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Zodiac Academy #0.5

Origins of an Academy Bully

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Dark magic is forbidden at Zodiac Academy. That’s why I hide it so well.

But now I’m supposed to mentor Darius Acrux: the son of the most ruthless Dragon Shifter in Solaria. If he’s caught using blood magic, he’ll lose his claim to the throne.

The problem is? Our families are up to something, and we’re determined to find out what.

No matter what dark power we must turn to…

Welcome to Zodiac Academy, where your star sign defines your destiny. As the Fae of the future, you will soon learn the merciless way to claim your power. Life among the Vampires, Shifters and Sirens is no easy ride, but if you can make it through your exams, you might just be able to harness your inner strength and earn your place among the elite.

127 pages, Paperback

First published July 10, 2019

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About the author

Caroline Peckham

112 books32.9k followers
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

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5 stars
14,772 (22%)
4 stars
23,447 (35%)
3 stars
24,137 (36%)
2 stars
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1 star
551 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,233 reviews
Profile Image for Iqra.
732 reviews6,756 followers
March 23, 2024
#2 Reread - March 2024 - ೃ⁀➷ 5 stars *ੈ✩‧₊˚

This was such a solid intro to this series and the foreshadowing was 😭😭

I wanted to cry for Darius so many times ugh he deserves sm better

Orion is so perfect I love him sfm
I just wanna lock him in my basement and smother him with my love

His momentary happiness in this book had me sobbing - he used to be a completely different person before 🤧 I hate that he had it ripped away from him by that greasy rat 😤💔

But issokay bc Blue eventually tilts his world on its axis, as she should 😌🤭🩷💕🦋💗💞🎀

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

#𝟭 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 - 𝗦𝗲𝗽 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 - ೃ⁀➷ 𝟱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀

I’m obsessed!

Why was this so mfing good already?! I’m so incredibly invested in these two 😮‍💨😮‍💨

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠.

*Violent chefs kiss*

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐈’𝐦 𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤!

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

If I get obsessed and end up tragically gazing out the window when this is over, I’m blaming:

@leonie
AND @SK
AND @Nadia
AND @Dab

Ily <3
Profile Image for Clace .
909 reviews3,523 followers
March 28, 2024
3.75!

I enjoyed this one so much! I can't wait to read more from this world...it was just 80 pages but I absolutely loved Lance and Orion and the fact that they're bond felt so real in the span of just 80 pages prove how well written this book was. It was gripping kept me hooked and a nice intro to the series. Oh, and Lionel? You can suck my dick.

Thank you to Iqra for encouraging me to read this book because without you I would not have read and would have procrastinated 😭 forever grateful 🫶
(Someone tell me I did not win an award so I can quit acting like I did)
____
IQRA LOOK IM READING THIS!

Let's see what the hype is all about and no I wasn't going to read it until Iqra started spamming us with her amazing updates 😌
Profile Image for TJ ☾.
858 reviews1,932 followers
May 22, 2021
the second i see a character that can summon fire the zuko fangirl in me wakes up ready to fcking gooOOOOO



however, did darius have to go so hard abt that dragon girl whose only crime was not being attractive?? she hadn't even opened her mouth and in his head darius had already referred to her as 'hideous' 'ugly' 'inbred offspring' 'minotaur' 'half-bull' 'walking dog turd' 'ogre' 'wretched creature' 'troll' 'pig ugly' 'gremlin' i shit you not all of this is from within three pages and for what 😩😩 for why

i hope there was some underlying depth to that scene, like the before-stage of darius's character development or this girl might come back later in the series to show these shallow assholes the error of their ways cause that was so damn extra. if her only role was to get roasted smh sweetie come w me let's get u away from all this 🤱🏽

aside from that tho, this was a great introduction to the series. the plot kept me invested, i liked the characters and the magic system had me wanting to learn more. now i cant wait to meet the twinssss
Profile Image for Lilyya ♡.
723 reviews3,897 followers
June 28, 2023
❛ But we shared the kind of bond that could transcend time apart ❜


im glad i trusted the process milo and cait because the novella hits sm better after The Reckoning ‘s last chapters events !!
Profile Image for alka .
213 reviews562 followers
May 17, 2021
I'm smelling something like addiction.
Profile Image for Sara.
38 reviews91 followers
January 21, 2026
This was a quick read and it definitely works better if you pick it up once you’re already far into the series rather than reading it as a prequel.
Reading it after becoming invested in the characters allows for a deeper emotional connection and a stronger understanding of their struggles, mindsets, and motivations.

