I adored this book! The magic system was so interesting to me and the romance was just right (not too fast or slow) for my tastes. I will be looking forward to the next book in the series.

Everything you love about a magical academy setting with fake dating and dangerous tests. Arcana Academy reimagines the magic of the tarot cards in such a unique and fascinating way. A tarot-lovers DREAM!

Actual rating 4.5.

Ahh this was epic! I haven’t enjoyed a fantasy novel this much since the Fourth Wing/Serpent & Wings of Night series,

I was initially drawn in by the stunning cover, but the story, magic and romance kept me hooked. I loved the characters of Clara and Kaelis (along with plenty of the smaller characters), and the chemistry and tension between them was hot, but not too cheesy like some romantasy can be. Basically, I can’t wait for book two!

Audio narration was also excellent.

4.5 ⭐

OMG! the plot twists!!! and the betrayal!!!


I was equally frustrated and in awe because it was that unpredictable

I think the book community is going to love this book and eat it up and you can see a few loved fantasy - romantasy vibe

The only downside for me was the slow pace!

I usually find it difficult to listen to audio books but this one has me booked. I was up till 2 am for two days straight cuz I just couldn't bring myself to pause

Please, I need book 2 asap!

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.

I was blessed with both an ALC and ARC which meant I could immersive read this one and what an experience.

I couldn’t get enough of this book. This book had it all, amazing world building with an intricate magical system using tarot cards, conspiring against royalty, slow burn filled with tension and angst and unexpected twists you wouldn’t see coming. This book was a reasonably paced one and the character development was phenomenal. I enjoyed watching our main characters grow throughout the story and develop their attraction to one another even if they didn’t think they should. I cannot rave about this book enough.

Thank you @netgalley @hodderstoughton @hodderscape

Summary

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

Spicy rating: 🌶️🌶️ 2/5

I enjoyed the narrator for this one but it was sometime difficult to distinguish between her character voices.

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 am obsessed!!! I loved this so much more than I though I would. The magic system is so unique, the world building is perfect for the first book in a series, and the characters are so well developed that I quickly fell in love with them. I can't wait to read the next book!

The narration was amazing!

🎧Book Review🎧

Arcana Academy
Elise Kova

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is the first book in this new and exciting Arcana Academy series and as soon as I spotted this, I knew I had to grab a copy to read asap!
Having always been fascinated by tarot, I was immediately drawn in by the name and front cover and as ever, I went in completely blind.

Although strongly connected to the tarot that we know and love, there is a unique magic system here that allows arcanists to be able to not only read the cards, but also ink them and wield them in battle too.
This was such a unique system and I loved that certain people represented certain cards which meant that the over-arching power would go to the one who could collect all the majors.

This sounds confusing, but honestly, this was so well written that it makes it easy for us to learn along with the students as we read and follow each step in their first year at the academy.

We follow Clara, who at the beginning is imprisoned for illegally inking and welding cards - having never been to the academy to learn.
But Prince Kaelis, headmaster of the academy, comes to offer her a deal that she really can't refuse.

I went on such a rollercoaster with this read - all the emotions were there and I was completely hooked from the start.
The story unfolds gradually, but always with a sense of excitement - there were so many different threads that this really doesn't give you time to put it all together yourself - but each piece falls into place skillfully, revealing plot after plot and leaves us wondering just who we can trust.

I adored both Clara and Kaelis!
Clara was so down to earth and completely determined to do things her own way despite everything else that was going on.
Kaelis' journey was strong with each betrayal adding another layer to his personality - constantly flipping me between trusting him and not.

The build up of the tension not only with the overall plotline, but with the relationship between Clara and Kaelis was so frustrating - but so understandable.
I could tell that Kaelis was smitten right from the start, but it took forever for the two to actually own up to the feelings they had.

I loved this so much and couldn't stop listening....and when I got to that ending!
What a shock!
I'm already chomping at the bit to get hold of book 2 and find out what happens....



💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

An enthralling, addictive, unputdownable fantasy romance which gives you dark academia, new world building, tarot magic system, with Enemies to Haters to… well that’s for you to read and find out… So where was I with the list… oh yes…. Fake Engagement, Royal Politics, magical Academy, and so much more!

