Zodiac Academy 5: Cursed Fates Paperback – November 2, 2021

If you're looking for a book that will rip your heart out, stomp on it, and then somehow piece it back together again just to repeat the process, then "Zodiac Academy: Cursed Fates" is the perfect read for you. This book is a whirlwind of heartbreak, passion, and redemption that will leave you breathless.The authors have crafted a masterpiece of written beauty, weaving a tale of star-crossed lovers that will leave you reaching for the tissues. The pain of their struggles is palpable, yet their love shines through, making every moment worth the agony.From the very first chapter, I found myself immersed in a story that gripped my heart and refused to let go. With every turn of the page, I was pulled deeper into a world where love is both a blessing and a curse, where pain and passion intertwine in a symphony of raw emotion.The character development in this installment is nothing short of extraordinary. Each member of the ensemble cast undergoes profound growth, grappling with their demons and emerging stronger for it. Particularly Darcy, who emerges as a confident and powerful force to be reckoned with, while the evolution of relationships like Tory and Darius's is both heartrending and heartwarming.While the pain and drama may be intense, it's balanced by moments of genuine connection and love. The relationships between the characters are complex and nuanced, making each interaction feel authentic and compelling.Speaking of relationships, the dynamics between the central quartet of Darcy, Orion, Tory, and Darius are nothing short of spellbinding. Their star-crossed romances are fraught with pain and longing, yet infused with a tenderness that speaks to the enduring power of love. And let's not forget the unexpected twists and turns in other relationships, like the burgeoning bond between Seth and Caleb, which adds layers of complexity to an already rich tapestry.But it's not just the romance that makes this book shine. The intricate plot, filled with twists and turns, will keep you guessing until the very end. And the addition of new characters like Gabriel and Xavier only adds to the intrigue.And it's not just the characters that shine in this book—the world-building is equally compelling. From the intricacies of Zodiac Academy to the looming threat of the Shadow Bitch and her malevolent schemes, every detail is crafted with care and precision.Despite the anguish and heartbreak, there's a sense of hope that permeates the story. The bonds forged between the characters, the strength they find in each other, and the determination to overcome their struggles—all make for a truly memorable read.Also let's not forget about the villains. The Shadow Bitch and her despicable 'Daddy' provide the perfect foil to our beloved characters, adding an extra layer of tension and suspense to the already gripping plot.While the ending may leave you reeling, it's a testament to the skill of the authors that they can elicit such a strong emotional response from their readers. "Zodiac Academy: Cursed Fates" is a masterfully crafted tale of love, sacrifice, and redemption that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. Don't miss out on this unforgettable journey.In short, "Zodiac Academy: Cursed Fates" is a must-read for anyone who loves a good romance with a healthy dose of drama. Just be prepared to laugh, cry, and possibly throw your book across the room in frustration. But trust me, it's all worth it in the end.

So I feel like the first 50% of this book is pretty hard to get through. In my opinion.Once I got through that first 50% I zoomed through the rest of this book! The twists and turns in that last 50% were absolutely insane, and had me screaming out loud for the past two days.I grieved in this book, hated hard, and cried harder. These authors truly know how to give you (the reader) a full experience while reading this series, and I can’t wait to read book 6!

The ended ripped my heart out of my chest. I woke up at 4 am to finish reading the last 50 pages and now I don’t think I’ll ever sleep comfortably again until I finish this series and Lionel rotting in the ground.

