Clara is in prison for making illegal tarot cards, the source of magic in this world. She is surprised when Prince Kaelis shows up and gives her access to what she needs to escape. He brings her to the Arcana Academy, the only legal place to learn magic, and enrolls her. However, Clara soon realizes that he helped her because he wants her to create a mythical tarot card that is supposed to be powerful enough to change the world. Now Clara is not sure who she can trust and who she should help.

Heat Index: 6/10

—fake(ish) engagement

—dark academia... vibes

—A Series of Tasks

The Basics:

Clara Graysword is sentenced to life in prison inking tarot cards for magic practitioners at the elite Arcana Academy... except wait, maybe she's been sentenced to death? Except wait, maybe she's been sentenced to marrying Prince Kaelis, the academy's headmaster? Kaelis has identified Clara as More Than She Seems, and as such just what he needs to steal a card from the king and consolidate his power... and, you know, possibly take over the world. But does Clara want to do that? Like, at all?

The Review:

I will admit, when I requested this book, I was fully aware that the "dark academia meets fake but kinda real engagement" thing was either going to work for me or... not. I will always be a fan of big swings, and taking on both things at once is a big swing that I was hoping would pay off. As it is, I think it overwhelmed the story and made it difficult for me to attach to much of anything.

The thing is that dark academia has obviously been a trend for a while, understandably more so in YA fantasy, and it's something the current adult romantasy~ wave has been trying to incorporate. Except—it doesn't quite make the same kind of sense. Like, of course the teens are going to these magical academies. Clara is around 20 or 21, so it's not that her going to the college version of that is so weird, it's just... She's also engaged to the headmaster now. Which is very adult.

I want to make it clear—this kicked off in a way that had me interested. Kaelis and Clara have an interplay I liked, the stakes were high, the writing was snappy. But I feel like this is a classic case of biting off more than you can chew. I couldn't really tell how committed the story was to Kaelis's Badness. The magic is cool, but I couldn't help but think about how I'd just read One Dark Window (which I liked a lot more, and which also has card-based magic).

And then there were just... the typical beats. The past love interest who's nowhere near as good as the Bad One. The "prove your worthiness" tasks. The sloooow burn, which, yeah, these two definitely needed to develop that relationship, but it progressed so predictably that I was just... bored.

The Sex:

Kova can write a fun sex scene, but again, it took so long to get there in a book that's nearly 600 pages. Slow burns are rarely my favorite as is, but when the book is over 500 pages... come on now. Even if it makes sense for them to take a while, did they have to take THAT LONG? Especially when the relationship is the type we've seen over and over. We know where this is going.

The Conclusion:

I think that those closer to the YA camp of romantasy would enjoy this more than I did. It's not hateable; it's just not very exciting, and I wanted a break from the formula.

Thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

✨️ Arcana Academy ✨️

I finished Arcana Academy over the weekend & y'all.... WOW. I feel like this is going to be the next big booksta obsession - it was SO GOOD.

check this one out if you like:
⚔️ fantasy with dashes of romance
⚔️ academia & secret societies
⚔️ arranged/fake engagement
⚔️ enemies - but they're LUSTING
⚔️ fun and unique magic based around tarot
⚔️ slowwww burn
⚔️ elements of mystery & hidden identity

this one is out July 22 & I am *begging* you to get your hands on it!! thanks so much to @elise.kova @delreybooks & @netgalley for the advanced e-copy! 😚

I rarely DNF a big title like this but I only made it 45%. I enjoyed the first couple of chapters - the FMC had such a spark and the set up was interesting. However the next couple hundred pages seemed more focused on complex world building and introducing a couple dozen of characters than building momentum emotionally with the FMC. I also find myself confused on the world/magic system and completely disinterested in the characters. From Goodreads, I do think many will like this! When I am in the mood for something I need to really go through slowly to follow, perhaps I will take it up again and take notes for myself.