This book even with the new world and lore for me to grasp was a dream read. I was invested from the first chapter and was sad when I saw I had reached the end of this book.

Warning the book ends on a cliffhanger that had me screaming “NOOOOOOO!! WHAT??” And now the wait begins for book two!

Favourite Quote: I had so many, however as I don’t like to give spoilers… these two are the ones I will share…

“You should think of me as a man who will do whatever it takes to get what I want.”

“I know what I am. I know how the world sees me, and that they aren’t all wrong. To be honest most of the time I don’t even care. If to bring around a new world, a Better world. I must be the villain. If I must do evil things for the greater good, then so be it. I’ll play the part now, and be reborn the hero in the next life.”

Spicy Level - 🌶️🌶️

Note: Please read and review all trigger warnings before reading any recommended book. We love to read for our pleasure, so keep your mind, and emotions safe!

Audio Book Available
Publisher: Hodder&StoughtonAudio | Hodderscape
Narrator: Anna Burnett
Publication date: 22Jul2026

Spectacular - give me 14 of them right now. It was a pleasure to read/listen to this book - it's so rare to come across something with a unique magic system, and it feels like there's still so much to learn!

Arcana Academy balances subterfuge, trials, found family and romance really well. There are so many sub-plots and stories that I hope we get to explore in the next book(s). The FMC and MMC also have fun enemies-to-lovers chemistry, and I'm here for it.

My only teeny-tiny challenge with the audiobook was that sometimes it was difficult to tell characters apart because there was no shift in tone/accent/pitch, which I've become used to.

Thank you for the ARC - I couldn't stop, and can't wait for my book trophy to arrive. So excited to find out what will happen next.

This is the first book by Elise Kova that I've read and it certainly won't be the last!
Right from the beginning I was completely drawn into Arcana Academy and I listened to it within just a couple of days.
The magic system is brilliantly unique, the book has fantastic pacing and I loved how different all the characters were.

The audio narration was fantastic and made for an enjoyable listening experience! I would definitely listen to more audiobooks read by the narrator.

This book put me through so many emotions..
The magic system was so unique, I never read anything like this before. I absolutely loved it, it was such an amazing story.
I had to get the ALC too, because I couldn't wait to reread it!! It's absolutely one of my favourite reads of this year.

Arcana Academy was founded to teach and control Arcanists, those who have the ability to ink, read and wield tarot cards and their magic. Power only reserved to those under the crown.
Clara was imprisoned for using it illegally. Until Prince Kaelis, dark and enigmatic headmaster of the academy, helps her escape, gives her a new name and a place in his academy as a first year student. She will be his bride-to-be and help him steal the tarot cards from his father, cards that are key in creating a powerful card, a card that can change worlds. He is her enemy, one she swore to hate, but there is more to him than it seems. Some choices will be hard to make..

I absolutely loved Kaelis, it's always the tortured souls that get me. He and Clara fought so hard against their feelings, it made me want more of them.
But this book was so much more than that, with the trials Clara had to go through at the academy, the heist, the secrets. Clara was strong and determined, but so stubborn. I loved her even when she drove me crazy.

I loved the audiobook too, the narrator did a great job. It was very slow though, I had to listen at 3x speed for it to be at my liking, when I usually listen at 2x, max 2,5x. But other than that, it was well done and I really enjoyed it.

I'm not gonna lie, the beginning was slow, it took me a while to get into the book, but once I did, it didn't let go. I was consumed by it.
I have so many questions still, I simply don't know how I'm going to survive until book two. That ending...
I promised myself I would stop starting series that aren't finished, but here I am, once again, with questions I won't get answers to for quite some time.. I can't make myself regret it though, I loved this book far too much for that.

I loved this book when I read it as a Kindle ARC and my god the audiobook didn't disappoint either. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this advanced copy.

I found the narrator a little monotone in places but I think she was just trying to convey how sort of 'numb' Clara was to everything after being in Halazar!

