This is my first book I have read by this author and it didn't disappoint! Elise immerses you into the story and are captivated the entire time!

Clara Graysword illegally makes magical tarot cards. Prince Kaelis helped her escape prison due to her illegal activity, but only for his own personal gain. He is in need of something that only Clara can steal and will stop at nothing to get it, even if it means making her his bride to be. She also has to enter Arcana Academy as a first year student. It has Harry Potter vibes with being sorted into houses, classes, and adventure!

"Sometimes, it's the things we can't see in ourselves that have the most power."

Clara is on her own mission to find her sister who was at the Academy before her, but that is a mystery in itself. The academic tests and competitions throughout the book are exciting and different with using the magic cards. The book ends on a huge cliffhanger!

Elise is very creative in her idea with cards and that they have magic and power of their own. A very fast paced, enthralling book! I didn't want to put it down! Elise captures your attention from the beginning and makes you want to keep reading! I can't wait for the second book!

Thank you Elise Nova, Netgalley and Avon books for the opportunity to read this eARC preview.

I genuinely wish I liked the book more. On the surface, this book should work. It has all the ingredients of a fun fantasy read: a magical academy, enemies-to-lovers tension, trials, a dark and brooding MMC, and even a dash of heist action. But unfortunately, the execution left me more frustrated than satisfied.

Let’s start with the positives: despite its hefty length, I finished the book quickly. The story was readable and, at times, fun. The tarot-based magic system was the one standout aspect—unique and intriguing, even if I’m not personally into tarot. It's a fresh idea that deserved a more refined narrative around it.

However, the originality ends there. The first 100+ pages read like a mash-up of Throne of Glass, Harry Potter, Fourth Wing, One Dark Window, and just about every other popular fantasy series of the past decade. It's like the author had a list of trending tropes and ticked them off one by one: enemies-to-lovers? Check. Tragic backstory? Check. Oppressive kingdom, forced proximity, trials, mysterious powers? All there, but in the most predictable, underdeveloped ways.

The pacing was inconsistent, the timeline often confusing, and the story bloated with too many minor characters who added little to the plot. I'd rather have a smaller, well-developed cast than a sea of forgettable names. And while the FMC may resonate with some readers, she just didn’t work for me. Add in some eyebrow-raising choices (random eye colors like red, pink, and violet?) and you get a world that never fully clicks into place.

As for the so-called "heist" in the final act... let’s just say if you’ve read Six of Crows, lower your expectations. It was unconvincing and chaotic, and not in a good way. And although the book is marketed as adult fantasy, it reads much more like YA—with basically unnecessary, awkward intimate scenes that feel out of place and a writing style that comes off as unpolished and overly repetitive. The story could easily be half as long if the same facts weren’t rehashed multiple times.

In the end, Arcana Academy feels like it’s trying very hard to be something it’s not quite ready to be. Maybe it’ll find fans among readers newer to the genre, but it left me underwhelmed and not particularly eager for the sequel. One star for the tarot magic, and one for the fact that I kept reading—despite shaking my head in disbelief more than once.

Not one I’ll be adding to my shelf.

A TRUE enemies-to-lovers tale that is darkly delicious. The magic system is based in the creation and use of tarot through what each card represents — to be inked and wielded in combat or readings. This was a conceptual delight. I really do hope we see this expanded/furthered in book two! What I found most refreshing, however, was to find, of the two main characters/love interests, the FMC was the red-flag — and though the MMC proves to be a green flag, it is still a very dark green. I have found this characterization to be rare in romantasy. To have a FMC assume the roll as the red-flag who fully own those intentions while remaining relatable and entirely sympathetic gives voice to a more complex and perhaps a deeper feminist portrayal.

To those who come for the romance: the tension is tensioning! I loved that Kova had readers waiting and begging for those sexy scenes — put off repeatedly in their wars of desire vs respect/boundaries. Kova flirted with that line so many times and when they finally crossed it, it was perfect. (and it was not a copy/paste of the usual!)

Ladies and gentlemen, we have officially found my favorite dark academia novel of 2025—if not my favorite first-in-a-series.

Arcana Academy is new adult Hogwarts meets tarot, with a true enemies-to-lovers slow burn that sizzles, and all the court politics, intrigue, and magical battles you wish YA would give you—but just… can’t.

The worldbuilding was fantastic. I loved the way the author wove tarot into the culture and magic system—honoring the art in a way that was beautiful, immersive, and completely original. It satiated a craving I’d hoped to satisfy with other books (The Dark Window included), but nothing ever quite hit the mark until now.

The pacing is on point—relentless in the best way. Every chapter pulls you deeper, layering just enough questions, danger, and emotional tension to keep you hooked without ever feeling rushed. I never hit a lull or found myself skimming; the story just moves.

