking about how awful he was to Everest in the first 2 books, I guess compared to everyone else we've seen in Cascada and the fact that he's never killed a person in his life because it sickens him (which is genuinely shocking considering basically everyone in this world is a killer😭), he honestly isn't the worst? He did have his moments and was really loyal when it mattered most!

Some other relationships I loved to see though were North and Kaiser!!! I LOVE THEIR RELATIONSHIP. I love their bromance is everything and they were genuinely so hilarious. North being there for Kaiser!! Kaiser understanding emotions more through him!! Otherwise, outside of that, North is meh LOL. Oh and the beginning of that friendship that's blossoming between Bastian and Kaiser??? Yes yesss I'm here for it. AND NOW THAT WE HAVE THE ZA CHARACTERS I CANT WAIT TO SEE THEM BOTH INTERACT WITH THE OTHERS!!! Bastian is going to cry knowing there are dragons out there other than him oh my god😭😭😭 I need him to meet Darius immediately!!! I just NEED to see Darius period. And Everst and Vesper's relationship!!!! They didn't have too many scenes together but I loved them. They really are like sisters, and the bickering and teasing between them is so so cute. Give me all the Everest and Vesper scenes please and thank you.

And regarding the plot, wowowow so many questions!!! I love seeing the Vampires play more of a role in this book and actually I truly wonder if Lazarus if originally from the ZA world??? How do they know so much considering the Reapers have guarded so many secrets?? They know about stardust and what the Reapers were doing down below... he definitely has to have some connection outside of The Wanings Lands but I wonder how he communicated with them if so with the barrier and all that?? Hmmm. And the Reapers called that monster Caelum but Lazarus had more of a formal name called the Eschaton Star like HOW DOES HE KNOW THIS??. And then of course I have to talk about that ending which I am actually SO CONFUSED BY??? WHAT on earth was going with Mavus at the end hello?! I know Incubuses can take people forms but they can also take on Order forms as well???? I guess that makes sense now that I write that out but wow. BUT THEN AGAIN BEING ABLE TO USE THAT PERSON'S MAGIC????? Can't believe Mavus was evil all along, I truly did NOT see that coming?? And what do you mean he was also Prince Dragor this whole time????? Just how many other faces has he been impersonating since the beginning??? ALSO WHAT HAPPENED TO HARLON???? Clearly Mavus was lying about Harlon needing help but then where is he.... like um. Also was Mavus also the Cardinal Reaper too? I'm actually confused😭

But anyways, THE BARRIER BEING BROKEN!!!! And the fact that we got to see Gabriel, Tory, and Darcy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SCREAMING. I've been DYING to see how Tory and co would react to the fae in The Waning Lands and how they'd think they're so insane and now we're actually going to see it LOL IM SO HERE FOR IT. I have a feeling Vesper and Tory will get a long really well. I can see Everest getting along with both Tory and Darcy. I really hope we can see Darius too like pleasee that's a must. And with the barrier having fallen, the amount of chaos that's going to happen between The Waning Lands and Solaria like bye??? The Waning Lands are going to be losing their minds over the fact that different elements are co-existing😭 Oh my gosh I'm just so so excited, I desperately need it to be March 2027 already

One more thing but it's hard to imagine that book 4 is the final book?? Unless book 4 is like 1k pages at least then I can see it happening because wow there's so much going on and so much to resolve. BUT ALSO I'm so happy that this won't be stretched out so long like ZA unfortunately was (moment of silence for that series... but maybe one day I'll decide to read book 9). Either way, I am so so eager for it to be March 2027, definitely will be one of my most anticipated reads of the year!! AND PLZ GIVE ME MORE KAISEREVEREST.

[Jøanne Kayser]

I just finished Echo Fort, I’m emotionally damaged from the ride… how can I wait for again a long time ! 🫠🥴

Kaiser, I love youuuu, I’m coming for ya ! 🏃‍♀️
Everest, NEVER REST EVEREST, C’mon I thought you were the smartest one. Why didn’t you choose teamwork 😭
Vesper… I’m also so disappointed, show me that we can run free or should I say, fly free 🧚‍♀️
Bastian, my heart is bleeding, I felt you, it’s just a bad moment 💔

Alright, just finished Cinder Vale ! And it was again an amazing ride for me, but I should admit I’m thrilled for book 4 being the last book of the saga… The wait in between books is killing me.