I had totally forgotten how much that ending blew my mind, and I absolutely can't wait for the second book. The twists and turns are brilliant, the use of magic through tarot cards is unique and I simply couldn't get enough of it. One of my favourite reads of the year for sure!

Hands up for a 5-star read!

Aaaah! What an incredible read. I need Book 2 now!

Arcana Academy is Elise Kova's best book yet (and I loved her series of Married to Magic standalones.)

✨️ Dark academia
⚔️ Ruthless magic
✨️ Will it be enemies to rivals? to lovers? to...?
⚔️ Fake engagement
✨️ Sizzling chemistry
⚔️ Tarot
✨️ Royals
⚔️ Oppressive rule
✨️ Found family
⚔️ Sisters
✨️ Secrets

Arcana Academy is a darker book with sharper edges. Every character is morally grey and pushed to their limits.

I'm not always one for tarot, so I didn't know how I'd feel about that. But Elise Kova's tarot is the jumping off point for a unique magic system that I loved, and that gets ever deeper as the book goes on. My mind is still reeling with theories.

I listened to the audiobook through Netgalley, and the narration was brilliant. I was gripped from the first chapter and sped through the 20+ hours in days. I may well buy the audiobook so that I have it to keep and for rereads. I'd love a beautiful hardcover copy for my shelf too!

I can't with this book. If you’re into dark academia with unique magic, romance, and high-stakes schemes, Arcana Academy delivers it all and then some!

The story follows Clara Graysword, a thief skilled in forbidden tarot magic who’s sentenced to life in prison after a heist goes wrong. Her only shot at freedom comes from Prince Kaelis, the mysterious and cold headmaster of Arcana Academy. He asks her to help him steal a powerful tarot card from the king in order to recreate a long-lost, world-altering one. To cover her identity, Kaelis introduces her to the academy as a new student and his bride-to-be. And from there—chaos, secrets, danger, and magic unfold!

Let me just say this: the romance is actual enemies to lovers. Clara and Kaelis don’t fall in love by chapter five while claiming to hate each other. No, this is a slow spark that smolders and deepens until it's an all-consuming fire. Their dynamic had everything: fake engagement, dances, jealousy, soft moments of vulnerability, tending to wounds, tension-filled arguments, and yes, the spice was absolutely spicing. It was beautiful and hot and felt so earned.

I loved how we saw Kaelis through Clara’s perspective. She’s suspicious of him, angry even, and so we see him through that lens at first. But as she slowly softens, we do too. And when he starts showing more of himself? I was gone. Clara is one of my favorite protagonists in a while; sharp, determined, and deeply loyal to her (found) family. I related to her so much, especially her drive to protect the people she loves.

The relationships in this book are honestly one of the highlights. Elise Kova does such a phenomenal job fleshing out every character, no matter how small. The friendships, rivalries, betrayals, and bonds all felt real. You can feel the tension between classmates, the weight of past wounds, and the joy of small, hard-earned trust. I had a favorite side character who completely stole my heart, and let’s just say... I’m not okay about what happened.

The worldbuilding is stunning. The tarot-based magic system is not only creative but incredibly detailed. It’s not just about using cards, but crafting them, inking them, reading them, and understanding how they can shift (or reverse) in dangerous, unpredictable ways. There’s real history behind the magic, real rules and risks. And that made it so satisfying to read about. Plus, the world around Arcana Academy is rich with clans, politics, legends, and tension bubbling beneath the surface. It felt layered and alive. And the trials! Loved them, so intense!

I also had the absolute joy of listening to the audiobook, narrated by Anna Burnett, while reading. And wow, she nailed it! Her voice was smooth and expressive, and she captured Clara’s fire, Kaelis’s intensity, and all the emotion in between. She did a phenomenal job with the different voices and really brought the relationships to life. Her performance made it even more immersive, and once I started listening, I couldn’t stop. I’d honestly listen to anything she narrates!

And that ending? I’m devastated. I’m obsessed. I need book two immediately!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for both the audiobook and the eARC!

