okay, this is a VERY unexpected idea on the classic "teeen vampire action fantasy romance" trope but I love it. The zodiac vibes were twisted in well and it all felt natural.

I loved the Chinese Zodiac aspect a lot. I don't see many books or shows with that. However, the character felt a bit all over the place. Though I enjoyed the story overall!

Zodiac Rising had a great concept and a lot of potential. Unfortunately the characters did not always feel rounded out and the plot was difficult to believe at times.

A murder mystery, a heist and a magical fantasy all wrapped in one great book! I can’t wait to see what happens next after that plot twist.

I can't say I was a super fan of the writing, but I did feel like the story was unique. Chinese zodiac fantasy isn't something I've read before and so the concept was pretty cool. I did not particularly care for the writing style of the author, but I powered through and did enjoy the characters.

Zodiac Rising by Katie Zhao offers an intriguing blend of mythology and action, centering around the Zodiac signs. The plot is fast-paced, with moments of excitement, though it may feel familiar to fans of similar genres. While not groundbreaking, it’s a solid choice for readers who enjoy mythical adventures with a contemporary twist.

I loved the concept of the origins of monsters. There was. lot going on here. I had to go back and make sure I was clear on which characters where which at times. The mystical creatures were a win. The powerful warriors as descendants of the zodiac was a win. There was a lot going on and I can see YA readers getting really into all of the characters and the action.

I loved the idea of this book, an urban fantasy about descendants of the
Chinese Zodiac (powerful warriors in their day) that have been cursed and are trying to restore stolen artefacts. I And I loved the beginning, the air of mystery, the political shenanigans, and what looked like to be a great adventure. However I was left with mixed feelings about the rest. Some parts confused me, like why these immortal being who are hundreds
of years old are at a school, attending classes, including those in charge of their whole society? I also didn’t love the main character, Evangeline. I felt like she was supposed to be a strong female heroine but she came off as an arrogant, egotistical and a little incompetent. I did like Tristan and his nuances and Cecil who I wanted more of. I also enjoyed the twist at the end, it surprised me completely. In the end, I liked reading Zodiac Rising but I feel like I will forget it quickly.

3.5 stars

This was a really fun read & set the scene for following books really well! I loved the use of the Chinese zodiac in the magic system & how Asian culture was woven into the story. I also loved the characters & can’t wait to see them develop further in the next book! Very intrigued to see how the romance subplots unfold as well. I loved how readers are transported from modern Manhattan, to the shaman realm, to the Descendant academy, & to faerieland! The ending left off with a bang & has me itching for the next book!

I do however wish we had some elaboration for the following things:
-the curse: it didn’t really seem that bad, so why were the Descendants so desperate to get rid of it?
-the midsummer sprout story: had major jaw-dropping potential, but the execution fell flat; i wish there were some subtle clues leading up to the reveal
-the final betrayal: seemed out of character for that person; again, i wish there were some subtle clues for readers to try to work it out leading up to the event

Overall this was such a fun read & I’m really looking forward to reading the next book! Thank you so much Penguin Teen Canada for the ARC copy!

This is a great read for people who prefer character-driven stories that still pack a ton of action into the plotlines. I appreciated the Zodiac element and how the characters' relationships to each other was such a huge driver of the plot. It was especially refreshing to see a strong, confident, powerful, agentic female character (Evangeline) who wasn't distracted by romance.

“Zodiac Rising,” by Katie Zhao

I really liked this book. It was so full of action and tons of characters. I loved the Chinese zodiac sign spirits lore. I love school drama books, and the characters were so mysterious. I think this book as a YA is very good for the age group. I do wish there was a little bit more romance, but it was good the way it was too. 5 out of 5 stars, a really fun book.

-Chinese Zodiac Spirits
-Vampires
-Multi POV

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

Thank you, Random House and NetGalley, for my free copy for review.

