This book gets major points for creative plot. I really liked the magic system and it's association with tarot.

The academia setting was also intriguing. I like that the stakes were high and students needed to be a bit gritty to hold their place.

I've read other works by Elise Kova and there is definite talent to be praised.

It would have been a 5 star read, but I found myself disliking the MFC more as the story went on. I can understand she's dealing with a lot of traumatic incidents at once, but sometimes I wish she just communicated with Kaelis or even her actual friends better

This book is so up my alley, it’s almost unreal. Honestly, my mind is still trying to fully process it. If Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing and Rachel Gillig’s One Dark Window had a baby, Arcana Academy would absolutely be it. The world-building is incredibly rich, the magic system is both complex and fascinating, and the character dynamics? Perfection.

The magic system in particular is one of the standout features—it’s unique and layered in a way that kept me hooked from the very first page. It’s got that perfect mix of mystery and depth, leaving you eager to learn more while also keeping you on the edge of your seat. Then there’s the banter—it’s quick, witty, and so perfectly timed, making the characters feel real and their relationships genuine. Whether it’s playful or intense, it never feels forced, and it adds such an enjoyable spark to the narrative.

The action is nonstop. From pulse-pounding moments of suspense to intense, high-stakes confrontations, there’s never a dull moment. Each twist and turn only heightens the stakes, keeping you hooked until the very last page. And let me tell you, the pacing is spot on—it never slows down for too long, but it also doesn’t rush through the emotional beats.

I honestly have zero complaints. I loved Arcana Academy so much, and I can’t wait for everyone else to read it. If you’re into fast-paced fantasy with a killer magic system, sharp wit, and plenty of thrills, this is the book you need to pick up. Trust me, you’re going to love it.

This book exceeded all expectations. As someone who’s been reading Elise Kova’s books for YEARS now religiously, I have to say that she did not disappoint. This series has a story I’ve never seen before, with tropes and suspense points that are leaving me begging for more. I NEED book 2 immediately, and I’ll be waiting as patiently as I can for it😭

I think I am in the minority with this book
While I was initially hooked at the start, I felt it dragged on and on, the premise is so cool and I actually really liked the story line but I think it’s too long and was getting bored.

i was not expecting my last read of 2024 to become one of my top three of the year, and now i only wish i could reread it for the first time again! even after a few days of finishing it’s all i can think about. if this doesn’t become one of the most popular books of 2025 it’ll absolutely shock me.
if you love a gothic atmospheric fantasy story, you need to add this to your list. the unique magic system that deals with tarot was what got me hooked, the specific magics linked to each card is so intricate yet easy to digest. bonus points that we even get a glossary if ever in need of reminding!
the plot was engaging and unlike anything else i’ve read-and i feel that’s saying a lot when diving into the romantasy world!
the world-building, with the majority of the book being set in an academy, was so descriptive and easy to imagine as it progressed and expanded.
the enemies to lovers romance was the cherry on top with its tension, secrets, and mutual desires. the love interest, Kaelis, is such an enticing character even when intimidating.
lastly, i absolutely loved the main character, Clara. even with her own internal flaws, she strives to help those around her because she can see their own strengths when others can not or choose not to. you can heavily relate to her from many perspectives and that’s what makes a memorable protagonist.
this is without a doubt one of my newest favorite series ever!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

My god. MY. GAWD. This is the one, folks. This is THE debut romantasy of 2025 (tied with "A Fate Forged in Fire" for how much it blew me away).

Elise Kova is a staple of the fantasy/romance genre, with her "Air Awakens," "Married to Magic," and "A Trial of Sorcerers" series', all of which I devoured and loved. This book, however, is a step above the rest, and I absolutely reveled in the experience of reading it.

The setup is nothing particularly new: morally gray FMC and MMC, dark academia, enemies-to-lovers romance. What set this book apart from the competition is the masterful way that Elise Kova does prose - it feels natural, the dialogue genuine, the buildup of the relationship authentic, and the pacing pitch-perfect. Revelations about the characters' pasts were dished out in increments, and action was interspersed nicely with slower scenes that developed the emotional core of the characters. I also really, really enjoyed the tarot-based magic system. That was something rather unique and done in a very, very cool way.

I look forward to the sequel (may it come sooner than I suspect!). This is one for ANY fan of fantasy, romance, dark academia, or just a genuinely well-written book that with enthrall you from page 1 and never let go.

Netgalley arc.

I just want to say that this had such an amazing premise and I was genuinely so excited to read this as the tarot card magic system is so cool and something I'm inherently interested in anyway, so this seemed right up my alley.

