arcana academy was a highly detailed and immersive, filled with tarot inspired magic, politics, with a SLOW BURN romantic subplot.

the magic system was so fascinating and well developed, for how detailed it really is it did not feel like an info dump. the way the characters used it helped explain it and i loved seeing it in action.

i enjoyed clara’s journey through this first book as she is pulled out of prison by the second prince (oh kaelis...i have some thoughts about him), enters an engagement of convenience, and forced to enroll at arcana academy where it truly is survival of the fittest. i love the family that she has built for herself both outside and inside the academy. kaelis was so interesting and it was only book one but his character development was chef’s kiss. it was exactly what i wanted.

i have always really enjoyed elise kova’s writing style. this one felt a bit slow paced at times which is the only reason it is not five stars. the characters all around felt multifaceted and i am excited for the world continues to expand in the next installments.

as i am writing this review i am realizing they are lowkey giving reylo but that might also just might be a me thing.

tropes + highlights:
- complex magic systems
- morally gray characters
- heists
- found families
- slow burn + enemies forced into alliances
- academy setting + trials
- fake dating with high stakes
- “i hate that i want you” style chemistry

✶ thank you netgalley and del rey for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review ✶

Arcana Academy is a fantastic start to a new fantasy series with an intriguing magic system! Clara has spent the last year in prison for illegally inking tarot cards, which is supposed to be only practiced by graduates of the Arcana Academy. She is abruptly placed into a scheme with the school’s headmaster, Prince Kaelis, to discover a long-lost card and pose as his betrothed for safety.

This might be my favorite magic system I have read in a long time! I found it easy to follow along with as we were introduced to new cards and couldn’t wait to learn more. The battle scenes using cards were so cool!

The pacing of the story was perfect and I never grew bored while reading. There was always something new being unveiled and danger afoot. Everyone is this book has secrets and I feel like there is so much more to dive in to with the rest of the series!

I’ve read a few other books from Elise before and was expecting her signature slow-burn romance, but was pleasantly surprised with how Clara and Kaelis’ relationship developed in this first book! They are definitely still on the lust end of the scale currently and have a ways to go before we see a happily ever after. There is also a lot of trust that needs to be gained but I understood why they are both so hesitant to let any feelings show. They had some serious tension and steam in this book, and a lot of potential for the rest of the series.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book and need to know what happens next! I just know Elise has some tricks up her sleeve and can’t wait to find out more. I would definitely recommend to any dark academia/fantasy lovers out there!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publsihing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I devoured this in 6 hours it was insane!
The magic system in unique, dark academia is the perfect setting for this story and Elise knows how to write in a way that grips you and won't let go until you finish!

Thank you Netgalley for the arc! What an absolutely engaging read! The tarot-based magic system is incredibly unique and well thought out. Clara is a strong and relatable protagonist whose journey from prison to the Arcana Academy immediately pulls you in. Her complex relationship with Prince Kaelis, the brooding headmaster, develops with just the right amount of tension and reluctant connection.

I appreciate how the dark academia setting enhances the magical elements rather than overwhelming them. The world-building is rich without being excessive, and the political intrigue adds depth to an already compelling narrative. The fake engagement trope is handled well and doesn't feel forced or predictable.

Arcana Academy by Elise Kova is an absolute gem—a brilliant blend of dark academia, inventive magic, and emotionally grounded storytelling. From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked. Clara Graysword is a fierce, smart, and deeply human protagonist whose rare gift of inking magical tarot cards makes her both powerful and vulnerable. Her journey from prison to the shadowy halls of Arcana Academy is filled with high stakes, political tension, and emotional depth. I loved the dynamic between Clara and Prince Kaelis—the slow-burn romance was full of tension, banter, and genuine growth. The enemies-to-lovers element was perfectly paced and never rushed, making their connection feel earned and incredibly satisfying. The world-building is rich and immersive, especially the tarot-based magic system, which felt fresh, unique, and beautifully detailed. Every trial Clara faces at the academy reveals more about her strength and heart, and I couldn’t help but root for her. Elise Kova has created a world that feels dark, dangerous, and irresistible, and I’m already counting down the days until the next book. If you love magic, mystery, and complex, emotionally driven characters, Arcana Academy is an absolute must-read.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. This one took a little bit to get into, not because it wasn’t interesting but the magic system is a little complicated and there are a lot of characters that you need to keep track off. Once I got a hang of things, I needed to know what would happen. This is probably one of the first academia that I have actually enjoyed. There were some parts that I guessed and were pretty predictable but overall looking forward to the next book.

