That ending, I'm so discombobulated, what the hell happened, I can't do this.. I fear I stared at the wall for like half an hour..

I actually read the ebook and listened to the audiobook at the same time and that was honestly such a good experience. I was completely immersed in the world and it made the story much more emotional. The audiobook was wonderfully produced and I absolutely loved the narrator.

After how book one ended, everything got resolved better than I ever dared to hope, but it was still such a dark place to be in.. We got destruction, pain, secret societies, mistrust, allies, some much needed answers, family, more card magic, some heat, death and even more questions..

Kaelis, that man went to the top of my book boyfriends, his devotion was simply unmatched. There's nothing better than a morally grey man completely obsessed with her. He protected Clara, understood her, waited for her to come to him and the way he treasured her, absolutely no notes!! We finally found out some things about him and I understand him so much more now.
Clara finally learned how to trust more and I loved seeing it. She trusted herself, found her home and had to make some pretty tough decisions..

I love them both so much, we really got some beautiful moments here. We saw them struggling to trust completely to finally letting go. They became each other's safe place. That scene at the crater might me one of my favourite scenes ever!!
The protection, the jealousy, the yearning, the trust, the understanding, the conviction, the bond, the desire and the destiny. She saw the darkness in him and loved him even more!!

"𝓣𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓶𝓪𝓷 𝓶𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓫𝓮 𝓪 𝓶𝓸𝓷𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓱𝓮 𝓲𝓼 𝓶𝔂 𝓶𝓸𝓷𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻."

This world is simply amazing, the tarot cards, the academy setting, the vibes, the secondary characters, the Worldkeepers, the familiar bonds, the love and the loss..
The race to get everything they needed to change the world and what they had to sacrifice to do it was quite eventful.. I have gone through so many emotions reading it. I had to stop and collect my thoughts quite a few times..
The pacing did feel off at times, but I love this world and these characters far too much to be bothered by it. I would easily read a thousand more pages of them just existing.

Again, that last chapter was so unexpected, how did we even get there, I need book three!! I would give anything to be able to read it now, I can't stand the fact it ended like that.. How can I wait a year??

After the cliffhanger of Arcana Academy, my expectations were sky-high, but this earth-shattering sequel completely blew them away.
​Clara and Kaelis are back, and their desperate, dagger’s-edge chemistry is absolutely scorching. The Tarot-based lore gets so much darker, the pacing is relentless, and the stakes feel genuinely life-or-death. The final 20% completely wrecked me—I'm still reeling from those betrayals!
​If you love dark academia and ruthless princes, pre-order this immediately. Absolute perfection!

📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Elise Kova and Hodder & Stoughton📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

Wow, it's not often that the second book in a series is better than the first, but this absolutely was!

I really enjoyed the first book but the main issue I had was the pacing. This installment improved on that so much though. It was so steady throughout and it didn't feel like it dipped or felt slow at any point for me, it was honestly the perfect pacing.

I loved most of the characters before, but they seemed so much more alive and more fierce in this installment, I couldn't help but love them more. The characters I hated before? I hated them SO much more.

Such a great sequel, and after this I really cannot wait for the third!

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO JUST… MOVE ON AFTER THAT ENDING?!?!?!?!?!? 😭😭😭 Elise Kova, you have officially RUINED MY PEACE.

First of all, I need to say the biggest THANK YOU because I was so, so, SO incredibly honoured to receive an eARC of this book. Arcana Academy was already one of my favourite reads, so getting to dive back into this world early genuinely felt like Christmas morning. My expectations were through the roof, and somehow this book STILL exceeded them!!!!

I don’t even know where to start because I am OBSESSED. Being back at Arcana Academy felt like coming home, and I absolutely love how Elise Kova continues to expand this world. The tarot-inspired magic system is still one of the most original I’ve read in ages, and in this book it somehow became even richer. Every new revelation had me highlighting passages like my life depended on it.

