Do you ever wish for the cozy vibes and lose artistic style of Heartstopper, but with the addition of magic?
Let me introduce you to Arcana! This is the first installment and after reading I am enchanted with these characters. But what I’m most obsessed with is the illustration. I think I need to get a framed print!

Arcana is out June 24th! Don’t sleep on it!

Thank you Sam Prentice-Jones, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and NetGalley for my adviced review digital copy! My opinions are my own.

"Debut author/illustrator Sam Prentice-Jones explores fighting against your destiny and reconciling the actions of your ancestors in Arcana: The Lost Heirs, a tarot-inspired fantasy graphic novel for young adults.

James, Daphne, Koko, and Sonny have all grown up surrounded by magic in the Arcana, an organization of witches that protects the magical world, run by the mysterious and secretive Majors. Eli Jones, however, hadn't even known other witches existed...until he stumbled into James. As James introduces him to the world of the Arcana, Eli finds the family he never had and a blossoming romance with James.

The five new friends soon realize that sinister things are afoot, and everything may not be what it seems at the Arcana. When the group delves deeper into the mystery surrounding the deaths of their parents and the Majors' rise to power, they discover that they're at the center of a curse - one they've just unwittingly set into motion. As the friends search for answers, they'll have to confront the cursed legacy that links them in hopes of freeing their futures."

The tarot and how different people interpret it and weave it into stories fascinates me.

I loved the art style for this graphic novel. I felt like the characters were super lovable and the found family element was so sweet. It is a fun, mysterious read with a lot of queer love. Some parts got a little repetitive but the story and characters really drew me in and I can’t wait to see where this story goes!

This is my first read from Sam Prentice-Jones and I absolutely loved it. Wow, what amazing illustrations, the style is absolutely phenomenal. I never knew I was missing a queer found family story centered on magic and tarot cards, but thankfully I found the first issue in the Arcana series! Arcana in this series refers to the witch organization within the story, led by the Majors. I can easily see this graphic novel as an animated television series, the characters and story feel so magical (pun not intended).

We follow young witches Eli, James, Daphne, Koko, and Sonny; who are all so endearing, and I fell in love with every one of them. They felt like people you would want to be friends with in person and you really feel the bonds they have and grow with each other. There is a good amount of lore shared in this issue, which I appreciated, and as adorable as the illustrations are I did feel the danger that our new coven of friends unfortunately stumble upon. I am eager to read the next issue after that cliff-hanger. I cannot recommend this book enough, and I think readers will easily be able to see themselves or their friends represented in this series. Excited to pick up my own copy June 24th, 2025!

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing a copy of this graphic novel to review.

Thank you netgalley for this ARC! I loved this graphic novel and im super excited that it will be turned into a series. One of my favorite things regarding graphic novels is when they are long and have a great story this novel had 300+ pages and such a great story with also really cute moments regarding the characters i loved all the artwork too but my favorite thing was how each character really got a good amount of story. We see a suspicious farm house that makes our characters suspicious of it and deciding to investigate it as well as the Arcana which also has alot of history and we see one of our characters be told about it and show up to maybe join it. The color of the artwork was so comforting in this novel i loved how cozy this novel was.

Oh, what a fun beginning to a series! This tarot inspired graphic novel gave me magical realism, lots of queer characters, and the cutest art style I’ve seen in awhile. I adored the storytelling, blooming romance, and mystery building; so much so that I finished it in one sitting. It is a strong start to a promising series that I will absolutely continue to pick up. Add to your TBR soon.. the *cards* promise you’ll love it! ;)

I enjoyed this first installment of a new graphic novel and look forward to more in the series.

This story is, in some ways, right up my alley. A secret society of magic users and a mystery all rolled into stunning visuals is my idea of a good time. The art was really good- it was my favorite part. Starting out minimalist and becoming more detailed as the story evolves was a pleasant experience.

In other ways, the story was a challenge for me, but not in a bad way. I consider myself a fan of fiction, but a casual reader of most genres. Most stories of magic that I read are fantasy-based, whereas this story was more paranormal. Plus, there were additional cultural elements outside my usual read that were interesting to explore, including but not limited to LGBTQ representation. Lastly, there are some pretty deep, serious, and traumatic subject matters present in this story, which had a level of intensity I hadn't expected, but it did not turn me away.

Overall, I look forward to continuing the story and would recommend it to a general young adult or adult audience, but would recommend teens speak to a parent or trusted adult concerning the trauma aspects.

Not recommended to conservative religious readers.

Highly recommended to fans of graphic novels, serial stories, magic, complex paranormal mysteries, and "circle of friends" or "found family" stories.

Arcana was a beautiful, touching, and immersive story from start to finish. To have such a beautiful queer found family navigating the loss of their families was so touching and emotional. Eli and James’ meetcute and relationship that followed was so good for my queer heart. Daphne, Koko, and Sunny were a great supporting cast! The five friends work together to figure out what’s really going on with the Majors, and what really happened when their parents died on the same night, in the same accident. My only critique is that the book ended on a cliffhanger, and I know it will be years before I get to see their story continue. This is absolutely an immediate recommendation for anyone who loves Heartstopper. I look forward to reading everything that Sam Prentice-Jones publishes.

