I love Elise Kova. Let me start off by saying that. I have loved everything she has written and have very nearly read absolutely everything she has written. I have read exactly one fantasy series with Tarot cards. So this was an even more unique and different experience to one I’m used to. It has a unique magic system, an interesting and lovable cast of characters and an intricately woven plot I loved following. Our leading lady Clara is sent to prison after she used tarot cards, an illegal use of magic within this world, punishable for using it. But what happens when the academy’s headmaster, also one of three princes, strikes a bargain with you? What then? For any dark academia lovers, this is a dream come true. I really loved this book and exploring the world just as much. Overall, I can’t wait for this to come out and can’t wait for people to experience this. I cannot wait for the next book. The countdown is on!

Arcana Academy is a captivating and enigmatic institution that boasts a unique blend of mystery, and magic. A unique aspect of the book is its worldbuilding, particularly the intricate and original tarot-based magic system. The system's complexity, with its major and minor cards and varied uses, is fascinating, along with the concept of inking magical cards, each with unique powers and costs, adding a layer of strategy.

Arcana Academy drew me into its darkly magical world, that has woven a spellbinding narrative that is replete with danger, intrigue, and a captivating slow-burn romance. The academy itself is a dark, dangerous, and secretive environment, making it an exemplary fantasy setting.

Looking forward to Book 2.

Arcana Academy (Arcana Academy, #1) by Elise Kova

A woman who wields magical tarot cards lands herself in a false engagement with the headmaster of a mysterious academy in this first installment of an enthralling romantasy series

Rating: *****
Feels: Anticipation, Invested, Courage, Pleasantly Puzzled
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Enemies to Lovers, Adult Fantasy, Dark Academia
First published July 22, 2025 by Del Rey: 576 pages, Kindle

This read was just everything. The magic system was so unique and brought so many interesting elements to combat, interpersonal relationships, the academy setting and the lore of the story. I'm really in awe of how the author wove this whole tarot system into the story and I really really want them to release a set with the book so I can buy it. The dynamic between Clara and Kaelis is just slow burn until it explodes in the best way possible and yet you will still be surprised at ever twist and turn in this relationship. Clara is just everything I love about a FMC, intelligent, smart, resourceful, loyal and determined. I absolutely can not wait to explore more of this lore as this story unfolds in more books and I really hope we get a few books out of this series as I love these characters and this world (no pun intended.)

Favorite quote: I run my hands down his chest. He's as sturdy as a wall. Breathing shallow. Four suits, I want to break him.

This book has:
Enemies to Lovers
Slow Burn
Morally Grey MMC
Forced Proximity
Rebellion
Academic Setting
Unique Magic System (Its sooooo cool)
Political Intrigue
Touch her and die
Found Family
Hidden Identity

This utterly exceeded my expectations and I couldn’t be more thrilled!! It’s a brilliant, dark academia tale, the first in a trilogy which is fast paced full of intrigue and danger!

An academic institution of magic, a castle/fortress with secret passages and secrets, a well thought out and different mode of magic using decks of cards, challenges, duels to the death and lessons not even to mention the romantasy elements! The entire premise was interesting from the first chapter and I was swiftly engrossed and wanting to keep reading.

Enemies to lovers, found family, slow burn, fake relationship and forced proximity plus a cute cat who’s a good judge of character. I loved it all. The characters are well formulated and Kaelis is definitely a grey MMC and there’s so much more to learn about him, his family and what he knows about the old kingdom. Clara makes such a determined protagonist, kept in a ghastly prison for a year and suddenly elevated to Arcana Academy student and the bride to be of her captor, he’s the only one who can keep her safe but can she ever trust him?

This is such a fabulous beginning to a new romantasy world, it reads so well…. I’ve loved the writing of Elise Kova and this feels a step up to epic adult fantasy from her Married to Magic Standalones. And what a graduation. I will definitely be buying a copy for my shelf! Congratulations to Ms Kova on a new amazing book!!
A huge thankyou to Netfalley for the EArc.

Fan. TASTIC.

I’m a huge fantasy nerd and this is a good one.

World building - check
Strong female protagonist - check
Magic system - check.

I was intrigued by the tarot card links - I don’t know much about them so initially it was all very unfamiliar but the author gave me enough to understand. Sometimes this was shipped through like lightning and I had to slow myself down to understand it but that’s a testament to the plot itself as I was devouring this book so quickly because I was desperate to know where it lead.
There is a *touch* of romantasy here and thank god it’s not too much as I think the current trend of female falls for possible bad boy but secretly good boy books which are being cranked out are just fatiguing and boring at this point. I believed the connection between Clara and Kaelis and the author didn’t have Clara second guessing herself and twisting herself in knots the whole way through. She built a strong female and that’s what Clara remained. I’m here for it.

