**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.

this book was a great read of magic and adventure, when people come together for the greater good and do whats right.

Zodiac Rising by Katie Zhao is an exciting, fast-paced fantasy that blends adventure, magic, and Chinese mythology in a unique and engaging way. The story follows a young protagonist who discovers her hidden powers tied to the twelve zodiac signs, setting her on a path to uncover dark secrets and battle against powerful enemies. Zhao’s world-building is rich and immersive, with intricate details that bring the mythology to life. The plot is full of twists and action, keeping readers hooked from start to finish. The main character is relatable, with a strong personal arc that explores themes of identity and destiny. While the pacing can feel a bit uneven at times, the overall story is thrilling and full of heart.

oh this was SOOO good. I love a good heist plot and fantasy elements of fae, vampires and werewolves was SOOO fun. I wish the ending had been a little different (I hate family betrayal!!) but I'm hoping that changes in book 2.

This book is a multilayered story, which will appeal to readers of many genres. The readers who enjoy fantasy, this book will draw you in on that premise. Within this story, there are not only vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, and humans with mindreading abilities, but it also draws some of its story line from Chinese mythology and history. The characters are strong and well developed but I never felt a true connection to them.

I loved this one! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—nothing hits like a young adult fantasy heist book. Six of Crows meets the zodiac in Zhao’s latest release.

Evangeline, mourning the loss of her brother, must find five stolen artifacts and fulfill a centuries-old prophecy if she hopes to become the next High Chancellor of Earthly Branches Academy—a position that should have been her birthright upon her brother’s death. She assembles a crew of fellow Descendants—beings who once wielded immense power to protect humanity but are now cursed with immortality—to pull off the heist of the century.

This book is action-packed, full of twists and turns, with multiple POVs featuring unreliable narrators, making it an all-around thrilling read. It’s rich with fantasy lore drawn from both Chinese mythology and classic fantasy elements. I should also note that this is NOT a standalone book and it ends on a cliffhanger—and I will be counting the days until I get my hands on book two!

Zodiac Rising combines dark academia, magic, and mythology in an exhilarating, high-stakes adventure. The blend of Chinese zodiac lore and a deadly heist makes for an irresistible premise, and Katie Zhao does an excellent job of building tension throughout. The intricate worldbuilding—set against the backdrop of a secret Manhattan boarding school—adds layers of mystery and wonder.

The characters are well-developed and compelling, especially the central crew. Evangeline’s struggle with her vampire nature, Nicholas’s desire for justice, Alice’s search for her heritage, and Tristan’s battle with his inner werewolf are skillfully woven into the plot, making each character's arc feel personal and urgent. The heist itself is thrilling, with unexpected twists and constant danger from the ever-present fae.

While the pacing falters slightly in a few places, the overall story is immersive, filled with tension and clever twists. The balance between character development and action is masterful, keeping readers invested until the final page. Zodiac Rising stands out as a captivating mix of mythology, magic, and dark academia that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment.

An ancient Chinese prophecy that is coming to fruition in this paranormal save the world novel is an absolute treat! Zhao’s writing is as captivating as her unique characters, and the plot traversed so much that I was mesmerized. This was an amazing read, thank you for sharing your creative story with us!

Well paced but not Katie Zhao’s finest work.

Conceptually this sounded interesting but overly complicated, and unfortunately that cluttered feeling never really leaves you as you attempt o muddle through the plot of Zodiac Rising, cleverly centered on t he descendants of the Chinese Zodiac, but muddled up with a veritable kitchen sink of incongruously rendered supernatural elements.

The zodiac aspects of the plot were a good idea, but mixing that up with vampires and werewolves and a host of other fantasy themes and creatures just makes for a messy and unfocused story. The central mystery itself is fine, if not especially original. I wish we had gotten more of the ins and outs of the school and how the educational system works, because what little we did get was the best part of the story.

The characters were fine, but all are common types to YA fantasy and not especially complex or intriguing.

Zhao’s stand-alone novels have all been pretty good. I’d recommend reading those instead.

📕: Zodiac Rising-Descendants of the Zodiac #1

 ✍🏾By: Katie Zhao-new to me author

📃Page Count: 416 eBook

📅Publication Date: 10-1-24 | Read 10-26-24

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children's Books, and Katie Zhao for this ARC❤️!  I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

🌎Setting: Manhattan, NY

Genre: YA, Urban Fantasy, Contemporary, Thriller/Suspense

Tropes: dark academia, politics, magic, supernatural creatures, Western &Chinese mythology

☝🏾 POV: 3rd person, multiple

⚠️TW: murder, bullying

💭 Summary: At Earthly Branch Academy, a boarding school for teenage legacies of twelve warriors created in China to protect people. When Julius the High Council Chancellor is murdered trying to get five fountainheads that would end their curse to be trapped as animal supernatural. His sister Evangeline assembles a group of paranormal to go to Faerie to complete her brother's mission, find his murderer, and kill them. 

🎭The Cast: 
• Evangeline Long- 100 years old vampire, wants to be out of her brother's shadow

• Julius Long-Evangeline's older vampire brother, Chancellor of Descendants High Council. 

• Nicholas Hu-a fox shifter, master of disguise

• Alice Jiang-a human mind reader, seeks truth of her heritage - her father she never met

• Tristan She- a werewolf, an expert criminal who hates Nicholas because he blames him for his family's deaths. He's also Evangeline's ex-boyfriend-dated 4 years ago.

• Cecil Long-servant for the Longs, a great fighter

• Marcus Niu-The OPP who wants Julius' spot as High Chancellor.

• Lei/The Scarlet Spy- a shaman they rescue from the underground to serve as tour guide in Faerie.

