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Zodiac Romina Russell Books

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Zodiac Romina Russell Books

Title: Zodiac (Zodiac #1)
Author: Romina Russell
Publisher: Razorbill, 2014 (December 9)
Genre: YA Science Fiction

I am part of an exciting readathon for the Zodiac series, and though I’ve owned the first book for its gorgeous cover and its riveting synopsis, I had never gotten around to reading it.

I mean seriously, look at this COVER!!

So I jumped at the chance to read along and read book one, Zodiac, and it was good. So good.

Review:

I love anything Astrological. I know I’m a Pisces, and I’ve known this for awhile. I’m the epitome of one. Cancer is a water sign, so I got along with the protagonist quite easily.

Rhoma Grace, an Acholyte from House Cancer, is a sixteen year old student and a drummer. Her biggest fears are her tests coming up to become a Zodai. The university’s best-ranked graduates get invited to join the Order of the Zodai, our galaxy’s peacekeepers. The best of the best are recruited into the Guardian’s Royal Guard, the Zodai’s highest honor.

And Rho doesn’t feel like the best of the best, but before her mom left, she drilled Rho full of information about the other Zodiac houses and had her practice reading the Stars. When a concert is interrupted buy an explosion on her planet, the current Guardian of her house is killed. Rho turns to the Stars for answers, and instead of finding them, she just finds more questions.

She finds the Zodiac’s biggest boogeyman and legend actually exists. And he almost kills her when he finds out she can see him.

When the other Zodai learn of her abilities, Rho is made the new Guardian of Cancer. She’s now Holy Mother of the entire Cancrian people.

However, despite having the power and the title, no one will listen to Rho: the boogeyman, Ochus, has intentions of destroying the whole Zodiac, and though only 12 houses (all the astrological signs we know) are all that exist, there is a Thirteenth House, and it’s out for destruction.

While Rho deals with trying to convince every planet in danger of attack that Ochus exists, she meets Hysan, an ambassador from Libra, who believes her instantly. It puts her mind at ease but also frustrates her when her crush and new partner, Mathias, thinks she’s mistaken. Rho’ heart is torn between the Zodai protecting her and the charismatic Libran who aims to please.

When Rho goes on an intergalactic mission to try and warn the Zodiac, Ochus seems to always be a threat…but how can a sixteen year old newly appointed Guardian convince all twelve houses that the legend, the monster under the bed, the “Thirteenth” house, is REAL?

Is It Classroom-Approriate?
Actually, yes. I found this book to be a breath of fresh air after all the other books not suitable for the classroom. The intricate Zodiac system is quite interesting, and all the virtues that one house represents are all virtues we have inside. Discussions on personal astrological signs could be discussed and turned into fun projects for each student to learn more themselves; they could find the virtues that they agree with and the virtues they don’t…they also could find how we are all a little bit of every sign if we really look at ourselves. Reading horoscopes in class can open dialogues or they could write their own predictions for the other signs.

The most engaging aspect is the science. Conversations about time and space are completely easy to tie in with Russell’s book. I would say it would be productive for all high school levels to use this book, and even though it’s part of a series, it ends at an interesting point of the story that would open up more speculation (not going to reveal those spoilers, though!)

Btw, I give Zodiac ★★★★☆ for classroom use! See all the possibilities?

Use it! Just be creative with it and have fun! I would have given it five but it’s not exactly a lesson plan that’s easy to fit into the curriculum, so you have to find a way to make it work. Science classes would benefit as well as literature classes: you could do a shared Unit!

AGE RANGE

I feel Zodiac is appropriate for any age – I didn’t see it on Lexile.com, so I would recommend 13 and up…there’s a lot of complicated information about space and the houses so it’s probably best for an advanced or avid reader. However, there was noting inappropriate that I could find, and you know I try to err on the side of caution.

End Result:

I give Zodiac ★★★★★! I loved it. Then again, I’m a big science fiction reader. I also love the Astrological aspect. I leaned a lot about the different signs, which I love. And of course only wish the main character’s house was Pisces! I can’t wait to read the next installment, Wandering Star.


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Zodiac Romina Russell Books Reviews

I am so enthralled by the world that Romina Russell has created in Zodiac. She has beautifully combined science fiction and astrology to craft a setting that is every bit as breathtaking as this gorgeous book cover.

The characters are divided into separate houses based on the zodiac signs, and the common attributes of those signs manifest themselves in the characters' traits and strengths, which is such a fun and original approach to character development.

The plot is incredibly fast paced and high-stakes right from the very beginning. When tragedy forces Rhoma into an unpredicted position of power, readers get to see behind the scenes of the political machinations taking place in this world, which is very intriguing and helps balance out some of the intense action scenes that occur throughout the story.

Yes. There is a love triangle in this story. I personally am not a hater of love triangles in novels as long as they make sense and work well within the story, and I do feel that that was the case in Zodiac. There is some sizzling romantic tension between Rhoma and both Hysan and Mathias. I found the dynamic between the three of them scintillating and so much fun to read.

I also love me a good villain, and Zodiac has an excellent villain. Russel does a good job of showing his treachery while hinting at the motivations behind his actions.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I found it entertaining and imaginative and really enjoyed the dazzling setting it took place in. I'm so looking forward to the next book in our readathon, Wandering Star, and hope you'll join us!
Before I begin to review this book, I want to remark that you will likely need to pick a team. Two suitors are in line for our narrator, and of course you will find yourself drawn to one or the other. If the book lives up to its promise, the picking may be captured in the media. For what it is worth, without spoilers, you will find the choices intriguing.

