#printandpress

Hey guys, Juni here! This book review is for the novel ZODIAC, written by Romina Russell and published by Penguin Random House.

Alright, to start it off, I just want to say that I’m not the world’s harshest critiquer, and that I truly enjoyed this book to bits. I started and finished ZODIAC so quickly because I honestly could not bring myself to set it down often enough!

Overview: ZODIAC is a science fiction/high fantasy novel that takes place in none other than the stars themselves. The 12 zodiac (Pisces, Virgo, etc) are represented by their constellations, groups of stars, moons, and planets that house millions of people. The populations are also the encompassment of their Zodiac’s main trait (cancers = nurturers) and are all connected throughout their galaxy through trade and commerce, depending on what their respective planet specializes in.

The main character is a 16 year old, loveable girl named Rho Grace who is from the constellation Cancer. Like her Zodiac entails, she is a very caring, nurturing and earnest person, placing her family and friends at a high importance in her life. She also plays the drums! When disaster strikes the places and people she cares for the most, Rho is left on a very dangerous balance between doing what’s best for her people and staying true to her self.

The antagonist is introduced even on the cover: the 13 sign. In the old Zodiac legends and children’s stories, there was myth of a 13th zodiac: Ophiuchus. When he starts targeting the zodiac Houses one by one, Rho’s determined to save the galaxy in whatever way possible, even if being a young student undermines her verifiability in the face of the rest of the Zodiac’s guardians.

The theme of this book is Unity, apparent as Rho fights to keep her beloved Zodiac together in the face of a beast that threatens to tear them apart forever. (There’s not much I can say about this without giving much away, honestly!)

Thoughts: It truly was a gripping story! I will honestly say that there have been moments where I lifted my head from the book and simply groaned out loud because of the events and the situations and all the criss-crossing things that made my head swim. It’s not a complicated book, it’s just one where there are so many possibilities and SO many ways Russell could go with a story line...And each one is plausible. So you never know what it will be until you actually get to that revealing part!

Mathias and Hysan are two of Rho’s mates that go with her throughout the entire story. Both had me spellbound. They contrast each other in such a Sun/Moon way that each are brilliant in their own interesting and unique way. However, if you asked me, I came to terms with being very Team Hysan (favourite, hands down). The characters feel very real to me, especially as they represent their houses. Hysan is a Libran, known for their friendliness and need for justice. He displays those traits very well and despite his charming first appearance, you can see that he still is a person with a story and burdens of his own as you read on. 

I love the fantastic ways Russell goes about to describe the constellations, their planets, their people, and their specialties. Even if one might not be a believer in astrology, there is still a way you find yourself connecting to the Houses and what they represent. I’m a Pisces myself and though my House doesn’t make a huge appearance, I still feel a rush of giddiness whenever a new house is introduced in the story. My favourite scenes are honestly when a new constellation appears and their planets and industries described. I’ve always liked the stars and planets not necessarily in a scientific way, but in a metaphorical/literary way, and seeing them almost personified (at least, have people living on it) makes me extremely pleased. 

Critiques: There are moments or two in the book where it seems slightly rushed into the action. Closer in the beginning, Rho’s realization of Ochus’ (Ophiuchus) existence and her immediate plan of drastic action left me a bit winded and confused. I had thoughts such as ‘woah, that’s a bit intense, why are you going to do that?’ There was certainly a buildup, but the fall afterwards went way too quickly for me to get a grasp fast enough. 

Also, I wasn’t entirely sure if this is a critique or simply my way of thinking, but i’ll add it anyway. Rho’s obsession with Ochus is completely justified, i’ll give her that. But sometimes I find myself in the same boat as someone like Matthias, who doesn’t exactly believe her for a majority of the book. He believes that she believes, but he’s quite hesitant in accepting the fact that Ochus exists. I find myself thinking like this sometimes as I read, despite the fact that the book proves Ophiuchus’ existence. He appears! Several times! He’s a character! But the way Rho talks about him and emphasizes her obsession in keeping the Zodiac safe from him, I kind of understand the skepticism that’s being thrown in her face. 

Overall: I don’t give ratings because that’s a very subjective thing and everyone has a different opinion on books, but I will say that this book is something I would most definitely recommend to anyone at a moment’s notice. I half squealed in joy-half groaned in pain when i saw that there was a sequel (AND a third book) because not only will these amazing characters have more adventures, but more crap will be thrown in their way. However, I’m extremely excited to keep reading!