Zodiac Rising was a disappointment; I wish I could say otherwise.

This is the first book in Zhao’s newest YA fantasy series, Descendants of the Zodiac. It’s based on the Chinese zodiac, which was something that instantly appealed to me. The synopsis gives off nostalgic 2010s YA vibes — namely The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, which I also didn’t enjoy, so I guess we’re not surprised why I didn’t like this one as much as I hoped I would. But I’m a firm believer reading tastes change over the years, and sometimes that nostalgic vibe? It works out, like it did with Fourth Wing*. I mean, that one didn’t with the sequel, but at least it was good fun.

*It’s not my intention to compare Zhao to Yarros or vice versa; Fourth Wing just turned out to be the first book that popped up into my head in recent books that give nostalgic YA vibes of the early 2010s.

Zodiac Rising was not it. So where did it go wrong for me?

The writing felt… bland? I was talking about this with a friend while reading this and they put it as “very baby fanfic writer” which I feel sums the writing pretty accurately (except I don’t read fanfiction so it’s choppy and not flowing well). The plot and pacing felt off, and I don’t think the writing style helped either, even if it was easy to read when I actually sat down and had no other books available to read without WiFi; it ultimately felt like the book was dragging its shoes in the sand.

The characters? Honestly, I don’t remember any of them, outside of maybe Tristan. And an unknown character that we get introduced to at the beginning of Part Two that gave ominous villain vibes. They didn’t seem to have anything other than surface-level personality.

The world? It feels like there’s a lot going on and some of the logic doesn’t make sense. I feel like this is my biggest pain point in books that have this nostalgic vibe.

We have this secret school in Manhattan (Earthly Branches Academy) where the descendants of the Chinese zodiac have been hiding in since the twelve zodiac statues got vandalized and five of them were stolen, resulting in everyone but the House of Boar getting turned into various creatures. That’s dandy and all, but what truly grinds my gears here is we have the High Council going to school for like 100+ years, just like… all the other students?

It’s like they have nothing else better to do — surely there’s only so much content about Vampire Nutrition and Advanced Mandarin that you can go through before it just starts getting repetitive. And they’re the high council leading the descendants. There’s got to be better things than attending classes, but I honestly just got a Mean Girls vibe if there was a plot to overthrow them from one member.

I think if I read Zodiac Rising ten years ago, I’d probably have a much better time enjoying this and wouldn’t question the writing or world building choices. But for now? I just didn’t vibe with it, and I feel like I was in denial for longer than I wanted before I decided to call it quits.

While this premise read amazing and something I would very much enjoy this one was just ok. There were too many things that just didn't make sense such as if these "kids" were immortal why in the world are they going to school? I think this could have been amazing but just felt choppy even for a fantasy I questioned to much instead of being immersed into the world.

Zodiac Rising by Katie Zhao is a thrilling and immersive blend of mythology, fantasy, and urban adventure that’s just begging for an Arcane-style animated series on Netflix. With its complex characters, high stakes, and intricate world-building, this story would look stunning brought to life in a visually captivating animated format, much like Arcane.

Set in a secret Manhattan boarding school, the novel follows a crew of four unlikely heroes—each from different mystical backgrounds—as they race against time to reclaim the lost Chinese zodiac statues and break a curse that has plagued their kind for centuries. With a vampire, shapeshifter, mortal, and werewolf leading the charge, the diversity and depth of the characters make for an ensemble cast that's rich with potential for emotional storytelling and intense action sequences.

The dark, atmospheric tone and the mystery surrounding the fae and the curse would translate beautifully into the kind of gritty, visually stunning animation that Arcane is known for. The high-stakes heist, combined with a deep exploration of each character’s personal struggles and motivations, would keep viewers hooked, while the vibrant magic of the zodiac statues and fae would shine in a visually striking animated world.

This series has all the elements of a perfect Netflix hit: action, mystery, a touch of romance, and a complex mythology wrapped up in a visually spectacular package. Zodiac Rising is a must-read for anyone who loves supernatural adventure with a side of dark intrigue, and it’s absolutely perfect for an Arcane-style animated series.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

“This book was fantastic! From the first page, I was hooked by the compelling storyline and richly developed characters. The writing was engaging, and the themes resonated deeply with me. I found myself savoring every chapter and wishing it wouldn’t end. It’s the kind of book that lingers in your mind long after you’ve closed it. Highly recommended to anyone looking for an unforgettable read!”

