Excuse me while I still scream over the ending of this book! I honestly have no idea how to fully put into words the amount of whiplash I got from all the emotions this entire book put me through. Elise, I don't know if I'm supposed to love Kaelis or not because I do but I'm questioning everything at this point. Also, I needed book 2 like yesterday please!!!

Ok, the highlights? Dark Academia, Fake Engagement, Forced Proximity, Actual Morally Gray MMC, a baddie of a FMC, He Falls first(?), A unique magic system, Found Family.

I can't stress enough how obsessed I am that Elise Kova has based her magic system on Tarot. Not just typical Tarot but the way they are drawn, the suit (Swords, Wands, Coins, Cups) and major arcana. The stakes of the academy, the class system, this world is so immersive and I wanted to dive so far deeper into the lore especially with the reveals that just smack you in the face with more questions than answers. The burn between Clara and Kaelis is built on tension, I can't logically class it as a slow burn due to them hooking up in book one, but the build up is delicious. I also cannot praise enough having a strong and talented leading lady and for once not having her sacrifice her powers (at least not yet). Our girl is not weak and I am so HERE FOR IT.

It's safe to say I could not put this book down unless I was forced to. This may be my new obsession and I cannot wait to see how Clara is going to handle her new predicament now.

Thank you so much to Del Rey for the e-arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I'm begging for approval for book 2 already

Elise Kova does not miss. I have been a fan of hers since the air awakes series came out and I am stunned still to this day about her world building. She is the queen of fantasy/romantasy. The way she takes a topic like tarot cards and builds a whole world around them, the creation, and the function of them blows my mind.

This book follows Clara through her trials and tribulations of being someone who can make tarot, which is a rare ability that requires magic. Throughout the book you follow her story and the twists and turns of her life while at Arcana academy. Instantly you are rooting for Clara— she is such a likable character!

I will be impatiently awaiting the next book in this series because I cannot get enough.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.5)

Tropes & Themes: Unique Magic System, Tarot-Based Magic, Dark Academia / Magic Academy, Fake Engagement, Hate to Love, Forced Proximity, Found Family, Secret Societies.

Initial Thoughts: This book had me at “Tarot-Based Magic” and “Magic Academy.” Add a layer of Dark Academia and political intrigue? I was absolutely on board. The premise promised so much—and in some ways, it delivered—but in others, it left me wanting more.
Plot: We follow Clara, a resilient and determined young woman who has just escaped from prison, where she was locked up for illegally “inking” Tarot—a rare magic reserved only for the elite Arcana Academy. Her unlikely rescuer? Prince Kaelis, Headmaster of the very Academy her mother warned her to avoid. Kaelis needs Clara’s help to steal powerful Tarot from the King and recreate an all-powerful card, supposedly to better the world. But Clara is wary—rightfully so—as his family is responsible for the traumas that shaped her: her imprisonment, her mother’s death, and her sister’s disappearance.

What I Loved!
The Magic System & Worldbuilding: This was hands-down my favourite part of the book. The Tarot-based magic felt fresh and inventive, and the structure of the magical society (clans, hierarchies, the inking process) was incredibly compelling. I was completely absorbed whenever the book explored this world—and the glossary is essential reading to help keep it all straight.

Intrigue & Plot Twists: The last-page twist completely caught me off guard in the best way. It was a perfect hook for book two, and it’s the reason I’m sticking with the series.

What I didn’t love (but REALLY wanted to love):
Pacing & Structure: The first act had me gripped, but things started to lag after Clara's escape and introduction to the Academy. The middle of the book felt repetitive and uneven, with jarring time jumps and scene shifts that made it hard to stay fully immersed. Despite the high stakes, the tension never felt high.

Character Development: Clara is clever, tough, and capable but I didn’t see much growth from her over the course of the story (which spans nearly a year). Her arc felt a bit static, aside from her shifting opinion of Kaelis. And while Kaelis is presented as a morally grey love interest, we’re never given a real reason to question his morality - his actions toward Clara are mostly noble, and his supposed “dark past” is barely explored.

Romance & Chemistry: This was pitched as a hate-to-love story, but it felt more one-sided. Clara hates, Kaelis is enamored. The transition into romance didn’t feel earned, and the spice, while enjoyable, lacked buildup. I was hoping for a more satisfying slow burn.

Supporting Characters: There were a lot of side characters introduced, and unfortunately, most of them didn’t leave a lasting impression. Aside from a few cruel or antagonistic ones, many blurred together and felt underdeveloped.

Final Thoughts: Despite its pacing and character issues, Arcana Academy has laid the foundation for a promising series. The magic system and the final twist are what really kept me invested, and I’m definitely intrigued to see where book two takes us. If the sequel delivers on the potential teased in this first instalment, I think this series could really shine.

