THAT ENDINGGGG!!!

* super unique magic system
* enemies to lovers / slow burn
* magical school
* political intrigue
* high stakes
* found family

oh wow wow wow! This magic system was beyonddd cool and so creative! I have never read a fantasy with this type of unique magic system! I loved how the book started and was super intrigued by our FMC! I loved learning more about her history as the story unfolded. The relationship development between our MCs was sooo good - it's a real slow burn but dang did it satisfy once they finally got together! But like GAHHH that ending!! This cliffhanger is going to be brutal to sit with until book 2!

My only nit-pick is the pacing was a bit inconsistent for me, but otherwise, I enjoyed this book immensely and cannot wait for book 2!

Arcana Academy is going to be on all my “top” lists at the end of the year. It is several days later, and I’m still thinking about it. It blew me away! I buddy read this with a friend, and we both loved it. It has taken me a week to attempt this review. I loved this book, and I hope I can do it justice.

Kova does a brilliant job with every aspect of this book. The world-building was amazing, and the magic was fascinating! The cards were so interesting, and I loved learning about all the different types of magic. The romance in this book was an epic enemies-to-lovers. There are many tropes, and it has a little bit of something for everyone. All the characters are morally grey and pushing boundaries. You have no idea who you should trust, just as the characters do.

Speaking of characters, I loved Clara and Kaelis. I’m going to start with Clara first, and what I loved about her. Clara is trying to find her sister, and that’s her sole focus. On this journey, she can’t help but help everyone she can along the way. It didn’t matter how they treated/ed her, she would always want to help. She has the academy and the found family she made prior. Her worlds are mixing, and I loved getting to know so many characters. Kaelis was one that I had pinned from the get-go. He’s probably a very stereotypical character, where he comes off broody and evil, but you know, there’s more to it. The relationship between these characters was fantastic. They had so much chemistry and angst that it was flying off the pages. I couldn’t get enough of them and their complicated dynamic.

I hope it’s apparent that I adored this book. I cannot stop thinking about it, especially after that ending! I loved everything about this. I went through all the emotions by the time I finished reading. The romance was fantastic. I can’t wait for book two!!

Thank you, Del Rey and Netgalley, for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Three and a half
Ok whilst I'm not particularly a fan of academy based romance I was definitely on-board for a world based around tarot magic. I will point out here though that the thought of a headmaster being the love interest definitely gave me pause but oddly he's only twenty two or so so definitely not as yuk as I had feared.
Clara has had a traumatic life always hiding her remarkable affinity with the cards and lately has been incarcerated as an enemy of the crown. Prince Kaelis helps her escape but only if she helps him find a very dangerous tarot card. Clara joins the infamous Arcana Academy hoping to find her baby sister but it's a dangerous place with trials that test both magic and fortitude. As Clara uncovers mysteries sadly she also makes dangerous enemies. Yet the wicked Prince is not exactly forthcoming about his motives and soon Clara is swept up trying to navigate through intrigue and lies !
If I'm blunt I found the first half of this book pretty slow going and I just wanted the story to move forward. There's a lot of Clara just reflecting as she learns the true history of both the magic and how it affects her. Romance ? Well I wasn't convinced but that's because this story takes place over a year and for much of that time Prince Kaelis is pretty absent from the story. I think many will appreciate as this thundered towards the end that he certainly seems to have fallen first and yet in spite of ahem intimate scenes there is no real feeling of trust or affection but hey that's my opinion. I did enjoy the end as everything became much clearer and the surprises certainly added to my enjoyment. So although initially I was not particularly invested I would certainly want to continue this series to discover just what and indeed how everything came to be.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested and my thoughts are I believe fair

Unfortunately, I wasn't the biggest fan of this story. I went into it super excited about the tarot-based magic system, which was really cool; however, it was not enough to keep me hooked on the book. There are a lot of characters introduced in this story, but I feel like most of them are not fleshed out enough for me to care about what happens to them. Arcana Academy is almost 600 pages long, and I think the length did the story a disservice. The plot did move at a fairly nice pace, but I was often bored and wished there was more happening. The romance was somewhat interesting and I think it could potentially lead somewhere in future books.

The ending did make me intrigued to potentially continue the series. I love a good last line twist.

Arcana Academy, by Elise Kova, is an irresistible blend of romantic fantasy, magical intrigue, and morally ambiguous protagonists, set in a universe where power is measured by what one dares to keep hidden. With her gripping writing style and a premise that fuses stealth-driven action with a marriage-of-convenience romance, the author kicks off a new series that is sure to captivate fans of dark magic and dangerous passions.