There were secrets to uncover but not traditionally guessable and tropey. I enjoyed the friendships built in the academy and the intrigue built around the secrets yet to uncover.
Loved it honestly. Will definitely read the rest.

Thanks to netgalley and publishers for the ARC of this great book in exchange for my honest review.

This is everything I wanted in a fantasy! Perfectly crafted by Elise kova! Such a perfectly crafted slow burn fantasy romance perfect for fans of dark academia! It hooks you from the first sentence and sends you on an incredible high stakes fantasy journey that will leave you wanting more!

I had high expectations for this Arcana Academy and wow were they exceeded. I loved every single second of this book and it’s definitely solidified itself as one of my favourite reads ever. One of the easiest 5 stars I’ve ever given.

We follow a girl who performs banned magic as her only means of survival in a corrupt city, be locked up for her crimes. Only those who pay service to the crown by enrolling in a magic school can perform spells and she has not. Until the headmaster of said school breaks her out of prison, promises her safety, forces her to join as an initiate in exchange for her help.
Oh and did I mention, she has to pretend to be his betrothed.
The magic system in this book is based on tarot cards and is such an interesting form of spell casting. Believably used and adds really cool layers to the different aspects of the magic.
Not only can they summon the cards to use as abilities but they can read them for prediction and have to ink the cards themselves. Each of which is a skill examined by the school.
I loved all of the characters in this book, the female main character is multilayered and felt really real to me. I really enjoyed being in her head and seeing how her experiences throughout the book changed her perspective.
I cried a couple of times and that only happens when I am connected to a character.
I enjoyed the pacing of this book and didn’t find any part lulled or was too slow. Enough time was spent detailing classes and world building without feeling like it was dragging, it was great how deep the foundation of this book felt. It just oozes magic throughout and I found it so easy to see a clear picture in my head of every scene.

Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the eARC!

I'll be super honest, this title wasn't for me. Either that, or I just was not in the mood to read something like this. There were some moments where I was loving it, and then the next time I checked in on myself it wasn't doing it for me. Will I still recommend this title in my work? Definitely! I can see the people that this book would absolutely work for.

This book was fantastic! I was hooked from the beginning. The only bad thing that I have to say is that I’m upset that this book had not been released yet because now I have to wait longer for the second book! The storyline was amazing and the spice was ***chefs kiss*** I am totally Invested in Kaelis and Clara’s storyline!

I loved this, I think Elise Kova is very under appreciated. This has a unique magic system, a good plot, and an enjoyable romance. I want the second book already and this one hasn’t even been published yet!

This book had an interesting premise, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to its potential. The pacing felt uneven, with long stretches where not much happened, and the characters lacked the depth needed to make their journeys compelling. The writing style was serviceable but sometimes clunky, and the plot twists were either predictable or underdeveloped. While there were a few moments of intrigue, they weren’t enough to sustain the story. Overall, this was a disappointing read that left me wishing for stronger execution and more emotional impact.

I think this book will be very popular once it's published; fans of Sarah Maas, Leigh Bardugo, and Lauren Roberts will find so much to like here in a world that is unlike the others, but equally compelling. The cards of the tarot are the foundation of magic here, with the major arcana cards (a term I did not know before this book) being reincarnated people that embody the powers of the cards, like the high priestess, the chariot, etc. Tarot is unfamiliar to me, and I liked learning about this system of magic - it works.

Although the spice level is elevated above the YA I have in my school library, others that have the ACOTAR series or 4th Wing in their catalog will have no issues. With that said, I think this will find many, many readers within the YAverse. All the tropes that are popular now: enemies to lovers, overthrowing an existing world order, vengeance, and family ties are all present. The protagonist, Clara, is remarkable. The setting, a magical academy, lush and dark. The romance? A very slow burn. This is not a typical read for me, but I enjoyed it very much.

Thank you NetGalley and DelRay for the ARC!

DNF at 25%. I wanted to like this one. I really, really did and maybe I would consider audiobooking it in the future but the pacing was so bad that reading this felt like a chore, so ultimately, I couldn't do it any longer. I hate DNF'ing ARCs, but it would have taken me months at this pace.

Things that didn’t work for me:
🌠 Like I said before, the pacing. It was soooo slow. I was 25% in, and I felt like anything had barely happened. I still had HOURSSSS of this book left, and yet I was a long way in. I was so bored reading it. It took me over a month to get that far because each time I picked it up, I felt like nothing was happening.
🌠 The writing was meh. Super repetitive and not very engaging. I felt like I heard the FMC’s backstory a million times and whenever we learned something new, it was over-explained to the max. I couldn’t be immersed because I felt like I was reading the same sentences over and over.
🌠 The magic system was unique (it’s what made me want to like this book) but confusing to those who don’t know tarot. I was so lost a lot of the time because that was the one thing that wasn’t over-explained, only to find out there was a glossary in the BACK? Why would it be there and not in the front?
🌠 The characters weren’t endearing. Kaelis didn’t feel unique, and neither did Clara. They honestly felt like TOG ripoffs at times. And the side characters weren’t there 25% of the way in. I need people to root for, and it felt like I didn't have that.
🌠 The plot wasn’t plotting. Probably because it took us forever to get two steps forward. I don’t mind a slow burn, but give us a reason to like it.