Getting to see the Heirs at their awakening was so fun to read about. It was short, but very cute 🥰
Even back then their bond was strong. You can feel how much they care for and support one another and it really added meaningful context to their future dynamics.

I also really appreciated seeing more of the friendship between Darius and Lance. Watching how they look out for each other, cheer one another on and protect each other long before the bond just made their dynamic even more special.
Honestly the bond feels like an excuse, those two were absolutely simping for each other way before that 🤭

Darius’s backstory was especially difficult to read. My heart ached for him throughout this book 😞
Reading about his upbringing, his relationship with his parents, their expectations and the constant pressure and control he lives under was incredibly painful.
While it absolutely doesn’t excuse his actions toward the twins, it does help you understand the mindset he was operating from.

“My family didn’t do affection. Overtly or privately. We were strong, solid, immovable. A Dragon had no need of others. We could look after ourselves.”

It was also heartbreaking to see Clara’s backstory unfold as it happened.
Experiencing it through Lance’s pov, watching it play out right in front of him while he’s completely powerless was so brutal.

One of the best parts of the book was seeing Lance as a student and Pitball player. Relaxed and carefree, even if only for a moment. It reminded me so much of the scene when he celebrated his birthday and I need more of him like that.
Drunk Orion is the best Orion 🤣

And Lionel…somehow manages to be even worse than before. Just when I thought I couldn’t hate him more, this book proved me wrong. I genuinely despise this man and I’m patiently waiting for his demise 😌

Overall I enjoyed this one, but I’m so eager to get back to the main story.
I likely would have appreciated and enjoyed this book more had I read it after book three. The whole time I was just thinking I wanted to finish it asap and that is probably why it also felt kind of boring at times.
Profile Image for Lucie V..
1,388 reviews3,805 followers
March 23, 2023
Maybe I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have because I read it after I read the series? Also, I am always picky when it comes to novellas. I find it hard to really enjoy because it's so short.

This novella happens 4 years before the events of ZA. 14 years old Darius and the Heirs just awakened and spend one week at the Academy. In the meanwhile, Orion is worried about his sister. She is being weird and shady, and he is worried that she might be involved in something very dark with Lionel.

It was a nice addition to Darius and Orion's backstory, and it shed some light onto Clara's death and the way Darius and Orion came to be bounded, but since I've read the series up until book 7 already, it was nothing new to me. There was no big revelation or shocking twist.

Still, I enjoyed seeing the bond that was already there between Orion and Darius, and their loyalty to each other. As for Clara, I don't know if I was supposed to pity her and see her more as a victim, but it didn't work. I was not impressed by her and still don't like her.

Follow me on Instagram 🙂
Profile Image for suus⋆୨୧˚.
107 reviews95 followers
Read
August 30, 2024
don’t wanna rate a novella but I enjoyed this one so much!!
Profile Image for anmol.
193 reviews812 followers
February 16, 2023
if torydarius didnt own me mind body and soul, id be the first to ship lance and darius
Profile Image for lulu.
288 reviews2,544 followers
August 26, 2023
This was a good intro to the series! I loved the relationship between Lance and Darius. I want Lionel to die so bad omg I hate him.

I’m gassed to read the rest of the books eeekkk🥰
Profile Image for Dez the Bookworm.
568 reviews405 followers
June 18, 2025
Ok, am I way behind on the Zodiac Academy Train? Absolutely. Did I just enjoy the heck out of this novella? Heck motha friggin yes.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to invest myself in this heavy series, but a good novella taster is always my jam. This book gave me just enough of a taste that I know I want more.