The protagonist, Clara Graysword, is far from a traditional heroine—and that’s one of the novel’s greatest strengths. Raised in the criminal underworld of the decaying Eclipse City she survives through petty scams, street smarts, and an extraordinarily rare talent: the ability to “tattoo” living magic onto tarot cards—a highly illegal practice outside the elite of Arcana Academy. The story begins when Clara is captured after a failed mission and sentenced to life imprisonment. That’s when Prince Kaelis, the mysterious and seemingly unshakeable headmaster of the magical academy, appears with a proposition as absurd as it is tempting: freedom in exchange for a fake engagement… and a magical heist of grand proportions.

The relationship between Clara and Kaelis is built on mutual distrust and cynicism, but sparks fly from the very start. This isn’t a sugary romance—it’s a complex dynamic rooted in manipulation, veiled attraction, and fragile alliances. Clara is clever, skeptical, and driven by survival rather than dreams. Kaelis, on the other hand, is a sphinx wrapped in power and secrecy—offering protection, but also danger. The romantic tension between them grows organically, built more on unspoken moments than passionate declarations, which makes it all the more compelling.

The Arcana Academy setting adds a dark charm to the narrative. Unlike the typical bright, welcoming magical schools, this one is a maze of political rules, hidden secrets, and power struggles. Each magical tarot card represents not just a spell, but a position of influence, and the act of *creating* cards—reserved for the chosen few—makes Clara both a threat and a key player in a game far bigger than she realizes. The academy’s structure, with its clans, castes, and manipulative games, vaguely resembles Hogwarts if it had been designed by Machiavelli.

The plot moves at a steady pace, avoiding excessive explanations of the magic system. Instead, Kova chooses an organic approach: we learn alongside Clara, uncovering the dangers and possibilities of magical tarot as she masters them and infiltrates the academic and aristocratic circles of Arcana. The card-based magic system is one of the most creative ideas in the book, echoing series like *Shadow and Bone* and *Caraval*, but maintaining its own originality—especially through the symbiotic relationship between power, art, and identity.

Though the focus remains on Clara and Kaelis, the supporting characters come alive with distinct personalities: dangerous rivals, reluctant allies, and royals who play according to their own interests. Every character seems to have an agenda, adding to the constant atmosphere of tension. No one is fully trustworthy, and everyone seems to have something to lose.

What truly sets Arcana Academy apart from other romantic fantasies in the genre is its moral complexity. Clara is constantly torn between two forces: Kaelis, with his vision of a freer, less oppressive world, and the temptation to use the cards' power for herself. She’s not a selfless revolutionary, nor a cold-hearted villain. She’s someone striving for freedom in a world that deems her disposable—and willing to risk everything, including her heart, to get it.

With accessible, fast-paced prose and sharp dialogue, Elise Kova delivers a strong first installment that serves as an effective introduction to a world with much more to reveal. The ending, packed with well-timed twists and strategic cliffhangers, makes it clear that Clara’s journey is just beginning and readers will be eager to follow her every step of the way.

4.5 stars

Exciting new magical romantasy based on the Tarot. Clara is a new student at Arcana Academy and Price Kaelis is the headmaster. Filled with power struggles, family secrets, a bit of fake dating, learning magic, and a heist on top. So much to enjoy. Loved it and can’t wait for the next book.

Thank you Elisa Kova and Random House for providing this ARC via NetGalley. Comments and opinions above are my own.

#ArcanaAcademy #NetGalley

You know when someone is telling a really good story, but they keep getting hung up on the pointless details and you’re just sitting there like, “It doesn’t matter if you were 11 or 12, just get to the good part”? That’s what reading this book felt like.

The tarot-based magic system is what drew me in, plus the promise of a magic school and a broody enemy the FMC is fake-engaged to (I love a good romantasy and all its tropes). But the pacing dragged so hard it ruined what could’ve been a good story. I didn’t want a minute-by-minute documentary of the main character’s life. Why are we following her from the moment she wakes up to when she goes to sleep? I don’t care about how many hallways she walks down, how often she eats, and every other mundane task in between.

I’m disappointed I didn’t love it but I’ll probably still check out the sequel whenever it comes out.

Thank you Del Rey for the arc!

