I thought this was a good start to a new romantasy series. I found the tarot based magic system unique and the overall world building was phenomenal. Fans of magical academies like in Fourth Wing will definitely enjoy Clara’s time in Arcana Academy. That said, I felt that this book suffered from the same issue as Cassandra Clare’s Swordcatcher ie the set up slowed down the plot quite a bit. The beginning and the end of the book were phenomenal and had me craving more. Really the reveals at the end are making me want the second book immediately cuz I swear I gasped more than once. But the middle was sometimes hard to get through as we were introduced to all the important players and learned the ropes at the academy. Ultimately I think the series is worth giving a chance and if you like vibes of Kova’s Air Awakens series but wished it were spicer than this book is definitely for you.

DNFd at 53%

Unfortunately, the magic system was just too confusing for me to continue. I needed a diagram or something to help explain the cards. The magic system is similar to One Dark Window but I think in an effort to make it stand out the author made it too overly complicated. This was a highly anticipated read for me so as you can guess I was very disappointed. Maybe if the romance had been a little more forthcoming between the MCs I could have stuck it out until the end. But once I got to a part where something happened to one of the characters and I didn't feel any emotion at all about it, I knew that it was time to let this book go.

Thank you so much to the author and Del Rey for this ARC copy.

Magic schools always get me. The Magic system in this one was so much FUN and I loved how unique the tarot-inspired magic system was. Clara was so skilled in her craft and I loved watching her outsmart her peers and slowly develop her confidence after a really tragic backstory.

The romance was kinda forbidden and started off fake. BUT THE ENDING!!!!!! I was incredibly shocked by how it all went down.

I did find the middle of this lagged a bit BUT I truly can’t wait for the next one.

Thank you DelRey for the gifted arc!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Del Rey for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

4.5 ⭐️s! It took me a bit to get invested, but by the end I was definitely invested. There was cursing when I realized I was done and now have to wait for book 2. 😂

Clara Graysword is serving a lifetime sentence for inking tarot cards illegally. Only those who pass through Arcana Academy are allowed by law to ink these magic cards. Clara finds herself rescued by the academy's headmaster, Prince Kaelis. In exchange for rescue, she is to help him with his plan to overthrow his father. Clara is quickly swept into the world of Arcana Academy and the royals where she searches for answers about her mother's death and her sister's disappearance. Clara has to play blushing bride-to-be to Kaelis while surviving the trials of the academy and trying to serve her own goals.

I love the magic system using tarot cards. This is a true enemies to lovers situation and I need more Clara and Kaelis NOW. Highly suggest for lovers of Romantasy.

This book was incredible and hit all of the notes I needed in a fantasy romance. There’s magic and mayhem mixed with a hate to love romance plot. There’s also plenty of political scheming, betrayals, heartbreak, hope, found family, and more. I loved the world building and magic system that Kova created in Arcana Academy as well as the academic setting. I also found the characters to be interesting and well developed. There’s so much to both Clara and Kaelis that I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface in this first installment. I also enjoyed the push-pull dynamic between them. They’re both using each other while there’s simultaneously something more occurring between them. I really enjoyed the found family Clara surrounded herself with both before attending the academy and the found family she created at the academy. I also appreciated the various mysteries and plot lines that Kova wove throughout the story, some of which we got resolution and others that will carry over into future books. I do want to warn that the ending is absolutely wild and will leave you desperate to get your hands on the next book.

This was a fun and fast-paced read with vibes that reminded me of One Dark Window meets Throne of Glass, with a touch of dark academia thrown in. There’s a lot happening plot-wise, and at times it felt like too much was introduced too quickly. Because of that, I struggled to connect with some of the secondary characters. That said, there’s definitely promise here, and the magic system—especially the tarot-inspired elements—was a standout.

Did this book make me unwell when I finished it? 1000%. Did I immediately scout the internet to see what gorgeous special editions were available? Also 1000%.

If you love dark academia settings, a ridiculously unique magic system involving tarot cards, and you’re obsessed with enemies to lovers where they’re truly enemies, then you NEED to pick up this beauty.

I cannot explain my level of obsession with this book’s magic system. The tarot-based worldbuilding was everything! I loved how the entire society is built around the cards: school courses, the types of cards students can use, how the minor and major arcana work together, who can wield them, the political structure, and so much more. It was fascinating to read, and I loved how the author slowly revealed the system as the story progressed.

The dynamic between Clara and Kaelis is everything I want in an enemies to lovers romance. It was slow-burn perfection with Cups (tarot pun 🤣) of tension as they tried to figure out if they could trust each other.

I cannot wait for book two! All the stars!

I received an advanced copy for review. All opinions are my own. Thanks to Random House/Del Rey for the arc!

Arcana Academy is a new adult cross between a magical academy series and Throne of Glass.

