Already finished The Awakening and Ruthless Fae, and want to know what happens next to Tory and Darcy Vega? Zodiac Academy: The Reckoning is the third book in the Zodiac Academy series by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti. Want to know what happens in Book 3 of the Zodiac Academy series? Read on!
Fair warning: This is a FULL SPOILER RECAP of the third book. If you haven’t read it yet, turn back now unless you’re ready for all the major twists and reveals!
The Reckoning Book Recap – Book 3 in Zodiac Academy Series
After the Nymph Attack
Following the brutal Nymph attack on the school, Tory and Darcy Vega retreat to the safety of each other’s company, shaken but alive. Their moment of peace is short-lived when a gong signals the beginning of Hell Week — a notorious tradition where freshmen are relentlessly tested by Elemental Trials while being hunted and harassed by upperclassmen, including the ruthless Heirs.
While navigating this chaos, the twins are met with a new wave of media slander, with articles from Gus Vulpecula painting them as reckless and dangerous. Tory and Darcy are furious, especially since they were among the few who actually fought to protect the school. Tyler Corbin, a student they saved, thanks them personally and promises to tell the real story — his mother works for The Daily Solaria.
Power Struggles and Evolving Relationships
In class, Orion pushes the students hard. He drains the air from Kylie’s lungs to force her to fight back and repeatedly shouts in Tory’s ear, especially when he notices she’s hungover. Both girls begin to see the school — and themselves — differently as they learn the harsh realities of becoming true Fae.
At The Orb, Geraldine welcomes the twins into the ever-growing A.S.S., which now has over a hundred members after their bravery in the Nymph attack. Tory gets pulled into her ongoing “hunt game” with Caleb, while Darcy navigates the complexity of her secret, emotionally charged relationship with Professor Orion. Despite the forbidden nature of it, Orion kisses her on the cheek and behaves increasingly possessive — even attacking Diego in a jealous outburst when he mistakenly thinks Diego is touching Darcy.
Trial by Fire (and Air, Earth, and Water)
Tory struggles in Fire Elemental class, blaming her suit, but Darius comes to her defense and ends up tutoring her again. Their chemistry crackles — literally — as they power share and practice Elemental control, sparking jealousy from Caleb. Darius challenges Tory to a motorbike race, and when she succeeds she keeps his bike; if he wins, she has to do “whatever he wants.”
Meanwhile, Darcy faces her own trials with quiet determination. She excels in her Air Trial alongside Tory, helping Diego pass. They also meet Diego’s uncle, Alejandro. The girls pass the test as a team, proving their power and resilience.
Later, Orion assigns both girls to Dragon Order Enhancement training, suspecting they might emerge as Dragons. Darius leads the class, while Tory and Darius continue to bicker and flirt.
Hell Week Mayhem
Tory’s social life grows increasingly chaotic. She drinks past curfew with Diego and Sofia, gets drunk enough to accidentally ice over The Orb during a nightmare, and is ultimately taken to Darius’ room to recover. In a moment of vulnerability, she falls asleep on his chest after an emotional, flirtatious exchange. The next morning, she wakes confused but safe, only to argue with Darius once again about their complicated past.
Darcy continues attending Liaison sessions with Orion. She calls him out for being emotionally confusing and challenges his loyalties to the Heirs. Despite their charged moments, Darcy realizes Orion might not be able to choose her over his allegiance — a conflict that will come to a head later.
Games, Pranks, and Lusty Fae Drama
Tory plays another round of the hunt game with Caleb and finally wins. As her prize, he gives her oral sex and keeps her underwear — another twisted escalation in their messy bond. Later, when she tries to reclaim the panties, Caleb publicly demands she spend the night in his room, humiliating her.
Darcy finds herself tangled in her own romantic confusion. Her connection with Orion is deepening, but so are the risks. She keeps the secret from Tory but struggles with the isolation it brings.
Meanwhile, the Heirs become the targets of Tory’s prank when she hides a glamour-covered Pegasus horn and sex toys on their couch. When the items are revealed during lunch, the school erupts in laughter. The Heirs vow revenge.
Night Races and Shadowy Discoveries
Tory and Darius have their magical bike race under a stormy sky. After a thrilling (and near-fatal) ride, they crash but laugh about it together. They nearly spend the night together again, but Tory resists. Darius texts her later suggesting they call it a draw — a rare moment of levity between them.
Later, the twins accidentally discover a hidden cave where Darius and Orion are performing a dark ritual involving bones and blood magic. Tory is drawn to a dagger — one she had previously stolen — and cuts herself, entering a disturbing vision of Lionel Acrux and Diego’s uncle in a secret meeting. She passes out, and Darcy panics, demanding Orion heal her sister. Darius power shares with Tory to help stabilize her, and when he learns she had his dagger all along, he erupts in rage. Tory retaliates with a blast of air, but Darcy defends her, standing between her sister and the Dragon Heir.
