On the Cursed Day of Christmas

Zodiac Academy #10

by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

It’s time to deck the halls and return to Solaria for more Christmas chaos than you can shake a buttery bagel at. From the bestselling BookTok sensation romantasy series by the Twisted Sisters, comes a brand-new, fully illustrated hardback advent calendar book experience for Zodiac Academy and Dark Fae fans.

Read a never-before-seen, full-length story inside this fun, festive special edition and open a chapter a day on the run up to Christmas. Inside, readers will discover a brand new tale featuring all their favourite characters! The chapters will be stuffed with gorgeous character and scene art, plus Faebook and Booktok posts that will be #dirtyanddiabolical. Get ready to enjoy the holidays like never before, immersed in the land of Solaria where you can spend Christmas at the Palace of Souls...

T’was the cursed day of Christmas and all through the palace, spirits were lingering with thoughts full of malice.

Did you think Solaria was out of peril at last? Well, the stars aren’t done with their games yet. And you know how they love to ruin the holidays.

On the Cursed Day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

A box of hexed ornaments to decorate my tree.

Yeah… not what I’d been hoping to find on Christmas Eve, but it’s no problem. So long as the enchanted decorations aren’t broken, the malignant entities trapped inside them by a Vega monarch hundreds of years ago can't escape, and the whole of Solaria isn’t threatened by their wrath.

It’s going to be a very merry Christmas indeed.

This festive return to Solaria includes:
24 chapters, sealed behind perforated pages. Open one a day to discover a brand-new Zodiac Academy adventure as you count down to Christmas.
Following on from the events of Restless Stars, fans will love revisiting their favourite characters.
A beautifully packaged hardback, featuring fully illustrated endpapers, character art, stunning scene art and spot illustrations throughout.
The perfect gift for fans of Solaria, and a wonderful alternative to traditional advent calendars.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Enemies To Lovers, Fantasy Romance

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 13, 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.

Join here >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/19697...

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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

[Laura Jane ♡ (semi ia)]

WHAT IS THIS? I NEED THIS. MY HUSBAND LANCE??? OMG MALFUCNTIONING!

[Youssra {very busy-review slumping}]

THIS IS NOT A DRILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! LANCE ORION IS BACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[Grace Btrs (very busy - semi ia - trying to catch up)]

I'M SCREAMING!
ARE YOU SCREAMING?
Give me my babies back!!!!!!
All my advent calendar dreams are coming true!
The entire cast, 24 chapters, inside art, hardcover.... OMG what else do I need?

[Iqra]

More za content? Call me booked and busyyyy 😝😝👹

Best believe imma be finishing up book 9 before this comes out 🙏 (someone’s gotta keep me accountable guys)

[Dahlia]

OH YOU DONT KNOW HOW I SCREAMED WHEN I SAW THIS
LANCE FUCKING ORION IS BACKK COME HOME BABYYY I MISS U 😭😭 (yes am crazy)
Pleaase 24 fucking chapters of the best characters ever ? I need this now I miss them sm it hurts 🫠

[nadine (s-ia)]

i miss my family so much, but i miss my husband Lance even more

[ʀ⭒.]

LIFE IS WORTH LIVINGGGGGGGG

[sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

caca from butt but this is family

[nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

i don’t remember laughing this much with a book, i swear only zodiac academy characters can make me feel like this! such a cute and cozy story (that i should’ve read during christmas but oh well) that made me feel so nostalgic, like i was back home.

they will forever be some of my favorite book characters ever i love them SO much. i can’t believe i was reading about them again after 2 years since finishing the main series. i was just vibing with this one, the story was fun, the interactions were everything, and getting to read about my favorite couples again made it all perfect.

mi familia, lo son todo para mi <3

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bawling 😩😩 I love these characters so much and being back with them in a silly little Christmas novella has me so emotional. This was so funny and I had forgotten how hard Geraldine is to actually understand, I am so out of practice.

I miss them so much and their dynamics were truly the best. Also can we pleaaaaaase get a Tharix series next since Sins of the Zodiac is on its last book 😭😭

I never read the ruthless boys series, but I am starting to realize that I love Leon so much and him and I have the hair obsession in common.

[San ིྀ]

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ Pre-read;
Omg???? My babies Tory and Darius are finally coming home with Darcy and Lance😭♡♡♡

[GemM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did this book add anything of relevance to the Zodiac Academy series? No. Did I love it anyway? Of course I bloody did.

