OH MY GOODNESS. I’m at a loss for words because Arcana Academy absolutely blew me away! The story follows Clara Graysword, a prisoner caught for illegally inking tarot cards to support her and her younger sister. She’s given an opportunity to escape by Prince Kaelis, but it comes with strings attached, which includes her enrollment as an initiate at Arcana Academy.

If Harry Potter, TOG, and Fourth Wing (minus the dragons) had a baby, this would be it. The world building is immaculate. The magic system is one-of-a-kind. Clara Graysword is an absolute badass. This book is perfection—it has suspense, mystery, high stakes, romance, and found family to name a few. The plot had me at the edge of my seat and I had to slow down my reading in order to not devour this book completely in one sitting. I cannot wait for book 2 to arrive!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Del Rey for a chance to read and give a honest review an advanced copy of this book.

I was so thankful to receive a arc for this because it was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025! It had such an interesting magic system and I really enjoyed learning about cards and about the intricate world that elsie kova created! I can’t wait for the next book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)

Elise Kova once again proves she's a master of magical intrigue and slow-burn romance in Arcana Academy. From the very first page, this novel wraps you in a vivid world of forbidden magic, secret identities, and tarot-based power that feels as fresh as it is immersive. Clara Graysword is a scrappy, cunning heroine with just the right mix of grit and vulnerability—her illegal magic and criminal past make her an irresistible underdog in the elite, dangerous world of the academy.

The false engagement trope is executed perfectly here, especially thanks to the brooding, enigmatic Prince Kaelis. Their chemistry crackles with every stolen glance and calculated lie, and the slow progression from distrust to something deeper is as satisfying as it is tense. The politics, the danger, the arcane secrets—all of it is layered beautifully into a high-stakes game that kept me turning pages (or rather, listening) late into the night.

My only small critique is that some of the academy and world-building elements could’ve been unpacked a bit earlier in the story, as there are moments when you're left catching up—but that minor hiccup is easily forgiven in the face of Kova’s signature romantic tension and high fantasy flair.

The world of Arcana Academy is based on the lore surrounding tarot cards. The nobility can use tarot cards for fortune telling but also to cast magic spells, for protection, healing, offense, defense and to make work easier. The poor have to do dangerous work to harvest or mine materials used to make the tarot cards. The names of the noble house and their areas of expertise are named after the major arcana of the tarot. The world is very imaginative and interesting.

Clara is a poor kid from the streets who runs with a gang providing illegal minor tarot cards to members fo the public outside of the control of the royal family. Doing increasingly dangerous jobs in an effort to find out who murdered her mother, Clara is eventually caught and sent to a prison that is really more of a dungeon. For a year she is subjected to the harsh conditions and tortured but her hatred of the royal family and the society they built only grows. Clara is broken out of jail by the second born prince in order to fulfill his plan to take down his father. Clara doesn’t trust him or what he says he is trying to do but he does give her info she needs to further her own plans. The two use each other for their own means.

Clara tries to not compromise her values but she is falling for this dark prince.

Such a great story and a great ending. I can’t wait for the next volume of the series.

Step into a world of dark academia, dangerous magic, and sizzling slow-burn romance in Arcana Academy, the gripping first installment in Elise Kova’s new romantasy series.

✨ “Fake fiancés. Forbidden magic. Tarot cards that bite back. Welcome to Arcana Academy.” 🔮📚

Clara Graysword is no stranger to survival—she’s made a living using her rare talent to ink magical tarot cards, a crime that earns her a lifetime prison sentence. But just when her future looks bleak, she’s offered a way out: a false engagement to the enigmatic Prince Kaelis, headmaster of Arcana Academy. Thrust into a world of arcane secrets, political scheming, and forbidden power, Clara must walk a fine line between playing her part and protecting her heart.

This book was such a delight to get lost in. Imagine a darker, more mature Hogwarts full of court politics and morally gray characters, and you’ll start to get the vibe. The tarot-based magic system is incredibly unique—I’ve never read anything quite like it. While it took a moment to grasp (pro tip: check the glossary in the back!), I found myself fully invested as the rules of the world began to unfold.

Clara and Kaelis have that delicious kind of tension that keeps you flipping pages, rooting for them one minute and questioning everything the next. Their chemistry is electric, and the slow build is so well done. The supporting cast is just as compelling—layered and mysterious, with storylines that add depth and intrigue without distracting from the main plot.

The court drama? So good. Twists, secrets, and betrayals kept me on the edge of my seat. By the final chapters, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. And now that I’ve reached the end, I’m already mourning the wait for book two.

