Zodiac Academy reading order: the best way to read the Solaria Universe

If you love dark academia, magical schools, ruthless fae, and emotionally devastating plot twists, then welcome to Solaria, the world of Zodiac Academy and its interconnected series. But with so many books, novellas, and companion stories, where do you start?

Don't worry, I've got you. This guide will break down what the Solaria universe is, what the books are about, and the best reading orders so you can decide which journey fits your reading style.

📚 The best part? Every single book in this universe is available on Kindle Unlimited, meaning you can binge them all without breaking the bank!

What is the Solaria Universe?

The Solaria universe is a vast, magic filled world created by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti. It's home to fae, vampires, shifters, celestial warriors, and some of the most morally gray love interests you'll ever meet.

The universe is made up of three main interconnected series, plus novellas and companion books that add even more depth to the world. Each series follows different characters, but they all share the same dangerous and power hungry world.

This universe is packed with:

• Enemies to lovers & bully romance
• Magic & astrology based powers
• Gritty battles for power and survival
• Found family & heartbreaking betrayals
• Tortured, morally gray love interests

And, let's be real…if you start these books, prepare for emotional destruction. 💀🔥

What is Zodiac Academy about?

Zodiac Academy is the main series in the Solaria universe. It follows Tory and Darcy Vega, twin sisters who grew up in the human world until they find out they're actually lost heirs to the Solarian throne.

To claim their birthright, they must attend Zodiac Academy, an elite fae school where students harness celestial magic based on their zodiac sign. But things are never that simple.

The Celestial Heirs, four powerful (and arrogant) fae, don't want the Vegas anywhere near their throne. They'll do anything to break, humiliate, and destroy them. What follows is a high stakes battle for survival, epic magic, brutal romance, and an endless cycle of betrayals.

If you're a fan of:

• Dark academia with magic
• Enemies to lovers, but make it brutal
• Bully romance with serious tension
• Heart wrenching found family vibes
• Epic fantasy battles & celestial magic

Then buckle up because Zodiac Academy will own your soul.

The different series in the Solaria Universe

There are three main series (plus novellas and companion books) in the Zodiac Academy world. Each offers a unique lens into Solaria's politics, power struggles, and dangerous love stories.

The best reading orders for the Zodiac Academy Universe

Now, let's talk about the three different ways to read these books! Each order offers a unique experience, so you can pick what suits your vibe best.

Emotional impact order (for maximum shock, character growth & all the feels)

This order maximizes emotional impact while keeping spoilers to a minimum. It ensures you bond deeply with the characters and experience every twist at full force.

📖 Reading order:

1. Zodiac Academy 1: The Awakening
2. Zodiac Academy 2: Ruthless Fae
3. Zodiac Academy 3: The Reckoning
4. Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac 1: Dark Fae
5. Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac 2: Savage Fae
6. Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac 3: Vicious Fae
7. Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac 4: Broken Fae
8. Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac 5: Warrior Fae
9. Zodiac Academy 4: Shadow Princess
10. Zodiac Academy 0.5: Origins of an Academy Bully
11. Zodiac Academy 1.5: The Awakening As Told By The Boys
12. Zodiac Academy: Foxy Tales
13. Zodiac Academy 5: Cursed Fates
14. Zodiac Academy 5.5: The Big A.S.S Party
15. Zodiac Academy: Seth on the Moon
16. • Found in Live and Let Lionel
16. Zodiac Academy: Night
17. • Found in Live and Let Lionel
17. Zodiac Academy 6: Fated Throne
18. Zodiac Academy 7: Heartless Sky
19. Zodiac Academy 8: Sorrow and Starlight
20. Zodiac Academy 8.5: Beyond the Veil
21. • Suggestion to tandem read with book 8
21. Zodiac Academy: Live and Let Lionel
22. Zodiac Academy 9: Restless Stars
23. Darkmore Penitentiary 1: Caged Wolf
24. Darkmore Penitentiary 2: Alpha Wolf
25. Darkmore Penitentiary 3: Feral Wolf
26. Darkmore Penitentiary 4: Wild Wolf

🔥 Who should read this order?