This was an enjoyable read! The mystery kept me guessing and I could see teens loving this. I'm excited to see where this goes next.

This was absolutely amazing!

I loved being transported into a world of magic, mystery, and Chinese mythology that had me completely hooked.

The premise alone reeled me in—secret Manhattan boarding school, Descendants of the Chinese zodiac, hidden magic, and a curse? Sign me up! But it’s the characters who truly stole the show. Evangeline, Nicholas, Alice, and Tristan each bring their own unique struggles and strengths to the story, making their journey an absolute thrill to follow.

The crew assembled to break the curse is just phenomenal:
-Evangeline, the vampire carrying a century of hunger and secrets.
-Nicholas, the shapeshifter on a relentless quest for justice and redemption.
-Alice, the mortal determined to uncover her mysterious heritage.
-Tristan, the werewolf fighting to control the beast within.

As the first book in a series, Zodiac Rising does a fantastic job of setting the stage, introducing the main cast, and laying the groundwork for an epic adventure to come. And the illustrations? Next level! They didn’t just bring the story to life—they added a stunning visual depth that I couldn’t get enough of.

10/10 I can't recommend this enough!! I long for the sequel.; it will be an agonizing wait :(

It has the potential to be a great series, but I found myself struggling to get into it and the plot at parts, was predictable and the writing very formulaic which annoyed me because it felt cliched instead of unique.

Loved the book from the first page to the last page and every page in between. Loved all the twists and turns throughout the story

DNF at 50%
I’m extremely disappointed that I didn’t like this one! The premise sounded interesting, I love anything involving the Chinese zodiac. However there was too much going on and not enough explanations or interesting characters to carry the story.
Firstly, there were a lot of mythology and paranormal events going on but nothing was explained very well. The politics as well was questionable and hard to read through. (Immortal teenagers are in charge but still go to school and run stuff from the school? That doesn’t make sense.)
Secondly, the characters and writing were pretty bland. I Especially didn’t like our main female, Evangeline. She would say she shouldn’t do stuff but she still would. So she can acknowledge her bad acts but doesn’t care and does it anyway. The writing was a lot more telling than showing and the characters were flat and one dimensional. I didn’t care for a single one.
Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the chance to read this book!

(All DNF’s get 3 stars due to me not finishing the book)

This was a good read! Revenge, heist, betrayal, all the things needed to make an epic story. Really enjoyed the characters

Aggressively mid! I think the original idea was good! It’s a fun premise and I love both fantasy academia AND a heist, so this really should have been something I enjoyed. But there was distressingly little academia, and, in full honesty, that’s probably for the best because otherwise I’d have to think about the fact that all these very old people are just…going to class? The heist was also not really planned out. Overall, an interesting premise poorly executed.

I really thought I would be into Zodiac Rising but I started it and stopped it probably ten times. I unfortunately had to DNF it at 15 percent. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was super entertaining. I loved the mystery and writing style the author used. I can see this being a favorite for some of my older students.

DNF @ 50%

I was really excited about the premise and its many aspects that appealed to me: dark academia, magic, Chinese folklore/ mythology, paranormal creatures, fae, family curses, a heist, social commentary. Unfortunately, I think there were just too many disparate elements that didn't quite fit together coherently. There was a lot of infodumping, flashbacks, backstory, that interrupted the present-day narrative, and some of it raised logical and/or logistical questions that took me right out of what immersion I had managed. (Like, why is a hundreds-year-old vampire who is purportedly in charge of the Descendants spending most of their time in classes, and why are they treating the school like a higher authority that they answer to?)

So even at 50% when we were finally ostensibly getting some action and the "main plot" kicking off, I found that I was just not invested enough in the characters or the worldbuilding or the overall story to continue. I was also not a big fan of the writing style, which is of course purely personal preference but still a major factor in the decision to DNF or not.