I did read the author book, they will be major Zodiac Academy spoilers in the last book! 😱

I love that all of them are finally reunited, and I’m wondering how everything will wrap up.

#KAISEREVEREST 👄

[Lia]

6 ⭐️
Hands down, that was a total mind-blower!! 🤯 But seriously, how am I going to make it to the finale?! Wicked sisters, you’ve done it again!

[Karly Rose]

THAT ENDING!!!!!!!! WHAT DO YOU MEAN!!!!!!!!!!

While I'm SO thankful The Twisted Sisters gifted me a Cinder Vale ARC ahead of its release date, I will NOT know peace until I have book 4 in my hands.

📖 ARC Review 📖
🗓️ Release date: March 31, 2026

I gave both Never Keep and Echo Fort 5 stars, so it's an understatement to say I had very high hopes for this third book. And OH. MY. GOSH. It delivered!! I wasn't bored for a single second. If I didn't have to be a functioning adult, I would've flown through it in a day. Instead, it took me 3 days, which is still a really short period of time given this book is almost 700 pages.

One of the things I love most about this series is the number of battle scenes and how it almost mirrors the "battles" happening within the romance. This series is the definition of action-packed, but I'm not sure what has me more on my toes—the elements at war OR Vesper and Everest putting these men through hell (hehe).

I'd argue no one does TRUE enemies-to-lovers quite like The Twisted Sisters. Not only are we being spoiled with one relationship like this, we have TWO. And I STILL don't entirely know what is happening with one of those relationships.

Also, the redemption arcs in this book?! Only The Twisted Sisters can make me despise a character in one book, then make me want to protect them with my whole being in another. All of these characters must be protected at all costs. It's truly a gift that we get so many POVs.

The Twisted Sisters humor is my humor. The amount of times I was cackling out loud at the most inappropriate of moments. No notes.

A phenomenal third installment to this series. If book 4 (the conclusion) is another 5-star read, this will officially be a 5-star dark fantasy romance series for me.

A sincere thank you to The Nerd Fam and The Twisted Sisters for gifting me an ARC of this book ahead of its March 31, 2026 release.

[zaynah ⏾⋆.˚]

★★★★ │ 💙🌊 .✦ ݁˖🩷💨

·✶· ❝ we were two souls born of this ruinous world, torn apart by war, lines drawn between us by fae who had lived long ago…❞ ·✶·

i finished this last night and just sat there like ?? that ending has me so lost 😭

ngl things were looking a bit bleak before the second half. i was loving the start (esp all the kaiser povs), but then it started to drag and i was just waiting for the plot to move and for everyone to reunite (esp everest & kaiser 👀). but the second half? insane. when characters met/reunited it felt like an avengers-style crossover every time and i was living for it 😂

i’m so down bad for kaiser it’s not even funny 🫦 😍 i really wish we got to see more of him 😭 his povs were my favourite — he’s such an interesting & complex character, but feels so underused in this series ☹️

❝ and there within all this feeling, was her. the girl who had offered me this. my enemy, my saviour. silka la vin ❞

imma need kaiser & everest to stop playing and just love eachother already 😩 they had way less scenes together than vesper/bastian, but every single one had me on edgeee — the twisted sisters always deliver with enemies to lovers 👏🏽

vesper & everest’s friendship is cute and i hope we see more of it. and from the little we saw of bastian & kaiser, they’re funny af together so imma need more of that too.

i genuinely don’t know how they’re going to wrap this up in one more book, not just plot-wise but the relationships too… but idc i’m already sat waiting for oracle bay ✌🏽

[Ashley Peters]

4.7 ⭐️ Solaria is one of my favorite fantasy worlds. It might even be the one I’d choose to portal into if I could pick any book universe. The fact that this series has given me another corner of Solaria to explore is everything to me.