Rho has been taught to, "trust only what you can touch" , but also "trust your fears." The theme of Zodiac is a now familiar one. A young girl of somewhat renegade policies has been found to have the very skills and gifts to rise as the heroine of her people. The men vying for her attention somewhat embody these two maxims for me, but see what you think. Rho is a young student who is learning to become a reader of the stars. Her mother had taught her, "believing in them will keep you safe." Her mother had trained her rigorously to read the music of the stars before she herself disappeared. Rho is a member of the Cancer House of the Zodiac, and after perceiving a threat of dark matter to their home on Saturn and its moons, she is found to have deep gifts of intuition. Her attempts to save their world, one that evolved long eons after leaving Earth's collapse, are the plot of this and presumably future novels.

From this brief description, one can easily discover the YA novel in its cradle. But what makes this book different is the world building. The concept feels fresh, with the houses of zodiac in fact inhabited by its people. The science of the Psy Network is slightly recognizable in our concept of ESP, but is developed at further length. The author uses a satisfying blend of the known and the fantasy to concoct a futuristic vision that is unfortunately dystopian. I enjoy the characters, and Rho is especially compelling. The prose moves at a perfect pace that neither rushes the reader nor bogs one down in too many details. For your future edification, I choose the steady guy.

I am looking forward to the next installment from this new writer.
Title Zodiac (Zodiac #1)
Author Romina Russell
Publisher Razorbill, 2014 (December 9)
Genre YA Science Fiction

I am part of an exciting readathon for the Zodiac series, and though I’ve owned the first book for its gorgeous cover and its riveting synopsis, I had never gotten around to reading it.

I mean seriously, look at this COVER!!

So I jumped at the chance to read along and read book one, Zodiac, and it was good. So good.

Review

I love anything Astrological. I know I’m a Pisces, and I’ve known this for awhile. I’m the epitome of one. Cancer is a water sign, so I got along with the protagonist quite easily.

Rhoma Grace, an Acholyte from House Cancer, is a sixteen year old student and a drummer. Her biggest fears are her tests coming up to become a Zodai. The university’s best-ranked graduates get invited to join the Order of the Zodai, our galaxy’s peacekeepers. The best of the best are recruited into the Guardian’s Royal Guard, the Zodai’s highest honor.

And Rho doesn’t feel like the best of the best, but before her mom left, she drilled Rho full of information about the other Zodiac houses and had her practice reading the Stars. When a concert is interrupted buy an explosion on her planet, the current Guardian of her house is killed. Rho turns to the Stars for answers, and instead of finding them, she just finds more questions.

She finds the Zodiac’s biggest boogeyman and legend actually exists. And he almost kills her when he finds out she can see him.

When the other Zodai learn of her abilities, Rho is made the new Guardian of Cancer. She’s now Holy Mother of the entire Cancrian people.

However, despite having the power and the title, no one will listen to Rho the boogeyman, Ochus, has intentions of destroying the whole Zodiac, and though only 12 houses (all the astrological signs we know) are all that exist, there is a Thirteenth House, and it’s out for destruction.

While Rho deals with trying to convince every planet in danger of attack that Ochus exists, she meets Hysan, an ambassador from Libra, who believes her instantly. It puts her mind at ease but also frustrates her when her crush and new partner, Mathias, thinks she’s mistaken. Rho’ heart is torn between the Zodai protecting her and the charismatic Libran who aims to please.

When Rho goes on an intergalactic mission to try and warn the Zodiac, Ochus seems to always be a threat…but how can a sixteen year old newly appointed Guardian convince all twelve houses that the legend, the monster under the bed, the “Thirteenth” house, is REAL?

Is It Classroom-Approriate?
Actually, yes. I found this book to be a breath of fresh air after all the other books not suitable for the classroom. The intricate Zodiac system is quite interesting, and all the virtues that one house represents are all virtues we have inside. Discussions on personal astrological signs could be discussed and turned into fun projects for each student to learn more themselves; they could find the virtues that they agree with and the virtues they don’t…they also could find how we are all a little bit of every sign if we really look at ourselves. Reading horoscopes in class can open dialogues or they could write their own predictions for the other signs.

The most engaging aspect is the science. Conversations about time and space are completely easy to tie in with Russell’s book. I would say it would be productive for all high school levels to use this book, and even though it’s part of a series, it ends at an interesting point of the story that would open up more speculation (not going to reveal those spoilers, though!)

Btw, I give Zodiac ★★★★☆ for classroom use! See all the possibilities?

Use it! Just be creative with it and have fun! I would have given it five but it’s not exactly a lesson plan that’s easy to fit into the curriculum, so you have to find a way to make it work. Science classes would benefit as well as literature classes you could do a shared Unit!

AGE RANGE

I feel Zodiac is appropriate for any age – I didn’t see it on Lexile.com, so I would recommend 13 and up…there’s a lot of complicated information about space and the houses so it’s probably best for an advanced or avid reader. However, there was noting inappropriate that I could find, and you know I try to err on the side of caution.

End Result

I give Zodiac ★★★★★! I loved it. Then again, I’m a big science fiction reader. I also love the Astrological aspect. I leaned a lot about the different signs, which I love. And of course only wish the main character’s house was Pisces! I can’t wait to read the next installment, Wandering Star.