⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARCANA ACADEMY by Elise Kova

If you love magical schools, swoony slow-burn tension, dangerous secrets, and morally grey characters who make terrible (but hot) decisions—Arcana Academy is for you.

I was completely swept away by this book. Arcana Academy is one of those rare reads that hooks you from the very first page and refuses to let go. Elise Kova has crafted an incredibly immersive world, full of danger, secrets, and a magic system that feels fresh, complex, and deeply tied to the characters’ identities. It’s not just clever—it’s unforgettable.

Every element—from the political tension to the high-stakes trials—feels purposeful and tightly woven into the plot. The protagonist is strong-willed, intelligent, and so easy to root for, and the slow-burn romance is packed with chemistry and emotional depth.

What really stood out for me was how unique the tarot based magic system felt—layered, creative, and with real weight behind its rules and consequences. You can tell this world has been built with so much care and intention.

✨ Dark academia
✨ Enemies-to-lovers
✨ Found family
✨ Magic with consequences
✨ Political undercurrents
✨ Slow-burn romance

This is a must read and I cannot wait for book two.

"This is Arcana Academy. Your future is your tuition."

A new and exciting magic system featuring tarot cards, a dark academia setting, and born-to-be enemies turned lovers!

"We were born enemies. Made to be enemies. How could we ever have thought there was a different path for us?"

There is so much yet so little to say about this book. So let's begin with the positives:

The magic system is so cool and so unique. I loved how the cards have physical and mental magic properties as well as their reading capabilities. The inking concept is something I never expected to. Those with arcana magic are able to utilize special pigments and papers in order to ink their own tarot deck.

The magic system is a big undertaking to be quite honest-there are 21 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana cards. I would have loved an appendix of some sort that included what each card does/can do (or at least just the cards used and mentioned in the story). The worldbuilding was good, not incredible, but at least the info-dumping was kept to a minimum.

"Think about what you could do, if the World was in your hands."

The characters are very likeable, multilayered, morally grey, and have strong relationships. I loved Clara. She was refreshing to read: badass, intelligent, fiery, and powerful. The MMC Kaelis balances her and mirrors her very well. Their banter, the slow burn, and then the cataclysmic event of them finally colliding was everything I could ever hope for in an enemies to lovers/slow burn romantic fantasy.

The side characters felt lacking. I didn't connect with them as much as I did the two MCs.

"There is no world in which you do not consume my very being."

I feel like the academic setting is an easy cop-out for fantasy writers to introduce world-building in order to make it feel authentic. This book did a great job at utilizing this setting to add some world-building, without overdoing it.

Similarly to the appendix for the cards, I wish a map was included. Either one of the academy or of the kingdom (preferably both). The descriptions of the setting was a bit hard for me to imagine, but maybe it was lacking on my part.

"I always knew you were dangerous."
"More than you realize."

This reads like a debut fantasy novel, but upon further research Elise Kova has written a litany of books and series. The writing isn't stop in your tracks incredible, but it is easy to read and flows well enough. The ending is very jarring and in my opinion a bit to drawn out. I'm sure others loved it though, I just don't think it was for me.

All in all, this isn't exactly a four star read, however it's also not a three star read because I am invested enough to wait for book 2 and continue the series. I feel like the series can only go up from here.

I rated it 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

I loved the overall concept of this book! The story was incredibly immersive, and the use of tarot cards instantly reminded me of my reading experience with One Dark Window. I'm always in awe at how author's are able to weave such imaginative & unique stories. Thank you, Elise, for such a magical, fantastical reading experience! 🫶🏻✨

Thankyou to Hachette & Netgalley for an early copy of Arcana Academy!

Arcana Academy started off with a bang and had me absolutely hooked within the first 3 chapters. The plot starts off fast, and we are introduced to one of the most unique magic systems that I've come across in recent years. Although it is intricate, it is well explained in digestible instalments as the story progresses.

The majority of the book takes place in a magical academy for the elite, where there is a mix of lessons, study time and an ever present risk of being eliminated as only a small number make it through to subsequent years. The academy itself is also built on secrets and deceit and for every secret Clara uncovers, there is so much more she doesn't know.

