The Awakening by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti | Spoiler-Free Review

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Quick Verdict

If you're looking for a dark fantasy romance with an addictive magical academy setting, morally grey characters, shocking twists and plenty of mystery, The Awakening is well worth picking up. While the pacing felt slow at times, the incredible world-building and constant plot twists kept me turning the pages and eager to continue the series.

My Spoiler-Free Review

The Awakening was a really enjoyable introduction to the Zodiac Academy series and has left me excited to see where the story goes next.

The standout aspect of this book is undoubtedly the world-building. Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti have created a magical world that feels rich, immersive and full of secrets. From the Zodiac Houses to the academy itself, every chapter revealed another piece of the world that made me want to learn more. It strikes a great balance between explaining the magic system and leaving enough unanswered questions to keep you hooked.

The plot is another major strength. Just when I thought I had figured out where the story was heading, another twist completely changed my expectations. The mystery surrounding the characters and the academy kept me invested throughout, and I loved trying to piece everything together alongside the protagonists.

The only reason this wasn't a five-star read for me was the pacing. The first half of the book moves quite slowly, and there were moments where I wanted the story to progress a little faster. However, once the bigger reveals and twists began to unfold, I found it much harder to put down.

Overall, The Awakening is an excellent start to a fantasy romance series that promises high stakes, complex relationships and an expansive magical world. If you enjoy discovering intricate fantasy settings and stories full of unexpected twists, I think this is definitely worth adding to your reading list.

Tropes & Themes

• Magical academy
• Fantasy romance
• Hidden powers
• Rivalries
• Found family (developing)
• High-stakes magic
• Mystery
• Slow-burn series setup

Who Would Enjoy This Book?

I would recommend The Awakening if you enjoy:

• Fantasy romance with detailed world-building.
• Magical academy settings.
• Books with plenty of twists and unanswered mysteries.
• Character-driven fantasy series that develop over multiple books.

Final Thoughts

Although the slower pacing stopped this from becoming a five-star read for me, the imaginative world-building and unpredictable plot more than made up for it. By the time I reached the final pages, I was already looking forward to continuing the Zodiac Academy series.

My Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)