This review is based on a proof copy provided ahead of release. All opinions remain my own. Also featured on The Dark Academicals Podcast Season 11.

I was so ready to fall head over heels for Arcana Academy. Tarot-inspired magic? A mysterious, brooding love interest? A secretive, spellbinding school setting? These are all green flags for me, waving wildly. The concept alone is magnetic, and there’s no denying Elise Kova knows how to weave a compelling premise. I was hooked from the blurb:

“A woman who wields magical tarot cards lands herself in a false engagement with the headmaster of a mysterious academy in this first installment of an enthralling romantic fantasy series from the bestselling author of A Deal with the Elf King.

Clara Graysword has survived the underworld of Eclipse City through thievery, luck, and a whole lot of illegal magic. After a job goes awry, Clara is sentenced to a lifetime in prison for inking tarot cards-a rare power reserved for practitioners at the elite Arcana Academy.

Just when it seems her luck has run dry, the academy's enigmatic headmaster, Prince Kaelis, offers her an escape-for a price. 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.

In order to conceal her identity and keep her close, Kaelis brings Clara to Arcana Academy, introducing her as the newest first-year student and his bride-to-be.

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. But can she risk giving him power over the world-and her heart? Or will she take it for herself?”

And in many ways, this book does deliver. The world of Arcana Academy is intriguing and imaginative, built on a magic system that draws heavily from tarot lore - a personal weakness of mine. It’s a setting that practically begs to be explored in deeper detail, full of potential and possibility.

But as much as I wanted to love this book, I kept feeling like I was grasping at threads that never quite pulled together. The ingredients were all there for an unforgettable fantasy romance, but nothing was quite cooked long enough.

The two leads, Clara and Kaelis, have the makings of a classic doomed-lovers pairing: full of tension, history, and undeniable chemistry. I could see what the author was aiming for; that bittersweet, slow-burn ache of two people who are destined to orbit each other but never fully collide. But what came across wasn’t deliciously painful longing, it was just… frustrating. Their relationship needed more build-up, more emotional texture, and more moments of earned intimacy. Instead, their physical connection seemed to arrive out of nowhere. The shift into steam - particularly the sudden, explicit dirty talk - felt jarring against the otherwise safe, straightforward tone. It wasn’t that it didn’t belong, but it needed more groundwork to make it feel believable.

Character development was another area where I felt a bit short-changed. Clara didn’t go through the full arc I was hoping for and her journey felt a little stalled. And Kaelis, while fascinating on paper, never got the depth or inner conflict I was craving. The same goes for some of the supporting cast and the world itself: brimming with promise, but ultimately left underexplored.

And yet… I didn’t dislike it. In fact, I tore through it. It’s easy to read, well-paced, and there’s a spark to the world that makes me want to keep reading. I’m invested enough that I’ll absolutely be picking up Book Two. Because despite the flaws, there’s something here; an almost-there shimmer of what could become a really special series with more time, polish, and emotional layering.

To put it plainly: I didn’t walk away disappointed in the story itself, I was more sad about the version of this book that could’ve been. The breathtaking, soul-shaking fantasy romance it almost was.

Here’s hoping we get closer to that in the next instalment. I’ll be there, tarot deck in hand.

Thank you for letting me read and review this book on Netgalley.

This is the first book I've read by Elise Kova and I loved it. I struggled to get into it at first as I've struggled with finding the right thing to read but once I got passed the first few chapters I loved it.

Title: Arcana Academy
Author: Elise Kova
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Adult Fantasy Romance
Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers, a tarot magic system, slow-burn, found family, magical trials, secret societies, a badass heroine.
POV: Single POV

This story is set in Arcana Academy where the magic system is based on those who can wield, ink. read or use tarot cards.
Clara is the female lead and she is in prison for using her magic illegally.
The headmaster of the academy helps her to escape.
It took me a while to get into the story but it was worth the effort.
I really liked Clara she was a strong personality and I enjoyed the magic system and the tarot cards were interesting the author did explain some of the use but maybe if the glossary had been at the front especially in eBook form. There were some things I wasn't entirely sure about maybe some of the mysteries will be cleared up in the next book.
Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher for the Arc.

“This is Arcana Academy. Your future is your tuition.”

What an amazing story!

