Arcana Academy
Elise kova

A woman who wields magical tarot cards lands herself in a false engagement with the headmaster of a mysterious academy.

‘But no matter how dark the night I refuse to give up the hope for the dawn.’

Wow this was incredible! I think I’d call myself obsessed. Literally this book has everything I needed. I never thought I would crush on the headmaster until I met Prince Kaelis. But here we are…

‘Magic is a rare commodity that requires even rarer resources to perform, making it highly controlled by the crown. Those who can wield it are never safe, and never free.’

Clara Graysword has survived the underworld of Eclipse City through thievery, luck and illegal magic. After a job goes awry she’s sentenced to a lifetime in Halazar prison.

"Well played ... I always knew you were dangerous."
"More than you realize," I whisper.

Surprising her the Arcana Academy’s enigmatic headmaster, Prince Kaelis offers her an escape for a price deal. Kaelis believes that Clara is the perfect tool to help him steal a tarot card from the King and use it to re-create an all powerful card long lost to time.

"But tell me what you're afraid of; I see it."
"Our doomed future."
"The future will be what we make it," I remind him.

Kaelis brings Clara to Arcana Academy, introducing her as the newest first year student and also his bride-to-be.

"Don't act like you're not getting anything out of this. You're engaged to a prince, after all."

Thrust into a world of arcane magic and royal intrigue, where one misstep will send her back to prison or worse, Clara finds that the Prince she swore to hate may not be what he seems.

"A rumor can be more deadly than a poison."

Prince Kaelis 💓 The tension and build up was absolutely perfect and made all the more meaningful for it.
Clara was a phenomenal main character. Headstrong and calculating.
And Pris, his cat. 👏

‘Nothing is going to help me sleep better my first night here than the overwhelming, smug satisfaction of being chesen by his cat.’

The world building was great. You get a strong sense of the world and the actions without heavy details that slow the pace. I loved the dark academia vibes with a corrupted head of power pulling strings.

The narrator did an exceptional job with this audio. It was compelling and clear. Well done to Anna Burnett.

"What did he do?" Kaelis asks, misreading the concern on my face, eyes darting toward Liam.
"Nothing."
"It doesn't look like nothing." A frown tugs on his lips. "I would love a reason to end him; give me one."

Overall I loved it and cannot wait to continue with book two!

”The tarot lives in us all. It is both feminine and masculine; it is also neither. It is essence of life and nature in all its forms.”

2025 has so far been nothing short of amazing for romantasy books I pick up, with Arcana Academy not an exception to this rule. It’s become one of my favourite books this year, holding a special place in my heart. Feeling very lucky that I got to read it as both an eARC and ALC, I hope anybody that picks it up has an equally magical time!

In Arcana Academy we follow Clara as she finds freedom (or does she?) from prison she spent a year in when according to a carefully curated plan, she is enrolled into Arcana Academy. As a bride-to-be of Prince Kaelis, the academy’s Headmaster.

Inking. Reading. Wielding. All three are components to working with tarot cards, which are the base of this world’s magic system. Knowledge and skill that isn’t for everyone, reserved only for those who attend - and graduate - from Arcana Academy.

The stakes are high, and I’m not only talking about the fact that Clara is Halazar’s escapee having to stay a secret. Kaelis’ plan was never to just help her. He has his own end goal in sight, but that goal might become something others strive for as well.

””Don’t act like you’re not getting anything out of this. You’re engaged to a prince, after all.””I’d rather die””

Clara. Kaelis. Our main characters. Two people forged by their surroundings and life stories. Seemingly as different as one might be. However, the more time they spend with each other, the more blurred the lines become. Where does their arrangement ends, and real feelings start?

(Out of context, BUT - the bathing scene. That’s it. That’s all I’m going to say.)

Clara is an amazing FMC, a strong-willed woman who survived so much hardships. Her love for those she holds dear was one of the things that helped her push through. Unfortunately, it also lead to situations where she would act on impulse, driven by the intensity of that love and wanting to save those she still could.

Kaelis... What can I say? I love me an MMC like that. Arrogant asshole at the first meeting. However, as we uncover more of his life story, we start to root for him.