Magic, dark academia, and a heist! When a student is killed over a treasure, the other Descendants of the Zodiac must come together to avenge their classmate's murder and heist back the treasure! In a school filled with students who are the Descendants of the Chinese zodiac, the source of their magic (twelve statues of the zodiac creatures) have been lost to time and the curse has been placed on the descendants as they've all become creatures of darkness...until now. Now the statues are resurfacing and one of the students has been found murdered... and the remaining students have the chance to get revenge as well as breaking their curse. Follow a vampire, a shapeshifter, a mortal with special gifts, and a werewolf as they team up to solve the puzzle and find the truth and the treasure. This is the first book in a series, honestly this just didn't hit the spot for me. I do think that it was a "it's me not you" thing and that other younger YA readers would have an absolute blast with it. I just didn't find myself all that invested in the characters or their journey despite how much I really tried and wanted to be. This book sounded unique and like something I would absolutely love, but unfortunately it just never clicked with me. The characters didn't feel all that well fleshed out or distinct, and I just felt the pacing of the story was so slow and that the book felt longer than it needed to be. So while this wasn't for me, I do think others would have fun with it if they love a dark academia/magic heists/mystery read.

Release Date: October 1,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's | Random House Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

The story took off great. There are a lot of characters to keep track of at first, but it gets better. This story was so good. I enjoyed it even though it is out of my regular reads.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for this advanced reader copy and this is my honest review.

Katie never disappoints!! The pacing was amazing. The story building is a favorite. Sometimes multiple points of view are hard to read for me but they were so smooth.

**I was sent an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**

Katie Zhao begins a new YA fantasy series with Zodiac Rising. With inspiration from the Chinese Zodiac, a secret boarding school is unveiled in Manhattan where magic-users called Descendants attend school alongside magical beings like vampires, werewolves, and more. Readers follow a ragtag group of characters as they pursue a heist in the name of breaking a curse. Evangeline (vampire) leads the team after her brother is discovered dead and the fae are suspected. Secrets can be deadly, especially within fairy.

Full disclosure, I had a hard time connecting with this writing style and waited for the audiobook to be released to submit my review. I did complete the audiobook, but it was at this point where I realized the writing was not the issue.

The story here isn't anything mind blowing or groundbreaking. But it doesn't have to be. As a young to middle ranged YA, it can simply be a good story. The highlight here is absolutely the cultural influences. This is what sets this book apart. I had fun with my read through, but I doubt this one will stick with me long term.

I would not hesitate to recommend this book to the target audience, as I'm sure they would get more out of a story like this than someone who is very much well-versed in the conventions of this genre. I appreciate the fun time and the opportunity to read this book early.

Zodiac Rising draws on the mythology of the Chinese zodiac, each represented by a fountainhead, a statue. Descendants, members of the 12 houses represented by each sign, are families with special, magical powers, whose duty is to protect the mortals. Something over 100 years ago, five of the 12 fountainheads were stolen, and with the theft, a curse fell on the survivors of the attack, turning them into immortal European monsters - werewolves, vampires, and shapeshifters. Of the 12 houses of Descendants, only one remained mortal - and only those mortals are still able to have children, leading to a slow reduction in the number of Descendants available for Assignments, jobs intended to protect mortals from fae and shamans, two non-human groups that wield magic of their own. Descendants attend a secret school in Manhattan - mortal Descendants during the day, and the immortal, cursed survivors of the Descendants at night. The immortal Descendants - who look and act like high school students - have been attending this school for over a century. A clue to the location of the missing fountainheads appears, and an Assignment to retrieve them is created, with a team of four: three immortals and one mortal. Their quest leads to unexpected twists and turns.

I'm not sure what I think about this book. When I was reading it, I was interested and involved, but when I put it down, I wasn't in any hurry to pick it back up. It had a few twists in the plot that didn't seem to be properly supported; the clues were there, sort of, but the major twist came largely out of nowhere, and left the story feeling unfinished. This is the first book in a planned series, and I may read the sequel, or I may not. It will appeal to people who enjoy stories that center on relationships between high school students and jilted partners, but I was expecting more mythology and a little less about how remaining feelings for the ex-partner interfere with the quest to retrieve the missing fountainheads.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.