And the intrigue? Chef’s kiss. I was constantly questioning who could be trusted, what their true motives were, and what game they were really playing—leaving me deliciously off-balance the whole way through.

And Clara! She’s everything I want in a FMC—clever, stubborn, and fiercely loyal to the people she loves. She’s not afraid to fight her own battles—in fact, she often welcomes them, especially when it means defending her beliefs or protecting those around her, even when it comes at her own expense.

And the ending?!? I have no words. My heart is still in my throat—and I have a feeling it’s going to stay there until book two.

If you’re craving dark academia for grown-ups, laced with intrigue, tarot, slow-burn tension, and all shades of morally gray, you need this book in your life.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pub Date: July 21, 2025

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey Publishing for my e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#arcanaacademy

Arcana Academy has a really interesting magic system. A caster has to ink a minor arcana tarot card using special inks. These cards then release a certain magical aspect depending on the suit and number. The book starts off with stating that the major arcana cards can't be inked, which we quickly find out there is a reason for that. But no spoilers here!

Clara starts off in prison only to be rescued by the void born second-born prince, Kaelis. Kaelis offers her a choice, help him gain a power to change the world or rot in prison. Pretty easy choice. While at Arcana Academy, Clara discovers more about magic and her own family. I like Clara's overall storyline, but I had a few things that really bothered me. The first was Clara's reasoning for wanting more power was to get her family back instead of actually changing or helping the world she lives in. I just thought her motivation for most of the book was fairly selfish. I would have liked to see her engage more with the world around her and form more allies.

The overall story was really interesting, and it built up enough for me to want to read the next book. But I also felt like the lore should have been built up more. We spend so much time working out a heist and going through the trials, but there is still so much history and lore that could have added. I get leaving enough for the next books in the series, but it felt like we spent way too much time at the school and the will they won't they between Clara and Kaelis. It would have been more interesting if there was more worldbuilding and less wandering about.

Like I said I'll read the next book, but this could have been better for me. If you enjoy romance fantasy as a genre, I think you'll love this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Del Rey for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

The cover of this book drew me in. I was expecting a little more of a spicey novel from the description but this is definitely more of a slow burn romance. There was some great world building and it was very unique. I had a hard time getting into the book, somehow how fast paced it was made it feel slower (a huge contradiction I know) but by the end I was zooming.

(Actual: 4.5⭐, rounded up) I loved this book! Fantasies are always a gamble for me but I found this one to be very engaging from the start, the magic system was super unique while also still easy to follow/understand, and I thought the characters were all well-developed in regards to their feelings & motivations. The plot itself was gripping and I'm a sucker for dark academia aesthetics, so when I say Kova understood the assignment...... she really, really did 🤩 Overall a fantastical and magical read; I can't wait for the next one and also for whatever Elise Kova dreams up next!

“𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜.”

Arcana Academy by Elise Kova
5⭐️ | 2🌶️

-tarot magic
-dark academia
-secret societies
-fake engagement
-enemies to lovers
-forced proximity

It’s like if Harry Potter and One Dark Window made a book together: a unique and immersive magic system revolving around tarot cards but in an academia setting. There’s a bit of world-building and set up to get through but it’s done in an exciting way that pays off for the slow-burn tension and plot intensity.

Clara is so confident in her skill but it’s inspiring when she recognizes what she lacks and strives to become better. Especially as she goes from prison to posing as a noble in a fake engagement entering the academy. She’s the most human character in her struggle between emotion, grief and reason and I admire her for it.

Kaelis is a dark enigma, I know he’s hiding something but it’s what keeps me captivated by him. You feel like you shouldn’t trust him but then he takes care of Clara the entire time and it’s hard not to love him.

I don’t think I fully trusted anyone in this book, and honestly I’m still not sure who to trust. That last 30% had me second-guessing myself. And ohhhh my goodness, am I looking forward to book 2! This feels like just the beginning of a wild series.

Arcana Academy releases July 22. Thank you to Elise and @delreybooks for the advanced copy!

“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪 … 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝.”

“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙙. 𝙋𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙. 𝙊𝙬𝙣𝙚𝙙.”

“..𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙄’𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙞𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩, 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩.”
“𝙎𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙.”

“𝙃𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”

“..𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙄’𝙙 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣.”

“𝙒𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙖 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙-𝙪𝙥 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙧. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 … 𝙄 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙮 …”

“𝙒𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙨. 𝙈𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙨. 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙪𝙨?“

“𝙄𝙛 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

I loved every single minute of this.
This being my first Elise Kova (surprise) couldn't have been a better introduction and I cant wait to look further into her backlist.

The slow building banter and the friendships and relationships kept my intrigue but what I really loved was the magic system and the world-building.
I cannot wait for the next book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An Absolute Spellbinding Masterpiece!