Wow! What a fantastic read! I knew as soon as I started reading that I was going to love this story. Elise Kova is such a talented storyteller with a thought-provoking and immersive writing style. The world-building, the magic, the dynamically developed characters, THE ROMANCE – I loved it all.

This is an enemies-to-lovers romance that’s absolutely swoon-worthy with its slow build, electric chemistry, and banter. Clara, the protagonist, is so compelling, and from the first lines, when she’s refusing to be broken in a depraved prison, I was invested in her story. And then we meet Kaelis, the second-born prince, and I knew there was more to his evil persona. They’re both a jumble of contradictions, and their fights and animosity are almost as electric as their more tender scenes.

I also love the found family vibes in the book, first with Clara’s new peers at the academy and with her sister and the others who were there after her mother’s death when she was younger. There are strong messages about family, loyalty, earning trust, and fighting for those you love.

The plot is layered and nuanced and super intense. The whole story is pretty dark and atmospheric, which definitely parallels the setting, stakes, and confounding characters. It’s the kind of story where you truly never know what’s going to happen next. Kova takes the reader on a dark and twisty journey that left me shook and questioning so many things about the magic, Clara’s power, and the fates of many of the characters.

This was a brilliant 5-star read, and with so many jaw-dropping moments and revelations, I can’t wait to read the next book in the series! I have a feeling it’s going to rip my heart out, and I’ll probably end up thanking the author for it. Lol, In the meantime, I plan to go and read some other books by Elise Kova.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Del Rey for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Arcana Academy by Elise Kova completely captivated me from start to finish! If you're a fan of rich fantasy worlds, slow-burn romance, and academy settings with a twist, then you need this book in your life.

Kova masterfully blends magic and tension, crafting a world that feels both fresh and immersive. The magic system is complex without being overwhelming, and the world-building pulls you in without letting go.

The enemies-to-allies-to-maybe-lovers trope is done so well here and its absolutely delicious in its slow torture. The chemistry simmers, but the trust? Questionable. And that just makes it even better.

The FMC is everything I love: fierce, clever, and unapologetically strong. And the MMC? He’s the perfect balance of mysterious and morally gray, you’re never quite sure if you should root for him or run from him (but spoiler: I was rooting hard).

Can’t wait for the next one. Elise Kova, you’ve officially hooked me!

Overall, while I had a good time with Arcana Academy, I also had a LONG time with Arcana Academy. What I really enjoyed was Elise Kova’s writing style, prose, and description of the various settings (a beautifully dark academia setting with secret passages and many a hidden secret throughout). These things are what really drew me in and got me excited for the book initially. The magic system, while unique and fun to visualize, did lose me a bit at times, but in true fantasy fashion, I just kept going and figured the magic would make more sense later. To me, it didn’t completely, but there is a handy glossary at the back to explain in better detail what each card does.

While the story is technically moved along at a good pace in terms of timeline, with many chapters indicating multiple weeks or months have passed, I felt like the time we spent in scenes stretched too long, a pacing issue I’m not used to having. I also found the inner monologues and repetitive dialogue of characters contributing to dragging the pacing down.

The plot didn’t grab me as much as I was hoping for, and while we were introduced to a wide cast of characters, I didn’t find myself particularly caring about any of them, and none of them felt too deep to me. It took a while for me to truly feel invested in finishing the book, with multiple iterations of setting it down to read something else. Could this be a me problem? Absolutely.

This does end on a bit of a cliffhanger (though I did see it coming), and I’m curious to continue the series, but I don’t know that I’m chomping at the bit for it either. All in all, I’m calling this a 3.5 star read.

Thanks so much to Elise Kova and Del Rey for the eARC!

It always seems like a great idea in theory to build a fantasy novel and a magical system around tarot, but in reality it almost never works, and unfortunately that’s no exception here.

This was an ambitious premise and I liked the idea of a sort of sorting hat-style assignment of students and practitioners to a suit of tarot cards. The actual implementation of how the cards work as a part of the magical system was a lot less successful, and the problem of trying to fuse the concept of major arcana to the bones of the plot also flopped.

But I could have tolerated all that had the story just been more compelling. This is really, really long, and that’s not because it’s plot dense or full of good descriptive content. There’s a lot of repetitive and meaningless dialogue, a lot of tell where there should be show, and a lot of the narrator repeatedly reexplaining her circumstances and her feelings, which are also pretty disappointingly static.

I don’t really care about romantic subplots so I can’t comment one way or the other on whether that element of the book was successful. I do enjoy a love story if deftly and subtly handled and I didn’t get that here. I wasn’t bothered by the central romance, but I wasn’t invested in it either.