I loved this - it's high-drama, almost campy dark academia fantasy with a really cliched steamy romance between a rebellious young woman with a secret identity and a tortured powerful shadow guy, but it works BEAUTIFULLY. The card magic is super interesting, the pacing is fab, and there's just enough awareness that yes, this IS tropey and dramatic to keep it from feeling too overblown. I've enjoyed a lot of Elise Kova's work because she walks that line so well and consistently turns those tropes into delightfully familiar but fresh stories. I absolutely can't wait for the sequel.

Arcana Academy has all my guilty pleasures in one book. There's romance, mystery, fantasy, and dark academia. The world building grabbed me from the beginning. We start with the FMC in prison for illegally inking and using magical tarot cards. It reminded me a little bit of One Dark Window with the cards. She is "encouraged" to escape by the headmaster of the magical academy, who also happens to be a prince and the man that she believes killed her mother. Enemies to lovers, anyone? The only way she can avoid being sent back to prison is to enter the academy as a student, and his fiancé. I will definitely be looking for the follow up books in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC e-copy.

Arcana Academy is a hauntingly lyrical dark academia filled with tarot magic, simmering tension, and prose that paints every scene like a spell. The slow-burn romance had me hooked—the dialogue is sharp, tender, and addictive. While the pacing stumbles occasionally with quick time skips, the emotional payoff and that brutal cliffhanger ending make it all worth it.

Rounded up to 5 stars for the atmosphere, character chemistry, and stunning writing. However I would rate it 4.5 in writing.

Huge thanks to Elise Kova and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Personal compatibility 3.75 ⭐️
For its Written Purpose 3.5 ⭐️

I had a really good time with the plot and ESPECIALLY the magic system!! Wow, 10 stars for the magic system, and I've found myself so much more interested in real tarot than ever.

Clara felt like a strong character and I loved how competent she was, I feel like she carried a lot of what I had problems with although she's not without her flaws.

The found family aspect is also starting to form, and I know it’s early on in their first year but I’m loving the support that Clara has from all angles.

I wanted to like Kaelis more than I do so far, I feel like we didn't get enough time with him to flesh him out any further than "dark haired bad guy who's not actually that bad? And maybe a cinnamon roll for her? And definitely down bad" I dunno I was just expecting a bit more from an author like Elise.

That being said, I'm sure we will get MUCH more of them on the coming books.

Now on to why I couldn't rate this higher— several times simple explanations were repeated 3-4 times within a couple of chapters, Clara seemed to conveniently ignore major threats even though she acknowledged that they were threats, every time she was faced with prison guards it felt very convenient that she was able to evade them, and a few other plot related issues.

Overall though, I had a great time reading and will absolutely be recommending and continuing the series!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of Arcana Academy in exchange for my honest review!

description:
Clara Graysword has survived Eclipse City through thievery, luck, and illegal magic. Caught in the act of inking tarot cards, a rare power reserved for Arcana Academy, she’s sentenced to life in prison.

But Prince Kaelis, the academy’s mysterious headmaster, offers her a deal: freedom in exchange for helping him steal a powerful tarot card from the king to recreate a long-lost legendary card.

To keep her close and hidden, Kaelis brings Clara to Arcana Academy, posing her as a new student and his bride-to-be.

Now caught in a web of magic, politics, and secrets, Clara must decide: can she trust the prince she was meant to hate... or seize power for herself?
✨

review:
Elise Kova said "I wanted tension so thick that I hope it breaks my readers" and SHE DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Where do I start?
I love a marriage of convenience but an enemies to lovers marriage of convenience? 🥵 and when I say enemies to lovers I mean: she believes he killed her mother and is the reason she's been in prison. The tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife:
“To be honest, Kaelis, the only thing I ever thought I’d want from you is your heart, carved from your chest.”
“Say the word.”


