Libra Ascending

Zodiac Guardians #1

by Tricia Barr, Tamar Sloan

Twelve teens. One Task. Save the universe.

Brielle has never been normal - she sees things no-one else does. But as it looks like she’s about to be adopted after growing up in an orphanage, she’s the closest she’s ever come. All she has to do is act...well, normal.

The new guy in town, Tristan, is anything but that. On the first day she meets him, he starts talking to her of visions and aliens and a darkness so evil, it will take twelve Zodiac heirs to defeat it. Brielle knows she should run the other way, as fast as she possibly can.

If only she wasn’t so undeniably drawn to him…

When assassins attack and Brielle can no longer deny she has powers, she begins to wonder—is Tristan telling the truth? Are there others like her? Are her feelings so powerful because she and Tristan are soulmates?

And ultimately, will Brielle have to sacrifice everything she’s ever wanted so she can join a daunting fight to save the universe?

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 9, 2021

About the author

By day, Tricia is a full time mom to two beautiful toddler girls and a wife/business partner to a handsome hard-working husband. By night--and nap times--she writes unique and thrilling young adult fantasies inspired by her vivid, somewhat creepy dreams and her own adventures around the world.

Sign up for her Email List and be automatically notified about new releases: http://www.tricia-barr.com/

List of Tricia's books:

THE BOUND ONES:
Ignite (Book 1)
Submerge (Book 2)
Unearth (Book 3)
Haunt (Standalone)

THE AMARANT:
The Vampire Secret (Book 1)
The Vampire Unleashed (Coming soon)

Steamy Adult Paranormal Romance Standalones:
Devilish

Reviews

[Megan Rivera · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the first day she meets him, he starts talking to her of visions and aliens and a darkness so evil, it will take twelve Zodiac heirs to defeat it. This was a good book and I enjoyed reading it.

[nat _lovestoread · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this start of a new series!!! 😍
I have always loved everything Zodiac related and this original take on the subject was a great surprise!!! 🤩
The plot and world building are amazing, there is a lot of action and the unexpected twists and turns will keep you reading, trying to figure it out what will happen next!!! 🤨🤔😳
Can't wait for the next book, I really need more of Tristan and Brielle, love them both so much!!! 💖

[Rose Hastings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh

RTC I need to do some research. I thought this was fantasy but it turned out to be science fiction. And I'm pretty sure they've gotten some facts wrong. And I think I saw some plot holes. You don't get to mess with my favourite subject and get away with it! I'm talking about science, specifically Cosmology.

I'll explain later when I'm sure I've got my facts right.

[Natalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 stars

[Devika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received an ARC of this book from the authors in exchange for a voluntarily and honest review.
Original review on my blog Boekensteeg

Libra Ascending is the first book in the Zodiac Guardians series by Tamar Sloan and Tricia Barr. Currently there are five books of this series announced, but it is still unknown how many books the complete series will be.

In the book you will meet Brielle, a girl who has lived in the orphanage for her whole life and who is a bit of an outsider. Brielle sees and knows things that others do not see, which makes it difficult to find good foster parents. When she bumps into new student Tristan at school, something about him intrigues her. She therefore decides that she wants to know more about him. However, it turns out on their first day that Tristan is not who she thinks he is.

Tristan tells her a story about other planets, a villain and the princes and princesses of these planets who have to protect the universe. He also claims that he is one of these princes, and that he suspects that Brielle is one of the princesses. Brielle doesn’t believe it and decides to stay away from Tristan, but what if Brielle’s powers keep getting stronger and there is an attack from the Skins. Was Tristan speaking the truth after all? Is Brielle an alien princess indeed? Are there others like her? Most importantly, how will this task affect her life?

Libra Ascending is a YA science fiction with plenty of adventure and action in the story.

The story is told by Tristan and Brielle. In the storyline of Tristan you will get information about the planets, the skins and the zodiac guardians. Because Tristan is the Gemini prince, he hopes, partly because of the connection he and Brielle have, that she is the Gemini princess, and therefore his soulmate. Tristan’s goal is to find his soulmate as well as the other princes and princesses. In Brielle’s storyline you can read more about her life as an orphan and an outsider. You can experience the confusion she experiences after Tristan’s story very well. Personally, I really enjoyed learning more about the zodiac guardians through these two characters.