BUT CLARA. Oh my GOD Clara. I have never been so emotionally attached to a character. She became so bound up in my own emotions that every single time she doubted anything, I started doubting too. I was genuinely GOING THROUGH IT alongside her. Watching her carry the weight of everything happening around her while desperately trying to figure out who she could trust absolutely broke my heart. I just wanted to reach into the pages and hug her.

And then we have Kaelis… I genuinely cannot cope with this man. The tension? THE YEARNING??? EXCUSE ME?!?! The chemistry between him and Clara is absolutely unreal. Every interaction felt loaded with meaning, and I was hanging onto every single word they exchanged.

I also loved how much deeper this book dug into the relationships across the board. Friendships, rivalries, shifting loyalties, it constantly kept me guessing. Just when I thought I’d worked out who was playing what game, Elise Kova would pull the rug out from under me.

Speaking of WHICH… THE PLOT TWISTS. I was so convinced I had everything figured out. I was sitting there feeling all smug thinking, “Yep, I know exactly where this is going.” Reader. I did not. Every time I thought I’d solved the puzzle, another piece completely changed the picture. The pacing ramps up so perfectly towards the end that I physically could not stop reading. Those final chapters had me absolutely FLYING through the pages.

AND THAT CLIFFHANGER?!?!?!?!?! ARE YOU ACTUALLY KIDDING ME?!?!?!?!?! I am genuinely SOBBING that I have to wait because I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

This series just keeps getting better!!!! Five stars isn’t enough, and I think this has easily hit my top five favourite books of 2026!!!

Umm I am not ok?????? I absolutely loved Arcana Academy but I did not expect Prince of Swords to hook me so much. I read this in 2 days, at around 25% I realised this was going to be 5 star.
Kova's writing is so good! The way she describes emotional depth, trauma and the world she's created is such a joy to read .
Then there's the plot- I never once felt it dragged or had filler content. I was hooked chapter to chapter, with more twists I didn't guess and a few I did (but still didn't get it quite right!!) it must be so daunting writing a sequel but it's clear Kova has meticulously planned out each book in the series. The end of this book left me gasping, devastated, excited and terrified for the final book.
Finally there's Clara and Kaelis. In book one, I really loved their dynamic- dry humour, manipulative push and pull, out-scheming each other with begrudging respect. In this book, their relationship builds on that in a way that I didn't expect - I didn't expect some of the scenes to completely destroy me (in a good way) the way they did. How you read them growing into each other, taking leaps of faith step by step while maintaining their spiky characters gives you kicking your feet dizziness but with emotional depth that took me by surprise. Their romance is really earned in this book and the yearning is out of this world - there's still so much at stake and so much they have to figure out between them with some absolutely huge obstacles thrown in their way it's a journey that delivers character development as well as heart-wrenching tenderness. The way Kova has written Kaelis in this book took me by complete surprise in a positive way, he is tortured, devastatingly tender, fierce and violent in his defense and we get to see him start to become vulnerable. I am obsessed with him, and I am obsessed with the way Clara experiences and figures out her feelings for him as the book develops - how we see him through her as she fights two sides of herself wrestling her emotions- but Kaelis just keeps proving himself and good god I want to write more but I can't spoil anything!!!!
Romance aside, the plot deepens here without introducing left-field brand new elements that make no sense - everything that unravels (and there's a lot) feels like a mastermind has put it all together. The themes of control over our own choices, the corruption of power and the cycle of revenge are explored with nuance and compassion.
I will now go and read everything else Kova has ever written.

✦. ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦

I am devoted not to your vessel, but to your soul.
A soul I would follow across all the worlds.

✦. ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦


OH HOW I HAVE MISSED THE WORLD OF ORICALIS. No, genuinely. The second I started reading this book, I felt like I was coming home.

And where do I even begin? Everything was just SO GOOD. I finished it and just sat there staring at the wall because my brain needed a moment to process everything that had just happened.

