Ruthless Fae by Caroline Peckham Summary

Ruthless Fae by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti is the second book in the Zodiac Academy series, a dark paranormal romance featuring twin sisters navigating a magical fae academy filled with political intrigue, forbidden romance, and deadly power struggles. The story intensifies the enemies-to-lovers tension between the protagonists and the four Heirs while exploring themes of destiny, elemental magic, and survival in a ruthless supernatural hierarchy where weakness can be fatal.

Ruthless Fae is ideal for readers who love dark fantasy romance with morally gray characters, bully romance dynamics, and slow-burn reverse harem storylines. Fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and enemies-to-lovers tropes will appreciate the series' blend of magical school setting, fae mythology, and emotionally intense relationships. This book suits mature young adult and new adult readers comfortable with dark themes, complex power dynamics, and cliffhanger endings that demand immediate continuation.

Ruthless Fae is worth reading for fans invested in the Zodiac Academy series, as it significantly deepens character development and raises the stakes established in The Awakening. Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti deliver intensified emotional conflict, expanded world-building, and pivotal plot revelations that propel the overarching narrative forward. However, this book requires reading the first installment, as it builds directly on established relationships, magical systems, and political conflicts without providing extensive recaps.

Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti are sister co-authors and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling writers who specialize in dark romance across fantasy, paranormal, and contemporary genres. Based in England, they began their co-writing partnership in 2015 and have sold over 7 million copies of their books, with the Zodiac Academy series becoming a BookTok phenomenon. Their signature style features badass female protagonists, alpha male love interests, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, and emotionally intense storylines that explore themes of power, destiny, and forbidden love.

Ruthless Fae escalates the conflict between Tory and Darcy Vega and the four Heirs—Darius, Caleb, Seth, and Max—as the twins' true heritage threatens the established fae hierarchy. The book explores deepening romantic tensions, deadly trials designed to break the sisters, and revelations about their elemental powers and zodiac-ordained destinies. Political machinations intensify as enemies recognize the twins as legitimate threats, while forbidden attractions complicate alliances and loyalties, setting up devastating consequences that carry through the nine-book series.

Ruthless Fae explores themes of power and corruption within rigid supernatural hierarchies, the struggle between destiny and free will, and the cost of survival in hostile environments. The book examines sisterhood as both strength and vulnerability, forbidden love across enemy lines, and the moral complexity of characters forced to choose between self-preservation and integrity. Additionally, the narrative delves into class warfare, the abuse of privilege, bullying as systematic oppression, and resilience in the face of relentless adversity.

Ruthless Fae features intense bully romance where the four Heirs use psychological warfare, public humiliation, and social isolation to force Tory and Darcy out of Zodiac Academy. The dynamic subverts traditional power structures as the sisters refuse submission, retaliating with equal fierceness and earning grudging respect. Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti balance dark themes with character agency, ensuring the female protagonists remain empowered despite victimization, while enemies-to-lovers tension builds through vulnerability, forced proximity, and moments where attraction conflicts with hatred.

Ruthless Fae expands the elemental magic system introduced in The Awakening, where fae possess powers tied to fire, water, earth, and air, with strength determined by birth order and zodiac alignment. The book explores how the twins develop their emerging abilities while navigating Zodiac Academy's dangerous curriculum designed to push students to their limits. Magic intertwines with astrology, creating a hierarchy where celestial destiny influences power levels, political standing, and romantic compatibility, with the rare "star-crossed" bonds carrying both immense power and devastating consequences.

Ruthless Fae intensifies everything established in The Awakening, with darker stakes, deeper emotional investment, and more complex character development as Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti expand the Zodiac Academy world. While the first book introduces the magical school setting and establishes enemy dynamics, the sequel accelerates romantic tension, increases physical and emotional danger, and delivers more shocking revelations about fae politics and the twins' true significance. The pacing quickens, the bully romance evolves into nuanced emotional warfare, and the stakes become life-or-death.

Ruthless Fae gained massive popularity on TikTok due to its addictive enemies-to-lovers dynamics, emotionally devastating plot twists, and the "spicy" slow-burn romance that BookTok readers crave. Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti's authentic engagement with their reader community, combined with the series' cliffhanger endings that demand immediate continuation, created viral momentum. The morally complex characters, dark academia aesthetic, fae mythology, and reverse harem elements aligned perfectly with BookTok trends, propelling Zodiac Academy to #1 on Kindle charts across multiple countries.

Ruthless Fae may not suit readers uncomfortable with dark romance elements, including intense bullying, morally gray characters, toxic relationship dynamics, and emotionally painful situations before healing occurs. Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti don't shy away from portraying realistic trauma, power imbalances, and characters making questionable choices under extreme pressure. However, the series ultimately celebrates female empowerment, earned redemption, and healthy relationship evolution. Readers preferring lighter paranormal romance or immediate healthy relationships should consider whether they can tolerate extended darkness for eventual payoff.

Readers who enjoy Ruthless Fae should explore Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses series for similar fae politics and enemies-to-lovers romance, or Jennifer L. Armentrout's From Blood and Ash for comparable intensity and forbidden love. Other comparable reads include Elise Kova's A Deal with the Elf King, Raven Kennedy's Plated Prisoner series for dark fantasy romance, and Jaymin Eve's Supernatural Prison series for magical academy settings with reverse harem elements. These books share Ruthless Fae's blend of complex world-building, morally complex characters, and slow-burn romantic tension.