Next we have: the BANTER
“I prefer my women with more substance.”
“I don’t care how you prefer your women.”
“The way you looked at me just now said otherwise.”
And to think that was only the beginning. You ever read banter so good you need to stand up and walk around for a bit to cool off? 🔥

Long story short, I clearly loved this book. The unique magical system. The academia mixed with some deadly competitions. The ROMANCE. I love it all. I can not wait for book #2. Until then, I hope you check this one out when it comes out.

one of my favorite lines:
"Love me, hate me, but only look at me like my existence sets you on fire"

Arcana Academy by Elise Kova is the first book in a dark academia fantasy series. It follows Clara Graysword, a street-smart young woman who was imprisoned for using forbidden tarot magic. She’s offered a deal by a second-born Prince Kaelis: pose as his fake fiancée at Arcana Academy and help him steal a legendary, reality-bending tarot card. In exchange, she gets her freedom. But inside the elite school, Clara must hide her past, survive deadly magical trials, and navigate growing tension with Kaelis—all while unraveling dangerous secrets within the academy’s four tarot-based houses.

This hooked me right in. It’s gripping story filled with secrets, slow-burn forbidden romance, and a well-developed magic system using tarot cards. I *cannot* wait for the next book in this series!

You’ll love Arcana Academy if you enjoy:
✨ dark academia vibes
📚 magical schools
🔥 slow-burn enemies-to-lovers
🖤 morally gray characters
🔮 elemental magic + high stakes secrets

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for granting me a complimentary advanced reader copy of the ebook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and based off of this draft; the final publication may be different. Expected publication date is July 22, 2025.

I really wanted to care about Arcana Academy (and Owlcrate is coming out with the most stunning edition that I may get anyway) BUT this book had WAY too many characters and didn’t make me care about any of them. I felt like I was just plodding along from time skip to time skip.

I think it may be because the characters we do get to know are just copy/paste romantasy tropes. Our FMC, Clara is stubborn and sassy, with innate powers and abilities. She is a “cool” girl, who is so much stronger than everyone around her and she has to rebuild her body after being imprisoned. She is saved by our MMC, Kaelis, who is a dark and evil prince, but wait, he’s not actually evil, it’s just an act to get everyone to believe he wouldn’t be the one with an agenda to save the world. Genuinely could have pulled the two of them from any standard romantasy book.

The magic system in this is SO strong and interesting. That’s what kept me going through this. I love the tarot cards and their powers, I loved how there were different things you could do with them. If as much care had been put into the characters like the magic system, I think this could have been a perfect start to a series.

I will likely read the sequel, just to see if we get any better character work, but I don’t think I’ll be dying to pick it up when it comes around. We practically started and ended in the same vein which made the book feel like a moot point. Thank you to the publisher for early access to the eARC!

Arcana Academy by Elise Kova is a fun and exciting fantasy with great magic, strong characters, and a fast-paced story. The world-building is creative, and the main character’s journey kept me hooked from start to finish. It’s perfect if you love magical schools and adventure.

4.5/5 stars
Clara is in prison for illegally inking Tarot cards, which can be used to wield magic. When she’s given the opportunity to escape, it’s too good to be true, and she finds herself trapped in a new way, this time as a first year at the Arcana Academy. The headmaster of the school, Prince Kaelis, is Clara’s lifelong enemy, but he’s the one who got her out of prison, and now she has to fake a relationship with him to keep herself from being sent back to prison.

Arcana Academy contains one of my favorite magic systems I’ve read in a while. I found the interplay between the Tarot deck and magic to be fascinating, and I loved that there were three branches to the magic - inking, wielding, and reading Tarot. However, it was at times a bit hard to keep track of the different cards and what they do and mean, but the magic was so well crafted I didn’t mind. I found the book to be extremely interesting and fun to read. While I was weirdly bothered that Clara has a very “regular” name when all the other characters have more “fantasy” names, I think that’s just my own issue. I really enjoyed the characters, and I can’t wait for book 2!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Del Ray for the ARC!!