One of my favorite things about Arcana Academy was the tarot-based magic system, it felt so fresh and intricate. And somehow, in this one the lore got richer, the tarot magic got even twistier, and the whole idea of remaking the world absolutely sizzled my brain in the best possible way.

Clara remains THAT GIRL. She’s sharp, fearless, and stubborn in all the right ways. And getting more of her backstory, especially her bond with Arina, only made me love her even more. Their sisterhood added so much heart to the story.

Seeing Kaelis’s softer side absolutely ended me. Don’t get me wrong, I adore his sarcastic, thorny personality, but watching all those walls crack made him feel so much more vulnerable and endearing.

I already loved Clara and Kaelis’s dynamic in the first book, but somehow this book took them to a whole new level. The build-up, the chemistry, the trust, the yearning… yeah, basically my exact brand of romance.

Now let’s talk about the cliffhanger. Yes, THAT cliffhanger. Honestly, that was incredibly rude, highly offensive, and quite frankly a personal attack. You cannot end a book like that and expect me to function properly.

One last word… Kitten. No further explanation. If you know, you know.


════════════════════════

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the ARC!

First things first- What am I supposed to do with myself until the next book comes out? This is torture. Pure torture and I love it.

Kaelis could have filled his own book with all the emotional and touching things he said to Clara. I highlighted sooo many quotes and normally I am not one to highlight anything.
This book has had me in a chokehold from the very first letter onward. It really has not a single boring or skipable part. It hast got everything.
Love, hate, trauma, grief, a bit of spice, scheming. Just everything!
Clara‘s character development is excellent and she stays truw to herself. Arina also has the perfect arc of someone coming back stronger after trauma.
I could go on and on about how great this book is but you have to read it yourself.
I LOVED it!!!!!!

holy moly…

i needed a night to sleep on this review because that 10% had me so discombobulated 😂 every. single. time i thought we were making some positive progress it just got so much worse 😩

from the very first page i was immersed back into this world and the magic system and even without a re read of book one i easily remembered the magic system, characters and world which is just the best feeling when going into a sequel 🤭

kaelis is just a top tier book boyfriend there is no arguments there, a morally grey man that is truly devoted gets me every time and he really give clara the time and space she needed to trust him his character growth was not going where i thought it was but i LOVED it, it explained so much about why he is the way that he is and the way that clara’s characters growed through this story and i loved seeing her step into her ‘new role’ and this made for a really interesting turn in the overall story.

i just love the magic system in this world and it was so nice getting to see more of the tarot cards and how these are used in intense situations, it is such a uniquely built world and this makes for such an immersive read that i just never wanted to leave 🥹

i honestly just can’t get over that ending, i dont know what even comes next and how we move on from this but i will be impatiently waiting for the next installment 🥲

*a huge thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an arc of this book 🫶🏼

Prince of Swords picks up immediately where Arcana Academy ended and is action-packed from the very first page. I was hooked right away and found it so hard to put down. It's a fantastic second installment in the series and definitely lives up to the first book. If you're already a fan of the series like I am, you're going to love this one.

But seriously, Elise... that cliffhanger?! 😱 How am I supposed to wait for the next book now? I needed it yesterday!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder Books for the ARC of Prince of Swords, the highly anticipated sequel to one of my favourite reads of 2025.

If you thought Arcana Academy put your heart through the wringer, prepare yourself—Prince of Swords raises the emotional stakes in every possible way.

The story follows Clara in the devastating aftermath of the events of book one as she faces the consequences of returning to prison. With enemies closing in, new alliances forming, and shocking revelations about the World itself, the story expands far beyond the walls of Arcana Academy. Every chapter left me desperate to know what would happen next as Clara, Kaelis, and the rest of the cast are forced to make impossible choices that could change everything. (Hachette UK)

One of my favourite aspects of this book was Clara’s journey. Her anger, grief and determination leap from the page, making this a brilliant exploration of feminine rage. Elise Kova doesn’t shy away from the emotional cost of everything Clara has endured, and that vulnerability makes every victory feel earned and every setback hurt even more.