Clara Graysword had a rough life, she was sent to prison for inking tarot cards, something illegal for anyone that's not part of the elite Arcana Academy. But when she thought she was running out of luck, the academy's headmaster, Prince Kaelis, offered her an escape for a price. He needed her to steal a tarot card from the king. So in order to hide her true identity he brought her to the Arcana Academy and he introduced her as the newest first-year student and his bride-to-be.

I loved this! The magic system is super interesting. I know nothing about tarot but I didn't feel like I missed anything. And there's also a glossary of all the cards at the end. I loved that they learn to use tarot cards for magic and the academy was so cool.

There's so much intrigue and mysteries, I was losing my mind with every new reveal. I loved it.

The romance was so good, I was rooting for them. I couldn't stop reading, specially everytime they said something to each other that meant more than what the other thought. I need more of this romance.

That ending!? I thought I predicted how it would end until that last sentence!! I know this one just came out... but is there any news on the sequel? I'm kidding, I'll wait!

This is the first book I read by Elise Kova but I own A Deal with the Elf King so I think I'll put that one higher on my TBR pile! I loved her writting.

I have to say that it took me a while to get into the story, but overall I did enjoy the book. The magic system was my favourite part; it might be a bit difficult to understand at the beginning, but it's really well explained throughout the book.

The romance was my second favourite part. I do love a good slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance.
I'm definitely continuing this series — that was quite a cliffhanger. I can't wait to see how it continues!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with Arcana Academy but I ended up really liking it. The tarot-based magic system felt fresh and actually made sense which is rare. It wasn’t just window dressing - it had rules, consequences, and a real role in the story. Clara was a great protagonist. She’s sharp, angry in a way that feels justified, and has this resilience that makes you root for her even when she’s being stubborn or making questionable choices.

The romance was slow burn in the best way. Lots of tension and guarded emotions that built up over time instead of flipping a switch. Kaelis is complicated and I still don’t know exactly how I feel about him, but in a good way. The pacing dragged a little in the beginning while the world was being set up, but once I got into it I didn’t want to put it down. The ending hit hard and definitely left me wanting more (especially that cliffhanger!!). It’s the kind of book that stays with you a bit after you finish it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Elise Kova for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

First I would like to say thank you to NetGalley for giving me early access to this book in exchange for a revivew, all opinions are my own.

Wow! This was my first book by Elise Kova and I don’t think it will be my last. I mean the cliffhanger alone! I NEED MORE!

Arcana academy is an enthralling fantasy which catapults you into the rich dark academia setting, but has one of the coolest magic systems I’ve ever read about. It does take a second to understand but Kova does a fabulous job at not making this feel info dumpy.

The Story starts slow and takes a minute to get going but the audiobook definitely helps with this, but once you do get going it’s really enjoyable and you honestly have no idea where the plot is going, I had no idea what was going to happen and don’t for book 2 either. But I am so excited to find out I need it now!

Rating- 4 stars
(E-ARC)
Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton , NetGalley and the author for letting me have an E-ARC of this book.

This book has been one of my ancippated reads of 2025 and I have been really looking forward to reading this book. When I got a early copy, I was really excited to delve in. It was such a unique experience from the world building and even the magic system. The world building was really interesting. I am hoping that in the final copy that a map has been included as I would have loved to be able to refer back when reading this book. The magic system was also really unique. The tarot cards and the history behind the magic and things in the world in the world were easy to understand and even included a glossary at the back where all the magic from the cards was explained. I only found it at the end of the novel but if you are looking for the magic to be explained when reading this will be really helpful for you.

I also especially loved to see the Star Crossed Club where you could really see the fond family shine through. I especially LOVED that there was a character that used a cane throughout. As someone who is disabled herself, the disability reprensation was lovely to see. I can not wait to see more of the star crossed club in the next book. All in all, this book was brilliant and left me on the edge of my seat during the last couple of chapters. I did not predict the ending and left me shook but this book was such a unique and different experience I honestly did not know what to expect. The problem is now- I need book 2 desperately.

Arcana Academy by Elise Kova is a darkly enchanting romantasy that hooked me with its creative and genuinely fresh tarot-based magic system. Magic can often feel overdone in fantasy, but tying it to tarot cards and inked spellcasting gave the story a unique and thoughtful twist that felt both strategic and mystical—I absolutely loved that aspect.

