This was so well done! I tend to prefer my romantasy to lean more towards the fantasy than the romance - this book delivered on both fronts. I loved the Tarot-based worldbuilding and the headstrong main character, and I enjoyed watching the romantic subplot develop. The central mystery was gripping, and the pay-off was worth it. Elise Kova has a new fan in me. Thanks to the publisher for the audio and e-ARC, it was great to be able to read and listen simultaneously.

The world building and magic system was unique. True enemies to lovers and slow burn. Slightly predictable, but leaves on a cliff hanger!

Thank you to Ms. Kova, the publisher, and Netgalley for the eARC!

This was a really fun read! As someone who reads tarot, the inclusion of the cards into the story (really, woven in as huge worldbuilding chunks) was fascinating. I can tell Ms. Kova has done her research! The world built around Arcanists and their use of the cards for battle, reading, and everyday magic was unique and the way the cards were interpreted created some great situations.

The story follows Clara, who has been locked away in the depths of a prison until she escapes in an early chapter. We follow her to the Arcana Academy, where she not only finds herself surprise!engaged to the Headmaster (and her mortal enemy), but also enrolled as a student. The story follows her begrudging relationship with Kaelis as they try to solve a world-changing problem, all while she has to forge new relationships with classmates, develop the skills needed to pass her trials, and not get killed by those who know her real identity.

This is very obviously the first book in a series with the amount of worldbuilding that has to be done and the threads that were left loose, but I enjoyed it. While some of the writing was a little clunky at times, the story itself was engaging and had me guessing until the end of this book. There were a few inconsistencies I attribute to it being an ARC and not the final story at all.

Overall, I will be reading more!

I loved this book! It hooked me in with an exciting start and creative magic system then took off with so many interesting twists and turns. The story focuses around our main character, Clara who is out for revenge, vengeance and answers. The story begins in Halazar prison - captured for practicing arcana magic illegally. In an interesting turn of events, she's given an opportunity to escape within an hour or die by the hands of the prince. This sets off the course of the book, where Clara will soon find herself making a deal with the devil, her only chance for survival and revenge. But, Clara is more valuable than she had ever imagined, providing a tense and exhilarating game of power between her and her enemies.

The book takes place in a dark and magical school called Arcana Academy where successful candidates vie for their chance to study arcana magic. If successful, they'll survive and become practicing arcanists, in service of the king. A fate Clara will never accept, but will use to her advantage. If they fail, they're marked and sent to the mill to help produce the powders required for inking tarot cards which are their means of magic. Essentially a long, drawn out life sentence.

What I loved about this book:
- the writing was immersive yet fast-paced, gritty and dark yet layered with emotions
- the magic system kept me wanting more and more. As each layer of the magic is revealed, you're pulled in deeper, enjoying every little morsel you're given
- the story itself had so many layers. Just when you think you know where it's going, you're given another breadcrumb that leaves you with new questions and possibilities for where the story and this series will go
- the world and environment was expansive; giving us new places and opulent scenes that still fit so perfectly into the flow of this fast-paced story
- the romance was a slowwwwww burn in the best way, and even still, there is so much mystery and so many unknowns as we look ahead to book two

This book is about to pop off! Watch out - this series is going to be a favourite.

Arcana Academy
.
-tarot magic
-slow burn
-dark academia setting
-royalty
-enemies to lovers
-fake relationship
.
Arcana Academy is a magical school where Arcanists learn to ink and wield magic tarot cards. Prince Kaelis js the headmaster of this magical academy. Clara, who is serving a prison sentence for illegally inking cards, is just the person the Prince needs to help him acquire tarot cards from his father, the King. He plucks Clara out of prison and brings her to the academy disguised as a first year student and his wife to be.
What worked:
The unique magic was the star of the book.
That ending! It pretty much guarantees that you HAVE to read book 2!

What didn’t work:
The romance felt lacking and I wanted to feel more from Kaelis and Clara.
Thank you netgalley and Del Ray for the opportunity to read this book!

🤍 Thank you @delreybooks for the arc of Arcana Academy

Hello swoony new book boyfriend! I picked this up during my recent fantasy binge and was OBSESSED with the story from start to finish.

The magical academy, the romance, the character development, and the action was so gripping. Everything worked for me and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I also thought the tarot card magic added a fantastic element to the magic system!