Katie Zhao's "Zodiac Rising" plunges readers into a captivating urban fantasy realm that's impossible to resist. In a world where paranormal creatures, known as Descendants, coexist with humans, political turmoil erupts following the assassination of their leader. As extinction looms, the question of succession becomes paramount.

Enter Evangeline, the deceased leader's sister and rightful heir. Grief-stricken yet determined, she discovers her brother's final message and resolves to complete his audacious plan: a high-stakes heist to reclaim the Zodiac heads and restore their human forms. To accomplish this daring feat, Evangeline assembles a diverse team of skilled individuals. Their first mission? Breaking an imprisoned Shaman.

The narrative unfolds with heart-pounding action and suspense, keeping readers perched on the edge of their seats as the ragtag group of Descendants attempts their prison break and subsequent heist. However, the true brilliance of Zhao's storytelling lies in the intricate web of relationships and personal struggles woven throughout the plot.

Each character grapples with their own demons and aspirations, creating a rich tapestry of motivations and conflicts. The team's forced collaboration, despite their initial animosity, adds layers of tension and complexity to their interactions. While Evangeline's prolonged withholding of information from her team occasionally tests the reader's patience, it serves to build anticipation for the revelations to come.

The novel's conclusion delivers an unexpected twist that leaves readers reeling and hungry for more. Although some questions remain unanswered, they serve as tantalizing hooks for the sequel. "Zodiac Rising" establishes itself as a solid foundation for what promises to be an exhilarating series, leaving this reader eagerly anticipating the next installment.

I really like the premise of this book but a lot of elements of the story felt repetitive or just didn't make sense. For example, why is the secret Chinese society run by hundred year old teenagers? And if they are hundreds of years old why do they still act like teenagers? I thought it was cool that each Descendant became a supernatural creature but only three types? And they all were just kind of random?

I do like what Katie Zhao was doing here, comparing it to the horrible history of Western Culture stealing/destroying Eastern culture but in this book it just didn't execute well.

I like the concept, but I just didn’t gel with the writing and the various characters weren’t distinct enough for me to care.

Zodiac Rising has a diverse cast of characters each with their own strengths, powers and weaknesses. They need to stick together to figure out the plot against them and to avenge one of their own. The group are part of the Descendants - descended from powerful warriors summoned to defended the Middle Kingdom from creatures called Wrathlings. Then wars and colonialism brought the city of Beijing down and the Descendants were cursed to become supernatural creatures - werewolves, vampires, etc.

Now the descendants attend a secret school in Manhattan, separate from all but those descended from those specific 12 houses, with a select group of the oldest Descendants - those who can still remember the Second Opium War - leading them, but now one of them is dead. Evangeline must figure out what happened to her brother, find the lost artifacts that were looted during the war, and plan a heist to get them back again.

This book is for fans of Raybearer; Iron Widow; A Magic Steeped in Poison

First of all, thank you to Katie Zhao and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Zodiac Rising in advance for my honest review. (P.S. Shoutout to Katie since we went to the same Alma Mater - Go Blue!).

What I enjoyed most about this book was the platform and voice it gave to Asian Americans. As an Indian-American, I could relate heavily to some of the touched topics: english ("easy to say") name vs. at birth name, history of colonizers taking from my community and not understanding the value of what they've taken.

I also LOVED the premise of the book! The idea of a magical school where not only supernatural beings, but also humans can attend gave me the academia vibes I needed! I also think readers get a good lay of the land of how the different magical groups operate, where their realms are, powers/abilities of the different groups. Overall, an enjoyable read.

I do have a few elements of the book to give some constructive feedback on.
**Spoiler warning - Please don't read past this if you do not want spoilers!! **

Overall, I think the premise and the characters are lovely, however the book feels a bit unfinished; there are still quite a few elements I do not understand. I wish we had a little more in the beginning to set the foundation and the lore. I understand that this writing style was more along the lines of give the reader information as you go, but there were times when an info dump would have been appreciated. For example, we get a glimpse at the High Council proceedings and some history to start. But a few chapters later, the High Council is facing so much divide and tension and setting up Marcus vs. Evangeline. It seems so sudden and there wasn't enough there to really exemplify how we got to that extreme point.