I also really liked the characters, especially how Clara’s story was revealed gradually through glimpses of her past, which made her feel layered and real. She starts off closed-off and morally grey, but as her past is slowly unveiled, her motivations and vulnerability come into focus in a way that deepened my connection to her. The fake engagement trope delivers engaging and believable romantic tension—their interactions felt natural and compelling. There’s still a lot of mystery surrounding a few characters, which adds an intriguing layer to the story and makes me eager to learn more.

The academy setting is immersive, the magical duels are gripping, and the plot keeps things moving at a satisfying pace. Overall, Arcana Academy is a strong, atmospheric start to a new fantasy series, with standout worldbuilding, compelling characters, and a magic system that brings something truly new to the genre.

I’m a sucker for a fantasy book involving a tarot-based magic system, so I was intrigued to see how Arcana Academy would incorporate it.

Clara’s tenacity and perseverance were enjoyable characteristics to read as we explored the academy and somewhat changed world for her after being imprisoned. However, I also found it difficult to connect and be invested in her journey, as it felt quite action focused for so long that I kept wondering ‘who is Clara’; although, this did moderately improve in the second half of the book. The secondary characters were unmemorable, and while I wanted more substance to them, as this is the first in a series, I suspect they’ll be more development as the series progresses.

There is a romantic subplot and I did enjoy that the book was more fantasy focused with a slow-burn romance; however, Clara and Kaelis seemed to hardly spend any time in each others presence for me to care to root for them.

What I struggled most with was the pacing, feeling both fast and slow in an inconsistent way that the first half especially was difficult to get through. This did smooth out better during the second half of the story.

My favourite aspect of the story was the magic system and worldbuilding. Although there were times where there was infodumping (often during dialogue) and slightly too much information given to keep up with, I thought the worldbuilding was entertaining. I do wish that we were shown the limitations of the magic initially rather than being told them so the reader could experience it as the character was learning. However, the magic system was fun and immersive.

Although there were aspects of this book that I did enjoy, overall, it didn’t grab my attention as I had hoped.

This was a great read. The Magic system was super interesting and is like nothing I have read before. It is complex and fully thought out and you can really see how the world has been shaped around it. The TWIST at the end!? I did not see that coming. I feel stressed but in the best of ways. The characters are flawed, funny and I can’t wait to see what happens next. It’s a book that feels like there could be endless outcomes and the wait for book 2 is already too long!

A wonderful fantasy, loved the tarot aspect and the enemies to lovers! Excellent plotline, great characters.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Fantasy hasn’t been top of my list to read but OMG – how long do we have to wait for Book two? ‘Arcana Academy’ is quite long, but every page is packed with adventure, action, conflict, tension, passion, betrayal, conspiracy, magic, fantastical escapism …
The ending is oh-so cruel!
I shall be more than keen to read the sequel in this series.

I was so hyped for this book, not only was it written by one of my favourite authors, it also combines two of my favourite things, tarot and enemies to lovers. Did it live up to the hype? Mostly.

It's a huge book and it took me quite a while to properly get into it, but when I did, I was hooked. Let's start with the good, I ADORED Clara as a main character, she has vibes of Violet Sorrengail, Nesta Archeron and a pinch of Karou and stands tall and proud as a morally grey, kickass main character. Her unwilling romance with Kaelis absolutely sizzled with chemistry and the spicy scenes were handled like the pro Elise Kova is. The romance developed really well and fizzed with tension, lust and a dash of hatred. I also really, really enjoyed the magic system, it was a beautifully innovative way to combine tarot cards and magical powers in a way that I haven't seen before. I can't wait to learn even more about this system and the world around it.

To me, where this book fell slightly flat was some of the dialogue, it didn't flow as naturally as I would have liked and in some places felt almost anachronistic and out of place. However, this in no way stopped me from enjoying the book. I can't wait for the second book in the series, as I expect, like with the previous Kova series', it will only get stronger as the series progresses.

If you're looking for a magical replacement for HP, or something to fill the hole left by Fourth Wing then this is a great series to pick up and I will be recommending it to all of my fantasy-loving friends.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️

I enjoyed this book. The magic system felt unique and intriguing, and I quite quickly became engrossed in the story and world. I liked the way the plot unfolded bit by bit, with enough tension and mystery to keep me hooked. Clara was a solid female lead, strong and resourceful, but it was Kaelis who truly stole the show for me. I loved the way their relationship developed, slowly and naturally, with just the right amount of romantic tension. Their chemistry felt believable and well-paced. This was a strong start to the series and I am definitely curious to see where the next book takes us.

