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
my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/
and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightingales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

This first installment in a new graphic novel series introduces an intriguing magical world and a compelling mystery at its core—but unfortunately, it stumbles a bit in execution.

The story follows a group of young witches—James, Daphne, Koko, Sonny, and newcomer Eli—who are connected through the Arcana, a secretive organization overseen by powerful figures known as the Majors. As they uncover dark truths about their parents’ pasts and the curse that links them, the mystery deepens in an engaging way that promises more twists in future volumes.

Where this volume falters, though, is in its delivery. There’s a heavy reliance on exposition, often telling rather than showing, which feels especially out of place in a visual medium like a graphic novel. The dialogue can feel repetitive, reiterating information the reader already knows. While this might serve to reinforce the stakes, it ends up slowing down the pacing. Additionally, the artwork is decent but not particularly striking.

There are a lot of characters introduced in this first installment, and at times, it was difficult to differentiate between characters. While the reader can differentiate suing the visuals, they are all pretty one-dimensional at this point and seem to have similar background. This makes it harder to connect with each individual character, I never really felt invested.

Still, the premise is strong, and the central mystery is compelling enough that I’m curious to see where the series goes from here. I’m hoping future installments strike a better balance between visual storytelling and exposition, and give each character more distinctiveness and depth.

Illustration: 4/5
Overall: 3.5/5

When I first started reading this graphic novel, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the illustration style. At first, it felt a little kiddish—not young adult, but more light in tone than I expected given the premise. But as the story progressed, the artwork really grew on me. It ended up matching the characters, the tone, and the energy of the story in a way that felt just right.

That said, I do wish the book had gone a bit darker. This is the first in a series, and while it lays a solid foundation—family secrets, a generational curse, mysterious figures in the shadows—I felt like too much time was spent on relationships and casual interactions that didn’t push the story forward. The whole instant-love thing between James and Eli, for example, could’ve been introduced but saved for deeper exploration in the next book.

I wanted more focus on the training, on self-discovery, on building the mythology. We’re told the training is difficult, but we don’t really see it. We catch glimpses of the curse and a shadowy figure attacking, but I would’ve liked a few more questions answered, just to anchor the stakes a bit more.

That said, I’d still recommend this. It’s a solid graphic novel to read in between heavier books, and it has a lot of potential. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on where the series goes next.

Thanks to Feiwel & Friends + NetGalley for this egalley.

I love the premise of this book. Also the Tarot cards starting each chapter and guiding the story along is great. However it seem to take forever for the actual story to start. Like the plot doesn't really kid in until you are about 60% into the book, then once it kicks in it's great.

I loved the little coffee scenes. This was my second graphic novel and now I’m in love with them. The art is so inspiring and really captured this tale. Love is for all and love will always win.