Arcana Academy by Elise Kova completely blew me away. From the very first page, I was hooked into a dark, magical world full of secrets, danger, and a tension so sharp it could cut glass. This isn’t just a story — it’s an experience.

Let’s start with the enemies-to-lovers trope in this book, which was done to absolute perfection. Clara and Kaelis? Yes please. This is the kind of knife-to-the-throat chemistry that has you holding your breath and flipping pages like your life depends on it. The yearning, the slow burn, the spice 👀 —every moment of their relationship was earned, and the emotional payoff? Totally worth the wait.

The magic system in this book is so fun and so artistically unique. The use of arcana cards felt so fresh and detailed, and Kova does an incredible job explaining their lore and mechanics without ever bogging the story down. It was immersive, rich, and brilliantly crafted.

Clara as a main character is so multi-layered, and the found family elements helped her shine even more. Watching her open up, piece by piece, was a beautiful journey. Each character brought something meaningful to the table, and it made every moment of heartbreak and triumph hit that much harder.

Elise Kova knows exactly when to twist the knife emotionally, and I found myself clutching my kindle at more than one moment. Suspenseful, heartfelt, and utterly romantic, Arcana Academy is everything I want in a fantasy.

Highly recommend to anyone who loves morally gray characters, forbidden magic, and intense yearning. Elise Kova has outdone herself — I’m already desperate for more!

3.5 stars rounded up. This is definitely a vibes-based review. I want to know what happens next with Clara and Kaelis, so I'll very likely read the next book, but this one did drag a bit. It took me a long time to read because I wasn't hooked enough to read more than a couple chapters at a time. The magic system is based on tarot, which I admittedly know very little about, but there are so many cards described in the story (essentially a deck of 52 minors plus 20 majors) that it just feels a little muddled.

Clara and Kaelis's relationship is also frustrating to me. It just doesn't progress throughout the book. Even after their "big" spicy scene, they go right back to not trusting each other or pretending to dislike the other, like the beginning of the book.

Something made me want to finish it, I just can't put my finger on it.

I have lots of questions, and hoping they'll be answered in future installments.

I won’t lie, this was a fun book to read.

The world building was very interesting, and I was always so intrigued to learn something else about this new world and Eclipse City. For some reason, the ambiance filled me with nostalgia while it still felt new.

Now the magic system was hands-down my absolute favorite part of this book. It was so interesting! I loved learning how Arcanists used tarot cards and the magic associated with them. It ranged from the most mundane thing to the most rage-filled attack. Not only that, but the different skills an Arcanist can develop while using the cards. Honestly, I wish the book spent more time on the academic side of things to further delve into the cards.

The lead, Clara, was a force to be reckoned with. However, I wouldn’t expect any less from a female heroine in a fantasy. She was stubborn and relentless. Though I am intrigued by her lineage (which makes me sound like all of the nobles 😂) but the little hints at the end made me want to know more!

Then we also have the prince, who is cruel and intimidating, but then he ends up having a soft spot for the heroine. While characters like his are fun to read about, I was waiting for something else to really spice it up. Something to make him feel more three-dimensional.

Unfortunately, I felt like for most of the beginning, as the story took root, there was a lot of hand-holding and info dumping. I kept wondering why so many characters were introduced at the same time, wondering why mechanics of the world building and/or magic system were dumped on the reader in one go, or even why the story felt stilted at times. I realized the writing style didn’t lend itself much to make the reader fully immerse themselves in the book.

I will say, the last few chapters were action-packed and exciting! I could not stop reading just to find out what was happening, which is a sign that the story overall was enjoyable. I wish there was more of that dark academia aspect of it though.

3.5

Arcana Academy by Elise Kova was one of my most anticipated reads this year. This story follows our FMC Clara Graysword who is clever, stubborn, and loyal to a fault. When she is caught engaging in some forbidden magic, she ends up in prison, away from her beloved sister. Eventually, she ends up facing an impossible choice – continue to rot in prison or fake an engagement to the headmaster of the Arcana Academy, Prince Kaelis, a place she had been warned by her dead mother never to go. In search of her sister, she accepts the Prince’s bargain and from the moment she steps foot in the Academy, the twists and turns don’t stop.

Kova’s worldbuilding in Arcana Academy is intricate – the tarot based magic system, the connections between characters, the dark and dangerous academy – all come together to make this book quite simply, un-put-downable. The spicy tension between Clara and our MMC is a most delicious slow burn, and I absolutely cannot wait to go back to Eclipse City. Arcana Academy has everything romantic fantasy lovers crave – epic magic, intrigue, and a love story for the ages. Run, do not walk, to your nearest bookstore!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to review this title!

This was surprisingly my first book read from Elise Kova - I can’t believe it took me this long because it was such a good time. Even though it was over 500 pages, I could have had more 😂

We track Clara through her escape of the prison and journey at Arcana Academy - somewhere she swore she would never go. Her enemies are everywhere and it’s impossible for her to know who to trust - she has to manage this while searching for her sister and trying to find out the truth of what happened to her mom.

