Zodiac Rising

Magic meets dark academia at a New York boarding school that’s hidden from mortal eyes. When a student is killed over priceless treasure, the Descendants of the Zodiac assemble a crew to avenge their classmate's murder and heist back what's rightfully theirs. Perfect for fans of A Deadly Education and Legendborn.

“A rollicking heist adventure.” —Amélie Wen Zhao, New York Times bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night

At a secret Manhattan boarding school, the Descendants of the Chinese zodiac have hidden away since the source of their magic—the twelve zodiac statues—was vandalized and lost to time. Thus, a curse befell the Descendants, and they’ve lived as creatures of darkness . . . until now.

When the lost statues suddenly resurface and a powerful classmate is found dead, all signs point to foul play from the fae. The Descendants finally have the chance to take back what's rightfully theirs and break the curse. But to pull off this deadly heist, they must assemble an elite crew:

THE VAMPIRE: After a century of burning hunger, Evangeline is out for blood.

THE SHAPE-SHIFTER: Nicholas yearns to restore justice to his people—and make peace with his past.

THE MORTAL: Alice seeks the truth of her mysterious heritage, and this mission may be the key.

THE WEREWOLF: Tristan will do anything to break free from the monstrous wolf inside.

Only these four have the power to save the Descendants, but the wrath of the fae waits at every turn. One wrong move and the fate of their kind will come crashing down. . . .

"Zhao weaves together supernatural politics, teen drama, and a fusion of Western and Chinese mythologies to deliver an intriguing series start with great potential." —Publishers Weekly

"Plucky humor and a packed storyline keep the pages turning in this urban fantasy.... will certainly leave readers begging for the next installment." —School Library Journal

"Zhao's character building is nothing short of impressive, laying out alternating POVs with distinct backstories....this story is all about the characters and whether they, as individuals, choose to assimilate or reclaim their roots." —Booklist

“Zodiac Rising is the epitome of what fiction should be, especially for the young reader: a portal to a new world with struggles that mirror our own and a spark of hope for what our society could be.” —BUST Magazine
"Zhao weaves together supernatural politics, teen drama, and a fusion of Western and Chinese mythologies to deliver an intriguing series start with great potential." —Publishers Weekly

"Plucky humor and a packed storyline keep the pages turning in this urban fantasy.... will certainly leave readers begging for the next installment." —School Library Journal

"Zhao's character building is nothing short of impressive, laying out alternating POVs with distinct backstories....this story is all about the characters and whether they, as individuals, choose to assimilate or reclaim their roots." —Booklist

“Zodiac Rising is the epitome of what fiction should be, especially for the young reader: a portal to a new world with struggles that mirror our own and a spark of hope for what our society could be.” —BUST Magazine

Katie Zhao is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where she earned a BA in English and political science in 2017 and a master of accounting degree in 2018. She is the author of the Dragon Warrior series, How We Fall Apart, Last Gamer Standing, and the Winnie Zeng series. She's a passionate advocate for diverse representation in literature and media.

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