tl;dr
A super packed novel filled with an intriguing ensemble cast, tons of world mythology, and so many plot twists.

Thoughts
A lot of heist stories are secretly about grief. This one is, instead, overtly about grief, along with identity and living in the diaspora. It's an absolute panoply of the supernatural: Chinese mythology sits at the center, but we've also got vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, the fae, and... more??? It all clicks in better than one would expect, as the varied supernatural elements mirror the world our leads live in. It's a mix of culture and history, and the characters all struggle to find their place in it. It's probably the most relatable part of the story. The less relatable part for me is all the messy romance drama. I'm aware this is a me problem. I've never done well with high drama romances, but if that's your thing, I think you'll be delighted. We've got hot exes, a love triangle, and secrets galore, all set on a dark academia background. Add in extra plot twists, betrayal, and prophecies for a fast-paced story that covers a lot of ground in a short amount of time.

I was so excited for this book and desperately wanted to love it. An urban fantasy about descendants of the Chinese Zodiac (powerful warriors in their day) stealing important artefacts from the Fae? Sounds incredible!

And for parts, it really was. I adored the characters and learning more about the mysteries in their lives. However, the world building (and by extension, most of the plot) was ... Confusing. After finishing the book, I still don't understand why these immortal being who are hundreds of years old are at a school, attending lessons? And the people in charge of their whole society appear to be ... Also attending school? The twists towards the end of the book were brilliant, but didn't quite detract from my confusion.

Thank you to the publisher for providing a review copy

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children’s for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Zodiac Rising" by Katie Zhao is a fun urban fantasy YA book filled with well-loved troupes like magic boarding schools and heists. The books also contains elements of Chinese mythology and dark academia. All of these combined made for a very unique and engaging book, which I absolutely lobed. I especially liked the Chinese zodiac element (as a lover of Fruits Basket); that is what drew me in and kept me interested throughout the entire time I was reading.

The story unfolds in a secret Manhattan boarding school where the Descendants of the Chinese zodiac reside, their powers depleted after the theft of the zodiac fountainheads during the Second Opium War. Led by Julius, Chancellor of the High Council, the Descendants face looming threats from vengeful faeries and monstrous Wrathlings. The diverse cast of characters, including Evangeline Long, a vampire; Tristan She, a werewolf; Nicholas Hu, a shapeshifter; and Alice Jiang, a mortal with mind-reading abilities, forms an unlikely alliance to break the curse and reclaim the stolen artifacts.

What I enjoyed the most about the book (besides the Chinese zodiac element) was the diverse points of views with the different characters. There are multiple points of view that provide deep insights into each character's struggles and motivations, which enhances the book's complexity and suspense. Each character had a distinct voice, and I never found myself forgetting who was who or forgetting whose POV I was in in the middle of the chapter, which is something that usually happens when I’m reading a book with so many perspectives. I found myself quickly becoming attached to the different characters, and I sped through the book, hardly stopping until I was finished.

The plot itself is quite fast-paced; there was never a dull moment, yet Zhao was still able to get me invested in the characters and the story. If you are a lover of popular YA troupes (found family, love triangles, heists, etc), you will definitely enjoy this book as Zhao brought along a breath of fresh air with these troupes through the unique setting/plot of the book. I will say that there was almost an overwhelming amount of YA troupes that made the plot a bit predictable throughout. However, Zhao's clear writing style and well-established backdrop make for a compelling read. The illustrations also added an extra layer of visual appeal; I really loved the visuals in the book!

Overall, as the first installment in a series, "Zodiac Rising" sets the stage for an epic adventure; despite its predictability in parts, the story remains highly enjoyable and entertaining. The book ends with a cliffhanger, which has led me to be desperate for more.

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...

this was so amazing! I loved the concept from the start and incorporating the chinese zodiac was absolutely amazing! I loved the characters, the plot, and the writing style!

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.

I’ve enjoyed previous books from Katie Zhao and enjoyed the overall feel of those books that I read. It had everything that I wanted and enjoyed from the genre and the dark elements to the story. The characters worked in this story and enjoyed the overall feel of everything. It had everything that I was looking for from Katie Zhao.

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.