I was also a little confused on how quickly the characters developed. I love that each character had their own journey and growth, but it seemed like their arcs jumped from A to Z really quickly. For example, Tristan was portrayed as this "bad boy" character who completely disregarded Evangeline, the background on his and Evageline's relationship was a non-convincing, and all of sudden by the end of the book they are rekindling their feelings for each other. There weren't enough of those small in-between moments to convince me that they both are reviving their feelings for each other.

Lastly, it felt like things were just handed to the main cast. The cast really faced menial roadblocks to their assignment. Large events (Tristan killing his Shaman friend) were downplayed, Alice's reveal in Faerie and the Julius ending reveal felt rushed. That being said, there is enough here that I am very happy this will be a series. I will definitely pick up the next book when it releases! I have my fingers crossed that book 1 was laying the foundation for an epic adventure in book 2!

Zodiac Rising follows the Descendants of the Chinese zodiacs at a Manhattan boarding school after the source of their magic was stolen! They are cursed and must live as creatures of darkness. Evangeline is a vampire out for blood and vengeance. Nicholas is a shapeshifter desperate to restore justice to his people. Alice is a mortal who seeks the truth of her heritage. Tristan is a werewolf who will do anything to free himself from the monstrous wolf inside him. Together, these four team up to take back the stolen zodiac statues and break the curse. But the wrath of the fae linger around every corner and one wrong move could destroy their world as they know it!

This book was not a bad read.. I enjoyed the story building and the scenery. But, the writing style felt a bit too aggressive, as if it was constantly trying to prove something. Unfortunately, this made it difficult for me to connect with the characters, and I never really grew to care for them deeply…The story was also a bit predictable and the romance aspect was non existent!

The last few chapters were great, but sadly still just as predictable as the rest of the story. I will still read the next book since I’m interested in the overall story! Overall, it was a decent read!!!

Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars and my thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

"I'm going to need help, and good help. The kind of help that could, say, break into a hidden faerie dwelling, or perhaps one of the most secure, well-guarded museums in the world."

The mastermind, the thief, the master of disguise, and Alice. Truly a crew for the ages.

I thought Zodiac Rising was so fun and so quick, that I was a little sad to see I was getting close to finishing it. I might have to reread the last like 10% since I kind of sped through it a little too quick.

Content Warning: violence

The synopsis of this book intrigued me: Chinese Zodiac, a heist, and paranormal characters – well here are my thoughts:

Likes:

+ I like a book with boarding school setting and with this story and 12 zodiac signs, everyone is in their own zodiac groups. But not only that, we get more paranormal elements were some characters are vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters or mortal.

+ The heist kept the storyline moving for sure. Evangeline creates a crew to help her break this curse that was put on these zodiac descendants. It’s full of action and we get to know the characters of this main crew. The twist at the end was good also.

+ There isn’t really romance in this one but Evangeline (vampire) and Tristan (werewolf) had a forbidden love in the past. Descendants can’t intermarry, so I thought that was interesting. But these characters got the most time in the the story and I thought their bickering definitely showed that there were still feelings for one another but the heist took precedent over anything.

Dislikes:

~ I think the story had a bit too much going on with the descendants storyline and lots of characters to follow. The enemy of the descendants are Fae which I find to be very interesting but not sure how it all fits. I wanted more world-building, and definitely more character development.

My Final Thoughts:

I think this story has a lot of potential and I like how it was fast-paced, filled with action and had a heist. I do think it needs more character development but I thought the descendants of the zodiacs having Fae as the enemy was very interesting.

An urban fantasy about the descendants of the Chinese Zodiac who were warriors in their day taking important artefacts from the Fae at a elite Manhattan boarding school. While I enjoyed the world building, I struggled to connect with the characters and there is A LOT going on. I will still read book 2 because I am interested to see where this goes!