The pace of the story is not very high, but the writing style is very smooth and the authors know how to bring out the tension and adventure well. Partly due to the smooth writing style, I was still able to read this book in no time.

What I really didn’t like about the story is that the characters are kept quite superficial. I therefore hope that the characters will be worked out a bit better in the following books. However, this should not spoil the fun, as there is more than enough tension, mystery, adventure and action in the story.

Libra Ascending is a nice story, but it didn’t have the wow factor for me. Because of this I give 3.5 stars to this book. I am certainly curious what the next books will bring, because I would like to read more about the zodiac guardians.

[Damian Southam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author exceeds well at addressing early assumptions arising from your experience of reading the first ten chapters or so, a connection with the reader so that it becomes possible to address and create assumptions from the storyline. Intermittent stings to your reading-ego should be something you don’t mind at a minimum, as the errors in assumptions are so well dealt with, that you end up “gotya moments” when a light bulb seems to go off in your head: a prerequisite of a good book and review for me.

After hundreds upon hundreds of fantasy stories in nearly all its genres, finding a truly unique plot is difficult. As storylines upon storylines combine into one overall memory that caters for myriad individual idiosyncrasies, looking negatively upon these stories is counterproductive to ensuring you can enjoy books for the way they combine elements from the plethora encyclopedia you hold in your memory(ies).

In quite a quirky combination of enrolling Sci-Fi elements into the usual curriculum of Urban Fantasy/Paranormal/Sci-Fi Romance, you’ll see both Pittacus Lore and literally many PNR authors in the storyline. Whilst not being too particularly interested in Sci-Fi or Romance for themselves , I did thoroughly enjoy their presence herein.

Tristian (our male protagonist) is in large part capable of super-serious as he is equally capable of super-silly! Brielle is super level-headed, a romantic at heart like Tritian, and absolutely capable of duplicity. The use of duplicity in this instance is not in a negative way, but instead descriptive of the way her outward appearance is in direct opposition with her inward one: for both the one perceiving her and herself. This was a great novel and I loved the influence of Pittacus Lore in storyline. Leaving room for the follow-up books to become what I suspect will be 5 star inclusions all round, I’m going with 4 stars for experience, and wish I could separately score a 5 star reflection for the series idea itself.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌪️🌪️ONE EXPLOSIVE ADVENTURE🌪️🌪️
Hopping hornets! This immensely talented, uniquely gifted and extremely impressive dynamic duo hit the motherload with this turbulent rollercoaster, laying out some brutal facts, ruthless lessons and relentless drive, hooking you from start to finish, hurling this bad boy to a staggering heights. Throw in the riveting drama, gripping intrigue, vicious tactics, perilous encounters, escalating danger, spiraling suspense and nailbiting situations ensue in epic proportions, putting our characters through their paces, testing them in ways they could have never anticipated, melding this jewel together seamlessly. Attributes and mannerisms in layer upon layer that you peel back with each page your drawn into this tangled web so intricately and precise till nothing else exists, broken barriers and shattered perimeters solidify as limitations are amplified and tested, reaching deep for every ounce of strength in a fierce surge of determination, secrets confessed, blasting this baby into the eye of the hurricane, blowing it into a frenzy with an astonishing culmination, launching this gem to life brilliantly. The characters are complex, genuine and realistic with traits and qualities that balance and blend, with amazing depth and diversity and enough spice to add an extra kick to the mix. Throw in 100% on point realism, raising the stakes with such graphic scenarios that are so colorfully descriptive and vividly detailed its like you're living it with them instead of on the sidelines, feeling everything the characters feel. Incredible job guys, thanks for sharing this little treasure with us.

[Savvy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved, loved, loved this book! I know it says I read it in 2 weeks but the book is actually a quick read! (I'm a full-time student, it took me roughly four hours to read :)) The book is pretty original, the character development is good, and the plot is definitely a page-turner. There are a coupe betrayals and plot twists that take your breath away!