I love both FMCs so much, but if I had to pick a favorite, it would be Everest. I just give so many fucks about her story and I literally couldn’t put the book down when reading her chapters. However, both of their character arcs are wildly impressive and honestly beautiful. For me, character arcs and character dynamics are where the Twisted Sisters shine the most, but they were definitely flexing all of their writing skills with this book, that’s for sure.

Both MMCs are great, but Kaiser is definitely my fave. His arc is so good and his delivery of certain lines had me laughing out loud.

The plotting, the pacing, the climactic moments, the reveal regarding the big bad, I mean everything was done so well. And that ending in which we were absolutely fed had me gasping out loud.

I love this series and I cannot wait for the last installment of it!

Spoiler warning: North and Ransom…are they the enemies-to-reluctant allies-to-lovers that I didn’t know I needed?

[Scarlett Reading]

5 vibe read stars omg!! chaotic, addictive, emotionally unwell in the best way

Twisted Sister plots STRIKE AGAIN leaving me feeling like everything I’ve ever known is a lie..

Thank you to NerdFam & Kingshollow for the ARC 🫶

This book is very much a “moving the plot forward but also ruining your sanity” installment. It wasn’t as fast paced with as much going on as in the last book but it was still so amazing and essential to the storyline. The tension?? The relationships brewing?? The absolute hate-fueled simping??? Elite.

The MMCs are out here DOWN BAD in the most chaotic way possible, and I love when characters hate each other as much as they love each other. The dagger scene 👀

And the FMCs??? OBSESSED.
Everest is growing into herself and into her power while Vesper is letting herself be loved a bit while remaining her bada** self.

This book leans more character-driven, but it works so well because everything is building, from the alliances, to the tension to the emotions. And you can feel all the pieces slowly clicking into place.

Also:
-multiple POVs = chaotic perfection
-elemental magic + surprise powers = obsessed
-the yearning, suffering, tension?? I can’t breathe.

And THE ENDING????
I need the next book immediately. Like… yesterday.

[Shannon Farley]

This definitely had its ups and downs.

⭐⭐⭐.25
🌶️🌶️?

I think Vesper was the highlight for me. She experienced significant character growth throughout the book, both personally and romantically. I also learned a few things about her that I didn't know or hadn't picked up on in the other books. The first 30% of the book started out pretty slow. Things picked up in the middle and then went into hyper speed toward the end.

I will say multiple POVs are my least favorite way to read. I just find the reading experience clunky and it loses fluidity with the switch of characters every chapter. 

I was so excited to see how Kaiser would be with his emotions back but was pretty disappointed with his child like personality. It just felt super awkward given how much of a bad ass he was in the other books. I was hoping for so much more out of Everest, especially with her relationship with Kaiser. Their spice seemed so forced with little to no build up or tension. And man we have been waiting a long time for these two to come together, and that was it?

Septa and the Earl seemed to have the tension I was missing with everyone else, but again fell flat because we were only got little snippets. 

[Ceacea]

Genre: Romantic Fantasy
⭐️ 4.5/5
🌶 2/5
Cliffhanger: Yes
Noteworthy: Book 3 of 4. Multi first-person POV. Available on KU.

Hooh boy! That was a ride and half. We picked up right where we left off and got a Kaiser POV in chapter 1. Immediate serotonin boost! This story continues to wow me. I feel like everyone's storyline is weaved together so beautifully that I'm not frustrated by a random POV here and there. They add to this book way more than ZA in my opinion. I love how the FMCs feel more and more like sisters by fate in each book. I was worried their relationship would feel forced but it doesn't. My only criticism is I got a little battle weary in the first 30%. After that it flowed perfectly. And that cliffy! How did I not see it coming? I feel like I should have. 😂

[Jessica the Unfortunately Invested]

A review by Jessica, who has approximately 47 unresolved storylines to worry about now.