I felt the writing needed a little bit of help at times so I knocked off one star but I am throughly intrigued at this point. Dual-POV, interesting world building, storyline is good, I await the plot.

Will definitely be continuing on with the next full length novel. Wish me luck book fam!!
Profile Image for jess.
381 reviews818 followers
February 13, 2024
“Fair? I'm a Libra, sir, I think I know what's fair and what isn't.”

was i confused asf ? yes. did it also get interesting towards the end tho? also yes.


——
thank you to iqra for sending me the reading order 🥹💘 it’s time i dive head first into this series (i’m scared)
Profile Image for ♡✿Mania⁠✿♡ ꒰ia꒱.
109 reviews153 followers
Read
September 17, 2025
OMG I HATE LIONEL SO FREAKIN MUCH....Rtc!

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

જ⁀➴⊹ ࣪ Pre~read

From what I know this is meant to be a prequel in Darius’s POV! You can read it either before The Awakening or slot it in as 3.5. Me and belle are reading it as 3.5, so it better dive deeper into Darius’s actions and give us some proper explanations—or else imma 🙎🏻‍♀️🔫
Profile Image for myo ⋆。˚ ❀ *.
1,377 reviews9,005 followers
May 23, 2022
this had a lot more information than i expected it to? also i know you should read this before the series but i read this between book two and book three and i feel like that makes more sense than reading it before you start.
Profile Image for buket.
1,015 reviews1,622 followers
January 21, 2025
the bromance between darius and lance🩷🎀🧸 already loving this
Profile Image for Marti .
300 reviews188 followers
August 8, 2022
A nice little addition to Orion and Darius' relationship. I like to read about Darius more when it has nothing to do with the twins. I love those two. Really, they should end up together.
This short story did literally nothing to make Clara look better. I still hate her with every fiber of my being.
Profile Image for vee!.
128 reviews3,808 followers
April 15, 2023
— 3 stars ✰

this hits different after you've read the other books
darius and orion own my heart 💕💗💘💞
Profile Image for Poppyflowerjj.
266 reviews
July 17, 2023
4.5/ 5⭐
0/ 5🌶

𝐈’𝐌 𝐎𝐁𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃.

Gods, I love Orion 🥰🥰🥰

I loved the relationship between Lance and Darius. The backstory and character development is real.

My hate towards Lionel has officially reached unimaginable levels. He is the bloody worst!

Quotes:
“The world was not black and white. It wasn't even a patchwork or greys. It was rainbows layered upon rainbows. The nicest Fae in the world could turn around and stab you in the back. The cruelest would occasionally offer a helping hand to a stranger.”

“To me, chaos was more beautiful than calm.”

“I despised the idea that we were enslaved to our fates.”

“how the hell did he expect me to just sit here while he married me off to this walking dog turd beside me?”
Profile Image for sara ♡.
833 reviews318 followers
February 8, 2023
i’m so hyped for the series. this was an amazing prequel, I thought I would have a hard time with all the different species and powers but hell nah. I sooo want to ride Darius tho👀


╭─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╮

Zodiac Academy Series

Origins of an Academy Bully #0.5 — 4 stars
The Awakening #1 — 4.25 stars
The Awakening as Told by the Boys #1.5 — 3.75 stars
Ruthless Fae #2 — 4.25 stars
The Reckoning #3 — 3.5 stars
Shadow Princess #4 — 3.15 stars
Cursed Fates #5 — 4.45 stars
The Big A.S.S. Party #5.5 — 3 stars
Fated Throne #6 — 4.25 stars
Heartless Sky #7 — 3.95 stars
Sorrow and Starlight #8 — 3.5 stars
Zodiac Academy 9 — tbr

╰─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╯
Profile Image for ya.vl.
352 reviews101 followers
May 17, 2026
Оце так підігрів🔥 тепер дуже дуже цікаво шо буде далі. Ну та і Клара😳 я не можу, так і думала шо буде якась фігня з нею
Profile Image for m.
499 reviews1,068 followers
September 17, 2022
[ 3 stars ]