The tarot-based magic system continues to be one of the most original fantasy magic systems I’ve read, and the world-building grows even richer as more secrets are uncovered. Combined with the dark academia atmosphere, political intrigue and ever-present tension, it creates an incredibly immersive reading experience.

And then there’s Kaelis. The chemistry between him and Clara continues to simmer throughout the novel, delivering plenty of romantic tension alongside the emotional devastation. The romance never overshadows the plot, but instead strengthens the difficult choices both characters have to make.

By the final pages, I was emotionally exhausted in the best possible way. This series continues to prove why it’s become one of my favourites, and I already need the next book.

Tropes:
📚 Dark Academia
❤️‍🔥 Feminine Rage
🎴 Tarot Card Magic
💔 Emotional Damage
🌶️ Spice

I’m honestly torn between a 4- and 5-star rating because there were so many things I loved, but also a few aspects that kept me from fully committing to five stars.

The highlight of this book was definitely Kaelis and his declarations of love. That man is down bad for Clara, and the yearning was absolutely unmatched. Some of his lines genuinely gave me goosebumps. I loved every second of it. At the same time, though, it felt like such a drastic shift from the first book. When did we go from mysterious, dangerous, and secretive to “I would choose you in any world”? As much as I adored his romantic moments, I also couldn’t shake the feeling that he might be playing Clara and had ulterior motives.

I spent the entire book waiting for him to betray her because everything felt a little too perfect and happened so quickly that it almost seemed suspicious.

Clara continues to be a strong, intelligent protagonist, but for someone who supposedly struggles to trust others, she puts a surprising amount of faith in some of the side characters rather quickly. I was also slightly frustrated by how often her first instinct was murder, only for her to immediately change her mind. As a reader, you’re constantly waiting for the inevitable betrayal. Whether luck stays on Clara’s side - or whether those betrayals actually happen -is something you’ll have to find out for yourself.

One thing this author does exceptionally well is keeping readers on their toes. The plot twists were great, and I’m still unsure who can actually be trusted. There are so many suspicious characters and groups that I’m sure Book 3 will answer some of those lingering questions. And that cliffhanger? Brutal. I need the next book immediately.

The story is packed with action, revelations, twists, and romance, so I was never bored. Even though some descriptions could have been a little shorter, I still devoured this book in just two days. It’s a strong sequel that completely avoids the typical second-book syndrome of feeling like filler before the finale.

My biggest criticism is that many conflicts are resolved a little too conveniently. Because the story moves so quickly from one event to the next, some of the emotional consequences don’t have enough room to breathe. Clara goes through an incredible amount of trauma, yet she rarely seems to truly break down. I don’t need chapters filled with endless grief, but I would have appreciated seeing her emotional struggles explored in a bit more depth. At times, it felt strange how easily she was able to keep functioning despite everything happening around her. The pacing was sometimes off because we went from heavy scene, to spice to just the regular day. While the spicy scenes are hot, the placement of it wasn’t always great. As already mentioned, it took away the emotional impacts from previous scenes.

Overall, this was a gripping sequel that kept me hooked from beginning to end. Despite a few pacing and emotional issues, I couldn’t put it down, and I’m already counting down the days until Book 3.

This review is for Prince of Swords by Elise Kova which releases in the UK on the 21st July! Thanks so much to Netgalley and Hodderscape for giving me an eArc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The first book in this series was a massive 5 star read for me, so it was a no brainer to request the second book, as I needed to know what happened ASAP.

We were dropped straight back in to the story, starting where the 1st one finished and immediately I was hooked. As I said in my last review, the magic system is super unique and I loved it. The world building in this also managed to deepen the understanding of the system and the world itself, bringing so much clarity to the story and linking a lot of previous plot points. (I’m trying so hard not to spoil this book!!). The twists and turns were so unpredictable, it kept me on my toes the entire time… and that CLIFFHANGER??? Insane, need the 3rd book ASAP pls.