What did I just read??? A friend told me I had to request this book and I’m so glad I did!!

From the magic system, the characters, the setting… impeccable!

If you've loved other Elise Kova's books, you're going to adore this. Arcana Academy has solidified Elise being and auto buy for me.

If you are looking for an FMC who can hold her own in a world with a unique and fun magic system, Clara is for you. I personally am a big fan of the tarot magic system and how much Elise thought it through. I can't wait to see how everything plays out for Clara and will be on the lookout for the second book.

This was so good. I loved the plot and characters. It was paced perfectly. I didn't wanna put it down and was on the edge of my seat

I was excited to get this book! The premise of the book was very intriguing. The beginning sucked me in, Clara was a strong FMC. The chemistry and banter between Clara and Kaelis was so good. I only wish that there wasn’t such a push pull between them. It was frustrating to start rooting for them only for them to pull away again. Overall the story was great! I can’t wait to read the next in the series.

Ahhhhhhhhh the ending!!!! Cliffhanger whyyy!!!

I loved every second of this book! A magic academy and a magic system based on tarot cards had me hooked right from the start. I loved Clara as a character and that ending!!!!!

I am a giant sucker for anything to do with magic schools, fake relationships/engagements and enemies-to-lovers and Elise Kova did not disappoint. The romance in this book is a slow-burn and burn did it do. Every interaction between Clara and Kaelis was so good.

The dialogue was a little bit cringey to me at times but that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed this book.

I can’t wait for the next book to come out!

This was an amazing read! Even with the slightly predictable twists this was still a top read for me so far this year. While I’ve shelved a few of this authors books and added them to my tbr, Arcana Academy was my first actual read of hers. AND I LOVED EVERY WORD. I cannot wait for this series to continue to find out where Kaelis and Clara end up.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early review copy.

First, a big thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Elise Kova’s novel “Arcana Academy" – “A woman who wields magical tarot cards lands herself in a false engagement with the headmaster of a mysterious academy in this first installment of an enthralling romantasy series from the bestselling author of A Deal with the Elf King.”

Arcana Academy is for those who like unique magic systems with a long-suffering protagonist who fights against an unfair system and who has a mysterious and captivating "shadow" as an enemy, all tied together with dark academia and political intrigue vibes.

Clara Graysword, a skilled but outlawed magical tarot card crafter, is caught after a heist gone wrong. In order to escape prison, she makes a deal with Prince Kaelis, the headmaster of Arcana Academy, agreeing to a fake engagement while helping him retrieve powerful tarot cards from the king. As Clara navigates the academy’s mysteries and her growing feelings for Kaelis, she must decide where her loyalties truly lie. The novel blends slow-burn romance, enemies-to-lovers tension and high-stakes magic.

The magic system in Arcana Academy is very complex, there are many details, different trials and several tarot cards with different powers and that, when read, also have different meanings. Tarot itself is already complex, using it as a magic system with powers is even more complicated. However, Kova did her best to try to make the system as understandable as possible.

The plot becomes even more complex when we add the various houses, royal family members, fake engagement, political plots, and balancing all the characters.

The main female character, Clara, has been through a lot of suffering that seems to never end, but she perseveres and always tries to stay focused. Her skill with tarot is unmatched, which makes her have to hide her talent to avoid attracting attention and to avoid people finding out that she's the prison escapee. Clara is an altruist by nature, trying to help people escape the oppressive system they live in. The male protagonist Kaelis is the clique tall, dark, and handsome brooding type who has a cat and a sad backstory, again a little clique but romantasy that’s kind of what you sign up for. Kaelis isn't the most powerful character in the book, but he's talented with cards and his attitude of wisdom and control.

The romance in this story like many others is a slow burn, since Clara hates the royal family and blames them for all her suffering. As the book goes on, Clara discovers that Kaelis isn't exactly who she imagined him to be and her hatred begins to give way to an intriguing attraction. I wanted a deeper connection between the two, but the sexual tension is intense. The emotional aspect could've been explored for sure. I felt that there was a little bit of insta-love which I didn’t like.

