Caroline Peckham

Heartless Sky

Susanne Valenti

The winds of fate are shifting, and it finally seems like they’ve been twisted in our favour.

On the run and cast out from society, we’ve been forced to hide from the mad man who stole our throne. But as more secrets come to light and my sister and I work harder than ever before to reach our potential and claim our birth right, the end is finally drawing closer.

There is no turning from this path now. The curse chases on our heels as time rushes by and the blood drenched destiny of the man I love looms ever closer just like the monster who stole our throne.

We must prepare for the final battle, but three things are clear now.

The cards have already been dealt.

Blood will spill for a new future to rise.

And the stars themselves can’t help us.

The fight for the throne is upon us. All hail the heartless sky.

Zodiac Academy #7

Heartless Sky 

eles estão juntos à literalmente 2 meses wtf

taci

My eyes watered as they spoke their vows to one another, the purity of their smiles and honesty of their love shining so brightly that it was impossible to look away from it as they chose one another and bound

The words fell from my lips in a rush which left me aching with grief as they escaped me. Because I may have been terrified to lose Roxy when I'd made that deal, I may have been more than willing to trade my life for hers because of how strongly I felt for her. But I hadn't yet experienced what truly getting to love her and be loved by her would feel like. And this bliss which I had stolen for us was rushing to an inevitable end that would only cause her more pain. The one thing I'd swom never to do again. "I traded my life for theirs. I get one year to prove to her that I can give

"Yeah, she'll discard him soon enough. Then he'll melt into the background of society where he belongs." My spine prickled at those words, the urge in me to fight back and show them the measure of my strength surging up in me like a tsunami. I'd technically been stripped of that right. I wasn't allowed to challenge a Fae to a fight because of my status and though I didn't give a shit about breaking the law, I didn't think those assholes would be beyond having me locked up for it. Darcy and Tory may have held the power around here, but it was too deeply ingrained in our kind to let go of my shaming after it had been made so public, so official.

"The Heirs need the power to make real change in Solaria, they can't be shackled in their decisions by the rule of a monarch. And no mater how well meaning the Vegas might be as queens, the fact is, they don't know enough to make those decisions. They aren't prepared to make the kinds of calls that will have to be made to force the change that needs to happen, and the Celestial Council can't be forced into submission over decisions that will affect millions of lives by girls whose ignorance makes them incapable of understanding the issues fully," he hissed determinedly, his eyes shifting to reptilian slits. 

Yeah, I know," I said on a sigh. "ButI also know that I'm a reminder of your father's chains now. So enjoy your freedom, Darius. Really. You deserve time with people whose company isn't forced upon you. I swear I don't begrudge you it." Hurt flashed across his eyes as he took another step toward me. Is that what you really think, brother?" "Don't you?" I asked, my fear over the answer to that spinning a razor- sharp web inside my chest.

I shot to her side, eyeing her paling features a second before she stumbled into my chest like she was about to pass out. I caught hold of her waist in alarm, clutching her against me as I searched her expression. "Oops," she said through a yawn. "What's Wrong?" I demanded as Tory took hold of her sister's hand. "Nothing, I'm just tired. It must have been the hat," Darcy said, her veak and an echo of exhaustion in her deep green gaze. "You look dead on your feet," Tory said in concern, pulling Darcy

"Just hold on," she begged. "There must be something I can do." I shook mny head slightly, understanding what the stars were asking of me now. I had to face my fear, and this was it. I just hoped there was something waiting for me in death beyond darkness, I hoped there was a place for me among the stars. "I just wanted to be useful. Did I do okay? Was I good friend?" I asked as a tear rolled from my eye as I knew I'd never see Sofia again, or Tory, or

"What does a Fae do when their back is against the wall, son of the shadow born?" "They fight," I said softly, knowing that was the answer but still knowing I wasn't one of them. "What does a Fae do with their heart?"" the stars asked and I frowned at that question, thinking on it. "They love," I decided. "And what will a Fae do to be worthy of their place in Solaria ?" I frowned, the answer coming to me easily and falling from my lips. "Anything." "You have passed our tests." The stars released me from their grip and I could hardly believe that I was being let go, that I was deemed worthy to stay at Zodiac Academy. It made no sense, and yet it was the best thing I had ever experienced. And for a moment, I could almost feel what it was like to be Fae.

I wondered if this would be it for me, a void where no stars existed, no powerful beings bothering to turn their gaze on someone as worthless as me. But then a whisper filled my head which sounded like it was woven from the fabric of the universe itself. "Imposter," it breathed. "We see you, son of the shadow born. And it is time to face The Reckoning."