Arcana Academy is my newest obsession! I was immediately hooked by the incredibly unique and brilliantly crafted magic system. The tarot-based magic felt fresh and so cleverly done. I loved how the characters had to draw their cards to activate their powers.

The stakes are high as students face deadly trials just for a CHANCE to earn a spot, and those scenes hit with intense emotion. The story is packed with twists, betrayals, and surprises that kept me turning the pages. It is fast-paced and full of heart-pounding moments from start to finish.

And the ROMANCE. Pure enemies to lovers perfection. The tension and longing between them while struggling to trust each other was chef’s kiss. And that ENDING? I am absolutely desperate for book two. I need answers now.

I listened to the audiobook and absolutely adored the narration. The narrator’s voice perfectly captured each character’s personality and emotions, making the story feel even more alive and immersive. Their pacing and tone added extra layers of tension during the trials and chemistry in the romance. It truly enhanced the whole experience and kept me glued to my headphones.

The author is stopping in my city for her book tour, and I am even getting my nails done to match House Swords. If that does not scream five stars, I do not know what does.

(Will add review links on publication day)

I re-read this book in the form of Audiobook and i am so happy that i did cos it was JUST as good as the first time!!! OMG the narrator did such a good job and shout out to the English Accent! You dont hear that much in audibooks (at least the ones ive listened to!)

W.o.w. I really enjoyed this book! I have read the Air Awakening series by Elise Kova and when i received the ARC for this i was super excited as i really enjoyed that series!

Arcana Academy has a very unique use of magic, Tarot Cards. I found this so fascinating and super unique, not something i had read before. (I love new stuff!) It did confuse me a little at the first, but eventually i finally started understanding all the cards and what they do. (Only to find out there is a Glossary at the end. LOL)

Clara, a strong driven women. I really like her strength and the way she holds herself. Her family values and belief in herself is brill. I loved the slow realize of information into her background and the whole twist at the end with it all. I'm so intrigued! Kaelis, now he was something! You could see his inner turmoil the whole way, to be the enemy he thinks he is born to be. These two … FIRE, the tension ripples off of them. I like how Clara didn't instantly like him, she truly hated him but the then flame slowly started to flare for different reasons and i adored this!

There is a lot of foreshadowing that you don't notice until the story unravels later on. So keep an eye out for stuff!

I really really enjoyed this book and wholly recommend it to everyone! 5/5.

5⭐️

I loved Arcana Academy by Elise Kova so much—I couldn’t stop listening! From the first chapter, I was completely pulled into Clara’s world. She’s tough, clever, and funny, and I loved following her journey from living on the edge in Eclipse City to suddenly being thrown into a magical academy… as the fake fiancée of the headmaster. Yes, please!

The magic system with the tarot cards was really unique and exciting. I’ve never read anything quite like it! There’s a perfect mix of magic, danger, secrets, and romance. And let’s talk about Kaelis—he’s mysterious, powerful, and has such great chemistry with Clara. Their slow-burn relationship had me hooked the whole way through.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton Audio for the ALC! I also have to say—Anna Burnett did an amazing job with the narration. She really brought Clara’s personality to life and made every moment so fun and emotional. I felt completely immersed in the story thanks to her.

Now I’m just sitting here desperately waiting for book 2. If you enjoy fantasy romance with magical schools, fake dating, and strong heroines, you have to check this one out!

I’m sorry, what was that? I feel like I need 3-5 working days to process this absolute masterpiece!!!

I text my book bestie at Chapter 4 saying “I’m already obsessed with this book, it better not let me down” and I can honestly say this book is INCREDIBLE. I have no words - the twists and turns, the betrayal, the heartbreak, the *yearning* my goodness the yearning between Clara and Kaelis had me on the edge of my seat.

The magic in this was exceptional, the tarot cards added an unexpected dynamic and made the storyline unique and fresh.

The academy system has the nostalgia of Harry Potter while being unique, the house systems were intriguing and unlike other academia books.

The ending?!??? What, the, hell!? How could it end like that? How can we be expected to wait to find out what happens? Who can I pay to get the next book?!