• You want the most shocking, satisfying reveals
• You love strong character growth arcs
• You want the best world building upfront (since Zodiac Academy books do a better job than Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac at establishing the world)
• You prefer a spoiler free but emotionally devastating ride
• You don't mind jumping around through the timeline

Chronological order (for the ultimate timeline purist)

This order follows events exactly as they happen in Solaria. No jumping around, just a straight path from beginning to end.

📖 Reading order:

1. Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac 1: Dark Fae
2. Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac 2: Savage Fae
3. Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac 3: Vicious Fae
4. Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac 4: Broken Fae
5. Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac 5: Warrior Fae
6. Zodiac Academy 0.5: Origins of an Academy Bully
7. Zodiac Academy 1: The Awakening
8. Zodiac Academy 1.5: The Awakening As Told By The Boys
9. Zodiac Academy 2: Ruthless Fae
10. Zodiac Academy 3: The Reckoning
11. Zodiac Academy 4: Shadow Princess
12. Zodiac Academy: Foxy Tales
13. Zodiac Academy 5: Cursed Fates
14. Zodiac Academy 5.5: The Big A.S.S Party
15. Zodiac Academy: Seth on the Moon
16. • Found in Live and Let Lionel
16. Zodiac Academy: Night
17. • Found in Live and Let Lionel
17. Zodiac Academy 6: Fated Throne
18. Zodiac Academy 7: Heartless Sky
19. Zodiac Academy 8: Sorrow and Starlight
20. Zodiac Academy 8.5: Beyond the Veil
21. • Recommended to tandem read with book 8
    • • The tandem read is important in the chronological order because the events of 8 & 8.5 happen at the same time
21. Zodiac Academy: Live and Let Lionel
22. Zodiac Academy 9: Restless Stars
23. Darkmore Penitentiary 1: Caged Wolf
24. Darkmore Penitentiary 2: Alpha Wolf
25. Darkmore Penitentiary 3: Feral Wolf
26. Darkmore Penitentiary 4: Wild Wolf

🔥 Who should read this order?

• You like to read in the exact order events occur
• You don't like jumping around in time
• You prefer a clear, structured journey from start to finish

Publication order (for the original Zodiac Academy experience)

This order follows the books as they were released, allowing you to experience the evolution of the world, characters, and even the writing style in real time.

📖 Reading order:

1. Zodiac Academy 0.5: Origins of an Academy Bully
2. Zodiac Academy 1: The Awakening
3. Zodiac Academy 2: Ruthless Fae
4. Zodiac Academy 3: The Reckoning
5. Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac 1: Dark Fae
6. Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac 2: Savage Fae
7. Zodiac Academy 4: Shadow Princess
8. Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac 3: Vicious Fae
9. Darkmore Penitentiary 1: Caged Wolf
10. Zodiac Academy 5: Cursed Fates
11. Zodiac Academy 5.5: The Big A.S.S Party
12. Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac 4: Broken Fae
13. Darkmore Penitentiary 2: Alpha Wolf
14. Zodiac Academy 6: Fated Throne
15. Zodiac Academy: Seth on the Moon
16. • Found in Live and Let Lionel
16. Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac 5: Warrior Fae
17. Darkmore Penitentiary 3: Feral Wolf
18. Zodiac Academy 1.5: The Awakening As Told By The Boys
19. Zodiac Academy: Night
20. • Found in Live and Let Lionel
20. Zodiac Academy 7: Heartless Sky
21. Zodiac Academy: Foxy Tales
22. Zodiac Academy 8: Sorrow and Starlight
23. Zodiac Academy 8.5: Beyond the Veil
24. Zodiac Academy: Live and Let Lionel
25. Zodiac Academy 9: Restless Stars
26. Darkmore Penitentiary 4: Wild Wolf

🔥 Who should read this order?