This is a story that pulls you in bit by bit until you suddenly realize you’re completely obsessed. I already know I’ll be re-reading it to soak in all the details I missed the first time. If you love academy settings, high-stakes magic, and characters who walk the line between light and shadow, Arcana Academy will absolutely enchant you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for the eARC of this incredible read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars – cutthroat magic, tangled hearts, and dark academia done right)

As someone who usually reads for character first, I was surprised by how completely hooked I was by the magic system in Arcana Academy. Elise Kova has crafted a world where tarot-like cards don’t just predict the future—they shape it. Every card drawn is a weapon, a shield, a secret waiting to detonate. And every wielder, especially Clara, walks a razor-thin line between power and peril.

The system is brilliantly imagined: divination, devastation, and imagination tied into a deck that’s as deadly as it is dazzling. Clara’s ability to draw cards from any ink or powder isn’t just rare—it’s dangerous. She’s an ink witch, a criminal, and a survivor forced into an arranged marriage with Kaelis, the infuriating prince who sent her to prison. Naturally, she wants nothing to do with him. Even more naturally… we readers can’t help but root for the chaos between them.

This isn’t your fluffy “oops we kissed in the library” dark academia. This is cutthroat school politics, shady heists, secret alliances, magic duels where losing means death, and a heroine who’s not here to be liked—she’s here to survive. Clara is layered, angry, grieving, resilient, and constantly strategizing. She’s trying to stay alive in a world that’s actively trying to consume her. And that final duel with her bully, Eza? Absolutely electrifying. Magic meets emotional payoff in the best way possible.

And then there's Kaelis. A prince, a strategist, and—let’s be honest—a bit of an ass. But Kova doesn’t try to redeem him with a snap of her fingers. His growth is messy, slow, and earned. The chemistry between Clara and Kaelis sizzles, but it never overshadows the plot. This is a real rivals-to-lovers story, with all the tension, distrust, and mutual manipulation that comes with it. When the romance finally does ignite, it’s intimate, consensual, and refreshingly devoid of purity tropes or shame.

The pacing is tight, the stakes are always rising, and the writing sings with sharp banter and even sharper emotion. While the worldbuilding is more suggestive than sprawling, it’s enough to make the setting feel rich and alive. I especially loved the hints of reversed cards and deeper arcana lore—I’m desperate to see how that evolves in the sequel.

Tropes to love:
🃏 Rivals to Lovers
🔥 Forced Proximity
🎓 Dark Academia
💔 Trauma + Grief = Deep Character Arcs
💥 Slow Burn, High Stakes
👑 Political Intrigue & Arranged Marriage
🔮 Unique, Elemental Magic System

In short: Arcana Academy delivers everything I love—layered characters, slow-burn romance, and a magic system that feels utterly original. Elise Kova has built something bold, brilliant, and totally addicting. I’ll be first in line for Book 2.

I’m disappointed that I disliked this as much as I did. I adored One Dark Window’s use of tarot cards, but Arcana Academy felt like an intense game of Uno.

The story felt chaotic, with too many players and too much info-dumping throughout. I didn’t particularly like Clara or Kaelis (who I kept picturing not as a hot shadow daddy but as a punk rock emo Billy Joe Armstrong from Green Day), and their romance felt forced. The concept of a school that is only 5 years old, with a headmaster who is supposedly uber skilled but still in his early 20s, also felt more YA.

Had the absolute pleasure of reading Arcana Academy by Elise Kova ahead of its release and wow what a book 👏🏼 I really enjoyed this one and am slightly devastated that book 1 isn’t even out yet, when I desperately need book 2!

Arcana Academy is an epic dark academia story, featuring a clever tarot magic system & enemies to enemies (who like each other a bit)…
This story had me hooked from the get go! If you’re looking for real detailed world / plot building, a feisty FMC, mystery and adventure, with a touch of romance / heat, then this book is for you. I loved the journey Clara went on and her introduction & interactions with our secretive princely headmaster.… and the ending, wow, I’m over the cliff, not just hanging!

I really loved the magic system in this book. Being somewhat familiar with Tarot. The creation and casting of the cards like spells and/or weapons was really fun to read. Keeping track of them all was daunting, but I eventually found the glossary in the back of the book. This book took forever to read because I kept going on side quests to find out the fortune telling aspects of the cards mentioned.

The romance in the book went from hate, to distrust, to lust with a side of distrust. There was really no relationship building in this book, even though it seemed like there were some moments of openness, because of ALL of the characters were keeping secrets. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE in this book was keeping secrets, and still is at the end of this book. I feel like nothing was revealed, and I have no idea who the narrator should trust.