In short: the series is about a group of 17-year old teens who were made to be the ruler of their designated zodiac, which are actually far away planets in another world. This book introduces two of the characters, including one of the Gemini Heirs. the idea is that there are two children born at the same time on the same day to be destined as soulmates on Gemini.

There is quite a bit of fast-paced romance- very reminiscent of a first love (so the quickness makes sense.) There are some gruesome deaths, vast betrayals, cliff-hangers, magic type-abilities, and an ephemeral creature symbolizing evil. I would label the book as pg-13 due to some of the typical high school content, or for mature tweens if they've learned about the birds and the bees. However, the book is incredibly enjoyable for those who are older (coming from someone who tends to lean towards more mature YA.)

Overall, the book is a clear 4.5/5. The pace was a bit quick (I think a longer book with more detail would really give this book a step-up) and I just have a pet-peeve about made up cuss words. It's a personal irk, but if that's you too, be warned.

[Leilani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic good verses evil plot with an interesting read involving alien zodiacs meets power rangers feel. I thought the storyline moved at a decent pace, keeping things intriguing as revelations are revealed with surprising twists, heartache and tragedy.
Tristen is the main male lead whose part of the twelve zodiac guardians having grown up training and with his alien knowledge, he travels with his family in search of others like him. Tristen has a good character growth moment thrust upon him and a leader responsibility that he inherits will be fun to read about.
Brielle is the main female lead whose has lead a lonely hard life living in an orphanage since birth searching for her forever home while dealing with petty bullies on a daily. I liked reading how much Brielle has grown by opening herself up more to trusting others and her mature attitude towards those who are abusive her. Reading how she adjusts to her new life will be intriguing.
The suspenseful romance is consumingly innocent as is slowly simmers into flames with hidden twists that leaves unanswered questions designed to torture.
The supporting characters were great, nice character interactions with the ones who were good and the other not so pleasing characters.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brielle has always wanted a family and a “normal” life with people who care of her. Her life so far, however, has been anything but normal with her secret ability to see things that others cannot. But she is close now to achieving what she had always wanted. There is a chance she may at last be adopted if things don’t go crazy around her.

Tristan is new in town and has been training for what is to come. In his search for his soulmate, he thinks he may have found her at last. When he and Brielle meet, she also feels a definite strong attraction to Tristan. He talks to her about visions and aliens and an evil darkness. And he mentions it will take all twelve of the Zodiac heirs to defeat it. The evil is stalking them and it has become a matter of survival now.

The proof comes to her when assassins attack them. Brielle knows now that she does have powers. So is Tristan telling her the truth? Is she part of this battle? Is Tristan truly her soulmate? And what does all this mean for her?

This is an exciting beginning to a story you won’t want to miss! Grab your copy while the powers are gathering. You don’t want to be left behind!

[Barbara Marie Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libra Ascending (Zodiac Guardians Book 1)

Libra Ascending (Zodiac Guardians Book 1) ~ “A cosmic origin story with heart, grit, and destiny colliding.”

Brielle completely stole my heart in this one. She’s the kind of heroine who’s been through the wringer—bounced from foster homes, never quite belonging—and suddenly finds out she’s part of something so much bigger. I loved how her insecurities made her real, and when the Zodiac world finally cracks open, it’s like watching a normal girl step into the myth she was born for.

This book had that perfect blend of teenage chaos, found family, and slow-burn romance threaded through destiny and danger. The “twelve teens, one task, save the universe” line isn’t just a tagline—it feels epic. By the end, I was cheering, crying, and immediately ready for the next sign to rise.

If you loved Percy Jackson or The 100 but wanted more romance and heart, this one’s your next binge.

[Kasey Connors-Beron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Libra Ascending thanks to the publisher though BookSprout in exchange for an honest review.

I have been seeking another space opera since I finished Cut Her Out Of Little Stars by Daniele Kasper two months ago and before that is had been since Vera Nazarin’s Qualify and Belle Mallory’s Twelfth Keeper (all of which you need to read ASAP if you are looking for a YA space opera). But Libra Ascending gives me those vibes and I am so excited that there are going to be more books!