Clara is pulled out of prison by the second prince, whom she's sworn is her mortal enemy, due to her suspicions about his involvement in the death of her mother. He offers her a deal: pretend to be his fiancee and attend Arcana Academy to help him find the mythical World card. In return, she'll be able to learn wield Tarot magic legally--she was arrested for illegal use of magic and stolen Tarot supplies. Clara is on a mission to find out the truth about her mother AND her missing sister. What could go wrong?

I liked this a lot! The romance isn't really the main focus, because there's SO MUCH other stuff going on with Clara and her family and her old friends and all the people in the school who want to kill her. I think the magic system is really interesting and unlike anything I've read before, so that was really cool. The focus really is on the magic and such rather than her relationship with Kaelis, which was a little rushed, but I think we'll probably see more in book two.

I wish we had a Kaelis POV because I need to know what the heck his deal is and why he wants to find the World card--it's capable of rewriting the world. Kaelis allegedly singlehandedly destroyed an entire clan, but we actually learn very little about him, other than that his father killed his mother. I have som suspicions, but they're spoilery, so I'll keep them to myself until book 2!

The ending made me really want to read the second book immediately because WHAT WAS THAT??

loved this world and the magic. loved that she gets engaged to the one of the brothers and while she fights the romance , she is interested in him. loved the magic and meeting the different characters in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin random house for the early eARC of this book. This book was a refreshing take on a fantasy with a different magic system left me wanting more. The ending left me needing the next book!

Arcana Academy is a masterclass in enemies to lovers and dark academia. Elise Kova is an author-buy author for me so this one was highly anticipated but oh my gosh, I did not expect to love it the way that I did.
My only regret is how long I’ll have to wait for the next one😭

Tropes:
“Touch her and die”
Enemies to lovers
Dark academia
Secret identity
Found family
Deadly Trials

A magic system influenced by tarot, a powerful prisoner, and a magical academy with a brooding headmaster? Say less.

Genuinely, Arcana Academy has so many things going for it: great premise, super interesting world, and characters with tons of chemistry. The writing is detailed, atmospheric, and evocative, and the banter between the leads is a very good time.

The said, this book feels entirely too long for what you actually learn about these characters and world and what happens plot-wise. It feels like we re-tread the same emotional character moments several times rather than moving forward with them, and there's also a very large dose of people-keeping-the-main-character-ignorant-on-purpose in ways that are incredibly frustrating rather than intriguing.

This ends on a big (if predictable) cliffhanger, and though I am interested to see where the author takes this story next—and precisely how epic it gets—I think this first book could have been much shorter, with quicker pacing and a more propulsive plot throughout.

This was my first read by this author, and this was such a delight. I can't wait for book 2. I really enjoyed the unique tarot card magic system. The academy setting and trials with all the twists and turns of palace politics kept me engaged throughout the book.

I absolutely loved the cat. Love a mmc with a pet cat. It just melts my heart. I also really enjoyed fmc and being along with her in this journey.

The romance relationship I am intrigued about but am still scratching my head on this one. I am not sure about their connection it felt a little off, like something was missing. However, in this case, based upon things that unfolded in the book, I am hoping that it is intentional. Overall, I just wanted a bit more focus on the relationship. I am hoping that the relationship is going to reveal something deeper over the series, and I can't wait to see if my theories are true.

The truly only disappointing thing was I wanted more of an emphasis on the student/headmaster forbiddenness that the blurb alluded to. That part felt like an afterthought. Their "fake" engagement felt more of the focus, and nobody seemed to care that he was the headmaster. Mainly because he didn't really act like or treated like one as it felt like a formality since he was a prince.

Either way, though, their relationship was strained because of their deal, but also mysterious in how their emotions are battling their own conflicting plans. The mmc intrigued me enough to wonder what is really going on and how he really feels about the fmc.

Now, the only remaining question is, how am I going to be able to wait for the next book?! I need to know what happens next!

Highlights:
-unique world system
-enemies-to-something more
-slow burn
-academy setting
-academic trials
-heist
-found family
-pet companion 🐈‍⬛️
-spice: 🌶
-romance: 🧪

Thanks so much to Del Rey and Netgalley for the e-ARC! All opinions are my own.

After being imprisoned for inking tarot cards - a type of magic reserved for those attending or graduated from Arcana Academy, Clara Graysword escapes her bleak future only to be caught and captured by Prince Kaelis - headmaster of said academy. He believes her talents could be of use in his ambitions to recreate a very powerful card that could change the world. And so, he brings her into the academy, providing her with a fake identity and introducing her as his "bride-to-be"...ya know, for her protection. Let the shenanigans begin.

