Thank you, Toppling Stacks Tours & Sam Prentice-Jones for sending me a copy for tour! 🥰🫶
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The Lost Heirs is the first in a new magical graphic novel series, Arcana, by Sam Prentice-Jones. I love longer form graphic novels, and this one is definitely that, ranking in at 371 pages! The length gives enough time for the story to be presented, everyone to be introduced, and the mystery to start to unfold. I love how it doesn't feel rushed at any point or feels like it drags at any point.
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The Lost Heirs follows as lone witch Eli discovers the Arcana (or more so the Arcana discovers them) and makes a few friends (and a more than friend) in it. The Arcana is a magical society of witches formed to investigate and contain supernatural occurrences. Eli being brought into the mix causes questions to arise and a conspiracy to uncover. Mentions of a curse, shadow beings, summonings, and more happen as the group tries to find the truth the Majors have been hiding.
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First, I want to talk about how beautiful this book is visually. I absolutely loved the art style, and I love how all the characters are depicted so diversely. This book is mainly colored monochromatically, with some pages being a pale yellow, others being a rust color, and many being this beautiful blue color matching that of the cover. I love how it shifts as the story does to emphasize a tone change. There is an emphasis on fire or fire-like elements, and they really pop being depicted in red. I really love the inclusion of fat bodies in this story through the MC Eli and MC Koko. I love how Eli’s second interaction with someone in the story is him getting flirted with! As a fat person myself, I just love it! ☺️
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Towards the beginning of the book, we get a chapter of each character as they start the same day. I think this really helps the reader get to know each of the five MCs on more of a personal level. We get to see their personal struggles even outside of the Arcana and main mystery plot. We also have a side romance between Eli and James, and a hint at something maybe in the future between Daphne and Sonny. Separately, I really love the main 5 characters, but they definitely shine as a group. We have Eli, he's sweet but determined to know more about his family's past. James - a very social person, outgoing, and cares a lot about his friends. Daphne - honestly, I think she's just good a everything and a good one to balance the group. Koko - very sociable, fashionable, and very good with tarot. Sonny - the shyer one of the group and the book nerd. Overall, the group is very lovable, and I’m glad they all have each other to lean on during this Arcana curse conspiracy.
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This story really draws you in and is just so intriguing! I can’t wait for the next book as this one leaves us on a cliffhanger. 😊
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🌈Rep: Gay MC who uses he/they, Gay MC who dresses in drag, Transfemme MC, Pansexual MC who uses she/they

Arcana was a fantastic start to this new YA fantasy series. The graphic novel is filled with stunning illustrations and beautiful colors. The characters are diverse with lgbtq+ and body positive representation. The story follows five young witches as they uncover a possible scandal in their coven. I love the use of tarot cards throughout the book to give us clues on what's happening in each chapter. This one has me turning page after page until before I knew it, I had finished the entire book. Now, to wait for the next installment to release!

This was a very interesting graphic novel. I liked the overall plot but I wish there was more discussion on the magic of the world and how it works. They only showed a few spells but never really explained what Eli was doing for training in much detail. They only made it sound like it was difficult. The ending too with the plot twist of Koka's mom was really unexpected. I don't think it was really necessary in that moment because we already had the ending with Eli but, oh well. I'm looking forward to learning more about this curse and what it means for Arcana and the witches in it.

If you’re into magical societies, found family, and stunning visuals, Arcana: The Lost Heirs by Sam Prentice-Jones should definitely be on your radar. This YA fantasy graphic novel is a debut that punches way above its weight—rich in atmosphere, full of heart, and refreshingly diverse.

The story follows five teens—James, Daphne, Koko, Sonny, and newcomer Eli—who uncover dark secrets behind the magical organization known as the Arcana. The group starts to piece together the mystery of their parents' deaths and how a dangerous curse may tie them all together. Eli, who didn’t even know magic existed until meeting James, quickly finds himself pulled into this new world and into a sweet, budding romance with James.

What really sets this book apart is the art. Prentice-Jones doesn’t just draw scenes; they create moods. The use of color is especially clever—cool blues dominate when we’re in the magical realm of Arcadia, while intense reds heat up the panels whenever the stakes are high or danger is near. The characters are drawn with real personality too—different body types, expressive faces, and styles that make them instantly recognizable.

I also appreciated how distinct each character felt. Koko is bold and hilarious, with a rich backstory that grounds her, while Daphne brings a level-headed intensity that balances the group. Sonny’s calm practicality and James’s quiet leadership round out the dynamics, making the friend group feel authentic and tight-knit. Eli is a great lens for the reader—new to magic, unsure of himself, but totally lovable.

The plot is fast-paced, though the beginning takes a little time to set up the world and history. Once it kicks into gear, though, it doesn’t slow down. There’s a great mix of mystery, action, and emotional depth, especially around the themes of inherited trauma and forging your own identity outside of your family’s legacy.

All in all, Arcana: The Lost Heirs is a gorgeous and emotionally rich read that blends queer romance, magic, and mystery in a way that feels fresh and heartfelt. It’s perfect for fans of The Witch Boy, The Raven Cycle, or Heartstopper with a magical twist. I’d easily give it 4.5 stars.

I love the pastels and the lightness of the lines. Its beautiful
Really enjoying the characters and the dynamics and tarot tie ins
All in all, really enjoyed and I'm excited for more

I loved this graphic novel! The art was amazing and the story itself was intriguing and kept me turning the page! Definitely recommend this book!

Arcana: The Lost Heirs was an awesome graphic novel! I loved the storyline and the illustrations were well-done. I'd read more from this author.