Even when I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about this book.
I cannot wait for the sequel and all of my fellow romantasy friends, this is one not to miss.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
Steam: open door

i was really interested in this book, as the plot was seemingly interesting with the tarot cards and magic. i liked the story all around and found that it was easy to follow and captivating. i loved all the action and plot twists! i also loved the FMC and her relationship with the MMC. overall, i would definitely recommend this book for lovers of fantasy!

thank you NetGalley and Random House for this opportunity!

I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley. But unfortunately this was a DNF for me.
I loved a deal with the elf king so I was super excited to read this book. But this was the most unoriginal book I’ve read in some time.
The prison healer meets one dark window meets Harry Potter.
I felt like it was not just an inspiration, it was mostly a copy of scenes of the other books mentioned above. And the more I’ve read the more I lost my interest.
Thank you so much for providing the E-ARC for me NetGalley, but this was not the book for me.

Arcana Academy by Elise Kova
Rating: 5 stars
Steam: 2 chilis
Pub date: 7/22

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Del Rey for my advanced copy!

Somehow, Arcana Academy is my first book by Elise Kova, but it definitely won’t be my last! The magic system is unique, the dark academia vibes are on point, and the enemies-to-lovers tension is top tier.

Clara is our headstrong FMC who’s been scraping by in the shadows of Eclipse City, illegally wielding inked tarot cards, an ability reserved for those trained at the prestigious Arcana Academy. When a job goes wrong, Clara goes to prison, until she’s offered a way out by the academy’s brooding headmaster, Prince Kaelis. But freedom comes with a price: pretend to be his bride-to-be and help him steal a powerful tarot card from the king.

The slow-burn romance between Clara and Kaelis is filled with banter and longing, and I loved how their relationship developed throughout the story. Kaelis is the kind of morally gray, tortured soul that readers will fall hard for, and Clara’s fierce independence makes her a perfect match.

The story is addictive and impossible to put down. Trials, secrets, and political intrigue keep the stakes high, and the worldbuilding, especially the tarot magic, make this book a must-read.

The ending left me with a dozen questions and a desperate need for book two. If you love unique magic systems, romantic tension, and found family vibes, then this book is going to be your new favorite.

The first book in a new romantasy series from Elise Kova and the Arcana Academy begins with the heroine Clara imprisoned for inking tarot cards, a capital crime with the use of that particular power strictly regulated and controlled by the royal family. Her fate was dark until Prince Kaelis takes her from the prison the academy where he is the headmaster, giving her a new identity and forces her into undertaking a mission that more than likely will result in her death.

This was my first read from this author and while romantasy wouldn’t usually be my first choice, my attention was caught when I saw it was combined with dark academia, a trope which is particular weakness of mine and when you throw in any romance between Clara and Kaelis would involve a vibe of the forbidden, I was quick to sign up. The whole concept of tarot magic had me intrigued from the start and I loved the character of Clara, who was a badass in the making but most of all was survivor intent on solving the mystery of what had really happened to her mother, while Kaelis was more of a mystery, all ruthless and brooding and you never get any sense of whether or not you can trust him or his motives. The overall pacing of the story was slow to begin with, but the flow did pick up as the danger and intrigue increased before reaching the obligatory cliff hanger ending that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next book.

5/5 stars! I absolutely loved this book! I have read most of Elise Kovas books and this one did not disappoint. Arcana Academy is book one in the Arcana Academy series. I was hooked from the very beginning of book and I couldn’t put it down. As soon as I read the synopsis I couldn’t wait to read it. I was extremely excited to receive an arc of this book. I highly recommend reading this book when it is released July 22, 2025. Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Elise Kova and Netgalley.

Summary

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

Spicy rating: 🌶️🌶️ 2/5

No because Elise… where did you find the audacity to leave the end of the book like that?! I’m still flipping the page back and forth looking for the next chapter!

I absolutely loved this book! It took me a hot minute to get myself fully immersed but once I did I was literally flying through this. This is dark academia fantasy at its finest!

The Tarot magic system was so fresh, intricate and super unique to read. The world building was lush and descriptive. It’s was so fast paced and packed full of magic, challenges, deception, a deliciously slow burn enemies to lovers romance and a heist that had me on the edge of my seat.