The characters were also a lot more developed in this, and you see a lot of the same characters from the first book with a few new additions or more side characters become more prominent. Kaelis is the only man I need, why do they always have to be fictional 🥲🥲 the relationship between Clara and Kaelis becomes so much stronger as well which was refreshing to see, and can’t wait to see what happens with them in the third and final book. 🥹 Clara was a badass as per usual in this book, she’s such a strong and stubborn FMC, and especially as an eldest daughter I can relate.

I honestly cannot recommend this series enough, just for the tarot magic alone. The world, the characters and the story all just comes together perfectly.

I read Arcana Academy last year and loved it, so when this book was announced I have been itching to read it. Prince of Swords did not disappoint!

The world building was incredible. I loved how there was enough context from the previous book to keep you on track for book 2. Plenty of twists, turns, shocks and surprises galore. The pace was great, there were some slower parts, which brought out the more emotional and in-depth aspects of Clara and Kaelis’s characters. Excellent cliffhanger, even better than Arcana Academy. Loved how Clara’s character had grown and became more confident, mature and resilient.

It was a highly enjoyable, emotional, dramatic, dynamic and engaging book from start to finish. Would really highly recommend Prince of Swords and I can’t wait for book 3 in the series!

Thank you to Elise Kova, Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

“This man offers me my enemies still alive so that I may bring them death. That’s how I know he loves me.”

✨ Tarot magic
✨ Forbidden romance
✨ Hidden secrets
✨ Political intrigue

Book two and somehow this world just keeps getting better.

The stakes are higher, the secrets are deeper, and the twists are absolutely twisting. The worldbuilding in this series continues to be one of my favourite parts. The magic system is so unique, and every new discovery makes me even more invested in uncovering what’s really happening behind the scenes.

“I’ve been hunted for one reason or another since I was a girl. The notion of possessing true freedom almost seems too good to be true.”

Clara continues to be such an interesting FMC because even when she’s powerful, there’s still so much she’s protecting. Watching her slowly start to lower her walls and allow herself to want things beyond survival was one of my favourite parts.

“For you I am weak…For you, I want to make every mistake and indulge every desire.”

And Kaelis… honestly, this man is a whole situation. He’s dangerous, complicated, and carrying so much hurt beneath the surface, but his devotion to Clara is unmatched. The way he loves her, even when he’s fighting himself every step of the way, was everything.

“I want him for a thousand years and in a thousand worlds. I want him until we turn to dust. Until we’re nothing but memories and whispered myths.”

The romance, the magic, the secrets, the betrayals… this book delivered on all of it.

And that ending??? Absolutely not. I need book three immediately because WHAT WAS THAT.

Chaos, vibes, and opinions are all my own ✨ please give credit if you share.

THATS WHAT I CALL A BOOK 2. I am screaming, feral. There were so many parts from 85 percent where I was like what a cliffhanger and the story kept unfolding to that ending and what an ending it was.

Without spoilers THE LINE HE SAID THE LINE… IYKYK. Cannot wait for all the girls to go feral with me when they read it, there was heartbreak, love, found family, tension.

This book had me devouring it I was living my best life I was gripped, a book with plot emotions.

4.5 🌟 Book, 5 🌟 Audiobook

Firstly, that ending was quite diabolical. We have a huge cliffy, so how are we supposed to wait for book 3 when this one isn't even out yet?

This book had so many elements of a romantasy I love. It is set in a dark academia setting, with secret societies, strong sibling relationships, a great found family, an extremely intelligent female protagonist, and a male protagonist who speaks poetically.

The Magic System & World-Building
Whilst the world-building is extremely dense and I still don't fully understand the Arcana magic system, I still LOVED the story. There is a handy glossary at the back of the book to help you digest the information (and tell you what each card does). I loved how the cards were used in such a unique way in this book.

