Customer Reviews

The Scorpio Society (Zodiac Chillers)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I coundn't put the book down after I started reading it. The idea of a hidden colt in a privite school is such a cool idea for a storie. Carol Ellis did a great job writing this. It was so good I finshed it in one day. I think everyone should read this book even if they don't like reading.

I love the way this book shows cults in school. It is a great example of how one feels the need to fit in and , at times, will go to any length to fit in. Carol Ellis did a fine job with this book. ROCK ON!!!!

This is the only book of the Zodiac Chillers I have ever read but I liked it. It was a long time ago that I read it (middle school, I think) but I remember enjoying it, the storyline was pretty cool and the writing was good for an young adult novel. it plays heavily on the zodiac sign of Scorpio and claims that everyone born under a certain sign has to fit all the traits of that sign. I like astrology, but I never relied on it very heavily or anything, and this book did get pretty heavy-handed at times. Still, overall a good read.

Spare time. We have so little of it. So, it has taken me a little time to get back to reading this series, and after reading a number of Ellis's novels over the past year I can tell the difference between her Scholastic and Random House novels. The Scholastic books are lighter and more reader friendly for the younger readers, while the Random House books are way darker and more violent.

"The Scorpio Society" was Ellis' second book in this series, and in some ways it is darker than "Rage Of Aquarius" the previous book in this series. It is also more based on the Zodiac than her previous novel. Elizabeth Jerome is on her way to the exclusive Harrington Hall girl's school, and her seatmate is Heather Johnston, a returning student. When she arrives there, she meets Ashley Cabot who informs her that she has roomed Elizabeth up with Marla Barnes, another returning student. As the novel progresses Elizabeth is informed that she has been nominated for inclusion in the Scorpio Society, a cultish group comprised entirely of Scorpios and which is run by the authoritarian Rachel Vanek, who also seems to have the run of the school, and who has a room all to herself. There is one problem however; Elizabeth is in competition for the spot in the influential society with another newbie, Sally Marino.

The majority of the novel follows Elizabeth in her quest to fit in and to complete the trials that Rachel has set for her and Sally to complete. The winner of each trial coming closer to winning that desired spot in the Scorpio Society. As the trials become darker, Elizabeth becomes more and more convinced that she really doesn't want to join the society, but it may just be too late for her to turn back.

Also in the mix is Elizabeth's growing attraction to Simon Rose, a boy that attends the nearby boy's school, and who may or may not be somebody that Elizabeth can trust. Ellis takes a good look at the type of elitist societies that can inhabit schools, and in her view it may not be pretty.

The whole novel has a retro seventies feel to it, when cult oriented horror novels and movies where the rage. And if anything, the book may be a bit too short, and I can see this book working better with another hundred pages of growing darkness. It is also the first book by Ellis that I've read with an ending that may not be what one expects from a young person's horror novel. "The Scorpio Society" also refreshingly lacks any real humor, unlike many of the young people's horror novels now being published. There's not much more to say about this short little horror novel without giving away some of its better plot-twists. If you can get a hold of this novel it may be worth a read, and may be worth a second read, as there seems to be a few things that are there that won't be caught the first time around. In the end, Elizabeth is a good strong character, and the novel moves a good clip that will surely entertain those that read it. Ellis hasn't written anything is some time, at least under her own name, and while these Zodiac books are part of a series, they also stand alone as they have no continuing characters or settings. Time for them to be reprinted.

The next book in this series was "In Leo's Lair (Zodiac Chillers)

I have reviewed these other books in this series for this site:

In Leo's Lair (Zodiac Chillers)
Never Love a Libra (Zodiac Chillers)
Pisces Drowning (Zodiac Chillers)
Rage of Aquarius (Zodiac Chillers)
Twisted Taurus (Zodiac Chillers)

This book was very interesting from the start. It captured my attention, and I couldn't put it down. Very surprising ending!