There were some super important messages weaved throughout like how grief changes your perception of everything and drives you down paths you never intended to take. As well as the monarchy’s fear of powerful individuals to the point where those most powerful are the most controlled and restricted to use only by the crown. As well as the conditioning done to those individuals to enable that.

The concept of ‘the greater good’ is frequently examined as well as how harmful and hard this can be to accept as an individual in great pain.

I am chomping at the bit for the next book and not sure I’ll ever sleep again until it’s in my hands!

I had a fun time reading this. I did feel there were some things that I felt that needed to be flushed out it was very fast paced but probably a little too fast and long. But I will definitely be picking up more from Elise Kova.

I was very excited for this book. It has all the elements I love but the execution just didn’t work for me. I found it difficult to read because I just wasn’t interested in what was happening. I decided to DNF at 45%. So sad and disappointing.

Quick very high level summary. Clara is sentenced to prison for practicing illegal tarot card magic. In prison she is only allowed to practice tarot magic for the Prince. She suddenly finds herself in the elite Arcana Academy with Prince Kaelis, who is the dead master. Kaelis wants Clara's help to steal a powerful tarot card from the king. The catch to this is in order to keep Clara safe the Prince’s idea is to marry.

My Take.
First off I was intrigued by the unique tarot-based magic system in this world but we also have dark academia setting, magical trials, political intrigue, hidden identities and a thrilling mystery.
Sounds amazing right? Well it was. There is a lot of story and background building in the beginning if the story. Some may consider this a slow start but I did not agree. I thought the story flowed well but I will admit it did pick up once the trails began and I could not stop reading. I felt emotionally invested right away and felt both Clara and Kaelis were written and developed well. Some of the side characters could have used a bit more developing but I am not sure that is really needed or just my curiosity that wants it. Over I really enjoyed this and I am very invested in the series now so I cannot wait for the next book.

Thank you to Del Rey Books for this gifted ARC!

If you love magic school settings 🏰, tarot-inspired power systems 🃏, and broody dark lords with major shadow daddy energy 🌑, this is the fantasy romance for you. Arcane Academy blends dark academia with spellbinding stakes and steamy moments; think Harry Potter meets One Dark Window with a dangerous, forbidden twist.

🔮 What did I love the most?
The magic system is honestly one of the best I’ve read this year. Spells are cast using tarot-style cards, each one powered by ink and personal sacrifice. It’s deeply original and adds real weight to every choice. Plus, the worldbuilding is immersive: gritty prisons, secretive institutions, arcane duels... I was fully locked in.

I know some early readers found the beginning a bit slow or dense, but I didn’t feel that at all. Maybe it’s because I’ve been reading a lot of high fantasy lately, but the pacing here felt steady and intentional. The story unfolds with enough intrigue and tension to keep the pages turning without info-dumping.

🔮 What to expect:
👁️‍🗨️ Single POV
🃏 Tarot-based magic system
🏰 Magical academy setting
🌒 Dark academia vibes
⚔️ High-stakes trials + consequences
🔥 Steam level: Open-door romance

🔮 How was the romance?
This is where it dipped for me. It’s sold as enemies to lovers—but honestly, it felt more like enemies to…instantly obsessed? I didn’t quite buy the emotional build-up, but I did enjoy the chemistry between Clara and Kaelis. He’s your classic shadowy, morally gray headmaster type, and while the love arc was rushed, the tension and danger kept me intrigued.

🔮 Do I recommend this book?
Yes, especially for fantasy readers who love deep lore, dangerous magic, and morally gray love interests. Even if the romance didn’t totally land, that ending had me yelling “WTF just happened” into the void. Book two, where you at?! 👀

🔮 Perfect for fans of:
🖋️ Carissa Broadbent
🖋️ Rachel Gillig

🔮 Mood:🏛️ Academic tension | 🌘 Mysterious & broody | 🔥 Steamy + high-stakes

🔮 Read if you like:
🏰 Dark academia fantasy books
🃏 Magic systems inspired by tarot
👨‍🏫 Broody headmaster love interests
🖤 Enemies to lovers with open-door scenes
⚖️ Trials, secrets, and morally gray characters

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!