🤔 My Thoughts: This was an undertaking because of the massive world building and character development. Because of the multiple POVs all the major characters required plenty of background information. I loved this group of frenemies who had gifts to complement each other. Evangeline was the vampire leader, Nicholas her BFF & master of disguise, Tristan the criminal, and Alice the mind reader. My favorite was Tristan (of course) because he was a grumpy, bad boy, werewolf with secrets. There was adventure, humor (Lei & Tristan/Nichloas fights), a new romance, and second chances.

Range of emotions: 
🔥: Spice 1/5 
😭: Emotion 4/5
💑: Couple 4/5
⭐ ️: Rating 4.5/5

This has an intriguing premise and a solid foundation, and the synopsis promises an exciting journey. However, while the story's framework is strong, the execution felt a bit subdued, leaving some scenes and character moments less impactful than they could have been. I found myself wishing for deeper world-building and more fully realized character arcs to bring the vibrant elements of the plot to life. Overall, it's a good read with potential, but it falls just short of being truly immersive.

A big shoutout to Netgalley for providing me with a review copy of this book!

Zodiac Rising by Katie Zhao was quite a rollercoaster. The premise of this book focuses on the 12 clans that were granted to the emperor to help protect the country. Over the years these clans grew, until one year where China was invaded by foreigners and five of the totems for these clans were stolen. This caused the clans to become cursed, with some turning into vampires, some into werewolves, some into fox spirits and one clan turning human.

The story focuses on the Dragon clan, the Longs, who are at the head of the council governing the clans. When something catastrophic happens, setting an ancient prophecy in motion, Evangeline Long scrapes together a team of Descendants to go on a heist to reclaim the missing totems. But being gone for an extended period of time might mean losing their power over the other clans as well.

There isn't a lot I can say about this book that would not be filled with spoilers. However, this book was really fun to read. The world is our regular world, but the clans are based off of the Chinese zodiac, each having their own characteristics. And I also liked how each of the supernatural beings were created to fit their personalities.

I do have to say that the writing was quite repetitive. Some points were hammered home by saying them multiple times in the span of a few pages, especially when it came to the supernatural speed at which these characters can run. But I think the plot overrides that.

It was one of the most fun books I've read in a while, and I am super excited to see where this leads. I do appreciate that while there was a cliffhanger, the main heist was completed within this first book. And we got to see a few different realms in that span as well, including Faerieland, for anyone looking for more urban fantasy that has fae in it.

I will definitely be continuing this series. And I'll keep an eye out for anything else that Katie Zhao brings out.

I liked the bones of this story. I wanted the characters to be developed a little more to be differentiated. They all talked the same, had the same temperament (except Alice and Lei) - hot-headed, immortal supernaturals, who just barely control their powers.

Omg this book. My HS kids will love it.

This book is so good and I cannot wait to already be back with these characters. Evangeline and Alice. The power this duo could have! I want them to want to be each others ride or die but they keep getting in their own ways.

Nicholas, Lei, and Tristan. They just bring everything that’s missing to this group. I understand some have some bad history but I hope they make it through. I adore them. Tristan’s got me though. Ugh hands down favorite.

All of these characters though, please stop beating yourselves up!

Anyway. THE END. Absolutely not, no sir. I cannnnnnot.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

This story was a letdown. I was expecting this wild adventure but it was much more subdued than I expected. It took way too long to start and I was confused as to why immortal beings would still be pretending to be in high school. It also felt like far too many elements were included in the story that made it feel like it was trying to check off as many genres as possible. That characters were also underwhelming and a bit cliche. And the ending was not it and left me disappointed. Not for me I guess.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

I've read a few of Katie Zhao's books over the years and each one of them has had very different ratings from me. I loved her MG novel "Last Gamer Standing" and enjoyed "The Lies We Tell" but some of her other books I've read like "How We Fall Apart" and this story "Zodiac Rising" don't capture my attention. I think she works best in MG novels and not with Ya, at least in my opinion. Much of this novel felt very boring and slow for me but her MG novels are very exciting and funny. I did enjoy the characters but the plot twist of Julius not actually being dead and his reasoning for faking his death/going against the other Desendents was faulty. His actions didn't make sense to me. All we knew about him was that he wanted to get the Zodiac Heads back and maintain peace between the Houses so watching him do a 180 on these beliefs was confusing.

Thank you Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review. I ended up DNFing this book. I tried reading it a while ago but it felt a bit like middle schoolers pretending to be high schoolers. And the worst part was the fact that all of the characters are at least 100 years old but stuck in teenage bodies but seem to have not matured in that time at all. I was really excited about this book but it just fell flat for me. I didn’t connect with the characters and I never felt the urge to pick the book back up. I made it about 20% so I gave it a good try. I hope other people enjoy it.

I did not enjoy this book even thought I was really interested in the premise and the Chinese Zodiac! However, I often felt lost and confused by the storyline. The idea of forever vampire teenagers is ridiculous since they are already in hiding. Why are hundreds of year old vampires stuck taking the same classes over and over again? Why are they being hidden in Manhattan rather than China. I understand that it’s YA, but overall this book just wasn’t for me. The heist to steal back the stolen artifacts was fun thought, but the characters fell flat no matter what personal demons they were dealing with. You guys are hundreds of years old! C’mon! 2.5 stars rounded up to 3. I even feel bad for writing this review. Hoping the next book is more readable and coherent.

I felt lost as I read this book, unsure of some of the background details that would have made it a more complete story. However, I really enjoyed this and think that it has potential as a series. It is a fun and unique fantasy.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Children's for the eARC!