The unreliable history telling was an interesting element, but I felt like this book is too long to leave so many questions unanswered, and that ending was just rude! If I didn’t love my kindle so much I would have thrown it.

Even with the length, the rude ending and the questions left unanswered, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be eagerly anticipating the next one. I imagine this will be a very popular book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the free advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Wow, what a rollercoaster of a read. Hooked right from the beginning. It has an incredibly unique magic system that I just adored learning about. There is a good deal of chemistry between the main characters but it's more of a slow burn.

First and foremost, Thank Del Rey and Netgally for this ARC!

I was hooked with this book’s unique magic, combat and academy system. I enjoyed learning about the different tarot cards and what each print entails with the magic, I thought it was well thought of and described so well. I learned more about tarot than i ever have in my life. Plus the academy system was so so brilliant with the houses, sorting and initiate test, it stayed true to its tarot roots while adding a challenge to the world.

The world building was equally intriguing. It was complex, filled with mysteries and a chilling atmosphere. There were moments where it felt a little over-complicated so there were some divots in the pacing of the plot. However, when the actions picks up, it naturally got me hyped!

As for the main characters, Clara was a refreshing fmc who did not undermine her skills. She was so confident in her magic that she could outsmart literally anyone. I find her resilience, driven nature and boldness really admirable. Kaelis felt like a puzzle to me. He was so mysterious, however I did like the slow reveal of his true nature, proving that even the gray-est of characters still have a heart. Their romance starts out slow and unfortunately they start to realize their attractions, I was not convinced with either of their feelings.

Overall a very interesting and magically intriguing read! All opinions are my own.

5 STARS!! I have many thoughts and feelings after finishing this book, at the forefront of which is what sorcerer do I need to bribe, or tarot card do I need to wield (lol) in order to fast forward in time to when book 2 is available? This book was so good, it has me questioning my love of reading ARCs, because it means I have to wait that much longer for the next installment (but I will gladly wait with my grubby little hands held out for when the second book is ready, do your thing and cook, Ms. Kova).

Thank you NetGalley and Del Ray for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Arcana Academy is about our female main character, Clara, with a traumatic past, who is brought from prison to magic academy under the guise of a student and bride-to-be to the second prince (and our morally grey main male character) Kaelis; but she has her own reasons to accept this deal, as she is trying to uncover the truth about the death of a loved one. If there is one thing to know about me, I love a magic academy and a morally grey MMC; it eats every time, and this was no exception.

The thing I loved most about this book was definitely the magic system; this was one of the most unique worlds of magic I have read about. The magic is based in tarot, which I knew next to nothing about, but which has always been of interest (although you need neither knowledge nor prior interest in order to thoroughly enjoy this magic system); each suit has a tie to an element and "type" of magic, and also has major and minor arcana cards, that can be cast by arcanists (both legally through the university, and illegally outside of it), but only certain people can access the higher magics, and all magic seemingly comes with a cost that can change your future. Also, each suit's users have their own distinct personality traits (think Hogwarts houses), and you bid for a spot in a house during your first year at the university, as well as go through some cut-throat trials in order to become a full-fledged student. There are also clans, and some other intricacies that you learn along the way, but this was an all around amazing magic system, and I looked forward to learning what each card did as they came up, as well as the backstory of how the magic came to be.

Also, we need to take a moment to talk about the forbidden romance aspect between our main characters and the tension that was built throughout (I yelled "just kiss already!" multiple times). Clara and Kaelis had me pulling my hair with frustration and kicking my feet and giggling, both in the same chapters sometimes. I love a "they fall for each other but are too stubborn to admit it and the forces of the world are keeping them apart" trope, and Kaelis had me feral with his smirks, one liners, protective nature, and seemingly out-of-pocket admissions of affection.

Lastly, the plot of this book was unreal. Never did I know what was happening next, and there were times that I audibly gasped at a plot twist. Also, that last line/plot twist? Criminal. You're telling me I have to wait at least a year to find out what happens? I'm crashing out.

Overall, this book deserves all of the stars, and I cannot wait for it to release, so that I can go buy my trophy copy (I need those inside cover arts like, yesterday) and support this author/series!

What a start to a high-stakes new dark academia fantasy series!

We follow Clara, a rebel mage, imprisoned for illegal usage and inking of tarot cards. Enter Prince Kaelis, second born Prince and potentially very dangerous Arcanist, who is everything Clara hates and who she suspects lies at the base of all her misery. Clara is everything Kaelis needs, though, for his possibly sinister plans to work. So through some roundabout ways he gets her out of prison and into his own elite school for Arcanists. Oh and also he introduces her as his bride-to-be…

The magic system all about tarot cards is something very fresh and unique. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the cards and how they work, definitely haven’t read anything like that before. I would have only wished there to be some kind of overview of which card does what because that sometimes got a bit confusing.


