... Read moreOkay, so like, I had to deep dive into the characters of Zodiac Academy: The Awakening after finishing it! Seriously, these characters live rent-free in my head.
Let's start with the dynamic duo themselves, Tory Vega and Darcy Vega. I totally get why people ask "what order is Darcy and Tory in Zodiac Academy" because they're both front and center. Tory, oh Tory. Her attitude is legendary, and honestly, I was here for it! She's fiercely protective of Darcy, which I absolutely adore, but sometimes her stubbornness just makes you want to shake her. She doesn't let anyone walk all over her, and that assertiveness is a breath of fresh air in a world where the Fae try to dominate. But beneath that tough exterior, you can really see her vulnerabilities, especially when it comes to her sister.
Then there's Darcy. The OCR mentioned she's 'nicer and more relatable,' and I wholeheartedly agree! She's got this quiet strength about her, and while she's not as outwardly aggressive as Tory, she’s no pushover either. She stands up for herself and those she cares about, and her journey felt so much more grounded for me. It’s hard not to root for her, even when things get super messy.
Now, onto the boys. Darius Acrux... sigh. The ultimate 'ahole' with a magnetic pull. The OCR said he's 'unapologetically himself,' and that's exactly it. He’s cruel, he's arrogant, and yet, there's always this flicker of something more, something intriguing that makes him so compelling. You love to hate him, and sometimes, you just... well, you know. His presence really drives a lot of the early conflict in Zodiac Academy Book 1, and his interactions with Tory are pure fireworks.
Caleb Altair was a character I had such mixed feelings about. The 'pool incident' really solidified my dislike for him, especially how he used Tory. It felt so manipulative, and it was hard to come back from that. He's one of those characters you hope gets some serious comeuppance, even though you understand his motivations within the Fae hierarchy.
And Seth Capella**? Oh, Seth. He was actually one of my favorites initially! He had this charm, this allure, but then the betrayal and humiliation of Darcy happened, and my heart just *broke*. It was such a pivotal moment, and it completely changed my perception of him. It just goes to show how quickly things can turn in Solaria.
Finally, Max Rigel. The OCR mentioned he hasn't done much in Book 1, and I agree to an extent. He definitely got on my bad side after the 'pool incident' too. He feels a bit like a secondary antagonist at first, part of the group that makes the twins' lives miserable. I'm curious to see how his character develops in later books because there’s potential there for sure.
Overall, the characters in Zodiac Academy: The Awakening are just so well-developed and complex. They're not perfect, they make terrible choices, but that's what makes them so real and addicting to read about. Seriously, if you're looking for books with characters you'll have strong opinions on, dive into Zodiac Academy!