Clara is an arcanist—she is able to ink and wield tarot cards to harness their magical ability. I really enjoyed this academic setting and learning about the three-year structure of the schooling system. I especially liked the exploration of the corrupt rulers monopolising the arcane and using it to oppress the working class.
While I found that the actual tarot wielding system led to some lacklustre and monotonous fight scenes, the deeper Major Arcana was interesting, especially the secret World card that everyone is trying to harness to change humanity.
I especially like the insights we got into Clara’s past with the Starcrossed Club and their way of life, and am so curious to know more about her mother and her knowledge of The World.
I didn’t love the romance aspect of this book but I do think it has potential, it just moved a little too fast for my taste, as I would have preferred the tension to be more drawn out before it was overtly stated.
Overall I quite enjoyed this and am very curious as to how the sequel will unfold!

This was the perfect dark romantasy. The world was so interesting and I really loved the magic system and the idea of the cards. Clara was an intriguing main character and I think she really developed and experienced a lot of growth as the book went on. Kaelis was a perfect broody male main character and I liked how we slowly got to peel back the many layers. Their chemistry was so compelling - the yearning! The ending was so thrilling and I already can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

3/5 ⭐️

To be honest, this isn’t a bad book. I would 1000% recommend this to others. It just wasn’t for me right now. I think I could’ve really liked this a couple years ago, but right now it feels very similar to other books. The “badass” FMC, the plot, the dark & broody love interest, the dialogue. It’s not bad, it’s just too familiar to me right now and I’m a little burned out. However, there were parts I was reading where I went, oh this is interesting. And people will love this. I personally know people who I would recommend this to who are still deep in wanting books like this. Sadly, I miscalculated and it ended up not being for me.

Thank you to NetGalley & Del Rey for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

Thank you Net Galley & Elise Kova for entrusting me with this wonderful ARC, Arcana Academy.
Right from the beginning of this 5 star read, i was immediately hooked. I would’ve thought the use of tarot cards would be confusing and hard to read. Safe to say, I was mistaken as development of the plot and characters was beautifully written. The plot twists & the ending had me in utter shock! I’m already on my toes impatiently waiting for book 2, despite the fact that book 1 isn’t even out yet…
Elise Kova has always been on my TBR list and i’m sorry i hadn’t read her any sooner.
I would definitely recommend this magical, perfectly balanced romantasy book, anytime & anywhere.

This was definitely one of my favorite books that I read this year. I enjoyed the magic system, the action, the characters, the romance - all of it!

The magical card component reminded me slightly of <i>One Dark Window</i> or the Deck of Destiny from <i>Caraval</i>, but this book also has the addition of a magical school setting more similar to <i>Harry Potter</i> or <i>A Door in the Dark</i>.

I appreciate a FMC with some grit and unique skills but who also has some realistic flaws. I also enjoyed that I couldn't predict what was going to happen or even what I wanted to happen. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for this ARC!

ELISE KOVA DOES NOT MISS.

Did you know, I have read all of Elise Kova’s books? I am a major fan girl and I have been so excited for this new series and it absolutely delivered. This was one of the COOLEST magic systems!!! I loved all of the tarot cards and majors and how they all wove into the world. The houses and academy were an intriguing aspect I look forward to seeing more of in book two.

AND THE ROMANCE? THIS IS HOW YOU DO ENEMIES TO LOVERS. I have been begging for an enemies book with actual enemies and BLESS. I GOT IT. The building tension between Clara and Kaelis was exquisite. Thank heavens for a true slow burn as swell.

One thing I love about EK books is never knowing who is going to make it out alive. The ruthlessness of her game creates such a harrowing dynamic as the pages turn. But alongside that I love the deep friendships that are built and the trust communicated between characters too. The ending will send you into the stratosphere because I am always here for a cliffhanger.

There’s just so many nuanced things I loved about this book y’all. It’s a great place to start for Elise Kova (BUT DON’T FORGET TO READ AIR AWAKENS TOO).

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: moderate
Romance; 2-3 open door
Violence: moderate – high
Content warnings: loss of life, murder

Amazing read! Loved every second of it. It has an amazing magic system, great characters, lots of mysteries to be solved and of course the main couple you fall in love with. You get a love story with super hot yearning very skillfully incorporated with a historic conflict and a caste system that is not working any more. This is so far, my favourite read of 2025 and i have read 57 books so far this year.