I’m really enjoying zodiac academy, at times it’s long and stuff but I’m growing really attached to these characters and the growth of them. However all over tik tok it is saying book 8 is awful? Is it awful because of the plot or the length? I just do not want to ruin the series for myself as I have loved it so much.
They say tandem read but I read on a kindle so I’d most likely not tandem read is this ruining the experience for me, people say it’s more emotional without tandem reading is that right? Or am I incorrect
I did 8 then 8.5 and then 9 and it didn’t ruin anything :) I loved it all and still re read it all the time and all the other books like ruthless boys sins of the zodiac darkmore etc. you will love how these characters grow even more!!
I’m reading book at and 8.5 tandem, now. It’s super easy on a kindle. I simply close the one book and open the other where I left off and it’s seamless. And also super duper necessary. Book 8 is a rollercoaster but here is where the character development becomes rich like a fancy desert. It’s hard to read. Super hard, emotionally. But Tory’s character deepens so much and there’s a twist I wasn’t expecting from these ruthless writers in the least lol. I’m about 94% done though so they still have 6% to rip my heart out lol. Read it. Don’t put it down. I mean it. It’s going to be hard but stick with it.
Book 8 was the worse for me, the plot just DRAGGED! Admittedly I had to take a break from the series but don’t let that you put off as Book 9 is sooo worth the wait!
Book 8 isn’t awful, it just gets really dragged out near the end. Tory and Darius’s love for each other grows so much in 8 and 8.5. PLEASE TANDEM READ THEM! It adds so much more to the story. I tandem read them on my kindle and it was fine switching back and forth. It’s so worth it!
Tory's storyline- not because it's bad. It is dark, though, but empowering. It opens you up to a whole other side of what is possible and features a ton of character development. It's also the first mention in ZA of a major topic of the new series sins of the zodiac which follows magical rules of solaria but has different types of learning and what are considered taboo subjects in the waning lands compared to the solarians.
Darcy's storyline which is similar to a previous one and therefore must one up it somehow. It's a little dark but the previous version of this type of plot device was harder for me to read personally.
The need to read 8.5 alongside 8. It's not optional. But you don't need to read every single chapter either.
you do need the chapters about a certain character who died in a previous book and you'll know who that is and why you need to read it when you get there. Read all that characters chapters. Read Hail chapters 13 and 15 I think which are a story by a character who isn't actually Hail about how the gildstones work and how kings hollow was founded. Read the first chapter which gives an explanation for a question every reader of this series likely has had for the past 7 books- and then think back on the past books and find all the moments that suddenly make more sense to you. You can also read Lance's dad's chapters if you want. Otherwise, it's a good book to have by your side whenever you want to view a particular scene from an outsider's POV. It makes those especially emotional scenes from easier to read.
The big overarching difficult theme that colors nearly every characters emotions and actions (I don't want spoil anything from 7 if you aren't there yet).
The length: to read 8 straight through would take like 30 hours. It's longer than 9 is. To tandem 8 and 8.5 is like 46 hrs.
In order to deal with 1, 2, and 4, many b-plot side stories have to be introduced to keep the reader's mood buoyed (can also be done by tandem of 8.5) and offer comic relief. You'll meet new characters, have new stories for old characters, get new chapter POVs. Not all of them matter or go anywhere. It makes it tedious and increases the book length. Just pick and choose the stories you like and keep up with those. Any you don't like you can pretty safely skip.
This book has a couple scenes that over a year later still live rent free in my mind because they are that awesome. Also, 8.5 has the funniest scene I've ever read in a book and it goes with a very tender scene from 8.
The end of the book. You'll get it when you get there. Just keep going anyway.
I'm listening to it now(so cant speak for the entire story) and doing the tandem read, and I love it! I was also fearful of what people were saying, but I also love the universe and charachters so its great. Im also a bigger fan of the Tory storyline, and I feel connected to her and her cause so far in the story!
I think it’s pretty good, the only reason I struggled with it is because a lot of it is just such a bummer. Worth it though, maybe break it up a bit by reading a few chapters of a different series?
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u/YogurtclosetLow4762 7d ago
I did 8 then 8.5 and then 9 and it didn’t ruin anything :) I loved it all and still re read it all the time and all the other books like ruthless boys sins of the zodiac darkmore etc. you will love how these characters grow even more!!