The pacing of the book was very slow at the beginning, mainly because we were being introduced to the magic system and world building. The final part of the book was the best of all for me, but that cliffhanger is killer.

Thank you NetGalley for providing and approving my ARC!

I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

On the surface, Arcana Academy seemed to be perfect for my tastes in fantasy. An academic fantasy set around a tarot based magic system with a main character who has one choice—survive a magical academy to graduation or surrender to a fate worse than death, Elise Kova’s ambitious series debut attempts a lot, but is bogged down by its world building and substantial magic system. Endlessly complex, Arcana Academy was a book I so desperately wanted to parse, to get to that point where I was fully involved in its narrative from plot to characters. Suffice to say, that never happened, for a variety of reasons. There is a lot going on at the start of this novel in regards to world building, and Arcana Academy gives little room to breathe, jumping from one thing to the next in a matter of a few chapters, never leaving space for the reader to connect to anything substantial. The characters, the tarot cards, and various settings all flew by in a breeze of infodumping until I had to ask myself how much I wanted to continue. I ultimately decided to put this one down around 26% and I won’t be continuing with it.

First I’d like to say thank you to the author Elise Kova for writing such a wonderful book. I can’t wait to read the full series. (I’m screaming internally from excitement)

Thank you to Del Ray and NetGalley for a copy of this eARC of this book.

First I would like to express how anxious, exciting, and nerve racking it is to start a series where only book 1 is available. Honestly I’ve had the pleasure the last few days to really soak in the magic system and observe what the author focuses on in her writing. The magic system has a tarot card base to it that’s always exciting to read about, and of course the main characters Clara and Kaelis were written beautifully. I was happy to say a few of my theories were debunked before the end of the book. Thank you for writing such interesting and complex characters in a complicated story verse.

The magic system of this book is so unique and engaging. While there was sometimes a lot to track i was hooked and need to know what happens next.

UGH. I am upset after finishing this book because this book isn’t even out yet and I already really want book two.

First of all, a magic system based on tarot? Such a cool, unique idea! I’ve truly never read one like it. I love books set in academies, there is just something so fun about that and I think this is a great addition to that sub-genre.

Our main character, Clara, is extremely well written in my opinion. I really think that her background and trauma were developed in such a way that my heart truly reacted at times.

I have so many theories going into book two and hate that I have to wait!!t!

The author really got into detail about what was going on and with what. This was my first time reading a book by this author so I was glad to see the detail of events so thorough to understand her writing type.

I wish the glossary was at the front to reference back to it vs the back( I never even noticed it was at the end until I got to the end of the book) so I struggled to keep track of what was what.

I loved the story line, it caught my attention right away but seemed like the loss of what card was what really threw me for loop .i can always appreciate a sassy lead role.

I really enjoyed this. The magic system was super interesting and made this story stand out in the sea of Romania’s. We, of course, have a dark haired shadow-wielding potentially bad but maybe not(?) MMC. And our FMC is an absolute badass. But the magic system made up for the lack of originality.

The romance was fine and I really did enjoy how the story unfolded. It was a little slow in the beginning and I wasn’t exactly sure where we were going but once I started to pick up I was hooked.

This was such a fun time! The world of Arcana Academy holds a special place my heart because of its complexity and world building around tarot cards. I thought the idea around the cards and their power was SO unique! And giving a little extra spice to people ACTUALLY being Major Arcana?! The inking, wielding, and reading was so insanely cool.

Clara, our FMC, escapes a high security prison only to be captured by the headmaster of Arcana Academy. The story unfolds with a very traditional enemies to reluctant allies. Switching to mayyyyyybe allies to lovers? We had found family and SO MANY twists and turns. I really didn’t know what was going to happen next. When I thought I knew what was happening, a new twist came.

There was something so special about Clara - she is smart, fierce, and wildly intelligent. A true force to be reckoned with for sure. I loved how she was so determined to remain true to herself and her history, while accepting help and friendship from unlikely allies.

There were some super high sexual tense moments but ultimately giving us some open door, very explicit scenes around 70%.

This was definitely one of those slow to start and continue to burn very slowly reads. But when it picked up, it was game on. I enjoyed every single minute of this. I hateeeee the major cliffhanger and having to wait to see what happened, but I’m so excited to see where the world takes me!