I also enjoyed the FMC a lot. She’s a very intense, no-nonsense kinda gal, who knows what she wants and how to get it. She is super strong and her being very powerful was very believable and didn’t come across as her being OP for no reason.

The slow-burn romance between Clara and Kaelis was superbly done. The tension was kept so well throughout and some scenes literally took my breath away bc of how close they got to finally moving along in their relationship only for them to go even slower. Absolutely delicious!

Something that bothered me personally is that there were too many (not that important) named characters. That might just be something very specific that is not a problem for most people because my memory is kind of bad but the cast of characters was too big for my liking for the kind of plot and setting that the book had but it’s just a minor critique.

I also have to dock some points for some explanations and plot twists being a little too rushed for my liking. So much happened and got revealed and I just wish it would have been more evenly spaced out or that the book were longer to give each twist a better spotlight.

All in all, it was a great start to the series and with that ending I definitely cannot wait to read the next instalment!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House publishing for this free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
.
This first book in the trilogy ensnares you right away. The fmc Clara is bad ass and it was the best female rage I read in a long time without reducing the character to a wining woman. Though you feel the enemies to lovers trope coming on soon, I ate up this truly slowburn but tragic romance.
The magical system is based on tarot and feels like a very dangerous, not to mention lethal, thing in a world built to host horrors, again and again.
Escape and get thrown into a very dangerous academia story with a cliffhanger ending you probably didn't see coming!
.
I raced through this book in 2 days and intend to reread because it's the type that has you building up theories and alliances in your head, and I want to backtrack if there's any evidence i have overlooked.
.
What a book. It is HP for grown ups with FW burning romance and the dark worldbuidling of the shepherd king duology. That's lots of good stuff all rolled in one, no?
Great romantacy read, get it when it comes out 22nd July and bask in darkness and deathly trials while lounging by the pool this summer!!
5☆|5

ARC kindly provided by the publishers through NetGalley-

You know that kind of slowburn where the main characters have already been through so much, emotionally, physically, psychologically, that the tension just aches? That was Arcana Academy for me. I found myself internally screaming just kiss already multiple times, but in the best possible way.

Their relationship is one of the strongest elements of the book. It’s complicated, it’s messy, and even when they do get together, there are no neat promises or happy-ever-afters tied with a bow. You can see love growing between them, even if neither of them is ready to admit it. That kind of subtle emotional storytelling? Chef’s kiss.

The magic system was also really well crafted, I never felt lost, and it had a refreshing clarity that’s often missing in fantasy. That said, a small glossary at the beginning (especially explaining the symbols like cups, swords, etc.) would’ve helped, as I struggled to visualize those at times.

The ending genuinely surprised me, which is rare and appreciated. However, the "world-protectors" subplot felt a bit shoehorned in, like it belonged to a different book or needed more build-up to feel fully integrated.

The club scenes gave me major The Poppy War’s Cyke vibes, even if they aren’t that similar on paper, the atmosphere and energy brought me right back to those pages, and I adored it.

One small critique: the language during the sex scenes felt oddly modern and out of place. It threw me off a bit, like being catapulted from a rich, almost medieval-feeling world into contemporary slang. It disrupted the otherwise immersive tone.

Overall, Arcana Academy is a compelling blend of emotional depth, strong worldbuilding, and just enough unpredictability to keep me hooked. Definitely one to recommend to fans of intense character dynamics and layered magic systems.

Quotes:
""This was supposed to be simple" I whisper [...] "Nothing about us will ever be simple""
"We never were anything to begin with. Never could be anything...not in this lifetime. But give me one last time"
""You'll never be done with me," Kaelis says with all the arrongance in the world. "I will haunt you from this world into the next.""

4.25 stars

Elise Kova has done it again. She has built a whole new fantasy realm with a unique magic system and explained it well throughout the book to avoid confusion.

With Clara's past and future shrouded in mystery (mostly to the reader), we follow her journey from prison to the prestigious Arcana Academy, a place where every arcanist in the country must pass through. But don't let that fool you, although they must enter, not all leave, and many less graduate. In the country of Oricalis, an arcanist can either graduate and work for the crown, or fail and be sent to the mills to collect or process the very ingredients that make magic possible.

Magic in this world is run by Tarot cards, inked with specific ingredients. There are 4 suits; wands, cups, coins, and swords. Each has a different power and the average arcanist can only wield, or ink, cards 1-5 without training. There are also 20 Majors that "no one" can wield. But, you guessed it, Clara isn't just anyone.