What can you expect in Arcana Academy:
- enemies to lovers
- SLOW slow burn
- original magic system
- found family
- hidden identity
- dark academia
- trials
- CLIFFHANGER of an ending

THAT. ENDING. THOUGH. It’s a love/hate relationship, but also a personal mark for an amazing read - when there’s a plottwist or a cliffhanger at the end of a book which shocks me so much I cannot help but stare into nothingness. Book #2 cannot come any quicker.

As for the audiobook version, Anna Burnett has done an amazing job! Being the only narrator of it, she portrayed both female and male characters to life in a way that didn’t take me out of the story. Getting to hear her emotional reading added to how amazing the story already is.

Lastly, attending the Elise Kova event filled me with even more appreciation for Arcana Academy. As someone who is still quite a novice to tarot reading, the magic system was one of the reasons I became intrigued about the book in the first place. And now that I know Elise has been reading tarot since she was a child, the love and appreciation for this art is palpable between the pages -plus, she thought my deck was cute!

Thank you to NetGalley and Elise Kova! Thank you to Hoddersape and Del Rey for providing these eARCs, and thank you to Hodder & Stoughton Audio for the ALC - all in exchange for an honest review.

Really loved the audiobook performance!

The stand out element of this book is definitely the tarot card magic system. Learning about the different powers of the cards and reading about them in fight scenes was so much fun! The pacing of this book is also really solid, making it the perfect slump cure.

I did feel that this book fell prey to some romantasy stereotypes that made parts predictable, especially in the beginning. I also wish Kaelis' background was explored more. I liked Clara as an fmc, but I felt like she was a little repetitive with her inner monologues.

Regardless, this is a solid book and I'm curious to learn more about the world and its history in the next one!

I will give the uniqueness of the world to this book, I think that, and great narration, is what gave this book more stars that I would have given otherwise.

I loved the tarot cards use woven into the magic and the society in this books. It was well thought out and great.

Now the rest of the book was just same as any other books, baddie girly, dark and broody guy, they hate eachother, bla bla bla. Been there, done that.
Dark academia fantasy as genre has a very intricate balance between academia and fantasy elements, and I think this was not dark academia, this was fantasy in a magic school setting, hence I was a bit disappointed.

All and all I think this book will be loved by people that love magic school, enemies to lovers romantasies, but this was not for me personally.

The romance has elements of marriage of convenience, forced proximity, and enemies to lovers with a love interest who appears cruel but is actually a complete fluff ball at heart. The romance is beautifully slow burn and excellently done but weirdly I'm not sure if I would call this a romantasy as the romance is very much a subplot - this is a dark academia fantasy with a romance subplot. If you removed the romance the story would still stand and the main plot of the book is not the romance so I wouldn't personally call it a romantasy.

I enjoyed the audiobook narrator and I'd definitely be interested in reading more books narrated by them.

I think that the world building is great and the magic system is very interesting and cool. There are also a lot of side characters which definitely confused me at the start but I do appreciate how well fleshed out a lot of these side characters became and I'm looking forward to getting to know them all more in the next book. The ending was brilliant and I need book 2 now!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ALC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I absolutely loved the magic system in Arcana Academy. It was truly unique and clearly very well thought out, which made it one of the highlights of the book for me. Unfortunately, the rest of the story didn’t quite live up to that same level. I found myself quite bored throughout, as the pacing was off and inconsistent and I also wasn't invested enough in the characters. It almost felt like two separate stories trying to happen at once, and overall, it gave the impression that elements from other popular books had been pulled together and mashed into one. However the ending also came out of nowhere! It was very sudden and unexpected, so while I wasn’t fully sold on this one, I suppose I’ll have to pick up the next book just to see where it all goes.

<i>”The World is ours to design or destroy.”</i>

I’m so happy I gave Elise Kova another try! You can really tell how her writing has grown since ‘A Deal with the Elf King’, adding more depth to her characters and world, and more tension and dialogue and connection between the love interests.
I was really curious about this Dark Academia world using Tarot, and although the tarot aspect could be a bit clearer, I really enjoyed how this world was built and the characters were explored.
The plot was plotting, the romance was slow and reluctant and had chemistry, and that ending left me desperate for the sequel!