I think that this book would be better if there weren't so many characters that don't have any personality. I feel like the "found family" trope might have been in play here but landed short. I didn't really care about any of these new characters Clara met, and I wasn't particularly bothered by any of her old "family". They kind of all just meshed together, with the exception of Clara and the MMC.

Speaking of Kaelis, I was actually really interested by him in the first quarter of the book, as he seemed to be just a terrible guy! I thought to myself, "wowzer, is the love interest actually going to be completely irredeemable???" Unfortunately, that didn't happen. I think we need to move past the brooding, dark haired, magic guy with a huge dick for something else??

That being said, the artwork for this looks amazing and I will be purchasing the book when it comes out, as well as reading a sequel as I still do LOVE the magic system.

What a fantastic read! Full of magic, romance and secrets, Arcana Academy will suck you right in and make you not want to put it down until you've completely devoured it! I loved the magic system so much. I thought it was so intriguing and the plot was so juicy, you're definitely going to want to pick this up when it releases. The plot was so fun to follow and there were scenes that had you on the edge of your seat, which I thought were crafted perfectly. The romance was also slow burn which I loved and I cannot wait for the next book. Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 stars! I absolutely loved this book! I have read most of Elise Kovas books and this one did not disappoint. Arcana Academy is book one in the Arcana Academy series. I was hooked from the very beginning of book and I couldn’t put it down. As soon as I read the synopsis I couldn’t wait to read it. I was extremely excited to receive an arc of this book. I highly recommend reading this book when it is released July 22, 2025. Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Elsie Kova and Netgalley.

"Arcana Academy" by Elise Kova is the first book in the Arcana Academy Trilogy, and what a fantastic start it is! This gripping tale masterfully blends romantasy, intrigue, and dark academia, hooking me from the very first sentence.

Written in the first person, the story follows Clara Graysword, who is sent to the Halazar prison for illegally inking tarot cards - a rare and powerful skill among the Arcanists. The narrative unfolds in the Oricalis Kingdom, where only Arcanists who graduate from the Academy are permitted to practice their arts in service to the king and noble houses. Those who fail - or defy the rules - are marked and sent to the mills, where survival rate is rare. While Clara languishes in jail, Prince Kaelis, the second of three royal brothers and the headmaster of the Academy, pays her an unexpected visit, striking an uneasy deal with her. Thus begins a compelling tale brimming with intrigue, secrets, and magic.

I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down. Themes of friendship, trust, found family, enemies to lovers, human fallibility, betrayal, and slow-burn romance are expertly woven into a plot full of unexpected twists. As a fan of dark academia, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the students’ lessons and trials. The division into four houses—Wands, Coins, Cups, and Swords—gave me strong Harry Potter vibes, and I adored it!

The dark academia setting, the intricate world-building, and the unique tarot card magic system were all exceptionally well done. The system itself, with its major and minor cards and their varied uses - wielding, inking, and reading - was fascinating. Despite the large cast of characters, the author skillfully made them distinct and easy to follow.

One of the standout moments in the book was Clara’s participation in the Academy trials. These intense and high-stakes contests required her to showcase her inking, reading, and wielding skills to pass to the next level. The suspense of these scenes kept me on the edge of my seat and demonstrated both Clara’s perseverance and the complexity of the magic system.

The complex relationship between the strong-willed protagonist and the brooding dark prince was captivating. While Clara’s impulsiveness could be frustrating at times, her determination made her a protagonist you can’t help but root for. Meanwhile, Prince Kaelis’s many layers added depth and intrigue to his character.

If I have one complaint, it’s the use of the word “fuck” in the text, which felt out of place in the otherwise richly woven world. Additionally, the story dragged slightly in the final section and could have been tightened up. However, these minor issues didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment.

The cliffhanger left me speechless, and I’m eagerly awaiting the second book in the series. Overall, Arcana Academy is a spellbinding start to what promises to be an unforgettable trilogy. If you enjoy stories with morally gray characters, intricate relationships, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, dark academia vibes, excellent writing, and arcane magic, this is the book for you.

A quick note: the book contains a couple of explicit scenes, making it less suitable for younger readers. Personally, I found these scenes unnecessary, as the story was compelling enough without them.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher who approved my request! Was very keen to read this one.
It was a different and interesting magical system, and I'll definitely be keen to read book two. I wish there was a list of the whole Tarot and what cards meant which power.
I did enjoy the attraction between Kaelis and Clara, except I wanted to know more about both of them and their powers. It felt like, even though they were living together, we never saw them together enough.
The plot became very exciting towards the end, and I'm sad about Silas and Bristara. But yes, very interested to know more about this magic and what Kaelis will do when he finds out what happened.
4.5 stars

Arcana Academy is an electric, addictive start to what promises to be a spellbinding series! The magic system here is fascinating. The chemistry between Clara and Kaelis is undeniable, and though Clara is skeptical of Kaelis’s motives, it’s hard not to get sucked into their slow-burn connection. What’s even more enticing is the mystery of Kaelis, he’s more than just a prince with an agenda, and as secrets unravel, so does the depth of his character. The world-building is immersive, dark, mysterious, and filled with the kind of danger that keeps you flipping pages. Overall, a perfect start to a new, thrilling series, and I can’t wait to dive into the next book to see where this dangerous, magical path leads!

