The Solaria Universe
Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti's Fae world spans four series, a shelf of novellas, charity-anthology stories and group-only freebies. This section gathers all of it: the reading paths, every companion story and where to find it, how the series fit on the timeline, and maps.
Reading paths
- reading path
The Solaria Universe — Reading Order
The whole universe in one spoiler-safe path, every bonus story slotted in.
- alternate order
The Solaria Universe — Chronological Order
Story order: Ruthless Boys first, then Zodiac Academy and its novellas as they happen, then Darkmore.
- alternate order
The Solaria Universe — Publication Order
Release order, dated from first editions — the authors' journey. Best for a reread.
- tandem read
Sorrow and Starlight & Beyond the Veil — Tandem Read
ZA8 and ZA8.5 chapter by chapter — the two books happen at the same time. Recommended by many reviewers even on a first read.
Timeline
- ~5 years beforeRuthless Boys of the Zodiac — Aurora Academy and Darkmore's future inmates. Origins of an Academy Bully and Savage are prequels too.
- The main storyZodiac Academy 1–10 with its novellas: The Big A.S.S. Party, Seth on the Moon, Night, Beyond the Veil and Live and Let Lionel.
- ~5 years afterDarkmore Penitentiary — a prison story that picks up Ruthless Boys characters.
- A new eraSins of the Zodiac — a new cast in the same world.
Crossovers
- Ruthless Boys ↔ Zodiac AcademyGabriel, a Ruthless Boys lead, arrives at Zodiac Academy in Shadow Princess (ZA4) and names his wife on the spot — which spoils how Ruthless Boys' romance ends. Read all five Ruthless Boys books before ZA4.
- NightThe explicit bridge between the two series — the authors warn it spoils both, so it waits until after all of Ruthless Boys and Cursed Fates.
- Darkmore ↔ Ruthless BoysDarkmore's leads, Rosalie Oscura and Roary Night, first appear in Ruthless Boys.
- Sins of the ZodiacSet after Zodiac Academy in a changed Solaria with a new cast — reviewers report no character crossovers and nothing that spoils ZA. The series is still ongoing.
Every book & bonus piece
The series
- Zodiac Academy 1–9in every edition
The Vega twins at Zodiac Academy — the heart of the universe.
- Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac 1–5in every edition
Set five years before ZA at Aurora Academy.
- Darkmore Penitentiary 1–4in every edition
Set five years after ZA inside Solaria's prison.
- Sins of the Zodiacin every edition
Never Keep, Echo Fort, Cinder Vale — a new-era spin-off.
Novellas
- Origins of an Academy Bully (#0.5)sold separately
Darius and Orion before the twins arrive.
- The Big A.S.S. Party (#5.5)sold separately
Max and Geraldine during Cursed Fates.
- Beyond the Veil (#8.5)sold separately
The events of book 8 among the dead.
Companions
- The Awakening as Told by the Boys (#1.5)sold separately
Book 1 retold from the Heirs' and Orion's side, with 50k+ new words.
- Live and Let Lionel (#8.6)sold separately
A 100k-word bonus collection hosted by Lionel — includes several earlier freebies, new scenes and a new map.
Bonus chapters & stories
- Savagesold separately
How Hail and Merissa Vega met.
- The Shimmering Springssold separately
Caleb and Seth's did-they-didn't-they night.
- The Tale of Geraldine and the Moon Madnesssold separately
Geraldine at the Lunar Eclipse.
- Foxy Talesout of print
Darius and Orion alt-POV scenes from books 2–4.
- Seth on the Moon (#5.6)free
Seth's best day ever.
- Night (#5.4)free
The twins meet the Ruthless Boys, from Leon's side.
⚠ Major spoilers for both Zodiac Academy and Ruthless Boys.
- Print-reissue bonus chaptersspecial edition only
Since 2024 each ZA print reissue carries an exclusive bonus chapter and a new world map (book 1's is an Orion POV class). Ebooks don't include them.
- Luxe edition bonus chaptersspecial edition only
Each Luxe edition adds a never-before-seen bonus chapter plus commissioned art and maps.
Coming soon
- On the Cursed Day of Christmas (ZA10)not out yet
An illustrated advent-calendar book, one sealed chapter a day.