Restless Stars (2024) is the ninth and final book in the Zodiac Academy series by British authors and sisters Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti. A work of dark fantasy and paranormal romance, the novel concludes the epic struggle of twin Fae princesses Tory and Darcy Vega to claim their family’s throne in Solaria. As the final battle against the tyrannical Lionel Acrux looms, the sisters must contend with a powerful cosmic impostor, the dark consequences of their own magic, and the impending threat of a catastrophic war. The narrative explores themes such as Defying Destiny Through Love and Sacrifice, The Redemptive Power of Found Family, and Morality in Times of War.

This guide refers to the 2024 King’s Hollow first edition.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide feature depictions of graphic violence, bullying, suicidal ideation, substance use, sexual content, cursing, physical abuse, emotional abuse, death by suicide, and death.

Plot Summary

The Zodiac Academy series focuses on the kingdom of Solaria, in which the Fae, who have magical powers, and the Nymphs, who do not, exist in uneasy tension. In the series universe, the magic system is derived from Western astrology and also incorporates the four elements of air, water, fire, and earth, which determine the characters’ powers. In addition, the Fae are members of Orders, many of which include shape-shifting capabilities. In the series, Tory and Darcy Vega, who were raised in the human world with no knowledge of their heritage, are brought to the Zodiac Academy to learn about their Fae powers. Their struggle becomes one to assume their birthright as the princesses of Solaria, and the previous book in the series, Sorrow and Starlight, ends with the twins celebrating their powers as crowds cheer, just before they are whisked away from the celebration and replaced with copies of themselves. Tory and Darcy find themselves imprisoned.

As this book begins, twin princesses Tory and Darcy Vega ascend, and the crowd cheers. Xavier Acrux is shocked to find his brother, Darius, in the crowd, resurrected. Darius confirms that Tory brought him back from beyond The Veil. The twins rally the rebels to secure the academy.

However, the real Tory and Darcy are now trapped in a magical cavern—the twins at the academy are an impostor, Clydinius, an Imperial Star who has taken their form in his quest to aid Lionel and develop his own Celestial Trinity. Tory reveals to Darcy that the cost of Darius’s resurrection is a bloodlust curse for them both. They use their combined magic to escape and begin their journey back to the Academy.

At the academy, the Heirs and Xavier reunite with Darius, who recounts his time in the afterlife. He delivers messages from their deceased relatives, including Orion’s father, Azriel, who revealed the location of two more Guild Stones. Darius and Orion leave to find them, navigating a dangerous cavern to the treasure hoard of Darius’s ancestor. Inside, they solve a series of trials within a magical music box and retrieve the Sagittarius Guild Stone.

Believing they are following the twins’ orders, Geraldine Grus’s soldiers attack the Court of Solaria in Celestia, Lionel Acrux’s seat of power. Max and Caleb confront Lionel’s allies, General McReedy and Linda Rigel. At the plea of his half-sister, Ellis, Max spares Linda’s life but uses his Siren powers to erase her magic. Xavier uses his earth magic to make the entire Court of Solaria building decay and collapse. Meanwhile, Clydinius, impersonating the twins, slaughters captive Fae at a Nebula Inquisition Centre, framing the real Tory and Darcy for the massacre.

The real twins arrive back at Zodiac Academy, and after proving their identities, they explain Clydinius’s deception. They learn of the victory at Celestia, and Darcy reveals she has weakened the Shadow Queen, Lavinia Umbra, by cutting off her connection to the Shadow Realm.

Darius and Orion return with the Sagittarius Guild Stone, and Darius reveals that the location of the next stone, Pisces, is in a high-security Fae Investigation Bureau (FIB) impound. The group stages a heist, with one team creating a diversion while Tory, Darcy, Darius, and Orion infiltrate the facility. They learn the stone was taken by a monstrous spider named Rathmaron; they battle it, and Tory and Orion are paralyzed by its venom before Darcy kills it. They escape, and their success convinces the FIB High Commander to switch her allegiance to the queens.

Geraldine deduces that the final Guild Stone, Aquarius, is in the cursed city of Herithé. The group travels there but is magically separated, each facing a different trial. Geraldine and Max defeat a monstrous bat and find the amethyst, breaking the city’s curse and reuniting everyone.

Back at the academy, they unite all 12 Guild Stones, but nothing happens. The stones transport Orion and Darcy to the Halls of Fate, where the star Arcturus explains that the stones were created to prevent stars from interfering in Fae destiny. He tells them to form the Zodiac Guild. He also reveals that Lavinia’s corruption of the Shadow Realm has trapped the souls of all deceased Nymphs, including their friend Diego. During this time, Caleb and Seth become Moon Mated, and Orion proposes to Darcy, who accepts.

The rebels launch coordinated attacks on all remaining Nebula Inquisition Centres, freeing thousands of prisoners who join their army. Lionel attacks the Academy of Hydros, and the final battle becomes imminent. The Nymphs, now free from Lavinia’s spiritual control, join the rebels at the last minute. The combined army teleports to Lionel’s mountain stronghold, and the battle begins.

Facing defeat, Tory and Darcy enact a desperate plan. Using the Guild Stones, they summon Arcturus to lure Clydinius into a magical snare. They trap him and use the Imperial Star’s power words to destroy his physical form.

Near death from the effort, Tory uses ether magic to summon the souls of their fallen allies, including their parents, Hail and Merissa Vega, to inhabit an army of clay soldiers. This army turns the tide of the battle. Darcy leads a charge against Lavinia. With the help of The Ferryman, she completely erases Lavinia from existence.

Meanwhile, Darius and Tharix, Lionel’s other son, who has defected, fight their way into the Jade Castle. Vard betrays Lionel, trapping him in the collapsing castle’s tunnels. The group corners Lionel, and Tory kills him. His soul is dragged into the afterlife for eternal torment by the spirits of those he wronged.

Six months later, Tory and Darcy are coronated as Queens of Solaria, and Orion establishes the new Zodiac Guild with their friends as its members. A year later, Darcy and Orion marry. Over the next decade, their families grow. The book ends many years later, with an older Tory and Darcy flying over a peaceful Solaria, feeling the presence of their parents watching over them.