I could feel Diego's panic wrapping around me from that night and I didn't know what to think as I was cast forward into the future. I started to see moments blurring together, Diego leting the Nymphs onto campus the day they'd attacked at the Pitball pitch, him tossing the vile of knotroot out the window into the bushes at the base of Aer Tower to hide it from the FIB raids, his anger as Orion had broken the box gifted to him by his grandmother, his embarrassment as Orion had exposed his secret crush on Sofia to the agents around him. I saw the night he let his uncle onto campus and I fought with him in the astronomy tower, 

"What do you mean?" I asked, looking to her and her eyes dripped over "He's old enough to know," Alejandro said as he shared a look with his "He worked at the palace when we killed the royals," Mamá said with a "You...what?" I breathed, sure they were just messing with me. me in disdain. sister. twisted smile on her lips that made my stomach knot with dread. "Where do you think I got all of my power, idiota?" Alejandro smirked, playing with flames in his palms and making my throat tighten. "I'm the strongest Nymph in Solaria." "That's because you didn't share," Mamá sniped at him. "Though the queen tasted oh so sweet when she died. I can't say I'd have wanted to miss that." She grinned evilly and I found my feet unable to move any further as I stared at them, realising what they were saying. "You killed the Vegas' parents?" I rasped. "Yes," Alejandro said with pride in his voice. "Thanks to Lionel Acrux.

I brought up my uncle's number, forwarding him the video and leaning back against the wall as I waited for a reply. It came a minute later as he called me, and I answered in a whisper. "Hello." "Good work, Diego. You are proving of some use at last," he growled. "I need you to use the amuletI gave you tonight. Place it in the ground at the eastern fence and meet me there when I message you." "Okay, what are you going to do?" I asked, fear lacing my words at the idea of my uncle coming here, but the line went dead. I sighed, pushing my Atlas back into my pocket and adjusting my hat over

I ordered the shots at the bar, glancing over at Professor Orion as he cosied up to some woman opposite him. He seemed distracted by something as the shots were laid before me and I slid the vile of powdered knotroot from inside my jacket, quickly sprinkling some of it into two of the drinks. My throat nearly closed up as I shoved it back into my pocket, throwing Orion a fearful glance, but finding him staring across the room. And asI followed his gaze to Darcy Vega, I grimaced and gathered up the drinks. I may have loved living among the Fae but there was one kind I didn't like at all, and it was the Vampires. They used others as blood bags, stealing what they needed, and in all honesty, it reminded me of my own kind. I'd seen what Nymphs could do, and ifI could trade away that part of me to be any kind of Fae, I would. I felt sick, but all I could think about was Alejandro guting me if! didn't pull this off and the fear of that was enough to make me stay on this

"If the Vegas are discovered and brought to the academy, I must get close to them and find a way to deliver them to you and Mamá," How was I ever going to pull this off? "And if you fail to do so?" Alejandro prompted with a dark look that made me feel miniscule. "You'll kill me," I rasped. "Yes. Slowly, " he said the word like he was devouring it. I'd seen the monstrous things this man was capable of over the years and I never wanted to be at his mercy. "And no one will miss you, 

I resisted for as long as I could but then a strange whispering started up in my head, the soft caress of a woman's voice. Take it, Diego. The Fae have wronged you. Take it and join us." There was something so alluring about the voice that I couldn't help but listen to it. My probes sank into the muscle of her heart andI gasped as magic rushed up my arm, pouring into me in wave after wave. I trembled at the feel of it tumbling into my veins and winding around my own heart, burying in deep and taking root there. For a second I forgot all else as I drowned in the amazing feeling of all that power filling me up, but as the rush of it settled within me, my eyes

Would the stars like me if I was Fae? Would I get to walk along the streets in the daylight instead of having to hide away all the time? Suddenlya strong hand latched around the back of my neck, yanking me to my feet while another snatched the little Pegasus from my fingers. I was thrown against the wall and I stared at my Uncle Alejandro 

"It's time to know the truth, amigas." He pulled us into the web and I braced myself for what was going to happen as I fell deep into the past, drawn into a long lost memory as my eyes opened and by instinct I knew whose memory this was. It was Diego's.