The world and setting are great; the world felt very rich to me. The magic system was so fascinating (and the glossary at the end was helpful).

There were a LOT of characters introduced and I did feel like I loss track of some of them at the academy. However, the author did a great job reminding us of who they are and the character names were different enough I didn’t confuse them lol.

I did wish I knew Kaelis more. I still get this feeling that he’s hiding so much and I would have loved a few more moments with them together.

But overall, fantastic start and I’m so looking forward to the next book!

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the eARC!

Welcome to a very tarot focused world where magic is linked to the tarot. If you have any background of knowledge of tarot you will be able to follow this book a bit better. No tarot knowledge, just know that you might be a little bit lost and the cards from the minor or major arcana will not mean as much to you. I found this to be a bit of niche fantasy title as a result. The romance angle was fine, but I wish we would have learned a bit more about the prince, as even by the end of the book he feels like a bit of an unknown. What is he doing all day? What is his history? What are his endgoals? If you are looking for a different spin on fantasy with some romance this title might be worth a try for you.

Arcana Academy by Elise Kova completely captivated me from start to finish.

Clara is such a badass heroine — tough, flawed, and fiercely determined — and I loved how her resilience made her so relatable.

The forced engagement with Prince Kaelis sets up an enemies-to-lovers dynamic that’s full of slow-burn tension and surprising depth. Kaelis isn’t your typical prince; his layers of mystery and moments of vulnerability kept me hooked.

The magic system centered around tarot cards is fresh and imaginative, and the world-building of the academy is rich with secrets and political intrigue.

I found myself completely immersed in this blend of fantasy and romance. The pacing was just right, with enough action and emotional moments to keep me turning pages.

If I had one small critique, some side characters felt a bit underdeveloped, but as the first book in a series, I’m confident they’ll grow in future instalments.

Overall, Arcana Academy is a fantastic start to a series I’m excited to continue.

If you love magical schools, complicated romances, and a heroine who fights for her own destiny, this one’s for you.

"'Never step foot in the fortress. Never partake in the profane rituals that happen there', comes my mother’s cautioning from beyond the grave. At the same time, Kaelis leans toward me, lips by my ear. He whispers, as if to drown out the warning. 'Welcome to Arcana Academy.'”

Enemies to Lovers, Morally Grey Main male character, a magic system based on Tarot... what more could I ask for in a romantasy? Picture me swan diving into a book because that's exactly what happened with the Arcana Academy by Elise Kova. My only negative is the slow burn was too slow for me. The back and forth between the two main characters went on forever it seemed and by the time the steamy scenes arrived I almost didn't care anymore.

Now for the good stuff. This book reminds me of Jennifer Estep's Mythos Academy in every good way. I liked a lot about this book. Maybe it's the personification of the tarot cards combined with their more complex meanings but that part of the book did it for me. I loved the characters, the morally gray love connection, the dark academia setting, even the threat of jail. I could ask for more spice but other than that Arcana Academy was explicitly written for me and I cannot be convinced otherwise 😂. Great job Elise Kova

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Prose: basic
Pacing: slow
Spice: 🌶🌶
Character Development: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️

I was so intrigued by this magic system of Tarot Cards, minors and majors and everything it entails. And perhaps I’m as cautious and cynical as our girl but I can’t figure out who to trust, who to work with, who to run away from. Obviously the King is bad, but what about our dark prince, the headmaster? What’s his real history? What are his true intentions? Should we have trusted him all long or kept him at arm’s length (emotionally speaking of course because I want zero space physically between our FMC and MMC - sooo happy when that tension broke!).

Also, I couldn’t decide about the sister - alive? Dead? Hiding? A traitor? HOW CAN I TRUST ANYONE?!

Desperate to know what happens next. When do they figure out they don’t have everything they need to access the World? How is our girl going to get out of this situation? And do we trust the handsome dark seductive prince?? Because I freaking hope so.

OMG. I loved this book! I received an ARC, and absolutely could not put it down. I thought the plot and storyline was really well written. I thought the tarot card magic system was really unique. There is great chemistry and spice but it’s not overwhelming.
-college academy of magic
-fake engagement
-mystery of betrayal
-enemies to ??? 😜

I genuinely would recommend this book to anyone who loves college/academy settings, fantasy romance, and new adult genre. The ending lands of a very good cliffhanger that immediately made me want book 2.

This book is magical. Kaelis a 2nd price who is in charge of an academy. Is looking to steal cards from his father to create his own world. In order to do so he must fake an engagement with someone he loathes clara who is very powerful with creating cards.he also caused her to be prisoned for a year.


This has enemies to lovers, magic, suspense and was beautifully written. Definitely recommend