This book follows Clara through the journey of finding out how she was captured, who killed her mother, and what happened to her sister inside the academy, while trying not to fail the challenges and be sent away. She must also juggle her distrust but growing feeling for the shadow prince of the realm, Kaelis.

Kaelis is a hottie, and Clara is a great FMC to follow while we all learn the secrets of this world. Can't wait for the next book because that ending was insane. I was stressed for the last 100 pages as usual with every fantasy novel, but really it was the last 30 pages that did me in. Definitely recommend for anyone who loves a good enemies to lovers, shadow daddy, and badass FMC.

Arcana Academy is a masterful blend of dark academia, intricate magic, and slow-burn romance. Kova introduces a unique tarot-based magic system that's both imaginative and accessible, even for those unfamiliar with tarot. The world-building is rich and immersive, drawing readers into a realm of political intrigue and magical trials. This novel is a standout in the romantasy genre and a promising start to a captivating series.

“But it’s also true that sometimes, even the worst among us want a moment of absolution. To feel our humanity isn’t entirely rotted away, that we aren’t just a cold and lonely husk.”

Arcana Academy is where people can go to learn how to harness magic through inking tarot cards. “Can” might not be the right word here. There’s little actual choice involved—but semantics, right?

Clara Graysword, our main character, is a prison escapee who runs right into the arms of Prince Kaelis. He admits her into the academy, not to protect her, but to use her and keep her hidden. Plot twist? They’re mortal enemies. Plot twist number two? They have to pretend to be in love to keep her from being discovered and sent back to prison.

The world is dystopian and brutal. The rulers hoard all the power, both magical and political, while the rest are left to starve, scrape by, and take on dangerous contracts just to survive. Clara is fighting to tear down the system after living through its worst. Kaelis is royalty, raised within the very structure Clara wants to destroy.

This story is gritty, layered, and full of tension. The magic system is tarot-based and one of the most original I’ve read in a while. The world-building is rich, and the stakes actually matter.

The romance between Clara and Kaelis is a solid enemies-to-lovers setup. They’re on opposite sides, forced to fake a relationship while everything is at risk. I did find the romance slightly anticlimactic at times. There was a lot of back and forth, and not quite enough sustained tension for me personally. Still, I’m invested, and I love them. And the cat? Iconic. No notes.

The cast of characters is great. Even the side characters feel distinct and meaningful, not just filler. That said, there are a lot of people to keep track of and a lot going on plot-wise. At times it felt like I had to work to keep up, but that didn’t take away from how compelling it all was.

I don’t know much about tarot or playing cards, so there was a bit of a learning curve. I don't know if you need that knowledge to enjoy the book, but I do think it would help deepen the experience.

And the cliffhanger? Absolutely wild. I cannot wait to see where Elise Kova takes this next.

Omg those last few pages had me STRESSED. I wasn’t expecting that ending and I’m glad it went differently than I had anticipated because I’m so excited for book 2 now, even though book 1 isn’t even officially out 😅

Going into the review I’ll say that I love Elise Kova’s books. This has that strong FMC like in the Air Awakens series and offshoots but I think this is even better and stronger. EK’s writing is super strong in this, you get lost in the world while reading, the cast of characters are really neat, and it does feel like the stakes are actually high.

The tarot based magic system was really cool, I love how it played on the actual way tarot is used traditionally with readings but also allowing for the wielders to gain power and strength from the various cards as well. Also that there is some mastering needed with each wielder having to ink their own decks.

I did also like the school setting, it felt very dark academia. Though I wish we had gotten a little more with the other students, I’m not sure if/how that thread would continue in the next book but I’m curious 👀 the students are all cut throat because the stakes are high, if you don’t succeed then you’re sent essentially to your death, but not all can make it to the second year.

I did enjoy the romance and both the MMC, Kaelis, and the FMC, Clara. Their motivations, secrets, and the ways they intersected and played against each other were I think well done. I do appreciate though that not everything is as it seems and nothing is presented neatly with a bow. It also doesn’t feel like the romance has been fully established, so I’m excited to see how that looks throughout the rest of the books!

There are still questions and secrets to uncover the truth of and I cannot wait to see when and how they are answered.

I can totally see this one being popular when it releases in July. And once you read that ending - my DMs are open 😉

Thank you so much to Del Rey for the early copy, all opinions above are my own!!

I love anything by Elise Kova - thankfully she only asks for money, not my first born child (although I would probably give if she asked..). Arcana Academy felt a little different to her previous stuff but I still loved it, dark and broody MMC, academy settling and badass FMC, 10/10.

Should you read the book? Put it this way.. I have more than one pre-order coming!