The way a full blown pterodactyl screeched out of me at that ending - I am not okay… still! Arcana Academy has me in an unapologetic chokehold

This is peak fantasy romance.
Secret tarot magic? Yep.
A broody, morally grey prince with a fake engagement that spirals into something way messier? Say no more.

Clara - Scrappy, sharp, and just trying to survive a world that keeps trying to knock her down - Complete underdog.
Kaelis - He’s all sharp stares, veiled motives, and “I’ll burn the world for you” energy.

The tension between them is unreal.
“He didn’t touch me, not really - but gods, I felt it everywhere.”

It’s that kind of slow burn that coils around your ribs and refuses to let go.
“Power like his wasn’t meant to be gentle. And yet, in that moment, it was.”

There’s so much in here that ticked every box for me—if you love One Dark Window, Crimson Moth, or The Hurricane Wars, I’m confident this one’s going to land for you too.

The world is rich, the stakes are high, and that ending? Unhinged (in the best possible way).

Also - shout out to Anna Burnett, who nailed the narration. Her voice gave Clara the perfect mix of grit and vulnerability and carried the emotional beats beautifully. The audio made me feel everything more intensely, especially toward that ending.

Big thanks to Hodder & Stoughton Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. I’ll be impatiently waiting for book two.

I was immediately hooked by this book! The magic system was so cool, using the power of tarot cards which ranged from small magics to world changing ones. Our MC Clara was a sassy and tenacious young woman with a drive to survive as well as the secret skills to do it.
And that ending! Definitely left me needing more!

Lovers of enemies to lovers, forced proximity, fake relationship tropes along with interesting and unique magic will love this one.

4.25⭐
2🌶️

.Enemies to lovers
.Secret identity
.Found family
.Fake dating/engagement
.Forced proximity
.Hurt/comfort
.Single POV

This book was a really pleasant surprise. I went into it completely blind. I only saw the author, the title, and the cover and thought, I have to read this. And honestly, that might be the best way to dive into a book: no expectations, no idea what’s coming, and then suddenly you're having way more fun than you expected. That’s exactly what happened here.

The premise is super intriguing. It’s set in a world where magic comes from tarot cards, and the story takes place at a highly competitive academy where students will do anything to secure their place. The world building is detailed but not overwhelming, so it’s easy to follow even if you’re new to fantasy. Plus, the story kicks off right in the middle of the action, which makes it easy to get hooked from the start.

There are a few slower parts where the pacing dips a bit, but I listened to the audiobook, which helped the story flow more smoothly. I’m not sure if I would’ve been as patient during those moments if I’d been reading the physical book.

I love a strong, clever female lead, and this one definitely delivers. No damsels in distress. The male lead is morally grey and sometimes ruthless, but he clearly has a soft spot for the FMC. The side characters are also well developed and all serve a purpose in the story.

Of course, it ends with a big cliffhanger, and because I never learn, I’ve started yet another unfinished series that left me desperate for the next book. But since this was an advanced copy and it hasn’t been published yet… I’ll be waiting.

Highly recommend this if you're into dark academia, a rich magical system, secret plots, and a touch of romance.

ARC and ALC review
Release date: 22 July

4,5 stars

"Arcana Academy" by Elise Kova is the first book in the series with the same name.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and Hodder & Stoughton Audio for the advance digital and audio copies of the book.
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

Before reading the book all I knew was that it is a fantasy with romance and tarot cards are part of the plot.

Clara is a young woman that was sentenced to a lifetime in prison for inking tarot cards.
This power is reserved to Arcanists, students from nobility that go to the elite Arcana Academy.
Prince Kaelis is the academy's headmaster that offers her a deal to get her out of the prison.
He gives her a new name and brings her to Arcana Academy, introducing her as his fiancé.

I think that the world and magic is very interesting.
There are many cards that offer different powers and the students can only use some of them.

Clara has a traumatic past and suffered a lot in the prison, but she is very strong and has a lot of secrets.
Her skill with inking tarot cards is very helpful and her abilities with wielding cards was important during the trials.