Set at Christmas, after the big battle, this is a tale of festive hi-jinks with the whole gang. All the major story points have happened, and we're safely tucked in before most of the epilogues, so there's nothing particularly earth-shattering here. Just a chance to spend a little more time with all our favourites, including Elise and her men.

It was also lovely to get to know Tharix a little better, which was an added bonus.

This book is joyful from beginning to end. There's no great plot revelation, no world-shattering developments, and absolutely nothing of any real importance to the overarching story. Just our favourite characters, a bit of Christmas chaos, and the sheer pleasure of being back in their world for a little longer.

Was it necessary? Not remotely. Did I need it? Apparently, yes.

Nothing of any real value, just a whole lot of fun. And sometimes, that's exactly what you need.

[karma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slop but it’s MY slop 💖

[Lia · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

My babies 🫂
“This was true peace. And long may it reign” 🥹

[Gabrielle Belanger]

No f*cking way 😱😍 CAN'T WAIT TILL OCTOBER 🤩

[ZINNIA ☾⋆⁺₊✧]

yo wtf is this??? New ZA????

[Cess · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

It was so fun to be back in this world again! I truly missed them all, and it was so good to see everyone again. It was chaotic as always, but honestly, I enjoyed every second of it.

[buse · Rating 0.25 out of 5]

there’s barely torydarius “crumbs” in this one i finished skimming in under 10 minutes lmao. idgaf about the rest everyone is pissing me off as always. and if you are determined to milk your series at least do it right will you.

[Readwithri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Free to read on Kindle Unlimited

Being reunited with the gang from Ruthless Boys and Zodiac Academy gave me LIFE. 😭❤️

I am absolutely FROTHING AT THE MOUTH for the fourth and final book in the Sons of the Zodiac series because I NEED that crossover. IMMEDIATELY. And I need more of these characters! They’re so deeply ingrained in my psyche that I genuinely cannot function without thinking about them. Send help. 🫠

I did want to see the kids and how they interact with each other, so the fact that we didn’t get that was a little sad. Otherwise, it was a cursory read? No, scratch that. It was a CURSORY READ in the sense that I flew through it because I cannot get enough of these characters. 😂

Seth’s chapters were entertaining as per usual. He continues to be my #1 MUTT!! 🐺💖

Blue/Lance, Bitchy Flame Eyes aka Tory and Darius are still the power couples we know and love. Xavier… hehehe… is still up to mischief, and Batty Betty is still giving her Bothersome Barracuda heart palpitations.

AND THARIXXX!! GIMME MORE THARIXXX!! PLEASE. 😩🔥

The Twisted Sisters had me on my knees, gagged, and BEGGING for more of him. 😜

I NEED THE FINAL BOOK IN THE SINS OF THE ZODIAC. I NEED MORE OF THESE CHARACTERS. THAT IS ALL.

[♰ · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

needed more torydarcy.

[lea · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

i love them so much 🥲🥲🥲

[Lian · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

THAT FELT LIKE COMING HOME TO THE SILLIEST FAMILY IVE EVER HAD THE PLEASURE OF ENJOYING

[Madison Reid · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

Omg this was so dumb 😂

[malia · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

obviously not literally genius, but gosh i miss these characters so much and this was thoroughly enjoyable purely for nostalgic value

[jazzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

there’s a reason why you’ve never seen darcy vega and michelangelo in the same room before

[V. (book hangover or book slump?)]

WDYM Lionel and Lavinia are still alive ?!?!?!

*eye twitch*

Y'all better be joking for the sake of your promo video because istg 🙄 with that title, anything is possible.

But I'll definitely be marking this as a "series to continue" book because I love the Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac family and BlueLance 💙 and that's about it.

If there's any information about Xavier and his herd ??? Frkn bonus.

.
.
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3 stars ⭐️ Origins of an Academy Bully
3.5 stars ⭐️ The Awakening
4 stars ⭐️ Ruthless Fae
4 stars ⭐️ The Reckoning
3.5 stars ⭐️ Shadow Princess
3.5 stars ⭐️ Cursed Fates
3.5 stars ⭐️ The Big A.S.S. Party
3 stars ⭐️ Seth on the Moon
2.5 ish stars ⭐️ Fated Throne
3 stars ⭐️ Heartless Sky
2 stars ⭐️ The Awakening as Told by the Boys
2 stars ⭐️ Sorrow and Starlight
No Rating ☄️ A Game of Malice and Greed
4 stars ⭐️ Night
1 star (DNF) ☄️ Beyond the Veil
1 star ⭐️ Live and Let Lionel
2.5 stars ⭐️ Balls of Destiny
1 star ⭐️ Restless Stars