But the bigger problem is that after 500+ pages I wasn’t invested in anything the characters were doing. The story just doesn’t make you care, and it lacks the fine detail work that some atmospheric fantasy does so well that the plot almost doesn’t matter.

In all, this had some moments where it piqued by interest, but not nearly enough to inspire me to continue the series.

3.5 Stars for me.

Arcana Academy has a lot going for it: sexy slow-burn tension, an intriguing tarot-based magic system, and that ever-addictive dark academia vibe. I genuinely enjoyed the steamy romance and the forbidden dynamic between Clara and Kaelis. (Cold, brooding headmaster with a tragic past? Say less.) The academy setting had all the hallmarks of something magical, and I loved the undercurrent of rebellion woven through the story.

That said, the pacing threw me off a bit. It took a long time to get anywhere in terms of plot or romance, and then when it finally did, it felt like a sudden leap rather than a satisfying build. I didn’t mind the slow burn, but I needed a more emotional payoff leading up to the Big Moment. The magic system, centered around tarot, was one of my favorite elements conceptually. However, I kept wishing for more clarity or explanation. It was cool, just a little underdeveloped. A few diagrams or deeper dives into the card mechanics would have made it even stronger.

Clara and Kaelis are compelling, but they didn’t break the mold. They felt like familiar character types in romantasy. Overall, this was a fun read, just not a flawless one. I’ll likely pick up the sequel, but I’m hoping for tighter pacing and a deeper dive into the world next time!

Clara finds herself facing a unique proposition - marry Kaelis, the headmaster of Arcana Academy, or die as a prisoner for illegally printing magical tarot cards. She chooses the first option, and finds herself in a dark world full of political intrigue. She's a strong, stubborn, and determined FMC who uses her cunning to survive. Kaelis is definitely morally grey, but ends up being surprisingly likeable by the end of the book and I loved the romance that grew between them over time. The magical system in this book is incredibly unique and was so fun to explore. The concept of magical tarot cards is just really cool! I also really appreciated the world building and dark academia setting. I was not even remotely prepared for that ending. It had me shocked to my core and I literally gasped out loud!

I did an immersive read and the audio was fantastic. The narrator, Anna Burnett, did a great job bringing the story and Clara's emotions to life. The narration was clear, even when sped up which I appreciated!

Thank you to PRH Audio, Del Rey and NetGalley for the advance copies!

Arcana Academy by Elise Kova is a fantasy with a world full of tarot magic that only those who attend Arcana Academy are allowed to use. The fmc Clara is freed from a prison and essentially placed in another in the form of a fake engagement. She is tasked with finding something for the headmaster, Prince Kaelis.

This was such a damn treat to read! Tarot magic? Absolutely im in! The story has great pacing, suspense, and twists. It's dark academia. There's political intrigue, magic, secret identity, missing people, trials, slow burn, spice, and more. The fmc was so sure of herself, knew what she wanted, and didn't shy away from saying exactly how she felt. It's definitely a great read, and I can't wait for the next one!

✨ Dark academia
✨ Unique tarot magic system
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Forced fake engagement
✨ Hidden identities
✨ Morally grey characters
✨ Found family

This was such a unique magical academy, romantasy read! I thoroughly enjoyed it! We got a hot as sin villain, a ferocious baddie FMC, a unique tarot card magic system, and ALL THE SECRETS! Clara Graysword is imprisoned for illegally using tarot magic, magic that is reserved only for those who went to Arcana Academy. The enigmatic headmaster of Arcana Academy and spare heir to the crown, Prince Kaelis, needs her help in re-creating a long lost tarot card, and helps her escape the prison. In order to conceal her identity, Kaelis enrolls her in Arcana Academy, changes her name, and introduces her as his fiancée. She is instantly thrust into academia, royal intrigue, and political unrest. She has to quickly learn to either trust the prince, trust what she has been told her entire life, or throw everything out the window in order to survive.

