Zodiac is one of those books I've had on my shelf for quite a while. I knew that I wanted to read it but I just kept getting side tracked. Hell, I even got to meet Romina Russell and talk to her about the series before I even read the book. Finally (!) I was able to read it. I've got to say... Holy Mackerel! I devoured it. I read all 480 pages in about two days. My brain is still processing everything but I wanted to review it while everything is still super fresh in my mind. Brace yourselves because this is going to get long... 
 I think the thing I was most taken with was the world building. There are so many different planets and cultures and somehow Romina Russell manages to keep it all in order. There was a lot of pseudoscience in Zodiac which is to be expected in a sci-fi story. The use of pseudoscience allowed for a lot of creativity because Romina could create her own laws of science and theory to play with. In addition, some of the real science did seem fairly accurate. Where Romina succeeded in blending real science and fake science was having everything come together in a way that made logical sense in an illogical universe. 
 I have to admit, at times the narrative got a little repetitive. Here's the situation: Rho warns people and they don't believe her. It was just kind of the same situation happening over and over again. Like what's a girl got to do!? It got really frustrating that everyone was kind of a dick, you know? But on the other hand, a lot happens in Zodiac. I think it has about 2 books worth of content. There's political intrigue, spies, secrets, destruction, psychic attacks, WAR, mythology, romance, and a monstrous big bad guy. It's a lot of story! So yes, the concept of not being believed / respected was used a lot but there was enough other stuff going on to keep the story going. Additionally, there were many dramatic events in the story that could have easily tipped over into melodrama. Praise Helios that it never veered onto that path. I felt like the character's reactions, especially Rho's, were understated and subtle in the best possible way. 
 In the beginning, I felt the pacing was perhaps moving too fast. We barely meet Rho for one chapter before we are thrust into peril with her. It felt like I missed a chapter. I would have liked to get to know her a little bit more before we were in crisis mode. I get the sense that I've only met war time Rho so I'm not really getting the full picture of who she is. But, then again, even Rho says that the girl she used to be is gone and now she needs to figure out who she is now. So maybe that's the point of not getting to know the girl before the devastation. We are learning who Rho is at the same time she is so we can grow together. While that is an intriguing literary concept, it also gives me a sense of disconnect from her. I just know the new Rho and have only an idea of the old one so it's difficult to compare the two. The best way to describe it is that I sympathize with Rho but I don't empathize with her yet. However, I really enjoyed that Rho was courageous, smart, and yet still vulnerable. She is portrayed as a strong character on her own and she isn't defined by outside forces such as a relationship with a boy. 
 Speaking of boys... there's two of them because there always is. Not hating. A love triangle situation is ubiquitous in all literature, not just in YA. I have to admit that for most of the story I was suspicious of Hysan. Like, perhaps he was just too good to be true? For much of the book I was resisting him. I didn't want to be deceived by a character I really liked so I was holding back. Ultimately, I just took the plunge and totally loved him, mysteriousness and all. (view spoiler)[ My heart broke for him when Rho said she couldn't be with him because she was torn about Mathias. I understand her reasoning and respect her decision. The jury is still out on whether or not I care for Hysan's martyrdom. I don't want him willing to accept scraps of attention... you know? (hide spoiler)] Mathias was getting on all my feminist nerves a few times. Like stop with the mansplaining already! He was a much harder sell to me than Hysan. I mean I get it; he has a much more reserved personality that Hysan. Personally, I'm always drawn to the more gregarious characters and find myself getting really bored with the introverts. But there is something true-blue about him. His devotion game is on point. So I suppose I liked him... even if he was boring. (view spoiler)[ But then Mathias gets killed off!!!!! WHAT!!! Technically we never saw the body so maybe he's not really dead. But still... all the hurts! (hide spoiler)] 
 Overall, I enjoyed Zodiac. As I was reading, I was picking up on a lot of themes that seem to be at the forefront of our own real life political environment. That helped the story, however far-fetched it is, be much more relatable. There's a lot of potential here. I can see this series coming together and I'm intrigued enough to continue on. So... I'm in. I've drank the kool-aid. Let's see where this ride takes us.