What a whirlwind of a book this was -- it's fantasy that uses tarot cards as weapons / the main magic system and I thought that was such a cool ass concept. I've seen tarot cards used as subplots in other books but not as the primary magic system (maybe I haven't read as widely as I liked??) and I adored it. Also, a fake engagement with a headmaster of a magic academy? Once I read that in the blurb, I knew I had to request it, and I wasn't disappointed!

The beginning starts off great, imo; my eyebrows were shooting up when Prince Kaelis makes his first entrance with his feet on a freaking warden. I was like: WTF? This isn't a complaint, but a compliment -- what an entrance, lol, and it struck a hell of a chord. From there on, the intensity just keeps on going and going, and I couldn't stop!

I will say that maybe I'm not the brightest lightbulb out there but I struggled genuinely with trying to memorise all the cards and their purposes -- but it wasn't hard to keep up with the rest of the plot. I highly recommend this book to readers who love capable, self-assured heroines, lots of fun tarot magic and worldbuilding, and a delicious fake engagement trope with a dark, broody prince!!!

What a ride!! First of all the magic system in this book is awesome. Tarot and magic and spells... its very cool! I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. An academy shrouded in mystery and characters you are constantly questioning if you can trust. The ending was great.... I anticipated part of what happened, but wasn't expecting all of went down. The romance was good... tension and build up could have been a bit more heated for my taste, but I enjoyed the romance plot. I'll definitely be reading book 2!!!

Thanks to Elise Kova, Del Rey and Netgally for the ARC. My thoughts and opinions about this book are my own.

Wow. Absolute perfection. 10/10. I can not recommend this enough.

This book had it all!
✨️ Unique magic system
⭐️ Enemies to lovers
✨️ Slow burn
⭐️ Kick ass FMC
✨️ Sexy, mysterious MMC
⭐️ Found family

Arcana Academy was an amazing book, with new levels and plot points constantly being added to increase the complexity of the storyline. The FMC, Clara, is intelligent, loyal and powerful. Her determination and dedication to her plans make her a fierce character, and I loved seeing her go toe to toe with Kailis, our MMC. He was a complex character, mysterious and clearly misunderstood by those around him. I'm still left with many questions about him that I hope are answered in book 2. I still  loved him nonetheless, theres just something about a tortured MMC that pulls me in.

The magic system was fascinating. I think it can be incredibly hard to create something new in a world that already has so many fantasy books. This is the first book I've read in which tarot cards are the source of power. The way these were weilded in the action scenes was amazing, so well written! I was able to keep track and follow along, even with Clara whipping out cards left right and centre.  There is a helpful glossary at the back which details what each card can do too.

Such a painfully slow burn but one I absolutely loved. My patience was rewarded with some nice spice 🙏

The ending was insane. Fast paced and action packed. I am still reeling at everything that happened. The fact I now must wait till next year to continue this series.... the anticipation is going to destroy me.

The best book I've read in 2025 so far.

Thank you NetGalley for the early access.

Clara’s been sentenced to life in prison after being caught inking tarot cards. In this world, magic centers around creating, reading, and fighting with the cards. Luckily, Clara has more than one card up her sleeve. After a daring escape, she finds herself unexpectedly enrolled at the elite Arcana Academy and even more unexpectedly allied with the man she believes sent her to prison.

First, we need to mention all the tropes (enemies to lovers, headmaster/student, forced proximity, fake relationship, secret identity, morally grey FMC/MMC, magical school, class differences, hidden powers, and I’m probably missing a few). Perhaps even more eyerollingly, there are characters with purple hair and others with red eyes. And yet, I ended up really enjoying this.

Why? I think a big chunk of it is the magic system. Sure, there are other fantasy books that use tarot cards (or a fantasy version) as a central element (The Night Circus, One Dark Window, Mask of Mirrors, Raven Boys to some extent, Nine Princes in Amber, among many others). Arcana Academy creates a surprisingly immersive magical school dedicated to the cards along with a world mythology built around them– and these are not just background information but are tied to the plot. The fighting scenes with the cards were especially enjoyable.

I have some quibbles – the school setting feels underutilized, Clara makes some remarkably dumb decisions, Kaelis never does much to earn that bad reputation, and the world outside of the school (including Clara’s club) feels painfully thin– but I think this was fun and will garner a pair number of fans.

3.5 rounded up.