Clara was a great character - she is fierce and driven and has lived on the streets so is a stark contrast to the nobility in the academy. However, because she is pretending to be nobility herself, she doesn't fit in with the students from the working class either. I really admired her ability to accept that she needed to make the effort to learn from the professors despite already being more accomplished at the magical tarot abilities than she should be.

There was a draw to Prince Kaelis being the secretive dark broody prince, but I just felt that his character lacked depth. This may be because we are only treated to Clara's POV, but it was the biggest thing that stopped me from being fully immersed and giving the book 5 stars. I hope we get more to his character in the subsequent books. The banter between the two main characters was great and there was just enough tension, but a bit more chemistry between the two would have made it perfect.

As well as the academia setting and magic, there is Clara's hunt for the truth around her mother's death and sister's disappearance. Clara also finds herself in a fake engagement arrangement with the Prince, and so has to navigate the politics and scheming of royalty and nobles in order to work with Kaelis to achieve his goals.

This is a big book with a lot going on, and the author has done an amazing job to work it all in without it feeling to rushed or incomplete. The plot threads came together smoothly and the ending had some shocking reveals. I'm very keen for book 2!

Narration: single character, first person POV

Spice: 2/5

Tropes:
- Fake engagement
- Hidden identity
- Heist
- Academy setting
- Forced proximity
- Found family
- Enemies to lovers
- Unique Magic System

WOW. The chokehold this book had on me. I couldn’t put it down. I was captivated from start to finish. I loved how fiery Clara is, and the SIZZLING, very slow burn romance. The Star-crossed club characters are charming and so wholesome. I loved the dark academia atmosphere, the secrets and lies, the will they/wont they. But the thing that really stole my heart was THE MAGIC SYSTEM. I had no idea how the concept of tarot would work as such but it is so well thought out and utilised. Omg. My new obsession. The next one comes out when?? <3

This book is such a thrill with twists and turns right up to the very last page. I cannot wait for book 2, hopefully it's not too long because I am on the edge of my seat!

I specifically requested this because it’s a romantasy set in a magical academy with dark academia vibes—I LOVE this kind of setting. Secretive institutions, forbidden magic, characters with emotional damage and agendas? Yes please!! Except somehow this book took all of those elements, sucked the life out of them, and served them up in a way that felt lifeless and oddly detached from its own premise.

The story sounds promising: a morally grey heroine with a tragic past, a mysterious school of magic, a brooding prince, a tarot-based magic system that should be cool. And in concept, it is cool. But in practice, it just didn’t land for me. What should’ve been tense, immersive, and emotionally layered ended up feeling muted, meandering, and strangely empty. I kept waiting for a spark, some tension, some hook to keep me invested and it just never came.

The writing is dense and repetitive. Every thought, feeling, and observation is repeated, explained, and then re-explained—just in case you didn’t catch it the first two times. Internal monologues loop endlessly. Dialogue meanders without purpose. Scenes stretch far beyond their weight, and the prose lacks the clarity or rhythm to create any real momentum. It’s not badly written, but it is exhausting. Every chapter dragged on longer than it needed to, weighed down by narration that rarely trusts the reader to infer anything.

The pacing is a structural mess. Time jumps are vague and sudden, emotional beats feel unearned, and the story lacks a clear internal rhythm. Big developments either race past without weight or drag on for so long that they lose all impact. For a story about secrecy, danger, and power, there was shockingly little urgency. Everything felt flatlined. I was bored more often than not, which is never what I want from a book that promises magical stakes and emotional complexity.

The characters didn’t help. The heroine, Clara is positioned as clever, determined, and capable, but we’re mostly told this through narration, not shown it through layered action or meaningful choices. Her emotional arc doesn’t deepen—she circles the same thoughts again and again. The love interest, Kaelis, on the other hand, is the only truly tropey part of the book. He’s painted as dark and dangerous, but he never actually does anything to justify that description. He broods, he monologues, and that’s about it. Their dynamic doesn’t grow so much as it jolts forward without buildup or chemistry.