I did not like Kaelis in the beginning as I did not know what are his intentions.
Also, it was annoying that he kept threatening to bring Clara back to prison.
But he is a complex character, with a mysterious past and slowly I started to like him a lot.

I switched from the e-book to audiobook when I needed to multitask.
The audiobook is narrated by Anna Burnett and I liked her voice, but I felt the need to increase the narration speed in some parts.
Especially in the first part of the book, the pace is a bit slow and it was easy to get distracted while listening.

Fortunately, in the second part of the book there is enough action, as well as many twists and secrets that kept me entertained.
Lately I prefer to imerse read when possible, to get the best experience of the story.

The romance part is a very slow burn with a bit of spice in the last part of the book.
Clara and Kaelis have chemistry and tension, but they are denying their feelings.

The other characters are also written well and many of them hide secrets.

The ending was intense and it surprised me.
I will definitely continue the series!

This was my first Elise Kova book and now I think I need to read all of her backlist titles because I had a great time with Arcana Academy

The characters were perfect! I love the mystery she wove into all characters so that you never really know who is good and who is the bad guy. Everyone seems to have different motivations and they are slowly revealed over time.

I know it’s unfair to say, when toll the first book isn’t even out, but I cannot wait for book 2, I will be stalking socials to see when the next release is because my copy will be living in the naughty corner until then I NEED ANSWERS!!

Thanks to NetGalley for an early review copy

Arcane Academy is a masterclass in immersive fantasy. From the very first chapter, the world bursts to life through intricate lore, deeply layered storytelling, and a narrator who nails every beat.

The worldbuilding is rich and absorbing, with a storyline that keeps you on edge, eager for every reveal. While there’s a subtle thread of romance, this story leans firmly into the fantasy realm. And it does so beautifully.

The narration in this audiobook is absolutely brilliant. The voice performance elevates the experience, making the characters and magic feel tangible and unforgettable.

Highly recommend for fans of romantasy with a fantasy-forward approach. If you crave detailed lore, strong character development, and a story that sticks with you. Don’t just read it. Devour it.

5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have been desperate to read this book since I first heard Elise Kova had written a dark academia Romantasy. I love dark academia and the married to magic series is one of my favourite comfort reads so I knew this was going to be great. It surpassed even my expectations and has one of the coolest magic systems I have ever read.

I really liked Clara as a main character, she’s smart, gifted and has good reasons to be bitter and skeptical about the world. I loved the setting, Arcana academy is everything I want in a magic school with convincingly high stakes for failing the challenges.

Anna Burnett’s narration was lovely to listen to, I particularly liked that she didn’t attempt a deeper masculine voice for Kaelis but from her tone I still always knew when he was speaking. My only concern with listening to this rather than reading a physical copy was when I heard the detailed glossary at the start I was worried I wouldn’t be able to remember what all the cards were for but they were well described in the story when used so I was never lost. I will still buy a physical copy to refer to when I re-listen ahead of book two ☺️

I really enjoyed listening to this ALC, thank you so much to Hodder and Stoughton Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this early.

First I wanna thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this great audiobook in advance.
And it was fantastic!!!
I LOVE the magic system with the tarot cards, it was so different and interesting. The academy and the Houses in it made my remind of Harry Potter. The cuts through trials reminded me of Divergent with the Dauntless initiation.
The world building is also really good and I could really see all of it in my mind. As for the characters,, I love how sassy, smart and fierce our badass FMC Clara is. Kaellis got a bit on my nerves at the start but I knew I would like him and yes, as the book went on, I really started liking him more and more. The slow burn isreally a sloooooow burn. It got me soooo frustrated how much they were denying what was obvious. As for the other characters, I like her Starcrossed friends and I adore the friends she made at the academy like Luren, Sorza, Drisdin, Alor.. I hate Eza and I'm happy he got what he deserved 🙌🏻
As for the ending, I was jaw dropped. I didn't see that coming. I thought it was gonna be a way. I feel for Silas and for Clara. And that revelation about Rahim, WHAT??? And that very last sentence about her sister left me shook.
This is a thousand stars book in all aspects. Plot, worldbuilding, characters, writing...
I can't for the next one.