I can’t comment on the romance because I quit just as they were shifting from enemies to lovers, but it wasn’t enough to get me through the rest of the book. Ultimately, the pacing was way too off for me to enjoy this so I’m bummed!

I was delighted to receive an ARC for Arcana Academy! Elise Kova’s latest story drew me in with a striking magic system, both unique and full of rules.
While at times the pacing, both in character development and plot, felt misplaced, overall I was deeply intrigued by the lore and the magic. Moments that didn’t quite fit were quickly overshadowed by twists and turns and revealing secrets.
Ending on a pile of cliffhangers, I’m excited to see where the story moves next!

I enjoyed this academy romance. I like the pacing and the burn level. I do think there was a little too much back and forth for me between the characters. That said I really enjoyed this story and what attentively reading so it did work Even if that part was a little frustrating. That also means I cared about the characters which is important. I enjoyed the world, I thought it was a cool concept and I really enjoyed the setting. I definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading future installments

DNF

It took me a month to get to 52%, I tried to power through but just can’t.

It’s a complicated world to read through if you’re not prepared much less if you don’t know much about tarot maybe?

It started off super promising though! I just wish it kept that pace or at least dumbed down the world, tarot magic system, and amped up the chemistry between characters.

“Every time I see you, I see what the world could be.”

Let me count the ways I want to exist in this world forever! Elise has such a way of drawing you into the story unlike anyone else. Arcana Academy is your next fantasy romance obsession.

I devoured Clara and Kaelis journey together. They are both misfits in this academy looking to change their fate. It was reading the truth behind their backstories that truly captured my heart. The romance unraveled perfectly and you’re left yearning with them. Elise delivered on the enemies to lovers with a heap of forced proximity.

Now the magic system! It is so unique. I’ve never read anything like this before where the tarot cards hold the power that you wield. I could vividly picture every battle scene. Truly a work of genius.

This is one of my top reads for the year and I can’t wait for the next installment. If you’re looking for dark academia vibes, enemies to lovers, tarot magic, and a fierce FMC, this is your read.

“You think you appreciate what you have and then it’s taken from you … and you wonder if you ever treasured it enough.”

“If to bring about 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 a hero in my next life.”

“I don’t. But no one should be forced to give up the world.”

“I doubt the world around me. I fear what I can’t control. But I do not doubt myself, and I do not fear the one thing I have power over: me.”

“Hate you. Love you. But I can’t be nothing to you.”

This book intrigued me from the very start, I knew it was going to be a 5 star read! What pulled me in at first was the fact that the magic system is tarot based, but once I began reading, the writing style pulled me all the way in!

In this one we get to follow Clara our fmc and Kaelis our mmc 😍 She is an illegal Arcanist who must make a deal with Kaelis, the broody Headmaster(and man she blames for her mother's death)at the academy she must attend to uncover her families secrets and plot her revenge.

Can we talk about the world building? Because wow Elise really knows how to create an enticing story! The way everything is described- the details, the tarot based magic system, and the characters were all fantastic! I found it so neat that this story had a tarot magic system, the fact they can wield and ink their own tarot cards each with unique powers really had me intrigued! I really felt like I was in the academy and the story while reading this one and I love that in a book, Elise really drew me in with this story!

Arcana Academy is dark, full of twists, secrets, and action! Oh and the slow burn is a slowwww burn but the tension between them is delicious! They are constantly at odds with eachother but I adored watching their relationship grow!

I definitely recommend this book! I need book 2 asap though!! 😍🔥

Thanks to netgalley and random house for the ARC! 🫶

Such a good book! I enjoyed the concept of cards of power with Majors and Minors. The books starts off right away and keeps your attention through each trial. The only reason I rated it 4 stars is because I had a hard time feeling the connection between the FMC and the MMC. There were some heartfelt moments, but nothing that made me yearn for the two to kiss already. I am hoping that the next two books close this gap on a possible history between the characters that has yet to be uncovered. I am excited to see how the series continue to develop in book two of this trilogy. Will definitely preorder 2!

I will always pick up an Elise Kova book. She always knows how to spin a story and have you engaged in the very first sentence. Arcana academy is no different. There's intrigue, a little bit of space, and characters that you love to hate. Fans of her previous work, especially air awakens, will fall in love with Clara.