The artwork in this book is so unique and I really loved it! I loved the lgbtq representation in this book! Also loved the witchy aspects! This was a strong start to this book series and I cannot wait for the next volume!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read an advanced copy of this book

What a strong start to a story, I cannot wait for volume two! I love tarot inspired fantasy and the art for the arcana matching so beautifully with the color scheme really just enhanced everything. The different character arcs were easy to follow and I adored the relationships. Hoping for a tarot card drop from the author soon.

The art to this was really cute and I loved the muted tones used throughout. The chapters were split between different PoV (extra cute headers for the chapters btw) which helped get more immersed in each individual member of the coven. Overall an enjoyable start to a series.


Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC

I have not read a graphic novel in so long this was cool! The premise behind the story was interesting and the art was great!! This felt like a bit of an info dump but I enjoyed it for the most part!

Arcana: The Lost Heirs is a great start to a new graphic novel series! It's witchy, mysterious, and had a great found-family vibe going on. The art style and colour palette matched the story perfectly and I loved how different colours were used for varying characters but also emotions, moods, and events! It set the scenes apart quite well and helped to project a strong atmosphere for the story.

I loved the diversity and representation with the wholesome group vibes, and how well they all gelled. These are folk who will unquestionably have each other's backs and it was wonderful to see them welcome Eli into their group with wide open arms. I especially loved Koko's enthusiasm—she's a beautiful emotionally charged human and I could relate to that! 😂 Eli was a wonderful MC and I felt how happy he was to learn about the existence of other witches, and to finally find a place with a group of people where he felt he really belonged. The other members in the group had more subdued personalities in comparison, but alongside Eli's main character, I also liked James and how he complemented Eli's more grounded nature with a joy that almost matched Koko's. Daphne was definitely the sensible and reliable figurehead and I also connected with Sonny's introverted, bookworm, history buff personality. As mentioned, this is an introduction to the series and so we only get small glimpses into each character and their backstories, but I wanted to know more about each of them (and I can't wait to continue the series to do so)!

Aside from the wonderful characters, I was also intrigued by the mystery of the Farm Hill barn fire, the history of the original Arcana majors, and I was eager to see how the current majors would eventually reveal their sinister natures. I wished that we got to see a bit more magic—especially with Eli being trained by the current majors and seeing how their interactions went. Basically, I was ready to learn more about everything ASAP and I wasn't ready for the story to end just as the action really picks up, but Prentice-Jones definitely knows how to reel readers in with an interesting story! Oh, that cliffhanger… What a way to end this first volume of the series! 🫣

IT was alright. I flew by the graphic novel in a day which is what I like about these because they're quick to read. The story is not bad, it has potential to be good, but the only characters I really cared about or was interested to know is Sonny and Daphne because our ACTUAL main character, I am so sorry but I could care less about them and their romance with the other dude whose name I forgot. By the end, I was just annoyed that I knew most of what would happen next but that I would have to wait to see the development of this series if I remember to pick up future books

Secrets, curses, witches? Oh my!

What started off feeling like a cozy, witchy tale quickly took a turn into something deeper. Just when I thought it was all vibes and magic, I got hit with grief, impending loss, and a gut-punch of emotion. And then? Plot twists. Things went down. I was locked in, with no choice but to keep turning pages.

The art style is simple yet expressive, and I loved the alternating color schemes that matched the tone shifts. Some of the panels are completely wordless, letting the visuals speak for themselves and I found myself getting lost in them.

There’s powerful rep here too: nonbinary, queer, trans characters, and an honest depiction of panic attacks. And that cliffhanger? I need the next volume now!

Sam Prentice-Jones perfectly captures everyday queer life with warmth and hope that genuinely reminded me of Heartstopper--except in Arcana, that queer community is wrapped in an eerie fantasy bureaucracy. As the romance and found-family relationships unfold gently, so too does the suspenseful plot until a series of dramatic twists rocket the characters toward their cliff-hanger ending. A second book will follow to conclude the duology. A unique and exciting addition to any YA graphic novel collection.

I had a lot of fun reading this! I really liked the art style and interesting setting. I was disappointed the plot wasn't finished in one volume, so now I have to wait for the next one!

Magic, Queerness, and a conspiracy!

Fun to read, not a super crazy story in my opinion.

I was just along for the ride. I liked all the characters, but the designs were odd.

Enjoyed my time.

I enjoyed this debut a lot! The art style wasn't necessarily one I would've been drawn toward and it wasn't completely consistent, but I think it worked well for the tone of the graphic novel, especially during the dream sequences. I am super intrigued by the tarot backdrop to the entire plot, and have been enjoying how we're going through each chapter with a major arcana card. It's very fast-paced, sometimes I did think it did so at the expense of world-building and getting to care about all the characters, but it does get you into the heart of the plot quickly and is good at capturing your attention. I'm very curious about how this secret society of witches and their mysteries plays out, so I'll be definitely reading any upcoming volumes. It's great for anyone who likes supernatural intrigue, and most of the main characters are queer.

I am an avid graphic novel reader. The artwork is not my typical favorite but is so nice! I like the vibe of the novel even if I didn't vibe with it myself. I found the story a little boring but it could be I'm not the target demographic for this genre.
Thanks to netgalley, the pub and the author for the earc!

Arcana: The Lost Heirs reminds me of Heartstopper, but aged up and witchy, with an art style that feels reminiscent of ND Stevenson. It manages to feel so familiar, yet distinctly its own thing all at once. The story follows five witches in their early twenties as they come together and uncover a mystery that haunts their families’ pasts. The characters are distinct and diverse and while the plot pulls from a lot of the sources you’d expect, Arcana still manages to feel fresh. As with all first volumes for graphic novel series, there’s a lot of set up here and it drags the pacing a little. This is also marketed as YA when the characters are a bit older than the typical YA protagonists and act their age. I can’t wait to see where this series goes.

Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for this eARC given in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.