The Reckoning
Caroline Peckham, 2019
A magic academy ruled by four Fae heirs, and the kind of wanting that turns vicious before it turns tender. A charged academy romance where longing pulls against freedom, the voice lyrical and witty, tenderness arriving after sharp edges.
Feels like longing and tenderness. About freedom.
Who it’s for
You may like it if you enjoy magic-school fantasy with four Fae heirs and romance that bristles before it softens. The rivalry and romantic tension can stay thorny for long stretches, so expect a tense, prickly middle rather than an easy glide.
Why read it
Read it for the pull between longing and freedom, and for a witty, lyrical voice that keeps the academy's power games charged.
A page from the book
What it sounds like when wanting someone becomes a physical grievance.
I’d find it easier to carve my eyes out than I would to stop them landing on you. Caroline Peckham.Peckham co-writes the Zodiac Academy series with Susanne Valenti; the two self-publish, releasing the books in rapid succession, and found a mass readership through Kindle Unlimited.
Books that feel like this
More by Caroline Peckham
Ruthless Fae
Caroline Peckham, 2019
A fae academy romance where rivalries sharpen into attraction and every star bond comes with a price.
Shadow Princess
Caroline Peckham, 2020
A fae academy where the four ruling heirs can do as they please — and the girls who refuse to kneel.
Cursed Fates
Caroline Peckham, 2020
A dark romance set against a world governed by ancient curses, where love and defiance are the only forces strong enough to shatter fate.
Where to get it
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Questions readers ask
- Is The Reckoning for me?
- You may like it if you enjoy magic-school fantasy with four Fae heirs and romance that bristles before it softens. The rivalry and romantic tension can stay thorny for long stretches, so expect a tense, prickly middle rather than an easy glide.
- What is The Reckoning like?
- A charged academy romance where longing pulls against freedom, the voice lyrical and witty, tenderness arriving after sharp edges. Feels like longing and tenderness. About freedom.
- What should I read after The Reckoning?
- If you liked The Reckoning, try The Knight and the Moth (Rachel Gillig), Brimstone (Callie Hart) and Mate (Ali Hazelwood).
A taste of the feed
The perils of teaching a gargoyle a human figure of speech.
I confess horses are not the intelligent beasts I imagined them to be. Though I don’t think that merits the abuse they suffer postmortem.” That one took me a moment. “No one actually beats dead horses, gargoyle. It’s an expression.” “Really? How morbid.
The Knight and the Moth · Rachel Gillig
What a man says when the only thing he owns is his life.
Every part. I love all of you.” He blew a dark curl out of his eyes. “I’d spend the fortunes of the universe to protect you. I’d drain the seas dry. Fell every tree. I would sacrifice the sun from the fucking sky and surrender the stars, too, if I could. But those things aren’t mine to give. All I have is my life. It isn’t much, but I’d spend it and consider the price small if it meant keeping you safe.
Brimstone · Callie Hart
A threat delivered so calmly it starts to sound like devotion.
Since you’re so sure that everyone here despises her, including me, let this be known: fuck with my mate, and I’m going to kill you so slowly, draw it out so long, tectonic plates will move and create whole new mountain ranges. And when the rest of your family comes to avenge you, I’ll do the same to them. And if your friends come, I’m not going to fucking stop. Not even if all that’s left of the pack is me and her. I will paint this entire territory green before I let anyone in the pack spill a single drop of red. Okay?
Mate · Ali Hazelwood
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