“Note to all students: Vampire bites, loss of limbs or getting lost in the wailing wood will not count as a valid excuse for being late to class.”this has me laughing in the middle of the night help-

I have no idea what happened but I love it okay?
I LOVE IT

LANCE YOU CAN DRINK MY BLOOD ANYDAY ANYTHING FOR YOU BABE💘
Profile Image for belle♡.
92 reviews49 followers
Read
September 18, 2025
…😶😶😔
rtc


pre-read💘:
buddy reading this with MANIAA🤭💝💝 this better make me like his character more😔
Profile Image for Aoife - Bookish_Babbling.
405 reviews409 followers
November 3, 2021
Wow just wow & not in a good way 🤬🤯
The body shaming + misogyny...the immaturity - let's just say bring on the time jump to book1 🙊

Libra boy better not let the side down, don't anger us as we be cunning and aren't afraid to take our time to rebalance the scales & deffo don't F with our families ☠

Whelp @Franlopedia what have we gotten ourselves in for? And will our friends still talk to us after do you think? 🥺
Going to give book1 a whirl tomorrow, but can't say this really sucked me into rooting for these boyos other than wholeheartedly support the need for revenge I guess 🤔 - cos even I ain't so heartless as to begrudge them that after Lionel's behaviour 😈
Profile Image for Jim C.
1,842 reviews38 followers
July 19, 2026
This is a novella that is first in the timeline of a series. In this one we visit a world that has dragons, vampires, and other mythical creatures. We have various point of views as these views are teenage boys who are entering adulthood and maybe their forced destiny.

Me and several coworkers do a little book club with the graphicaudio books and they have done this series. This might be next on our radar so I thought I would get a jump on it considering I know nothing about this series. That might have been a mistake as this really did nothing for me. The world building was somewhat confusing and I had no connection to the characters. I also had no idea of the significance of the actions of the characters. I was more or less dropped into this world and I was lost. I cannot really blame this book as it was a very short read and really no time to draw me in. This felt like additional information and story to characters that the reader already knows.

I would not use this as a starting point to this series. It did nothing to entice me to continue the series as there was no connection to the characters or the actual world. If I was reading this series thru my kindle I am pretty sure I would not continue. Since I am doing it with graphicaudio I definitely will continue as they make any book amazing. If you have not checked them out I strongly recommend it. In the end my review is probably not a fair review because of when I read this offering. It really needs to be read after you have spent some time in this world.
Profile Image for Ri ♡ .
599 reviews2,271 followers
July 1, 2023
"But we shared the kind of bond that could transcend time apart. No matter how long we spent living our lives away from each other, we always fell straight back into our familiar relationship as if no time had passed at all once we were reunited."


I'm already in love with Lance and Darius's friendship 😭💗 The way they care for each other and will do anything to save the other was everything. They deserve so much better!! I CAN'T WAIT TO READ MORE OF THEM!!


"I could fake a smile as easily as I could crack an egg. But with Darius, they tended to be genuine."


July 2023 is officially the month of 'binge reading Zodiac Academy'. Because. I. Am. Obsessed.


I really didn't expected much honestly but this prequel novella is amazing! I'm already so invested in everything. EVERY FUCKING DAMN THING!!

Also Lance is a Libra. Whattttt!!?!?! Shut up I'm already in love with him lol 😌🤭

And the ending?!?!? Are you kidding me 😭 I want to kill Lionel and Stella so badly right now 🔪🔪


Anyways for me the highlight of this book is Darius and Lance and their incredible friendship 🥺🫶 I might also be shipping them together 🤭


“I can do something to get back at him, Darius. And so can you. I want to see you rise. To be the most powerful Heir of them all and crush your father beneath your heel.”
His eyes sparkled with the idea. “Do you really think I can?”
“Yes,” I said firmly. “I'll help you. And nothing will ever stand in our way."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,233 reviews