this was genuinely a roller coaster of a book, like SO much happened.The few good things that came out of Lance nearly dying and Tory and Darius’ failed divine moment was the truce between the heirs and the twins. New friendships forming like Tory made Lance a friendship bracelet 🥹, and Darcy and Darius started to slowly become friends too, especially once Lance was arrested. Darius finally finds out about bluelance and makes sure Seth stops manipulating them. And to me one of the ABSOLUTE best things was Tory accidentally freeing Catalina from Lionel’s dark compulsion 👏👏. AND helped Xavier gain freedom by exposing his order to the public!! Plus, Tory and Darcy finally staked their claim to the throne!!I was so happy that the heirs and Lance decided not to let the star cross bond be final for Tory and Darius. Like they fully convinced him to keep trying, and are doing everything in their power to push them together despite the stars. And how is it that good things always come out of bad things that happen? Like Caleb had accidentally hurt Tory during hunting, breaking her spine, harming his friendship with Darius, BUT it furthered Seth and Caleb’s relationship 👏👏. Like poor Seth already knows he’s in love with Caleb and he couldn’t help but reassure him after the accident and made a move before backing off 😭. But why couldn’t they just talk together because they have the biggest miscommunication trope 😩. But I was so happy when Tory and Darcy finally found out that Gabriel was their brother 👏👏. We met all of Rosalie’s mates 👏👏. It’s so crazy to think they were all in Darkmore for years together before she came.Sweet Darius, he’s running behind tory every morning and getting her coffee. It’s that little consistent action that shows he’s all in and still cares for her so much. Y’all, the amplifying chamber scene with Caleb, Darius, and Tory was 🥵🥵. The only good thing that came out of Lance getting arrested was Darcy being so heartbroken that she gave Tory a reality check about love and Tory’s fears and insecurities which led to Tory and Darius FINALLY talking. And Darius declared his love for her and told her that he would never stop trying to earn her forgiveness and never stop loving her 😭😭. It was so undeniably sweet that tory gave Darius the kiss of the phoenix that allowed him to fight off any magic including dark coercion 😭.The supply closet scene with the delicia crystal with bluelance was 🥵🥵. It was the long spicy scene we’ve been waiting for. It’s so cruel that bluelance had their best spiciest scene and the day after Lance gets arrested 😭😭. Fk Kylie and fk Lance for lying 😭😭. Like what the fk things were going so good for them.How is it that so much escalated at the very end? Like poor Diego only wanted to help Darcy and I cried so freaking much when he ded because all he ever wanted was to be accepted and loved 😭. “I just wanted to be useful. Did I do okay? Was I good friend?” he asked, a tear rolling free of his eye. “You’re the best friend, Diego,” I promised and a smile pulled up the corner of his mouth ever-so-slightly. “You always felt like… home.” that broke my heart 😭😭. Then a while chain reaction of events occurred all at the hands of Lionel 😐. Like what the fk. Not only did he torture Tory, he enslaved her to be his guardian, forced her to be in a position to give herself up to the shadows and is basically hijacking her brain into loving him.Favorite quotes/scenes:“He was going to be okay. We had time stretching out before us, years and years and years. And I was going to cherish every damn one of them. I wasn’t going to let a second go by without coveting each moment we had together.” (Darcy)I conjured tiny brown vines into existence, plaiting and braiding them together until they formed a ring around his wrist.“What’s this?”“I promised you a friendship bracelet. We can get together for a slumber party another time though.”“I’ll treasure it always. Goodnight, Tory.”“Goodnight.”“The honest truth is that I’ve never known a home before I came to Zodiac Academy. I’ve been a disappointment to everyone in my life. My family think I’m useless. And I thought that too for a while…but I can help with this. I can be useful. But not to them, to my friends. To people who have accepted me as I am, who never asked me to be anything but me.” (He deserved so much better 😭😭)“I’m okay with you being my weakness, Blue. Because that means my weakness is a badass, hot as fk Phoenix with enough fire in her veins to rival the sun. So come at me stars, I’m invincible!” 😭😭“Sometimes I wondered if I was addicted to his flesh. He was ecstasy embodied, a drg that left my mind in a fog of bliss. It was weird to think I’d spent so much of my life without him. Now, a future apart seemed impossible. Unbearable.” (Darcy)“You’ve put that ded body in that bag, haven’t you?” (Darcy)“Waste not, want not.” (Lance)“Don’t worry, Darcy, I was gentle about it. I dried him out like beef jerky then folded him up like origami, didn’t I Lance?” (Darius)“He did, it was very tasteful actually.” (Lance)“Should I expect a lesson in bone magic soon then?” (Darcy)“I reckon Lance has been giving you plenty of bone lessons already, hasn’t he?” (Darius)“You two are… well, fk the law for saying you can’t be together.” (Darius)“Fk the stars too, Darius. Fk every shining, gleaming one of them.” (Darcy)“She was my light, shining as brightly as all the stars put together. And I was never going to let that light dim.” (Xavier 🥹)Lance: I can’t wait that long and I’m gonna make a real mess of this paperwork if I keep messaging you.Darcy: Tut tut. Are you jrking off at your desk, sir!Lance: Well it’s difficult not to get distracted. I’ve got my eye on a beautiful Cardinal Magic hardback with a leather bookmark pushed between its supple pages. Is it cheating if I stick the tip in?Lance: Couldn’t do it, Blue. You’re the only first edition I want.“Was that better than the Cardinal Magic hardback?”