Warning: May contain spoilers, but opening comments are spoiler-free. Check out my Reading Ranting page for more.
Still hopelessly addicted to this series and the characters. It’s so emotionally charged that I can’t put it down. Long review this time since a lot has happened the past couple of books, and it’s all playing out now. Honestly, these books keep getting better and better.All of Solaria is feeling the effects. We begin with Tory under the spell of the shadows, Darcy and Darius still heartbroken, and Orion is still in fae prison.
Something has to go right for the Vegas at this point, right?
What I liked…
Brewing friends to lovers. No spoilers on who. I looooove enemies to lovers, but there are plenty in this series at this point. A cute friends to lovers is a nice change of pace.
I should have mentioned this sooner, but the various group analogies have me in stitches. A.S.S and H.O.R.E and the moment I heard the words on Audible “King’s United Nebular Taskforce,” I was in fits of giggles before they even mentioned the analogy.
More chaos just when we thought there was already enough.
I love the bond between the Vegas and the heirs, which had a good setup in book 5 and the end of book 4.
I love dark Tory for added conflict. Obviously I didn’t want her to stay that way, but she made a good complication with the shadows and the guardian bond from the end of the last book as well as being star crossed with Darius.
Star crossed. I don’t care what anyone says, Tory had every right to say no at the time. Yes, it broke my heart, but she barely knew Darius, and what little she did know of him was mostly him hurting her. There weren’t enough nice moments between them to make up for it back then. Now… I just want to cry for them, but I’m sure they’ll find a way.
Geraldine. We get her POV, which I really liked. I’ve always liked her even though she’s a little OTT at times, but I try not to take some of the characters too seriously in these novels. She’s a welcome comic relief to break up all the heartache going around these days.
Spice. No spoilers, but holy hot fae, these characters get some good sex scenes.
Order segregation. More complications for the characters.
Secrets. No spoilers, but more secrets get revealed that throw the characters into a tailspin. Love them.
Max, Xavier, and Seth’s POVs. I didn’t like them so much in previous books. But they’re quite enjoyable in this one. I think it’s because I haven’t read a book with so many POVs recently, and it took me a while to get used to it.
What I didn’t like…
Darcy and Orion. I wasn’t thrilled with them in this book. I think it was too much emotional drama now, and they already had the problem of him being power shamed and losing his job. I think things could have been dialed back between them.
Final thoughts…
99 problems, but a bond ain’t one… Phew. Something went right, but still plenty gone wrong to be typical of the Zodiac Academy books. That’s why I love them so much.
Love Fantasy Novels 