HOLIDAY HAPPINESS: Book Review: Zodiac by Romina Russell

Title: Zodiac

Author: Romina Russell

Publisher: Razorbill

Release Date: December 9, 2015

Format Read: Hardback (FC)

Description from Goodreads: At the dawn of time, there were 13 Houses in the Zodiac Galaxy. Now only 12 remain...

Rhoma Grace is a 16-year-old student from House Cancer with an unusual way of reading the stars. While her classmates use measurements to make accurate astrological predictions, Rho can't solve for 'x'  to save her life-- so instead she looks up at the night sky and makes stories.

When a violent blast strikes the moons of Cancer, sending its ocean planet off-kilter and killing thousands of citizens-- including its beloved Guardian-- Rho is more surprised than anyone when she is named the House's new leader. But, a true Cancerian who loves her home fiercely and will protect her people no matter what, Rho accepts.

Then, when more Houses fall victim to freak weather catastrophes, Rho starts seeing a pattern in the stars. She suspects Ophiuchus-- the exiled 13th Guardian of Zodiac legend-- has returned to exact his revenge across the Galaxy. Now Rho-- along with Hysan Dax, a young envoy from House Libra, and Mathias, her guide and a member of her Royal Guard-- must travel through the Zodiac to warn the other guardians.

But who will believe anything this young novice says? Whom can Rho trust in a universe defined by differences? And how can she convince twelve worlds to unite as one Zodiac.

Embark on a dazzling journey with ZODIAC, the first novel in an epic sci-fi-meets-high-fantasy series set in a galaxy inspired by the astrological signs.

When I first started seeing ARCs pop up for ZODIAC, I wanted the book immediately, simply because of it's cover. Honestly, I wasn't sure if I would like it once I read it, because (You already know this if you've read very many of my reviews) I have a hard time with sci-fi. And since all of my reviews are 100% honest, I have to admit that even now, I'm still not sure how I feel about this read.

Other than my complicated relationship with the sci-fi genre, there were some things in the story that were a bit iffy for me, like the way Rho was thrown into her Guardianship, her odd relationship with Mathias, and the constant separation between Rho and her friends. Some things just didn't seem as well thought out as they could have been.

But then there were some things that I enjoyed, like the concept of the Zodiac Galaxy, the Guardians, and, I have to say, the Libran.

For an over-all rating, I give ZODIAC a 2. 5 stars. This being said, I do intend on reading book two, WANDERING STAR, which comes out December 8th.

Happily,

Stephanie