The Reckoning & Elemental Trials
Hell Week culminates with a humiliating stunt by the Heirs: a fake Faesine pool and a flaming obstacle course. Tory and Darcy are the only ones to finish the circuit, and despite being cornered by the Heirs, they refuse to beg. They unite their power and blast their tormentors away, earning cheers from the rest of the school.
They go on to face their Fire Trial — which they ace — and discover they are impervious to flames. Darcy begins to feel more confident than ever, while Tory is torn between her feelings for both Caleb and Darius.
Their Earth Trial follows. Though they place last, they pass, leaving only The Reckoning.
During The Reckoning, a mental test under the stars, both girls relive the fire they survived as infants and see a cloaked figure vanishing in stardust. They each receive a perfect score and share a sense of clarity afterward — they now understand why they’ve endured so much.
Fairy Fairs and Breaking Points
Caleb invites Tory to the Fairy Fair but shows up late, and she nearly goes without him. When he finally arrives, she’s reluctant but joins him. On the way, he takes a dark detour, throws her Atlas aside, and forces her into another twisted hunt. She knocks him down and accuses him of being just like the other Heirs. Eventually, they make up and continue to the fair.
While there, Darius sees her talking to a siren guy at a kissing booth and freaks out, dragging her away. Tory yells at him and storms off. Caleb later sweet-talks her again, and they go to a haunted house.
Darcy invites Diego to the fair, determined to find out more about his uncle. Diego mistakes this for her attraction and kisses her. Darcy pushes him away, but jealous Orion crashes their Ferris wheel ride. Diego gets angry over this and insults Orion in front of Darcy. She slaps him in the face and they part ways.
The Lunar Eclipse & Phoenix Awakening
On the night of the Lunar Eclipse, Tory sexts Darius playfully and receives a summons to the Moon Party. Darius flirts with her at the door, but when Darcy interrupts, he leaves.
Later that night, both girls are pulled away by a sudden sense of urgency. They each arrive at a cliff, where Lionel Acrux captures them along with Darius and Orion. He reveals Xavier is also a hostage, and forces Darius and Orion to perform a ritual using royal blood to awaken the shadows.
Darcy and Tory are dragged into the Shadow Realm, where they hear a mysterious woman calling to them. Just when it seems they’ll be consumed, red flame bursts from their backs — their Orders have emerged: they are Phoenixes.
The Aftermath
The twins return from the Shadow Realm to find Lionel and his cult — including Darius, Orion, and Xavier (Darius’s brother) — now bonded with the Element of Shadows. Lionel attempts to Coerce the girls into forgetting the ritual, believing they emerged as Fire Harpies. But Phoenix fire burns through Coercion, so the spell doesn’t work. The girls pretend to forget everything and are escorted back to the Academy.
Darius apologizes to Tory, but she’s done giving him grace. She plans to make him feel every ounce of the pain he’s caused her. Darcy, too, feels more grounded than ever — no longer a pawn in anyone’s game.
The Reckoning is over.
But the war is only just beginning.
Interested what happened next? Check our book recap for Shadow Princess, Book 4 in the Zodiac Academy series.
Where the key characters are at the end of The Reckoning:
After being forced by Lionel Acrux to attend a dark ritual during the Lunar Eclipse, Tory emerges in her order as a Phoenix and is forced to keep this secret by Orion and Darius, who warn her agains Lionel.
After being forced by Lionel Acrux to attend a dark ritual during the Lunar Eclipse, Darcy emerges in her order as a Phoenix and is forced to keep this secret by Orion and Darius, who warn her agains Lionel.
After failing to stop his father from performing a drak riual, Darius is granted a gift of shadows – a fifth element. He urges to keep Tory and Darcy’s secret from Lionel.
After failing to stop Lionel from performing a drak riual, Orion is granted a gift of shadows – a fifth element. He urges to keep Tory and Darcy’s secret from Lionel and wants to help the girls.
Seth runs into Orion and Darcy during Lunar Eclipse and begins to suspect something. After failing to reuinte with his pack or Darcy during the Lunar Solstice, Seth continues to be alone.
Caleb is safely home during the Lunar Eclipse, after being forced to come back by his mother (for the safety of others).
Max hooks up with Geraldine during the Lunar Eclipse party.
Geraldine hooks up with Max during the Lunar Eclipse party.
Sofia is hooking up with Tyler Corbin during the Lunar Eclipse party.
After a fallout with the twins, Diego spends Lunar Eclipse in his room in Aer Tower.
Books in the Zodiac Academy Series:
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