Review: Zodiac by Romina Russell

Title: Zodiac (Zodiac #1)
Author: Romina Russell
Publisher: Razorbill 
Publication Date: December 9th 2014 
Format: Hardcover, 325 pages 

Read Amber's original review here!
Read Jessica's review here! 
Read the review for Wandering Star (Zodiac, #2) here!
Read the review for Black Moon (Zodiac, #3) here!


Summary: 

At the dawn of time, there were 13 Houses in the Zodiac Galaxy. Now only 12 remain…. Rhoma Grace is a 16-year-old student from House Cancer with an unusual way of reading the stars. While her classmates use measurements to make accurate astrological predictions, Rho can’t solve for ‘x’ to save her life—so instead, she looks up at the night sky and makes up stories. When a violent blast strikes the moons of Cancer, sending its ocean planet off-kilter and killing thousands of citizens—including its beloved Guardian—Rho is more surprised than anyone when she is named the House’s new leader. But, a true Cancerian who loves her home fiercely and will protect her people no matter what, Rho accepts. Then, when more Houses fall victim to freak weather catastrophes, Rho starts seeing a pattern in the stars. She suspects Ophiuchus—the exiled 13th Guardian of Zodiac legend—has returned to exact his revenge across the Galaxy. Now Rho—along with Hysan Dax, a young envoy from House Libra, and Mathias, her guide and a member of her Royal Guard—must travel through the Zodiac to warn the other Guardians. But who will believe anything this young novice says? Whom can Rho trust in a universe defined by differences? And how can she convince twelve worlds to unite as one Zodiac?


It has been three years since I first dove into the world of Zodiac. I have been obsessed with anything to do with zodiac signs for as long as I can remember, and I was super excited when the news of Zodiac had come out. I loved Zodiac back then and I still love it, having reread it a few years post publication and a few years older. 

In my past review I talked about how I found the world building in Zodiac to be a little rocky, and in a sense I still found it a bit tough at times. But I do have a new appreciation towards it. My favorite thing about rereading books is picking up on details that you missed out on the first time around. I think having read this book before and having a general idea about the different Zodiac planets and the universe made it easier to delve into this time around. Though it was rocky the world Romina had managed to create is beautiful and outstanding. 

I had reread my past review on Zodiac (Which I linked up top!) and I agree with some of the points I made in that review, and I disagree with a lot now. I think in three years I have matured and I have a bigger and different understanding of things. I liked Rho as a character, she was strong and brave and she believed in something so fiercely that she faced ridicule and humiliation from the other Guardian. I admired all the strong points of her character. But at the same time I found her to be very impulsive and selfish. I believe that if she had thought out more of her plans rather then acting rash, some of the horrible things that had happened through out the book might not have happened. I do realize that some of these things did need to happen to drive forward the plot of Zodiac

I remember me and Jessica had endless debates about this one. I loved Mathias, the first time around. That was my ultimate ship of the book and I thought nothing was going to come between that until Hysan came into the picture. But reading Zodiac for the second time I ship Rho and Hysan more. I think that for Hysan to trust Rho despite her lack of evidence and to basically follow her across the universe for no personal gain (There is some gain, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't had a chance to pick this book up yet!) versus Mathias who supported Rho, but didn't believe her tales about Ophiuchus and the danger that the Zodiac was truly in, made it stand out more on who she should pick. I don't think the love triangle was overdone, I think that the was so much to the story that the main focus wasn't on who Rho was going to "pick" in the end.

***Spoilers, please skip if you haven't read Zodiac and plan to do so!***

Knowing the story the end wasn't a shock for me. I did pull at my heart strings a little bit. As much as I don't think Mathias and Rho are good for each other, I do like him and was heart broken to see him killed off so early in the series,(Though I do have hope he isn't truly dead!) The end left me with a lot of questions again though: Who is Ophiuchus working for? Who is the next target? What happened to the people of Cancer now that they no longer have a planet? I am sure these questions will be answered in Wandering Star, which I happen to be starting after I write this review. 

All in all I really enjoyed Zodiac, again! I have a different appreciation and understanding for it now then I did in 2014 before it was published. I hope to see more of Rho saving the Zodiac and her romance (*fingers crossed*) with Hysan and maybe get some closure about Mathias. 

Thank you Jessica and Emily for letting me come back and write this guest review! I had so much fun doing it and miss The Book Bratz so much! 






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