Dark Fae is the first book in the Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac series, which is a prequel to Peckham and Valenti’s flagship series, Zodiac Academy. The events of Dark Fae take place in the world of Solaria five years before the start of Zodiac Academy. This narrative structure is a popular world-building strategy in genre fiction, seen in major franchises like George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire and its prequel, Fire & Blood (adapted for television as House of the Dragon). Prequels allow authors to flesh out the history, lore, and character backstories of a fictional world, rewarding dedicated readers with a deeper understanding of the universe while also providing an accessible entry point for new ones. 

Solaria itself is a magical kingdom populated by Fae, magical beings who are the dominant species. The different Orders of Fae in Solaria include familiar creatures, such as dragons, vampires, werewolves, sirens, pegasuses (winged horses), harpies, minotaurs, griffins, cyclopses, and manticores. Fae also possess magical power over the elements of fire, water, earth, and air. Their strength and social standing are heavily determined by which Order they belong to and how many elements they wield. Overlaying this biological hierarchy is an astrological system in which each Fae is aligned with a zodiac sign that influences their temperament, relationship compatibility, and destiny. Political power in Solaria is contested between rival factions, royal bloodlines, and organized gangs like the Oscura Clan and the Lunar Brotherhood. Institutions such as the Celestial Council and academies like Zodiac Academy and Aurora Academy serve as arenas where these tensions play out.

The Solaria universe has expanded well beyond the original Zodiac Academy octet to include multiple interconnected series. Alongside Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac, readers can follow Zodiac Academy: The Awakening as Told by the Boys, the Darkmore Penitentiary series, and various novellas and short story collections that fill in the histories of secondary characters. Each series can be read as a standalone entry point, but together they form a densely cross-referenced continuity in which minor characters in one series become protagonists in another.

The romantic conventions across the Solaria books are consistent with popular romantasy tropes. Reverse harem, or “Why Choose,” pairings in which a heroine forms committed relationships with multiple male partners, are the norm rather than the exception, and Zodiac Academy itself pairs its two heroines with four love interests apiece. The “bully romance” trope is equally foundational: Love interests typically begin as antagonists, tormentors, or outright enemies before undergoing a slow redemption arc. Enemies-to-lovers, fated mates, forced proximity, marriage of convenience, and morally grey anti-heroes recur throughout. The dynamics of the four Kings circling Elise with hostility that gradually turns into desire is characteristic of the wider Solaria brand, which has helped establish Peckham and Valenti as defining voices in contemporary fantasy bully romance.

For readers familiar with Zodiac Academy, this series provides the origin stories for many established conflicts and power structures. The intense rivalry between the Oscura Clan and the Lunar Brotherhood, the political influence of the Celestial Council, and the magical systems based on astrological signs are all foundational elements explored in Dark Fae. Characters who play minor or historical roles in the main series are central protagonists here, allowing for a more comprehensive exploration of the magical society of Solaria. For new readers, Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac is a standalone introduction to the world and its complex rules of magic, gang politics, and social hierarchy before they continue into the main timeline.