The Awakening (Dramatized Adaptation)

Zodiac Academy, Book 1

By: Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

Narrated by: Lydia Kraniotis, Daniel Llacal, Gregory Linnington, Khaya Fraites, Nora Achrati, Jessica Schly, Karenna Foley, Julian Dailey, Ryan Dalusung, Gabriel Michael, Full cast

I’m a Gemini. Impulsive. Curious. Headstrong. A twin. Heir to a throne I know nothing about. And it turns out, I’m Fae.

But of course there’s a catch–all I have to do to claim my birth right is prove that I’m the most powerful supernatural in the whole of Solaria. And sure, technically that’s true as I’m the daughter of the Savage King. But the bit they didn’t put in the brochure was that every single Fae in this Kingdom would claim my throne if they could.

The school they’ve sent me to is both dangerous as sh*t and one helluva party. Vampires bite weaker students in the corridors, the Werewolf pack has orgies in the Wailing Wood at every full moon and don’t even get me started on the dark and twisted ways the Sirens use their powers on people’s emotions, or how my sinfully tempting Cardinal Magic teacher hosts detentions that leave people needing therapy.

Classes are totally interesting if you manage to live through them. And that Gemini star sign I mentioned? It now determines my elemental magic and affects my destiny, so learning astrology is essential if I’m going to beat down my classmates–which is actively encouraged by the way.

My biggest problem is the drool worthy Dragon shifter who has his eyes on my throne. He and his three psycho friends are determined to make my time here hell.

All I’ve got to do is survive. But fate might have other ideas.

Dammit, why couldn’t I have gotten a letter to Hogwarts?

This is a dark, bully romance–don’t go expecting a sweet school for magic with friends around every corner. Fae fight for everything they own and Zodiac Academy is a cutthroat school for students aged 18+ where only the strongest prevail. There’s no Dumbledore here to save anyone’s ass and Lionel Acrux will give Voldemort a run for his money in the evil dictator category. So hold onto your stardust (broomsticks not required) and get ready for a bumpy ride.

Adapted from the novel and produced with a full cast of actors, immersive sound effects and cinematic music!

Performed by Khaya Fraites, Jessica Schly, Gregory Linnington, Julian Dailey, Jon Vertullo, Ryan Dalusung, Gabriel Michael, Karenna Foley, Daniel Llaca, Lydia Kraniotis, Nora Achrati, Kelly Baskin, Stephanie Németh-Parker, Crystal Lee, Dawn Ursula, Lise Bruneau, Kaylee Eluvian, Marissa Clay, Bradley Foster Smith, Michael John Casey, Ken Jackson, Tyler Hyrchuck, Donald Guzzi, Yasmin Tuazon, Jerri J. Marshall, Laura C. Harris, Karen Novack, Eric Messner, Scott McCormick, Drew Kopas, and James Konicek.

* This audio production was updated on 10-14-2024 with new voice actors for Darius and Caleb. Reviews posted before that date are about the older version.

©2019 Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti (P)2024 Graphic Audio LLC

horrible voice casting

I love this story, but this was probably the worst voice casting of any graphic audio book I have listened to. Orion is supposed to be a hottie badass 20 something. Instead we get a mid 40/50s sounding worse than a mean professor snape. Geraldine should not sound manly ( that would have been a Mildred voice instead).Darius's voice...ugh. The only voice I loved was Diego ( a side character had the best casting).I had to stop partway through due to the casting. This could have been great, but this version was an epic fail, sorry... I actually hope they actually read the series and redo this. This story could have been great if the folks actually read the series.

Love the story, just not the voice actors

I’m obsessed with this series and was excited for the GA. Some of the voice actors seriously missed the mark though… specifically Darius, Geraldine, and Orion. I’m not sure I’ll listen to the other books GA if it’s the same cast. Bridget and Jake were better overall

Adult Monster High meets Harry Potter 🪄

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

This gave very much adult Monster High meets Harry Potter, but w/ an added bully romance (Think of 4 Draco Malfoy’s ruling the school). I was living for it, esp how the dramatized version really brought it to life. I personally would’ve casted different male narrators, but they still made it a fun experience. Literally hooked on this series now!! This had minimal world building being as it’s mainly focused around the Academy, but the plot was plotting & the characters are all 🥵
All aboard the ZA 🚂

Loved

I haven't had time to read the physical book, and I've enjoyed dramatized audios for other books so I gave this one a shot. I'm glad I did, I look forward to the other graphic audios to be published now

Love the magic

I fell in love with this series and and now listening to it all over with my husband. It’s been amazing to do after work. However, the voices are HORRIBLE. Besides Darcy and Tory.

When I first heard Geraldine’s voice, my jaw DROPPED. I was SHOCKED and upset, this is a terrible, terrible cast.

what happens when you don't know the series you're portraying

I hate to beat a dead horse but I feel it's necessary. I love these books and have listened to them many times and bought physical copies because this is my favorite series but who edited this and said it was acceptable. The voices' of Darius, Orion, Washer and Geraldine are the worst offenders they clearly never read the books or know anything about the characters when they were cast and recorded, many of the times didn't match the situation, perfect example is the last chapter with Orion where he is supposed to be yelling and furious he's very nonchalant and doesn't change his tone like WTF. Diego is way too charming and confident for his character, professor prestos sounds much older and formal than she is described in later books. all in all of serious changes don't happen in the next book I'm not wasting my money again on this dumpster fire

Less than ideal narrators

The story is good..but I did not care for the cast of narrators. The heirs, Geraldine and Orion narrators just didn’t fit for me.

Justice for Geraldine

The voice actor who played Geraldine clearly is not familiar with the books at all. HOW is that voice supposed to be the voice of someone sexually appealing later in books????? She sounds like someone with a severe mental handicap, not the cute, funny, and damn clever ride or die girl she is.

Ugh. The male voices

Why does Orion sound like Raymond holts husband on Brooklyn 99? You know.. the actor who wears suits with professor pads. He sounds like he’s 62 years old and not at ALL sexy. Like. At all.
Don’t even get me started on Darius. Wtf IS that?! His voice is like that of a gravely elderly man. Like. Come on. These are the two main guys. And you mess it up.

Max’s voice is obviously my fave (Xaden is all I can hear) but why couldn’t he be the voice of Darius?

I’m just annoyed. There’s not enough distinction between Tory and Darcy’s voices so sometimes I had to rewind to check who was speaking.

Geraldine’s voice I couldn’t take seriously.

Diego… well Diego sounds super hot.

To be frank, I really hope they reevaluate the cast’s voices like they did with Tairn in part two of fourth wing. I don’t know if I’ll listen to the rest if they stick with this cast.

I love this story so much and was looking forward to it coming to life. It fell very flat.

First time zodiac reader and Loved it!!

GA did a great job on this! It was my first time reading zodiac academy and I thought it was fun, addictive and very well performed. I will be anxiously waiting for the next one (but will probably read it while I wait).