The romance, if you can call it that, is barely there for most of the book and then suddenly escalates out of nowhere. There’s no simmering tension, no emotional progression—just a flat shift that didn’t feel earned. I wasn’t rooting for them. I wasn’t against them either. I just didn’t care, and that indifference is what disappointed me most.

The worldbuilding, which should’ve been this book’s strength, had all the ingredients of something fascinating—but they never came together in a cohesive way. The tarot-based magic system is genuinely creative and ambitious, but it often feels more like a backdrop than an active part of the plot. It’s either dumped in exposition-heavy chunks or mentioned vaguely during moments of action, never fully integrated into the emotional or thematic core of the book. The school setting also felt under-utilised—it’s supposed to be central, but it fades into the background and loses all sense of place or atmosphere.

This book didn’t stumble because it was doing something familiar—it stumbled because it took a solid idea and drained it of momentum, tension, and emotion. It wasn’t messy, it wasn’t bold—it was just deeply, persistently boring. And for me, that’s harder to forgive than a book that at least tries to take risks.

Bottom line: I’m giving this two stars mostly for the concept. Even though I hated this book, I wouldn’t say I wouldn’t recommend it. If you’re drawn to tarot-based magic systems and want something structurally different from typical romantasy fare, you might enjoy it. But for me, this was an exhausting, joyless read I genuinely couldn’t wait to be done with.

It took me a little while to settle into this one, but once I did—I was hooked. Arcana Academy is one of those books that lingers long after you’ve finished the last page. I cannot stop thinking about that ending and I’m already anxiously counting down to book two!

The magic system was such a standout for me—completely unique and so refreshingly different. Tarot-based magic? Yes, please. I loved how it was woven into every part of the world, giving the story a rich, mysterious edge that felt both grounded and magical.

But let’s talk about Clara and Kaelis. That slow burn enemies-to-lovers tension was everything. Their relationship built so authentically, with the kind of emotional depth I crave in a fantasy romance. Kaelis completely stole my heart. His broody persona, the protective softness that only Clara gets to see—it was the perfect balance of light and dark, and I was rooting for them so hard.

The plot around the mystery of Clara’s mother and sister was another highlight. It added so much intrigue and kept the pages turning. I need answers after that cliffhanger!

If I had one small gripe, it’s that I didn’t feel particularly connected to the ‘found family’ vibe at the StarCrossed Club. I think that thread might grow stronger in future books, but for now, it felt more like a background detail.

All in all, Arcana Academy delivers a delicious mix of dark academia, royal intrigue, and slow-burn romance with a side of shadow daddy energy (you know I’m here for it). Tarot, tension, and a fake engagement? Say no more.

Arcana took me on an emotional rollercoaster — and I was pulled into the story.
This book didn't necessarily have me hooked sraight away as I felt the pacing at the start was a bit of a slow - but once i got going I was invested!!.

The concept itself? Loved. It totally gave me One Dark Window vibes with the whole card-based magic system and the cost of using them. Add a bit of dark academia and magical trials and you’ve got a setup I’m always going to be here for.

Clara, she’s a bit reckless, runs into things without thinking, and doesn’t always consider the consequenc — but honestly, it kinda works for her? She’s independent to her core, doesn’t rely on anyone else, and has built this deep belief in her own abilities because that’s all she’s ever had. While she can be a bit much at times, I liked that strength and stubbornness in her.

"I doubt the world around me. I fear what I can't control. But I do not doubt myself, and I do not fear the one thing I have power over: ME"

Then there’s Kaelis — ughhh I love a tortured morally grey man. He’s definitely one of those dark characters with secrets, but the more you read, the more you understand why he is the way he is.

And I was so here for the slow, palpable burn between him and Clara. The banter?!. It didn’t just go from “I hate you” to “we’re together now” — it built up properly never truly getting what we want haha which just makes you want it even more ha!