Okay, I freaking love this series. 🫣

Cinder Vale somehow manages to have SO MUCH HAPPEN while also feeling like nothing has happened?! 😂

There are wars. Betrayals. Political maneuvering. Murder. Secrets. Shifting alliances. Everyone has approximately seventeen ulterior motives.

The political intrigue and war machinations are SO good. There are enough competing loyalties and questionable decisions that I never quite know who I should trust, and apparently that is exactly the kind of chaos I want in my fantasy. ♟️

And then there are the characters:

🔥 Kaiser. 🔥
That's it. That's the review.
☝️ Actually, no. I have a complaint:
NOT. ENOUGH. KAISER.

Every time I got one of his POV chapters I wanted ten more.

Sidebar: THE SLOW BURN. 🐌
Good Lord.

This series has given me approximately seven thousand pages of sexual tension and keeps saying:

Would you like some payoff? 💰
YES.
Wonderful. Here's more yearning.
MA'AM. 😭😂

At this point Book 4 owes me emotional damages.

🧹 Vesper 🩸
So damaged. So many walls. So much Dragon-shaped therapy. 👏 👏

🌊 Everest 🏔️
She has my heart. I love her spirit.

📚 Septa and Earl Tarlord?! ⚔️
Why am I so invested in this storyline?! I need MORE. Septa quietly became one of the characters I was most excited to return to, which I absolutely did not see coming.

🫈Galomp, Ransom🧜and North 🐺 have the potential to become one of my favorite little ragtag groups ever. I am obsessed with whatever weird little team is forming there and would like approximately 400 additional pages of it.

♊ And finally, the Zodiac Academy connection. 👀

I was told I should finish ZA before continuing this series, so naturally I went away and read approximately 8,000,000 pages of emotionally devastating Fae brilliance before returning. 📚

The crossover/reference finally arrives... on basically the LAST PAGE. 💀

Was all that homework necessary for this book?
Debatable. ⚖️

Did I absolutely lose my mind when I recognized what was happening?
Obviously. 😂

Was I going to have to read it before Book 4 anyway?
Yes, so I'm all ready to go! 🏎️

Ultimately, Cinder Vale feels like one enormous inhale before everything explodes.💥

There are so many storylines I'm now desperate to see collide, so many relationships that still owe me an emotional payoff, and SO many possibilities for the crossover between these worlds.

Maybe that's why I can't quite give it the full five stars yet. It feels like this book spent a lot of time promising me things, and now I need the next book to DELIVER.

But considering I finished a giant setup book and my primary complaint is essentially “PLEASE GIVE ME MORE OF ALL OF THIS”...
Yeah.

I freaking love this series. 🫣🔥
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

4.75 “fine, apparently I live here now” stars 🔥⚔️

[Yuliia]

Дівчата, якщо ви ще не прочитали цю серію, то в мене до вас питання: чим ви, в біса, взагалі займаєтесь?

Я АГРЕСИВНО пропоную прочитати цю історію НЕҐАЙНО!!!

У мене стільки емоцій після прочитання. Як у них це виходить? Як???

Я казала, що немає сенсу порівнювати АЗ і ГЗ, АЛЕ якщо вже і порівнювати або виділяти якусь книгу, то це «Сіндер Вейл» ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

Після прочитання, скоріше за все, ви:

Почнете верещати як різані.
Викинете кіндл.
Піднімете його назад і перечитаєте останні глави!

Я не жартую, це найкраще, що я читала у сестер. Ця книга зруйнувала мене для інших 🤣😭

Авторки неймовірно прописали всіх героїв окремо і поєднали їхні історії. Сюжет, гумор, драми, любовні лінії, таємниці, хаос 😍

Я нарешті зрозуміла дещо з приводу іншої їхньої книги 🙌

Але якщо ви тільки починаєте читати сестер, то почніть з АЗ - там прикольніше і лайтовіше знайомство зі світом Зодіаку.

