Zodiac Academy · 2019
The ReckoningSpice level, tropes & is it dark romance?
by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham
Spice 4/5 (Explicit) · Darkness 3/5 (Dark) · 6 trigger warnings flagged · Series: Zodiac Academy, book 3 of 2
The Reckoning is book 3 of Zodiac Academy by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham, first published in 2019. The pull here is dark fantasy. We score it spice 4 (explicit) and darkness 3 (dark). The heaviest flags readers report are bullying, violence, blood. Our scores lean on what readers report, not on a full reread, so treat them as a guide. This note is ours. It is not a publisher blurb.
First published: 2019. Book 3 of Zodiac Academy.
The Reckoning tropes
On this shelf, The Reckoning is filed under Dark fantasy romance. Each tag opens more books with that trope.
The Reckoning spice level
Is The Reckoning dark romance?
Yes. The Reckoning scores 3 of 5 on our darkness scale (Dark).
Spice and darkness are separate scores. More dark books. How we rate.
The Reckoning trigger warnings
Book-specific flags taken from reader-submitted content warnings on The StoryGraph (top flag reported by 140 readers), grouped by us. Also on that list: sexual content, toxic relationship, alcohol, fire/fire injury, cursing, injury/injury detail. See the reader-submitted list.
Graphic (6) — open before you read
Open this before you read. These are the flags most likely to be a hard stop.
Moderate (0)
Harm, control, or obsession that is common in this lane.
None flagged in this band.
Minor (0)
Present, and usually not the reason someone puts the book down.
None flagged in this band.
Full The Reckoning trigger warnings
Zodiac Academy reading order
The Reckoning is book 3 of 2 in Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham's Zodiac Academy series. Start here.
- Book 3 The Reckoning (this book) · 2019
- Book 6 Fated Throne · 2020
- Book 8.5 · novella Beyond the Veil · 2023
Order checked against the StoryGraph Zodiac Academy series page on 13 October 2026. The Zodiac Academy series in order.
Who it's for
Shelf note written for this site. We do not copy reviews or publisher blurbs. Outbound links are search pages, not quoted ratings. Kindle Unlimited and endings are only flagged when we were willing to mark them. How we rate.
Missing a book? Suggest it.
Books like The Reckoning
Matched on shared tropes, then the closest spice and darkness scores. Other books in the same series are listed above, not here.
- Dark Restraint
Dark Restraint
Katee Robert
Spice ●●●●○Dark ●●●○○
Shared: Dark fantasy romance
- River of Shadows
River of Shadows
Karina Halle
Spice ●●●●○Dark ●●●○○
Shared: Dark fantasy romance
- Night Witch
Night Witch
Jaymin Eve
Spice ●●●●○Dark ●●●○○
Shared: Dark fantasy romance
- Blood Traitor
Blood Traitor
K. Loraine
Spice ●●●●○Dark ●●●○○
Shared: Dark fantasy romance
- Phantasma
Phantasma
Kaylie Smith
Spice ●●●●○Dark ●●●○○
Shared: Dark fantasy romance
- The Emperor's Enemy
The Emperor's Enemy
Jasmine Mas
Spice ●●●●○Dark ●●●○○
Shared: Dark fantasy romance
- Watcher
Watcher
K. Loraine
Spice ●●●●○Dark ●●●○○
Shared: Dark fantasy romance
- Academy of the Forgotten
Academy of the Forgotten
Eva Chase
Spice ●●●●○Dark ●●●○○
Shared: Dark fantasy romance
Books like The Reckoning, with a reason for each
Questions readers actually ask
What is the spice level of The Reckoning?
The Reckoning spice level is 4 of 5 (Explicit). On-page sex, clearly written. Darkness is a separate score: 3 of 5 (Dark).
What are the The Reckoning trigger warnings?
Graphic: Bullying, Violence, Blood, Abuse, Psychological abuse, Death. Moderate: none flagged. Minor: none flagged. These are book-specific flags reported by readers on reader-submitted content warnings on The StoryGraph (top flag reported by 140 readers), grouped by us. The author's own note may list more. Read it before you start.
Is The Reckoning dark romance?
Yes. The Reckoning scores 3 of 5 on our darkness scale (Dark). Harm is part of the romance, not a footnote.
What tropes are in The Reckoning?
On this shelf The Reckoning is filed under Dark fantasy romance.
Who is The Reckoning for?
Pick this up if you want dark fantasy with explicit spice. Check the trigger warnings before you start. Start earlier in Zodiac Academy if you can.
What are some books like The Reckoning?
Matched on shared tropes and similar spice and darkness: Dark Restraint by Katee Robert; River of Shadows by Karina Halle; Night Witch by Jaymin Eve; Blood Traitor by K. Loraine; Phantasma by Kaylie Smith; The Emperor's Enemy by Jasmine Mas. More read-alikes, each with a reason, are on zademasked.com/like/the-reckoning.
Is The Reckoning a standalone?
No. The Reckoning is book 3 of 2 in the Zodiac Academy series by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham.
What order should I read the Zodiac Academy series in?
3. The Reckoning; 6. Fated Throne; 8.5. Beyond the Veil (novella).
How many books are in the Zodiac Academy series?
The Zodiac Academy series by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham has 2 main books, plus 1 novella or bonus story.
What is the The Reckoning age rating?
We'd say 18+. Spice sits at 4/5 (explicit) and darkness at 3/5 (dark). That's our recommendation, not an official rating, so read the trigger warnings as well.
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