I also found the narrator absolutely fantastic, keeping me engaged in the story even when the exposition sometimes felt a bit heavy.

Read this if you enjoy:
🃏Tatot card magic system
💍Fake-dating
👑 Political Intrigue
🗡️strong and capable FMC
🖤 slow burn enemies-to-lovers
🗣️ MMC that says things like “You consume my every waking moment. Devour 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.“ and “There is no world in which you do not consume my very being.”

***Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced computer of this in exchange for an honest review!***

This was my first book by the author and I truly went into not really knowing what to expect. And it blew my mind away.

The magic system was incredible and so complex and interesting. The world-building was all the complete that it the politics, the magic and the places were detailed in an awe-inspiring way sometimes. I felt Elise Kova’s writing was so visual that it was easy to project myself in the story. The dark academy setting was absolutely on point, the morally-grey characters never just villains because they want to be villains.

Clara is an absolute badass main character, the kind that you can’t help to root for.
I wasn’t sure I’d be able to root for her romance with Kaelis at first, though, but fortunately I changed my mind quickly. Nothing is easy with them, the obstacles to their relationship are real and in no way overcome at the end of this first book.

And the audiobook was amazing as well, I adored the narrator, she convoyed the stakes and emotions so well that I was hooked from the first minute.

I can’t wait to see more in the sequel, I need it more than air at this point.

ARCANA ACADEMY is a magical school tale with plenty of romance and action.

The tale has a nice balance of danger (threats from students and external actors), romance (there is a lot of chemistry between Clara and Kaelis), danger (magical duels), and background mysteries about the fate of Clara's loved ones. It's a good mix, making the pages turn easily. Elise Kova's A DEAL WITH THE ELF KING is very much a romantasy and this book goes darker than that while also bringing more non-romantic plot into the tale, which I liked.

The magic system, with the cards having specific abilities and some being harder to create or rarer than others, reminded me of the magic system in ONE DARK WINDOW. I really liked that the card's ability was the focus of the magic system rather than the fortune telling aspect. That is in there but it felt like a minor part.

The book fits into the current trend of school books in the adult space. They have been hugely popular in children's fiction (for obvious reasons) in the past but now we're seeing an increase in them in the adult space as dark academia gets more popular. I wouldn't say this book is a dark academia novel (it isn't about the research and the obsession with it, rather the school is the setting) but it is interesting to see how that sub-genre's prominence is having a broader affect.

I listened to this and I liked the audiobook. There is something about first person, I think, that lends itself well to narration. Someone is telling you the story and this is how you really get that experience.

It is a duology, I believe, and the second book definitely implies that the setting and focus will be quite different - not a school-set book about trials throughout the year, but a much broader battle for the future.

I loved this audiobook. I’ve read the book but really happy I got a chance to listen to the audiobook. It came alive again with the narrator who was great. I love the different troupes . My fav one enemy to lovers. Highly recommend this book. The characters are great and dynamics between them

4.25 🌟 1.5🌶️

Arcana Academy is narrated from the first-person perspective of Clara, the FMC, who finds herself imprisoned after a heist goes wrong. In prison, she is coerced into illegally inking tarot cards. However, she is 'rescued' by the headmaster (Prince Kaelis) of Arcana Academy (MMC??), who offers her a deal: in exchange for her release, she must enroll as a student at the Academy and pose as his fiancée while assisting him in locating the most powerful tarot card.

During her time at the Academy, Clara has to figure out why the prince is really helping her. She goes through a lot of challenges that almost give away her true identity, and eventually, it all comes out....

Pick this up if you like:
🎴 Unique magic system (Tarot cards)
🎴 Enemies to lovers
🎴 Dark Academia
🎴 Forced/Fake Engagement
🎴 Tests and Trials
🎴 Political intrigue
🎴 Slow burn

If you enjoy an easy-to-read romantasy with a unique magic system, then Arcana Academy is the perfect choice. Although it took a bit to get into because of the slow start, the pace eventually picked up and the ending was just 😲 honestly, no one is safe! The numerous twists and turns kept me hooked, though I did find it a bit challenging to keep track of all the plot points due to the sheer volume of events.