Про саму книгу. Нарешті ми побачимо плоди розвитку любовних ліній, але сексу все ще не було 😅 АЛЕ які там емоції, які почуття. Дівчата, можна намочити трусики 😈

Нарешті Кайзер відчуває. Ох і як він відчуває 😈❤️🥵 Його ставлення до Еверест - це суміш бажання придушити або захистити від усього світу. У них там такий момент був, але псина все зіпсувала 😅

«- Ти що, дрочиш на її кинджал?
Кайзер на мить замовк, а потім буркнув:
- Так.»

Веспер все ще трохи з манічкою величі, але вже набагато краще. Дуже цікаво спостерігати за розвитком їхніх почуттів. Все ще попереду ❤️

Бастіан ❤️ Його POV я порізала на цитати. Як він її кохає. У парі Бастіана і Веспер є все. Вони обидва зломлені, але так ідеально доповнюють одне одного і лікують. Як він відкривається їй 🥺 відкриває їй очі на себе.

«- Я не казав, що таких жінок, як ти, небагато, - сказав я грубо, піднімаючись на ліктях, щоб зазирнути в її закриті очі.
Правда того, про що вона думала, все ще була там, хоча вона явно намагалася її приховати.
- Я сказав, що іншої - немає.»

«- Ти ж розумієш, що я ніколи не просила тебе дбати про мене?
- А ти розумієш, що ти варта того, щоб про тебе дбали?»

Також є класні другорядні герої. Дуже сподобались розділи від Септи, її стосунки з графом ❤️

Норт - ну це Сетічка в найкращі свої роки 🤣 Ця пара створена у пеклі.

Ренсом - став адекватним? Ну ні, але 🤞 Як я чекаю на їхню пекельну пару 😈

Є ще один цікавий персонаж. Упродовж усієї серії йому не було віри, але щоб настільки 🤯 Відвал всього.

« Ні, я просто провтикав момент»
ААААА ЦЕ БУЛО ЕПІЧНО ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

Усі, хто читав АЗ, для вас є завдання - треба прочитати цю серію. Дедлайн був учора 😅

Це було 🙌 неймовірно 🙌 З нетерпінням чекаю на продовження 💜

[Toriఌ]

Coming out March 31

[Marissa.Reads]

That ending…listen I expected it but it doesn’t make it any better. Also, that authors note just sent me over the edge, what do you mean a crossover!!

[connie]

the friendships and relationships are brewing. the humor is hilarious as always. the plot is definitely developing. BUT UM THE ENDING…. I NEED BOOK 4 IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!

[Gabriella]

It just keeps getting better and better. The enemies to lovers, CHEFS KISS. the slow burn, CHEFS KISS. The plot development, CHEFS FUCKING KISS.

THE CLIFFHANGER?! CHEFS KISS. My favorite of the three so far.

[Em]

This is a filler book and it knows it.

Kaiser was one of the most menacing characters in this series. Now he's punching people over omelettes and howling shirtless at the sun while North lies to their mom about it. The execution of him feeling everything for the first time felt like three hundred pages of super cringe toddler content.

Everest fares slightly better but suffers from the same problem: pacing that mistakes stalling for development. She spends half the book being hand-fed grapes by shirtless men and watching her jester do donkey impressions, then speedruns her entire character arc in about forty pages. There's an arm removal and a beheading that are genuinely satisfying, but they'd land harder if the book hadn't spent 58% getting there.

Bastian and Vesper are the only two people in this world who sound like adults, and they deserve triple the page count.

Same problem as Zodiac Academy's middle installments — the world is there, the ideas are there, the editorial restraint is not. Finished the cliffhanger and felt nothing, which is probably the most damning thing I can say about a book that ends on one.

3.5 stars.

[Dayna | daynas.bookshelf]

THEY MF WENT THERE!! IM IN SHOCK AND AWE AND IN TEARS AT SEEING THE GIRLS AGAIN 😭 the promise of having the twins together with vesper and everest in Oracle Bay is everything to me oh my god 😭😭

everyone pls imagine tory and vesper being snarky menaces to each other while secretly loving each other. darcy and vesper bonding over colored hair. everest and darcy being sweet soft girls together. UGH GIRLHOOD IM SO EXCITED.

as for the rest of Cinder Vale, i’ll be honest (im shaking in my boots even saying this) but i was a little bored at times! i love love looooved seeing more of kaiser and his sweet personality 🥹 and bastian and his steadfastness (hot), but i felt like the plot was so drawn out to get he main important points that really mattered.