You did what?" Tory snapped. Please tell me a knickie and a knackie isn't what I think it is," I murmured. You really must take better care of your delicates, girls. G-strings and thongs can get a teeny weenie bit frayed if they aren't rubbed down regularly with a good soap. I use a gentle foamy white soap that I make myself, I'l give you a sample sometime. I call it Washer's essence." He winked. What the fuck are you saying?" Darius growled, smoke pluming between his teeth and I grabbed Orion's arm to stop him from getting out of his seat 

"Lance Orion is not a criminal!" Everyone in the room winced. Oh shit, I did not need to shout while the voicey spell thing was on me. "Darcy, stop," Orion commanded, but I ignored him. I cleared my throat and the sound of that echoed painfully around the room while Hamish started retching in the corner at the mere mention of my boyfriend's name. And I was so fucking done with it. "He lied to the court to protect me because he knew I'd lose my place at Zodiac Academy. So stop treating him like he's a monster. He didn't hurt me or abuse me or cast any kind of spell on me." I looked down at Orion, but he didn't smile, he reached for me frantically, trying to pull me off the table. "Please, Blue," he begged. I danced out of his way. He deserved the world to recognise who he was, see the sacrifices he'd made for Darius, for me.

Darcy blew out a breath, making a lock of deep blue hair flutter before her and she sighed. "The Shadow Princess tried to place a curse on me during the battle." 

Don't touch me," I snarled, jerking back and feeling the fire race up my arms to coat my body, coming to my aid the way it couldn't that night. My back hit the wall and I was vaguely aware of someone calling my name but all I could feel was the heat of the fire magic which raged against my skin while my Phoenix was buried away and pain of a knife sliding between my ribs. A hand locked around my throat, taking the burns from my fire as he continued to shout my name and suddenly the sound of a door bursting open crashed through the screaming in my skull. Except it wasn't in my skull and as I peeled my eyes open, I found myself curled up in a ball on the floor with Darius leaning over me, his eyes blazing with concern. 

That doesn't make it any easier on you," he insisted. I know what they did to you. I know how the idea of anyone else getting into your head must make you feel." “You can talk to me about it," Darius insisted, his hand curling around my cheek as my breaths came faster and I closed my eyes as I tried to fight off the memories. But they wouldn't leave me be. And suddenly it didn't feel like his hand was on my cheek, it felt like Lionel's as he'd forced my gaze up

"I'm gonna play gay chícken with him." "Gay chicken?" I frowned. "Yeah, because Cal is competitive, see? He can't ever bear to lose. So I'll just dare him to go gay for me and he won't be able to back down on the dare because he'd have to admit defeat by doing so. Then he'll go full gay and we'll get gayer and gayer together until one day we're married and it's ten

A wet splatter hit my face once more as I found him staring at the roof above us and a curse spilled from my lips as I spotted a body hanging from the rafters. Or what remained of a body anyway. And as I squinted, using my heightened vision to see through the darkness, I spotted the body parts of other victims, whole pieces of them strewn everywhere. Blood and gore filled the space above our heads and the wide open mouth

Ella Williams

Zodiac Academy 7: Heartless Sky

This book gave me everything I needed and it ended with me staring at the wall for far too long. That ending I think broke something in my head and it took a while to recover. Because what the hell was that ending?! The questions, the AFTERMATH! Ugh, then I read the acknowledgements and of course the twisted sister just had to twist that knife a little bit more. 

Priscilla Stanfield

5/5⭐️ • 3/5🌶️

This book gave me everything I needed and it ended with me staring at the wall for far too long. That ending I think broke something in my head and it took a while to recover. Because what the hell was that ending?! The questions, the AFTERMATH! Ugh, then I read the acknowledgements and of course the twisted sister just had to twist that knife a little bit more. 

Lucy Williams

This one hurt so bad. At this point in the series should be conditioned for this, but I am not. My heart will never be the same 😭 

The anger I felt reading this. Good god. 

Let’s get this war started & let’s get everyone we can safe again ! 

Brianna Hickey 

Holy shit. 

The rage 

The love 

The anger I felt reading this. Good god. 

Let’s get this war started & let’s get everyone we can safe again ! 

It took me soooo long to read this,, it just didn’t capture my attention (it should have stopped by the 5th book)

These books have never seen an editor and are so toxic but here I am sobbing at 1:45am 

Hanna 

aileeeeeeen

first of all, thank you to the authors for adding up the tension and automatically the fear and anxiety as well seem to be reasonable chance to be frightened what is coming for the next book. I am both fearing the beginning for 8th book as well how it will be ended. and please know this review may contain spoiler.

the story was started very well. I was SO glad because merriment seemed to encircling this book. my favorite characters got along, joking, and all that stuff. even I did find myself laughed my ass off while reading it until left 10% that crushed me. I really hate the cliffhanger because my emotions were shattered into pieces for the ending! it was displeasing and very much uncomfortable. my mind went wandering about how to make these people to unite again. I feel so bad. 😭😭😭

but please don't look at to the ending!! because this book is such a promising oath. many couples blossomed even the friendship and THAT IS TERRIFIC! ! ! so, I'm going to start my opinion about the relationships.