Wow! The world building and magic system!?!
The magic system really kept me hooked.
Although this did take me a bit to get into, once I did, I couldn’t put it down. The pacing was a bit odd at times and sometimes there was just too much going on.
The spice felt kind of thrown in, if that makes sense- just added to say it’s in there.

This was overall an enjoyable read. I enjoyed my time, and I am intrigued by the plot. I think that I will be picking up the next book when it releases.

I first requested this book thinking not much of it. Mainly I thought, this will subside my fantasy itch for a few months. Well, I’m here to report I was so beyond surprised. This book was everything and more. The tropes, the characters, the unique magical system. It consumed my every thought while I was reading.

The magical system was something unlike anything I’ve read before. Which is one the reasons I requested it in the first place. I was interested by the tarot card factor in the description of the novel. I will say it is something you need to keep you attention to while first reading it because it can become a little complex. I found towards the end it was second nature when certain houses, or individual powers per card were mentioned that I knew exactly what was being talked about. The author made it complex but also made it easy to follow.

Clara is the type of FMC that I dream of. She’s not only extremely clever, but wasn’t afraid to get what she wanted. She showed so much hesitation which made you just want to dive into her backstory headfirst.

Kaelis is the broodiest MMC I was so lucky to meet. He was so confusing in the best way. half the time I was guessing his intentions, but the other half I was 100% sure what they were. It was so back and forth and kept me as a reader on my toes the entire time.

The world building. Oh my. It was so incredibly detailed. The imagery coming to the forefront of my mind was incredible. I love when authors make words on paper so visual and this author excelled at that. The academy was so dark and everything was so dangerous. There was always a secret popping out of no where.

The tropes!!! Dark academia is a new genre that I have come to learn I LOVE. This book encapsulated that trope perfectly and if you love books with any academic ties you would absolutely devour this. Forced proximity is a favorite of mine and was seen throughout this entire book. It has so many special elements that you kept getting surprised with and it made me fall head over heels over it.

The romance. I think this book wasn’t supposed to be all about the romance between the characters, rather setting up for future books in the series. I think it was done well as someone who thinks like the above.

The pacing I felt was between going faster than the speed of light to maybe more fluff than necessary, but you’re so engulfed by the plot and characters that you don’t even notice!

All in all I truly think this could be the fantasy book of 2025, if not that then definitely high on the list. It’ll definitely be a book I could reread and love all over again. It’s an academy based on the magic of a deck of cards while having so much mystery, secrets, betrayal, love, and lots of deception. The ending is something I will always think about until I have the next book in my hands. This is probably one of the first arcs I have already told people they need to read when it’s published!

A HUGE thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Del Rey, Random house Worlds, Inklore for the opportunity to read this novel!

I was incredibly fortunate to also be a beta reader for this book early last year. I was super excited to read the finished product. And oh boy am I loving all the changes Elise made between now and then. First off, if you're a fan of tarot-based magic, then this is definitely the book for you. It's ALL about the tarot. Which is not something I can say about a lot of other tarot magic books. The book gives us plenty of time with our main characters to really get to know who they are in this larger world. I love a good slow-burn. And as I say with most every Elise Kova book, you need to trust the process. There were definitely some things early on that didn't make a lot sense that all came together later on. I am absolutely feral for book 2. Oh, and yes this book has spice. Elise's previous works had little to none. But this one she pulled out all the stops. Definitely a must read.

Arcana Academy: where the World ends and begins and secrets threaten everyone within.

This book blends gritty, dark academia fantasy with royal intrigue and a completely unique magic system that revolves around inking tarot cards. Even though the magic system and worldbuilding is a tad dense, the author does a great job guiding you through the chaos without letting it overwhelm you. 

Clara has had to claw her way through life, and it shows—she’s bold, sharp, and deeply flawed. When she’s sentenced for illegal magic, her escape comes in the form of Kaelis, the mysterious headmaster of Arcana Academy… and a fake engagement with a tempting promise that’s anything but simple.

There’s betrayal, secrets, morally gray decisions, and a constant sense that everything could fall apart at any second. And that cliffhanger ending?!

If you like high-stakes fantasy with a rebellious heroine, reluctant alliances, and excruciating tension, this one is for you. I can’t wait for book two!

And finally - thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Clara Graysword has been imprisoned with a lifetime sentence after a job gone awry. Her crime? Inking tarot cards - a rare power, only for those trained at the Arcana Academy. The academy's headmaster, Prince Kaelis, opens the door for her escape. Her freedom, however, comes at a price. Is she willing to be an accomplice to help the Prince she swore to hate, and give him the world?

My first Elise Kova, but it will not be the last. I absolutely adored this book.

Clara is well rounded, flawed, passionate and most of all, incredibly memorable - she is so much fun even though she may be suffering through some of the worst events of her life. She is strong and independent, and fights her own battles instead of waiting for someone to fight them for her. Kaelis is the brooding "spare" son of the King, who Clara has sworn to hate as the root cause of all her suffering. Clara soon realises that maybe he isn't all that he appears to be.

