Guys, this book is so freaking amazing! From the moment I cracked open the pages, I was transported into a world of magic, mystery, and Chinese mythology that had me totally hooked.

The premise alone had me hooked—secret Manhattan boarding school, Descendants of the Chinese zodiac, hidden magic, and a curse? Sign me up! But it's the characters that truly stole the show. Evangeline, Nicholas, Alice, and Tristan each bring their own unique struggles and strengths to the table, and following their journey was an absolute thrill.

The whole crew assembled to break the curse is just so amazing: Evangeline, the vampire with a century of hunger behind her; Nicholas, the shapeshifter on a quest for justice and redemption; Alice, the mortal searching for her mysterious heritage; and Tristan, the werewolf desperate to control the beast within.

I absolutely loved the multiple points of view in this book. It gave me such a deeper understanding of each character and their personal journey. Plus, it added this whole extra layer of intrigue and suspense to the story that kept me turning the pages late into the night.

As a first book in a series, Zodiac Rising does an incredible job of setting the stage, introducing the main characters, and laying the groundwork for an epic adventure. And can we talk about the illustrations? They were seriously next level! Not only did they bring the story to life in a whole new way, but they also added this gorgeous visual element that I couldn't get enough of.

Of course, it wouldn't be a YA fantasy without some juicy drama, and Zodiac Rising delivers in spades. Love triangles, secrets, betrayal—you name it, this book has it all! And the pacing was spot-on, keeping me on the edge of my seat without ever feeling rushed.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who loves YA urban fantasy with a healthy dose of adventure and mystery.
And now, the agonizing wait for the sequel begins...

I absolutely loved this book! It was captivating from start to finish. It’s such an amazing blend of the paranormal, fantasy, mystery, and Chinese mythology. Reading the events from multiple characters point of view was so interesting and added another layer of depth to the story. I can’t wait to see what happens next!!
Thank you to Netgally, the publisher, and the author for letting me read it early!

This is my first novel from this author and I was surprised at how much I ended up enjoying it. Normally I don't always get sucked in when there are several points of view. However, something about the way the author differentiated all of the characters, kept me around easily. The pacing on this novel was really what kept me reading in just a couple of sittings. I was thoroughly entertained throughout and it was easy to root for the characters. I will be eager to get my hands on the sequel, but this was a lot of fun.

Wow. Okay. So this took me a bit to get into. I think once the heist took place and we saw some action, that’s when the book really picked up for me. I do love a good heist. The betrayal at the end was also surprising. I didnt see it coming at all.

Ok spoilers!

I had a feeling Evangeline wasnt the prophecy, but didnt think of Alice until we entered the Faerie land. She had those dreams about the lost child and that was wild for sure. I wonder if Alice will still like Evangeline after Evangeline almost left Alice for the fountainheads. Also I couldnt believe Julius is still alive. That was for sure shocking. I cant believe he’s basically the villain, all for some money. I think the Collector also works with the Phoenix? That is my guess. We didnt see much of the Phoenix. I think she was in the second part? Not entirely sure.

I wonder what will happen in the next book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a captivating blend that appeals to readers of all kinds who have a penchant for paranormal fantasies. With vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, and a mortal human with mind-reading abilities, intertwined with elements of Chinese mythology, history, astrology, and a dash of dark academia, it's a concoction that's simply irresistible.

The plot's echoes of "A Deadly Education," "Legendborn," and hints of "Gen V" intrigued me from the start. I've always been drawn to well-crafted dark academia thrillers with meticulously planned action scenes.

Having enjoyed Katie Zhao's previous works and her poignant writing style, I was eager to see how she would craft an action-packed, mind-bending fantasy with a diverse cast of characters.

Of course, there's the classic love triangle, secrets, betrayal, and plenty of twists to keep you guessing. The pacing is well-balanced, allowing readers to formulate their own theories about the unfolding mysteries without stumbling in the dark.

The plotline revolving around the aftermath of the Second Opium War in 1860, the destruction of the Wrathlings' Circle of Twelve, and the theft of the five zodiac fountainheads sets the stage for an intriguing story. Julius, Chancellor of the High Council of the Descendants, finds himself ensnared in a trap set by a vengeful faerie, lured by a stake—the only weapon that can end his life.

As we are introduced to the main characters, including Evangeline Long, a powerful vampire from the dragon house, and her ex-lover Tristan She, a werewolf with exceptional thieving skills, along with Nicholas Hu, her best friend and a tactical genius, and Alice Jiang, a mortal with surprising powers like mind reading, raised by her protective mother—the stage is set for an epic adventure.

Together, this unlikely band of allies must unite to defeat the looming threats facing the Descendants, even as they grapple with their own secrets and motivations.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this first installment, and the tantalizing cliffhanger left me eagerly anticipating the sequel.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s / Random House Books for Young Readers for providing me with this digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Asian zodiac myths, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, fae, dark academia, and a heist...if there was a YA trope bingo, this book would hold a full card. That may turn some readers off or give them pause to wonder if this was a story written to tick of boxes of what is trending, but I was intrigued. The writing style is clear and made for quick reading. The story premise is interesting and not too convoluted and the characters fit well into the story. As a first book in a series, Zodiac Rising does a good job of introducing the main characters, establishing the backdrop, and seeding a plot. There are some aspects that are a bit predictable but still enjoyable and entertaining to read. The illustrations were a nice addition and I look forward to reading of the further exploits of this group and hopefully seeing more of the illustrations in the next installment of the series. I'd recommend this story to readers who like YA urban fantasy with a bit of an adventure or quest. (3.5 rounded up to4/5).
I received advanced digital access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Random House Children's, Random House Books for Young Readers) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.