"Then set me free", "what?", "You consume my every waking moment. Devoured my thoughts. You've poisoned my halls with your scent. Flooded my dreams to the point that I cannot tell if it is a delight or a nightmare to want to drown in you. If you hate me, then hate me, let us be eternal rivals. Let any future where you and I are more than enemies finally be done and gone"

The stakes are high, the academy setting is intense, and the world has this eerie tension that keeps you on edge. And that ending?! WOWZA. I had to sit there for a second like — excuse me??? I felt exhausted when it finished (in a good way) and hoping book 2 is right around the corner

4/5
Love to see where this series goes, as I feel a lot was left unanswered (as should be when you have a multi-book series)...

The card magic system was pretty fun - I enjoyed the Shepard king series tarot card magic so this was right up my alley. It can be a bit confusing, so I had to take it slow, but there is a glossary at the back (which I didn’t realise until I finished). But, in the fight scenes the descriptions make it clear enough to know what is happening.
EDIT: I looked back at the start of the ARC as there was no mention of the glossary - wish there was a little disclaimer, like a read at your own risk but know it is there kinda thing :)

The twists at the end were great too, a little surprising and predictable - but enjoyable nonetheless.

ALSO, shoutout to Priss for being adorable. Even if this doesn’t have much to do with the plot I am totally okay with that as cats are my weak spot.

The Academy

- The trials were pretty cool - especially the Chalice one, it really was quite heart-breaking. I hope we see more of Liam in the series and he is somehow connected to the plot.
- And seeing a card reverse was devastating too…
- Because of how the book ended, I hope the friends she made in the school return at some point.
- Card Reading gave witchy, fortune telling vibes, which I loved!

The Romance
- An enemies to lovers (rescued prisoner made student vs headmaster)
- It felt more he falls first - but can be hard to tell given his personality and the single POV
- Slow burn (the tension was sizzling away in some scenes ~ bath tub scene, her at the first ball)
- There was a bit of this detachment/not wanting to give themselves too emotionally to the relationship which I liked to see - as I prefer people not falling super hard, super fast.

Thanks again for the ARC - I had such a fun time reading and cannot wait for the next book!

4.5 stars!

It was slow start to this book but once it took off I was hooked.
I really enjoyed the tarot card magic system - it was unique and entertaining. The concept of having to actually ink the cards was also really interesting and added to the world building - the purpose of the Academy. Im a sucker for anything dark academia and i think it was prominant throughout the book.

Clara is such a strong willed but stubborn FMC and Kaelis is a morally grey, broody tortured soul, I'm not convinced that I like him yet but his character did improve throughout the course of the book.

I had a hard time remembering what each card did, there is a glossary at the end of the book, but I did wish it was reiterated more in the story.

Overall this book was filled with so much adventure, magic and mystery it has me needed Book 2 immediately !!!

Thankyou to Netgalley, Hachette Aus and The Bookish Type Au for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Elise Kova won me over with a couple of her previous books and this is no exception!
Love the unique magic system.
Masterful suspense in both the mystery of the plot and the slow burn romance.

I feel like I’ll be part of the minority with this book as I unfortunately I just didn’t love it as much as I hoped I would.

The magic system and the plot itself has great potential and without doubt, I think a lot of people will love this book. However for me it was a bit of a miss.

I can’t quite put my finger on what didn’t work for me apart from, I felt like I was reading forever (but not in a good way). I wasn’t able to make a connection with any of the characters and unfortunately when that happens, it makes it’s incredibly difficult to care about their individual journeys.

Thank you Netgally for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Well that was a wild ride! This is a fantasy romance with a unique magic system which revolves around the use of tarot cards, with each card having their own magical use/purpose. There’s also a dark academia setting where Arcanists are trained to use the tarot, where if they fail, they end up with a not so great outcome.
This has such a slow burn which pays off towards the end with the enemies to lovers of Clara and Kaelis.
Be warned though, this book ends on a wild cliffhanger and will leave you wanting book 2 so bad! I highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers who are after a unique magic system.

Arcana Academy by Elise Kova ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book had everything I love in a fantasy romance, high stakes, slow-burn tension, and a heroine who doesn’t back down.