This is a fantastic dark academia, with a really cool magic system and I love the plot (the cliff-hanger hurt!). Even the secondary characters were fun and brought their own touch to the story. It was overall a fantastic read and I cannot wait to read more in this world!

Thank you to Del Rey for an e-arc of Arcana Academy, all thoughts are my own.

This was my first Elise Kova but it definitely won’t be the last. I love this story so much.

First Dark Academia books are starting to become one of my favorite sub-genre. This one has a very unique Magic system. The tarot-based magic system but so fun and it was a main staple of the world. I loved learning all about it.

Clara the MFC was definitely the most well-rounded character, I really enjoyed her. The rest of the characters definitely need more development. If I had one critique, it would be that the secondary characters are less memorable.
The romance is definitely a subplot and a slooooow burn, but I’m not mad about it. The book held its own without having to rely to strongly on just the romance.

And that ending was great. I can’t wait did the next one

The narration was very good. I really enjoyed it.




Thank you @netgalley @hodderstoughton @hodderscapefor this ARC

How do I even begin to describe my thoughts about this book! I loved it, but the ending left me in shock!

Arcana Academy is a thrilling ride through the story of Clara, an illegal archanist who is thrust into the upper echelons of high society in a forced marriage to her number one enemy, Kaelis the second born prince. As if that wasn’t enough, they have to navigate their relationship while Clara learns to be a legitimate card weilder as she is inducted into the archanist school. And of course, her new betrothed is the headmaster. So many things can and do go wrong as Clara tries to make her way in this new world while finding out the truth about her mother and her sister who were so cruelly ripped from her without explanation.

One of my favorite things about this particular story is how independent, strong and witty Clara is. While she does need saving, it’s to help heal her wounds or to help her AFTER she has fought and WON her own battles. She legitimately holds her own against her many enemies, Eza for example and is triumphant. I love that in a strong character.

Another point that makes this story exceptional is the relationship between Clara and Kaelis. The revelations between them don’t feel forced or contrived. They’re natural and the pace of their relationship mimics that well. The tension we get in their interactions within his apartments was the perfect build-up and I felt the tension as much as the characters.

The magic system was also very well done and very unique. It felt similar to One Dark Window at first, but then quickly deviated in the cards origin, designs, price and uses. The inking of each card was quite intriguing and I loved the intricacies of each card and the characters actually having to practice to make the cards and also practice wielding them.

I genuinely didn’t want this story to end. I wanted book 2 long before book 1 was over. I feel so lucky to have read this early and can’t wait to share how much I loved it!

If you’re looking for:

Enemies to lovers
Slow burn
Second chances
Heists with HIGH stakes
Card based magic system

This is for you!

I absolutely loved this book! It had me hooked all the way through and I found the story really engaging and entertaining . Lots of action, intrigue, secrets and very slow burn romance.
I loved the whole premise of the book - magic academy with trials but with the addition of court politics and secrets galore! I keep going over bits in my head - so many parts intrigued me, particularly the magic system. So unique and interesting- I absolutely loved the tarot card inspiration. So clever!

I liked the range of characters we are introduced to throughout the story, although there are a lot of them to try and get your mind around. The FMC, Clara, has her found family. She is a confident (at times over confident), loyal, independent character who is trying to find out the mystery behind her sister’s unexpected disappearance from the Arcana. Things aren’t quite adding up with the story she has be given. Prince Kaelis is the brooding, calculating Headmaster of the Arcana Academy. He is fairly mysterious as a character and ends up not being quite who he seems but at the same time leaves us with lots of questions. I’m so interested to find out more about his motives and background. I liked the dynamics between the two. There was a lot of tension and this was definitely enemies to lovers.

The ending hit hard! Even though I had managed to figure out a fairly accurate prediction it still got me! A great cliffhanger ending. I’m really looking forward to book two!
Thank you to Elise Kova and Netgalley for the great opportunity to read an advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and honestly given.

I enjoyed this dark academia fantasy quite a bit. It's a quintessential romantasy with the "outside girl" who doesn't belong and a morally grey MMC who isn't all that he seems. We've seen this romance before, and while that’s a big comfort for some, others might get bored with the repetitiveness. Plot drives the story in this one although romance is definitely interwoven with an explosive ending. I loved that they very much remain enemies for this entire book (at least in the eyes of our MFC). The tarot card magic system is unique & definitely kept me hooked to the page. I had a few qualms with the story (mainly repetition of certain phrases), but overall this was a decent start to a romantasy for sure and I think it'll be a popular one!

What in the ever loving?

This was such a good book!

