Premise IMMEDIATELY hooked me; however, execution let me down a bit. Just A LOT going on to keep up with and characters I didn’t feel fully connected to. It’s also a slowwww burner across a few aspects. I think it’s a solid setup for a series; just felt like a while to get there.

Being in prison gives a person time to think, they say. Clara Graysword has had quite enough of prison though, and once the headmaster of Arcana Academy has decided to release her (for a price, of course), she’s determined to never go back. She’s also determined to get some answers to questions she’s had to hold onto for the year or so she’s been imprisoned: Where is her sister? Is her misfit family alive and well? Who betrayed her?

As you can imagine, our FMC starts this series with a handful of questions, and as the plot grows and the story builds, the questions pile on. Tentative friendships are made and then solidified even as enemies grow in number. In the middle of the mix is the axis on which this whole book (and the series, as a whole) spins: the slow-burn, unlikely-allies, love-to-hate and hate-to-love dynamic between Clara and Kaelis. Some may be tempted to call them enemies-to-lovers, but I strongly disagree. The chemistry between these two is sharp and spicy and the tension burns so nicely. The two of them together are like a guilty pleasure.

This is a fun, engaging book with a large supporting cast that I feel will be well-utilized in the next book. I like the magic system and how the tarot cards are wielded in the action scenes. The pacing is really great and the plotting is solid. It ends on one heck of a cliffhanger, so watch out for the drop! 4⭐️



I was provided a copy of this title by the author and publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Academy Setting/Adult Fantasy/Book Series/Fantasy/Romantasy/Spice Level 1

An utterly gripping romantasy that blends gothic dark academia with a richly original magic system based on tarot inkwork. This is a must-read for fans of One Dark Window or A Deadly Education. When Clara is framed and imprisoned, her fate becomes entwined with Kaelis—the void-born second prince and morally grey headmaster of Arcana Academy. What follows is a whirlwind of betrayal, secrets, and yearning, set in a world as brutal as it is beautiful.

Clara’s journey—from prison to a reluctant partnership with the man who may have murdered her mother—brims with tension, mystery, and found family dynamics. The romance simmers as Clara questions her allegiances, uncovers dangerous truths, and navigates a fake engagement inside an academy pulsing with gothic energy and layered politics.

With fast pacing, vivid twists, and unforgettable characters, this book is nearly impossible to put down. It ends on a brutal cliffhanger, but every moment leading there is absolutely worth it. This may be one of the standout romantasy releases of the year.

The premise sounded sooo good that I was extremely happy when I got the arc but I just couldn’t get into it. I had to DNF it. Sorry.. not for me

Arcana Academy features such a great magic system built off of tarot cards and the powers of those who wield them. I loved the school setting and the creative challenges the students go through to graduate. My main complaints stem from the fact that there are so many different components fight for the reader's attention, often giving me whiplash trying to figure out what was going on. The twist at the end though... whew that was exciting. I'm already desperate for the next one.

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.
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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!
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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.
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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.""