"Arcana Academy" is the first book in a new series written by Elise Kova. It tells us the story of Clara Graysword, girl who got caught in some illegal activities and was sentenced to spend the rest of her days in prison. Clara, however, has some unusual abilities to wield the tarot card magic, that will help her join the Arcana Academy and be involved in the political intrigue of royal family's members.

I love adult fantasy and dark academia setting and therefore I was super excited to read this book. That's why I'm deeply sad that I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I hoped.

The book in my opinion had a few major problems, which combined made it a very tiring one for me to read. Clara as a character was very annoying, she didn't develop and was almost always succeeding. She felt more like a teenager than an adult woman. The romance between her and her love interest was not giving me any sparks. Since it was enemies-to-lovers, where both characters had their own agenda, I felt it would give me the vibes of "The Crimson Moth". But due to the fact that this book was written only from Clara's perspective it didn't spark the same emotions. I was frustrated hearing her repeat the same conclusions and thoughts over and over again. It felt like she is extremely indecisive and annoyed me even more.

The writing was excessively repetitive. The world building w constantly repeated as well as character's thoughts (that also didn't develop over time). This made me feel bored for the majority of time, even if the plot was not that slow.

The thing that I did enjoy was the tarot magic. The part were students were actually attending classes was my favourite. I was really hoping the book will give me more academia vibes, whereas it gave more political intrigue vibes.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a richly imagined and fantastically written world. The magic system is so intricate, but not so complicated that it isn’t understandable.

I love the use of tarot as the magic source, it’s so cleverly thought out and wonderfully weaved through the story. We learn more about each card and its power as the plot progresses, which although was slightly bemusing at the beginning, ultimately was the absolute right decision as it introduced the right things at the right time and didn’t overwhelm.

This felt like a true enemies to lovers, and I absolutely love a Marriage of Convenience trope. The romance felt well developed and not rushed, I was invested in their relationship from the beginning and l always looked forward to their interactions - particularly when it involved the cat!

My only wish is that we spent more time with the found family! I would’ve loved to know more about each of them, other than the small snippets we were given. Hopefully this happens in book 2.

The ending was like whiplash, I cannot believe we have to wait to get answers!

I mostly listened to this on audiobook as well as using the physical to read along - thank you for the physical and audio arcs! I really did enjoy this one - it is a dark academia book with a very complex card magical system. I really enjoyed following the storyline and I loved following Clara and the romance!

Oh my goodness where do I start?

I recently got the chance to read the eARC of Arcana Academy which is basically a fantasy dark academia book and I am totally obsessed! The way the magic and the academic setting were interwoven with a touch of the slowest of slow burn romances
made the Arcana Academy one of my absolute favorites this year!
I had the best time reading it because from the beginning until the end it, it had me on the edge of my seat anticipating Clara’s next move. It was gripping and exciting and entertaining, I couldn’t put it down. There was so much drama and with the FMC being in constant danger or finding herself in very precarious situations time and time again the stakes kept getting higher and higher.

Clara as the FMC was so badass and cocky which made me root for her the entire time. And not to mention Kaelis our brooding, dark and morally grey MMC😍 This honestly makes the perfect recipe for high tension banter which is sizzling with so much pent up tension and chemistry it will leave you reeling😃 And need I say this has enemies to lovers too? I will never tire of this one😂

I don’t wanna spoil anything so take my advice and go in blind, you won’t regret it 😉 Only thing I will say is: Tarot cards play a huge role in this book in connection with magic✨
Also believe me when I say it’s that type of book that you will still think about even days and weeks later😍

It has been a hot minute since a new fantasy series gripped me the way this has.

It really has it all, a school for magic set up, different houses each with their own values, cutthroat trials and lessons, Betrayals, secrecy, reveals, Romance, spice.

I really loved the cards as a staple for the magic system, it sort of gave me Cardcatcher vibes but so much darker and fantasyesque.

And in all honestly, even though a lot of my burning questions were answered by the end, a whole batch of new questions came out of the last few chapters that have me just as confused and unbelievably eager for book 2!

I absolutely adore Kaelis, I think even though he is flawed and I am still not really sure I know what he is truly up to, I do believe he cares for Clara.

Clara is such a strong female lead, always thinking ahead, preparing and defending. Its no wonder she is our top student and the object of our dark prince's affections.


I think this is my favourite so far of 2025!