“That was even better than the collector’s edition of Advanced Numerology, beautiful. And that little slt knows how to make my spine tingle.”“You’re one dirty, book talking Vampire, you know that?”“I know that. And you’re one sweet, bitey little Countess.”“One day, Blue, I’m gonna wear your teeth marks wherever I go.”“I’ll wear yours too, Lance. Just three and a half more years to go.”“Yeah. Are you sure I’m worth it?”“Every day.”“My boy, I’d come for you if you were held by a million Nymphs. There’s no lengths I wouldn’t go to.”“Why?”“Because I love you and your sister. And that’s what you do for the people you love.”Because I understood that. I’d take on a million Nymphs for her and my parents too. But I was definitely going to need a real sword.“The Heirs Officially Ruling Everybody Society? You mean you’re the HORES?”I shared a look with Tory, snorting a laugh. It was like Geraldine didn’t even realise what her club name spelled.“Oh you want me to go deep, do you, Cal?” (Seth)“Stop flirting with me, ashol.” (Caleb)“Stop smiling so much when I do then.” (Seth)“I swear to the stars, Caleb Altair, if you’re scrwing with me-”“I bought over three hundred thousand lottery tickets. In fact, I’ve been buying that many every year since you lamented on your sixteenth birthday that you’ll never get to stick your dk in a moon crater. Figured it had to pay off eventually.”“You did this for me?”“The moon’s your favourite thing in the world, man. And I never know what to buy you.”“The stars might have decided that you can never be mine. But I am yours. No matter what. I don’t care where we end up or who we’re with, I’ll always be yours. And I’m going to fix the damage I did to us even if the stars don’t care. I’m going to prove to you that I could have been worthy of you if I’d just listened to my heart sooner.” (Darius)“It won’t change anything.” (Tory)“If it changes the way you look at me then that’s enough.” (Darius)“Blue was no ordinary student. And I’d accepted the insanty of this a long time ago. I’d stopped asking myself what was going to happen long term. I lived for each moment. And I knew I was getting more reckless. But seeing her in classes, unable to touch her, kiss those lips that were as soft as sin, drove me to the brink of insanty. I was a man unhnged. And the one thing I knew for certain, was that I didn’t ever want to get my right mind back.” (Lance)“I’d never had that all-consuming first love everyone talked about during my school years. I’d thought it wasn’t for me. But I guessed the stars had decided to keep me waiting a little longer. And now I had it, I was determined for this love to be my one and only. My last and everlasting.” (Lance)“This girl would be the ruin of me. But I was too far gone to care. I’d let her destroy me brick by brick because if I had to fall, I was more than happy for it to be by her hands.” (Lance)“Everything in my life was brighter with her. It was good and sweet and perfect. I didn’t know what I’d done for the stars to gift me this girl. I could never have offered them enough to earn this good fortune. And I wasn’t going to squander it. I knew what I had. And I’d protect her until my dyng breath. And even then I’d still fight to keep her safe beyond the veil. Whatever it took. Always.” (Lance)“He kissed me like he’d die if he didn’t, like the only reason his heart was beating at all was so that it could be mine, and I kissed him like the world could cave in around us and I wouldn’t even care so long as I was still in his arms when it ended.” (Tory)“How are you?”“How’s Blue?”“Fking furious. She beat the sht out of Seth in front of the whole school. He’s been howling all fking night and day since.“That’s my girl.”“We just had to climb this momentous hurdle and seek the light on the other side. Because no one would ever compare to him. No one would ever own my heart but that man. It was a truth cast in iron, impossible to undo. And if I had to wait months or years or an eternity for him, I would.” (Darcy)“I’d take deth over life without you.” (Darius)“I’m such a fk up.” (Caleb)“You’re not a fk up. You’re the most thoughtful, generous, amazing fker I know.” (Seth)“Maybe you look at me through rose tinted glasses.” (Caleb)“I don’t. When I look at you, I promise you I see it all. The good and the bad, the light and the dark. And you’re still the best person I know.” (Seth)“You’re the best person I know, too.” (Caleb)“Are you sure about this?” (Darius)“Fk fate. No one gets to pick my future for me. I choose what I want and I want you.” (Tory)“Fk fate.” (Darius)“You seriously need to start playing it cool with that girl. You’ve totally lost your game when it comes to her.” (Seth)“Her busty Barrys have him blinded.” (Darius)“I can’t help it. She’s like my own personal brand of fking insane, curvaceous, utterly addictive Killblaze.” (Max)“I wasn’t worthy of your love then and I’m still not worthy of it now. But if you gave me forever then I’d spend every second of it trying to be.” (Darius)“The world means nothing to me without her.”

There are a lot of answers. There are a lot of questions. This book is like a roller coaster of traumatic experiences. It ends so sadly. I actually read the end before I finished this book so I wasn’t traumatized by it. I think this book was overly long. This is a romantasy soap opera.

Finally some character growth. Geraldine is still so far the best part. Not a big fan of this ending, I felt it coming. But I hate when it becomes predictable. I guess we'll be reading the next one to see where this goes

The last half of this book broke me!!! The twins can not catch a break! My heart was breaking for Lance and Darcy. I understood why he did it but it was definitely the wrong move. The fight at the end I would pay to see that on a screen. Things seem to be getting worst for the heirs and the twins not better. Please tell me there is a light at the end of this long ass tunnel. 😭😭