The dual POV for this story was definitely a great idea. Brielle knows nothing about her past (other than being orphaned) while Tristan has been living it for the past 17 years. Her reaction when she first hears of this craziness is gold. It is exactly how I would have reacted. I can even picture her face as the thought ‘okay crazy’ races through her mind (even if not explicitly said).

Another positive is that most of the adults in this story are actually good people, which feels rare in these types of orphan/adopted/”superpower”-esque books. Or maybe I’m just jaded. Either way, I enjoyed their interactions with Brielle and Tristan.

I’m super excited to recommend this so I can hopeful talk with others about it! Please let me know your thoughts. It’s free on Kindle Unlimited (or $2.99)! Click here for the Amazon page.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[J Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent start to a new series!

In the universal battle of good versus evil, twelve pods have escaped the battle for supremacy to hide their passengers from certain death. Unfortunately, they are carried to safety with no memory of their origin or their mission. Each has a power unique to their zodiac sign but to fully access it they must unite with their stone. The search is on to find the twelve Guardians before the Skins find and destroy them.

As a series starter, it offers a tantalizing glimpse of things to come in the series. I definitely was not ready for the story to end when it did and I really do not like cliffhangers, but I enjoyed the book and I'm ready for the next book in the series so I can see what happens. I received an advance copy but my review is honest and voluntary.

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read. There was a lot going on and it was hard to keep everything straight. The characters were back and forth a lot and I couldn’t really get a good reading on them. I know this is the first in the series and I am willing to give the next book a shot to see if things get clarified and I gain a better understanding of the story. The premise of the series seems like a fantastic idea, I just worry that the execution of it will not be what I hope it to be.

I give this a three out of five stars. There was too much going on and I got confused by the work. I hope to give the next in the series a read and see where I go after that one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in the Zodiac series, Libra Ascending brings us an alien prince looking for the rest of the zodiac guardian team as well as his soulmate. Tristan has come from the planet Gemini 1 as an infant as his planet is attacked. He along with 12 others have been sent to Earth for their protection. Unfortunately he seems to be the only one that knows who he is since he is sent with a palace guard to protect him. He comes across two girls at his new school that may be part of the team. One of them may even be his soulmate. This is an out of this world adventure that has severe ramifications for the entire universe.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Caitlin Witt · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an awesome start to a YA sci-fi series!!! I was hooked from the very first page! I love everything that has to do with the zodiac, and I thought this was an incredibly unique story unlike anything I have ever read before. It was a breath of fresh air to read such an original work of fiction. Kudos to the authors on the solid world-building! Moreover, the pacing of the action throughout was excellent. I found myself thinking about the story even when I wasn’t actively reading, a sure fire sign I’ll follow the series through to the end. Can’t wait to see what happens to Tristan, Brielle, and whoever else they meet along their adventure!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


I really enjoyed this book and all it's teen angst. It held a lot of I Am Number Four vibes but in the end took a path I did not see coming. I thought at first this was going to be a typical easy to figure out storyline but it was pleasantly different.


⭐⭐ Writing was good but typical for HS based storylines.

⭐⭐⭐At first I was afraid that everything was going to be predictable but it did not disappoint.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ I would definitely recommend to younger readers, not sure 18+ would enjoy since the story lacks a certain maturity, but it was a good read overall.

[Tahnia Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brielle has been an orphan her entire life and has lived in the same nun-run orphanage the whole time. Brielle just knows when someone has done something really bad and feels guilty about it. She also knows when someone has lied and these two things make her a freak to the other children in the orphanage. It is also why she hasn't been adopted yet and is almost old enough to age out. When Tristan moves to town and goes to the same school, things start getting weird for Brielle. Even weirder is when she finds out she is the Libra Zodiac Guardian. This is a fun story to read but has a cliffhanger. Highly recommended.