Clara Graysword is cunning, chaotic, and utterly captivating. The magic system (hello, enchanted tarot cards!) is fresh and addicting. Prince Kaelis was cold, calculating, and way too easy to fall for. I loved their mutual hate and obsession for each other.

Tropes you'll love:

🃏 Fake engagement
🎓 Magical academy
💘 Enemies to reluctant allies to lovers
🖤 Morally gray heroine
🔥 Grumpy x grumpy
👑 Royal intrigue
🪄 Forbidden/illegal magic
🗡 Forced proximity

I’m already counting down to book two.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Arcana Academy is everything I want in a fantasy romance—and more. From the very first chapter, Elise Kova pulled me into a gritty, magical world full of secrets, danger, and delicious tension.

Clara Graysword is one of the most compelling heroines I’ve read in a while. Street-smart, flawed, and stubborn in all the best ways, she brings such a raw edge to this already high-stakes plot. The idea of inking tarot cards as a forbidden magical art? Completely original and incredibly cool. The magic system was so unique and well thought-out, and paired with Kova’s rich world-building, it felt real. Eclipse City and Arcana Academy came to life with every page.

And then there’s Prince Kaelis. Mysterious, morally grey, and oh-so-dangerous. The enemies-to-lovers tension between him and Clara? Absolute perfection. Their dynamic was full of slow-burn angst, banter, and moments that had me laughing, tearing up, and very much blushing.

The ending? Let’s just say my jaw hit the floor and I audibly said, “What the f*ck.” In the best way possible.

Elise Kova doesn’t just build a world, she fills it with complex, fully fleshed-out characters you can’t help but root for (even when they’re making questionable choices). I’m already dying for the next book.

If you love enemies to lovers, magic with consequences, and books that make you feel everything, Arcana Academy is a must-read.

Rating: ★★★★.5

Thank you @netgalley and @hatchetteaus
for sending me a copy of this arc.

I was definitely intrigued from the start because Arcana Academy has perhaps one of the most unique and fascinating magic systems I’ve come across in a fantasy novel.

The beginning does throw a lot at you which made it a bit hard to keep up at first. I’ll admit it wasn’t until around the 40–50% mark that everything really clicked for me and once it did, I couldn’t stop myself from devouring the book.

The plot is gripping, the slow burn and tension was delicious and the FMC is an absolute badass. The way this book ended…Well let’s just say I need book 2 ASAP.

Elise Kova delivers pure fantasy romance gold with Arcana Academy! From the gritty streets of Eclipse City to the shadowy halls of a magical school brimming with secrets, this story is filled with danger, intrigue, and delicious tension.

Clara Graysword is a fierce, scrappy heroine you’ll instantly root for who is sentenced to prison for illegal tarot magic, then swept into a fake engagement with a brooding headmaster prince? Yes, please!!!! The chemistry between Clara and Kaelis crackles with every scene, and the tarot-inspired magic system is both fresh and fascinating.

Expect morally grey choices, found family vibes, court politics, and slow-burn romance wrapped in elite academy drama. If you loved A Deal with the Elf King or anything with secret identities, magical heists, and fake dating, you’ll devour this.

Book one ends with just the right amount of answers and intrigue and I need book two yesterday!

Arcana Academy was such a joy to read.
The magical school setting was rich and immersive, with a dark academia edge that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The characters were layered and flawed in all the best ways. I especially loved the slow-burn tension/enemies to lovers and the magic system.

The early chapters didn’t hook me, hence why I haven’t given a full 5 stars, the twists, the magic system, and that jaw-dropping ending more than made up for it. I’m already desperate for the next installment. If you love mystery, magic, and morally grey characters? This is well worth a read! 🖤

4.5
Thanks to @netgalley for an arc copy.
I absolutely loved this book!! It was a slow start, but once I had the time to read it, I absolutely got lost in the world & story. I loved the tarot card magic & the aspect of inking, such a different magic. Loved all the characters. The world building & storytelling were on point. The FMC was a badass & loved her! I also would like a second born prince!
Definitely add this to your tbr!