> Darcy and Tory Vega.
I think we both know how strong and powerful the twins connection of both. they breathe each other air so when you steal Darcy, Tory will not live longer, so does with Darcy. I never seen this sister bond went rickety. like from the first until seventh you can tell they do everything with all of it. they will help each other to stand even the groun is shaking. I'm just predicting they both will eventually ascend as the queens, albeit the old queen Vega only informed only one queen to rule.
and I think them both are remained obstinate. like, they cannot change their opinion regarding something and keep pushing it. I do truly hope they can be wise at delivering action as the future queens.

> Tory and Darius.
oh my god! we finally got to see two souls collided into one without the thunders and all that shit the stars to make them falling apart! like thank f*cking you. and what a slow burn we got here HA! I am so happy for them to savor moment together. the heat and spice scenes that we received may not be enough to consume because I am craving badly for them more for all the damn time. to be forever. because we may know they both want to make a momentous event only for both of them but it just didn't display off very well. and yes, f*cking stars. I hate them. actually I am still refusing about the ending, guys. :(

> Darcy and Lance.
god, I don't know which one I should be jealous of. I am so jealous that Lance got to be Darcy as his girlfriend. and Darcy to be Lance's boyfriend. and we are pampered well with their moments, everyone!!! especially THE DIVINE MOMENT, THAT WAS EPIC. BlueLance is genuinely phenomenal! especially when Lance really told all the rebels if he is in love with Darcy, soBS, I LOVE THEM.

> Max and Geraldine.
WHERE DO I START? I LOVE THIS COUPLE. THEY ARE SO CUTE, ADORABLE. but we got not enough moment of them. I hope authors really spoil us with their moments because it is unpleasant to see Geraldine at times being denial about her feelings to Max while Max being all out about emotions and feelings. :( I want them together, fight and love as couple! just please. .

> Caleb and Seth.
um, they both needed to be BRAVE for whatever the feeling they have to one another. I really hope the best because they seem lost because they are greatly terrified about the response that may come to the door. but if you don't try, you will never know, right? and I pray the best and happy ending. I know how much endearing Seth holds to Caleb and how much adoration Caleb has to Seth. so get it together guys!

> Xavier, Sofia, and Tyler.
it was a little amusing to see Xavier about proving the dom thing while he actually (I believe) as powerful as his brother and he holds 3 elements! but I am not going to refuse how I much love the moment when he cared about Tyler's situation. in *that* scene alone, he actually shown beyond doubt if he is a leader, a dom. and I am beyond happy for him to be treated like who he is by being with Sofia and Tyler. he got so much love as what he deserved! and Sofia also Tyler are possibly a lovely characters. they were spectacular. I love my pegasus buddies!!

> Catalina and Hammish.
hear me, they are INDEED perfect couple! I love how dazzling the relationship they held until the end of the time. Kitty and Hammy displayed great parents figure as well as lovers. they are such a loving characters. their love for everyone is fairly great and I felt so great to read story about them. it made my heart warms.

> Lionel and Livinia.
well, guys idk how to tell about this. . but their relationship was weird and I was about to throw up, fr. the scene where they made an heir. . rather disturbing. at least they matched each other, don't we agree?

FRIENDSHIP.
> Darcy and Seth.
HA I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. they are the nebulla allies to one another. they complete each other by being such an understanding friends then in five minutes after can annoy the hell of each other (especially Seth, he just loves to annoy people and it was kinda fun, hehe). they formed cute friendship and so affecting.

> Tory and Lance.
their relationship needs to be upgraded more! Lance is very faithful to his friendship and Tory just by seeing he wears the bracelet that Tory made. so please, hear me. more of them, please?

> Darcy and Darius.
the duo D are amazingly adorable. they went from enemies to besties who can comprehend each other feelings. their relationship needs to be more developed, fr.

> Seth and Lance.
finally we are getting the moment of theirs! the cuddling part was SO cute. moon friends who will save each other ass although Lance always have the tendency to shrug Seth off. but I know there is a little tenderness for Seth in the layers of Orion'.