The tension, the mystery, the twist and turns and the god awful stressful situations the characters keep putting themselves in!
I adored the magic linked with the tarot cards, it did take me some time to understand what most cards did and who could use them but it was such an innovative way of utilizing the magic.

Clara and Kaelis are real enemies to lovers, and I’m so here for it. You don’t know if they actually like each other or not and that’s the best! I’m fully hooked and need so much more, I need the next book asap!

Thank you to netgalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange of an honest review!

I AM SO INVESTED! This is my first Elise Kova book, and I knew she was popular for a reason! I cannot wait to read more of this series. The Arcana Academy is perfect for fans of Throne of Glass and One Dark Window, with some elements, but there is a completely unique twist with a magic-based system with tarot cards!

You HAVE to read this one! Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of Arcana Academy. Pub date: July 22, 2025

An outstanding beginning to a new series. This book kept me turning pages from the very beginning with plots and a really cool magic system. So very complex and unique. Clara has lost much, and Prince Kaelis has an agenda in which she fits perfectly. I enjoyed this novel very much; however, there were times I felt like Clara did a bit too much ruminating on everything. It felt repeated when I felt the novel needed to move on. This is a minor criticism and personal opinion.

All in all, it is well paced and engaging. I had to know how it ended, and needless to say, it's a stellar and bleak cliffhanger. How can our heroine possibly escape this and defeat the utterly evil Ravin?

Thank you, NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - DelRey, Random House Worlds, & Inklore|DelRey, for the eArc. These opinions are mine.

Arcana Academy is a fast paced and exciting story, with tarot magic, enemies to lovers, and political intrigue.

Clara Greysword is a prisoner at the infamous prison in Eclipse City, accused of illegally using Arcane tarot magic in a heist gone wrong. She is mysteriously summoned by the Prince Kaelis, second son of the king of Oricalis, and headmaster of the prestigious Arcana Academy. Kaelis needs Clara's help and skill at inking cards, but his motivations aren't obvious, but he allows Clara a chance to escape the prison that has held her for over a year. Once free, Clara is whisked away and taken to the academy, under the guise of a long lost noble heir and the Prince's betrothed. Clara knows she can't trust Kaelis, not after everything she has learned, but she also can't keep away either. She has questions about her mother's mysterious death, and her missing sister, and she is using him to get answers however she can. Working together, Kaelis and Clara need to find some common ground if they want to remake the world as they know it.

I really enjoyed this book! What a roller-coaster ride this was - a lot of action right from the get go, and we get more twists and reveals as the story moves along. This book feels like it has the pacing and storytelling of a YA book, but with more adult themes. We see the story from Clara's POV, and it is clear that she still has a lot to learn about who she is and the magic she uses. She has a lot of trauma from her time in the prison, and has a hard time trusting Kaelis, yet has difficulty reconciling what she knows of him and his actions towards her. Kaelis is an interesting character too - he is a morally grey villain, but that isn't the whole truth either, and we learn a lot about him as the story progresses. I enjoyed their relationship - lots of tension and longing. The academy setting was fun as well, and there are magical trials that add a bit of tension and excitement throughout. The ending made me gasp, and I am absolutely looking forward to book 2!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Del Rey Books for the advanced copy of this exciting read. All opinions are my own.

I had fun with this book. I’ve been a long time fan of Elise’s books and I was excited to see her partnering with a traditional publisher. I think Arcana Academy is a strong start to a new series and I can’t wait to see where this story goes.

I’ve always been intrigued by tarot cards and I think Elise made the magic system unique and interesting with the different types of cards and specific magic for each card. I did think the pacing was decent but there definitely is a lot happening, it’s not one of those kind of mindless stories where everything is all just fun times. Since it’s the first book in a series it gave us a lot of information and set up for the future books but never felt too much like an info dump.

The characters were good and I enjoyed Clara and Kaelis overall. I will say I think they are more of those slow burn characters that took me most of the book to connect to. I liked their relationship and appreciated the natural progression of it. Kaelis is prickly and mysterious but I enjoyed the banter and tension between Clara and him. I will say there was just something about them that I found myself not connecting to right away. The side characters were okay in my mind a few of them kind of blended together and felt a bit surface level at times. I just can’t place my finger on what it was but I found myself more invested in if the characters could continue their ultimate goals not necessarily caring about the characters themselves. I’m hoping as the story continues in the future books I can get more invested in the characters.

Overall this was a fun book and I’m excited to see where it goes. There’s lots going on in this story and I think if you’re a fan of magic, political intrigue, slow burn enemies to lovers and dark academia settings.

A fabulous read of enemies-to-lovers! Arcana Academy is the darkly delicious tale that will leave you on the edge of your seat, begging for more! The nail-biting tension, twists and turns… everything about this book is perfection!

Our shelves are saturated with fantasy right now so I don't play on purchasing at the moment, but will keep it in mind for the future. I enjoyed the political intrigue and fantasy elements.