Overall this book and its premise were excellent and very entertaining and interesting. I enjoyed the magic system in this and the characters were pretty well thought out. I think maybe they and the storyline could have been fleshed out more, but overall very well done and I am excited to see where this continues.

The premise had so much potential and was exactly what I was looking for, but the execution could use some work. That said, the cover is stunning. Despite its flaws, it managed to pique my interest, so I’ll definitely be reading the second installment.

I'm obsessed with the magic system in Arcana Academy by Elise Kova and that alone is going to bump this book to one of my favorites of the year. I knew just from the description that a fantasy world and magical abilities based on tarot cards was going to be a hit, and I wasn't disappointed! I'm basing my rating on enjoyment and world building alone, and I cannot wait to see where this series goes. Especially after the cliffhanger ending. It's my own fault that I have to wait so long for book 2, but I'm still sad about it.

This is my first Elise Kova, so I'm not familiar with her works/writing style, but I enjoyed it here enough to look into what else she's written and add it to my list. The story flows well and is easy to read while still feeling magical. There were some frustrating moments with the MC, especially with the tension and back and forth with the love interest, but it fits well with the enemies to lovers trope. The glossary in the back of spells based on tarot cards is very helpful, and I hope to see even more of them in the next book.

I didn't love how many characters there are. We've got not only the love interest for the MC, but also her mom, sister, found family who raised her, other students at the academy, love interest's family... there's just not enough time or depth to get invested in these relationships. So when characters die (and plenty do!), it just doesn't hit the same way it would in books where these relationships are fully explored. If I cared more about character driven books, I'd probably knock off a star, but since I'm a plot fan through and through, I'm sticking with my 5 star rating.

Rezension zu Arcana Academy von Elise Kova

Ein magischer Auftakt in eine Welt voller Intrigen und Romantik

Elise Kova, bekannt für ihre detailreichen und packenden Fantasy-Welten, entführt uns mit Arcana Academy in eine düstere, aber faszinierende Welt, in der Tarotkarten nicht nur mystische Werkzeuge, sondern Schlüssel zu Macht und Gefahren sind. Mit einer Protagonistin, die zwischen ihrer Freiheit und den Schatten ihrer Vergangenheit navigiert, und einem charismatischen, aber undurchsichtigen Prinzen, verspricht dieser Roman eine fesselnde Mischung aus Magie, Intrigen und Romantik.


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Inhalt und Handlung

Clara Graysword hat in Eclipse City gelernt, wie man überlebt – mit Mut, List und illegaler Magie. Doch ihre Gabe, Tarotkarten zu "zeichnen", bringt sie in Schwierigkeiten, als sie bei einem Job erwischt wird. Statt einer lebenslangen Haftstrafe erhält Clara ein überraschendes Angebot: der geheimnisvolle Leiter der Arcana Academy, Prinz Kaelis, bietet ihr einen Ausweg. Dafür soll sie ihm helfen, eine mächtige Karte zu stehlen, die längst verloren geglaubt ist.

Um ihre Identität zu schützen, wird Clara als seine zukünftige Braut und neue Schülerin der Akademie eingeführt. Doch das Leben an der Arcana Academy, mit ihren strengen Regeln, rivalisierenden Adeligen und verbotenen Geheimnissen, birgt neue Gefahren. Während sie sich langsam in Kaelis’ Welt einfügt, beginnt Clara zu hinterfragen, ob sie ihrem vermeintlichen Retter trauen kann – oder ob sie ihn und die Macht, die er sucht, für sich beanspruchen sollte.


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Stärken des Buches

1. Fesselnder Weltaufbau: Elise Kova zeichnet mit der Arcana Academy und Eclipse City eine lebendige Welt, die sowohl düster als auch faszinierend ist. Die Kombination aus magischen Tarotkarten und politischer Intrige verleiht der Geschichte eine frische Note.


2. Komplexe Charaktere: Clara ist eine vielschichtige Heldin, die mit ihrem Mut, ihrer Verletzlichkeit und ihrer moralischen Grauzone beeindruckt. Prinz Kaelis ist eine ebenso faszinierende Figur – ein Mann voller Geheimnisse, dessen wahre Motive bis zum Ende unklar bleiben.


