Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti’s Ruthless Fae is the second of 10 novels in the popular fantasy romance series Zodiac Academy. It follows directly after the first book, The Awakening, which introduces the central conflict in the series. In the series opener, twin sisters Tory and Darcy Vega discover they are Fae princesses who were hidden in the mortal world for their own protection. The twins are the daughters of King Hail Vega, also called the “Savage King,” and Queen Merissa Vega.

On their 18th birthday, they are transported to the magical realm of Solaria and enrolled in the Zodiac Academy, an elite institution for supernatural beings. Professor Lance Orion tracks the twins down and offers them a choice: return to the “mirror world” of Solaria, where they were born, or remain destitute on Earth. He makes it clear that they cannot access the inheritance from their parents unless they graduate from Zodiac Academy. This condition later shapes the twins attempted escape in Ruthless Fae since they have no money of their own and must resort to stealing from Darius.

Their arrival immediately disrupts the established social order, as their royal bloodline gives them a claim to the throne of Solaria. This positions them in direct opposition to the four Celestial Heirs: Darius Acrux, Caleb Altair, Seth Capella, and Max Rigel. The Heirs, all children of powerful Fae houses who have been raised to rule, view the Vega twins not as long-lost royalty but as a dangerous threat to their inherited power and the stability of the kingdom.

Life at the academy quickly becomes hostile. Most students support the Heirs and participate in bullying and intimidation. At the same time, a smaller faction of Royalists supports the twins because of their lineage. Neither group sees Tory and Darcy as individuals, which leaves the twins isolated. The relationship between the twins and the Heirs becomes increasingly complicated, as both sides struggle with rivalry, resentment and mutual attraction. The novel ends with Seth cutting off Darcy’s hair and the Heirs nearly drowning Tory, until Professor Orion intervenes. Orion’s intervention leads to the Heirs’ detention, a plot device in Ruthless Fae.

The Awakening also establishes the magical structure that shapes the events of Ruthless Fae. Fae belong to one of three Orders: Divisus (spliced orders that retain human characteristics in magical forms), Taenia (parasitic orders that gain power from others), and Mutatio (mutating orders that fully shift into a magical creature without human characteristics). Caleb and Orion are both vampires, who siphon blood and magic from other Fae to fuel their own. Caleb claims Tory as his Source and frequently draws blood from her. Orion claims Darcy. Max is a Siren, who siphons his power from others’ emotions. Seth is a werewolf and Darius is a dragon.

The Orders operate within an unofficial hierarchy. Dragons are widely considered the most powerful, while Pegasi are viewed as weak. The Vega twins remain “Orderless” throughout both books, which subjects them to additional prejudice and uncertainty. Their lack of an Order reinforces their outsider status and raises questions about their abilities and power.

Ruthless Fae begins immediately after the events from the first book. It intensifies the power struggle between the twins and the Heirs and expands on the magical lore and political intrigue of Solaria. The book is not intended as a standalone story and relies heavily on the foundational plot points and character introductions established in The Awakening.