The FMC: Clara
Clara's character grows so much. After that ending in Arcana Academy, she has a lot more people she needs to protect, and the weight on her shoulders has increased. I watched her slowly let people in and open up. I loved the found family dynamics, and the banter between Kaelis and her was hilarious. I loved that he turned out to be more multi-layered, since we don't know much about him. I do think that the set-up for his character in book 3 is going to be exceedingly exciting.

The way Elise Kova writes is so beautiful, lyrical, haunting, mysterious... I could come up with 1000% more adjectives to describe this book. If you love romantic literature, dark academia, secret societies, and a man who yearns like a European troubadour, pick this book up! lol.

The Audiobook
I did an immersion read (ALC + e-ARC), and Anna Burnett's British accent was so captivating and simultaneously restrained. It brought out all the things I love about Clara and her baddie FMC characteristics.

🩷 Tropes:
🔮 Tarot-based magic system
🏛️ Dark academia / academy setting
⏳ Yearning
💬 Banter
👑 Court politics / oppressive monarchy
🗡️ Betrayal tension
😭 Emotional damage
🩷 Character development
💀 Touch her and die
👑 You're Mine

🌶️ Spice:
Open door — 2/5

Recommendation:
If you enjoyed Arcana Academy, this sequel will hit the spot for you. I highly recommend the immersion read with the audiobook. If you love Nightshade by Autumn Woods, One Dark Window (for the tarot card magic), or A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez, or even Fourth Wing — but with more elevated writing — you will love this book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC, and Hodder & Stoughton Audio for the ALC.

This was everything I wanted and more! An excellent second instalment in the Arcana Academy world. We pick up where book 1 left off and deal with the fall out from the climatic events that took place. Then the pacing never really stops. We get excellent character development, start to unravel more of the mysteries whilst also having a whole new set of circumstances for our main characters to navigate. High stakes, secret societies, and an exquisite magic system…. You couldn’t ask for more! Perfect for fantasy and romantasy fans alike. The tarot card magic system in this series is so unique and well developed, and I feel like it can only go from strength to strength as the reader learns more. This is a must read for any Elise Kova fan! Obsessed! What do you mean I have to wait ages for book 3?! I need to know what happens now!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars.

Ugh I love this series. Book two picked up immediately where book one left off, so there was zero filler or waiting around to be back into the action. The romance is obviously more established in this book, but its really nice to see the relationship progress as they get to know each other more. There's more depth to it, and more depth to other platonic relationships too. The pacing stays pretty solid throughout, so even though the main plot takes a little while to properly take off, it doesn't feel like the rest is filler and you're certainly not bored. There's less of a focus on the academia vibes (although they are still very much there) but instead we follow a couple more high stakes story arcs. Overall this was a great and entertaining read, with a couple of little twists I did not see coming. The world and magic system remain top-notch and I hope more people discover what I feel is an underrated series!

Wow! What did I just read?! I really enjoyed the first book but this knocked book 1 out of the park. Honestly full of action, romance, battles, healing, revenge, this had it all! I even cried, I am not a crier at books but this really got me! Lots of questions answered from the first book, but even more questions at the end of this one! This book was truly amazing and I loved it. I now have to wait for the final installment to find out how it ends!

“You are my World”

Argh!! I am so enthralled and caught up in the world of Arcana Academy. Readers who enjoyed book 1 will not be disappointed by the second instalment. The unique tarot magic system and enemies to lovers storyline as they work together against a common enemy had me unable to put the book down. And Kaelis’ as a MMC? Completely swoon worthy!

The cliffhanger ending? Damn! Do I really have to wait for book 3 to see how this is all going to resolve?

Thank you to Hodderscape and NetGalley for the eARC of Prince of Swords

LOVED!!!! After the ending of the first book I had no idea how this was going to go but it shocked me.

The twists and turns had me guessing and I really enjoyed how much a fmc changed in this book and not just physically. The magic system is still so intriguing.

Just wow so excited for the next book!

I ADORE this series!
I flew through Arcana Academy and was absolutely gutted when I reached the end and realised I’d have to wait for the next book. Prince of Swords absolutely lived up to that expectation for me.

