This Series is Stressful!

 Zodiac Academy: Fated Throne by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

So much happened in this book. Geraldine is still my favorite character. Lance and Darius are still himbos and their scenes together are still the best scenes in the book. In no particular order. Lionel declares himself king and says he can control the nymphs. Darcy, with the help of the Heirs and Gabriel, has been able to get to Tory, and give her an antidote to the order suppressant that Lionel is giving her so she can be herself again. She and Darius are able to steal some time together, along in defiance of the stars. Lionel gets Lance out of prison and puts him on house arrest. This is after Lance saves the life of some guy in prison who turned out the be the last living member of the Zodiac Guild. He tells Lance how to read his father's diary and then dies. Lance swears to Lionel that he will figure out how to get the Imperial Star, but Lionel doesn't make him swear to tell him where it is, so Lance is able to tell Darcy. They, and the Heirs, figure out where it is and Lance and Darcy go to his fathers crypt to get it and he is tested and passes and they get the star and now Lance is the head of the Zodiac Guild and he has to recruit new members. Darcy turns it into a necklace and it's safe, for now. Lionel makes a new law that says you can only associate with people of your order, so that's not good, but they aren't following it. Pretty much all of the Heirs, except Darius, seem to be on Team Vega. Darius is still convinced that the Heirs are going to rule together. Lionel makes another new law and Darius has to get married immediately. But, the wedding isn't legitimate because Gabriel was disguised as Mildred and took her place. Then Gabriel and Darius go to some magic cave because the twins are in danger and that's the only way to save them. Lance and Darcy were captured at his home and they have to fight a bunch of nymphs in the pit; only Lance was given his powers. While in the cave Darius makes a deal with the stars; one year with Tory and then he dies. All of the bonds tying them to others are now dissolved; they are no longer star-crossed and they no longer have their guardian bonds. Tory is free from protecting Lionel. Lance is free from protecting Darius. The A.S.S. society showed up to help Lance and Darcy, and while they put up a good fight they were outnumbered. Darcy called for the retreat and everyone left. That's where the book ends. Lance doesn't know why his guardian bond with Darius is gone. Tory doesn't know why her guardian bond with Lionel is gone, but she doesn't care. This was stressful. I am still invested and eager for the rest of the series.