I did an immersive read and even though my preference is duet narrations, the narrator (Anna Burnett) did an amazing job throughout and added to the overall story.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton Audio | Hodderscape for sending me an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I listened to the audio book of this one, which was a whopping 20 hours long, but I had a great time! I love dark academia, and this one didn't disappoint! The only real issue I found was that sometimes the narration felt a bit monotone, and as a first person narrative, I didn't feel like the feelings and emotions came across quite as well as they could have.

There's quite a lot to get your head around though in terms of the magic card system so this one may not be the easiest of fantasy series' to get into if you're just starting out with the genre.

The story follows Clara, who's been locked in Halazar jail for illegal card inking, until one day the illustrious Prince (and Headmaster of Arcana academy) Kaeliss needs her help.
There's so much to unpack about this one that I can't really say much more without revealing major plot points, so I'll leave this one for you to check out on your own! I'd say in terms of plot this one feels quite YA, but the limited spice is definitely more adult in nature and there's a fair amount of expletives so it's definitely more aimed at an adult audience.

I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to receive an advance copy of this book via Netgalley

Clara, girl. You have far too much power for the impact of the decisions you make!

For a lot of this book I was fully invested. I loved the magic system and the use of tarot as its basis. I thought that Clara was great …until I didn’t. At some point, In the last quarter, I felt my eyes start to roll and I’m not sure they stopped. She made so many ridiculous decisions I was almost banging my against the wall. She was so trusting - and I didn’t understand why!
The world building was great and I loved the clues that were left with regard to the next book - Kaelis background and all the information Clara has been kept in the dark about.
Kaelis was the your typical brooding MMC and ticked lots of satisfying tropes in that department! I’m intrigued to learn more about him and his motivations. I loved the star crossed club and wanted more of them. They gave me six of crows vibes and I was here for it!
This was my first Elise Kova book and I think I did enjoy it but as you can tell I have mixed feelings!

I listened to the audio book alongside the ebook - the audio has a great narrator! Brilliant audio.

3.5 stars

I really enjoy Elise Kova's books and her writing style, and this book was no different. The main standout point for this book is its incredible magic system. You can tell how much Elise put into writing this purely from the detail that's gone into the magic system. Tarot magic will always get me! This also features a badass FMC and a dark MMC to fall in love with. While I loved the swoonworthy bits of romance we got, I do wish there was more... more scenes and more angst. I also felt like the pacing of the story itself was a bit slow, and it did take me longer to finish the book. However, overall, I enjoyed it and the ending has me very intrigued for the second book in the series.

really didn't want this to end!!

Arcana Academy was FANTASTIC. It is so unique, the magic system is exceptional and the characters were perfect. I loved Clara, but I specifically loved her and Kaelis together - Their relationship was perfect, and I literally lived for their chemistry. It's the slowest of slow burns, but gosh it was good.

Some of my favourite tropes make an appearance:
* Enemies to ...lovers?
* Forced proximity
* Fake relationship / Marriage of convenience (not quite but felt the same)
* Academy setting
* Trials (with magic!!)

The CLIFFHANGER sorry pardon, I need the next book asap please. Tell me more about The World, I can't wait to read more magic, and I neeeeeeed more Kaelis.

Absolutely LOVED the narration in this audiobook too, Anna Burnett is so nice to listen to and made the book come to life.

Arcana Academy is a captivating blend of fantasy, adventure, and coming-of-age, elements that transports readers into a meticulously crafted world where magic and mystery intertwine. The magic system is unique and like nothing I’ve read before. The story revolves around a young protagonist, who finds herself navigating the complexities of an elite school, where there are trials and where the stakes are as high as the expectations.

Arcana Academy explores themes such as friendship, loyalty, and self-discovery. As the protagonist grapples with her identity and the pressures of her environment, readers are taken on an emotional journey that resonates on multiple levels. The friendships formed within the academy are beautifully portrayed, showcasing the importance of camaraderie in the face of adversity.

The pacing of the story is well-balanced, with a mix of action, intrigue, and character development that keeps you engaged from start to finish. The plot twists and the revelations maintain suspense, while also providing satisfying moments of resolution.