• You want to experience the books like the original readers did
• You enjoy seeing the authors' writing evolve over time
• You don't mind jumping between different timelines
• You've already read the series and want to do a reread

Final thoughts: which reading order should you choose?

If you want…

• The most emotional damage → Emotional order
• A seamless timeline experience → Chronological order
• To read them as originally released → Publication order

No matter which order you pick, you're in for a wild ride filled with love, betrayal, pain, and unforgettable characters. Just be warned, these books will own your soul. 💀🔥

What to read after Zodiac Academy

If you finished Zodiac Academy and need more angsty, dark romance with intense action and morally gray characters, check out these other books by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti:

📖 Age of Vampires - A gripping vampire fantasy romance full of action, bloodlust, and intense love stories. This is a 7 book series that is completely finished (and available on Kindle Unlimited).

📖 Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep - A dark, high-school bully romance featuring unhinged characters, betrayal, and twisted games. This is a 4 book series that is completed and available on Kindle Unlimited.

📖 Sins of the Zodiac - Set in the Solaria universe but with completely different characters and no crossover with Zodiac Academy. It takes place after Darkmore Penitentiary, but since it's a standalone storyline, it can be read at any time. This series is ongoing and not yet complete! Also available on Kindle Unlimited.

These authors specialize in fast paced, high stakes, and addictively dark romance stories, so no matter what you pick next, prepare for an emotional rollercoaster. 🎢🔥

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Zodiac Academy & the Solaria Universe

📖 Can Zodiac Academy be read as a standalone series?

Yes! You can read Zodiac Academy without reading Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac first or following it up with Darkmore Penitentiary. Many readers only read Zodiac Academy and then go back to Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac later.

That said, there are some fun character crossovers between the series that you might miss, and you may spoil some parts of Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac if you read Zodiac Academy first.

📚 Do I have to read the novellas and companion books in Zodiac Academy?

No, you don't have to read them to enjoy the main story! You can just read the 9 full length books and still have an incredible experience.

However, if you fall in love with the characters (and trust me, you will), the novellas add extra depth, backstory, and bonus scenes that make the series even more immersive.

📖 Should I tandem read The Awakening and The Awakening As Told by the Boys?

It could be fun to tandem read Zodiac Academy 1: The Awakening and Zodiac Academy 1.5: The Awakening As Told by the Boys, but it's not recommended on your first read of the series.

Here's why:

• The Awakening is the best way to experience the story for the first time without distractions.
• As Told by the Boys is a companion book, meaning it doesn't add new events, just different POVs.
• Reading them separately allows you to fully immerse yourself in the Vega twins' journey first before getting inside the Heirs' heads.

If you reread the series, a tandem read could be a fun way to get extra insight into the Heirs' actions!

📖 Should I tandem read Sorrow and Starlight and Beyond the Veil?

Yes, if you want the best, most complete experience! Beyond the Veil follows the same timeline as Sorrow and Starlight, just from a different perspective.

Tandem reading them together (switching between the two) makes sure you don't accidentally spoil major moments by reading Beyond the Veil too late. Many find it easier to get through Sorrow and Starlight by doing the tandem read.

📖 Is Zodiac Academy complete?

YES! There are 9 main books, alongside several novellas and companion stories, all completed. You can find all the books in the Zodiac Academy series available on Kindle Unlimited.

📚 Is Sins of the Zodiac connected to Zodiac Academy?

Yes and no. Sins of the Zodiac is set in Solaria but has completely different characters and no crossover with Zodiac Academy. You can read it anytime, but it takes place after Darkmore Penitentiary in the timeline.

📖 Will Zodiac Academy make me cry?

1000% yes. Prepare for heartbreak, betrayal, and emotional damage. 😭🔥

Which order are you choosing?

Let's chat over on instagram (@read.romantasy) and tell me which reading order sounds best for you!

📚 Happy reading, Solarian! ⚡✨