3. Spannung und Intrigen: Von gefährlichen Geheimnissen bis zu verräterischen Allianzen ist Arcana Academy ein Roman, der bis zur letzten Seite fesselt.


4. Romantische Dynamik: Die Beziehung zwischen Clara und Kaelis entwickelt sich in einem intensiven Slow Burn, der perfekt die Grenzen zwischen Hass, Anziehung und Vertrauen auslotet.




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Schwächen des Buches

Die Einführung in die komplexe Welt und ihre Regeln ist gelegentlich etwas überladen, was zu einer steilen Lernkurve führen kann. Einige Nebenfiguren bleiben im Vergleich zu Clara und Kaelis blass, obwohl sie potenziell interessante Handlungsstränge bieten.


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Schreibstil und Atmosphäre

Elise Kovas Schreibstil ist lebendig und bildhaft, mit einer perfekten Balance zwischen spannungsgeladenen Szenen und intimen Momenten. Sie schafft es, die düstere, gefährliche Atmosphäre der Akademie und die pulsierende Energie von Eclipse City greifbar zu machen.


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Fazit

Arcana Academy ist ein vielversprechender Auftakt zu einer Reihe, die Leser:innen mit einer Mischung aus magischen Tarotkarten, gefährlichen Intrigen und einer prickelnden Romanze begeistert. Mit einer starken Heldin, einer düsteren Akademie voller Geheimnisse und einer fesselnden Handlung hat Elise Kova einen Pageturner geschaffen, der sowohl Fantasy- als auch Romantik-Fans ansprechen wird.

Bewertung: 4,5/5 Sterne – Ein fantastischer Start in eine neue magische Welt, die Lust auf mehr macht.

Arcana Academy is the first book in this new series. Written by new to me author Elise Kova, published by Randomhouse Publishing Group, this is a full length, literally unputdownable read.
I just wanted to take a peek, but now 2 days later after binge reading this gem of a story I'm spent. I'm all read out and I loved every single minute.
Clara is dealt a rough hand, when it seems Karma's smiling at her, offering a place at an academy for magicians. In a world where Tarot rules everything, magic is common and commoners have to work hard to make ends meet - reading this book was like being invited into another world, a fantasic story, 5 stars.

WOW OK immediately yes 5 ⭐️’s!!

I absolutely loved and devoured this, I was so sad to finish because I don’t know how I’m expected to wait for the next book 😭

The world building in this was flawless imo. It didn’t feel like an info dump, it was just seamlessly blended into the story. The magic system? Amazing and so unique! I looove the fact that each tarot card has its own ability.

Now our fmc Clara - love her. She’s really tough (all of the emotional losses she’s experienced 😭) and she’s so talented with tarot cards and I love that she knows that. Love an fmc that is confident in their abilities and doesn’t apologize for it 💘
And our mmc Kaelis.. is this love? He’s got these shadow daddy vibes without quite being a shadow daddy. I love his aloof, cocky attitude because you just know deep down he’s got a little softie heart (as evidenced by all the things he does for Clara 🥲) The surprisingly sweet things that came outta this man’s mouth.. I was kicking my feet and giggling!!

The romance does take a backseat to the overall plot, but I didn’t even mind because I am so intrigued about this whole storyline.
In this you’re gonna get: enemies to lovers, tension, slow burn, academy setting, unique magic system and forced fake engagement.
I’m so excited for more of this world and for more Clara and Kaelis 🥹💘

Thank you so much to Del Rey and NetGalley for the chance to read this arc!

A book with a unique magic system involving fantasy card! Unlike something I’ve read before, but I just wished the character development was a bit stronger. I had a hard time getting invested in any of the characters. Storyline made up for that though!

Okay, Arcana Academy by Elise Kova? ABSOLUTE BANGER. I’m seriously obsessed, and it took me a while to finish (it’s a bit long, but hey, fantasy novels, am I right?). But let me tell you, every page was worth it.

First of all, the magic system? Tarot-based magic. I haven’t seen anything like that before, and it was SO cool. It’s rare that a magic system actually feels fresh and unique, but this one hit the mark. I loved how each card brought its own power and mystery—it made the whole world-building even more exciting.

Now, the real star of the show? The tension between the FMC and MMC. Whew. I’m a sucker for romance in fantasy, but I often can guess where the plot’s headed. NOT here. Kova kept me guessing every step of the way—just when I thought I had things figured out, I was pulled in a totally new direction. Seriously, I still don’t know who to trust. There were SO many bombshells dropped at the end, and that cliffhanger? Please tell me book two is already finished and I can start reading it tomorrow.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing - Del Rey, and Inklore for the advanced copy. If book two is already written, can you please, PLEASE send it my way? I need it. Now.