It is a must-read for fans of fantasy literature. This book has a crafted a tale that is not only entertaining but also thought-provoking, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series. Whether you are a seasoned fantasy reader or new to the genre, this book offers a delightful escape into a world where magic reigns and adventure awaits around every corner.

I listened to this on audio, and while I don’t usually gravitate toward British narrators for fantasy, this one really worked. The tone, the delivery—it suited the story perfectly and made everything feel sharper somehow.

The tarot-based magic system was genuinely one of my favourite parts. It felt original and tied into the plot in a really smart way. I will say there were moments it got a bit confusing—like I missed some of the rules or structure—but it never took away from how cool the concept was.

Story-wise, it was fast, layered, and full of tension. Every time I thought I had a grip on things, it twisted again, especially one of the subplots. That sense of not fully knowing what was going on really worked here.

Also… the slow burn. Absolute gold. The tension simmered for ages, and when it finally delivered? It delivered. No holding back, no sugar-coating—just full payoff. I lived for it.

The FMC was a chaotic little firestorm and I loved her for it. She made messy choices, wore her heart on her sleeve, and still somehow carried the whole story like a pro.

The only thing that didn’t quite land for me was how things were left between her and the MMC. I get why it happened, and it made sense narratively, but it still left me feeling a bit... ouch. And that final chapter? Yeah. Not okay. Book two can’t come soon enough.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC!

Arcana Academy is an exceptional book! The premise is well-known: a girl with special abilities, the chosen one, attends a magic academy to learn how to wield her power. While this concept is familiar, this book stands out.

It is exceptionally well-written and an addictive page-turner. High-quality, with no loose ends and a significant focus on action.

Two of my favorite aspects are the magic system and Kealis. The magic system uses common Tarot cards but in a completely different configuration. Each card possesses a magic power, but there are limitations and rules. Experience and natural skill influence the veracity of these powers. It’s a solid system, flawlessly thought out and executed. The more you delve into the book, the more intricate it becomes, yet it also becomes clearer and solidifies into a comprehensive world-building power. This is not an easy feat to achieve.

Kealis is a perfect love interest. He’s handsome, broody, gloomy, seemingly untrustworthy, and disgraceful. He’s abusing the power granted to him simply by his family name. The constant twists and turns when new information is revealed make you unsure whether to trust him or not. Clara’s mind constantly shifts, and she’s no exception. The writing is subtle and smooth, almost revealing the truth.

Additionally, there’s a whole cast of colorful characters who help propel the story forward. They add intrigue to the plot, muddy the waters, and assist Clara in uncovering more and more of her past. From her close-knit group of friends who still hide secrets from her to her newfound classmates who aid her in her magic journey, from enemies to unexpected budding friendships and potential hidden family connections, there’s a diverse cast of characters.

My only issue is the age rating for the book. Is it YA or adult? The premise is typical of a YA school setting, and the character is 21 years old, seemingly fitting into the adult category. However, her immaturity at the beginning of the book and character arc suggest YA. On the other hand, the dirty and steamy language in the spicy scenes strongly indicates that it’s not YA.

Despite the last comment, this book is well-written and thoughtfully crafted. It features a wonderful selection of characters and a compelling plot. As an audiobook listener, I can attest that the narrator delivers an extraordinary performance, perfectly capturing Clara’s voice, cadence, and timber. I eagerly anticipate reading book two.

"𝑳𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔. 𝑳𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆."

Dark romance? ✅
World building? ✅
Forced proximity? ✅
He falls first? ✅

For me, this book was dark, emotional quicksand.
It took me a while to get into but once I was in I was IN. Could not put down.

I loved:
1. Magic system (love the tarot card element)
2. Academy setting
3. Kaelis: omg. I have no words. Just... wow.

I did not love: that damned cliffhanger ending!
Whenever I've read a cliffhanger book, it's always been part of a finished series where I could dive straight back into the story in book 2 and I'm devastated I can't do that here!

Thank you #NetGalley!

I absolutely loved this audiobook. It is such a good story, I liked the magical system and the slow burn of a relationship between the FMC and MMC.

The book is perfect for those who like academia style books, magic, mystery, slow burn escapee

Cliff hanger will make you want more immediately