[Kimiko637 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like the story line so far. And I am hoping that Brielle and Tristan end up together! I personally have never thought that zodiacs could be in the same category as Aliens... I guess it’s because I’m used to other stories that deal with say witches and magic when it comes to anything zodiac related. So this is definitely new to me. And I think it’s great! This story has me hooked! I look forward to reading more from this series. I need to find out what happens next. Definitely recommend this.

[Mary Brannian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libra Ascending

Brielle just wants to be loved; to have a mother, a father... A family. Being an orphan raised by nuns was no picnic. But Brielle has a secret, one that keeps her apart from everyone around her...

Tristan has spent the last seventeen years training and hunting; searching for the other half of his soul... And he believes he has found her....

A great evil is stalking them, hounding them at every turn... Threatening them, their loved ones... everything....

An intriguing, enthralling tale that will captivate! Couldn't put it down!

[Roger]

Libra Ascending (Zodiac Guardians Book 1), my first read from author Tamar Sloan. December seemed to be my month for new authors and January looks to continue the trend. An enjoyable read, captivating in its detail and development. I was gifted a free copy and I'm voluntarily reviewing it because every good books need reviews. I look forward to more from this author and in this series, in fact, I already have Zodiac Guardians: Zodiac Guardians Prequel, so soon. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brielle is seventeen and an orphan (and she kind of never seems to fit in), she wishes she was adopted, so she can get out of the orphanage. Luckily there seems to be a couple, who might be interested. A new boy (Tristan) comes to town, and she can feel an attraction to him, but is he crazy? For some of the things he has told her seems to be way out ideas. I enjoyed this interesting tale, it has some betrayal, danger and kids with powers.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Aizlynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really great YA sci-fi fantasy. The dual perspective adds so much to it. Tristan is such a likeable character. His focus on his goals haven't made him any less soft or approachable. Brielle is a pretty tragic character, but it feels like she is starting to find her backbone. She has a lot of potential. There's a lot of heart break in this story. Overall, it was a really great read that I couldn't put down. I'm needing the next installment now.

[Felicia Renee Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome ... absolutely loved it 😎

I love fantasy, sci-fi and all that good stuff ... Me being older I wasn't sure if this was to teenager for me , I'm very into the zodiac signs as well so I gave it a shot and I loved it!!! I've read 1 and 2 can't wait for 3 to come out on the 1st but there's 12 books and only 5 written so far by the looks of it idk if I'm going to be able to wait that long lol

[Christinaraven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this story. It had danger, mystery, and suspense all rolled in with some teenage angst just to make things interesting. This first books sets up the series and hints at many possibilities coming in the future. I liked the setup and the world building too. And the characters were interesting and liked the little twist. Just a story that sucked me in and kept me reading in one sitting to see how it would end..

[Amber Beaty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book through BrookSprouts as a ARC Book.

The book is about Brielle a orphan longing for a family. Tristen an orphan adopted at a young age but knows the truth of his past.

I enjoyed the story. I read it in one day. I'm looking forward to read the 2nd book and see if my guesses are correct. If you like reading books do with zodiac couples this is the one for you.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Steve Filson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different read than I'm used to,although as headlined think power rangers, it's a late teen / adult version. I am an Honest ARC Reviewer and rather enjoyed this book. It is a page turner. Lots of action involving Tristan,but spreads throughout the area to encompass more people..E.T. phone home. I think you will like this read.

[Tonya Bryant Gillon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tristan having a vision of two females he has never met. Starting another new school. And he sees both girls from his vision. Brielle and Cassandra who can’t stand each other what could happen next? You will love this story, it gripped me and didn’t let go. I enjoyed this book so much. Being a Libra myself was a plus. Just kidding.

[Marvie Baloloy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is like I am Number four but with more likable characters.

I always knew that Tristan & Brielle would be disappointed about being soulmate so I didn't get my hopes up. But I still have a tiny hope about them since B feel the pull towards the purple stone but whatever. I love Cassandra esp she's the Leo and I'm a Leo too.

Good read. Thank you.

[Margolynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was totally impressed by this book I’ve been reading new authors books for a change. Widening my reading selection and I found this one amazing the storyline is creative and captivating and the characters were intriguing and engaging I’m looking forward to reading more books in this series

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.