I was super confused by the inconsistent pronoun usage. But the story was cute! It wasn’t necessarily my cup of tea., but I did enjoy it and recommend!

What a beautiful little story of found family and romance! My heart is so full and I loved the overall mystery of the society. If you love a fun cast of LGBTQ+ characters and some magic, this is for you.

⭐2.5

A tarot-inspired fantasy graphic novel set in an a witch academy where our main characters (Eli, James, Daphne, Koko, and Sonny) find out the truth behind the Arcana.

I really love the use of the brown tones in the graphic novel. The art is really charming and unique. You will look at it and feel like it gives you a warm hug. The use of pale coloring really makes the times when they use more black to fill the page to be truly ominous.

This is just the first book in the series so I'm sure there is plenty to explore as it goes on, for me personally; it didn't hook me as much as I would of liked.

The romance between Eli and James felt very fast. Maybe this is coming from a slow-burn lover, but I wish they spent more building it up. I also didn't feel super connected to them as characters which is a bit unfortunate since they are the ones we follow the most.

I do like the mystery of the history of the Arcana and am wondering where Prentice-Jones will take the story!

Favorite character in the whole novel: Daphne. She made me tear up a little bit there.

4.5⭐ rounded up
I inhaled this in a single sitting. I loved the art style and the pacing. There is a variety of queer rep I really appreciated presented in a natural way. I had a few minor things that slightly annoyed me (the number of hahas if there was a counter), but the good far outweighed these. So much of this feels like it's building to a bigger plot, so I'll be excited to see what comes next in this series.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book will be published on 6/24/25. I'll be posting to Instagram closer to publication.

I LOVED this graphic novel. It was sexy, sophisticated, magical, haunting, and left me NEEDING (not wanting) more. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

This is a cute YA graphic novel about young witches that stumble into a conspiracy that threatens them and their community.
There’s humor interweaved in the story that can be dark at times. There’s also themes of found family and acceptance.

Arcana: The Lost Heirs by Sam Prentice-Jones is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel about witchcraft, found family, and a secret witchy organization!
I loved the illustration style of this work. It felt very fresh and fully itself, which I appreciated greatly.
I love the idea of witches and witchcraft, so I do love a story with that implemented. It did also incorporate tarot and the major arcana into different kinds of chapter breaks and also into the plot of the story, which was also fun for me!
The story is one that is meant to continue on in later volumes, so this story didn't feel like it had a satisfying ending in itself, but I'd be interested in continuing on this story to see how it goes. The plot gave enough to be intrigued about.
Overall, the friendships and relationships seemed a little rushed, and I didn't fully get sunk into the characters, but I imagine I could with later volumes.
Thanks to Macmillan for the e-ARC!

Okay I need the next installment ASAP! What a cliffhanger!!!!!
Overall I really enjoyed this. The art style takes some time to get used to but it grows on you. Love the representation. I am totally here for the suspense, the mystery, and the bonds.
At the start of the story it seems so mundane and ordinary but this story is definitely not that! I’d say it picks up rather quickly and I didn’t want to put it down!

I had a feeling I would love this graphic novel! I was about to snag an ARC on net galley and I loved it. Covens, witches and tarot cards, oh my! I thoroughly enjoyed the art style, the inclusion of inner dialogue and the building of the Arcana world. The mystery plot is very fun and I can't wait to see where it goes. Such a very first book. I specifically loved the inclusivity of characters as well. It is always cool to see multitude of differences shown positively.
4.5 stars rounded up to five.
Much looking forward to the next in the series. I have a feeling things are not as they seem!

This is a promising opening to what I hope is an engaging series. The story immediately hooks you with its intriguing premise of witchcraft and enjoyable cast of characters that feel both fun and relatable. The author has crafted a world that, though still in its early stages, hints at a fun storytelling potential and complex interpersonal dynamics that will likely develop further in future installments.

Additionally, the art style—characterized by its clean, simple color palette—complements the narrative well. The simplicity of the visuals allows the story and its characters to take center stage. The minimalistic colors and sketches reminds me of Heartstopper.

If you’re looking for a new witchy adventure and enjoy graphic novels, this book is definitely worth checking out.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for eARC

Charming art, super fun and fantastic concept, a *plethora* of diversity and representation (ex: vitiligo, let's go??), but the writing style isn't for me. Too many "haha's" and not enough voice differentiation between characters. I sadly won't be continuing the series, though I hope it gels with others.

Trigger warnings are needed for this series, too.

I had no idea what to expect with this graphic novel. In fact, I don't know that I knew that It was a graphic novel when I requested it. However, this book was a slam dunk for me. It was well paced, captivating, fun, suspenseful, and had the most gorgeous art.

This book includes:
- conspiracies
- lots of witches and occult practices
- lost families
- a cutie friend group
- LGBTQIA rep of every kind
- even a metaphorically blue haired liberal working at a cute coffee shop

I will absolutely be returning for book two and I really encourage everyone who is hesitant about picking this one up because its a graphic novel to give it a chance.

I received this ebook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Sam Prentice-Jones, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted across my socials under the username @tinynightingales, check out my GoodReads profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863
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