[Linds (honeyy.fae) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stars lowkey aren’t THAT evil, yall. How do I know this? Because me, a lowly mortal worm, not only got to get her grabby paws on an early copy of this beautiful, most perfect story - but I also GOT TO ILLUSTRATE THIS BEASTIE! 😭 what’s that? You hear someone singing Hillary Duff’s “What Dreams Are Made Of?” In a horribly off-key screech? THATS ME, YALL!! Up on the housetop, griffin claws! Out jumps good ol CHAOS!! DESTRUCTION!! UNHINGED SHENANIGANS!! SPICY BITS!! ROFLCOPTER MOMENTS (yall remember the phrase roflcopter? I’m showing my age now lmao) seriously everything you loved about the world of Solaria? It’s in this book. The sisters poured their whole heart and wizard minds into this story, and it was an absolute privilege and honor to have gotten to enjoy it in early access mode and bring the story to life via illustrations. 🥹

You will absolutely laugh, maybe cry, maybe scream, maybe question why you have eyes, maybe smile like you’re Seth finally getting to touch the moon. If I didn’t live across the pond I’d be skipping my fangirl butt to the sisters’ next signing to Geraldine-sing my praises for how much I ADORED THIS BOOK!!!!! And how grateful I am to have been a part of this project. IM THE LUCKIEST!!

Any solaria fan will devour this story immediately. Unless they want to be a good little egg and wait to read a chapter like you’re supposed to. Anyone who can handle waiting could honestly rule Solaria or any fae kingdom, tbh.

[Aurien · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

“So, was that tame for you, Blue?”

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 / 5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 / 5

Some favorite quotes:

“I learned my lesson about waiting too long to do right by you, Roxy. I won’t ever hesitate to give you what you deserve.”

---------

“Maybe this is a sign to make some changes, man,” I said. “Maybe you should snuggle some people more often.”
“Shut it, Seth,” Orion warned.
“I’m just sayiiiing,” I said innocently. “Maybe if snuggles were given out more freely, you wouldn’t be being targeted by a small, truth-unveiling robin right now.”

---------

“If I’m going to be your damsel in distress, I expect a full ravishing once you rescue me.”

---------

“Leave my hair out of this,” I hissed, gathering my beautiful golden locks into my hands.
“I’d just turn into my smallest Basilisk form, crawl into your hair in the night and use my fangs to go snip, snip, snip⁠—”
“Stop!” I yelled in horror. “You wouldn’t dare.”

---------

“I won’t go unbuttled on Christmas, Caleb. I can’t. I shan’t.”

---------

“I will skin you in your Order form and strangle you with your snake skin.”

---------

She was everything, my all, my reason for being.

[Tabitha Chedore · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Zodiac Academy!!

On The Cursed Day Of Christmas by Caroline Peckman and Suzanne Valenti was everything I needed. I have missed the characters from ZA and RB and even DP series alot. Its hard to find any series that matches the characters and feelings from reading ZA books.

I loved getting multiple Tharix POVs and a Ryder POV. Ryder being Ryder in front of them was so nice too. Tharix with the Snow Queen and how he is with Darius is the best. He really needs more happiness.

I was bit surprised not to get Dante's POV, no sayer dragons, and would have liked to see more of snowball fight and rest of family there on Christmas day and ending with Tharix POV would have been really nice.

But really this was just the best addition to the ZA series. Its too bad the hardcover comes later than the kindle but for sure I will be rereading this book once I get the hardcover. And anytime there is more ZA I will be buying it for sure.

[Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely Christmas Novella by the twisted sisters with all the usual suspects and a great feature from the ruthless boys and Elise is actually named for once!

Caleb relapses #hornyforthehorn
Seth's recent purchases come out
Leon gets a cute hat but the worst Christmas hair✌️
Gabriels biscuit were ruined
Geradlines dreams come true with max on a pile of buttery bagels
Lance ruins a poop scoop and learns the true meaning of Christmas while the gays learn his dark secret xox
Tharix gets some bells and gives the best gifts to his brothers wife
Max owns off brand merch
Darius poor darius witnesses some things again
Xavier has the worst luck
Darcy makes great art
Tory gets an unusual advent calendar
Ryders fun gets ruined
Dante is there