I AM ABSOLUTELY SEATED FOR ORACLE BAY.

[Karly]

This is how you write a series!! The world building, character building, plot development… everything! By this book, everything has truly come together so well. This is what I was waiting for from this series!! All the characters finally joining forces and the perfection of it being one from each element. I’m fully invested in every character pov we have gotten. Vesper and bastion, Everest and kaiser, ransom and north, septa!! And the ending🤯 i have so many questions but the crossover!!! I’m dying for book 4!! I need to see my ZA babies again😭okay, the SLOWWWW burn!! i can’t believe I’ve finished 3 books and the enemies to lovers situation is still a situation lol, like I need them to be together already I’m dying but also love it. I absolutely love how plot driven this series has been and how much time was given to develop the storyline, the characters, their relationships… vespers character growth has been amazing and all she’s gone through makes me hurt for her, she might be my favorite with Everest a close second! The way their relationship has grown was so sweet. I have high hopes for book 4 and I’m honestly sad it’s only going to be 4 books

[Maya Jane]

4.5🌟!! THE ZA CROSSOVER?!?!? HELL YEAH!
I’m actually obsessed with the ending of this book, so many puzzle pieces were put together

[blueberry]

Don’t ask me anything . This is 100% vibes ​😆​.

I’m not even sure this is objectively a 5-star read. The pacing definitely has issues and yet, I loved it.

Say what you want about these authors, but they know how to write something addictive and damn entertaining.

I’m completely invested in their characters and I feel everything with them.
I was literally smiling and (almost) kicking my feet every time something happened between the couples.
I also really appreciated that both relationships bring something different to the story (not enough Kaiser/Everest though but Vesper/Bastian were perfect👌​👌​)

And I loved seeing the friendships develop (plus the fact that some characters I didn’t even like at first ended up revealing different sides of themselves)
Even the humor who can be slightly cringe at times worked for me, because the comic relief is genuinely needed with all the drama.

Safety/spoilers

Overall pretty safe : no sharing/cheating, no OW drama , some light om drama (but not really)

[Nash Reads]

In-freaking-credible!!! This series hits EVERY SINGLE BOOK! I genuinely missed this world and characters. Vesper is my girl! She is such a complex character which makes her so lovable. She feeds my feminine rage spirit animal on another level. When a story has several POVs it can be a bit overwhelming. That is not the case in Cinder Vale. I felt like every character POV is needed and adds so much depth to the overall plot. The progression and developments in the story have me very intrigued and eagerly waiting for the next book.

[~ Tara Bezeau ~]

Bahhh I don’t want to wait for the next one! I want it right now!! I absolutely adore this world! I can’t wait for the final book! I highly recommend!!

[Jordan Miner]

Ahhhh SIX freaking stars!! That ending gave me chills. I had to scream on the inside because I was reading it at work, but there was no hiding the moment my jaw hit the floor.

This is easily my favorite book in the series so far. I lost count of how many times I laughed out loud: the entertainment level was absolutely off the charts. Every chapter pulled me in deeper, and just when I thought I had a handle on things, it completely surprised me.

And that ending… wow. It gave me the same heart-racing, mind-blowing feeling I got after finishing House of Sky and Breath and The Ascended = that kind of ending that still makes me think about months and even years later.

But what truly makes this series shine for me is the relationships between all the characters. The dynamics between everyone feels so real, layered, and engaging. It’s impossible not to get emotionally invested in all of them.

I’m still reeling. I need the next book immediately!!

[Clarice]

3 stars

Even though this wasn’t badly written (and arguably better than ZA), for some reason the combination of the audiobook narrators and the sometimes unseriousness of the narration got to me after awhile. I also wasn’t a fan of the ending 😅 I’m sure others feel differently (especially of they liked ZA)

The pacing was also off for me. The narrative meander a lot especially for 50-60% of the story.