Calling all urban fantasy fans! Zodiac Rising is another fantastic fantastical release from Zhao! I’ve been following Zhao since debut and this is yet another winner! I’m excited to see where the series goes. Keep reading this book review of Zodiac Rising for my full thoughts.
Summary
At a secret Manhattan boarding school, the Descendants of the Chinese zodiac have hidden away since the source of their magic—the twelve zodiac statues—was vandalized and lost to time. Thus, a curse befell the Descendants, and they’ve lived as creatures of darkness . . . until now.
When the lost statues suddenly resurface and a powerful classmate is found dead, all signs point to foul play from the fae. The Descendants finally have the chance to take back what’s rightfully theirs and break the curse. To pull this deadly heist off, though, they must assemble an elite crew:
THE VAMPIRE: After a century of burning hunger, Evangeline is out for blood.
THE SHAPESHIFTER: Nicholas yearns to restore justice to his people—and make peace with his past.
THE MORTAL: Alice seeks the truth of her mysterious heritage, and this mission may be the key.
THE WEREWOLF: Tristan will do anything to break free from the monstrous wolf inside.
Only these four have the power to save the Descendants, but the wrath of the fae waits at every turn. One wrong move and the fate of their kind will come crashing down. . . .
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Zhao always keeps us on our toes. I love the premise of a hidden zodiac school and this layer of the supernatural beneath the surface. Zodiac Rising is a multiple POV novel that features heists, vampires, and wondering how to secure our future. It’s full of politics, chaos, and manipulation. All of this is on a backdrop of supernatural beings. Everyone has their own motivations for wanting to support, or revolt. It asks us whether we deserve a chance to be better, to make amends, after our mistakes.
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Zodiac Rising is high stakes. Zhao delivers a fabulous cast of main characters as well as political machinations. It’s like a spider web which gradually begins tightening on its prey. And by the end, you’ll be invested! There’s plenty of complex character dynamics between our characters, as well as shadowy figures and pasts. I cannot wait for the next one! Find Zodiac Rising on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.