> Caleb and Orion.
never thought the vampire duo would form a friendship. no, it is not friendship more like blood link to each other ever since THAT scene. did I ever predict it? nah. it was coming like a thunder but do I complain? no! and if they'd be going all throwing love to each other, I will be the first to laugh but also enjoy it. ;)

> The Heirs.
well, we don't need to ask more about their bond to each other. ever since the scene where they poured out each secret, I can tell how strong the bond they have for one another. 
[please add the relationship as well of The Heirs and Lance. they will smash and make the bond even spectacular]

> Orion and Gabriel.
I am not going to protest about this because I AM ALL UP FOR THEIR MOMENTS!! the scene where Xavier pulled off a prank was THE. BEST. THING. TO EVER HAPPEN! as the nebula allies, I know they will stand for one another and honestly, they make a great partner in crime.

this book will always be sensational and stunning to me. I may not much like the first book but my heart grew fonder as I kept reading until this book. will I recommend? very f*cking much. because I want others enjoy what I read too.
cannot wait for the December to come! xx

Sidney Schaffner

Wow. This ripped out my heart and stomped on it. I love every second. I knew the emotional damage this book would give me would be intense so I decided to take my sweet time reading it. I’m glad I did.

Betty

Couldn't be more traumatized and feel the urge to go k!ill a character myself (Lionel)

Nouran Hazem

Let me know peace 😭😭 No thoughts just pain 😭😭

This book devastated me. Beginning to end. Most emotional response to a battle scene since TOG 

Daisy Gosnell

it's like my heart has been ripped out of my chest. i feel empty and dehydrated

Nouran

i’m so tired. i’m going to read the last book because i’ve made it this far, but this was exhausting 

samantha lias

Gem Koeman

** spoiler alert **
           Absolutely bored through around 400/500 pages in this book. Everything went well for the main characters through most of the book right up until the end but it didn't pack a punch by that point because I didn't really care. I was dissapointed in this installment as the last two had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Still three stars becuase some of my fave characters finally stopped avoiding each other.

jupiter

this is the worst book i have ever read in my entire life i need therapy now

loren

No sé cómo voy a sobrevivir a tanto dolor hasta el próximo libro!!!

DARIUS 😭😭

Sloan MacDonald

good god man that was fucking ROUGH. all I feel is pain and now I have to wait till FUCKING DECEMBER TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS.

I keep rating these books higher and higher but in reality they are not actually getting better, I just love the characters so much. Even though there wasn’t as much action in this book- it was mainly planning stuff- it still had a good amount of action. Also the Seth and Caleb situation is really pissing me off, they just need to COMMUNICATE, it’s so annoying and Seth keeps making it worse and digger himself feeling into his lie, but anyway I loved this and the ending was sad af and I will never be over it.

Jade 

Felt a little slow at points in time. Kind of a filler book for the series. 

Caitlin Foster

Abigail | 

Lenina K Anindita

hi…guess who finally had the courage to finish za7 after three months 🧘🏻‍♀️ 

yeah so i started reading this back in august but i heard so many suspicious rumors here and there and someone suggested me to stop at chapter 54 (88%) because after that is where the shit went down as we all know how the twisted sisters loved a lil war at the end😁 so i stopped at that, so far, the 88% was soooo good and i enjoyed reading it, it fixed up for every painful scenes in the previous books so i truly LOVE it as every characters’ interactions to each other made me love them more. they all found a comfort place specially lodged in my heart truly…even when after i stopped at 88% and tried to read other books/series to forget them for a while, i can’t. if you follow me on instagram, you’ll know how sometimes i shared edits on my story and it mostly always about za characters. they’re that special to me i cannot bring myself to part from them. and it is kind of insane since this is the first full fantasy genre series i read😅🥹 anyways back to the book, of course beyond all of those happy moments i was feeling kinda suspicious as well because THAT WAS SO SWEET, and the caroline & susanne i know weren’t that nice when it came to this, and i had a bad feeling all the time (it was kinda cool though) and feel like the shit will be so fucking big. 

and i was right. (spoilers ahead!)

here i am, three months later, braving myself to read the rest of the book. i must say the last 12% was so fucking insane. and it is different from the cliffhanger endings from the previous books in this series where i closed the book with rage (and saying meanful words while opening the next book lol) i feel a lot of sadness reading the last bit of this one…like. I CRIED A LOT MAN. it almost feels like a good bye to each one of them but i know it’s not. the ending was so fucking sad. everything was all over the place and i cannot bring myself to hope anymore😅 i’m afraid that will just make me sadder and disappointed. but it was good as well since i can feel revenge growing big on some characters. i just hope the next book will be a book of the good ones finally winning and bring EVERYONE back to LIFE and STILL a fae, except lionel and lavinia. i just want their brutally dead. and i know i’m asking too much but can book 8 be a winning book for the good team and book 9 be a book full of their happy moments please. the characters have enough already🙏🏻 please bring torydarius bluelance sethcaleb back to ME…

Jantien 

** spoiler alert **
           So many mistakes and such an incredibly lame ending. These are supposed to be the most talented and powerful fae in history ? Apparently not.

Heartless Sky

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