The world building in these books is amazing, I love the tarot system and the politics. The world building only continued to get better in this book which was really impressive.

The characters are fab - I love Clara as an FMC, it was great going on her journey to learning to trust the people close to her and really see some great character development. And don’t get me started on Kaelis! Definitely one of my top rated MMCs - his character is complex but loveable and I really enjoyed seeing his feelings for Clara develop in this book.

The ending? Amazing.
I cannot wait to read more from Elise Kova and get back into this world again!

How am I supposed to recover from THAT?! 😭😭😭

I have just finished the audiobook ARC of Prince of Swords and... excuse me while I try to pick my jaw up from the floor. WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. HELL. 🤯

Seriously... how am I supposed to wait for book three after an ending like that?! Because I genuinely have no idea. I need answers. I need closure. I need the next book immediately. 😭

This series just keeps getting better and better. Every chapter had me completely invested, constantly questioning what was going to happen next, and every time I thought I had figured something out, the story managed to surprise me all over again.

But what truly makes these books special are the characters. I have become so incredibly attached to them that every victory feels like my own, every heartbreak hurts, and every impossible choice leaves me emotionally wrecked. They feel so real that saying goodbye at the end of the book honestly felt unfair. 💔

And yes... I cried. A lot. 😭 I wasn't prepared for the emotional weight of this story, and by the time I reached the final chapters, I was completely broken. The ending absolutely shattered me, and I still haven't recovered.

I also have to give a special mention to the audiobook narration. It completely elevated the experience, bringing every character and every emotional moment to life. I couldn't have asked for a better way to experience this story. 🎧✨

If you've been waiting to start this series, this is your sign. Just be warned... you're going to become emotionally attached, lose sleep, question everything, and then be left desperately counting the days until the next book.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be over here trying (and failing) to recover while impatiently waiting for book three. 😭📖

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC and the ALC! 💞

Prince of Swords is exactly the kind of sequel I was hoping for. While I enjoyed Arcana Academy, this second installment made me appreciate the first book more by building on everything it established and allowing the world, characters, and magic system to truly shine.

One of my favorite aspects of this series continues to be the tarot-based magic system. It's unlike anything I've read before, and although it remains fairly complex, I found it much easier to follow now that the foundation had been laid in the first book. The expanded worldbuilding, political intrigue, secret societies, and deeper lore all made the story feel richer and even more immersive.

Kaelis was the standout character for me in this book. Learning more about his past and seeing his softer, more protective side only made me love his character more. His relationship with Clara continues to develop naturally, and I thoroughly enjoyed the banter, trust, and slow-burn romance between them. Clara also showed satisfying growth as she slowly learned to rely on the people around her, even if her stubbornness occasionally had me questioning her decisions.

If I had one criticism, it would be that the pacing slowed a little in the middle of the book. The story starts incredibly strong, and while the slower section helped develop the world and characters, I occasionally found myself wanting the plot to move forward more quickly. I also felt that a few emotional moments didn't have quite the impact I expected, despite understanding how significant they were for the characters.

That said, the final portion of the book more than made up for it. Once the story reached its last chapters, I couldn't put it down. The twists, revelations, and ending completely took me by surprise and left me desperately wanting the next installment.

Overall, Prince of Swords is a fantastic sequel that expands the world in meaningful ways, develops its characters beautifully, and rewards readers who invested in the first book. If you enjoyed Arcana Academy, I think you'll find this sequel even more compelling, and I'm already looking forward to seeing where the series goes next.

Omg this book was fantastic I loved every minute of ready of reading it clara and kaelis story was incredible loved book one book 2 was perfect

This is how you do a sequel.

