I don’t talk about it much, but I love to read. My favorite genres are fantasy and sci-fi, along with mystery and occasionally historical fiction. Romina Russell’s Zodiac series has been a favorite of mine for years. I have re-read it again and again, and find beauty in the story every time. This review will contain no spoilers for the first book nor the rest of the series. 

The best thing I’ve found about having a poor memory is that I can be fascinated by the same story over and over again. Zodiac is set in space, where people on Earth have colonized a galaxy in the distant past. There are 12 different civilizations named after the different zodiac signs from Aries to Pisces, with a mystery surrounding an ancient 13th house. Each civilization has its own government, core value, and technology. The citizens of each House-the Zodiac civilizations- are also physically different. For example, Cancerians have a range of blue eyes and curly hair, while Librans all have blonde hair. 

Russell’s world-building abilities demonstrated in this series fascinate me. She details every aspect of a fictional society without forcing information upon the reader. There are no inconsistencies or flaws in her design, making her fictional galaxy feel almost real. The advanced technology and the history connecting Earth to the story makes me wonder if humans could ever possibly achieve a similar fate..

Zodiac, along with the rest of the series, is not a difficult read. With only 439 pages, Zodiac can be a quick read for an avid reader or a great book to pick up in your free time. The first book was published in December of 2014, with the most recent book in the series being published just four years ago in 2018.

I have found that every time I read this story, I take away a new piece of information I had previously missed. The series is intended for young adult readers, and I am amazed at how the story seems to grow as I do. Details I had previously misunderstood or glanced over now give new light to parts of the story, and I believe this will continue for as long as I choose to read it. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys space, drama, and mystery.