
Member Reviews

I loved the art and enjoyed the story line but feels rushed. Like how each chapter was represented my a tarot. Look forward to reading next installment.

This is sweet and compelling. Art like this isn’t usually my style, but it actually suited this sweet and not-too-simple story. I appreciate that it takes its time in the setup- the shifting perspectives from chapter to chapter and copious worldbuilding give the story time to breathe. The Tarot imagery throughout was consistently interesting, too. I will gladly be picking up the next chapter of this, as it leaves off on a good climax!

Arcana is an incredible graphic novel full of intrigue. Eli moonlights as a witch, but is quickly discovered by the cute James, who happens to be investigating magic in the area with the coven Arcana. The two quickly hit it off and Eli is asked to join the coven. Things go sideways when questions arise as to the purpose of James' investigations and Eli's true identity. The cast of characters is diverse and each brings their own strengths to the group. This was fast paced with a fun and winding plot. I love the art style and can't wait for the next volume after that cliff hanger! Thanks to Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you're looking for an interesting witchy story with a mysterious past, this is definitely the book for you. I really enjoyed the story of a new witch learning about other witches and joining them. I liked the blossoming friendships as the characters tried to uncover the past. The art style is also perfect for the vibes of this story. The characters are of different races, sexualities, genders, and body types, which is always good to see. The book has me eagerly awaiting the next one to see what happens with the story. I highly recommend checking it out, and it is definitely a lovely cover to add to your bookshelf.

A cute graphic novel that was full of some spooky mystery and magic!
There were a bunch of characters in this one and I enjoyed the introduction to them. The romance I would’ve loved more build up to it but I didn’t mind it.
I loved the overall mystery and trying to figure out what really happened years ago.
If you enjoy witches, magic, mystery, and a bit of romance check out the start of this graphic novel series!

Thanks to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for this ARC! Arcana: The Lost Heirs by Sam Prentice-Jones.
This cozy little read that effortlessly immerses you in its enchanting world. A delightful witchy mystery, it wraps you up in its magic and makes you feel like you're part of the story.
One of the standout aspects for me was how it handles romance. The book introduces an obvious love interest, but the scenes keep things tasteful and fade to black before diving into too much detail. It’s the perfect approach for a Young Adult audience, offering just enough emotional depth without stepping beyond the bounds of age-appropriate storytelling.
The only thing that pulled me out of the experience was a formatting issue. The text appears vectorized over a pixelated background, which made zooming in nearly impossible details became too blurry to discern. Additionally, some of the off-the-bubble text placed behind other elements seemed intentional to simulate the character's panic attack, which was an effective artistic touch once I understood it, but initially felt confusing. Hopefully, this gets polished in the final version, because it’s a clever way to visually represent distress.
Overall, Arcana a charming and immersive read, perfect for younger audiences and anyone looking for a little magic in their mystery.

Arcana: The Lost Heirs is a gorgeous debut! I’m a big fan of graphic novels and this one did not disappoint! I really loved the art style. The use of color in every panel is great. I love that each character felt distinct. The mystery of the Arcana has me intrigued and I look forward to seeing where the story goes in the next book. This book mainly provided setup for what is to come in future installments, but I do wish there was a bit more action. While the romance between Eli & James might be a bit fast (especially for fans of a slow burn), I personally didn’t mind it. Overall, a great debut graphic novel!

I really enjoyed Arcana: The Lost Heirs!
Here are some of my favorite things about the book:
- Art that is pretty and enjoyable without distracting from the story
- Themes of found family
- Romance that is full of kindness and care
- Mystery and suspense
- Multiple POVs that make sense and add to the story
Additional thoughts:
This graphic novel was really easy to get into and kept my attention throughout the story. I found myself really quickly caring about our main character Eli (protect him at all costs!) and rooting for his success. Although the book felt like it went by quickly, the story did not suffer. In a short amount of time it developed beautiful and meaningful relationships and addressed heavier topics while still feeling cozy and sweet. I can't wait for the next installment in the series!
Thank you so much to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC of the book.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. The only complaint that I had is that I did read it on a device and it was hard to read the smaller print and I had to keep on increasing the picture size. But it didn't really distract me very much from the center of the story.
I enjoyed learning about the history behind their witch coven. I like that they have an archivist that keeps track of history. That to me was spot on. And the intrigue behind some suppression of history is even better. It kept me very much entertained and interested.
I thought the ending was a little rushed in that. If they're going to have another book they could have drawn it out a little bit more.
The pictures were beautiful and simplistic. And I enjoyed getting to know the characters. I really enjoyed the characters and want to see what happens next.

I enjoyed this graphic novel of witches in training. It was a quick read but managed to form relationships and backgrounds for each character that let me feel connected to them. I am, of course, frothing at the mouth for the next installment and can’t wait to see where the series goes.

“Arcana: The Lost Heirs”is a visually beautiful read with a lovely, simple color scheme that really adds to the story’s charm.
The main cast was likeable and easy to root for, and while the romance between Eli and James felt a bit rushed and definitely leaned into instalove, they were still a cute pair.
The mystery at the heart of the story was intriguing, even though the plot mostly felt like setup for future books. Not a lot happened overall, but the cliffhanger in the end left me curious to see what comes next.
One small gripe: the constant use of "haha" in the dialogue stood out and became a bit annoying after a while.
Overall, this was a promising start to a new book series.

I received this DRC from NetGalley.
I started this not knowing this was a series, so I was surprised when it ended when it did. It was pretty fast-paced, and it didn't seem like it really needs to be that much longer to finish out if it keeps going that way. But I did find it interesting and I liked the art style. There wasn't a whole lot of character building. I got a bit annoyed at all of the "haha"'s in the diologues; it just made the conversations more like casual text chains, and I would have rather just seen the laughing depicted pictorially sometimes instead. But I am interested in their investigation and finding out more about their pasts.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for a copy to review. This comes out next month.
I wanted a spooky lil witchy graphic novel and this was exactly that. Nothing super unique or amazing but it checked the boxes and I’m curious enough to see what happens in the next one

Thank you, Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Feiwel & Friends for the digital ARC.
An incredibly captivating first graphic novel! Arcana: The Lost Heir takes you on a journey into a magical realm where witches coexist with our world. The characters are immediately endearing, each offering their unique viewpoint on the mystery at hand. I particularly loved the Tarot card storytelling woven throughout. The novel provides just enough clues towards the mystery to keep you engaged and eager for more. I cannot believe the ending cliffhanger, and can't wait to dive into volume 2 when it comes out to see how the plot and characters evolve.

A solid read for young adults. The characters were well developed and I enjoyed the plot. Will purchase for our collection and recommend to readers of the genre.

This was a beautiful graphic novel! I loved that the characters were effortlessly queer and to add magic and mayhem to that : *chefs kiss*. I am excited for the next installment as this author left a great cliffhanger ending. The art style was cozy and nostalgic and I loved the color choices used throughout. Also, another kiss for plus size main characters! All in all one of the best books I've read this year.

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.