This book was a wild ride! I devoured this almost 600 page book in a matter of days! The enemies to lovers, fake relationship storyline between Clara and Kaelis was perfection! The hate between the two was palpable but so was the tension! It was a downright delicious slow burn, a will they or won't they scenario, and I was glued to their every interaction. There are secrets, hidden plots, and political drama between them, as well as the entirety of Arcana Academy. I've always been intrigued by tarot cards and magic and this book was perfect for me. This unique magic system took tarot cards to another level and I couldn't get enough of it! I did get confused here and there about which card did what, but there is a cheat sheet in the book. 🙌

This one ends on a cliffy and I can't wait to see what happens next! Thank you so much to Del Rey for the advanced copy! 🖤

Omg I love Elise Kova’s writing so much. This was such an immersive read and I absolutely LOVE the world building and magic system that she built. I am absolutely a sucker for an academy setting and this one was done so well, I need more of it stat!!

The center of this story is Tarot, and as a passive enjoyer of all things tarot, I really enjoyed it! If you don’t know much about tarot, have no fear, there is a glossary with descriptions of each card but Kova is very good about showing and reminding the importance of each card as you progress in the story in a very natural way.

The MFC of the story Clara is powerful in her wielding of tarot, loyal to those she calls friends and to her family to a fault, and portraying a gruff exterior that frames a heart of gold. Watching her grow and expand from her diminished form in the prison helped inform her character and how she relates to others, especially the MFC Kaelis (an absolute HUNK of a man). The romance in this one was definetly romancing and I loved how the tension and the climax (no pun intended) of their romance felt earned.

! I absolutely can not wait for the next one!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

It had good elements, but overall, not really my thing. I felt like this book had missing elements to the story, especially with building interpersonal relationships and dynamics, so it left me feeling a bit dissatisfied. And I'm not a fan of enemies-to-lovers as a trope. An interesting magic system though.

4 stars and my thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC!

The Plot: Clara Graysword has survived the underworld of Eclipse City through thievery, luck, and a whole lot of illegal magic. After a job gone awry, Clara is sentenced to a lifetime in prison for inking tarot cards-a rare power reserved for practitioners at the elite Arcana Academy.
Just when it seems her luck has run dry, the academy's enigmatic headmaster, Prince Kaelis, offers her an escape-for a price. Kaelis believes that Clara is the perfect tool to help him steal a tarot card from the king and use it to re-create an all-powerful card long lost to time.

What I liked: The magic system! It felt so unique and intriguing. I want to know more and I'm glad Kova was pretty detailed in the descriptions of what the cards are and what they could do. I appreciated that. Clara and Kaelis' relationship, once it actually started going somewhere, was so good! I loved the two of them together, slowly starting to trust one another. Even if the trust wasn't complete.

What I disliked: How slow moving the story was. For such a long book, the plot fell flat in a lot of places. I kept wanting it to move and do something interesting. It wasn't until about 80% in, or when the Two of Swords trial happened, that I felt like the meat of the story was finally starting to get going. For that, it loses a star.

I am looking forward to the next book! This is the downside of getting ARCs of first books in a series. You have to wait so long for the next one!

Okay Elise Kova, this is amazing. Arcana Academy introduces a tarot-based magic system where Clara Graysword is imprisoned for illegal use of tarot magic. Her escape is facilitated by Prince Kaelis, the headmaster of Arcana Academy, so they can work together to create the World card - a card that lets the user change and shape the world. Clara is given a new identity in a reestablished noble line that was thought to be dead and she learns even more about being an Arcanist while slowly falling for Kaelis even though she should absolutely hate him for the rest of forever.
The world building and character development in Arcana Academy are absolutely top tier. The plot kept me on the edge of my seat as we delved deeper into the tarot lore and learned more about Clara, Kaelis, the other royals, and students at the school. The end left off on a massive cliffhanger (in more than one way) and I cannot wait for book 2!

Arcana Academy pulled me in with its fresh, magical twist tarot card based magic! I absolutely loved the way Elise Kova built this system. It felt creative, layered, and really came alive during the fight scenes (which were some of my favorite parts!). The way the cards influenced strategy and power made each battle feel intense and unpredictable.

Clara and Kaelis were both incredible main characters I found myself really invested in them. That said, I wish there had been more interaction between the two of them earlier in the story. Their dynamic is so compelling, I just wanted more from the start! The pacing was a little slow in places, but just when I’d start to feel that, something exciting would happen and I’d be totally hooked again.

The final chapter honestly left me mind blown. So many questions, so many emotions and now I’m counting down the days until book two. Even though there are still a lot of things I’m wondering about, I loved how Kova started pulling everything together toward the end. It felt like a satisfying payoff while still leaving room for more.

If you love fantasy with a unique magical system, complex characters, and a twisty ending, Arcana Academy is definitely worth the read. I’m obsessed and ready for the next one!