***

2 stars here on NetGalley because you're forced into a star-rating BUT no rating on review platforms because my darling bookish friends...I had to DNF this guy at 20%. The good news is that if you are a fan of most of the popular romantasy coming out these days - you will likely really enjoy this one, too! From what I read, it seems to follow several of the same beats as many other titles in the genre, which is totally what some people are looking for and want to get out of their reading experience. Go forth, cuties!

Additionally, the writing is frequently quite beautifully descriptive and the magic system is intriguing. There's certainly a lot of potential for cool worldbuilding later in the book and throughout the series.

That said, I needed to put this one down as I knew really early on that the romantic pairing and dynamic was simply not going to be for me. I think these days I'm craving sweeter, softer romances...and characters that are beyond their early 20s. A lot of the characterization and plot beats felt a little cookie-cutter to me from the start and I couldn't get past that feeling to carry on. But that's just me!! I think it'll be angsty, it looks like there's at least a little spice in there, and maybe it'll end up diverting from the usual romantasy paths.

From what I read and what I skimmed, this looks to be a pretty fast-paced, plot-forward read with plenty of tension and lots of beloved tropes. It's not for me but that doesn't mean it won't be for you - follow your heart and reading preferences!

Arcana Academy comes out July 22, 2025 for those interested.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for sharing an e-galley with me in exchange for an honest review!

You can’t read just one chapter at a time!

Clara Graysword didn’t want to die in Halazar Prison after being convicted of illegally inking arcane tarot cards that are controlled by the crown. But she never thought that she would escape to the prison and make agreement to appear to be Prince Kaelis’ fiancé and steal a tarot card from the king while that he needs to ink a card that would change the world.

Academy headmaster Kaelis wanted Clara Redwin to be a student at the Arcana Academy as a first-year student and hopefully learn how to ink the tarot card that he is looking for while Clara is trying to ink the card for herself and and navigate being a prince’s bride-to-be.

Don’t start Arcana Academy thinking that you will read just one chapter because it draws you in where you want to keep reading about Clara because there are so many twists and turns to the story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for this ARC!!!

I rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

This book was the better Fourth Wing and I was here for it. The unique magic system and the high-stakes were so unexpected but so good. The slow-burn had me yearning for almost the whole book, and it was enemies-to-lovers at its finest. Everything had its place and every character was written very well. I will definitely read more book by Elise, thanks again for this ARC.

Arcana Academy by Elise Kova - eBook ARC provided by NetGalley

This book gave me everything I wanted from a dark academia fantasy: forbidden magic, secret societies, a fake engagement that’s way too convincing, and a heroine who forges her own power—literally.

Clara Graysword is a rogue arcanist with a sharp tongue and sharper survival instincts, fresh out of magical prison and dropped into Arcana Academy under a false identity. Her crime? Inking her own tarot cards—dangerous, illegal, and, of course, incredibly powerful. When she’s "rescued" by Prince Kaelis and pulled into a web of palace politics, secret missions, and academy trials that could leave her branded and exiled, things quickly get complicated. Especially when her fake fiancé might be hiding a real agenda.

The world-building is rich and inventive, the magic system is refreshingly intricate, and the stakes feel high from page one. The romance is a slow-burn enemies-to-something-more with just enough tension to keep things interesting without taking over the plot.

This book knows exactly what it’s doing and doesn’t apologize for being fun while still delivering twists, secrets, and a lot of heart. I had a great time reading it and will absolutely be continuing the series. Elise Kova clearly understands how to balance drama, lore, and charm—and I’m here for it

I was extremely excited for Arcana Academy after seeing several glowing reviews, but unfortunately, it missed the mark. The book felt long; meandering without spending time on the key plot points. For example, the Three of Swords trial was such a major topic, but the trial itself was less a chapter (more telling than showing). This also caused me not to feel a connection with the characters or feel invested in their relationships with one another.

The tarot concept itself was interesting, but I would have loved learning more about the mechanism of action. I will say that that the final 10% definitely gave me more of what I was looking for throughout the entire novel, causing me to bump my rating from a 2 to a 3. The book has its merits, and based upon the aforementioned positive reviews, I’m sure that it will find a home among romantasy lovers.

Many thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Arcana Academy starts off strong, in a way that grabbed my attention almost from page 1. The premise was interesting, the magic system was original, the setting was great. However the story lost me somewhere around the 60% mark, possibly because the plot became a bit slow and predictable, but mostly because the inner thoughts of the main character, Clara, got very repetitive. Besides, I would have liked more interactions between Clara and her love interest, as the transition from enemies to lovers felt unreasonable. I liked the ending and think it really sets up the next book, but I whish it was less rushed. Neverthless, I had a good time reading this book and I can absolutly see other people really loving it. Unfortunately, it didn't quite work for me.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for providing me this ARC.

Completely has you on edge with each chapter and that cliffhanger is lethal. So excited to read book 2, the concept of this academy is unique and a refreshing take on the academy setting trope.