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Must-Read Books if You Loved Zodiac Academy
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items If you’re anything like me, you probably finished Zodiac Academy and immediately felt like your heart had been ripped out, stomped on, and then handed back to you. The "Twisted Sisters" really know how to make us suffer in the best way possible! Sinc...
Sections
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Brutal Academy & Bully Vibes
Epic Romantasy & Dangerous Courts
Darker Magic & Twisted Fates
Brutal Academy & Bully Vibes
These picks are for when you specifically miss the "Academy" part of ZA. They feature heroines who are tested at every turn and heroes who are absolutely terrible to them... until they aren't.
Since this is the prequel series to Zodiac Academy, it’s the most natural next step for any fan. It’s set in the same world but follows the "Ruthless Boys," and honestly, getting more Solaria lore while meeting new, equally toxic men was exactly what...
Dark Fae (Book 1 in the Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac series)
If the "fated mates" aspect of ZA kept you up at night, you have to read this series. The heroine is running from five powerful men who are destined to be hers, and the tension when they finally catch up to her is purely addictive.
Broken Bonds
This is a darker, grittier take on a magic school where the graduation rate is basically "survive or die." There are no teachers, just monsters in the hallways, and the FMC has a dry, snarky wit that reminded me so much of Darcy.
A Deadly Education (Scholomance Series #1)
This is a classic for a reason and definitely paved the way for modern academy tropes. It has that perfect mix of forbidden romance, intense friendship bonds, and a boarding school setting that feels like home (even when everything is going wrong).
Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy Series #1)
This is the perfect "new obsession" for ZA fans. It features a fierce heroine, a broody and dangerous fae lead, and the kind of fated-mate tension that makes you want to scream into your pillow.
Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy Series #1)
Epic Romantasy & Dangerous Courts
If you loved the political maneuvering and the "chosen one" (or two!) stakes of Solaria, these books offer massive worlds and even bigger romances.
This is perfect if you loved the ambitious, "I'll do anything to win" energy of the Heirs. The FMC plans to woo the Shadow King, marry him, and then kill him to take his kingdom. It’s deliciously dark and romantic.
The Shadows between Us
This gives me major "The Reckoning" vibes from book four of ZA. It’s a deadly competition where a human girl has to survive a world of ruthless vampires, and the chemistry between the leads is absolutely electric.
The Serpent and the Wings of Night: Book 1 of the Nightborn Duet (Crowns of Nyaxia Series #1)
If you’re looking for high spice and a "marriage of convenience" with a dangerous king, this is it. It has that dark, atmospheric feel where you’re never quite sure who to trust, and the world-building is incredibly lush.
King of Battle and Blood
This is a brilliant portal fantasy where the heroine is transported into a world that hates her, forced to navigate a court of people who want her dead. The tension with the King is top-tier "enemies to lovers" material.
A Fate of Wrath and Flame
This features two sisters caught in a war between dragon hunters and dragon riders. The sibling bond and the "us against the world" stakes felt so much like Darcy and Tory's relationship to me.
Fire with Fire|Hardcover
Darker Magic & Twisted Fates
For the readers who loved the stars, the constellations, and the more "unhinged" magical elements of Zodiac Academy, these books lean into the shadows.
This series comes extremely close to Zodiac Academy for meand will always be one of my all time favorites. Imagine being a normal girl one second and getting "Marked" by a Vampire Tracker the next, forcing you to leave your life behind for a boarding...
Marked: Deluxe Edition
This is the ultimate "Dark Academia" pick for fans who liked the intellectual rivalries and the mystery of the Zodiac powers. It’s about six talented magicians fighting for a spot in a secret society.
The Atlas Six
This is much darker and more "urban fantasy" than Solaria, but it handles secret societies and trauma with a level of depth that ZA fans will appreciate. It’s gritty, mysterious, and features a FMC who refuses to be a victim.
Ninth House
This book blends Arthurian legend with modern secret societies in a way that feels just as epic as the Fae history in ZA. The "Root" magic system is fascinating, and the love triangle will definitely have you picking sides.
Legendborn
This is a fantastic "deadly competition" book where the heroine is plucked from a prison to compete for a Sun King’s heart. It has that mix of survival and high-stakes Fae romance that ZA fans live for.
Trial of the Sun Queen