Elise knows how to write a book just as good as book 1. It is action packed from page 1, and starts off just where it was left off..
I adore the magic system in these books, complex and unique.
I cannot wait for book 3!!

my most awaited sequel this year and it did not disappoint one bit!!! i was gripped from start to finish (and duh, i mean... that cliffhanger from Arcana Academy???? oh my lord) and truly struggled to put it down ✨🗡️

my heart broke for Clara so many times reading this one, but our badass FMC was strong as always, determined to right the world for everyone despite her struggles. i just love her with my whole hearttttt.

of course, we had lots of yearning from Kaelis throughout, and when the spice hit it was SO good 🤭

there were so many twists and turns that was not expecting — my word Elise Kova knows how to write a compelling story and she hits it time and time again!!

completely unputdownable, easily another top read of the year! and THIS cliffhanger??? holyyyyy crap, i need to get into Elise's brain immediately bc i must know where it all goes from here!! not sure how i'll be able to wait for book 3... but it'll probably (certainly) include some rereads of Arcana Academy and Prince of Swords that's for sure!!

thank you SO much to Hodder for sending me an eARC on NetGalley and physical proof, i'm so grateful! 🫶🏼✨

You know those series where the sequel makes book one even better because you realise book one was playing the long game all along and book two makes everything click into place?

If anything, this series in my opinion is the opposite of middle book syndrome, whatever that is. It’s left me feeling like what on dog’s green earth did I just read, while simultaneously kinda euphoric and exhilarated, with a huge book hangover, clawing my fingernails into the dirt as I dangle on a very big cliff to be honest, someone help? Not to be dramatic but the ending is pretty diabolical.

Of course I can’t speak to everybody else's individual experience but I rated Arcana Academy a commendable 4 stars when I read it last year. I found it was a dense world with a lot of information to dispense and digest. In hindsight, I suppose I rated book one as though it were trying to achieve the same thing as a standalone novel, when in reality I owe book one an apology, I wasn’t familiar with its game (of laying the foundation for something much loftier).

So yes, turns out all the magical worldbuilding for book one had such a remarkable return on investment for book two, in my opinion. I was captivated by Prince of Swords from page one right through to the end and now I highkey think Elise Kova is an actual genius because the ambition of the concept is actually matched by the execution. I personally find the magical tarot system incomparable to anything I’ve ever encountered in fiction before, it's so intricate and so rewarding.

But look, enough about the technical stuff. KAELIS. Our cinnamon roll purple-ish-haired monstrous prince dude with fathomless eyes and buckets of yearns. He delivers in the sequel big time and became even more interesting the more I learnt about him. I just adore everything about his character trajectory in Prince of Swords. If you were intrigued by him in the first book, then there’s a good chance book two will up the ante for you. I fear I can’t say more. Anyway, perhaps this is your sign to just read Prince of Swords if you enjoyed book one.

Some other minor notes: I found Clara’s character growth of allowing people in, from friends, to Kaelis really satisfying too. Banter is snappy and witty, j’adore. Amazing thoughtful representation again in this book too. Fantasy has always been a way to interrogate our own world and I think the political commentary and undertones are also well done (i.e. the king/monarchy are oppressive and they use enforcers to hurt and harm and we all know who and what that represents in real life).

Finally, I did an immersion read of listening and reading an e-pub and I must say, Anna Burnett the narrator killed it, she is perfect for Clara. Her tone is captivating yet kind of dry and restrained which is how I imagine Clara’s voice would be like if she was a real person.

If you couldn’t already tell, then yes I highly recommend the sequel to everyone who enjoyed book one. It's made me appreciate the first book more in hindsight, because it revealed just how deliberate so many earlier plot choices were. I’ll be interested to see everyone’s reactions to this one.

Thanks so much to Hodder & Stoughton, Hodder & Stoughton Audio & Netgalley for the ARC & the ALC.

Prince of Swords picks up right where Arcana Academy left off and avoids the trap of being a disappointing sequel to its predecessor. I loved diving back into Clara and Kaelis’ lives and the enchanting, Tarot-inspired world. I honestly thought Arcana Academy was a duology, so the ending leading into a third book caught me by surprise but at least it’s not goodbye to them just yet.